That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1352 A man should stand tall and upright?
Zelyushinko, holding the two meeting agendas Li Ye had given him, stood on the stage with a mixture of belief and doubt.

Several Kamaz employees in the audience immediately asked, "Hey, are you going to tell us that nonsense about how adaptability changes destiny again? If so, you'd better save your breath!"

Don't think we don't know how ruthless you are. You can make two thousand US dollars just by reselling one person overseas.

"Exactly! We work hard abroad and only earn $1,500 a month, while you sit at home and earn $2,000. Have you forgotten who you used to be?"

Zelyuchenko almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He introduced a technician to work abroad, and he could only earn two to five hundred US dollars. How did it become two thousand US dollars in these people's mouths?

If I could make two thousand dollars by myself, I'd hire the Mafia to kidnap you all.

I used to be a Bolshevik, but I'm not anymore; all the Bolsheviks have been disbanded.

Seeing that several workers below the stage were starting to jeer, causing the situation to gradually spiral out of control, Zelyushinko finally understood why Li Ye had told everyone to "eat first."
Humans only have one mouth, and when it's busy eating, it doesn't speak very fluently, making it easier to be attacked one by one.

"Alright, Poponov, I invited you all here today not to persuade you, but simply to treat you to a nice meal."
Look around at your colleagues and friends. How long has it been since you've seen their smiles? So why are you saying such discouraging things? Why not let everyone enjoy a quiet dinner with their families?

"."

Poponov, who had just been all smiles, was suddenly speechless with embarrassment.

He turned his neck and looked around, noticing that many people were already drooling over the sumptuous meal. If he continued arguing with Zelyushinko, he didn't know what would happen to others, but his wife and children would certainly be very disappointed and angry.

Enjoy your meal!

Zelyushinko waved his hand, and several violinists stepped forward to play soothing and gentle music.

Music can alleviate the embarrassment of hunger, cover up the shame of many, and preserve the last bit of self-respect of the poor.

It can also mask the smacking sounds some people make when they're eating too fast.

Li Ye, who was standing in the corner silently observing the scene, let out a soft sigh.

Hunger is one of the cruelest punishments in the world. It can shatter a person's will without them even realizing it, turning many who consider themselves brave into pathetic cowards.

The menu prepared by Zeliu Shenko for everyone didn't contain any high-end ingredients; it was just the kind of high-oil, high-sugar food that people like to eat. According to Li Ye, it was at most enough to fill you up, but far from delicious.

However, the sounds of hundreds of people chewing and drinking soup at the scene almost drowned out the string music from the cello and violin.

Xiao Qi, who was acting as Li Ye's translator, couldn't help but say, "That guy Zelyuchenko is quite capable. When I first saw the menu today, I was so angry that I scolded him."
These people are engineers and assistant engineers, after all. It's not like we didn't pay them enough. Why serve them a meal of pig swill? But now it seems the people of Suzhou really understand Suzhou's tastes. If we served them a proper Chinese meal, they might not even recognize its value.

"Haha~"

Li Ye smiled and said, "Nothing happens without a reason. It's too cold here. Eating more oily and sweet foods helps them stay warm, ward off the cold, and fight off hunger. Over time, this dietary habit has become ingrained in them."

Xiaoqi said with amusement, "Brother Li Ye, the way you're saying it makes it sound like you're talking about a bear."

"Hahahaha~"

Li Ye smiled too.

But what he just said was definitely not a joke.

Decades later, some Chinese men who married Su E refused to let their foreign wives cook, preventing them from being domestic.

Because if these wives of Su E are the head chefs, everyone in the family will gain weight within six months, and within two years, they're guaranteed to develop high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

That's how she's always cooked, her ancestors have always done it this way. You expect her to give you a balanced meal with meat and vegetables and a little hot oil?
She knew what "a little" meant. Two spoonfuls down, that was also "a little." Li Ye and Zeliu Shenko waited quietly for a long time, letting the engineers on site eat and drink their fill, before starting the most important stage.

Zelyushinko calmly said, "Thank you all for coming to our charity gala today. I have a few words to say, which will take no more than two minutes. I hope you can bear with me."

"Hong Kong Island Dingli Company is recruiting engineers related to vehicle engineering in our Suzhou, with a guaranteed monthly salary of US$1,000 and no upper limit. Bonuses will be awarded for outstanding contributions."

"."

Zelyushchenko spoke for only half a minute, and Poponov and the others below became somewhat agitated. However, they were too shy to immediately lash out at Zelyushchenko because they had just finished eating.

Zelyushinko sensed something was wrong and sped up his speech, reading the part he didn't understand the most.

"Once you are hired, you will immediately receive a settling-in allowance, and 70% of your monthly salary will be promptly deposited into the hands of a designated family member, such as your mother, wife, or children."

"."

The commotion that had just begun to spread immediately came to a halt, frozen in an eerie moment.

Zelyu Shenko felt reassured and continued reading, "Hong Kong Dingli Company offers a variety of benefits for its foreign employees, including free room and board, and a fixed amount of alcohol and cigarettes provided each month. Unless you have special requests, you won't need 30% of your salary."

"In addition, we have signed an agreement with the Industry Bureau to retain your factory registration for one year. If you are not satisfied with your work abroad, you can come back and continue working in Kamas."

"Om~"

An uproar broke out at the scene.

However, this was not the kind of commotion that was hostile towards Zelyushinko, but rather a commotion by a group of old women targeting their own husbands.

"Poponov, did you hear that? A minimum of one thousand dollars a month, plus bonuses for contributions."

"Natasha, why would you believe Zelyushinko's nonsense? He's a vampire, he eats people alive without spitting out the bones."

"What do you mean by 'not spitting out bones'? You'll get a settlement allowance as soon as you sign the contract, and you'll even pay me and the kids a salary every month. Can you really bear to watch me and my two kids starve to death in despair?"

"Natasha, you..."

Poponov sensed something was wrong. Just a few days ago, his wife had been vehemently opposed to his leaving for another country. How could she have changed her mind in the blink of an eye? He couldn't understand it.

Of course he couldn't understand it.

Natasha was afraid that her husband would go abroad to enjoy the world and leave her and the children to die in the country, but now she had the salary card! She could spend money every month without doing anything!
What are you waiting for? Get out there and make some money for me!

When women get together, their emotions tend to spread. Li Ye gathered the engineers' families together, and after a lively discussion, they immediately reached a consensus.

A man is a pillar of strength, a true hero; he must be ambitious, he must strive, and he must never give up like a warrior.

Poponov swallowed hard and said helplessly to his wife, "Alright, Natasha, I'll give it a try. If it doesn't work, I'll be back within a year."

One year later?
He was in shock, and you still wanted to come back?

"Okay, okay, once you get to Hong Kong Island, you must be frugal and simple, and don't get involved in any special needs."

Poponov nodded subconsciously, then suddenly looked up and said, "Natasha, you wouldn't be eyeing even my 30% salary, would you?"

"Tch, they're providing food, lodging, cigarettes, and alcohol... tell me, why would you keep any money for yourself?"

(End of this chapter)