Chapter 126: Handmade Rag Dolls
Jiang Cheng received the bonus from the textile factory.
With her canvas bag bulging, Jiang Cheng smiled brightly at Director Zhou.
"Director Zhou, there’s something I forgot to tell you. Actually, I have a job."
Director Zhou suddenly looked up.
Jiang Cheng smiled calmly and said, "I’m an externally hired senior translator for Xinhua Bookstore. Just recently, I got promoted from a junior to a senior translator, haven’t had the chance to change my certificate yet."
"See you another day, Director Zhou."
Jiang Cheng waved leisurely, turned, and left.
Zhou Zhennan sat in the chair, unable to gather her wits for a long time.
Jiang Cheng, this person, is resourceful, capable, has no personal background but vast connections.
In conclusion, she’s not someone to be provoked.
At this moment, Zhou Zhennan felt regret for the first time, wishing she had approved this batch of bonuses directly.
Thinking about this, Zhou Zhennan thought of her younger brother at home.
If it weren’t for her brother getting married and arranging to buy the three big pieces, the items with eighty-four legs and all that, she wouldn’t need to withhold this bonus.
The more she thought about it, the more her head hurt.
Where should she get this money?
*
After leaving the textile factory, Jiang Cheng first returned to the courtyard.
After putting away the money, she took a batch of translated books to Xinhua Bookstore to submit her work.
Incidentally, she collected her payment, a new translator certificate, and a senior translator’s certificate.
Leaving Xinhua Bookstore, Jiang Cheng went to the department store to buy some gifts and carried them to Factory Director Fang’s home.
The moment Factory Director Fang saw Jiang Cheng upon returning home, he was surprised.
"Is there something urgent?"
Factory Director Fang was truly worried.
Jiang Cheng shook her head with a smile and said, "I’m here to admit a mistake."
Mistake?
Factory Director Fang was puzzled but still sat down to listen seriously to Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng openly admitted to Factory Director Fang about asking Manager Mu to back her up.
Factory Director Fang understood, and after a few moments of silence, he looked up.
"Jiang Cheng, tell me honestly, did you notice something wrong with Zhou Zhennan?"
Jiang Cheng didn’t answer directly but instead asked, "Factory Director Fang, don’t you think I’ve reached too far?"
Factory Director Fang shook his head.
"I only regret that you didn’t really become the deputy director, and you don’t want to be. If you did, you’d be working hard to get us textile orders."
"It’s good that Jian Chunsheng got it. I know him well, he’s a person who works steadily."
Factory Director Fang’s words made Jiang Cheng feel open to confide as well.
"Factory Director Fang, I’m not clear about the specifics of Zhou Zhennan’s problem, but I did some calculations, take a look."
"Zhou Zhennan married early and lost her husband, has a daughter who doesn’t go to school, currently her daughter is basically a maid to the Zhou family."
"Zhou Zhennan is the eldest in the family, with three younger sisters and a brother. The sisters were married off with a high dowry, the brother has been unemployed but has a house in the city and goes to dine and watch movies every day."
"Now her brother is getting married, the bride’s family requires a dowry of 888, along with three big pieces and eighty-four legs, the Zhou family agreed to everything."
"Zhou Zhennan has been working for twenty-one years, the first three as a temp worker, then six years in a basic position before moving to finance, and after three years becoming the finance director."
"She’s the only one in the Zhou family earning a salary, yet their expenses far exceed her total salary, where did the extra money come from?"
"Moreover, the Zhou family is just a village family, the type that can lie around instead of sitting, with virtually no background."
After Jiang Cheng finished speaking, Factory Director Fang understood.
"You suspect that Zhou Zhennan is taking money from the textile factory?"
Jiang Cheng nodded.
"I suspect, but there’s no evidence, you’ll need to investigate this personally."
"I will."
Factory Director Fang took this matter very seriously, after all, Zhou Zhennan is the financial director of the factory!
If she wanted to manipulate things a bit... right now the foreign exchange is critical, Factory Director Fang couldn’t sit still.
"By the way, how do you know all this in such detail?"
Factory Director Fang was very curious.
Jiang Cheng smiled and replied, "In our crowded courtyard, there’s a young guy who happens to know Zhou Zhennan’s brother, so I asked him to find out a bit."
Jiang Cheng was talking about Sun Aiguo.
Before Sun Aiguo found work, his connections were quite wide.
After giving Factory Director Fang a heads-up, Jiang Cheng didn’t say any more.
Factory Director Fang wouldn’t make a mistake handling it himself.
The main reason she came today was to prevent Zhou Zhennan from speaking ill of her to Factory Director Fang.
Saying things like she manipulated everything, it was necessary to start by admitting her mistake to avoid any misunderstandings.
After explaining everything, Jiang Cheng stayed for a meal.
After eating, Jiang Cheng even helped Factory Director Fang’s daughter with her homework.
When Jiang Cheng was leaving, Factory Director Fang’s daughter was very reluctant and kept asking when she would come again.
"Save any questions you don’t understand, ask me in our crowded courtyard in a week."
"Okay!"
After making an appointment with Factory Director Fang’s daughter, Jiang Cheng was warmly sent off by the whole family.
Factory Director Fang’s wife looked at her own daughter and asked sourly, "Is there anything you can’t ask me, your mom, a high school teacher?"
"Mom—every time you tutor me, either you’re rolling your eyes or banging the table, and then there’s your favorite teaching ruler."
Factory Director Fang’s wife felt guilty for less than half a second, then angrily questioned, "And whose fault is that? Who told you not to know the answers!"
"Mom, if I knew, why would I ask you!"
Factory Director Fang’s wife: Seems like I don’t need to?
*
After leaving Factory Director Fang’s house, Jiang Cheng returned to the courtyard.
The next day, Jiang Cheng, who was used to getting up early, found that today everyone in the courtyard was up early too.
She got out of bed and listened by the window.
"The street put up a notice, they’re looking for people skilled in needlework at the textile factory!"
"Could there be work again?"
"Seems like it, I heard it’s a big job, so the requirements are higher this time."
"Whatever it is, go quickly, or there won’t be any spots left!"
"Exactly, there’s a lot of people but not much work!"
The voices of the group grew more distant, but it was easy to hear their anticipation.
Jiang Cheng retracted her ear.
It seems like the doll-making project is going to be issued soon.
Thinking of this, Jiang Cheng first went next door.
"Grandma Shen!"
Jiang Cheng called out as she entered the house, pulling Grandma Shen aside.
"Grandma Shen, do you want to earn some pocket money? There’s a doll-making job at the textile factory."
"How do you know?"
"I negotiated the job, how could I not know!"
"Just tell me if you want to do it. If you do, I’ll get it for you, we have that kind of pull!"
"Besides, your skills are definitely up to par!"
Hearing this, Grandma Shen was indeed a bit tempted.
Apart from cooking, she really didn’t have much to do at home.
"Alright, get some back for me!"
"Leave it to me!"
In the next few days, the entire street was busy with the doll-making affair.
Four days later, those who were selected received material packages from the textile factory and began making the dolls.
Grandma Shen was among them, not receiving her materials any earlier than others, blending right in with the crowd.
Another day passed, and the courtyard was bustling with activity.
Meanwhile, at the S City train station, Shen Que stepped out carrying luggage.