Reborn in the 80s: Everyone Falls For Me
Chapter 285 - 284: Testing Familial Bonds Without Money (3 Updates)

Chapter 285: Chapter 284: Testing Familial Bonds Without Money (3 Updates)

Xu Niannian, upon entering the door, saw the cornmeal on the dining table and the two dishes of pickled vegetable "bangzi".

She couldn’t help but frown, filled with annoyance.

She had already planned to help her second uncle’s family find a way to make a living in the county town.

But she had been so busy lately that she had almost forgotten this matter.

Xu Erhong quickly asked Xu Sisi to clear the pickles from the dining table and asked cheerfully, "Girl, what’s up? Why did you suddenly come to your second uncle’s house? Aren’t you running a store in the county town? Your mom said you were too busy before."

"Second Uncle, I’m here to discuss something with you."

Seeing Xu Niannian’s earnest expression, Xu Erhong also became serious and dropped his playful demeanor.

Xu Niannian told Xu Erhong about her plan to build a factory in the village.

Once Xu Erhong heard this, he was incredibly surprised, "Oh my, amazing! My great niece has really made something of herself, she’s actually planning to build a factory here in the village?"

Xu Erhong was practically bursting with pride because of his niece.

Seeing Xu Erhong genuinely delighted for her, Xu Niannian’s mood also improved.

Xu Niannian shared her preliminary plan with Xu Erhong. Conveniently, Xu Erhong’s land was adjacent to hers, and gathering land from five or six other families nearby would be enough.

Xu Niannian had limited funds in hand, so even if she were to build a factory, she didn’t dare to plan for a scale that was too grand all at once.

As soon as Xu Niannian mentioned the need to use land, Xu Erhong agreed without a second thought, decisively at that.

Xu Niannian couldn’t help but laugh, "Second Uncle, you agreed so quickly, won’t you ask what benefits I’ll give you? Aren’t you afraid you’ll have no income after losing your land?"

Xu Erhong said with particular pride, "My great niece wouldn’t make me agree to a losing deal."

Hearing this, Xu Niannian laughed.

This kind of unconditional trust, it’s really nice.

Xu Niannian didn’t beat around the bush with Xu Erhong, making it clear that if the factory really got started, she would still need Xu Erhong’s help.

The meaning of her words was clear enough, and Xu Erhong certainly got the message.

He grinned so hard his teeth showed but not his eyes, "I just knew it, my great niece would never make her second uncle agree to a losing deal."

Xu Niannian nodded and chuckled softly, "Naturally."

While she was discussing with Xu Erhong, Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Sisi were on the side listening.

When Xu Sisi heard Xu Niannian talk about opening a factory in the village, she was incredibly surprised.

After the two finished speaking, she clasped her face and said, "Sister Niannian, you can even open a factory now, that’s so awesome!"

Xu Sisi sincerely praised, then added, "My dad doesn’t have enough education; he surely can’t manage your factory. Let me help you instead."

She immediately started eyeing her father’s job.

Xu Erhong responded, annoyed, "You little Black Girl, you’re getting bolder, trying to steal your dad’s work."

"Tsk, how can this be called stealing? This is survival of the fittest, right, Sister Niannian?"

She laughed, revealing her little tiger teeth.

Xu Niannian couldn’t help but laugh, "You, just focus on finishing school first, and strive to get into a good university."

"Hear that? You should focus on your studies. If you don’t study, no one will marry you, you Black Girl," Xu Erhong bluntly scolded his own daughter.

Xu Sisi: "..."

This father of hers wasn’t being considerate at all.

Xu Zhiqiang was quietly listening by the side.

Once the serious discussion was over, Xu Niannian asked Xu Erhong to take her to negotiate with the few families whose lands were adjacent to hers.

As Xu Niannian had expected, not many were willing.

Fortunately, Xu Niannian already had a strategy to deal with this.

She told these families that once the factory was built, she would ensure each family could send three people to work there, with a guaranteed minimum salary of 20 yuan a month.

There was a small factory in the town where workers were paid only about 15 to 20 yuan a month.

Since Xu Niannian could guarantee jobs for three people from each family, naturally, they were willing, and they quickly agreed.

Three people, even if each one only earned 20 yuan, would make 60 yuan a month.

Where could they find a better deal? This was much better than farm work.

However, to avoid having people rely on favorable conditions to slack off or crack jokes in the future, Xu Niannian decided to make the situation clear beforehand.

