Chapter 618 | Chapter 619 | Chapter 620
Chapter 618: The Shanghai Commander’s Family
After all, with nearly twenty stubborn squatters living there, evicting them was bound to be a hassle.
Sheng Wanyan checked the time, completed the title transfer, handed over the cash, and then took the two managers out to eat.
In the afternoon, Sheng Wanyan provided them with a firm bottom price and let the two managers go negotiate the remaining shops and the Western-style house on their own.
By the end of the day, everything was finalized. The Western-style house cost 80,000 yuan, and the two shops cost 50,000 yuan.
This left her with 570,000 yuan in cash on hand, plus the 340,000 yuan stored inside her space—more than enough to support her continued purchases and store openings in Shanghai.
As they were leaving the teahouse, one of the clerks handed her a packet of tea leaves. Sheng Wanyan looked at the clerk in confusion.
“Boss Sheng, Boss Ye is a close friend of our boss. Boss Ye specifically instructed us to give this to you.”
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan smiled, nodded, and accepted it. “Please convey my gratitude to Mr. Ye.”
“Will do.”
The teahouse clerk respectfully escorted her out, and Sheng Wanyan departed with the two managers.
That evening, Sheng Wanyan took the two managers out for a lavish meal to celebrate. As for the stubborn squatters living inside the lane house, Gu Second Uncle would have a way to handle them.
True to form, the moment Gu Second Uncle heard about it, he made arrangements the very next day by placing a call directly to the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
Forcibly staying in someone else’s home and refusing to leave was against the law.
Gu Second Uncle gave the Public Security Bureau a piece of his mind, saying that failing to resolve problems for the citizens was simply spoiling these lawbreakers.
Sure enough, within a few days, the stubborn squatters in the lane house were cleared out. Sheng Wanyan changed the locks and immediately hired people to renovate the place.
While the managers kept an eye on the shop renovations, Sheng Wanyan posted hiring notices at the entrances.
Seamstresses, store clerks, and a general manager all needed to be found.
Finding a manager was a matter that caused Sheng Wanyan a great deal of anxiety. In the end, Gu Second Aunt, seeing her look so lost, asked her what was wrong.
Upon hearing Sheng Wanyan’s dilemma, the problem was instantly solved. Who was Gu Second Aunt? She was the director of the Military District Logistics Department.
She was an absolute expert at managing these miscellaneous affairs, and the people around her were all adept at handling such logistics.
“Wanyan, tomorrow I’ll take you to visit the Military District Commander’s home.”
“The Commander’s eldest daughter-in-law is a section chief in the logistics department. I trained her up myself.”
“The Shanghai Commander is also looking to align himself with the Gu family’s ship.”
Sheng Wanyan caught the drift immediately. Gu Second Aunt was essentially telling her to poach from the state’s workforce.
The Shanghai Commander had previously belonged to a fallen political faction. He was an upright man and was currently looking for a reliable backing.
The best choice in the military district was the Gu family, but the Gu family didn’t lack manpower at the moment, and they already had Gu Second Uncle acting as the political commissar in Shanghai to keep tabs on things.
If this Commander were to make a mistake, it would be Gu Second Uncle, the political commissar, who would bring him down.
Lately, Gu Second Uncle had also picked up on this signal. They had been comrades-in-arms for decades, though he wouldn’t disrupt Grandpa Gu’s broader arrangements because of this.
“Second Aunt, are you really willing to hand her over to me?”
Since she was trained up by Gu Second Aunt, Second Aunt must have originally hoped she would inherit the position of logistics director in the future.
“There’s something about the Commander’s eldest branch that you probably don’t know.”
“The Commander’s eldest son and daughter-in-law have a six-year-old daughter who was born premature and has very poor health.”
“She needs medicine every single day, and they need money for everything.”
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan understood the situation. This was a family strap for cash; as long as the salary she offered was attractive enough, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Second Aunt, you are so wonderful.”
Sheng Wanyan hugged Gu Second Aunt’s arm. Gu Second Aunt was incredibly protective of the family’s younger generation and would always lend a helping hand whenever something came up.
“From now on, I’ll take care of all the clothes for you and Second Uncle.”
Sheng Wanyan naturally had to offer Gu Second Aunt some benefits; after all, favors couldn’t be done for nothing.
“You child…”
Gu Second Aunt smiled, shook her head, and patted the back of her hand, before taking her out for a stroll.
It happened to be the time when everyone was returning from work, so Sheng Wanyan managed to cross paths with the Shanghai Commander and his eldest daughter-in-law.
They exchanged a few words, which served as a brief introduction.
