The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 102: Landing a Secure Job at the Factory

Everyone in the Wang Family nodded in agreement, clearly supporting the idea. Except for Yang Zhigang, who smiled with pride, his eyes full of admiration—this person was his elder cousin, destined for great things...

Meanwhile, Wang Miaomiao looked on with a hint of scrutiny, thinking to herself: What’s this person planning to do?

Jiang Yan smiled modestly and said, "It’s also a matter of trust from the organization. Once the factory is built, we’ll definitely need to recruit people to work. I was thinking if Uncle and Aunt would be interested in going over there..."

"What? We can get in?" Liu Yulan couldn’t contain her excitement just as Jiang Yan finished speaking, "But we’re just ordinary farmers, we don’t know anything!"

Getting into a factory and landing an iron rice bowl, in this era...who wouldn’t want that?

"That’s not an issue, you can learn, and someone will teach you." Jiang Yan explained calmly, "Modern factories operate on an assembly line; you just need to follow instructions, focus on one process, and with time you’ll naturally get good at it."

Jiang Yan had thought it through; the factory couldn’t solely rely on military engineers and skilled workers. For some of the roles which aren’t critical, they’d definitely hire people. And who else would they hire but the local folks?

With such a good opportunity, of course, he thought of his own family first.

"I plan to recruit sixty people first, with interviews at the beginning of next month. If Uncle and Aunt want to work in the factory, I’ll sign you up. You’d just need to go through the motions at that time, and I’ll handle the rest." As Jiang Yan finished, he felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to see Yang Zhigang eagerly looking at him.

Jiang Yan disdainfully patted his sleeve and asked, "How many?"

Yang Zhigang’s eyes lit up immediately, and he swiftly held up a hand, hesitated, then retracted three fingers, changing the number to eight.

"Alright, I’ll give you ten spots, distribute them yourself." Jiang Yan responded casually, thought for a moment, and added, "Let’s keep another five spots for Aunt; distribute them to the village folks. Whoever Aunt thinks we have good relations with, give them to that family..."

Wang Miaomiao was dumbfounded. What’s going on here? This is blatant favoritism, using public resources for private gain... Are these regular worker slots like cabbages that you can just give away randomly?

"Really? Can you do that? Won’t you get in trouble..." Liu Yulan felt a bit light-headed. Five slots, and she gets to decide? Wow...

"No, I won’t." Jiang Yan laughed, "These are just for regular workers. As long as they are healthy and willing to work hard and bear hardships, they are suitable. We’re not selecting elite soldiers or anything, there aren’t that many requirements. The factory is just starting, and being the person in charge, I can make this decision."

Jiang Yan spoke lightly, but the impact on Liu Yulan and the others was immense. Especially for Liu Jianmin and Wang Jia Bao, their eyes were glowing as they looked at Jiang Yan.

"Then... then... Am I too old to be eligible?" Despite what was said, Wang Baoxing was still uncertain and asked nervously.

"Uncle, how old are you this year?" Jiang Yan asked.

Wang Baoxing worriedly replied, "I’ll be 39 come the lunar New Year."

"That’s fine." At thirty-nine, a man is still considered strong labor, "However, when you’re selecting people for the slots, try to choose people between twenty and thirty. After all, the factory needs more young labor. I can bend the rules a bit, but I can’t overdo it."

Receiving an affirmative answer, Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing exchanged glances, both showing delighted expressions, "Xiao Jiang, we don’t even know how to thank you enough."

"There’s no need for that, Aunt and Uncle are being too formal." Jiang Yan replied sincerely, "These days, Xiao Xue and I have constantly troubled you, adding to your burdens, and Xiao Xue will still need Miao Miao’s help in the future. I haven’t even thanked you..."

"Oh, it’s nothing. Xiao Xue is so lovely; I treat her like my own daughter." Liu Yulan laughed heartily, "You’re Gangzi’s good brother, so you’re part of the family. No need to say thanks."

"Aunt and I are indeed on the same page, so let’s not mention gratitude anymore; it’s too distant." Jiang Yan lifted his glass and said to Wang Baoxing, "Come, Uncle, let’s have a drink..."

"Sure..." Wang Baoxing carefully raised his glass and clinked it with Jiang Yan’s, downing it in one go.

Wang Miaomiao looked at everyone, feeling somewhat conflicted. A steel factory—a national enterprise—having a stable job in there as a formal worker was promising. Even if massive state-owned enterprise reforms and layoffs hit in 1998, that’s twenty years down the line; her parents would already be retired and settled.

But... Accepting such apparent favoritism—was that really okay?

Wang Miaomiao was a bit conflicted, but seeing the joy of others, she really couldn’t bring herself to say anything to dampen the mood. Besides, she didn’t have the face to say it; Jiang Yan generously gave the spots for her benefit. He didn’t even hesitate to give her brother-in-law ten spots. Even without her presence, her brother-in-law would definitely strive for her parents... Ten spots would surely include her parents.

Thinking this way, she felt she was overthinking... She completely let it go... It wasn’t anything significant for her... Indeed!

Once Wang Miaomiao sorted through her thoughts, she too started feeling happy. Wow, their family now would become one with dual-income earners, and she could count as half a worker too. Her second sister also earned money, and she had her brother-in-law firmly under her thumb, with him handing over his salary and savings. Tsk tsk... Their family was heading towards a well-off living. Her lazy and easy life was now just within reach...

"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang, can I go too? I want to work at the factory as a formal worker." Wang Jia Bao eagerly approached Jiang Yan, showing excitement and anticipation...

However, before a reply could come, he was mercilessly subdued by Wang Miaomiao...

"Bang..." Wang Miaomiao smacked him on the back of the head, and Wang Jia Bao, rubbing the sore spot, exclaimed, "Third Sis, what was that for... It hurts."

"Why are you talking nonsense? Concentrate on your studies and don’t think about unrealistic things." Wang Miaomiao scolded him with a stern look.

"Why is it unrealistic?" Wang Jia Bao retorted, dissatisfied, "Weren’t you the one who said studying hard in high school makes it easier to get into a factory later? Now Brother Jiang has spots, I could just go in directly, what’s the point in waiting until high school graduation? This is such a great opportunity, it won’t come again!"

Wang Miaomiao felt speechless, being cornered by his argument. Yes, those were her words, but she’s said many things, responding situationally to different circumstances, and now she had to keep persuading him...

"You don’t understand. If you go to the factory now, not knowing anything, you’ll only be a low-level worker, and after years of work, at most you’ll become a skilled worker, earning the basic wage, not much of a future." Wang Miaomiao calmed herself, guiding him patiently, "But if you finish high school, it’s different. With those extra years of knowledge, the benefits will be yours, and when you look for work after graduating, you might even land a junior position. Isn’t that better than laboring at a factory?"