Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 247 Wu Yue's Exclusive Memories

In the latter half of the annual meeting, apart from the excitement and noise, there was only one thing worth mentioning.

When Zhai Da walked onto the stage with the microphone for the second time, his face was already red, and everyone quieted down and looked at him intently once again.

At this moment, a waiter brought in a table covered with red envelopes.

Many people were stunned. They were going to get money?

Although each red envelope didn't seem to contain much, I guess Da Ge wanted to bring good luck?
Zhai Da said into the microphone, "If we stay any longer, you might all be too drunk. This isn't money; it's an insurance policy, an accident insurance policy purchased for you personally in the company's name. Our work is demanding, with a lot of physical labor, and the technical staff also deal with equipment. Having insurance gives us peace of mind."

"The scope of compensation includes accidental death, disability, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses and hospitalization allowance, etc. You can designate yourself or a family member as the beneficiary, with a maximum compensation of 20 yuan."

The crowd below:
understood!

As he was talking, Zhai Da realized something was off and added, "Of course, it only applies to work, including commuting, but it doesn't include illegal or disorderly conduct. Don't get the wrong idea. I think this is more effective than giving out red envelopes. This will become a regular insurance policy for the company, and everyone will have it."

The premiums for each person are not expensive, only a few hundred yuan a year. The company pays the premiums directly and they are not deducted from the employees' salaries.

This was Mr. Yu's idea. There is commercial insurance to cover all positions where there is a possibility of injury, which can greatly reduce the company's management risks.

Insurance is like toilet paper; it's only really useful in 10% of the area, or even less, but you can't just use that 10%, and you can't do without it either.
If you expect employees to buy the insurance themselves, even if they work in a high-risk position, they won't be motivated to do so. Individuals are also at a disadvantage when it comes to insurance company claims. But it's different when the company steps in.

This is purely out of good intentions! It's an essential step towards becoming a legitimate business, and it's not an implication whatsoever!
After this incident, Zhai Da stated that he would not speak again tonight.

The atmosphere was off; everything I said felt strange.
Wu Yue felt the same way, so he canceled his prepared "encouragement" speech.

That's enough gas, it'll explode if you hit it any harder.

In the last few hours, the annual meeting became a free event, and the craft beer that had been piled up like a wall was quickly consumed, while bottles of "Shezhidao" baijiu were added one after another.

Fifty men can really drink.
Interestingly, after the number of customers dwindled, the restaurant owner turned on the karaoke machine for them, and seven or eight men went on stage together, belting out a song called "A Grateful Heart."

When the prelude began, Zhai Da raised his head.
Did this song already exist in 09?

Honestly, unless someone has a narcissistic personality, the boss listening to this would probably feel a bit awkward.

Especially at a noisy year-end party where people are drinking, the singer is still a grown man, neither handsome nor touching.

But the same song, in different times and from different perspectives, made Zhai Da feel as if he were in another world.

I used to be like that too, shouting myself hoarse.

Drinking and singing at the company's annual party is really stupid.
He just believed that the people on stage now and he back then would no longer have the same mindset.

Suddenly, Zhai Da had an epiphany, and he reconciled with what he once considered his "dark history".

Every step we take in striving for a better life should not be ridiculed, whether it is soaked in sweat or drenched in alcohol.
At midnight, Zhai Da announced the end of the annual meeting, and the organizers arranged for everyone to leave. He was so drunk that he needed someone to accompany him.

For example, the Wu and Yue regions.

This guy broke his winning streak in the second half, and after being repeatedly advised against it, he got happy and quickly collapsed into a sea of ​​wine.

Just as Zhai Da helped Wu Yue to his feet, a figure immediately stepped forward and said, "Brother Da, I'll take you back."

Zhai Da turned his head and saw the bartender, Han Qi. He asked in confusion, "Were you there just now?"

"It's quiet in the corner because I don't drink. Yue Ge just told me to help him drive."

Han Qi was dressed casually in a light brown trench coat, jeans, and sneakers.
This was the first time Zhai Da had seen her dressed in anything other than her bartender vest. Her slightly wavy long hair was simply tied back, making her look much more refreshed.

Actually, if you disregard her special attire and the bar atmosphere, Han Qi's appearance is much more ordinary, but she looks cleaner now.