The next day, Gu Second Uncle and Gu Second Aunt brought her over for a formal visit, and she joined them for dinner at the Commander’s residence.
While eating, Sheng Wanyan noticed the Commander’s granddaughter. The girl was frail and thin, her face completely devoid of color.
She had to drink brewed Chinese medicine every day; otherwise, even a bit of strenuous movement would leave her breathless.
“Hello, Auntie Gu~”
The child greeted her and flashed a small smile. Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help but think of Yi Yi.
They were children of a similar age, yet their physical conditions were worlds apart.
“Hello there~ What’s your name?”
“My name is Wu Minxuan.”
After speaking, Wu Minxuan shyly hid in her mother’s embrace. The Commander’s eldest daughter-in-law smiled at her apologetically.
“I’m sorry, the child is a bit shy.”
“It’s fine.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and shook her head. Just as the daughter-in-law was about to strike up a conversation, Wu Minxuan in her arms began to cough.
The daughter-in-law hurriedly patted her back and rushed to the kitchen to bring out the brewed medicine for her to drink.
“Xiaoxuan, drink slowly, no rush.”
Wu Minxuan frowned, her eyes rimmed with red, as she resolutely swallowed the incredibly bitter medicine.
“Mommy, it’s so bitter~”
“It’s not bitter, here, have some candy.”
The daughter-in-law fed her a White Rabbit milk candy. Her movements were exceptionally practiced, but upon closer inspection, her hands were trembling.
“Sorry to let everyone see this.”
The Commander spoke up apologetically, and Gu Second Uncle and Gu Second Aunt quickly offered words of comfort.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Children are the absolute treasure of their elders’ hearts. No matter how old they get, we can’t stop worrying.”
“It’s the same for every household. Commander, put your mind at ease.”
Gu Second Aunt spoke with smooth eloquence, causing even the Commander’s wife, a Navy veteran, to smile.
“Take my niece-in-law here, for instance. She just loves selling clothes and is busy every single day trying to find a manager for her shops.”
“She’s so busy she forgets to eat. As her elders, we are incredibly worried.”
“Children are a lifelong debt, and the same goes for the younger generation in the family. We just can’t stop worrying.”
Gu Second Aunt’s words brought a measure of comfort to Commander Wu and his wife. Having someone offer comfort naturally made them feel a bit better.
Hearing that she was looking for a manager, Commander Wu’s eldest daughter-in-law stole a glance but remained silent.
“I’ve caused Second Aunt to worry. Once I find a manager, I’ll definitely eat properly.”
Sheng Wanyan chimed in quickly, further pressing the issue to catch the daughter-in-law’s attention.
“It’s so hard to find someone nowadays. There are so many responsibilities and the salary is high, but those with experience are few and far reference.”
“Furthermore, I might not necessarily be able to trust just anyone. I can only proceed with caution, which has delayed things a bit.”
The moment Sheng Wanyan’s voice fell, a query rang out.
“How much is the salary?”
Sheng Wanyan looked over. It was Commander Wu’s eldest daughter-in-law. Commander Wu and his wife knew exactly what their daughter-in-law meant.
A section chief position in the military district’s logistics department was a good job, but… The two elders glanced at their sickly granddaughter and didn’t speak up to stop her.
The eldest son’s family had spent an untold amount of money on their granddaughter’s illness, leaving the couple with very little of their monthly salaries remaining.
Chapter 619: Ma Lixiang’s Helplessness and Plea
The eldest son’s family also had two sons. Between their schooling and future marriages, money was needed everywhere.
“The general manager is a vital position. She will be in charge of all the shops in Shanghai.”
“The salary will be at least 300 yuan a month, plus a 0.5% commission on the total turnover of all shops.”
“Our stores in the Capital bring in a turnover of at least forty to fifty thousand yuan a month.”
“Right now, I plan to open seven branch stores in Shanghai. With such a massive undertaking, the fact that the general manager hasn’t been decided yet is why it’s been delayed until now.”
Hearing that she planned to open seven shops, Commander Wu’s eldest daughter-in-law did the math in her head and was thoroughly shocked.
Actually, everyone present was stunned. Calculating at a minimum of 40,000 yuan per store, that alone would mean 200 yuan in commission per month.
Across seven shops, wouldn’t the total commission add up to 1,400 yuan a month? Combined with the 300 yuan base salary, that was a staggering 1,700 yuan!
And this was calculated using the lowest standard. If business boomed, how much money would that be in a single month…
Even if business was poor, there was still the 300 yuan base salary to fall back on. Where in a state-owned unit could one ever find a job paying 300 yuan a month?
