mijobooks Chapter 154 Please help her
Chapter 154 Please help her
Nine o'clock in the morning, Xinghuo Electronics Factory office.
Ling Yun was reviewing Ma Baoguo's new production line procurement plan when Zhao Weiguo knocked on the door and came in.
"Brother Yun, there's something I want to tell you."
"Sit down." Ling Yun put down the documents. "What is it?"
"About Lingling." Zhao Weiguo sat down and rubbed his hands together. "You mean Chen Lingling, the receptionist at our internet cafe."
"I remember. A very capable girl."
"Those ideas of hers... weren't my ideas, they were all her ideas," Zhao Weiguo said. "Many of the methods were proposed by her, I just followed them."
Ling Yun nodded.
"As you said yesterday, she has a lot of ideas."
"But her situation..." Zhao Weiguo hesitated for a moment, "Brother Yun, I'd like to ask you to help her."
"How can I help?"
Zhao Weiguo recounted Chen Lingling's experiences: her mother passed away, her stepfather became an alcoholic and gambler, was forced to resign, fled to Jinan, and her younger brother went missing.
"Her younger brother has been missing for three months, and she doesn't know if her stepfather is alive or dead. She doesn't dare go back to ask, and she worries every day," Zhao Weiguo said. "I can tell that she appears strong on the outside, but she's carrying a heavy burden on her mind."
After listening, Ling Yun remained silent for a moment.
"How do you want me to help?"
"Could you... find someone to look into it?" Zhao Weiguo tentatively suggested. "Check on her stepfather's situation and her brother's whereabouts. You know a lot of people in Jinan, and you have many connections."
Ling Yun picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Degui, it's me. I need your help with something."
Wang Degui was very agreeable on the other end of the phone.
"Please go ahead, Mr. Ling."
"Zibo Zhoucun, check on a person. Name, age, family situation..." Ling Yun looked at Zhao Weiguo.
Zhao Weiguo quickly handed over a slip of paper with Chen Lingling's name on it: Chen Dashan, around 50 years old, carpenter.
Lingyun repeated.
"The key questions are: Is this person alive or dead? Have they called the police recently? Has anything happened at their home? The sooner the better."
"No problem," Wang Degui said. "My cousin works at Zhoucun Police Station. I'll have him ask around. I'll get back to you this afternoon."
Thanks.
After hanging up the phone, Ling Yun said to Zhao Weiguo.
"There's news this afternoon. Go back first, but don't tell Chen Lingling."
"clear."
At noon, Lingyun ate lunch at the electronics factory canteen.
Ma Baoguo brought over the food tray.
"Mr. Ling, the production line quote is out. The German one costs $800,000, while the Taiwanese one is only $400,000. But the German one is better—it's more precise and durable."
"Buy German ones," Lingyun said. "Quality is the most important thing."
"But money..."
"I'll take care of the money," Ling Yun said. "You just need to manage the factory well. By the end of the year, I want to see a monthly motherboard production of 50,000 units."
"Yes."
At 2 PM, Wang Degui called.
"Mr. Ling, we've found out."
"explain."
"Chen Dashan, 52 years old, from Zhoucun. He was indeed a carpenter, but he's quit now and drinks every day. A month ago, he got drunk and fell in his own yard, hitting his head on a stone and needing seven stitches."
"Did you call the police?"
"No. Everyone in the village knows about it. They say he deserved it because he was drunk, and the police station didn't record it."
"Where are his son and daughter?"
"My daughter ran away, and nobody knows where she went. My son... I heard he ran away too, and we haven't seen him for three months. Chen Dashan is living alone now, drowning in gambling debts, and people come to his door every day demanding money."
Lingyun noted it down.
"Thank you. I'll treat you to dinner another day."
"It's nothing. By the way, Mr. Ling, how's the stock market lately? I have some spare cash on hand..."
"Wait for an opportunity; I'll let you know when a suitable one comes along. You'd better exchange some US dollars and open a US stock account."
"Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Ling Yun called Zhao Weiguo.
"Come to the electronics factory and bring Chen Lingling with you."
Half an hour later, Zhao Weiguo arrived on his motorcycle with Chen Lingling.
In the office, Ling Yun got straight to the point.
"Lingling, I asked someone to look into your stepfather's situation."
Chen Lingling's body tensed up.
"Is he...dead?"
"He's not dead," Ling Yun said. "A month ago, he got drunk, fell, and hit his head, requiring seven stitches. He lives alone now and has accumulated a lot of gambling debts."
Chen Lingling visibly relaxed, but then tensed up again.
