Aunt Xu felt a bit sympathetic towards Section Chief Meng. This meant he'd have to leave with nothing and give two-thirds of his salary to his ex-wife.
"Section Chief Meng definitely won't agree to that."
Xie Sui said, "It's alright, I respect his decision. Uncle Xu, draft a divorce agreement. We'll get this settled today. Oh, Sister Cao, how many children do you have?"
"Three, two boys and one girl."
"That's good. If your three children can go to school, you come to the factory. Uncle Xu will arrange a job for you. Women need their own lives too. Spending all day around children and the kitchen is so boring."
Aunt Xu agreed, "Exactly. Since I started working, I feel like I'm actually living. Back home, I worked in the fields, and then came home to cook and serve the whole family. It felt like there wasn't a moment to catch my breath. Working is so much better. It's clean, dignified, out of the wind and rain, with people to chat with, and a salary. The factory has a canteen, so I don't have to cook. I feel half as relaxed."
Sister Cao looked envious, "Sister, you're so lucky."
"Lucky? It's all endured. My late husband was a 'sent-down youth' and didn't know how to work in the fields. I liked his looks, so I married him. Those years weren't easy. Wanwan worked even harder. When Xiao Sui was a troublemaker, Wanwan used the money from selling grain to indulge him. She cried so many times out of anger. I felt heartbroken watching her."
Xie Sui felt awkward, "Auntie, don't talk about me. I was a troublemaker, but I didn't chase women. You can't blame me for that."
Lin Wanwan added, "That's because you had no money. People didn't look at you. Don't you remember Zhao Xuefei?"
That jab made Xie Sui want to disappear into the ground.
"Go find Section Chief Meng. Is the agreement ready? How capable is Section Chief Meng? Is he just a pretty but useless pillow?"
Uncle Xu replied, "His capabilities are certainly good. He knows how to handle things, has high emotional intelligence, and a wide network. He's done quite well in procurement."
Xie Sui thought for a moment, "Procurement is beneath him. How about this, give him a position as deputy factory director. His salary will be increased by twenty percent, and he'll also get a larger living space when the factory distributes housing in the future. Sister Cao's two children will need to get married someday, and a bigger house will accommodate them."
Sister Cao was incredibly grateful. Factory Director Xie was so kind to consider her needs. She would definitely repay him in the future.
It wasn't that Xie Sui didn't have his reasons. If men have no money, they'll have wicked thoughts. Procurement is the most suspicious area, involving kickbacks and using inferior products. He couldn't let him stay in that position.
Section Chief Meng came in. Xie Sui spoke with him, "Section Chief Meng, please sit. I've just learned about the situation. I've decided to promote you to deputy factory director."
Section Chief Meng thought he would be punished, but instead, he was promoted. Although it wouldn't be as lucrative as procurement, the salary and benefits of a deputy factory director were two levels higher, and he'd oversee more people with greater authority.
"Thank you, Director."
"Don't thank me yet. Look at this. Sign it, and then the deputy factory director position is yours."
Xie Sui was offering a sweet treat before the stick.
Section Chief Meng's face grew darker as he read, "This, this is too harsh! I'll have nothing left but one-third of my salary. How will I live?"
Xie Sui said coldly, "A deputy factory director's salary is over three hundred a month. We'll leave you over a hundred. You eat at the factory, and renting a place will cost at most ten or twenty yuan. Where would that not be enough? Sister Cao is raising three children, who are also your children. Shouldn't you be paying child support? Three children need food, education, clothes, and so on. All that costs money. Do you think children grow up on thin air? I've already been very considerate. We're both men. I despise irresponsible people like you the most. Are you willing or not? For your true love, you don't want to pay anything, and you want all the good things? Is there any justice in this world?"
Section Chief Meng was so cornered he couldn't speak.
Sister Cao sneered, "I'll leave all the children with you and take one-third of the salary. I won't ask for anything else. Factory Director Xie said he'd arrange a job for me at the factory. I don't need to be a neglected wife anymore. Let your darling wash clothes, cook, and serve your family. Anyway, the children are in elementary school and are sensible now. They won't disown me as their mother. As for you, is that vixen twenty yet? Your eldest daughter is thirteen. If she moves in, will she call you sister or stepmother?"
Sister Cao, after being brainwashed by Xie Sui, had a change of heart. She had money and a job, and the children could take care of themselves. She could just consider the little enchantress moving in as a free nanny for the children. She wanted to see how long they'd last dealing with daily expenses, children fighting, and so on.
Section Chief Meng, who had been moved, was defeated by the issue of the children's relationship with Chen Xiaodie. If they became a family, wouldn't they be laughed at?
"Can I consider it?"
"No, decide now. While you're considering, I'm also considering, and I might change my mind. There are no such good deals." Xie Sui wasn't giving him time to hesitate, intending to resolve this quickly.
"Alright, I'll sign. But in the future, when the factory really distributes housing, can't I have a say?"
"No, the house is for your two sons. There's a new stepmother and a new father. We're both men. If there's no real affection, how cruel can one be? I know that. So it must go to Sister Cao."
Lin Wanwan found it amusing that he would insult himself while scolding others.