Even Commander Wu only made 400 yuan a month, and that was the result of his decades of hard work.
Commander Wu’s eldest daughter-in-law, Ma Lixiang, opened her mouth to speak, but caught her mother-in-law’s eye and quickly shut it.
This matter naturally required a proper visit to discuss in private, rather than bringing it up right now.
“The younger generation of the Gu family is truly exceptional. Political Commissar Gu, you are truly blessed.”
Hearing Commander Wu’s praise, Gu Second Uncle lifted his chin with immense pride.
“Not at all, Commander Wu’s children are not lacking either.”
The two exchanged pleasantries. As old comrades-in-arms, they knew exactly what little pride and calculations lay in each other’s hearts.
Although Commander Wu didn’t entirely approve of his eldest daughter-in-law resigning from such a good job, he understood the weight of the situation.
Given his granddaughter’s condition, they needed financial backing. Moreover, their family’s current situation wasn’t ideal, with many eyes fixed greedily on his position.
He also needed to align himself with the Gu family’s ship, and the arrival of the Gu family’s third grandson’s wife was an excellent starting point.
After finishing the meal at Commander Wu’s residence, they chatted in the living room for a while before she returned with Gu Second Uncle and Gu Second Aunt.
Sheng Wanyan stayed at the military compound that night. Once the guests left, the members of Commander Wu’s household sat in the living room to deliberate.
“Eldest Son, what do you two think?”
“Dad, Mom, Lixiang and I have discussed it. Lixiang will pay a visit tomorrow.”
“If it works out, we’ll sell her position in the military district to our younger sister-in-law.”
Commander Wu and his wife exchanged a look. Though they felt a pang of regret, they also let out a sigh of relief.
“Have you firmly decided?”
“Yes. The child needs the money, and the family needs the Gu family. As parents and children, this is the choice we must make.”
Commander Wu nodded. In the future, his position would be passed down to his eldest son, so he naturally hoped his eldest son’s branch would make this choice.
By aligning themselves with the Gu family, their household would no longer have to live in constant anxiety, terrified that someone would catch them off guard and find a liability to use against them.
“Very well. As long as you two have decided, that’s enough.”
Neither Commander Wu nor his wife held any objections. The next day happened to be the Commander’s wife’s day off, so she and Ma Lixiang went out to buy some gifts and paid a formal visit.
Sheng Wanyan had stayed at the compound precisely to wait for Ma Lixiang’s arrival. Sure enough, they came to visit in the afternoon.
The adults of the house had all gone to work, leaving only her and Gu Jinshou at home. Knowing she had business to discuss, Gu Jinshou very considerately retreated to his bedroom.
“Commander Wu’s Lady, Ms. Ma.”
Sheng Wanyan greeted them. The Commander’s wife hurriedly stepped forward and took her hands, her tone exceptionally affectionate.
“Good child, I’ve known your Second Uncle and Second Aunt for decades. Just call me Auntie, no need to be so formal.”
“Alright, Auntie Wu.”
Ma Lixiang also greeted her. Once they sat down, the Commander’s wife and Ma Lixiang proved to be very straightforward.
“These are just some small tokens. Young people like you are bound to like them.”
“Auntie, this is far too expensive.”
The items the Commander’s wife had brought were by no means cheap. There was a set of skincare products that clearly belonged to the Commander’s wife herself, which she usually couldn’t bear to use, brought over specifically for her.
There were also items purchased from outside—mostly pastries and vanishing creams.
“It’s not expensive. The truth is, I have a request to make. I am truly…”
“Child, I beg of you to save my granddaughter.”
The Commander’s wife stood up and bowed deeply to her, lowering her posture to the absolute limit.
As a Navy veteran who had faced life-and-death situations for so many years, the Commander’s wife wouldn’t cry even when shedding blood or tears.
Given her family’s status in this military district and in Shanghai, she had never needed to lower her head to beg anyone.
Yet for the sake of her granddaughter, she was bowing to beg a member of the younger generation for the very first time.
“Auntie, what are you doing!”
Sheng Wanyan hurriedly supported the Commander’s wife to bring her back up. Having a national hero bow to her felt like it would literally shave years off her life!
“Child! I really am at my wit’s end.”
With reddened eyes, Ma Lixiang stepped forward to help support her mother-in-law. Once she helped her up, she knelt right down in front of Sheng Wanyan.
“Comrade Sheng! I…”
Sheng Wanyan felt a massive headache coming on. Why was it happening one after another?
“Hurry up and stand, please don’t be like this. Whatever it is, let’s sit down and talk it through.”
