C14 Introduce an Employee

Dong Xiaorou's smile faded as she retrieved a notebook from her bag. Purchased from a quaint beachside shop, the notebook listed numerous tourists who had preordered fish balls to be delivered before the next morning. The quantity was substantial, certainly surpassing the day's beachside sales.

"How many pounds?" Lee Zhi sidled up, grinning as he sneakily inhaled the scent of Dong Xiaorou's hair—a delicate fragrance that left him wondering if it was her natural scent.

Dong Xiaorou, engrossed in the notebook's details, paid no mind to Lee Zhi's antics.

"A good amount, for sure!"

Lee Zhi peeked at the notebook. The graceful script was a pleasure to read, with names, quantities, and customer contact information all clearly laid out.

For Lee Zhi, faced with such an array of numbers, reaching for a calculator was a must to tally them up.

"The total comes to two hundred sixty-eight kilograms," Dong Xiaorou announced after a quick scan, her face breaking into a smile. Today's earnings had exceeded her expectations, and her joy was palpable.

"That much? You mean to say you just gave it a glance and figured it out?" Lee Zhi asked, incredulous.

With an eye roll, Dong Xiaorou nonchalantly snapped the notebook shut and handed it to Lee Zhi. "Haven't you heard of mental math? It's not that uncommon!" she quipped before turning on her heel and heading inside.

Lee Zhi scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly. He'd heard of mental math, but wasn't that a skill showcased by kids on TV shows?

After all, didn't grown-ups rely on calculators for their accounting and number crunching?

Outside, night had fallen, bringing with it a refreshing coolness and a gentle breeze.

Lee Zhi had already made a tidy sum from Zhao Xueying, the owner of Star Moon Bay Hotel, for processing large yellow croaker fish balls. Then, joining Dong Xiaorou at the village entrance beach stall, they had not only sold over a hundred kilograms of fish balls but also secured orders for nearly three hundred more. It was an auspicious start to their venture.

"Today, we owe a debt of gratitude to little Tangtang. Without her tireless promotion, we couldn't have achieved these sales. Honestly, the more I see of her, the more endearing she becomes!" Lee Zhi followed Dong Xiaorou inside.

"Sure, Tangtang's promotional help was one thing, but let's not forget the appeal of our fish balls' flavor. Without that, all the advertising in the world wouldn't have made a difference," Dong Xiaorou retorted.

Noticing she wasn't leaving, a wave of excitement washed over Lee Zhi. He silently cheered, sensing an opportunity. What kind of opportunity? Well, he had his own ideas.

With the recent flurry of activity, Lee Zhi hadn't had a moment to spare for other thoughts. But now, with money in his pocket, he was at a loss on how to spend it. As a newfound boss, and considering Dong Xiaorou as the factory's first female employee, perhaps he should...

"What's got you grinning like that? You look positively smug. I've got something to tell you!" Dong Xiaorou settled onto a small stool.

"Smug? Watch it, or I might just dock your pay!" he teased.

"Cut it out," Dong Xiaorou shot back, her eyes rolling again. "I'm serious. Do you want to hear it or not? If you do, I'll speak. If not, I'm off to feed the pigs. I don't have time to waste here chatting with you!"

"Listen up, Miss Dung, Manager Dong, you're now the head honcho of our processing plant. This place isn't just mine; it's yours too. Feel free to speak your mind!" Lee Zhi, grinning from ear to ear, grabbed a small stool and sat down across from Dong Xiaorou.

Dong Xiaorou queried, "If I'm the director, then what's your role?"

Lee Zhi chuckled, "Me? I'm the chairman and CEO, your immediate superior, the big boss."

Dong Xiaorou, unable to hide her irritation, retorted, "So, it's the same old story. You're the boss, and I'm the working girl!"

Lee Zhi, still smiling, replied, "Well, that might change. How about I hire three, no, five assistants for you tomorrow? That way, you won't be left feeling like a lone commander without an army."

"Can we get down to business?"

Dong Xiaorou, bypassing the banter, got straight to the point. "First, let's address the staffing issue. Sure, the two of us are managing for now, but it's a stretch. I'm up at dawn to pick up supplies at the dock, and soon we might be delivering goods to the city. We can't expect you, the 'big boss,' to be running around all day. It's exhausting, right?"

"Absolutely," Lee Zhi agreed, nodding enthusiastically. He understood Dong Xiaorou's point; they were indeed understaffed. Today, for instance, both had been out at the village entrance, leaving the factory guarded only by the Iron General lock. The yard didn't even have a dog – this setup was far from sustainable.

Moreover, once the machines had been tested, they'd be moving to full-scale production. That meant they'd be running nonstop, day and night, requiring someone to oversee them at all times.

So, when Lee Zhi mentioned assigning five subordinates to Dong Xiaorou, it wasn't just a jest; he had a plan in mind.

Dong Xiaorou gave Lee Zhi a look and said, "The factory's barely off the ground; we're just starting to see a glimmer of hope. We don't need a crowd. With you and me, all we need is to bring on one competent person."

"Just one?"

She fixed her gaze on him, "How many were you thinking of hiring? A worker's salary alone is three thousand dollars a month. Five people sitting idle would cost us fifteen thousand. That money could be better spent elsewhere."

After a brief pause, Dong Xiaorou continued her admonishment, "In the early days of a startup, you think you can just stand aside and play the lord? Listen, the profits from Zhao Xueying don't count. If we want this factory to thrive, we need to focus on the quality of our own products!"

Lee Zhi, caught between amusement and exasperation, thought to himself that he wasn't trying to shirk work. But he didn't argue with Dong Xiaorou. After all, her advice, direct or implied, was for his benefit. He wasn't so foolish as to 'bite the hand that feeds him' and risk losing her counsel. Whether the factory turned a profit or loss, it wouldn't matter to her if he behaved that way.

In truth, Dong Xiaorou wasn't as altruistic as she seemed. Her earlier words were just laying the groundwork; the real message was in her closing remarks.

"Here's the thing—I've got a junior brother, and I'd like to bring him on board to work at our factory. Is that alright?" Dong Xiaorou said, tucking her hair behind her ears with a gesture that was unassuming yet somehow exuded an unusual allure, compelling enough to make one's mouth water.

She's a siren, no doubt about it. This girl had to be a siren, with a bewitching charm oozing from her very bones.

Lee Zhi pondered, with Fish Head Island Village nestled so close to the ocean, could she actually be some mythical mermaid or a siren who'd come ashore to wreak havoc?

If she weren't some sort of enchantress, how else could her bewitching presence be so palpable?

"Your junior brother? You have one? What's his story?" Lee Zhi's brow creased subtly. All this talk of senior and junior brothers... he hoped Dong Xiaorou wasn't planning to bring someone just as distracting as her into the factory. He wouldn't be able to handle the constant showboating.

"Ever heard of Bajiquan?" Dong Xiaorou seemed oblivious to Lee Zhi's inner turmoil, confident that given the factory's current need for workers and their recent rapport, he wouldn't refuse her request.

If the factory weren't doing well financially, Dong Xiaorou wouldn't have even broached the subject.

"You've trained in martial arts?" Lee Zhi was taken aback as he regarded Dong Xiaorou.

Dong Xiaorou offered a modest smile. "I can handle myself. Someone like you? I wouldn't even bat an eye at ten of you."

Lee Zhi was unaware of the real reason why so few in Fish Head Island Village dared to cross Dong Xiaorou. Beyond her unfortunate destiny and the rumored 'overcoming' attribute, her physical prowess was not to be underestimated. All the hearsay paled in comparison to the reality of facing her in a true fight.

A strong fist works wonders anywhere.

"Are you really as formidable as you claim?" Lee Zhi chuckled, skeptical of Dong Xiaorou's claims.

"Why don't we put it to the test?" Dong Xiaorou was indifferent. To her, dealing with an average Joe like Lee Zhi would be as effortless as yawning.

"Maybe some other time," Lee Zhi said with a smile, shaking his head. He had no desire to test the waters; whether he ended up hurting himself or Dong Xiaorou, it wouldn't sit well with him either way. Why seek out discomfort?

"So, is it a yes or no?" Dong Xiaorou pressed, looking at Lee Zhi for a direct answer.

Gritting his teeth, Lee Zhi nodded. "Fine. How could I, Lee Zhi, refuse someone introduced by Dong Xiaorou? Your junior brother can come work at the factory, but let me be clear about one thing."

"What's that?"

Assuming the air of a boss and the mantle of moral authority, Lee Zhi stood tall and declared, "Our factory is a professional establishment. Relationships between employees are strictly prohibited. If anyone is caught dating, they'll be terminated on the spot—no exceptions!"

Dong Xiaorou rolled her eyes, stood up from the stool, and as she walked out, she said, "You've got nothing to worry about, Boss Lee. As long as you don't harbor any ill intentions towards me, I promise not to tempt you. Three-legged toads may be hard to find, but men are a dime a dozen!"

"Hey, wait a minute! Why are you dragging me into this? I'm talking about relationships between employees in the factory..."

Dong Xiaorou's lips quirked into a slight smile, but she paid him no mind and vanished into the night.

Once Dong Xiaorou had departed, Lee Zhi dragged a small stool to the doorway between the factory and the cottage, sitting down with a self-deprecating chuckle. "Dong Xiaorou, oh Dong Xiaorou, what kind of enigma are you?" he mused aloud.

It had taken him by surprise to learn that Dong Xiaorou was not only acquainted with Zhao Xueying but had also been close friends with her in the past. Beyond that revelation, Lee Zhi had sensed an otherworldly charm about Dong Xiaorou, as well as a glimpse of her remarkable talents. She was no ordinary woman.

Yet, whether she would choose to stay by his side was something Lee Zhi couldn't be certain of.

With a modest factory valued at 100,000 dollars and 200,000 dollars in cash—of which 100,000 dollars was borrowed—Lee Zhi's assets were hardly impressive. In the grand scheme, he was just another face in the crowd, with no particular distinction.

"People always aspire to reach greater heights," he mused with a wry laugh. "Just you wait. I, Lee Zhi, will make my way back to the top. And when that moment arrives..."