I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 296: Opportunity Comes Only Once

Su Xiaomei’s assistant is not just any position. Su Xiaomei has now become the workshop director, and she handles all of the most complicated and finely detailed head flowers, in addition to being responsible for recording and inspecting. There’s so much to do; she had been wanting to find an assistant for Su Xiaomei, but there hadn’t been a suitable candidate for a while.

Wang Lianhua was actually not fully qualified, but Su Xiaomei, with her gentle nature, though now a director, still lacked a bit of assertiveness.

Wang Lianhua was also soft-spoken. Su Xiaomei could keep her in line, but if it were someone more capable and perceptive, they might soon take advantage of her, and Shen Meng was not at ease. From the looks of it, only Wang Lianhua seemed suitable.

"Xiao Meng, I, I’m not sure I’m up for it. I was just hoping you could give me some temporary work, I never expected such a good job opportunity."

"Sister-in-law Lianhua, I wanted you to come back when the Head Flower Factory was established. But then I found out about Erqing’s situation... So I thought I’d wait a bit, wait until your emotions settled, wait until you were ready to either split your household or stand on your own feet. Some things happened in between, but now the outcome is good. You can take care of Daqing, Erqing, and Yaoyao, and have a happy family life. Plus, you have skills, isn’t it natural that you’d return to the flower factory?"

Since Lu Yonggang left, Wang Lianhua felt that she would eventually return to the Head Flower Factory; Shen Meng would take care of her. But she didn’t expect to be offered the position as assistant to Su Xiaomei right off the bat.

She really admired Su Xiaomei’s skills and abilities. In this aspect, there wasn’t a bit of consideration given just because of Shen Meng’s face.

Twenty-one yuan a month, even regular jobs in the county didn’t pay that much. She knew her capabilities; the money was too much, and she felt insecure about it. Especially knowing not much, and all the words she recognized were those taught by her sons, she feared she wouldn’t perform well.

But seeing her two frail sons, she thought if she didn’t earn well, how could she support her children? With the current reputation of the Head Flower Factory, entering it was as tough as scaling the heavens. If not for her good relationship with Shen Meng, she wouldn’t even be able to get a temporary position, let alone assist Su Xiaomei.

"I’m afraid I won’t perform well. I haven’t worked for over half a year and don’t know if I can handle it. Being an assistant involves a lot of tasks. I don’t know many characters. What if I make a mistake?"

"You only have this chance. If you reject it, I’ll find someone else. Sister, now you’re alone raising three kids. Not only do you have to be a mother, but you also have to act as a father. Beyond your own expenses, you have to earn their tuition fees. When they grow up, you need to save up for their marriage gifts and dowries, and your own retirement funds. Relying on the wages of a frontline worker, when would you ever save enough? With such a long life, don’t you want to prove your worth through your own efforts, and really live well once, for yourself and for your kids, like Shirley?"

Shen Meng’s words were incredibly enticing. Wang Lianhua felt a surge of emotions. Nowadays, who wouldn’t envy Shirley’s life? From once being an irritable Lai Zi’s wife, she had become someone with a formal position in the county hospital and had a doctor as a partner. Soon, she’d be getting married.

Wang Lianhua looked at Shen Meng and then at Daqing and Erqing. With such a good opportunity before her, if she refused, she would be a fool. With this job, her family could live however they wanted.

"Alright, Xiao Meng, I will do my best. I won’t disappoint you, nor anyone else who believes in me."

"Good, once the village chief finalizes your homestead, we’ll organize people to quickly build the house. I’ll speak to Dr. Cheng to help get a supply of bricks and tiles. We’ll build a proper house. If you’re short on money, I’ll pitch in some. You’ll live openly and upright in Lu Family Village."

"Me too, let me contribute as well. Once you have a formal job, your monthly salary will be twice mine. I’m not worried about you not repaying, nor am I in a rush for you to start work. Once the house is built and all in order, then go to the factory."

Lai Zi’s wife looked at Wang Lianhua’s current situation with mixed emotions. At last, she was finally able to live the life she wanted and be treated like a person.

She also deeply envied her, plotting when she too could split her household. She could earn a wage, her husband could earn work points, and together they could very well take care of their family and children, unlike now, where they struggled to support a whole family.

The next day, Shen Meng went to Cheng Yufen, explained the situation, and she agreed without hesitation to help.

Shen Meng jokingly remarked, "Sister Cheng, you’ve really changed a lot from before, much more adaptable."

"That’s because I know you’re doing good things. Besides, you’re a star in Ning County. Helping you out, my husband Old Kong would be very happy, and he might even receive commendation from above!"

"That’s a bit much, but I did have another issue to discuss. About the proposal from last time for expanding our brick and tile factory, how’s Mr. Kong doing with that?"

Cheng Yufen glanced around and shook her head at Shen Meng.

"Old Kong said it’s challenging. Though he’s the factory manager, it’s not solely up to him. Decisions still have to be made by committee at the factory. Honestly, I’ve been dissatisfied with their factory’s regulations for years. There are many internal problems. People queuing up to buy bricks, those without connections have to wait. Some want to build houses, and it takes them half a year to get the bricks and tiles shipped to their houses, and it costs them a lot. Despite the shortage, they are still unwilling to expand. What’s going on?"

"Isn’t it because some leaders are afraid of losing their piece of the pie?"

Cheng Yufen heard Shen Meng’s words and didn’t argue; it indeed was the case. As long as people still queued to buy bricks, the leadership would definitely reap the benefits they wanted.

But now with the reimplementation of the college entrance exam and the market economy system starting in two years, private enterprises will rise. If these public enterprises don’t change their strategy, there’s only one way out, and that’s a dead end.

"Also, Sister Cheng, I need another favor. Ask Mr. Kong if our commune could perhaps attach a brick and tile factory there. If he’s interested, I’ll have Director Feng from our commune discuss a cooperation with him. What do you think?"

Cheng Yufen: "..."

Again, setting up workshops, how many more do you want to set up???