"Yangzi, we now have six factory buildings, with four more under construction. We estimate we can accommodate two thousand people for production simultaneously."
"With our current workforce, your order for 400,000 cans of fermented fish can be completed in at most two months. If we're faster, we can ship it in a month and a half."
Director Liu gazed at the newly built factory buildings, his heart brimming with pride.
Secretary Chen attached great importance to the fermented fish factory. Not only Secretary Chen, but even Secretary Lan from the city also paid close attention to it. If he did a good job with the fermented fish factory, his promotion was practically guaranteed.
Of course, doing a good job with the fermented fish factory wasn't solely for promotion; it was about helping the common people live better lives.
Putting it simply, Liu Fuchun could confidently say that compared to all the previous directors of Wanli Commune, he was definitely one who had helped his fellow villagers improve their lives.
Years later, perhaps the villagers would still remember that it was under his leadership, Liu Fuchun's, that their lives improved, they could afford meat, and their children could afford to study.
Of course, Liu Fuchun also understood that the villagers would probably remember Chen Yang more. But that was only natural; without Chen Yang, he truly wouldn't have the ability to help all the villagers live better lives.
"Director Liu, you've gone through a lot of trouble for me during this period. Don't worry, the old Party branch secretary and Grandpa Tu are also helping me keep an eye out for any promising young people who are worth nurturing to help manage the factory in the future."
"If you have time, please help me watch out for them too, so we can select people to manage the factory, and you can enjoy some leisure time sooner."
Chen Yang had a pretty good relationship with Liu Fuchun. After all, Liu Fuchun had supported him from the very beginning when Chen Yang was collecting fish. They could be considered friends who had gone through thick and thin together.
"You brat, you're something else. We old folks are slaving away for you, and you've become a hands-off boss, just going off to study."
Liu Fuchun teased Chen Yang. He wasn't genuinely displeased.
"Director Liu, you're mistaken. I'm out there securing orders. The most important thing in business is sales channels. Otherwise, even if I sat at home managing the factory every day, I couldn't expand the scale, let alone hire more people. Not going bankrupt would be a miracle."
"Also, when you mention school, my head starts to spin. I just reported for registration, and it's been almost a month since I've been to school. I don't even know if the school will expel me."
Chen Yang looked distressed. This time, he wasn't faking it; he was genuinely having a headache.
"This is quite a predicament. Look, how about this? We can issue a certificate explaining the situation, emphasizing that we asked you to return, and describing the contributions our factory has made to Liuhe County."
"Isn't the purpose of schools to cultivate students who will contribute to the nation and serve society? You are currently serving society and the people, so how can that be wrong?"
Liu Fuchun was indeed a commune director. The way he said it, no one could refute him.
"Director Liu, then I'll trouble you. Write it with some emotional appeal. Your pen might just save my life later."
Chen Yang was in a 'might as well try' mindset. If it didn't work, fine. If it did, even better.
After returning from Director Liu's place, Chen Yang discussed with the old Party branch secretary and Grandpa Tu about how to cultivate management personnel, and then prepared to return to Shanghai.
In Shanghai, he had promised to prepare the US dollars within a month. He had spent half a month in Hong Kong, and after returning, he had been busy with expanding the fermented fish factory and recruiting new employees for almost half a month.
The Third Radio Factory in Shanghai hadn't been able to contact him, and they were probably getting anxious.
...
"Dad, Mom, you're really not coming to Shanghai with us? It's a big city there, very prosperous."
After arranging the matters of the fermented fish factory, Chen Yang prepared to take Shen Xue and the three little ones to Shanghai the next morning.
He hadn't brought Shen Xue along before because she was still in confinement, and Chen Peng was still too young to endure the journey.
Now that the children were a little older, with careful attention during the trip, it should be fine.
For the sake of Shen Xue and the little ones, Chen Yang shamelessly begged Zou Chenguang to find a leader in the railway system to personally arrange six sleeper tickets.
In those days, getting sleeper tickets without the help of railway personnel was impossible.
"I have to look after the winery; where would I find the time to go to Shanghai? Besides, you're just leaving such a large fermented fish factory here. What if someone has ulterior motives?"
"You're my son-in-law. If I, your father-in-law, don't look after your family business, who will!"
"Your mother and I have been together for over half our lives; we can't live without each other. You all go, just go. Leave us two old bones at home."
The first two sentences explained why the father-in-law was unwilling to leave. The latter part was a complaint.
Taking his three darling grandchildren to Shanghai would mean he wouldn't hear their laughter anymore, nor could he play with them. How could he not be upset!
"Dad, when Chen Yang has a holiday, we'll be back. If you and Mom miss the children, just take the train to Shanghai for a few days."
"You're only leaving for a few days; the sky won't fall."
Chen Yang comforted his father-in-law. His future family business would only grow larger. Frankly, Chen Yang didn't even consider his father-in-law's current business as significant.
If it weren't for his father-in-law still wanting to buy back the ancestral property of the Shen family, Chen Yang would have directly taken them all to Shanghai.
In life, not everything can be perfect according to your wishes.
If the father-in-law didn't want to be separated from the children, he could completely go to Shanghai with Chen Yang. The money Chen Yang earned was more than enough; he wouldn't hold back on how much his father-in-law wanted to spend.
"Easier said than done. Don't think I don't know how far Shanghai is; it's thousands of miles away."
"Go, go. A daughter is no longer her father's own once she's married. I'm content that you've stayed with us for so many years."
"If you bring my darling grandchildren back to see your mother and me often when you have time, I'll be happy."
The old man felt a knot in his heart. He was determined to save money as quickly as possible, accumulate enough, and reclaim the ancestral property. Then, the winery would only need to maintain its operations.
He wouldn't bother with anything else. He would spend his time with his darling grandchildren. If his second daughter got married and had children, he would help her raise them too.
"Dad, don't worry. If I have a holiday, I'll bring the children back to see you two elders."
Chen Yang knew the old man's intentions and didn't expose him.
There was no grand farewell. As dawn broke, taking his wife and children, they set off. Zhang Dabiao and Liu Yong accompanied them.
Third Radio Factory in Shanghai, your US dollars are coming!
Once these 500,000 US dollars arrive, Chen Yang could already imagine the wonderful scene of his factory obtaining a television production line and manufacturing televisions.
In the 1980s, selling electronics was a seller's market with a severe supply shortage. As long as there was production capacity, it was like picking up money. Anyone could do it!