On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the shop only did business for half a day. After lunchtime, it closed for the New Year holiday.
Lin Chuxia gathered all the employees at the Bun Shop to distribute this month’s wages, bonuses, and holiday benefits.
Everyone was informed beforehand and looked forward to it with joy and excitement.
Especially the new employees, it was their first time earning money by working.
Previously, helping their families grow and sell vegetables did earn money, but that was family money. Today, they truly made money under their own names.
“Is everyone here?”
Lin Chuxia came over with a stack of red envelopes, glanced over the attendees, saw that everyone was present, and cleared her throat.
“Thank you all for your hard work this year. I look forward to a better year ahead for Qin’s Bun Shop and Xiyang Food. Let’s start distributing the money now.”
Hou Xiaobao was the first to excitedly clap his hands.
Lin Chuxia began calling out names amidst the laughter and applause.
First up were the new employees, “Sun Liangdong…”
“Here!”
Sun Liangdong straightened up and called out loudly, which caused another burst of laughter from the crowd.
Lin Chuxia also smiled, “No need to be so nervous. This month, you worked overtime preparing our ready-to-eat products, ensuring all our orders were completed. You played a crucial role. Here’s twenty days’ wages of 20, overtime pay of 18.5, a bonus of 10, and a holiday fee of 10, totaling 58.5. Count it.”
Sun Liangdong hesitated at first, incredulous and overjoyed, looking around at everyone, before finally accepting the money at Lin Chuxia’s gesture.
Not just him, the few others who came with him were equally disbelieving and surprised.
They had agreed upon an internship period of one month with a wage of 30, and upon official employment, it would be 40 with a potential bonus for good performance.
They did indeed work a lot during these days for the village chief’s request, working overtime diligently.
They really did it for the village chief’s words, to perform well and bring glory to their village.
They didn’t expect to receive overtime pay, and that good performance would indeed result in a bonus.
Earning over fifty in less than a month, they could imagine the look their parents would give them when they brought the money home.
Lin Chuxia was happy for them too. With such large order volumes and these newcomers not complaining of fatigue, selected specifically by the village chief for their literacy, they became proficient with the machines quickly.
They deserved it.
“Qin Yufeng, wage of 20, overtime pay of 19.2, bonus 10, holiday fee 10, total 59.2.”
“Qin Weidong, wage of 20, overtime pay of 17.8, bonus 10, holiday fee 10, total 57.8…”
…
After the new employees, it was the bun shop staff.
Cai Jun, Granny Sun, Zhou Hongmei, Zhang Guilan, Qin Lihua, Chen Chunhua – they all did the same work, earning a wage of 40, bonus of 10, and another 10 for a holiday fee, each receiving 60 in total, nearly equivalent to two months’ salary of a regular factory worker.
Qin Lihua joyfully received her wage, “Thank you, Auntie Four,” then ran over to Zhou Hongmei, giggling as she counted her money.
Zhou Hongmei teased her, calling her a little money-grubber, and Qin Lihua whispered, “My mom said to save my earned wages for my dowry; I’ve saved over a hundred now.”
Chen Chunhua took her red envelope from Lin Chuxia and returned to her seat with a grin, whispering to Ma Yingzi sitting next to her.
“Our boss is really generous, with bonuses and holiday fees. Last month when I took money home, my husband treated me so well. This month I got 20 more than last. Let’s see if he dares to puff up at me now.”
Ma Yingzi nodded in agreement, “No matter when, we still have to stand up for ourselves, isn’t there that saying? The economic base determines the superstructure.”
“That’s true, but your Lao Pang definitely wouldn’t. You two do the same kind of work, and I see you even have overtime pay. You must have at least 20 more than me this month.”
Ma Yingzi smiled and didn’t respond.
It was soon Ma Yingzi, Pang Yongli, and Hou Xiaobao’s turn.
“Brother Pang, this is yours, wage of 40, overtime pay of 23, bonus 30, holiday fee 10, check it out.”
“Sister Ma, same for you, wage of 40, overtime pay 23, bonus 30, holiday fee 10.”
Hou Xiaobao’s wage and bonus were the same as theirs, but he also received a bonus for night watch.
During this period, the ready-to-eat orders were plenty, and the staff in the small courtyard worked overtime tirelessly.
Especially the couple, Ma Yingzi and Pang Yongli, they almost lived there.
The two joined their team when they started selling ready-to-eat products and now were considered veterans. Lin Chuxia had prepared large red envelopes for both of them.
Hou Xiaobao joined after finishing his rounds, and the raw material handling was almost all on him. He would get the goods before dawn, and he was also responsible for transporting the packaged goods.
Cold winter days spent running outside wasn’t an easy job, yet Hou Xiaobao never complained of hardship or fatigue.
Even upon returning, he didn’t rest, and worked along with the couple.
Most importantly, he really had a talent for handling equipment, operating the machines most smoothly.
As they heard the wage figures of these few, envious glances were cast, but everyone knew that the small courtyard had been very busy recently.
Finally, it was the shop managers and a few who handled business outside.
Qin Han and Sun Lanlan received 100 each, Qin Wu with his business commission received 113, Sun Bingnan received 108, Jia Liang received 124, and Su Wensong received the most, totaling 145.
Lastly, everyone also received three kilograms of ready-to-eat products as a holiday benefit.
After handing out the money, there was no rush to send everyone home. They prepared two tables with dishes at the Bun Shop for everyone to gather and enjoy.
Ma Yingzi saw a few who had already gone to the kitchen and called out to Chen Chunhua, who was still lost in thought, “Chunhua, let’s go. Join us in picking vegetables. You’re not planning to skip the gathering, are you?”
“Oh, okay…”
Chen Chunhua snapped out of it and went to the kitchen.
Watching Ma Yingzi ahead, she felt a bit uneasy.
She thought she earned only ten more than her, said twenty to make her happy, but didn’t expect that Ma Yingzi actually earned over forty more than her.
Her husband’s monthly wage wasn’t even forty, so basically, Ma Yingzi’s single wage equaled the combined income of both of them.
Lin Chuxia was also about to check things out when Hou Xiaobao approached her, hesitating to speak.
“What’s wrong? Where are you planning to spend the Spring Festival?”
After Hou Xiaobao’s family members learned he was working at the Bun Shop, they approached him once, seemingly because his elder brother’s child needed school fees, asking him to lend money. Hou Xiaobao refused under the pretense of housing.
He was open to giving school fees, but they had to return his house to him.
Initially, Hou the Elder had kicked him out and taken over his house under the pretext that he was not studying well. Now that he had straightened out, if they still wanted to acknowledge him as a brother, they should rightfully return his house.
Hou the Elder seemingly didn’t expect he’d ask for the house back, and left cursing.
They didn’t get the money, and of course, they didn’t intend to return the house.