No one was to break the rules established by the factory, otherwise, their wages would be deducted just the same.

Hearing that it was only a deduction from their wages and not an immediate blacklisting, several families sighed in relief.

After negotiations with six families, the land from these families, combined with hers and her second uncle’s, totaled about three acres.

That is roughly 1,800 square meters.

Such a size wasn’t large, but it wasn’t small either.

Xu Niannian preferred swift decisions and actions, so as soon as the families agreed, she immediately convened everyone at the village chief’s house.

She also invited the local militia leader, Xu Aiguo.

There, they wrote the land transfer contracts on the spot, and in front of the village chief and the militia leader, she paid the families for purchasing their land.

Besides these six families, Xu Niannian also bought the land from Xu Erhong’s family.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Xu Erhong, but she didn’t want to test family ties with money and interests.

Because Xu Erhong treated her well, she didn’t want to see her kind second uncle change because of interests.

After all, human hearts can inevitably change with time and environment, and she hoped to never have any financial disputes with relatives.

Therefore, it was best to clearly divide everything from the beginning.

Xu Erhong didn’t say much either.

But the money given to Xu Erhong wasn’t handed over in front of the village chief and the militia leader, nor was the contract written in front of them.

Back at home, Xu Niannian then discussed the matter with Xu Erhong.

Xu Erhong didn’t have much to say and signed the contract without hesitation.

Of course, Xu Niannian wouldn’t treat her own second uncle the same as others.

The amount she gave for the land was four to five times more than what others received.

Xu Erhong refused to accept so much money, his face stern.

"You silly girl, why give so much? Your second uncle understands your thoughts. We are one family and there’s no need for outsiders’ talk. I can’t guarantee that I won’t be swayed by interests someday, so what you are doing is right. Don’t feel guilty towards your second uncle, just give what should be given."

Upon hearing this, Xu Niannian breathed a sigh of relief but didn’t take the money back.

She simply said, "Since second uncle understands Niannian’s thoughts, I will be honest with you, you are my second uncle, and I have to show favoritism."

Without another word, she thrust the money into Xu Erhong’s hands, "I have a lot to take care of, and I will rely on second uncle to help in the future. My mom is uneducated, my dad only finished second grade of elementary school, and he’s not mobile either. I’ll need second uncle to help out here, and to take good care of Zhiqiang. I know second uncle is capable, so you deserve this money."

Xu Erhong was very smart, and that was something Xu Niannian had long recognized.

That’s why she thought of asking for his help.

Even if he was her second uncle, she wouldn’t have entrusted the factory to him if he wasn’t competent.

With Xu Niannian speaking so frankly, Xu Erhong had no choice but to accept.

He also knew that it was his great-niece’s kind-heartedness, recognizing his family’s difficult financial situation and wanting to take care of them.

Xu Erhong once again felt deeply grateful for having such a niece.

Seeing that he finally agreed to take the money, Xu Niannian beamed with satisfaction.

With the matter resolved, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang immediately returned to the county town.

On the way back, Xu Zhiqiang asked Xu Niannian, "Sister, didn’t you say that involving relatives is the biggest taboo in business?"

Hearing that, a smile spread across Xu Niannian’s lips, "That’s why I made it clear with second uncle from the beginning what should be divided, and most importantly, our second uncle isn’t the kind to slack off and mooch."

"Second uncle has been good to our family and often helped us out. Once the factory is up, I will give him a good position, authority, and various preferential treatments, but I won’t give him a share of the profits, understand?"

"As long as second uncle does his job well, he will always be our good second uncle. Even without a share of the profits, the treatment I’ll give to our second uncle will definitely be better than if he were to receive dividends. But if second uncle really changes, it won’t damage the foundation of our business."

Hearing this, Xu Zhiqiang nodded, somewhat comprehending.

Xu Niannian sighed, "In face of interests, I have seen too many people who became utterly unrecognizable. My approach is not to distance myself from second uncle; it’s that I don’t want him to have the chance to become someone like that. Just like I told you before, I don’t want to test our family bonds with money. I’d rather eliminate the possibility at the start than to try to fix things after it happens."

Xu Zhiqiang seemed to understand something and looked at Xu Niannian with immense admiration.

His sister’s foresight was profound. Had it been him, he certainly wouldn’t have thought that far.

He would only think that since it was his own second uncle, why make things awkward?