Chapter 2179: To Be the Deputy Factory Director

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

A few years ago, everyone’s standard of living was about the same. Everyone had access to the same household items and there was no need to compare with others. Now that the economy had opened up, many people whom Xia Bai had looked down on back then had become more well-off. Yet, her family was still worrying about whether they would be able to afford eggs and meat for their next meal.

Xia Bai suffered a lot from a young age and grew up to be very rebellious. She was very demanding at home. Previously, Wang Kun worked in a state-owned factory and was in charge of a workshop. He received a lot of bribes in that position so his family was living quite a comfortable life and Xia Bai never had to lift a finger at home.

However, since the entire family needed to return to the capital, Wang Kun had to leave his previous job. Xia Zheng had already found Wang Kun a job as a security officer at the research institute. This job gave him more free time and he would even make more money than before. However, people like Wang Kun and Xia Bai, who cared a lot about their reputation, would never be willing to work as security officers!

“Third Cousin-in-law, why does Grandfather’s tea set look so familiar to me?” Xia You held up the teacup and examined it carefully.

“Grandfather broke his previous teacup so I gave him a new set. It’s that set from my storeroom,” Qiao Mei said.

“Oh! So it’s that set! I’ve been asking you for such a long time but you refused to give anything to me! I didn’t expect you to give one set to Grandfather!” Xia You said regretfully.

Xia Bai immediately said, “If Cousin-in-law doesn’t mind, we also have a tea set at home. I can get your eldest cousin-in-law to send it to your house later.”

That particular tea set she was referring to was actually a gift which Wang Kun received when he was still working in the northwest. It was not very nice-looking, but it was still a functional tea set.

“It’s fine. I only like one particular tea set which Third Cousin-in-law has. It was love at first sight for me! I hear that the tea set goes back 500 years. Third Cousin-in-law had bought it in Country M! I think she paid more than 60,000 dollars in foreign currency at the auction house!” Xia You said.

More than 60,000 dollars in foreign currency! That was equivalent to 200,000 dollars in local currency! A tea set which cost 200,000 dollars! Qiao Mei and Xia You must be very rich. Xia Bai was so shocked that she almost dropped and broke the teacup in her hand.

“Hey! Eldest Cousin, you have to be careful! This set is not cheap either! It costs more than 20,000 dollars! Third Cousin-in-law doesn’t have many tea sets at home. If anything happens to this set, then it’s gone forever. It’ll be difficult for you to explain it to Grandfather,” Xia You said.

Xia Bai quickly placed the teacup on the coffee table. Qiao Mei smiled and took a sip of tea before saying, “Xia You, don’t scare Eldest Cousin like this. I know you have been eyeing my tea set for a long time. I’ll get Sister Feng to bring it out of storage. You can go to my house to pick it up when you’re free.”

Qiao Mei was even willing to give away a tea set worth more than 200,000 dollars just like that. If she was such a generous person, then she should not have a problem letting Wang Kun manage one of her factories!

Xia Bai looked at Qiao Mei and said, “Third Cousin-in-law! Let your eldest cousin-in-law work in one of your factories! He’s a down-to-earth and hardworking person! He’s also smart and will definitely be of help to you! Just let him be be the deputy factory director in your factory! He can start from that position!”

Xia You looked at Xia Bai in shock. She even dared to ask for the position of deputy factory director at first instance. Back when Lu Huai started the business, he did not even dare to ask Qiao Mei to give him all the delivery work at her factories! He had started out by taking on small jobs outside.

Everyone was waiting for Qiao Mei to reply. She slowly finished the tea in her cup and said, “No.”

Xia Ding sat at the side and smiled without saying anything. Both Xia Ding and her husband worked at the research institute as chemistry specialists. Among Xia Zheng’s children, only Xia Ding followed in his footsteps. The research institute provided them with everything, including their daily necessities, housing and transport. In turn, they used their savings to buy stationery for the children in the orphanage. They lived a very simple life, but they felt it was a blissful one.

She had already heard many comments about Qiao Mei when she was still in the northeast. She knew very well what kind of person Qiao Mei was, one who kept to her word and did things in a direct manner. An Xin told her that Qiao Mei was very easy-going towards people who were sincere.

Xia Bai had always looked down on Xia Jun’s family members. She felt that they only got lucky by being in the right place at the right time and were too smug for their own good! All she saw was that the Xia family lived a very comfortable life and was rich, powerful and carefree.

“Why!” Xia Bai asked.

“I don’t like to hire relatives,” Qiao Mei said.

“Don’t try to bluff me! Xia You’s husband’s company has a collaboration with you. Xia He’s husband is also doing design for you. Aren’t they your relatives? This is discrimination!” Xia Bai said.

“It’s not the same. I don’t have any relatives working for me in the factory. Lu Huai and Deng Fan have their own companies and it’s our companies which are in collaboration. They’re not related to my company,” Qiao Mei said.

“What is related or not related! I don’t understand any of this! Anyway, since you helped them, you have to help us!” Wang Kun said unreasonably.