Chapter 99: Setting a Trap for Uncle Chen

Early the next morning.

Wu Ya finished his breakfast and headed out. He was going to the factory to see how Director Pei’s work was progressing. He was about to relocate and upgrade his tailor shop from a small operation to a significant one. This was a critical step—the first major leap since his return! Therefore, he dared not be the slightest bit negligent in any detail.

"Have you heard? The Chensi Textile Factory is hiring! But it’s a pity, it seems they only want experienced textile inspectors!"

"Textile inspectors? That’s strange, isn't it? Everyone knows that apart from mechanically following a process to check for quality, they don't know how to do anything else."

"Exactly! Shouldn't a textile factory be hiring skilled technical workers?"

Just as he reached the mouth of the alley, he heard people discussing it in groups. By now, news about the Chensi Textile Factory's recruitment had spread everywhere.

"Heh, Director Pei’s efficiency is truly impressive. In less than half a day, he’s managed such thorough publicity? Almost every street and alley is buzzing with it. The Chensi Textile Factory is practically becoming famous overnight!"

Listening to the chatter, Wu Ya felt even more at ease. Who says leaders of collective enterprises don't get things done? It’s just that you hadn't provided enough incentive!

However, after taking only a few steps, his pace slowed down noticeably.

"Hmm? Why hire inspectors—those with no technical skills who are almost impossible to place after being laid off—instead of textile or sewing workers?"

A question welled up in Wu Ya’s mind. Technical roles, such as weavers or sewing machine operators, were the soul of the garment production industry. That was beyond doubt. But in those days, the position of an inspector was often reserved for people with connections. They understood neither textile manufacturing nor tailoring. Typically, they just stood in a row at a workbench; the first person would check a specific part of the finished product, then pass it to the next person to check another segment. After the whole process, every part of the finished product would be inspected. As long as there were no obvious flaws, it would be deemed acceptable.

But they only knew how to inspect, not how to produce! And precisely because there was no technical skill involved, it had become a position for people with connections. Why was Director Pei hiring these people?

"Haha, I’ve been laid off for almost a year. I’ve been worried about not having a skill to rely on, hitting walls everywhere I look for work! Now, I’ve finally seen a glimmer of hope!"

"Yes! And haven't I? Relying only on my husband’s income every month has made life so tight. This is great, finally someone is hiring inspectors!"

"Then let’s hurry! Let’s go see what the situation is! There are inspectors everywhere around here; I'm afraid they'll be full if we go too late!"

Wu Ya was still pondering, but the groups of middle-aged women had already begun walking in the same direction as him. From a distance, the crowd looked massive, as if Wu Ya were leading an army toward the Chensi factory.

Suiyan District was a light industrial city with a bit of history. Textiles were the industry that had once made this place brilliant. But with the impact of market trends, factories had shut down one after another, and piles of workers had been laid off. Those with technical skills didn't have to worry; with the rise of private enterprises, they had long since found stable incomes. However, those who were once prominent and felt superior to technical workers—those who needed various connections just to land an inspector job—had suffered a massive, earth-shattering change. Not only did they lose their former status, but they had also fallen into financial hardship.

Now that they heard the Chensi Textile Factory was breaking tradition to hire inspectors, how could they hesitate? Running fast to grab a spot was the only thing that mattered!

"Oh, heh, Director Pei, you really are an old fox! Fitting for someone with a background in machinery maintenance; you’ve hit the nail right on the head!"

Wu Ya hadn't noticed the massive crowd behind him. When he encountered something he couldn't understand, he would ponder it relentlessly—a trait that had remained with him in his past life and this one. It was a habit ingrained in his bones.

At this moment, as his thoughts suddenly cleared, his footsteps became light. He understood!

Inspectors. Wasn't the work they did just mechanical output according to a process? By the same logic, wasn't an assembly line also operating according to a specific process? You only need to handle your own station well, and leave the rest to the next person! This was similar to the inspection procedure. The only difference was the specific content of the operation. But for the content, wasn't there a training process?

And the assembly line, plainly put, was a process that could be mastered immediately through practice! Because all the technical work didn't require manual operation; machines did it for you! People just stood by to supervise the machines, making sure they didn't make mistakes. It was essentially the same as inspection, just with some simple added assistance!

"For all my rebirth, I’m not as shrewd as these people who have held positions of power for so long!"