That's probably the word.

The girl was in her late twenties, and even looked a bit like a college student.

Zhai Da looked around and figured that Han Qi was probably the only one who hadn't been drinking. Since finding a designated driver would take a long time, he simply tossed the car keys over.

"By the way, have you been promoted to a full-time employee?"

Keep in mind that she was only working part-time before.

Han Qi nodded: "It's already been transferred."

That's normal. With such good company benefits, only a fool wouldn't go on board.

Even now, Zhai Da still doesn't know what's going on with Han Qi.
Seemingly worried that Zhai Da might have some issues, Han Qi, holding the car keys, explained, "I just became a full-time employee and didn't receive any bonuses. Brother Yue said we can't break the rules."

Zhai Da didn't care: "It's nothing, I'm leaving, my car is right at the door."

In the corner, Qin Yang, who had been waiting, watched Da Ge and Yue Ge's departing figures with a slight hint of regret in his eyes.

He had actually thought of this, so he didn't drink any alcohol all night.

But it's alright.

He was just showing concern, not trying to prove his loyalty.

The most important thing is to work hard and diligently to make the company and everyone else better.

In most cases, the two "better"s may not be related, but in "Yue Da Catering," they are linked together.

After Han Qi sat in the driver's seat, he clearly felt uneasy. The entire driving system was unfamiliar to him, and he thought to himself that a good car is indeed different.

Zhai Da observed for a moment and found that no one was silently reciting "stop at red light, go at green light."

Zhai Da gave a couple of instructions. Anyway, it was only one or two kilometers. If it weren't for the fact that it was too cold in Harbin in winter and the car couldn't be parked outside overnight, he probably would have simply helped Wu Yue walk back.

The car started slowly, driving very slowly. It was unclear whether Han Qi was afraid of getting hurt and not being able to afford the compensation, or whether Wu Yue was upset.

Zhai Da supported Wu Yue, watching to see if the guy would vomit.

If someone throws up, immediately open the window and push their head out; even a single drop leaking into the car is considered slow.

In a daze, the drunken Wu Yue suddenly opened his eyes and said to Zhai Da, "Da Zi, we succeeded again."

Zhai Da smiled and said, "The company is very successful, and you've done a good job."

"It's not a utopia that has continued."

Zhai Da paused for a moment, then smiled.

Wu Yue let out a burp: "I'm not the naive student I used to be. Black, white, gray—I've known all along that utopian ideals are just naive."

"Maybe countless people are waiting to see us fail, and they might even call us stupid, but I'm not willing to accept it, and I don't care."

"Some people have fallen because of gambling, some because of drug use, some because of stupidity. So what if I fall because of 'naivety' once?"

Zhai Da patted Wu Yue on the shoulder: "If you fall, I'll help you up."

"What if we both collapse?"

"Let Chu Xiang, Fan Junwei, and Xiang You help."

Actually, that's impossible, Zhai Da said, "I have a cheat code."

Wu Yue looked at the roof of the car and said slowly, "I always feel that one day in the future, the people of Utopia will be able to reunite."

Zhai Da looked out the window at the winter street scene of Harbin.

From a narrow vantage point, the street, obscured by scattered snowflakes, bears a striking resemblance to Luochuan Road in Dongyang.

"Maybe, there will be a chance."

No matter how much time has passed, Wu Yue still can't forget that summer.
Then, while Zhai Da was lost in thought, he saw this guy take out his phone and scroll through his contacts.

The drunkard kept rambling incoherently: "I want to call Li Haili and confess my feelings to her!"

Zhai Da: ?
WTF? !
He thought he'd misheard and grabbed him, saying, "Bro, don't make phone calls when you've had too much to drink. Wait, you like Li Haili?!"

What explosive news is this?
Han Qi, in the driver's seat, quickly reached out and turned up the music volume so that he couldn't hear it.

At least pretend you can't hear me.

Wu Yue chuckled lewdly: "I like girls with keen observation skills. She's really amazing!"

Zhai Da smacked his lips.
"What's the matter with Han Qi?"

After saying that, she realized that Han Qi was in the car, which made her feel a little awkward.

