Chapter 46: Isn’t Life Just About Living Freely? (1/3)

Wednesday morning.

Today was the day to settle accounts with Lu Dahai, and business at the market was thriving. Ever since the rumor spread about two fish vendors shortchanging customers, Wang Qiang's stall had been bustling with customers. For instance, this morning he sold out of fish by around 7:20. The only regret was that each patch under his fish cage would last no more than a day or two before he had to move to another spot, or else the catch would decrease significantly.

Even so, he was in good spirits, humming a tune as he strolled to the factory gate, greeting Old Yang the guard. He glanced casually at the clock—it was only 7:50.

In the past, workers would barely be trickling in at this hour, but today, they were lining up in an orderly fashion to sign in, with Rao Xiaoyan dutifully checking off each arrival.

Wang Qiang nodded at her and walked into the factory hands in his pockets, not rushing upstairs. Instead, he wandered along the tree-lined wall, taking in the scene. Though it had only been a week, the thought of leaving today filled him with a touch of reluctance. People, after all, are sentimental creatures.

As he headed toward the office building, he saw the workshops starting their morning meetings. Occasionally, he could hear the supervisors calling out questions and the workers responding in unison—a picture of discipline.

He went upstairs.

Arriving at Lu Dahai’s office, he found the door open but no one inside. He guessed Lu had gone down to check on things. As for Qin Xiaohui, ever since she’d taken on the role of safety supervisor, she spent nearly every moment in the workshop, rarely appearing upstairs except at mealtimes.

Suddenly, a commotion echoed from the stairwell. Wang Qiang poked his head out to see what was happening.

“Oh, Xiao Wang,” someone called.

“So you’re here?”

“We were just wondering where you’d gone.”

“My wife went to the market this morning and said she bought fish from your stall. What’s this about two vendors shortchanging customers? Is that true?”

As soon as they spotted him, Director Du, Director Lin, and a couple of other supervisors hurried over with a barrage of questions.

Wang Qiang briefly recounted the incident. “That’s about all there is to it.”

Rao Xiaoyan laughed. “So they started the rumor about you first?”

Qin Xiaohui came upstairs too. “And in the end, it was them cheating on the scales, while your business picked up?”

Wang Qiang grinned. “A blessing in disguise, I suppose. Business has been good these past few days.”

Qin Xiaohui looked at him with concern and said earnestly, “You’re still young and don’t know how treacherous people can be. You’ve made enemies of them now. Who knows how they’ll try to get back at you behind your back?”

Wang Qiang shrugged it off. “I don’t plan on running the stall for long. I’ll make a bit more money and move on to something else. Let them plot all they want.”

“They’ll have nowhere to vent their anger then,” Qin Xiaohui said with a sly smile.

Director Du chimed in, “My wife told me that the two fish sellers at the market are both trying to copy you by offering to clean the fish for customers. They can’t keep up.”

Director Lin, curious, asked for the full story.

Director Du, who only knew what his wife had told him, retold the tale with such embellishments that Wang Qiang became a hero outwitting shady vendors, a story as dramatic as a television show—just short of saying Wang Qiang tore Old Chen apart with his bare hands.

After hearing this version, Wang Qiang broke out in a cold sweat. Did they think he was some kind of strategist?

Rao Xiaoyan actually believed it, looking at him admiringly. “Xiao Wang, you’re amazing!”

Wang Qiang could only laugh and protest: “Don’t listen to Director Du’s nonsense. None of that happened.”

After the conversation shifted, Director Du suddenly asked, “Xiao Wang, have you looked in on the factory floor?”

“I have. Things seem to be running smoothly,” Wang Qiang replied.

Qin Xiaohui beamed. “Yesterday, Director Liao was discussing our management methods with a friend who works in management in Shanghai, asking if there was any room for improvement. After hearing about our system, his friend just shook his head and said it was perfect—there was nothing to improve on.”

At that moment, Liao Wenfeng came up the stairs and overheard. “That’s right. My friend is a deputy general manager at Baosteel, with management experience that’s top-tier not just in Shanghai, but nationwide. When I asked his advice, he said he wanted to adopt our system instead! I didn’t know whether to laugh or be annoyed.”

