Chapter 226: Taking Too Big A Step
How could Lu Qiaoge not make preparations?
Grain would be in place soon, and the food factory could expand production, so naturally they needed to recruit workers.
She wasn’t planning to get involved in this.
Director Hu and Deputy Director Huang knew exactly how to recruit and what kind of workers to hire.
Lu Qiaoge took out her notebook and began reporting her ideas to the two leaders.
The night school now had its tables, chairs, benches, and building all renovated by the volunteers.
It was at the point where they could start classes as soon as they opened the door.
Enrollment wouldn’t be a problem; the main issue was teachers.
But since it was a night school, the kind with classes in the evening.
Lu Qiaoge said to Old Hu: “…As long as they meet the qualifications, we’ll hire them as private teachers. If they perform well, we’ll handle converting them to public teachers. As for salary, our neighborhood committee will cover it.”
Old Hu frowned; spending money always hurt his heart.
The key was that the neighborhood committee didn’t have much money either.
Lu Qiaoge said: “We have the food factory; it should be able to cover the salaries of a few teachers. Actually, in rural areas, private teachers get no salary, just a little subsidy and supplies in lieu. But our grain is more important than money, so I think using money is better.”
“But now the authorities aren’t allocating funds, and it’s hard for us at the grassroots level to manage on our own.” Old Hu said, looking troubled.
“If we really have no money, then invite retired old teachers to continue shining and contributing; I feel they would definitely agree.”
Huang Juan said: “This is better than the previous idea. Our family courtyard has quite a few retired old teachers, even some who have to stay home, and just from what I know, there are dozens…”
Lu Qiaoge had been waiting for this proposal from them.
These old teachers were all treasures.
With them at the night school, the students’ levels would improve by leaps and bounds.
“Yes, we can use a method similar to the food factory: voluntary contribution at first, no salary or subsidy.” Lu Qiaoge said, looking at the two directors.
They both liked this method.
Actually, don’t underestimate the older generation’s spirit of contribution; they really wouldn’t take a single cent.
Deputy Director Huang said: “We can’t go too far; there will definitely be subsidies.”
The night school issue was resolved quickly.
Next was recruiting for the food factory. Lu Qiaoge said: “I don’t have suggestions for recruiting; what I want to say is, should we split off the handicraft group and set up a small factory separately?”
Another factory?
Huang Juan and Old Hu exchanged a glance.
They really wanted to say if this step wasn’t too big.
Old Hu asked: “A handicraft factory for weaving sunflower seed baskets?”
Lu Qiaoge smiled brightly: “Exactly, a handicraft factory, not just weaving sunflower seed baskets; we can develop other handicrafts, all under the neighborhood committee’s jurisdiction, still affiliated with the food factory. Give them the warehouse as the factory area, and build a wall to separate it from the food factory.”
As for the future, no need to rush.
The current situation meant taking one step at a time; even with her stirring things up, what was coming would still come.
Besides, the food factory could grow big, and the handicraft factory wouldn’t be easy but should be fine within ten years.
There were seven people in the handicraft group now, and their busyness was no less than that of several people at the food factory.
Moreover, they were currently the factory’s main money-maker.
Yet they always felt overlooked.
So Lu Qiaoge decided to set up a small factory separately.
Anyway, in this period, five or more people could be called a factory.
“You temporarily act as factory director for this one; as for deputy factory director…”
“No problem, use Chang An for now. He can already speak haltingly, and handicrafts aren’t taught by talking; it’s mainly hands-on practice. Even if we recruit, we’ll hire those with basics.”
“If Chang An really is Old Lin’s own son and he leaves, we can promote Xiao Yu.”
This arrangement seemed pretty good.
“The foreign trade bureau occasionally has orders, and we have a cooperative relationship with Elder Sister Su in the district for handicrafts; mainly, develop our specialties. For example, the raw materials for sunflower seed baskets are our specialty. I’m just preparing to report this to the leaders.
At the exhibition fair, I asked Secretary You, and Hong Kong really likes sunflower seed baskets; they’ll buy one or two similar ones. Now the first batch of sunflower seed baskets has sold out.”
Old Hu and Old Huang beamed with joy upon hearing this.
“Can the second batch be completed on time?”
Lu Qiaoge nodded: “Should be no problem.”
Next was the instant noodles issue.
Lu Qiaoge said: “This isn’t urgent. First, there’s no factory building, and the equipment is still in transit. Plus, the instant noodles process needs research and study.”
Huang Juan hurriedly asked: “Do you have a plan in mind?”
Lu Qiaoge said: “Yes, this is my plan; listen, two leaders.”
So Lu Qiaoge focused on explaining instant noodles.
Noodle cake, oil packet, seasoning packet. Beef is hard to find now, so temporarily develop two flavors: chicken stew with mushroom noodles, braised pork ribs noodles.
Hearing these two flavors, Old Hu and Old Huang both swallowed.
Weren’t we getting more confused the more we listened?
Mushrooms are fine; there are plenty now, all over the mountains.
But young chicken and pork ribs—if added, it’d taste great, but who could afford it?
Lu Qiaoge patiently explained it to them, and the two finally understood.
It’s about the flavor sold, but it has to be brewed with real ingredients.
With Lu Qiaoge putting it this way, it seemed to make sense.
The three talked a bit more, then Lu Qiaoge went back to the office, organized everything in written form, and handed it to Old Hu.
Old Hu read it once, then gave it to Huang Juan. After she read it, she said: “Follow what Qiao Ge said. I’ll go with Qiao Ge to see Yaya.”
Old Hu hurriedly got on his bicycle and headed toward the factory department.
Huang Juan and Lu Qiaoge went to finance, withdrew some money, then went to the department store to buy canned sponge cake and a box of malted milk, spending twenty yuan at once.
On the way, Huang Juan said to Lu Qiaoge: “You need to make up lessons for night school, but in October, the provincial cadre school has a training class. Old Hu and I recommended you, and the authorities agreed. Now the issue is you need to reach junior high graduation level within a month. What do you think? If it’s too hard, we can go next year.”
Lu Qiaoge said: “No problem, I have a foundation; I can give it a shot.”
Huang Juan smiled; as long as there was confidence, it was fine.
Zhang Zhuliang had completely calmed down, and Yaya was much better than when they saw her the day before.
Seeing Lu Qiaoge, she softly called Sister Qiao Ge.
Huang Juan told Li Cuibo that they had applied for medical subsidy for the child according to regulations.
Plus three months of subsidy, ten yuan per month.
Zhang Zhuliang and Li Cuibo had never imagined they could get the subsidy approved.
For a moment, they were choked up and didn’t know what to say.
Leaving Zhang’s house, Grandma Sun was waiting at the doorway and asked Lu Qiaoge: “Did you find it?”
Lu Qiaoge shook her head: “No, the security department is investigating.”
Grandma Sun clenched her hand, feeling very uneasy.
Yesterday, her eldest daughter-in-law came back and secretly told her that on the day Yaya had the incident, the big black dog’s mouth still had blood on it. She hadn’t paid attention, thinking it had eaten a mouse, but now it seemed it probably wasn’t that simple.
