NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99 - 93 Pulling up Family Members
Chapter 99: Chapter 93 Pulling up Family Members
At five in the afternoon, Lu Jiaxin’s call punctually reached Lu Jiaguang’s office.
Upon hearing her voice, Lu Jiajie eagerly asked, “Sis, did your painting really sell for One Hundred Thousand Pieces? It feels so surreal to me.”
Lu Jiaxin replied with a laugh, “The money is already deposited in the bank, if you’re worried, I can show you the bankbook.”
Lu Jiajie was just saying this. If Lu Jiaxin hadn’t sold the painting for that much, she wouldn’t have asked him to come over and help, “Xinxin, I went to the factory today to arrange for unpaid leave, and I should be able to finish the procedures tomorrow.”
Lu Jiaxin didn’t expect him to move so quickly, which showed how much he disliked his job, “Fifth Brother, this investment is quite substantial, just you and Xue Mao won’t be enough. You know many people, could you please bring in a few experts to help out?”
Lu Jiajie found himself in a bind, “They all have jobs and couldn’t possibly take time off to come.”
Lu Jiaxin had anticipated this, so she said, “I plan to purchase the materials myself and ask a local shoe factory for contract manufacturing. My standards will be quite high, so we’ll need someone keeping an eye on things.”
Lu Jiajie immediately thought of his friend’s father, who had worked in a shoe factory for almost thirty years. The man retired early with a heavy heart to let his son, who had returned from the countryside to the city, settle down and find a wife, passing on his job to him.
Lu Jiaxin said, “Let’s not consider anyone over fifty. Under fifty with a robust constitution would be fine. The workload will be quite heavy, and if someone older were to have an accident, I couldn’t afford the liability.”
When the age range was broadened to the forties, Lu Jiajie felt this was doable. “So, how many people do you need?”
Lu Jiaxin responded, “Three or four should suffice. They’ll be paid two hundred pieces a month, and I’ll cover their food, lodging, and travel expenses. If we make a profit, there will also be a bonus; the bonus will match their salary, no matter how much it is.”
Remembering what Lu Jiaguang had just told him, Lu Jiajie hurriedly said, “Xinxin, I know you want to look out for your brother, but this won’t do. It’s enough for me that you think of me when there’s an opportunity, and I’m already very happy, but I can’t take advantage of you. Xinxin, I will do the same as the others, a bonus that matches the salary. If you don’t agree, I won’t come.”
Seeing his sister’s determination to invest all her capital, which was over a hundred thousand, he felt confident she could make a profit of one hundred or eighty thousand with her skills. Five percent of a one hundred thousand profit was five thousand, and he just couldn’t face accepting that amount.
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Lu Jiaxin laughed lightly, “Okay, let’s do it your way. But Fifth Brother, my fragile body can’t take too much stress; when the time comes, you’ll have to take care of everything on this end.”
Lu Jiajie half-jokingly scolded, “You silly girl, your affairs are my affairs. Just give the orders, and leave the running around to me. I promise to handle everything perfectly for you.”
Having finished their conversation, the phone was passed back to Lu Jiaguang.
Lu Jiaxin said, “Big Brother, I can’t get used to the food here. Could you let Xiao Qiu come over? She’s got Big Aunt’s recipes down pat, her cooking is quite good.”
In fact, she wanted Xiao Qiu to get a taste of the world outside, as she’d always been cooped up in those backwoods, her mind filled with the antiquated ideas inculcated by her family: find a good household to marry into. Not many families in those backwoods were better off than the Lus.
Lu Jiaguang said, “Xiao Qiu has never traveled far and would probably be afraid to go on her own.”
Lu Jiaxin smiled benignly, “Big Brother, what are you saying? Xiao Qiu is just a kid, how could we let her go alone? Of course, Second Brother Lu would have to bring her over!”
“If Second Brother Lu goes, we’d have to pay for his travel and accommodations.”
Lu Jiaxin indicated that Second Brother Lu could also help her with work upon his arrival, “I’ll still need to hire people later on, and outsiders certainly won’t be as reliable as our own family.”
What else was there for Lu Jiaguang not to understand? The girl was looking to pull up her own family members. It occurred to him that Jiaxin was even stronger than himself, while he was still fraught with various concerns, and suddenly he felt somewhat ashamed.