"What about my brother?"
"There's no news of your brother," Lingyun said. "The villagers say he ran away and hasn't been seen for three months. Nobody knows where he went."
Chen Lingling lowered her head, her fingers twisting together.
"Your stepfather didn't call the police or contact your brother," Ling Yun continued. "He's probably afraid that things will escalate and the creditors will find out, causing even more trouble. His situation is worse than yours right now."
"Serves him right," Zhao Weiguo said through gritted teeth.
"Lingling," Lingyun looked at her, "your brother should be fine. He's probably working out of town and doesn't dare contact you yet. He'll probably look for you once he's settled down."
Chen Lingling nodded, tears streaming down her face.
"Thank you, Mr. Ling."
"Don't thank me," Ling Yun said. "If you really want to thank me, then work hard. Make the internet cafe successful, earn money, and gain the ability, then go find your brother. Then you can help him too."
"I see."
"As for your stepfather," Ling Yun thought for a moment, "if you don't want to get involved, then don't. Besides, if you get involved with someone like him, he'll just become a nuisance to you."
"I know," Chen Lingling wiped away her tears, "I won't interfere."
"That's good." Ling Yun stood up. "Wei Guo, arrange a formal position for Lingling. Deputy General Manager, monthly salary of two thousand. Rent her a nice apartment, the company will reimburse the expenses."
"Brother Yun, this..."
"We need to retain talent," Lingyun said. "Lingling is worth the price."
Chen Lingling stood up and bowed deeply.
"President Ling, I will definitely do my best."
"Go."
After the two left, Lingyun stood by the window.
Ma Baoguo walked in.
"Mr. Ling, that girl..."
"He's a man with a hard life, but he's capable," Ling Yun said. "If you nurture him well, he can achieve great things in the future."
"You have a kind heart."
"It's not out of kindness." Ling Yun turned around. "It's an investment. People like her are grateful and willing to work hard. They're much better than those who are all talk and no action."
"Too."
In the afternoon, Zhao Weiguo took Chen Lingling to see the house.
I rented a one-bedroom apartment near Shandong University for 300 yuan a month. It's clean, bright, and has a private bathroom.
"You'll be living here from now on." Zhao Weiguo handed her the keys. "The company will reimburse you. You can move out of the internet cafe area. The staff lounge is for the other colleagues."
"Brother Zhao," Chen Lingling looked at the house, "I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything," Zhao Weiguo laughed. "Just do your job well."
"I will definitely work hard," Chen Lingling said earnestly, "not only for myself, but also for my brother. When I find him, I will make sure he lives a good life."
"Let's look together," Zhao Weiguo said. "Once the internet cafe business grows, we'll have stores all over the country, so finding someone will be easy."
Chen Lingling looked at him, her eyes reddening again.
"Brother Zhao, why are you so good to me?"
Zhao Weiguo scratched his head.
"Because... I think you deserve it."
That evening, Chen Lingling moved into her new home.
Zhao Weiguo helped her pack. Actually, there wasn't much stuff—just a few clothes, a few books, and a small box.
"What's this?" Zhao Weiguo asked, pointing to the box.
Chen Lingling opened it. Inside were several photos: a photo of her and her mother, a photo of her and her younger brother, and a family photo—her mother, her stepfather, her and her younger brother.
The stepfather in the photo is young and smiling. My mother was still alive then.
"Keep it as a memento," Chen Lingling said. "The good and the bad are all in the past."
She carefully put the box away and placed it at the very back of the drawer.
After packing up, Zhao Weiguo was about to leave.
"Lingling, get some rest. Starting tomorrow, you'll be the deputy general manager, and you'll have even more responsibilities."
"Brother Zhao," Chen Lingling called out to him.
"Um?"
"Thank you."
"And then he said thank you."
"It's not about thanking you for helping me," Chen Lingling said, "it's about thanking you... for treating me like a human being."
Zhao Weiguo felt a pang of sadness.
"You are a human being. And a very good one."
After he left, Chen Lingling sat on the sofa in her new home, looking at the night view outside the window.
This is the first time she has had her own home.
Although it's just rented, it's clean, safe, and undisturbed.
She can sleep peacefully without worrying about someone banging on the door or someone going on a drunken rampage in the middle of the night.
She took out her notebook and began writing a plan.
The structure, staffing, franchise process, and training system of an internet cafe management company...
She needs to do better.
For myself, and for my brother.
And also for those who helped her.
Outside the window, the night in Jinan is quiet and warm.
Her new life has truly begun.