NOVPUB
Chapter 661: Chapter 651 Hiring Temporary Workers
Shen Yunfang hung up the phone and, after informing Zhang Chunwang, hopped on her bicycle and pedaled hastily towards the military district compound.
Upon entering the compound, she didn’t even head home but went straight to the Logistics Department.
This was Shen Yunfang’s second time at this place, of course, it wasn’t the interrogation room like last time, but an ordinary office. She recognized the officer who received her at a glance, still the same two bars and three stars.
"You must be the leader of the Logistics Department, hello, hello!" Since the last encounter wasn’t pleasant, Shen Yunfang simply pretended she didn’t recognize him.
The two bars and three stars, of course, could not possibly fail to know who the visitor was, since not just anyone can enter his office, and someone had reported her arrival to him in advance.
"You’re Li Hongjun’s wife, aren’t you? We meet again," said the two bars and three stars, who wasn’t embarrassed at all and directly exposed Shen Yunfang’s little ruse.
Well, so much for pretending it was the first meeting; might as well go with it, as it could make things easier with an acquaintance, right?
"Yes, yes, I am Li Hongjun’s wife. When someone reported my husband Li Hongjun last time, you invited me over to understand the situation," said Shen Yunfang with a smile.
"That’s true," The two bars and three stars stood up and gestured for Shen Yunfang to sit on the sofa. He sat down as well, "What brings you here today? Is there something you need?"
Usually, military spouses come to him either to make a report or to complain about some issues with their own husbands, so he was now prepared to listen, thinking that was why Shen Yunfang had come.
"Leader, I am here today to seek your help. You see, I’ve contracted some land nearby," this news had spread around the compound ever since they got a telephone installed, and she thought the Logistics Department, keen on monitoring the district’s activities, must have already investigated, "and now I have several hundred acres of autumn vegetables ready for harvest, but I don’t have enough workers, so I was hoping to find some help."
The two bars and three stars immediately understood what she meant, and frowned as well. He was quite averse to the idea of spouses using soldiers as if they were their family’s private labor force, taking advantage of their husband’s authority to get soldiers to do chores as if the military were their own personal property.
Shen Yunfang was constantly watching his expression and noticed his frown, indicating his displeasure.
"I’ve noticed that many military spouses in our district’s family quarters are idle and have nothing to do. I also know that many of them have a hard time getting by," she continued, "so I thought this could be an opportunity to earn some money. I was hoping that perhaps you could help me ask around to see if anyone would like to do some temporary work. Although they won’t make much each day at my place, working hard enough to earn some vegetable money should be no problem."
The two bars and three stars hadn’t expected this; she was looking to employ military spouses, which changed his frown to relief. He also began to consider the feasibility of the situation.
"Can you tell me how much you’re willing to pay per day? That way, I can help you find people," he asked, unsure of how much Shen Yunfang could offer in wages.
As far as he was concerned, it was indeed a good thing. It was an opportunity to give these idle military spouses something to do, to help increase their income and reduce the frequency of their squabbles, resulting in fewer complaints and reports to him, surely a positive development.
"I don’t pay wages by the day but by the harvested area. I pay one yuan per mu harvested, distributing pay according to the work. The more you work, the more you get." Shen Yunfang explained the salary situation, with this approach eliminating those who just go through the motions or are prone to laziness.
Two Stripes Three Stars nodded in understanding and felt satisfied, "So, what exactly do we need to harvest? And how large is the total area to be harvested?"
"We still have cabbage and radishes in the fields, around two hundred mu or so. Of course, for harvesting radishes, I’ll pay one yuan and fifty cents per mu." Harvesting radishes required more effort in pulling them out compared to chopping cabbages, so Shen Yunfang offered a slightly higher wage for that work.
Two Stripes Three Stars nodded in satisfaction. At this rate, a military spouse could harvest two mu in a good day’s work, which would be two yuan — not a small amount.
"For this job, if you went to find people directly, you should manage as well. Why insist on involving our logistics department in this?" Two Stripes Three Stars asked sharply.
"Hehe, of course, it is because I trust our troops. Also, although I have lived near our military region for quite some time, I’m not very familiar with the military spouses here. I am hiring people for labor, not to waste money getting frustrated, so I want the army to help screen potential workers and recruit a few who are truly hardworking and willing to work. Keep in mind, my farm is not far from our military region, and this is just the first year, so I won’t need too many workers. However, if the cooperation goes well, next year, I’ll need to replan and develop the mountain I’ve contracted, and at that time, I will need much more labor. I think it would be beneficial for military spouses from our region to work there." Shen Yunfang spoke candidly, feeling that the arrangement was a win-win situation. She would pay for the labor, and the military spouses could earn some money to supplement their family’s income — a great deal indeed.
If she were idle at home and without money, she definitely would go herself.
"Although the farm isn’t too far from here, not many people own bicycles, so commuting back and forth is an issue," Two Stripes Three Stars acknowledged, now considering the details.
"That’s not a problem. I have a tractor at my place, and I can arrange for someone to provide transportation back and forth in the morning and noon. There aren’t many people at my farm, so we can’t provide lunch. It is essential to clarify this up front, so the workers will need to return home to eat at noon," Shen Yunfang laid out the working hours, allowing for an hour and a half for lunch.
"Commander, I won’t hide it from you, I’m rather anxious about this. Being a military spouse and with my love being a soldier, I got this opportunity and thought of recruiting our own people to earn this money first. But you must understand, I still have several hundred mu of autumn vegetables in the fields that haven’t been harvested yet. If the temperature drops in the next few days, all my effort this year will be in vain, so I’m racing against the clock. If you think this can work, help me spread the word now. If there are sign-ups, the sooner, the better. I can send someone to pick them up this afternoon. If no one here is keen, then I must quickly recruit people from the city — I can’t let a year’s hard work go to waste, can I?"
Shen Yunfang was afraid the military spouses would know she was the employer and might be embarrassed to earn money while being choosy about the work, and she didn’t have time to entertain their hesitations as she was in a hurry.
"Alright, I’ll get someone to notify them now. If anyone wants to go, I’ll have them come here to sign up. What time can you come to pick them up this afternoon?" Two Stripes Three Stars was decisive, seeing Shen Yunfang’s urgency, and didn’t waste time in finalizing the arrangements.
"If that works, then at one o’clock in the afternoon."
"Good, shall I have the sign-ups wait at the military region’s gate at one p.m.?"
"That would be fine, but don’t be late. The tractor will depart on time at one point to pick up the people; I can’t wait for latecomers. Also, could you give me a call around noon to let me know how many have signed up? I need to coordinate how many tractors to send over," Shen Yunfang said.
The tractors’ trailers weren’t massive — they could at most carry around twenty people when full. So, she needed an approximate headcount.
"Okay, then it’s settled."
