The head of the human resources department, a woman in her forties, had reached her limit with Qian Yuanyuan’s brazen arrogance. If it weren’t for Deputy Factory Director Qian being her father, she would have long since shown the girl the way out of the door. Now, hearing Qian Yuanyuan’s audacious request to join Xiao Xu on a business trip, a sly eagerness sparked within her. So many witnesses, all hearing this girl volunteer herself. If Deputy Factory Director Qian were to complain later, it would be entirely on Qian Yuanyuan’s head, not hers.
“Director Xu,” she declared, feigning a magnanimous air, “although Qian Yuanyuan is young, she has a progressive heart. If she wants to go, then let’s allow her.”
Xu Ying had harbored a similar thought, realizing the HR director’s subtle maneuver. When Deputy Factory Director Qian eventually discovered his precious daughter was enduring hardships outside , there would be nothing Xu Ying could do to assuage his distress. “Alright then,” Xu Ying said, putting on a show of reluctant embarrassment. “You can come with us.”
Zhou Yi’s face instantly darkened. This woman is utterly useless! Isn’t she just going to cause trouble for all of them ?
Qian Yuanyuan, fearing Xu Ying might backtrack, immediately swore, “I will definitely work hard, and I’ll never cause you any trouble!”
“Director, we can’t let her go; she can’t do anything!” Zhou Yi retorted, exasperated.
Xu Ying patted his shoulder. “Zhou Yi, Qian Yuanyuan is so eager to contribute, naturally, I can’t disappoint her. We’re already short-staffed. Perhaps you feel sorry for her?”
Qian Yuanyuan’s eyes gleamed with expectation. Zhou Yi’s face was a thundercloud; he certainly did not feel sorry for her. “No,” he grumbled.
“Alright, that’s settled than . Let’s go.”
Xu Ying’s command sent a sudden jolt through Qian Yuanyuan. “I haven’t packed my things yet!” she exclaimed. Could she really travel in this outfit? Absolutely not.
“Director , I just said she can’t do it!” Zhou Yi immediately capitalized on the moment. “Don’t take her with you!”
Qian Yuanyuan, however, was equally determined. “Let’s go now; I’ll buy clothes when we get there!”
A triumphant smile played on Xu Ying’s face. “Our factory should have more girls like Qian Yuanyuan, eager to contribute!”
Qian Yuanyuan’s gaze shifted to Xu Ying, a sneer twisting her lips, her eyes filled with undisguised hostility. She was here to snatch Zhou Yi away from this woman. Xu Ying, feigning ignorance, simply played along with the girl’s antics until they reached their destination.
Director Niu had been waiting patiently at the factory gate. Upon seeing Xu Ying and her team, he immediately brought forward the staff he had gathered to accompany her. “This is Director Xiao Xu from our design department, also the director of the R&D department at the food factory. You all will follow Xiao Xu’s arrangements.” Director Niu addressed his own staff before turning to Xu Ying. “Xiao Xu, I’ve sent everything as you requested. I’ll be waiting for your news back at the factory and I wish you all the very best for this trip!”
Xu Ying nodded, appreciating Director Niu’s straightforwardness.
Xu Ying’s formidable team now consisted of five people from the food factory, three from the textile factory, herself, and Uncle Xu—a total of ten people. As they headed toward the train station with purposeful strides. This time, Xu Ying was leading them directly to the county capital City. In today’s most developed regions, establishing the reputation of their food and textile factories in thecounty capital City would be a significant step toward success. But Xu Ying’s ambition extended far beyond the county capital City; it was merely a gateway. Her ultimate goal was to penetrate both the domestic and international markets, generating export revenue for their nation.
The train journey from Yuxian County to county capital City was a full day and night. Fortunately, Xu Ying and her companions secured seats together. They couldn’t afford sleeping berths, so they all purchased seated tickets. Besides Xu Ying and Qian Yuanyuan, who were both young women, the group included a senior sales officer from the textile factory, a lady in her thirties named Qiao Yuzhu. She was once the backbone of the sales department, poised to become the next sales director, but then Uncle Xu, an outsider with no sales experience, had abruptly taken the position. This had left Qiao Yuzhu deeply resentful of both Uncle Xu and Xu Ying. Especially with Xu Ying’s youth and her insistence on these “food tasting” events, Qiao Yuzhu’s anger simmered, boiling over the moment they boarded the train.
“Director Sun is truly generous,” Qiao Yuzhu began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Our textile factory only produces samples for people to see and try on. I hear this food factory directly allows people to try their products? Food vanishes the moment it enters the mouth. In a place as vast as the county capital City, with so many people, how much food will they need?” She turned her gaze to Xu Ying. “Director Xu, you’re young and may not understand the value of food, but you shouldn’t waste it like this.”
As Qiao Yuzhu spoke, everyone else on the train pricked up their ears, eager to listen. Zhou Yi and Yang Nan, being under Xu Ying’s direct management, were naturally inclined to support her. However, the other employees from the food and textile factories were all older than Xu Ying and seasoned sales personnel, accustomed to thinking strategically. Now, they began to wonder if Xu Ying was easily exploited.
“What this aunt says is wrong,” Xu Ying retorted, her voice firm. “What is a waste of food? It’s a waste of food if you don’t eat it! I’m taking it to be tasted, to be given to the people. How can that be considered a waste of food? As for whether it’s enough, that’s our factory’s concern. Even our factory director doesn’t mind spending money, so why are you starting to feel sorry for us? Since you’re so warm-hearted, Auntie, why don’t you help us buy it all ?”
At Xu Ying’s words fell , Qiao Yuzhu’s face flushed green and then white. She immediately clutched at her pockets in distress. She was just an employee; how could she possibly fund a large factory?
“I don’t have any money to support it,” Qiao Yuzhu spluttered, “I just feel sorry for the food.”
“Haha!” Xu Ying laughed, with a sharp edge to her voice. “You’re a salesperson, aren’t you? Don’t you know how to sell a product? If you don’t let everyone know how good your product is, how can people buy it out of their own pockets? Are we wasting it? No! We are opening channels, integrating our products into the collective consciousness, and allowing everyone to better taste our delicious food!”
“That’s right!” Uncle Xu interjected, his voice booming. “Is it possible that we’re like you, standing in the toilet without shit, staying in that office every day, waiting for business to come to you? Why do you have such a big face? Why would people come to you for no reason? Or do you think this kind of life is very comfortable, and you just plan to be a moth? If you stand at your post and don’t work, you will just sit back and eat at the factory.”
Qiao Yuzhu’s face turned beet red with fury listening to there words , her eyes blazing with anger.
“Do any of you have the same idea as her?” Xu Ying turned to look at the others, her gaze sweeping over them. They immediately shook their heads. They wouldn’t dare claim to be unmotivated employees; that would be akin to waiting to be exploited by the factory director!
Xu Ying’s eyelids lifted slightly, and she cast an indifferent glance around the crowd. After surviving the apocalypse for so long, she exuded a subtle, chilling aura. Her single glance sent a shiver through everyone. “You dare to follow me when the factory director orders me. If anyone is unconvinced, get out of here!”
Everyone instinctively recoiled, their necks shrinking. They stared at Xu Ying, who seemed to have transformed, emanating a palpable murderous intent. They nodded vigorously, timid as quails. Uncle Xu, too, was startled by his niece. He looked at her with newfound admiration. Indeed, the Xu family is truly formidable.
Qiao Yuzhu’s face was pale. The sheer force of Xu Ying’s aura had made her lower her eyes in fear. For a moment, she felt as if she were facing Director Sun’s wrath all over again.