Chapter 61

The news that the car factory was asking for workers from the higher-ups immediately reached the ears of the relevant personnel. The leaders of the Labor Bureau immediately rushed to the factory to understand the situation.

In 1978, the number of people returning to the cities in the province increased significantly. Just in the provincial capital, nearly 180,000 young people returned to the city in one year, and it was expected that even more would return the following year.

As early as 1978, the decision-making level had strongly felt that the movement of educated youth going to the countryside was becoming increasingly difficult to continue.

At this time, a large number of unemployed people had accumulated in the cities, creating significant employment pressure. Those who wanted to return to the city were not just the educated youth; in addition to the educated youth who went to the countryside, there were also over 20 million people who were streamlined and sent to the countryside in the early 1960s, along with some people who were forced to go to the countryside in the past. For these people, returning to the city was the only way to change their fate.

There were many outstanding issues, especially the labor employment problem, which was a very prominent contradiction.

The urban employment situation was extremely severe. The educated youth who had already returned to the city had no jobs, leading to a series of problems. A survey in BJ City stated: "Some young people are in very difficult economic conditions, unable to maintain a normal life. The mental burden and pressure are very heavy, many people are depressed and pessimistic. Family arguments, marriage difficulties, and some young people even want to commit suicide. A large number of young people are idle, wandering in society, causing trouble, and the crime rate is rising, corrupting social morals."

The director of the Labor Bureau, Guo Bingchun, personally took charge. He laughed and said, "Your initiative to recruit workers in the provincial capital at this time is very good! It can help us solve a big problem!" Guo Bingchun waved his hand and continued, "There are many unemployed young people in society now. Enterprises and institutions should help the country more and make more efforts!"

"Unemployed young people who are children of employees should be taken care of by enterprises and institutions. Those without recruitment quotas should be hired as long-term temporary workers. Two people should do one person's work, and five people should eat three people's meals!"

Lin Xiangrong nodded in agreement but thought to himself, two people doing one person's work? Five people eating three people's meals?! That would mean the factory would have to support a lot of extra people for free! With such a heavy burden on the enterprise, how could it achieve modernization?

Thinking about this, Lin Xiangrong quickly said to Guo Bingchun, "Director Guo, our factory needs a total of 1,000 workers this time. I'll look around at home first and see how many children of employees are available!"

Guo Bingchun nodded noncommittally and said, "Your factory is so big, it shouldn't be a problem to take in more people, right?"

Lin Xiangrong touched his forehead, realizing he had acted rashly without fully understanding the situation. He seemed to have made a mistake!

That afternoon, Lin Qiangsheng was watching the store. Zou Shu opened the door and brought in seven young women, chattering as they entered the small shop.

Zou Shu saw Lin Qiangsheng sitting leisurely on a stool, reading a newspaper, and immediately called out, "Qiangsheng, the people I brought are here. Take a look, these are my sisters from the educated youth point."

That morning, a heavy snowfall had occurred. The young women were all dressed in winter clothes, mostly in earthy green and gray outerwear, with a few wearing blue coats or pants.

After entering the store, the girls all looked at Lin Qiangsheng behind the counter, and the small room, which was only about ten square meters, suddenly felt quite cramped.

Lin Qiangsheng put down the newspaper, stood up, and smiled at the seven simply dressed young women, "Sisters, you're here!"

The lead young woman, who looked to be around 22 or 23, had thick eyebrows and large eyes, a square face, and two small braids, a very proper person. She said to Lin Qiangsheng, "Hello, I'm Du Ping. You must be Lin Qiangsheng?"

Lin Qiangsheng nodded and smiled, "That's me."

A short girl, about 1.6 meters tall, jumped out and said cheerfully, "Hello, Lin Qiangsheng. I'm Zhang Tianjiao! We're going to work for you from now on! You, the capitalist, better not exploit us!"

The other six young women immediately burst into laughter, and the small shop, which was only about ten square meters, was filled with their laughter.

It seemed that Zhang Tianjiao was the most lively among them, while Du Ping was their spokesperson.

Lin Qiangsheng said heartily, "How could I do that! Didn't you ask Zou Shu about it? I never withhold wages! Even so, she still doesn't want to work here!"

"We know! 45 yuan a month, that's not bad! Is it really 45 yuan a month?" Zhang Tianjiao asked very seriously.

Lin Qiangsheng glanced at Zou Shu, who was looking at him awkwardly, and nodded affirmatively, "Yes, your monthly salary will be the same as hers. Working here is easy to get started with. Normally, you just deal with customers, collect money, and that's about it."

Zhang Tianjiao nodded happily and smiled, "That's great! When do we start? I can start right now! I'll help you sweep the snow! Where's the broom?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she started preparing to start work in the store. Before Lin Qiangsheng could react, Zhang Tianjiao had already run out with the broom to sweep the snow.

Inspired by Zhang Tianjiao, the other young women quickly became more lively.

They introduced themselves to Lin Qiangsheng one by one: Xu Yingnan, Li Yuge, Wu Yingying, Zhao Yin, and Xue Shenghong.

Most of the young women were in their early 20s, with only Li Yuge being 19, the same age as Zou Shu.

The young women surrounded Lin Qiangsheng, asking all sorts of questions, mostly about the fabric on the counter, its price, and so on. They touched and felt the fabric, clearly very fond of it.

Zhao Yin, touching the wool fabric, said, "This fabric is really good and warm! It's a pity to just display it and sell it!"

Lin Qiangsheng smiled, "Sister Zhao, we can't keep it all. If we do, how will I pay your wages?"

At this moment, Zhang Tianjiao finished sweeping the snow and came back in, saying with a smile, "I swept the snow in front of the door onto the street. Is that okay?"

Lin Qiangsheng nodded and said, "It's fine, Sister Zhang. Come have a cup of hot water."

Lin Qiangsheng poured a cup of hot water for Zhang Tianjiao. There was a small iron stove in the room, with a chimney going out through a hole in the wall. The stove had a honeycomb coal, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, keeping the small room warm.

The young women giggled, watching Zhang Tianjiao hold the cup, and she playfully complained, "What are you laughing at? I did the work, you know!"

The young women were amused by her flustered appearance and burst into laughter again.

Zou Shu called Lin Qiangsheng aside and looked at him with a very aggrieved expression.

Lin Qiangsheng quickly whispered in her ear, "Tomorrow you'll go to the factory, to the mold workshop, the same workshop as your sister Zou Xue. Is that okay?"

Zou Shu immediately said happily, "Thank you, Qiangsheng!"

Lin Qiangsheng shook his head and sighed, "Sigh! You're leaving, and I'll have to start all over again teaching these girls how to sell goods."

Zou Shu immediately said, "Qiangsheng, I'll tell them how to serve customers and how to measure their sizes. Don't worry!"

Lin Qiangsheng nodded and said, "I hope they can learn quickly!"

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