Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

Seeing Liu Zhong’s sour expression, Yun Niang smiled and said:

“I’m not blaming you, second brother. It’s just that when there’s a problem, we need a thorough investigation to find out the truth for everyone.”

“If next time you notice any issue with our painting group’s work, feel free to raise it, and we’ll get to the bottom of it together, identify the problem, and solve it.”

“We’re all in this for the stationery factory; no one wants defective products in the hands of customers, ruining the factory’s reputation, right?”

Liu Zhong fell silent, realizing they all had the factory’s best interest at heart. Since everyone shared this understanding, he let it be.

“Fine, once it’s all sorted out, we can all be at ease. I have to get going; still need to buy your end-of-year gifts. I’m crazy busy.” Liu Zhong sighed helplessly.

This work of his, it’s either dead boring when idle or crazy busy when needed!

Especially now, as the year-end approaches. Chief Manager Qin said to give each worker a year-end gift with a hundred-cent budget, leaving him to figure out how to put it all together.

In his view, giving everyone a big red envelope with a hundred cents inside should make everyone happy.

But it seemed a bit thoughtless. Workers are the foundation of the stationery factory. Ignoring them would be inadvisable. If they start slacking off, it would be a headache for the steward.

Though everyone around in the village wants to work here, and there are plenty of workers to replace the disobedient ones.

But not everyone is replaceable. Experienced workers are definitely more valuable than new ones.

Besides, the year is ending, and everyone wants a satisfactory conclusion.

“Huh?” Liu Zhong called out in surprise, “Manager Qin, what are you doing here?”

Hearing this shout, Yun Niang and Liu Qi from the warehouse hurried out.

Seeing Qin Yao and Yang Fang, Yun Niang immediately realized they were here for her, and stepped forward to ask:

“Manager Qin, are you looking for me?”

Qin Yao nodded to the other two and summoned Yun Niang to her office.

Yang Fang returned to the painting group, and Yun Niang instructed her to get two people to move the paint to the warehouse, start a fire in the courtyard to heat the paint, so it would be much better once the hardened parts melted.

Even though Yang Fang said she remembered it all, Yun Niang was still uneasy. She couldn’t sit still in front of Qin Yao, frequently looking outside, worried about the heat control, afraid that Yang Fang and the others might ruin the paint.

Seeing her anxious look, Qin Yao knew she wanted to leave and spoke succinctly.

“I want you to take over Liu the carpenter’s position as General Manager. Think it over and let me know the result before the year-end meeting at the end of the month. Off you go.”

She opened the door, telling her to hurry and do what she wanted, and not to forget to reply.

Yun Niang didn’t move.

She was stunned.

“Manager Qin, did you just say you want me to be the General Manager?” Yun Niang’s voice trembled slightly.

Qin Yao tested her with a question, “Don’t you want the position? The General Manager’s monthly wage is one tael of silver, with additional festival bonuses and two dividends a year.”

“It’s not about want or not… this, this…” It’s not a question of desire!

Yun Niang’s heart raced as she asked, puzzled, “Am I capable? I’m a woman, and I’m afraid I can’t manage so many workers. I’m not as assertive as you, Manager Qin, and I can’t fight them. What if they don’t obey me?”

Qin Yao raised her eyebrows, seemingly discovering another shining point in Yun Niang’s character: her clarity.

“It’s indeed not easy, which is why I’m letting you think it over. But there’s something I need to tell you.”

Qin Yao leaned lazily against the door frame, “If I had said the same thing to any other steward in the factory, they would have been very confident and accepted immediately.”

“Can you guess why?”

Yun Niang shook her head, “Why? Although other stewards are doing well, I don’t think they are suitable as General Manager. We’re a woodworking factory, and they don’t know about our factory’s book boxes and stationery gift boxes. If you look for someone who can make a book box alone in the factory, there’s no one else but me who knows how to do it.”

This latter part of the sentence, Yun Niang said confidently, believing that in terms of woodworking, she was more skilled than the other stewards in the factory.

So, she still didn’t understand, “Why would they accept the position of General Manager immediately?”

Qin Yao’s lips curled slightly, “Because they’re used to it.”

Yun Niang found her smile peculiar, somewhat mocking, a bit contemptuous, like a forced smile.

“Yun Niang,” Qin Yao looked at her and smiled easily, “we women shouldn’t set our expectations too high.”

“Off you go, it seems Yang Fang and the others can’t quite manage the heat. Don’t let them ruin the paint.”

Qin Yao patted her shoulder, supporting her back with her palm, and pushed her gently forward, causing Yun Niang to stumble out the door.

Sure enough, in the front yard, Yang Fang and the female workers appeared unsure of what to do, flustered. Yun Niang put her thoughts aside and quickly ran over, “Pull out a few pieces of firewood; the fire’s too big. Didn’t I tell you to use charcoal…?”

The factory had wood everywhere, yet they started a fire outside the production room. It was so foolish it made her fume!

With Yun Niang’s guidance, the female workers finally calmed down. Even the older ones followed her instructions because she understood these things better.

Feeling the workers’ trustful gazes on her, Yun Niang’s actions became more composed.

She suddenly felt that maybe she could be a good General Manager after all.

But she still needed to carefully consider the issues she worried about. So, she needed more time to think.

With Liu the carpenter gone and no new General Manager appointed, the factory’s affairs were temporarily managed by Qin Yao alone.

Her management style was always straightforward and rough; within the rules, anything goes. Everyone handled their departments, dealt with their problems. If they couldn’t solve it, they would address it later, preventing herself from exhaustion.

In just one day, Qin Yao settled Liu the carpenter’s retirement, found a reserve, and transitioned the factory’s affairs.

As the sky darkened, the workers attending the literacy class in the factory had left, and Liu Ji came to call her home.

Thinking of hosting a dinner with everyone from the old house, Qin Yao finally set aside her tasks and got up.

In the freezing weather, the Ding Family School was already on break, so Ah Wang didn’t need to transport the kids to and from school, and he prepared dinner for tonight’s gathering.

But Mrs. Qiu still came early, carrying Da Mao on her back to help.

There was no need to call Jinhua. She and Jinbao had already gone to the third aunt’s house to find the Da Lang Brothers and Sisters. With candied hawthorns in hand, one for each, they played in the haystack in the back mountain.

He didn’t come because at the factory canteen while cooking and using the big ladle, he accidentally twisted a tendon in his shoulder, so he’ll need to rest for a few days.

Mrs. Qiu missed Hua’er greatly, who, though small, was helpful. Now the little girl had gone home with the mute, and both she and He felt the absence.

Mrs. Qiu thought about letting her daughter Jinhua help in the canteen for a couple of days, wiping tables or handing out dishes.

After all, practicing calligraphy in this cold weather made her hands stiff, so she might as well stay warm by the stove!

From the back mountain came Jinhua’s hearty laughter as the little girl, without a care in the world, played house with Si Niang in the haystack.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep