Siheyuan: Spring and Autumn

It was obvious that the tavern had been operating well after Xu Huizhen reorganized it. However, the business performance in the first twenty days was so bad that Fan Jinyou had no confidence at all.

Kong Yuqin was clacking away on the abacus. When she stopped, she stared at it with a surprised expression.

"Last month's profit was $422.65. Minus the dividends and everybody's wages, it's still a loss!"

On March 3 this year, the second set of RMB was issued, with the largest denomination being ten yuan, which is equivalent to exchanging ten thousand old currency for one new currency.

Fan Jinyou's face suddenly turned ugly: "No, it's impossible to lose money. How could it be a loss?"

Even Kong Yuqin was a little unconvinced: "That's right, Accountant Zhao, did we calculate it wrong?"

Zhao Yali said very straightforwardly: "I calculated correctly, not a cent coming or going, that's it."

Fan Jinyou was stunned for a long while, then suddenly slammed the table and said, "Accountant Zhao, Xu Huizhen's salary cannot be paid in full. It must be paid strictly according to attendance. Calculate how many days she was absent from work this month, and deduct all the salary during the absence period. Maybe we can make up for the loss."

"It can't be made up. Even if we do what you say, she won't get a penny of salary this month, and it's still a loss."

"There is no order without rules. We must follow the rules. Since she is absent from work, her salary must be deducted."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Huizhen finally walked into the pub.

"Everyone is here pretty early."

Everyone in the store looked at her without saying anything, and Xu Huizhen didn't care.

"I've been thinking about this for the past two days. Master Ma is the only one who does both the purchase and delivery. This arrangement is not appropriate. The purchase and delivery must be separated."

Fan Jinyou said, "Hey, don't worry about Master Ma yet, let's talk about your business first."

Xu Huizhen was a little surprised: "What's wrong with me?"

"You've been late and left too many times this month. Even if I deduct all your salary this month, it still won't be enough."

Xu Huizhen knew what was going on, but she still asked, "So you mean to deduct my dividends?"

"Of course I have to. Small private business owners like you used to like to get something for nothing and were good at cheating and playing dirty. Now that I'm here, I want to focus on reforming you and transforming your asset-stage mentality."

"Okay, Fan Jinyou, don't put the blame on me. I really understand now. I work normally, but you find ways to deduct my salary. But if I don't work, you still have to pay me dividends. So, I'm telling you now that I quit."

After Fan Jinyou digested the news, Xu Huizhen said, "You can deduct my salary this month, which is justified. But next month, dare you deduct even one cent of my dividend?"

After saying that, she went home, secretly swearing in her heart, let's see whether you will kill me or I will kill you.

Fan Jinyou thought that he had understood Xu Huizhen's business tactics, so he was happy that she didn't come to work.

However, after only three days, problems arose in the cafeteria.

Fan Jinyou walked into the cafeteria anxiously and asked loudly, "Accountant Zhao, I heard from He Yumei that there is nothing to sell in the cafeteria. What's going on?"

"The canteen has no more white flour or corn flour."

Fan Jinyou was very surprised: "Didn't Kong Yuqin go to buy it yesterday?"

Ma Liansheng said, "Why didn't you go? I went there yesterday afternoon, but I didn't buy anything. Director Ma of the grain store said that grain can only be purchased with coupons. We don't have grain coupons, so they won't sell it to us. Kong Yuqin had no choice but to come back."

"Didn't you tell him that our canteen is a joint venture between the public and private sectors?"

Ma Liansheng raised his voice and said, "They are a grain store. They don't care whether we are a joint venture or not. It's useless to say anything. Besides, grain is now under unified purchase and sale. You must have grain coupons. The people in the grain store said that without grain coupons, even if your parents come, it won't work."

Fan Jinyou had no choice but to resort to the fine: "Accountant Zhao, deduct half of Kong Yuqin's salary this month."

You see, Fan Jinyou’s management style is so simple and crude.

"Even if you take all the flour, there is no flour now. What will you do tomorrow morning?"

"What can I do? I'll just sell whatever I have."

After that, he said in a hateful voice: "Ma Bacheng from the grain store, you are really trying to please Xu Hui, right? You are just kidding me by not selling me grain. I will kill you."

Unfortunately, he failed to defeat Ma Bacheng and was instead scolded by him.

"Who the hell are you, director? Don't argue with me about this. This is a regular grain store opened by the state. You don't have grain coupons, so I can't give you grain. Get out!"

Fan Jinyou could only feel helpless and furious, leaving behind a sentence "You bastard, just wait for me", and then left in shame.

Inside the tavern.

The four sales clerks sat there in a daze, somewhat at a loss.

He Yumei sighed and said, "The tavern is closing just like that?"

Kong Yuqin: "It doesn't matter to me whether the store is closed or not. If they don't pay me, I will go to the street office to ask for it."

"I have eight sons to support, so I will go too."

Zhao Yali was even more anxious. If she didn't get her salary, her family would have a hard time. Eight young men needed a lot of food every day.

Kong Yuqin asked in confusion, "How can Xu Huizhen use the food coupons? No matter how much food is produced, she can receive that much food every day."

Ma Liansheng smiled mysteriously and said, "You don't know this, do you?"

"What's going on?"

"What else is there?"

The people in the store were quite curious, and Ma Liansheng said, "This is called giving up money but not the way."

Seeing that the three women were all looking at him, he felt happy and continued, "Which businessman in the old society didn't have a trick behind his back? If everyone had a trick, wouldn't everyone be a capitalist? Take Dazhalan for example, which boss doesn't scheme? They are all very calculating."

He Yumei asked back, "But, Sister Huizhen never did business before she got married. How could she do this?"

Ma Liansheng said: "I guess she has a natural talent, but it may also be influenced by her family."

He Yumei said, "Humph, Sister Huizhen only started running this tavern after she got married, and she never exploited anyone before! She was the first to propose public-private partnership after only working for a few days. She is a role model, a role model for our street. But Director Fan keeps trying to reform her, and I don't think that's right."

"You're not wrong to say that."

Zhao Yali also agreed.

At this time, Fan Jinyou walked in, and the four of them quickly stood up and asked, "Director Fan, have you bought the food?"

Seeing him standing at the door, the four of them immediately understood. Kong Yuqin said, "It's over. Close the door."

After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave, but was blocked by Fan Jinyou inside the door.

Zhao Yali said, "Director Fan, I have to remind you that there is no more wine."

"If it's gone, go buy some."

"Where can we buy it? At the wholesale department? I can tell you, the wine is 7 cents per ounce, but the wholesale department sells it for 10 cents. We sell it back for 7 cents. The more we buy, the more we lose."

Fan Jinyou was also scratching his head in anxiety. He couldn't buy food and now he didn't even have any wine. What should he do?