Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Chapter 269 Reduction of Meat Quotas in Steel Rolling Mills

After lunch, Wang Feng and Qin Jingru went back home, much to Wu Yun's reluctance.

Before leaving, Qin Jingru's teacher's wife gave each of them a red envelope, which made Qin Jingru very happy.

This time they didn't go back to Courtyard No. 95, but went directly to Courtyard No. 28.

Lou Xiao'e greeted Wang Feng and Qin Jingru with a smile, "Brother Feng, Sister Jingru, you're back?"

"You're back, son. Have you eaten?" Qin Jingru asked.

"have eaten."

Wang Feng parked his bicycle and said to Lou Xiao'e, "Son, boil more hot water today. We'll take a bath after dinner tonight."

"OK."

Lou Xiao'e brewed a pot of tea, and the family chatted while drinking tea, creating a very warm scene.

Wang Feng didn't go anywhere in the afternoon; he stayed with them in courtyard number 28.

That evening, Lou Xiao'e and Qin Jingru cooked together, making four dishes: braised fish chunks, braised pork, stir-fried rabbit meat, and old hen soup.

In this era, almost everyone loves to eat braised pork, and Wang Feng is no exception.

After dinner, Qin Jingru prepared a bath for Wang Feng, blushing as she said, "Brother Wang Feng, my period is over."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng immediately grinned mischievously.

"Jingru, what are you waiting for? Come in, don't waste water!"

"Um."

Qin Jingru shyly entered the bathtub.

Soon, the hot water in the bathtub began to ripple.

The bath lasted for more than forty minutes, until the water was almost cold, before the two of them got out of the tub.

After Lou Xiao'e finished taking a bath, the three of them went to bed early.

Lou Xiao'e's relatives hadn't left yet, but after Qin Jingru's relatives left, Lou Xiao'e had another role. Lou Xiao'e was responsible for making Wang Feng angry, while Qin Jingru was responsible for making Wang Feng relieve his anger. They each performed their duties, and it was very harmonious.

......

The next day, early in the morning.

Today is the third day of the Lunar New Year, and the factory is reopening.

As usual, Wang Feng and Qin Jingru ate breakfast, drank tea at home, and didn't go to the steel rolling mill until 10 a.m.

Today, Wang Feng went to the steel rolling mill with Qin Jingru. It was the first day of work, and he had to go.

Upon arriving at the steel rolling mill, Qin Jingru went to the third canteen, while Wang Feng went to the third purchasing department.

Upon entering the office of the Purchasing Department III, one is greeted by a scene filled with smoke, resembling a fairyland.

Wang Feng couldn't help but complain, "What the hell, are you guys trying to smoke rats? Five of you smoking together without even opening the windows. Luckily, we don't have any women in our department, or they would have been driven away by the smoke."

The group turned around and saw that it was Wang Feng. Zhang Dali laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? We're all married. Besides, there's no way any female comrade from our department could come here."

"By the way, Wang Feng, Section Chief Chen wanted to call you for a meeting earlier, but you weren't there. He just left a task sheet and left," Li Jianjun said.

Wang Feng opened the doors and windows, and asked curiously, "What task sheet?"

Zhang Dali took a deep drag on his cigarette, exhaled a long puff, and then said, "What else could it be? This year's procurement target has increased by another thirty percent."

Wang Feng's eyes widened, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"Procurement is so much more difficult now than before, and the procurement target has increased by 30%? That can't be right!"

Li Jianjun said irritably, "Why not? The task sheet is right on my desk, go see for yourself."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng walked to his desk, picked up the task sheet, and began to read it.

The task list clearly states that starting this month, the procurement targets for all three departments will increase by 30%, including his.

"Don't you have anything to say?" Wang Feng asked.

Zhang Dali rolled his eyes: "What else can I say? I heard from Section Chief Chen that this is an order from Factory Director Li. It looks like we'll all be going to the workshop this year."

Upon hearing Zhang Dali's words, Li Jianjun and the other three purchasing agents looked rather grim. Purchasing in rural areas was already difficult enough, but now the purchasing quota was going to increase by 30%. Apart from Wang Feng, no one in their purchasing department could complete the task.

They didn't want to go to the workshop, but they had no choice; Director Li had given the order, and they couldn't disobey.

Wang Feng lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "Everyone, let's get to work. I'll go ask Director Li later to see what's going on."

"Wang Feng, don't bother asking. It's no use. Even if the workload doesn't increase, with the current market conditions, it will be difficult for us to complete the task. Sooner or later, we'll all be going to the workshop," Li Jianjun said with a bitter face.

"Alright, then let's not ask anymore. Anyway, we're all just doing the same work, so let's not be discouraged."

Wang Feng was still going to ask. He didn't care whether the workload had increased or not; he was curious about why Li Huaide was doing this.

Since the second half of last year, it has become very difficult to complete the procurement tasks in rural areas. Today it is much worse than last year. Li Huaide must know this. Could it be that the third procurement department is going to be abolished?

If that's the case, then he won't have such a leisurely life.

After smoking a cigarette, Wang Feng left the Purchasing Department's office and headed straight for the factory manager's office.

"Knock knock knock".

"Please come in."

When Wang Feng entered the office, he saw Li Huaide smoking a cigarette with a worried expression on his face.

"Hey bro, you're here. Have a smoke." Li Huaide forced a smile and handed him a Zhonghua cigarette.

Wang Feng didn't stand on ceremony, took the cigarette, lit it, and joked with a smile, "Brother Li, you don't seem to be in a good mood. Did you have a fight with your wife?"

Li Huaide sighed deeply: "If only that were the case."

"I just received a notification that starting this month, the meat processing plant will only give our factory 1,000 jin (500 kg) of meat per month. Tell me, what are we going to do with 1,000 jin of meat in a factory with 10,000 employees?"

"Brother Li, is it just for this month, or will it be like this from now on?" Wang Feng asked.

"It's likely to stay like this from now on, or even... more severe."

Wang Feng sighed inwardly. It was only the third day of the Lunar New Year, and the higher-ups were already eager to cut back on spending. It seemed that the quotas would be reduced soon as well.

Wang Feng couldn't help with this kind of thing, and even if he could, he wouldn't. He simply asked:

"Brother Li, I just heard from the people in the department that you increased the sales quota for our Purchasing Section 3 by 30%. Are you planning to shut down Purchasing Section 3?"

Li Huaide frowned: "Brother, who told you that the meat processing plant can't be relied on right now? I'm counting on your Third Section to do a good job. If everyone in your Third Section is as capable as you, then I, your brother Li, will be at ease."

"Brother, you have to understand Brother Li. Most of the people in your three departments can't complete their tasks. If they're really not suited for the purchasing department, let them go to the workshop to learn the technology. That would be better for everyone."

"Here's my plan: I'll have all the departments notify everyone that whoever in the factory is capable of getting 100 jin of meat every month will be transferred to the Purchasing Department 3, given a raise, and promoted to clerk level. Our factory does a lot of manual labor, so we can't do without meat."