Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 401

As soon as He Yuzhu sat down, He Yumei, who was on duty, brought him half a jin of wine and two side dishes.

Uncle Niu asked, "Zhu Zi, how's our relationship?"

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "Brother Niu, aren't you contradicting me? Just give me your orders and I'll make sure you get it done perfectly."

Old Niu laughed and said, "Factory Manager, it's just too hot out there. You've already installed ceiling fans in the tavern, so why don't you sell me one too?"

Before He Yuzhu could even open his mouth after hearing what Master Niu said, the others also started shouting.

Everyone says they're so hot, and now that He Yuzhu's company has started producing them, they all want to buy one.

When He Yuzhu installed ceiling fans in his home, he also had several installed in the tavern.

The ceiling fan is whirring right now; otherwise, the room would be like a steamer if it were full of people, and there simply wouldn't be this many people.

He Yuzhu said, "Uncle Niu, we'll have to wait a bit. I'll discuss it with the neighborhood committee and see how much that would be appropriate."

Niu Ye said, "It's very simple. No matter how much it costs, just give me two ceiling fans first. You've always wanted that set of table and chairs from my west room, right? I'll give them to you."

Niu Ye changed his surname. His ancestors were Manchus. Although his family has fallen on hard times, they still have a lot of furniture, ornaments and cultural relics in their home.

He Yuzhu had long coveted it, but Master Niu was a player himself and wouldn't easily part with some of the best items.

It's not too hot, so we won't take out that set of eight-immortal table and official hat chairs to replace them.

"Uncle Niu, since you put it that way, then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll arrange for someone to install a ceiling fan for you tomorrow morning."

"Zhu Zi, it's not even the hottest time of summer yet, and it's already so hot. You can't forget about us villagers!"

When Pianye saw that Niuye was trading furniture for a ceiling fan, Pianye got anxious.

He Yuzhu said, "How could I forget you, Uncle Pian? I can forget others, but I can't forget you. Don't worry, we're all family. I definitely won't forget you."

The others chimed in, suggesting that they order several ceiling fans from He Yuzhu.

Of the three types of electric fans, ceiling fans are the cheapest and have the widest airflow area. You only need to buy one, and the whole family can use it together.

The next day, He Yuzhu went to the street office to find Director Li. The two discussed it for a while and decided that they could sell electric fans to the public.

Of course, it can't be too cheap either; it has to be slightly cheaper than the market price, with a retail price of 90 yuan.

Prices are still cheap now. The new Shanghai-brand all-steel mechanical watch that came out this year only costs 60 yuan.

Ceiling fans are much more expensive than watches, mainly because the initial costs are higher.

At that time, steel production was already low, and the prices of industrial products remained high.

Moreover, a lot of steel was ruined in the smelting process some time ago, and many households started using clay pots, which led to a recent increase in the price of steel.

In particular, it requires a large amount of copper wire, which He Yuzhu hasn't had time to optimize yet. It turns out that producing a ceiling fan is more expensive than producing a watch.

Since these are businesses located on the street, the pricing power lies with the street. If they were to sell to the Commerce Bureau at a wholesale price of 70 yuan, they might as well set up a few outlets in the city and sell directly to the market at a price of 90 yuan.

This way, the street can actually earn an extra ten or so yuan.

Since Director Li agreed, He Yuzhu went to the factory and made arrangements to have his transport team drive tricycles to deliver a batch of ceiling fans to the tavern and shops on Qianmen Street for sale.

These are minor matters; they can be easily given instructions. He Yuzhu's main focus was on the brushless motor.

Yesterday's work only completed part of the task, and He Yuzhu's task today is to continue to improve the development of the brushless motor.

It's unclear whether it's because of his previous experience developing brushed motors or because He Yuzhu has already gained the advantage of being an inventor.

Today's drafting was incredibly easy; I felt completely at ease with both accuracy and proficiency.

Even Xu Xiaomei noticed it. She refilled the teacup on the table with hot water, then stood by and watched. After a drawing was finished, she said:

"This drawing you made today is different from the previous ones; it looks like it was drawn by technicians."

He Yuzhu put down his pencil and said with a smile:

"This little thing is a piece of cake. If I want to do something, there's nothing I can't do."

"You're getting all worked up just because I called you fat?"

As Xu Xiaomei said this, she felt a hand lift her skirt and place it on her knee.

She looked up nervously; the door was closed. Still wanting to leave, she took a step, but He Yuzhu pulled her back.

"You big pervert, let go! I'm still in the office."

"If you don't touch it now, it won't be as good to touch it later!" He Yuzhu said with some emotion.

Xu Xiaomei softened her heart and stayed there, letting He Yuzhu do whatever he wanted.

“The authorities have approved your plan, and the factory is now being built to accommodate 3000 people.”

