Chapter 34#

Although he stayed up until after 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, Chen Yuanming was dragged out of bed by his mother early the next morning.

“What time is it? Hurry up and get up to tidy up!”

Wang Juan deftly flattened the two quilts on the bed and spread a brand-new bedspread on top. The large peony pattern was both rich and festive, instantly brightening the room. The curtains were hung with magpies on branches, and the light bulb was replaced with a 60-watt one. The whole family put on new clothes and dressed neatly. This was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and people were coming to pay New Year’s greetings, so how could they be sloppy?

Digging out the leftovers from last night, heating them up made a breakfast. This was not purely for saving, but a custom that knives should not be used on the first day of the New Year, and one should eat “surplus wealth”. After eating quickly, they busily set up the fruit plate, took out melon seeds and peanuts, and waited for relatives to come.

In City L, only one family would come to visit on the first day of the New Year, that was Chen Yuanming’s uncle Wang Tao. Sitting on the bed watching TV, Chen Yuanming would involuntarily look at the door every few minutes. Having been back for so many days, it was only then that he realized he wanted to see Yuanyuan, that once gloomy and inferior cousin, more than he imagined. Compared to the numbers in the account, perhaps this was the most intuitive manifestation of his changed life.

Just past a quarter past ten, there was a knock on the door. Chen Yuanming rushed up in two or three steps and opened the door. Standing at the door were two children, one big and one small. The boy was about 12 or 13 years old, and the girl was only about 10 years old. Both were stunned when they saw Chen Yuanming. Then the boy reacted first, shouted “Happy New Year, Cousin!” and rushed in.

Being rushed by this half-grown boy, Chen Yuanming almost lost his footing. He grabbed the little guy by the collar and shoved him to his mother. He turned his head and looked at the little girl at the door with a shy smile.

“Yuanyuan, do you still recognize me?” Chen Yuanming squatted down slightly and smiled. Having not seen her for two years, the little girl had become more and more beautiful. Her eyes were big and round, with a pair of appropriately thick willow eyebrows, red lips and white teeth, and two little pigtails. She was indescribably cute.

This little guy didn’t seem to be afraid of strangers. She blinked her big eyes twice and sweetly called out “Cousin”. After thinking about it, she added “Happy New Year”. She looked carefree, completely different from the gloomy look with straight bangs and black-rimmed glasses in his impression. His heart suddenly warmed. Chen Yuanming reached out and touched the top of the little girl’s head, whispering, “Happy New Year to you too.”

Less than half a minute later, the two adults also entered the house. The TV was turned to the replay of the Spring Festival Gala. The family cracked melon seeds, watched TV, and talked and laughed lively. The topic somehow turned to the little girl. Wang Tao boasted with pride on his face, “Don’t look at Yuanyuan being small, she is very strong. It was so uncomfortable to have the surgery again, but she didn’t cry or make a fuss. She took two months off from school and her grades didn’t fall behind. I think she will definitely be admitted to Tuo No. 1 Middle School this time!”

His aunt Sun Jiajia also smiled and followed, “Thanks to the help from Second Sister’s family, otherwise we wouldn’t know how to pay for Yuanyuan’s surgery fee. The factory’s efficiency has improved a bit in the past two years. It is said that wages will be raised at the beginning of the year. When we save enough, we must pay back the money!”

How could Wang Juan listen to this? She repeatedly declined, “Look at what you are saying. When the elderly in the family were sick back then, if it weren’t for your family’s help, we wouldn’t have made it through. Which family doesn’t have difficulties? There is no need to calculate so clearly. Besides, isn’t the Tuo Factory going to allocate houses this year? Little brother, as a team leader, you can definitely get one, right? There are so many places to spend money, let’s prioritize important things first. Now my Doudou can also make money, really not short of money to spend.”

Sun Jiajia definitely loved to hear these words. When they lent money to Second Sister’s family back then, they also tightened their belts to live, and had quite a few conflicts with her husband at that time. But look at now, they didn’t forget us after getting rich. This is a proper relative! Thinking about it, she quickly grabbed a handful of melon seeds and put them in Chen Yuanming’s hand, who was teasing the little girl aside. “That’s right, Doudou is amazing! When he went out to work back then, who would have thought the situation would become like this? Didn’t our national leaders say that we should go into business and open up? Only people with Doudou’s vision can make money.”

Surrounded by flattery, Chen Yuanming smiled, picked up the melon seeds, and started cracking them. It was really different. Compared to the conservative social atmosphere in 1991, the Southern Tour was like a real spring breeze, making this country begin to sprout and stir. According to his parents, dozens of people resigned from the factory and went into business this year. The Guangzhou market was no longer a lonely department store, but surrounded by rows of small shops. Night markets were set up with various stalls. It seemed that overnight, the whole people had the enthusiasm for business and began to run towards a beautiful “money future”.

However, although this change changed some people, more people were still content with the status quo. The state-owned enterprises of this era were like a giant umbrella holding up the sky, blocking most people’s sight and making them satisfied with food and clothing. Getting rich first or later was said to be luck and strength, but in the final analysis, it was courage and vision. However, neither his parents nor his uncle’s family currently had such conditions…

Putting down the melon seed shells in his hand, without interrupting the heated chat between his mother and aunt, Chen Yuanming smiled and sat next to his uncle. “Uncle, the factory’s efficiency has been good in the past two years, right? You got promoted, and getting rich is not far away.”

Wang Tao replied with a smile, “Don’t listen to your aunt’s nonsense. In the past two years, only a few branch factories of Tuo Factory have had good profits. For unpopular departments like ours, it’s good enough to maintain efficiency.” Saying that, he lowered his voice slightly, “But I heard from above that the factory wants to prepare for a heavy-duty truck project in the next two years. The higher-ups intend to take this over. If it succeeds, then life will have something to look forward to.”