“Sit down, please sit down.”
Sheng Wanyan helped Ma Lixiang up, guiding them to sit down properly, telling them to stop kneeling at the drop of a hat.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both had red rims around their eyes. Sheng Wanyan went to pour two cups of water to let them compose themselves.
“Child, sorry to let you see us like this.”
Even at a time like this, the Commander’s wife remained highly mindful of social etiquette. Showing such a lack of decorum before a junior made her feel deeply ashamed.
“Auntie, you’re overstating it.”
“Auntie, Comrade Ma, whatever it is, let’s talk about it properly.”
“Alright!”
The two women managed to stabilize their emotions before finally laying out the reality of the situation.
“Comrade Sheng, you surely saw my daughter’s condition yesterday.”
Thinking of her sickly daughter, Ma Lixiang’s heart throbbed with a sharp ache.
She was a mother; that child was someone she had carried for ten months and risked her life to give birth to. Seeing her child suffer so much felt like her heart was being hacked by multiple knives.
Sheng Wanyan nodded. The child was indeed frail and weak. Between being born premature and the harsh societal conditions of the past few years, providing the kind of nourishment and medical care available in the future was impossible. Nowadays, no matter how much one tried to nurture a child, the damage couldn’t be fully undone.
Furthermore, she had a lingering feeling that the child’s condition wasn’t as simple as just being premature. After all, she was already six years old, yet her face remained deathly pale.
“To tell you the truth… Xiaoxuan has congenital heart disease.”
“She cannot engage in strenuous exercise, cannot perform heavy labor, and must rely on medication every single day just to pull through. Otherwise, she will faint, which only worsens her condition.”
“We claimed to the outside world that it was due to a premature birth, but this illness has completely drained our entire family’s savings.”
“Subsequent treatments will require another massive sum of money. I truly am… at the end of my rope.”
Hearing Ma Lixiang’s words, Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for that well-behaved little girl.
Chapter 620: Shanghai General Manager Decided
When that child saw her for the first time yesterday, she had sweetly and obediently called her “Auntie,” her smile bringing immediate joy.
Sheng Wanyan had a daughter of her own. If she didn’t possess her space and Yi Yi were plagued with illness like that child, she would probably be driven to despair.
“Comrade Ma, is Xiaoxuan seeing a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine?”
“Yes. My father-in-law found an old practitioner at a Shanghai hospital for her consultation. But to cure it completely… is hard.”
Even in the future, research had yet to yield a complete cure for congenital heart disease; it could only be managed.
“We’ve been treating it for so many years, yet it’s still not under control.”
“My husband and I are often jolted awake in the middle of the night by nightmares. We have to get up and check on Xiaoxuan to ease our minds.”
“The family has to keep an eye on Xiaoxuan every second of the day, terrified that the moment we look away, something will happen to the child.”
“Xiaoxuan is six this year, but we don’t even dare send her to school.”
Ma Lixiang was terrified! Terrified that the moment they lost focus, the child would leave them forever…
She couldn’t bear to imagine what losing her child would look like, but she knew that if the child were gone, she wouldn’t want to live either.
“Auntie Wu, Comrade Ma, what exactly can I do to help you on this visit?”
Sheng Wanyan laid her cards on the table. After all, she did want a talent like Ma Lixiang.
“Child, we heard from your Second Aunt yesterday that you’re currently looking for a general manager in Shanghai.”
“Have you found one yet?”
“Not yet. Does Auntie have a good recommendation?”
“If there’s a recommended and reliable person, I would truly have to thank Auntie.”
Hearing that she hadn’t found anyone yet, the Commander’s wife and Ma Lixiang let out a silent sigh of relief.
“Child, what do you think of my eldest daughter-in-law?”
“She doesn’t demand the general manager position. Even working as a sales clerk in the shop is fine, as long as she can earn money.”
Auntie Wu didn’t dare ask Sheng Wanyan to give her family such a high position. They had come to beg for help, not to force their way in.
“Yes… as long as I can earn money, it doesn’t matter how hard or tiring it is.”
“It’s embarrassing to admit, but my husband and I have worked for so many years, yet our family savings are entirely empty.”
“As Xiaoxuan grows older, the medicine she needs becomes more and more expensive. We truly can’t afford the burden much longer…”
Ma Lixiang had nothing left to hide. Her family’s current situation was exactly as she stated. Her husband was a soldier, and retiring from the military was out of the question.
Her father-in-law and mother-in-law had subsidized them heavily as well. If they continued to subsidize them like this, the younger brothers and sisters-in-law would eventually hold grievances.