Wu Yue muttered, "What? What's going on?"

Zhai Da quickly changed the subject: "Do you and Li Haili keep in touch?"

"No."

"Then confess your love for a chicken neck!"

In the driver's seat, Han Qi drove silently, her slender hands unconsciously tightening their grip on the steering wheel.

In her mind, she recalled the day when Brother Yue recruited her.
--------

At 6 p.m., the nightclub was open, but there were no customers. Staff walked around arranging decorations in the empty space, but the air was still stuffy.

A woman who looked like a manager was stalling with Wu Yue: "Brother Yue, 200 liters a day isn't enough, make more, I'll name a number, 500! I'll pay you in cash!" Wu Yue sat on a bar stool, his turtleneck sweater accentuating his 1.8-meter frame, making him look very capable.

"Sister Liu, why wouldn't I want to make money? Production capacity is limited, and each company has already received its share."

Sister Liu nudged Wu Yue's elbow and said in a soothing voice, "Brother Yue, be more flexible. Let's have a drink together tonight. I'll save my best booth for you. A batch of new staff have joined the store."

If there are more here, there will be less for others.

Then the guests will arrive.

Just as Wu Yue was about to say something, a woman wearing a down jacket suddenly walked to the bar and put down a transparent folder: "Hello. I'm here to apply for the bartender position."

Sister Liu glanced at it sideways and pointed behind her: "Make two drinks to try, one martini and one Moscow Mule."

Without saying a word, the woman went behind the bar and started mixing drinks. Although she was a little rusty at the unfamiliar bar, both drinks were relatively simple to make.

Sister Liu continued to negotiate with Wu Yue, but Wu Yue did not budge.

A few minutes later, two cocktails were served. Sister Liu let Wu Yue choose one, and then she took a sip of the remaining Moscow Mule.

Not bad, that shows some skill: "Have you done this before?"

The woman shook her head: "I learned it from watching videos."

The answer was somewhat unexpected, but Sister Liu didn't dwell on it too much.

"Open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. every day. There's a three-month probation period with a salary of 1200 yuan, which will increase to 1500 yuan after probation. When can I start?"

The woman hesitated and said, "I have a special situation. If I come at 7 o'clock, can I leave before 12 o'clock?"

What constitutes a special circumstance?

"I have a two-year-old child at home who needs care."

Sister Liu raised an eyebrow: "Which nightclub closes before midnight? Even bars don't close this early."

"Can I come earlier, at 6 o'clock, and leave at 12 o'clock? I only need 1000 yuan."

Sister Liu felt it was too much trouble and waved her hand, saying, "Let's ask somewhere else."

The woman's throat tightened, and she said with difficulty, "Eight hundred is fine, please."

Her two-year-old child needs constant care, and despite her best efforts, she can only squeeze out time from 6 to 12 o'clock, waiting for her friends to get off work and someone to take care of the child before she can go out to work.

I need to go back to pick them up at 12 o'clock, so as not to cause too much trouble for my friend.

This strange time constraint caused her to run into obstacles in countless places. She thought that by learning bartending, she could at least be competent in the job of a bartender, but she was still at a loss.

Sister Liu sized up the woman's face and her shapely figure, barely concealed by her thin, cheap down jacket. Having seen countless people, she knew her instantly: "A two-year-old child and you're out working the night shift? Your husband's a piece of trash, are you supporting him?"

The woman scoffed, her eyes reddening as she looked away: "I'd rather he let me support him... to the point of overdose and death."

Wu Yue, who was originally indifferent to the matter, noticed the key words and raised his head.

It's a pity the person is gone; otherwise, it could have served as a clue to pass the time.
The martini in my hand was covered in a mist, the ice glass was perfectly made, and the fine condensed dewdrops were beautiful.

Sister Liu casually picked up a white towel and wiped the water stains off the table for Wu Yue, then pointed in a direction: "Girl, let me show you the way. Bartenders don't earn much. See that pole over there?"

The woman followed the man's gaze and saw a small table between the booths with a stainless steel rod standing on it, extending straight to the ceiling.

"Just dance there, from eight o'clock to twelve o'clock. No dance background is required. Just practice a few fixed moves. It's just physical work. Wear less clothing."