Chen Yuanming frowned slightly. Currently, domestic heavy-duty trucks already had a trend of fragmentation. Mature models like Dongfeng, Jiefang, and Steyr already had considerable market share. Manufacturers like Shaanxi Automobile, Sinotruk, and XCMG were even more ready to go. These factories would flourish in the next twenty years and swallow the entire Chinese freight market. Heavy-duty trucks were a business that could make big money, but he had run freight in his previous life and was a native of City L. How could he not know the stumble Tuo Factory took on heavy-duty trucks? Hundreds of millions of investment were wasted in the end. Coupled with the backward management model, Tuo Factory slumped in the next ten years and it was difficult to turn over.

Entering the heavy-duty truck project at this time was undoubtedly betting one’s future on it. He remembered that in his previous life, his uncle finally stopped at the position of workshop director of the Ductile Iron Branch Factory and couldn’t move a step further. Was it because of this reason? However, thinking was one thing, but no one would listen if he poured cold water at this time. Chen Yuanming smiled.

“That would be great. But Uncle, your Ductile Iron Branch Factory is not as good as the Assembly or Diesel Engine Branch Factory. No matter what car is built, it cannot do without the core, right? Now the higher-ups are starting to form factions. If the heavy-duty truck project is really separated into an Automobile Branch Factory, Uncle, are you confident about entering the management sequence of the new branch factory?”

These words stunned Wang Tao. Yes, he had never thought about this problem carefully. Now there were plenty of people finding ways and fighting to get close to this side. He was just looking at the advantages of being in a favorable position, without considering his own position! If relying on qualifications and networks, his little bit was really not enough. If he entered the new branch factory and was still a small dispatcher, then what was the point?

But he couldn’t say this to his nephew. Wang Tao smiled, “Look at what you said, this matter is not even certain yet. Why worry so much first? Just knowing it in our hearts is enough.”

Chen Yuanming smiled and didn’t say anything more. Knowing some things in one’s heart was enough. As long as his uncle used his mind a little, went against the current, took himself out of the new branch factory, and entered the assembly or power department, then he would not be implicated by the failure of the project later. And in Tuo Factory, assembly and power were the real core departments and also profitable departments with great potential. If they could become bigger and stronger, it was not impossible to separate into a new factory. Tuo Factory’s influence in the whole of China in the early years was significant. It was just that the business model limited its growth, but in terms of connotation and heritage, it would not lose to any emerging enterprise.

“Doudou, don’t just talk about your uncle.” Sun Jiajia joked over there, “Your dad is also a technical model. He has worked diligently in the factory for so long and is still a commoner. In these years, you really can’t just bury your head in hard work. You have to follow the leaders closely and build good relationships with the higher-ups. Is my Taozi’s technology really that strong? I don’t think so. You still have to be socially adept!”

Wang Juan smiled awkwardly, looked at her husband, and sighed softly. How could she not know? Countless people who entered the factory at the same time became team leaders and section chiefs, and not a few became directors. But her husband’s clumsy mouth, it was good enough not to offend people, let alone please others.

Chen Yuanming also looked at his father sitting aside, showing a bit of embarrassment. Since he could remember, his father had always been working overtime, pouring almost all his enthusiasm into work, working from dawn to dusk, conscientiously, and never complaining about being tired. Responsibility and family burden made him refine his skills to be extremely pure, just to get some more overtime subsidies. But his rural background and lack of education made this man lose basic self-confidence, and he also pressed his full expectations and unwillingness on his son, causing long-term tension in the father-son relationship.

If his father could also take this step and step into a higher position, would the depression in his heart also be cleared?

Thinking of this, Chen Yuanming smiled, “Yes, Dad, our family is not short of money now. Don’t always think about working overtime. It’s better to find more ways. Buy some gifts during the New Year to visit the branch factory director, or find a way to build a relationship with the workshop director. Human feelings are always necessary. More interaction is never harmful.”

These words immediately won the unanimous approval of his uncle and aunt. Listening to the agreement of her brother and sister-in-law, even Wang Juan’s heart warmed up. Looking at her husband who was still struggling, she made a decision secretly in her heart. Exactly, it’s just giving a gift and paying a New Year’s visit. It won’t cause anything bad. Now their family has money, but is having money enough? She also wanted to live in a bigger house and live a better life!

At noon, the family had lunch in the small room. The steaming traditional stewed dishes, mixing fried hairtail, meat and vegetable balls, fried pork slices, mushrooms, and dried tofu in one pot, then sprinkling with thick pepper and pouring some vinegar. It was sour and spicy, indescribably delicious! The meal was enjoyed by both hosts and guests. The cousins each got a big red envelope of 50 yuan. This happy atmosphere never dissipated.

Early the next morning, Wang Juan dragged Chen Jianhua out of the room, brought the Wuliangye and Soft Chunghwa brought back by her son, and bought two big bags of fruits to pay New Year’s greetings to the leader’s house. This couple might not understand how much their gifts were worth, but how could the recipient not understand? When they returned home that day, the couple both had joyful smiles, looking like they had received quite a courteous reception. Chen Yuanming didn’t say much, just shared some more of his stash, encouraging his parents to keep up the good work.

That night, when he finally lay in bed after two days of exhaustion, the anxiety lingering in Chen Yuanming’s heart seemed to have lessened a lot. Although for various reasons, what he could do for the family now was not much, but step by step, wasn’t it a thoroughfare?

Thinking of the little girl acting coquettishly and smiling sweetly beside him, Chen Yuanming revealed a determined smile.