Many workers, after receiving their money, meat, and rice, still felt a surreal floating sensation.
It wasn’t until they brought their wages and goods back home that the feeling became real.
"Darling, look, I got my year-end salary, Boss Tang is such a good person, he also gave us money, rice, and meat."
"This year, we won’t need to be stingy with our spending during the New Year."
"Darling, I’ll take you shopping for clothes."
"Son, I’ll take you to buy clothes, and you can pick whatever you like to eat."
...
These kinds of conversations repeated in many families.
At the clothing factory, their monthly wages were already higher than in other places. Not to mention, now with the year-end welfare benefits, everyone was exclaiming that Tang Mingli was a good boss.
Because of the clothing factory, their lives had changed; it had transformed their days of poverty.
Those who didn’t work at the factory were sharpening their heads, trying to get a job there.
Qianjin Village.
When Granny Tang returned to the village, she was warmly treated by the other elderly ladies and villagers.
Granny Tang felt heartache upon hearing that each employee was given fifty yuan, as well as rice and meat.
Tang Mingli really should think things through, the factory might be making money, but everything in such a large factory costs, doesn’t it?
Because of this, Granny Tang specifically summoned Tang Mingli back and gave him a good scolding.
Tang Mingli thought something had happened to Granny Tang and got a big fright. When he got home and learned of the matter, he laughed and comforted her: "Mom, don’t worry about the money. Without those workers, how could the factory run so smoothly? Think about it, if the workers don’t work hard and the production doesn’t increase, the factory will ultimately suffer, right?"
"Moreover, money is an external object. They often rush to get work done; this money is what they deserve."
Tang Mingli consoled her painstakingly. Granny Tang’s heart felt a bit less troubled, though she still couldn’t help worrying about such a large sum of money.
*
"Sister An Yu, are you going to give out welfare benefits to the employees too?" Tang Yue said, taken aback upon answering Qin Anyu’s call. What special day was it today?
"Didn’t we distribute them last year? I wanted to ask if we should give the same this year?" Qin Anyu asked. She only had time to make the call while Chu Huaijin was sleeping, otherwise, with Chu Huaijin around, she couldn’t get anything done.
"My uncle gave out fifty yuan, a bag of rice, and two jin of meat," said Tang Yue as soon as she finished speaking.
"That’s fine, we’ll do the same. Oh, and Xiao Yue, I’ve transferred the dividend money into your account. Are you really not coming back to Jing City for the New Year?"
"I won’t be able to return until around Lantern Festival." Tang Yue thought about how little time she had left, and after school started, she wouldn’t be able to go to Jin City.
"Alright then." Qin Anyu sounded a bit listless upon hearing she wouldn’t return, adding, "By the way, we’ve already settled things with Lucy, and we’ll start the formal cooperation on the clothing next year. Thankfully, we had the foresight to get the factory building ready. Chu Hong said he’s already transporting the equipment. We’ll hire more people before the New Year, and right after, we can start working directly."
"Okay, Sister An Yu, thank you for your hard work." Tang Yue felt she did a really... great job as a hands-off manager.
"With Xie Ziyue?" Tang Yue asked.
Lian Qingyang looked puzzled at Tang Yue, wondering how she knew it was Xie Ziyue.
"I ran into them in Jin City." Tang Yue replied, saying, "They’re moving pretty fast, huh? Rushing to get engaged before the end of the year, planning to marry next year?"
"I don’t know about marriage, but the engagement is in three days for sure."
Lian Qingyang shrugged and asked, "Sister Xiao Yue, will you go?"
"I won’t go." Tang Yue outright refused.
Although she had acknowledged Grandpa Lian, she still disliked returning to the Lian Family, not to mention an engagement party. Lian Qingqing probably wouldn’t want to see her there either, right?
How would she introduce herself there?
With that time, she would rather go back to Jin City to be with her husband than attend an engagement party.
"You can mention it to grandpa at that time." Tang Yue thought for a moment, then changed her mind, "Never mind, I will speak to grandpa myself. Wait a moment, you can take the gift there for me."
Tang Yue opened the backpack, took out a stack of cash, and pulled out ten notes, then said, "No, giving money doesn’t seem appropriate."
Giving too much—she didn’t like Lian Qingqing or the Xiang Family, and it would make her uncomfortable; giving too little—it might seem that... it would leave Lian Qingyang in an awkward position.
Seeing her action, Lian Qingyang couldn’t hold back his laughter and said, "Sister Xiao Yue, just drop the idea of giving money, she isn’t lacking it. If you really want to give something, maybe something gold or jade, not too expensive, but it’s the thought that counts."

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