Zhang Weiguo eventually left dejectedly. Although he was unwilling and wanted to defeat Yu Zhou with a single blow, he knew that since the people from Tailong Light Industry had arrived, Yu Zhou's position was solidified. Regardless of whether he agreed to join Tailong Light Industry or not, the hefty sum of 30,000 yuan was enough to crush Zhang Weiguo. If he continued to confront Yu Zhou, Liu Dalong would be unharmed, but he himself would be doomed.
The workers who had been following Zhang Weiguo also left. Having witnessed this, they no longer dared to utter a word of defiance against Yu Zhou. They would accept the small deductions from their wages. If they caused more trouble, they would be the ones embarrassed.
The entire courtyard was left with only Yu Zhou's family, along with Song Qing and her associates, and the few workers who had chosen to stay. For a moment, a quiet settled in the main hall as everyone waited for Yu Zhou to give his answer.
"I can, but I have one small request." Yu Zhou smiled brightly. With the conversation having reached this point, it would be rather unappreciative of him not to agree. Moreover, knowing his wife, Jiang Jie, he was sure she desperately wanted to work at Tailong Light Industry. Even if it wasn't a "iron rice bowl" anymore, having a stable job held significant meaning for Jiang Jie.
"What condition, tell me! As long as I can agree, I absolutely won't refuse." Song Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Zhou had finally agreed. When she first entered the courtyard, she hadn't held much optimism for Yu Zhou. After all, the bracelets and sweater chains, while appearing fashionable and likely to become popular, were somewhat wasted on the domestic market of this era. Piracy was rampant, and there was little concern for intellectual property. In just half a month, quite a few imitation sweater chains and bracelets had appeared on the market, let alone in the future. This was precisely why she had offered 30,000 yuan; otherwise, those twenty-odd design drafts would have been worth much more. In the early nineties, what was most valuable in society? Talent! Especially talent with a vision that surpassed the times. However, what surprised her was that Yu Zhou was not only resourceful and his designs ahead of their time, but he also possessed an ambition that others lacked – an ambition to forge his own path rather than be recruited. Befriending such a person was a guaranteed profitable venture for Song Qing.
"These remaining workers are skilled. Due to the shutdown of the Second Factory, I wonder if..." Before Yu Zhou could finish, Song Qing understood his intention. Without hesitation, she waved her hand and said, "All of them can be hired, but as contract workers. Is that alright?"
"We are willing!" The workers who had just stepped forward to speak for Yu Zhou were instantly excited. They hadn't expected to receive such immense benefits simply for their moment of indignation and righteous words. Although they would be contract workers, they would be contract workers for Tailong Light Industry! Unlike the Second Factory, Tailong Light Industry was Jiangbei City's first large-scale state-private joint venture, and it was thriving. What was the use of having established positions? Weren't there many workers with established positions at the Second Factory? Weren't they still facing layoffs?
"I told you, following Big Zhou means good things! Are you still not satisfied?" Jiang Jie's close friend happily chided her previously dejected colleagues, gloating about her own choice. In truth, those workers who had chosen to speak out were also smug at heart. They had gambled correctly, and now they had security.
Next, the two parties began to sign contracts. Yu Zhou handed over his more than twenty design drafts for sweater chains and bracelets to Song Qing and wrote an authorization statement. Song Qing produced the contracts she had prepared, and with both parties signing, the matter was settled. After everything was completed, Song Qing dropped her professional demeanor and directly took out three stacks of Renminbi from her secretary's bag, presenting them to Yu Zhou. This money was originally intended to impress Yu Zhou and was now being used for payment.
"To a pleasant cooperation..." Song Qing extended her right hand and shook Yu Zhou's. Jiang Jie, watching from the side, was stunned. They had just earned 30,000 yuan? Was her new boss this fashionable, shaking hands?
"This money? Is it really ours?" After everyone had left, Jiang Jie looked at the three stacks of Renminbi in front of her with disbelief, as if in a dream. After more than half a month of hard work, she had realized her husband could make money, and if he put his mind to it, their life would surely be good. But that was 30,000 yuan! Three ten-thousand-yuan households. A month ago, Jiang Jie wouldn't have dared to even imagine such a sum, and it had been achieved in just over half a month? It felt unreal.
"Why not? This is the best of times, and also the worst of times," Yu Zhou replied. "As long as you're not an idiot and are willing to work hard, life will certainly not be worse than working a routine job at a factory." He smiled triumphantly at his wife. With his memories from his past life, he knew very well that the probability of becoming wealthy in this era was much higher than ten or twenty years later, as long as one had a plan.
"Show off..." Seeing Yu Zhou happy, Jiang Jie naturally smiled with him. She hadn't refused to work at Tailong Light Industry because she felt that even if Yu Zhou could make money, the entire family couldn't rely on him alone. If their business were to fail one day, she would at least be able to provide for the family by working at Tailong Light Industry.
"Tonight, let's have some more meat, no need to feel the pinch, right?" Yu Zhou, still grinning, grabbed Jiang Jie's hand and prepared to lock the door.
"Where are we going? You can go buy meat by yourself. What will people think of us being out and about like this?" Jiang Jie complained from behind him. Yu Zhou didn't argue. He had resolved a major worry today, so why would he bother with such minor matters? Turning around, he said, "We've earned such a large sum of money. I won't be able to sleep if I don't buy you something! Let's go, I'll take you to the department store... we don't have to set up a stall anymore anyway."
"Why go there? Browsing the market is enough. We don't earn money easily, we can't afford to spend it like this..." Upon hearing "department store," Jiang Jie immediately became flustered and struggled, saying anxiously. However, these nagging words gradually faded into the distance. At this moment, Yu Zhou couldn't bear to hear his wife's words about saving money. If he earned money and didn't spend it on his wife or daughter, what was the point of earning it?