Rao Xiaoyan giggled. “No wonder our factory’s atmosphere is so good.”

Wang Qiang only smiled quietly, knowing full well that the management plan he’d implemented was already perfected and twenty years ahead of its time.

“By the way, what about output?” Wang Qiang asked. “How much has production increased after a week?”

“We don’t know yet. The boss just sent someone to collect the numbers and said he wanted to hold a meeting about it. He asked me to bring you along,” Liao Wenfeng replied.

With that, everyone made their way to the conference room.

As the management team filed in, the seats filled quickly; some had to stand against the walls and wait.

Five minutes passed… then ten…

The door swung open from outside.

Lu Dahai entered, visibly excited, a broad grin impossible to miss. Something big must have happened.

Seated at the left of the table, Qin Xiaohui asked, “Old Lu, what’s got you so happy?”

Lu Dahai smiled, “I just reached an agreement with a major client. He visited our production line yesterday and was thoroughly impressed. He’ll be back this afternoon to sign the contract.”

“That’s wonderful,” said Qin Xiaohui, sharing his joy. “If this had happened a week ago, we probably would’ve lost the deal.”

Lu Dahai laughed heartily. “Exactly! All thanks to 5S—or rather, all thanks to Xiao Wang.” With that, he took the seat at the head of the table.

The room fell silent, everyone sensing an important announcement.

Sure enough, Lu Dahai pressed his hands down for quiet, smiling. “Is everyone here? Let’s have a brief meeting to announce the production increase since implementing the new management system.” He paused, leaning forward, “This past week, our output has increased by… sixty percent!”

A chorus of astonishment filled the room.

“Sixty percent?”

“It’s only been a week!”

“Our output increased that much?”

The managers looked at each other in shock.

Beneath the table, Wang Qiang clenched his fists in quiet triumph. At last, he had fulfilled his original goal: if you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. The numbers proved he had succeeded.

Why such a dramatic increase?

Wang Qiang analyzed it for himself. It was simple. Before, workers would slack off whenever the supervisors weren’t around, wasting massive amounts of time. During night shifts, many would even nap on the job. Now things were different—everyone completed their tasks diligently, and with personal bonuses for exceeding targets, a sixty percent boost in a week was no surprise.

“I called everyone together today for one reason,” Lu Dahai said, looking around the room. “I want to formally thank Xiao Wang. He’s not one of our own staff, yet he’s helped us solve problems that have plagued us for years. From Monday to today, we’ve already signed agreements with two new clients. You all know why. But Xiao Wang’s contract with me is coming to an end. After he leaves, I hope you’ll all continue to manage things just as well.”

Director Du promised, “We will.”

Liao Wenfeng laughed, “We’ve been saying we should treat Xiao Wang to a farewell dinner.”

“No need,” Lu Dahai interrupted.

Rao Xiaoyan was surprised. “Boss…”

Qin Xiaohui frowned. “Old Lu, what’s gotten into you?”

Lu Dahai grinned. “If anyone’s treating him, it’ll be me. Why are you trying to take my place?”

Everyone paused, then burst into laughter.

“I’ve booked a table at Jinhai Restaurant. After work, we’ll all go together,” Lu Dahai announced, patting the table. “Alright, meeting adjourned. Xiao Wang, stay behind a moment—I have something to discuss with you.”

Wang Qiang knew what was coming and nodded, a knowing smile on his lips. After a week of hard work, the time had finally come for his reward.

Several workshop supervisors got up and sincerely said, “Thank you, Xiao Wang.” Then they headed out.

When only three people remained in the room, Qin Xiaohui said with a trace of reluctance, “Xiao Wang comes here for a week and increases our output by sixty percent. I really don’t want to see him go.”

Lu Dahai sighed, “I wish we could keep him too.”

Wang Qiang, who had been silent until now, smiled and politely declined. “I’ve already shared everything I know. Even if you kept me, there’s nothing more I can offer.” He knew better than anyone that the factory’s future was bright, but it wasn’t his place here. In his past life, he’d lived too long under someone else’s roof. Now that he had a second chance, Wang Qiang was determined to live life on his own terms. Isn’t that what life’s all about—living freely and with joy?