From the workshop, Xu Zheng looked at Zhan Jingrui with expectant eyes. Zhan Jingrui felt that the equipment was decent, and the product variety and quality looked good. After all, cooperation was cooperation, and he could give him a chance.
He agreed to his request.
"Let's talk after I join the company this afternoon. I'll give you an answer by tomorrow morning at the latest."
Xu Zheng thanked him profusely and offered to drive him back. Zhan Jingrui refused.
As Xu Zheng was curious about the young lady in the workshop, he didn't insist.
After watching Zhan Jingrui leave the industrial zone, he turned back to the workshop.
He easily found He Yao.
He Yao was continuing her previous work, inspecting the machinery. Xu Zheng circled her twice, then slapped his thigh, as if struck by a sudden realization.
"I knew she looked familiar! You're He Yao! Heavens, I've been looking for you for so many years, thinking you'd gone somewhere else, only to find you right here!"
"When did you join the factory? I didn't even know you were working under me! Didn't you recognize me? I'm Xu Zheng, and the person just now was Zhan Jingrui. We were old classmates!"
He Yao paused for two seconds, then looked up at him calmly.
"I still have work to do. Are you done talking? If you're done, can you move aside?"
He wasn't entirely sure at first, but after hearing this sentence and the tone, he was convinced it was her!
This girl, who used to be a cool goddess in school, had now become like a tomboy. Heh!
Xu Zheng peppered her with questions.
When did she join the factory, how did she end up in this job, what was her current position in the workshop, and was she interested in working in the office building?
He rattled off a string of questions. He Yao showed little interest and put down the wrench in her hand.
"I don't want to go anywhere. I'm quite happy with my current job. Boss Xu, it's working hours now, and I'm just an employee. Please don't make things difficult for me. If you're finished talking, please leave."
With that, she pushed her cart and went to inspect other machines.
Xu Zheng watched her busy back, lost in thought for a few seconds, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.
He hadn't been very confident about cooperating with Zhan Jingrui based on their classmate relationship alone. Now that he had He Yao, it added a bit more leverage. Heh heh.
He immediately drove back to the company and asked the HR department to look up He Yao's information.
Soon, the HR specialist informed him that He Yao had been working at the factory for over seven years. She was previously a line worker and was now the production supervisor of Assembly Workshop One.
She lived in the dormitory provided by the factory and earned a monthly salary of 7,000.
The factory had been acquired two years ago from someone else, and Xu Zheng wasn't familiar with that part of the operation. If he had been, he might have discovered He Yao's presence earlier.
But whether it was early or late, knowing of her existence was a good thing.
In school, many people pursued her, and he hadn't had much advantage. He Yao had been indifferent to him.
Now that she was his employee, it wouldn't do for Xu Zheng to not make his presence felt!
He asked the HR specialist to call the workshop director and ask He Yao to come to the office building. The HR specialist asked what she was needed for.
"As an assistant. I've always needed an assistant. She knows a lot about product performance. You don't need her consent, just inform her that He Yao is to report for duty tomorrow."
In the afternoon, the director returned to work and delivered the message to He Yao. He Yao said she wouldn't go.
The director was a workshop veteran in his fifties, the very mentor who had discovered He Yao's potential and promoted her from a frontline employee.
Seeing He Yao's attitude, he couldn't help but offer a reminder.
"As a girl, you can't spend your whole life in the workshop dealing with machines. There's not much future in it, no matter how long you stay. Since the leader fancies you, seize the opportunity to move up."
"It's so much better to work in the clean office every day. Besides, the people you meet there are of a higher caliber. You might even find a good match for marriage in the future."
"Listen to your师傅, and report for duty tomorrow. I've already inquired about your salary; you'll receive the same level as you do now, so you don't have to worry about that."
He had no idea what He Yao's real worries were.
She had dropped out of high school, and her education wasn't enough to support her in the office building.
Her personality and her relationship with Xu Zheng were also not very suitable.
Xu Zheng was boisterous and had a close relationship with Zhan Jingrui. She didn't want any further entanglement with Zhan Jingrui.
She had finally found some peace.
However, her师傅 told her she had no choice; she had to go, whether she wanted to or not.
"The HR department has already issued the notification. If you don't go, you'll have to explain it to Mr. Xu yourself."
He Yao didn't have Xu Zheng's phone number and didn't know where the office building was. She thought to herself, if they really forced her, she could just quit and start over at another factory.
In any case, she didn't want any more involvement with them.
Seeing her stubborn attitude, her师傅 called the office on her behalf.
The HR specialist informed Xu Zheng, who was furious.
He Yao truly didn't know what was good for her.
The workshop was dirty, noisy, and chaotic. What was so good about it? Wasn't it better to be by his side?
He personally went to the workshop to find He Yao again.
"I heard you don't want to go. What's wrong? Don't you trust me, your old classmate, or are you afraid I'll lower your benefits and treatment?"
He Yao said, "You're the boss, and I'm just an employee. I wouldn't dare call myself your old classmate. There's still a lot of work left in the workshop, and if I leave, no one will cover my post. Besides, I'm not suited to be an assistant."
"Those aren't things you need to worry about. If you're concerned about those matters, there's no need. I'll arrange for someone to replace you."
He Yao remained silent, head bowed. Xu Zheng took a breath.
"What's wrong with you now? You're so hesitant. It's not like your old bold and outspoken personality."
"Or perhaps you haven't received a raise after the position change, and you're playing hard to get with me?"
Since it had come to this, He Yao decided to admit it.
"My师傅 said that being transferred to be your assistant is a promotion, but I'm not getting a single cent raise?"
Her words choked Xu Zheng. After a two-second pause, he said,
"Alright, alright. I'll give you a raise. I'll raise it to 8,000, okay? Base salary of 8,000, and once we secure the business from Zhan Corporation, you'll get a 0.1% commission."
"Zhan Corporation is so large. If we land it, you'll earn over ten thousand a month, won't that be better than staying here? I've met all your conditions. Is there anything else to discuss now?"
He Yao hadn't expected Xu Zheng to be so eager for her to be his assistant that he would agree to a raise so readily.
But she really didn't want to go.
Xu Zheng didn't know about her past with Zhan Jingrui, but she knew it clearly.
And to deal with Zhan Corporation again? She was trying to avoid them!
"You're looking down on me too much. Since it's a promotion, at least give me a raise to 10,000. A base salary of 10,000, and a 0.5% commission. If you agree to that, I'll be your assistant."
He Yao thought her demands were excessive and that Xu Zheng would surely fly into a rage.
But she had no idea what Xu Zheng was calculating in his mind.
After weighing the long-term development, he gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and agreed.