Ruling the Historical Romance Novel as the Female Supporting Character-Chapter 363: Just Wanting to Cultivate Talent for Herself
Pang Jingling frowned, unsure how to respond. He wanted Su Yijia to be the factory director primarily for her design skills, but suggesting she appoint someone else could undermine her authority. Noticing his dilemma, Su Yijia smiled. "I think it would be more convincing to have someone older take the role. This isn’t negotiable; if you don’t agree, you can certainly seek new designs on your own. But if you do that, don’t expect my help when challenges arise." Her serious tone made it clear that she wouldn’t shoulder a burden that wasn’t hers.
They could sell her designs for a couple of months, but without new ideas, the influx of workers would be a problem. Su Yijia wasn’t accusing them of being unethical, but she was wary.
"Since we want to use your designs, we wouldn’t bypass you. How about we buy your designs?" Pang Jingling proposed.
"Not possible; I only accept my earlier condition," Su Yijia replied firmly. Initially, she might have accepted a straightforward purchase, but now she was aware of their intentions.
Pang Jingling understood that hiring her as director would boost motivation. However, he hadn’t anticipated her firm stance on the position. "Let us discuss this further and get back to you in a couple of days."
"Okay," Su Yijia said, smiling lightly as she saw them out, shaking hands. Xia Weiguo accompanied them to the ferry.
Once the door closed, Qin Kaize wrapped his arms around Su Yijia’s waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Do you really want to run this factory?" His tone was laden with discontent.
Was he jealous? Su Yijia found it amusing. Turning to face him, she playfully leaned back. His rugged features softened as he gazed at her, though his tense mouth revealed his feelings.
"Are you worried I’ll spend less time with you?" she teased.
He raised an eyebrow, not denying it. "You have so much on your plate already. Earning over a hundred yuan a month isn’t worth the energy it takes."
"I’ll just find someone else to run it; I’ll only provide a few designs each month," Su Yijia explained. She knew she couldn’t manage everything alone.
"Based on the trajectory in our parallel world, in two years, I could run a small stall and, in five, a company. By the time I graduate, you’ll be back in the team. We’ll need someone experienced to manage the business. This is a chance to train someone."
Qin Kaize’s eyes brightened with approval. "My little wife is so clever!" His pride swelled at her foresight.
"Do you have anyone in mind?" she asked, cheeks slightly flushed.
After a moment’s thought, he replied, "Zhu Zirui. He’s a director at a factory in Hu City and would be a credible choice with the necessary skills. He’s been a reliable friend for eight years."
"Sounds good; let’s see what they say," Su Yijia agreed, trusting Zhu Zirui based on their previous collaboration.
Three days passed without a word, leading Su Yijia to assume they had given up, but then Pang Jingling returned with the others.
"Have you agreed to my previous conditions?" she asked, noticing their tense expressions.
"You can recommend someone, but we need their work credentials. If there are no major issues, we’ll likely accept. However, we have one condition: the first batch must be eighty workers, and he needs to ensure the factory remains profitable within six months, or we’ll take over. You must also provide at least one design each month."
As Pang Jingling spoke, Qin Kaize’s expression darkened, emanating palpable displeasure. Pang Jingling hurriedly added, "Of course, we’ll pay one hundred fifty yuan per design." They were poor, but they weren’t about to ask for free labor.