"There is a schedule, and the hours are flexible. It's 120 for four hours. If you're willing to do dancing, there's a different calculation method. If you're not willing, no one will force you. But even the most basic dancing will earn you more than you would if you found a regular job."

The woman bit her lower lip hard, her hands clenched into fists from an angle that Sister Liu couldn't see.

Sister Liu seemed to see the other party's struggle, and shrugged, saying, "I know I have to get over this mental hurdle, but you'll understand after a while that this is a business place. You can come if you want, or you can not come if you don't want to. No one is forcing you."

Dragging an ordinary person into this murky world always gives her an unexpected sense of exhilaration.

It's like someone already in a mud pit will try their best to tell others that the mud pit isn't dirty, and that it's actually fun.
Dancing is just the beginning. Or rather, it's like a beginner's training program. After a month of dancing, you'll be willing to do anything.

Just like I was back then.

Sister Liu smiled and said, "Health is the foundation of everything, so you have to be willing to use it. Trust me, no other place would want a bartender as strange as you. If you're willing, take off your down jacket and sit with Brother Yue for a while, and practice your courage first."

She understands men very well; few men can resist the temptation of "the first day of work," let alone a "real first day of work."

It brings a much greater sense of accomplishment than that of skilled workers.

The woman lowered her head, biting her lip, her eyes gradually becoming moist.

A moment later, his trembling hand placed on the zipper of the down jacket and pulled it down little by little.

It was as if her self-esteem had been peeled away bit by bit.
But it seems there's no turning back.

When only ten centimeters remained, and the zipper was about to derail and separate, tears finally fell first.

It landed in one hand.

Wu Yue held Han Qi's hand down and then slowly zipped the zipper up to her neck.

"Sister Liu, are you forcing me to act like a hooligan? Did I say I wanted her to keep me company?"

Sister Liu said with a smile, "Brother Yue is just feeling sorry for her, huh?"

"Yeah, aren't you envious?"

Sister Liu paused, her smile becoming somewhat stiff.

The woman stared blankly at the man who looked far too young, yet seemed to hold an important position.

Wu Yue said to him, "From 6 pm to 12 pm, right? I also have a small bar, a quiet bar, which isn't open yet. Want to give it a try?"

The woman nodded quickly, and a few more tears fell.

Wu Yue got up and walked outside, gesturing for the woman to follow.

Behind them, Sister Liu called out, "Brother Yue, what do you think of what we were talking about earlier? I'm thinking 400 liters would be fine too."

Wu Yue waved his hand without turning his head and said, "That's a good idea. Keep thinking about it."

Stepping out of the nightclub, the air felt instantly fresher.

"What's your name?"

"Han Qi."

"Oh, let's go, I'll take you to the store. What a coincidence! I was just thinking of finding a bartender. The salary is 1200 during the probation period and 1500 after that. Is that okay?"

Han Qi followed behind Wu Yue, wiping away tears, and said, "Thank you, Brother Yue."

"Don't call me Brother Yue, you're older than me, just call me Brother Yue, I should get used to it."

The footsteps grew closer and closer, and the tears flowed more and more.

"Thank you, Brother Yue, thank you, Brother Yue."

------

The car reeked of alcohol.

Do you and Li Haili keep in touch regularly?

"No."

"Then confess your love for a chicken neck!"

Wu Yue frowned: "That makes sense, that makes sense."

Then there was silence; I fell asleep.

Zhai Da rolled his eyes.

He was quite surprised. He never expected that it was during the time when Li Haili seemed to be in Utopia, when the two of them had been working together on sales. It must have been around that time, and he hadn't noticed it because he had been teaching.

Actually, Li Haili isn't particularly beautiful; she's just tall. Perhaps it's a case of the hunter and the wind-hearing creature appreciating each other.

This girl's smile is so cunning, her fate is unpredictable. You two are so clever, are you going to play Mr. and Mrs. Smith?

Inside the driver's cab, Han Qi turned the volume down again so as not to wake the sleeping Wu Yue.

Then they drove even slower, so that Wu Yue could sleep for even just five more minutes.

The car continued moving forward, and the soothing music continued.

"I hope you are my exclusive memory."

"Keeping it deep in my heart~"

(End of this chapter)