That evening, Lu Jiaguang mentioned something to Wang Xiaojie, “The company is preparing to recruit a batch of people, and with some maneuvering, I should be able to secure a position.”
Since her husband had spoken up, that meant he was confident he could secure a spot. But even if he got one, deciding who would go was a big problem. Wang Xiaojie said, “Jiaguang, once we secure the spot, let Dad decide who goes.”
Lu An was in his second year of high school and couldn’t take advantage of this opportunity. As for the nephews at home, should it be the son from Second Brother Lu’s family or from Third Brother Lu’s? In the city, many households would fight tooth and nail for a job, not to mention the countryside.
Lu Jiaguang said, “Both Lu Yun and Lu Cheng are married with children, and the departments are recruiting unmarried men and women, so neither of them qualifies. If we get the spot, it should go to Lu Tao.”
“We can’t let Dad make this decision; otherwise, Third Uncle will think Dad is playing favorites. If I decide it goes to Lu Tao, even if Third Uncle and his wife have their thoughts, they wouldn’t dare to voice them.”
Lu Tao was Second Brother Lu Guangzong’s second son who had graduated from high school in July. His deskmate’s father was the head of a pickles factory and had gotten a job at the pickles factory through this connection. Even though it was a temporary position, with such capabilities, he would surely thrive once he joined the railway bureau.
“That works, let’s discuss it with Dad after it’s settled.”
The next day, Lu Jiaguang called Big Uncle Lu. He didn’t mention the antique painting selling for a sky-high price; he only said that Lu Jiaxin was preparing to make a batch of shoes to sell back in the Forty-nine City and needed help, suggesting Lu Jiazong and Xiao Qiu go over.
Big Uncle Lu was shocked, “What does that child know about doing business?”
Lu Jiaguang said, “She supported herself by doing business when she had amnesia in the Ancient Capital. Dad, don’t worry, Xinxin promised me that after this business deal, she’ll settle down and prepare for her repeat year.”
“And your Third Uncle isn’t objecting?”
Lu Jiaguang fell silent for a moment before saying, “Jiaxin asked me not to tell Third Uncle about her plans; he still thinks Jiaxin is in the Ancient Capital! Dad, don’t worry, Jiajie will also head over in a couple of days. Jiajie has worked seven years in a shoe factory. If it wasn’t good, he would have objected.”
It wasn’t until then that Big Uncle Lu was somewhat reassured, “Xiao Qiu won’t be of much help there, let Lu Anshan and your Second Brother Lu go instead!”
Lu Jiaguang naturally refused, “Dad, Xiao Qiu can keep Xinxin company by chatting and can also help with laundry and cooking, while Lu Shan can’t do those things.”
Thinking of the words his wife had said to him earlier, Big Uncle Lu suddenly understood, “Jiaguang, is it Xinxin who wants Xiao Qiu to come over?”
“Yes.”
Big Uncle Lu didn’t push any further, jotting down Lu Jiaxin’s address in Yangcheng City, “I’ll go back and talk to them about it.”
The news immediately sent the Lu Family into an uproar, with both Lu Shan and Lu Cheng saying they wanted to go along. Even if they couldn’t make money, it would be worthwhile just to see the world.
Big Uncle Lu looked at his third son and daughter-in-law and said, “Jiaxin’s side is short of someone to do laundry and cook. She thought of Xiao Qiu being idle at home and wants her to go. It’s not safe for Xiao Qiu to go alone since she’s young, so she suggested letting your Second Brother Lu take her.”
Lu Jiazong hadn’t expected to benefit from his daughter.
Third Aunt Lu felt somewhat unconvinced and said, “Dad, with Xiao Qiu’s thin arms and legs, she can’t do much work. Let me or Xiao Cheng’s wife go instead; one of us could do the work of both of them.”
Fearing that Big Uncle Lu might change his mind, Xiao Qiu couldn’t help but nervously tug at Sister-in-law Lu’s arm.
Big Uncle Lu said sternly, “Third Brother’s wife, I’ve just said that it’s Jiaxin who specifically asked for Xiao Qiu to go.”
Big Aunt explained from the side, “Doing laundry and cooking over in Yangcheng City, hiring someone for that wouldn’t cost much. They definitely want Xiao Qiu to accompany Jiaxin because she’s alone there and would like Xiao Qiu for company.”
Third Aunt Lu had no more to say.