Year-End

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month.

With only three days left until the New Year, the festive atmosphere in the streets and alleys grew stronger, with decorations appearing everywhere.

Firecrackers could be heard from time to time in the city, and mischievous children played and chased each other.

Adults went out to buy all sorts of food, fruits, snacks, couplets, and other necessities for the New Year.

It's worth mentioning that the Jiuzhou Mini is becoming increasingly common within Jiangzhou City.

People could often be seen driving their cars to the market to buy supplies.

Everyone was preparing for the upcoming New Year, celebrating the most important festival of the year.

Meanwhile, at the Jiuzhou Automobile Factory, the diligent workers were also looking forward to this holiday.

Although most of them had only joined the company less than a month ago.

In the assembly area, several employees were gathered around a semi-finished vehicle, carefully installing parts while chatting with their companions.

"Just two or three more days until the New Year, I wonder how the factory will arrange things."

The worker next to him finished his task and said without looking back.

"I wonder if we'll get time off."

Once the topic was brought up, several people nearby couldn't help but join the discussion on this matter of great concern.

"I don't think so. Most people haven't even been here for a month. How could they give us such a long holiday?"

"Life in the factory is pretty good right now. It seems a bit much to ask for time off right after joining such a great company that we finally found!"

"Working eight hours a day like this isn't tiring. After work, we can eat dinner and go home to celebrate with our families, or just go home to celebrate with relatives and friends instead of eating at the company. It's actually fine and doesn't delay anything."

"That's what you say, but I'm still a little bit looking forward to the holiday."

"It doesn't matter to me. If we get time off, that's great, but if not, it's okay too. I'm definitely staying at this factory anyway. The salary is good, the benefits are great, and it's close to home. I can't ask for more!"

"The factory's orders are already booked a month in advance. If we stop work for a few days for the holiday, will we even be able to fulfill them? Taking time off is absolutely impossible!"

A group of new workers, having already mastered their tasks, chatted quietly.

The team leader, an older employee responsible for managing them, turned a blind eye to this.

As long as there were no mistakes in their work and the post wasn't one where distraction could easily lead to danger, chatting while installing horns was acceptable.

However, the old employee just smiled at the content of their conversation.

No matter what, just trust the company!

He wasn't sure when it happened, but he had filled the factory with confidence. Was it when the salary started to increase? Or when his promotion and benefits improved?

Even if they didn't get time off, everyone wouldn't be at a loss!

There was still an hour until quitting time. He should go to the city later to buy some New Year's goods to take home.

Working at the Jiuzhou factory this year, he earned a good salary. Plus, he now had a subsidy as a team leader, so he could have a very good New Year.

Just as the team leader was working and thinking about what New Year's goods to buy, hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Fengyan, the department manager in charge of production, was already close at hand.

"Notify everyone, we'll be getting off work half an hour early today. After work, all team leaders will lead their team members to the cafeteria for dinner."

"The factory is having a reunion dinner today. The food will be very lavish. At the same time, the factory director will announce how we'll have our New Year holiday and some matters regarding New Year subsidies."

Zhou Fengyan's voice was loud, and the employees responsible for assembling different parts of the same car had already heard him without the team leader needing to relay the message!

"We actually get time off!"

"I was already prepared for no holiday, this is truly a surprise. Long live Jiuzhou Factory!"

"I haven't even passed my probation period yet, I feel a bit bad asking for time off!"

"The factory is my home!"

A small cheer erupted from the workers, and happy smiles bloomed on their faces.

Zhou Fengyan, who had arrived in a hurry, left just as quickly to notify the other nearby teams.

Meanwhile, at the factory gate.

The security guard was also using a loudspeaker to inform another group of workers who had arrived for their shift.

"Attention everyone, attention everyone. The company is having a reunion dinner today. Please head to the cafeteria and wait.

Attention, comrades who are about to start work, please sit on the right side of the cafeteria. Comrades who are working are not allowed to drink alcohol.

Comrades who wish to drink can only do so after their shift ends, in the cafeteria. That's all, over!"

The loudspeaker blared repeatedly, drawing the attention of the employees starting their shifts.

"Huh? The company is having a reunion? And we can even drink? Amazing, my Jiuzhou Factory!"

"It's a shame we can only drink after work. The food should be good too, right?"

"As long as it doesn't taste like before, haha, that's probably impossible."

Amidst a murmur of discussion, everyone headed towards the cafeteria.

The factory cafeteria, the back kitchen.

With over ten chefs working busily, delicious dishes were prepared one after another.

Braised prawns, golden and glistening.

Sweet and sour braised carp.

A large plate of cold pig ears.

Steaming hot taro and chicken stew.

Over ten hearty dishes, plus a few vegetable dishes, were meticulously cooked by the head chef and served on large plates.

Then, apples, bananas, and other fruits were arranged on plates and brought to the cafeteria.

They were neatly placed on each table, followed by bowls and chopsticks.

The dishes were the same, but the left side of the cafeteria had beer and various drinks prepared for employees finishing their shifts.

The right side, for employees about to start their shifts, had orange juice, cola, and soy milk.

The meal was quite lavish, with slight changes from the previously seen main dishes.

As the head chef timed it perfectly and brought out the last cold dish, the employees began to arrive one after another.

Normally, employees would arrive at the cafeteria half an hour before their shift, eat, and then go to work.

Afterward, employees who had just finished their shifts would come to the cafeteria to eat, and then they could leave the factory.

Since they got off work half an hour early today, employees finishing their shifts and those starting them were gathered together for a rare meal.

Except for one group of night shift employees who were absent, nearly four hundred employees filled the entire cafeteria to the brim.

Xu Yifan, walking in from outside the cafeteria, looked at the scene with some emotion.

It was a world of difference compared to a few months ago when he first took over the factory.

Now, this small factory was operating at full capacity. If they wanted to expand further, they would need to build new dormitories, a new cafeteria, factory buildings, warehouses, and so on.

It would only get better in the future. After the New Year, they should start considering the expansion of the factory.

All employees were present. Under the guidance of their team leaders, they sat at dining tables according to their groups.

They didn't start eating immediately but waited for the arrival of the factory's owner, the factory director.

As Xu Yifan walked into the cafeteria, a murmur of whispers rose from the crowd.

"The factory director is here, the factory director is here!"

"I've been here for so long, and this is the first time I've seen the factory director."

"He's quite handsome, and so young?!"

"Everyone knows about those luxury cars parked at the factory, right? They all belong to this young factory director. It's said his family is super rich!"

"Not only is he rich, but he's also capable. Everyone knows what the company was like a few months ago; they could barely afford to pay wages.

Everything is like this now thanks to the factory director's leadership!"

As employees working at the Jiuzhou factory, they knew even better how difficult it was to turn a company that hadn't been profitable for years into a thriving one in just a few months.

"By the way, I have a sister who's beautiful as a flower. I wonder if..."

"You're dreaming. What kind of beauties hasn't a super-rich person like him met?"

"Besides, I remember your sister is almost two hundred jin. How dare you!"

"Don't you know, chubby people have potential. Once they lose weight, they'll be absolutely stunning!"

"Alright, alright, let's stop talking for now and listen to the factory director's speech," the team leader interrupted their discussion.