Looking at it from every angle, the best solution was for her to come out and find a high-paying job.
“Comrade Ma, are you willing to give up your job in a state-owned unit?”
Sheng Wanyan knew she was a section chief in the military district’s logistics department. This wasn’t just a simple job in a state unit.
Rather, she held real authority in her hands. Her status was arguably even higher than a regiment commander in the military district since all incoming and outgoing supplies had to pass through her hands.
In the future, she would even become the director of the logistics department, a position whose status would be completely incomparable.
“I am… no job is more important than my child.”
Ma Lixiang’s smile was strained, but the choice had long been made in her heart. If giving up her job could exchange for a few years of stability for her child, anything was worth it.
“Comrade Sheng, I serve as a section chief in the military district’s logistics department. I am very familiar with management and administrative tasks.”
“If you can trust me, I will definitely execute every task you assign perfectly.”
When discussing business, Sheng Wanyan naturally wouldn’t be overly polite with her. Feeling pity for the child and evaluating professional competence were two entirely separate matters.
“Comrade Ma, your qualifications are excellent.”
“You are very suitable, and I cherish talent. However, you might not be aware of my requirements yet.”
Feeling somewhat nervous, Ma Lixiang nodded, signaling Sheng Wanyan to state her conditions, promising she would agree to whatever she could fulfill.
“Comrade Ma, I won’t beat around the bush with you.”
“The reason I am looking for this general manager is to have her manage the clothing stores here in Shanghai on my behalf.”
“All matters regarding the clothing stores in Shanghai will be handled by the general manager. The workload is heavy, so naturally, I will not mistreat you in terms of salary.”
“The person must be upright, possess a reliable background, drive, means, and be adept at handling interpersonal dynamics.”
“Given the position you previously held and your background, I must admit you are a perfect fit.”
Ma Lixiang smiled at her words, but she instinctively felt that Sheng Wanyan’s requirements wouldn’t stop there.
Sure enough, Sheng Wanyan’s subsequent words immediately threw her into a state of tension.
“However, my recruitment process has always included several non-negotiable terms.”
“First, a labor agreement must be signed. If any actions harmful to the clothing store occur—such as theft, illegal acts, selling blueprints, or plagiarism—”
“Not only will the matter be handed over to the public security authorities, but a penalty of double the damages must also be paid.”
Ma Lixiang’s heart tightened upon hearing this, but these were completely understandable terms.
“Second, unconditional obedience to the boss’s orders. I believe Comrade Ma, having worked in the military district for so many years, will handle this point exceptionally well.”
“Third, you absolutely cannot hire any of your relatives or close friends to work in the clothing store.”
“Fourth, you cannot use your position to grant any relatives or friends any discounts or benefits from the clothing store.”
“Fifth, the general manager position carries a rigid requirement: you must commit to working here for ten years. After ten years, you are free to choose to jump ship.”
“Of course, as the general manager, you will receive a 50% discount on clothing purchases, and employee benefits will not be less than those in the military district.”
“As for the other terms, they will be spelled out clearly in the labor agreement.”
Not only was Ma Lixiang stunned, but even the Commander’s wife was somewhat taken aback. Sheng Wanyan’s requirements sounded demanding, yet they were exceptionally comprehensive.
“If you have no objections, once you have processed your resignation from the military district, you can come find me to complete your onboarding.”
“I will be staying in Shanghai for a period of time. You will shadow me during this period to get a handle on the clothing store’s operations.”
“Naturally, upon onboarding, the base salary of 300 yuan will be provided. Once the shops open, you will receive a 0.5% commission on the turnover.”
“Initially, you will need to meticulously audit the financial records of the shops. Next year, you can hire a university graduate as an accountant.”
Sheng Wanyan’s class of university students would be graduating next year. With Ma Lixiang’s network, poaching a university graduate as an accountant wouldn’t be difficult.
“No problem! I’ll hand over my responsibilities at the military district within the next few days and find you for onboarding in a couple of days.”
Ma Lixiang was thrilled, letting out a massive sigh of relief. With this job, her child’s medical expenses were finally secured.
“Alright.”
Sheng Wanyan gave her the address of her current residence, telling her to come find her when the time came.
“Thank you, thank you.”
Deeply grateful, Ma Lixiang held her hand tightly. Sheng Wanyan patted her hand gently.
“I am a mother myself, so I can deeply empathize with your situation.”
“However, when it comes to professional matters, everything must still be conducted according to the established regulations.”
Sheng Wanyan truly admired such a mother. In this era, to be willing to bankrupt oneself for a daughter was rare.
“I know… I know.”