Having figured out the key, Wu Ya admired Director Pei even more. A skilled worker required a minimum monthly wage of three hundred yuan, but an inspector who couldn't find employment elsewhere? Two hundred was plenty!

He had been pondering along the way, and the crowd behind him had grown larger and larger. Soon, there were over two hundred people, and where they passed, they became a spectacle.

Suddenly, "Nephew, where are you going?"

A booming voice rang out, waking Wu Ya from his deep thoughts. He looked up and saw a familiar face approaching! Old Chen, Chen Boyuan! Back when Wu Ya had just returned from the hospital, he had followed him home to collect debts. In the end, Wu Ya had paid three thousand yuan to sever all ties between Chen Boyuan and the tailor shop.

"Uncle Chen? Long time no see! I’m on my way to the factory. Where are you going?"

On his way to the factory? With such a large group of people, which factory was he going to? And why? To cause trouble? This was a recipe for disaster for his family! Old Chen was greedy for money, but he didn't have a bad heart. Seeing the scene behind Wu Ya and hearing his answer, he immediately became concerned.

"Nephew, I heard your business is doing well! Did some factory take your garments and fail to pay you? Even so, you have to talk things out properly! You can't use force; what if something happens, what will your parents do?"

In his urgency, Chen Boyuan grabbed the fast-walking Wu Ya.

*Whoosh.* A chaotic sound of footsteps surged past them. The crowd of over two hundred people swallowed them up, and they disappeared from sight.

"This... what is going on?" Wu Ya only then realized why there were so many people behind him.

"Hmm, you aren't with them?" Seeing his expression, Old Chen realized. This kid had been walking too fast and ended up looking like the leader. It was fortunate he had run into him. If these people were really going to cause trouble somewhere, wouldn't the boy have inexplicably become the ringleader?

"Of course I'm not with them! Uncle Chen, what were you going to do?"

Wu Ya watched the large crowd moving away and realized why he had become the leader—they were heading in the same direction! But this was great. This would fill the vacancies instantly! With more than two days left, there was enough time to train them! Once the equipment arrived, they could start production immediately! Director Pei was truly capable!

"Me? Heh heh..." Wu Ya’s gaze was still tracking the crowd, but Old Chen’s expression suddenly became hesitant. There was an obvious sense of embarrassment.

"Uncle Chen, if you have something to say, just say it. We're like family!"

Like family. Wu Ya’s polite remark immediately gave Chen Boyuan courage.

"Nephew, then I won't stand on ceremony! I was actually on my way to your house to find you today and happened to run into you halfway! I don't have anything to do right now, and it’s eating me up inside! I heard your business is booming and you’ve become a well-known talent in the market! So I thought I’d come to rely on you and see if there’s anything I can do. Even if the pay is a bit low, I can make do."

The pay is a bit low, I can make do. Wu Ya understood. He saw the tailor shop was doing well and wanted back in! But though he said he could "make do," if he were really asked to do menial labor, he wouldn't be grateful; he would be full of complaints and start picking at everything! If he found out that Wu Ya was about to expand the shop into an enterprise, he would probably be jealous enough to die on the spot! He might even shamelessly try to play the victim, pestering him relentlessly to let him buy a stake again!

However... pestering, soft tactics, and thick skin? A thought stirred in Wu Ya’s mind.

"Uncle Chen, those people behind me aren't with me, but they are all heading to my factory to apply for jobs!"

*Applying to your factory!*

"What did you say? Your factory? You... you have a factory? And you can handle over two hundred workers all at once?"

Old Chen’s eyes widened like brass bells. His facial muscles froze instantly, and his mouth opened into a wide, exaggerated hole. Even the gaps where his two deepest teeth had fallen out were clearly visible! Wu Ya actually had a factory! And it was a large enterprise that could employ over two hundred people! From a tailor shop to a large enterprise—how long had it been? Only half a month!

And what had he done? He had gone from being an original shareholder to a passerby on the side of the road! It was all because of his lack of vision and insight! Back then, seeing the tailor shop on the verge of collapse, he had rushed to withdraw his shares, terrified of losing money! But little did he know, the boy was more than happy to pay him out in cash! He had felt so lucky at the time. Now that he thought about it, he was a total fool.

In his anxiety... "Nephew, that’s not right of you! We’re family, after all! Since you already had a way to get rich, you shouldn't have set me up to withdraw my shares! Don't you agree?"

*Set me up!* Sure enough, Chen Boyuan was playing to his strengths. He had started acting shamelessly again!