I'm back in 1990

Chapter 796: Both Stupid and Wicked

With her younger sister Cheng Ling's marriage settled, Cheng Jing prepared to take leave to return home to prepare for childbirth, as originally planned. After the Spring Festival, she would go to Hong Kong with Huang Erhe, so she discussed the matter of taking leave with Huang Erhe.

"Erhe, don't forget to ask for leave from the factory next Monday. People say that pregnancy makes you stupid for three years, and there's some truth to that. My memory isn't as good as it used to be, and I'm always forgetting things."

Huang Erhe, who was tutoring his two children, replied, "Don't worry! I've already spoken to several leaders at the factory. Just send the leave slip over on Monday, and you don't need to go."

At that moment, Cheng Jing suddenly remembered something: "Erhe, my belly is so obvious, why has no one ever asked me about it?"

Huang Erhe chuckled: "Why am I asking you? To ask if you have violated the one-child policy? To tell you the truth, everyone in the factory knows you're pregnant. You're the only one who thinks no one else knows."

Actually, I've already spoken privately with several factory leaders about your plans to give birth in Hong Kong. They all understand. Besides, one-fifth of our main factory's orders come from Chimelong Shipping. Who is Chimelong Shipping a subsidiary of? It's Hong Kong's Dadao Group. And who owns Dadao Group? You can't be unaware of that, can you?"

Cheng Jing, of course, knew who owned the Da Dao Group—her brother-in-law's! Hearing this, she belatedly realized, "I knew it!"

Huang Erhe is no longer the same Huang Erhe he used to be. Because of his younger brother, everyone in the factory and the group treats him differently. Over time, Huang Erhe naturally got used to it, and his confidence and demeanor are no longer the same as before.

To give an example, Huang Erhe used to be a penniless nobody who couldn't stand up straight. Now, Huang Erhe might not be rich, but he no longer has to worry about making a living. His pockets are full, so naturally, he can stand up straight.

On Monday, Huang Erhe went to work as usual. After arriving at his office, he made himself a cup of tea as usual, and then looked at the work plan for the week on his desk.

About half an hour later, he took two packs of cigarettes from the drawer, put them in a file bag, and also took a box of tea. He then got up and went to the personnel department upstairs.

"Hello, Director Huang! Director Huang is here!" The staff of the personnel department greeted him with smiles, and Huang Erhe responded to each of them with a smile.

"Hello, Xiao Sun!"

"Hello, Sister Song!"

He then asked, "Is your horse stable in place?"

As soon as he said that, someone enthusiastically told him, "Yes, yes, I just delivered a kettle of hot water to Director Ma."

"Alright, you guys go ahead with your work, I'll go chat with Director Ma!" Huang Erhe greeted the staff in the personnel department's main office with a smile and headed towards the director's office.

Reaching the door, Huang Erhe knocked. A middle-aged man's slightly authoritative voice came from inside: "Come in!"

Huang Erhe opened the door and went in. When the people inside saw that it was Huang Erhe, they immediately changed their serious expressions and stood up with smiles on their faces, greeting him.

"Oh! It's Director Huang! Please have a seat!" Director Ma from the Personnel Department greeted Huang Erhe and then went to find teacups and tea leaves to make tea for him.

Huang Erhe advised, "Director Ma, don't bother. I brought a teacup." As he spoke, he took his thermos out of his pocket.

Only then did Director Ma sit down.

After Director Ma sat down, Huang Erhe got straight to the point: "Director Ma, I wouldn't be here today without a reason. I'm here to ask you for leave for my daughter, Chengjing."

"Taking leave? No problem, just give me the leave slip." Director Ma reached out to Huang Erhe for the leave slip. In fact, Director Ma already knew the reason why Cheng Jing was taking leave, and today's request was just a formality.

Huang Erhe, however, did not rush to give the leave slip to Director Ma. Instead, he handed Director Ma the two packs of cigarettes and the box of tea that he had brought, which were in the document bag.

He added, "I know you, Director Ma, enjoy a few puffs of cigarettes and a cup of tea. I think this newly harvested tea is quite good; let me share some with you!"

Director Ma feigned displeasure and said, "Director Huang, are you being too formal with me? I'll keep the leave slip, but you can take these back with you."

"Really, you'll regret it, this is freshly harvested autumn tea today!" Huang Erhe had known Director Ma for a long time, and he didn't believe that Director Ma would refuse to accept it.

Everyone in this factory, and even its parent company, knew that Huang Erhe drank tea that was unavailable on the market. The reason was simple: he had a younger brother who was incredibly wealthy. Therefore, Huang Erhe's office was stocked with all kinds of fine tea, and factory leaders often went to his office to drink tea there. Director Ma himself was no exception.

Upon hearing that it was Tieguanyin autumn tea that had just left the market, Director Ma's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately changed his mind and took the tea back instead of pushing it away.

He added, "Then I definitely have to try it!"

Seeing that Director Ma had accepted the items, Huang Erhe took out the leave slip from his pocket and handed it to him.

After taking it, Director Ma glanced at it briefly and said, "No problem, I'll take the note."

He then mentioned something to Huang Erhe: "I have something to tell you, you just need to know it in your heart."

Huang Erhe was taken aback for a moment: "Huh? What is it?"

Director Ma leaned closer to Huang Erhe and whispered, "A team leader in Workshop 5 named Fei Mo, I don't know what got into him, reported your Cheng Jing for having an extra child. Of course, the factory ignored him, but he went to the head office instead."

At this point, Director Ma took out a cigarette and handed one to Huang Erhe. After lighting it, he continued, "This guy is both stupid and wicked! Doesn't he even consider what this has to do with him? Where do his monthly bonus, quarterly bonus, year-end bonus, holiday allowance, cold drink allowance, and heating allowance come from?"

Huang Erhe smiled indifferently: "Among the masses, there are all kinds of people, it's not surprising. But I still want to thank the factory leaders and you, my friend, for causing you a lot of trouble and worry!"

"Look at what you're saying, you're being too polite with me. Do you think we don't know what kind of person you are, Lao Huang? The leaders of the main factory have always wanted to transfer you to the main factory, but you just won't go. You're willing to stay with us and share weal and woe. Just for that reason, we can't let you, Lao Huang, suffer any grievances." Director Ma said with a sincere expression.

Huang Erhe chuckled and patted Director Ma's knee: "Old Ma, I know what I'm doing, I remember everything!"

Director Ma was particularly pleased to hear this, and he took the initiative to get closer to Huang Erhe: "Then Director Huang, I'm looking forward to your invitation to my 100-day celebration."

Huang Erhe smiled and agreed, "Don't worry, you'll definitely be able to handle the drinking. Alright, I know you're busy, so I won't keep you from your work. I'm leaving!" As he spoke, Huang Erhe stood up and prepared to leave.

"Let me see you off!" Director Ma said as Huang Erhe was about to leave, and quickly stood up to personally see him off.

Huang Erhe quickly waved his hand: "No need, no need, it's just a short walk, don't bother seeing me off, it makes me seem too formal."

Director Ma insisted, "I'm seeing you off precisely because I don't want to be formal with you."

Huang Erhe could only let Director Ma escort him all the way to the stairwell entrance; any further and they would be right at Huang Erhe's office door.

"I'm Back in 1990," a masterpiece by Sijiucai (Four Seasons Leek), is available to read now!