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "This is a great thing, but the factory will be more standardized in the future."

Previously, it was just a small factory on the street, and its management, both at the leadership and grassroots levels, was very crude.

Many things were decided by He Yuzhu's word alone.

However, if the factory is to be expanded, more management personnel and middle-level leaders will be needed.

Many positions that didn't exist before need to be filled, and the functional departments under the factory director and deputy director need to be improved.

We also need to set up relevant departments such as production, logistics, procurement, warehousing, transportation, security, and publicity.

There will also be an administrative department, and the most understanding and considerate person is Xu Xiaomei. He Yuzhu plans to make her the director of the administrative department.

Xu Xiaomei said, "According to the plan, your rank will be set at the level of a full section chief, while all department directors will be at the level of a deputy section chief."

He Yuzhu asked, "Are you happy to become a deputy section chief?"

Although the factory had several hundred employees, there were no formal administrative ranks. Even though Xu Xiaomei was the director of the office, she was just an ordinary employee.

His position was only self-appointed by the factory; society did not recognize this rank.

It's somewhat like a section-level cadre in some organizations, who only has influence within their own organization.

Because it is a newly established factory unit, this is the only opportunity to directly appoint some people as leaders.

If you wait until the organization is established before you want a promotion, it won't be such an easy thing.

The official rank for college graduates is only administrative level 22, which is equivalent to a level 4 clerk, and their monthly salary is 56 yuan.

However, to become a deputy section chief, the lowest level is administrative level 18, with a monthly salary as high as 87.5 yuan.

Businesses located in this neighborhood are inherently at a disadvantage, so even though Xu Xiaomei is a deputy section chief, she can only earn 87.5 yuan a month.

This level is the same as the seventh-level worker, which means that Xu Xiaomei, who is only in her early twenties, is already earning the same salary as Liu Haizhong.

Moreover, their social status is even higher; deputy section-level cadres are always the center of attention wherever they go.

The administrative level 17, which is also the deputy section chief level, has a salary as high as 99 yuan, the same as Yi Zhonghai's salary level.

A section chief is an administrative level 16 cadre, with a salary as high as 110 yuan and 5 jiao.

Although he doesn't quite meet the requirements for a high-ranking official, he is at least at the administrative level 13. At his age, he has already obtained a powerful section chief position and manages a factory with 3000 employees, which is quite an impressive position in society.

Nearly 10 years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the job market is so competitive that promotions are becoming increasingly difficult.

As for promotions made on the spot, those are exceptions and not in the usual sense.

Although he knows the top leader, the top leader will not make an exception for him and cause him to make a mistake.

He Yuzhu has no one above him, and his success is the result of his long-term efforts. Without his efforts in building the factory, how could he have obtained such a position?

Xu Xiaomei said, "Congratulations, Section Chief He. As soon as the document is approved, you will become a leader immediately."

The neighborhood committee has already announced that it has, in principle, agreed to He Yuzhu's proposal.

Once the application is submitted to the district for approval, Limin Machinery Factory will become a unit at the sub-departmental level.

The highest level of collective enterprises under the jurisdiction of a street office can only be a section-level unit.

The factory director, deputy factory director, secretary, and deputy secretary are all at the level of section chief. Although the various functional departments under them are named as sections, their directors or section chiefs are at the level of deputy section chief.

He Yuzhu said, "Then I congratulate you too, Section Chief Xu."

Xu Xiaomei wasn't particularly surprised; she just frowned and said:

"Actually, I still want to be your secretary."

He Yuzhu pressed down lightly, causing Xu Xiaomei to frown and slap He Yuzhu on the shoulder.

"Behave yourself, I'm talking to you about serious matters."

He Yuzhu said, "The administrative department is the most crucial position in a factory, and I won't feel at ease if you don't take on this role."

"A large number of leaders will be transferred in from other departments soon. If they can work together to develop the factory, that would be a good thing. But if they encounter people with ulterior motives, who knows what will happen to the factory then?"

Xu Xiaomei said, "Don't say those things, but I heard that the neighborhood committee will arrange a beautiful female secretary for you."

"I don't believe it. Director Li knows me. How could he possibly put a beautiful woman next to me?"

"It's all over the neighborhood. Everyone's scrambling to get transferred here to be a section chief or deputy factory director. And Secretary Lü's daughter wants to be your secretary."

"Secretary Lü's daughter?" He Yuzhu asked.

Secretary Lü is the deputy secretary of the subdistrict. He is usually very low-key and doesn't show off his abilities.

How could a deputy secretary like that possibly put his daughter next to a lecherous man like He Yuzhu?

To be honest, He Yuzhu still couldn't believe it. Who would be so stupid? Wouldn't that be like sending a lamb to the slaughter?

"Could it be that his daughter is less attractive?"