Chapter 441: Explanation

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Ah Zhuang’s mother was an outsider, a keeper of the secret recipe for making cured pig’s head. The product of her craft was a golden, glossy delight, each piece of meat exuding an irresistible aroma. Unlike the village folks whose cured meats often ended up spoiled or infested with maggots, her creation was flawless.

However, the villagers, skilled in the art of curing meats themselves, saw no reason to purchase hers. Attempts to sell the product in town or the city were futile due to its unappealing appearance. In the end, they could only watch as Ah Zhuang’s family reaped the extra income.

The new rule in the factory, which seemed to rob Ah Zhuang’s family of a substantial income, brought a sense of satisfaction to many.

However, Ah Zhuang, the one directly affected, was far from amused. He managed to keep his discontent hidden, not wanting to give others the satisfaction of seeing his discomfort. “Yes, we’re losing out,” he admitted, “but the Lin family is Brother Shen’s in-laws. Naturally, they should be prioritized.”

With that statement, Ah Zhuang successfully shifted the focus of the conflict. The Lin family was planning to start a braised meat business, and Su Shen had announced this policy. Wasn’t it clear that he was favorinq his wife’s family?

Everyone present understood the situation, but only Ah Zhuang dared to voice it out. After all, he was a veteran here, having followed Brother Shen since the inception of the pig farm.

Upon hearing Ah Zhuang’s words, the crowd exchanged puzzled glances, looking from Ah Zhuang to Gu Zi, who had yet to leave. Most of them remained silent.

One of them addressed Gu Zi, suggesting, “Sister-in-law, why don’t you go rest in the office? It’s awkward for us to speak freely with you here.” His tone was slightly mocking.

Gu Zi merely smiled, unperturbed. She looked at them and said, “Speak your minds, there’s no need to beat around the bush. I won’t get angry. I have to help with the braised meat business, but I have something to say to you all.”

When the boss’s wife had something to say, naturally, everyone would listen. Besides, disregarding the new welfare issue, everyone had a good impression of Gu Zi. She was beautiful, generous, and educated. For these rough men to have a conversation with a woman like her was a privilege.

“The reality is somewhat different from what you all imagine,” she began. “Today, I want to clarify everything once and for all. No matter how you view this matter in the future, I won’t explain it again. Those who understand will understand this time.” In other words, there was no point in explaining further to those who didn’t understand, as one can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.

“The Lin family’s braised meat business gets its raw materials from the pig farm – pig innards, pig heads, pig feet, and so on. We pay for all of it. It’s not as you all think, that because of my relationship, we get things for free to do business.

“You can check the invoices with my brother. You’ll see that the price the Lin family pays for the goods is 0.02 yuan higher than the employee price set by Su Shen.

“I’m explaining this not for any other reason, but to make it clear that the better the factory does, the better off everyone will be. This requires the factory to maximize its profits and prioritize earnings. Only then can the factory develop steadily. For the factory to improve, strict rules and regulations are fundamental. Where strictness is needed, we will be strict. Where human touch is needed, we will show human touch…”

As Gu Zi finished speaking, sporadic applause began to echo around him. Gradually, the clapping grew louder, more fervent.

Many faces in the crowd began to relax into smiles. “So, the Lin family is paying for their goods after all,” one person mused aloud. “Of course, the factory needs to make a profit. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t benefit any of us!”

Another chimed in, “We were the ones being narrow-minded. We shouldn’t have taken things from the factory without permission. Brother Shen never held it against us, he’s been more than fair.”

With Gu Zits words laid out so plainly, what more could anyone say? Upon reflection, they realized she was right. If even the sister-in-law’s family had to abide by the rules when taking goods, then they should too. Moreover, this system emphasized discipline without depriving the employees of their benefits.

On the contrary, it established a special employee discount. From now on, buying meat would be cheaper for them than before. This system not only saved face for the employees but also saved them money. If there were still complaints, it would be a clear sign of ingratitude.

The faces of the crowd brightened as they listened to the ringing of the bell. One by one, they greeted Gu Zi before heading off to work.

Only Ah Zhuang’s face remained dark. He had already lost his part-time position to the old woman surnamed Yang, and now he was also losing his year-end bonus.. How was he supposed to cope with this? After all, it was all

about the money!