Section Chief Meng finally signed. Xie Sui then instructed Uncle Xu to get the divorce certificate. The matter was decisively settled in one day.
The workers felt Factory Director Xie was a bit harsh, but Section Chief Meng also benefited. He was promoted, got a raise, and gained his beloved. In the end, both sides had something to gain, and there was no better solution.
Chen Xiaodie was the happiest. With Section Chief Meng divorced, they could now come and go together, commuting to work and living a loving, happy life without having to be secretive. Although she had to pay child support, there was still over a hundred yuan left. Her own salary was only a little over thirty, so over a hundred was a considerable amount.
Her joy didn't last long. The personnel department notified her, "Chen Xiaodie, you are terminated due to matters of personal conduct. You no longer need to report to work. Here is your salary and compensation. Please sign."
Labor laws weren't well-established at the time, so the compensation was nominal, just ten yuan. Including her previous salary, she was paid off with just over twenty yuan.
Section Chief Meng was detestable, but the mistress was also to blame. Without the mistress's seduction, could a man have lost his composure? Xie Sui, being a man, didn't think men were wrong; it was always the women seducing them. Without temptation, could men make mistakes? It was a typical case of unreasonable logic, but he was willing, and no one could stop him.
Xie Sui had not promised Section Chief Meng that Chen Xiaodie wouldn't be punished, and he had also made sure she would never be rehired. This move stunned everyone. He had dealt with Chen Xiaodie too. What was the factory director thinking?
What could Chen Xiaodie do? She signed and left. She cried to Section Chief Meng, but he dared not argue with Xie Sui, or he would lose his position as deputy factory director. Xie Sui was the director; he made the decisions.
Gu Lei came to work and found that the factory had a new deputy factory director. He, as the general manager, wondered whose authority was greater. He went to find Xie Sui to clarify, but Xie Sui had already helped Lin Wanwan home. He missed his chance.
Uncle Xu stopped him, "Manager Gu, the director instructed that your work remains unchanged. Section Chief Meng's promotion to deputy factory director is for form's sake. In the future, he'll be sent out more for new business expansion and market development. You will manage the internal affairs of the factory, so there's no conflict."
Gu Lei's smile was unnatural, "Is that so? That's good. I have no objections. I just wanted to have a word with him."
Uncle Xu added, "Then you should go back. He said he'd visit your home tonight to see Director Gu."
"Really?"
"Of course. Xiao Sui is very loyal. When has he ever forgotten Director Gu?"
Xie Sui always prepared gifts for the Gu family, delivering them personally. Gu Lei had selectively ignored this in the past. Today, after Uncle Xu's gentle reminder, he felt he had been petty. That scoundrel Yan Xiaoliang, he would cut ties with him from now on. He was always instigating him and causing him to overthink.
"Uncle Xu is right. I'll head over now. You carry on with your work."
...
At Director Gu's home, Xie Sui's personal visit made Director Gu beam with joy. This child was truly loyal. He had only helped him casually back then, and it hadn't taken much effort, yet this person treated him like family and kept in touch. The gifts were fresh items from Hong Kong, and a wristwatch that would cost over a hundred yuan at a supply store. There were also two dot watches suitable for women, one for his new daughter-in-law and one for himself. The mechanical watch was for men. There were also the most fashionable new clothes from Hong Kong, suitable for Director Gu's age. The nutritional supplements were for Grandma Gu. No one in the family was left out, showing his genuine thoughtfulness.
Director Gu was delighted with the new clothes and even tried one on. It fit well, and the material was good, truly a fine product from Hong Kong. His colleagues at work tomorrow would surely be envious.
"Xiao Sui, look, you've spent too much again. How can I possibly accept such expensive gifts? How much is it? I'll pay you."
Xie Sui refused, "Sister Gu, if you say that, you're hitting me in the face! If I wanted money, I'd be ashamed to show my face on the street!"
Director Gu smiled from ear to ear, "Okay, Sister accepts. But you're not allowed to spend so much next time."
"Okay, no more spending next time. Next time I'll take you to Hong Kong to play."
"Oh my, can Sister have such good fortune?"
"Sister Gu, your good fortune is long-lasting. Is everyone at home well?"
Director Gu put down the clothes, "Everyone is well. It's a shame you couldn't come back for Gu Lei's wedding. It felt like something was missing."
Lin Wanwan had come on behalf of Xie Sui to give her wedding gift. Director Gu wasn't being critical, but she just wanted to make her son's presence felt.
"I'll talk to Lei separately later and have a drink to celebrate his wedding."
Director Gu continued, "Talk to Lei more. That Yan fellow doesn't have good intentions. He's always instigating him. I'm worried he'll be deceived by that Yan fellow."
"Yan Xiaoliang? He's still not behaving?"
"Isn't he? The factory where he invested all his fortune is barely surviving. If you hadn't supported him, it would have gone bankrupt long ago. It's not that Sister Gu looks down on him, but with you here, he'll never get anywhere trying to compete with your factory for orders."
Xie Sui smiled without false modesty, "If he could get anywhere, I wouldn't have kept him around. I understand this matter. I'll make sure he behaves."