On the farmland north of South Lake Farm.
Lu Weibin was discussing farmland leases with several farm employees and more than a dozen villagers.
"Uncle Jianshe, what do you think of the price?"
The old man nodded. "It's fine. We can't make much money growing rice on this land anyway, so you can grow whatever you want. The rent can be the same as for the strawberry greenhouses."
As he smoked, another middle-aged man asked, "Manager Lu, is the packaging plant still hiring? My wife hasn't got anything to do lately."
Lu Weibin smiled and shook his head. "Hiring is Human Resources Department business. You can have your wife submit a résumé to the company."
"That troublesome? She doesn't know how to do that!"
Lu Weibin hurriedly added, "Brother, you can have a younger person write it for her. But let me make this clear first: if she's over forty, don't submit a résumé to the company. At most, I can offer temporary piecework here. A permanent position is impossible."
"Forty? That's fine. My wife is only thirty-eight this year."
The age limit was due to length-of-service considerations. If they were over forty, they would retire after working for barely more than a decade, and their energy was no match for younger, stronger workers.
Hai Lu Feng Company was a legitimate company. Every permanent employee had to be covered by the five social insurances and housing fund. Women over forty simply could not work for another twenty years. When the time came, should the company keep paying their social insurance or not?
"Manager Lu, can I raise eels in my fishpond by the reservoir?" Another young man handed over a pack of cigarettes and asked.
Lu Weibin did not take it. "Thanks, I don't smoke. You want to raise eels?