Zhang Liunian paused, "It shouldn't be related to this matter."
It wasn't like the Tang family had fallen. How could someone back down just because a small figure like Tang Shikai entered the palace? This was clearly unlikely.
Actually, it was indeed related. The sealing of this construction site relied on Tang Shikai's connections. Now that he was gone, coupled with Yan Guoguo's assistance, wasn't that how this matter was settled?
Of course, Zhang Liunian didn't know this yet. He would only learn about Yan Guoguo's involvement in facilitating this matter when he met him.
"No matter what, the fact that the construction site can resume work is cause for celebration. You work hard, I'm leaving." Fang Yan looked at Zhang Liunian's face, her gaze lingering for a moment, then she turned and left in a hurry.
Zhang Liunian didn't notice her change, and instead turned his attention to the business of the two shops.
He was very satisfied to learn that the braised meat at both the new and old shops sold three thousand jin daily. The pickled vegetables business also began to steadily increase, from the previous hundred thousand bottles, it was now approaching two hundred thousand bottles.
Zhang Liunian was a little surprised. After all, the population of Nancheng was limited. Yet, his pickled vegetables were still increasing in sales. This clearly indicated that there were people like Huang Da who were selling them externally.
This was a good thing, and Zhang Liunian didn't stop it. On the contrary, he formulated several preferential terms for these individuals.
This was a method of winning people's hearts. Over time, these people would develop a good impression of Zhang Liunian, thus gradually becoming his support.
After confirming the business, Zhang Liunian got up to call Uncle Number Eighteen and the others to the construction site to begin work.
Ma Quancai had also arrived in Nancheng early that day and was just about to leave.
"Alas, with the current situation at the construction site, it won't be able to resume for a while. I might as well go back first!" Ma Quancai had arrived with great ambition, but he felt a significant drop in his morale upon learning that the construction site was being forcibly halted.
One of the Uncles Number Eighteen saw this and stepped forward to stop him, "Manager Ma, you are the construction manager personally appointed by Liunian. If you leave, what will happen to us?"
Although they had only chatted for half a morning, the Uncles Number Eighteen were quite fond of Ma Quancai.
This was because Ma Quancai was indeed more knowledgeable about construction than them. Moreover, he was the county magistrate of their Datang County, a figure they couldn't even dream of meeting before. Now that he had become their superior, why wouldn't they try to build a good relationship?
But then again, Liunian was too amazing to have recruited a capable person like Ma Quancai to join him as his helper. Was there anything in this world that he couldn't do?
"But the construction site cannot start. Even if I had all the skills in the world, I couldn't use them. Staying here, I don't know how long it will take." Ma Quancai had a good impression of these subordinates because they were simple and obedient.
"Perhaps work will resume tomorrow. If we all leave, it will be troublesome to rush back. Anyway, there is food and lodging here, so it's convenient for us to familiarize ourselves with the environment."
"But I..."
Before Ma Quancai could finish, Zhang Liunian, accompanied by Du Ziteng, interrupted, "Uncle Ma, the construction site can start. Let's gather everyone to begin work now."
Ma Quancai immediately looked over excitedly, "Really?"
Zhang Liunian approached and smiled, "Absolutely true. I came to inform you. Everyone, bring your tools and let's go!"
"Is it finally going to start? That's great, everyone bring your tools and let's go!" The uncle who had just spoken to Ma Quancai shouted with a raised hand, while others excitedly rushed into the house to grab their tools and stood in front of Zhang Liunian.
"Let's go!" Zhang Liunian looked at his original team, silently noting this moment in his heart. He believed that before long, more and more people would stand behind him.
"Crackling!" Outside the construction site, Zhang Liunian had people set off a long string of red firecrackers. He then gave a few speeches and finally announced that the food workers' residential complex had officially commenced construction.
"Everyone, listen to me. Start working. Five people per group. One group will start laying the foundation, one group will start drawing lines, one group will start..."
As expected of someone who had been a leader, Ma Quancai immediately got into character after Zhang Liunian finished his announcement and began assigning work to them.
However, due to the small number of people present, Ma Quancai found Zhang Liunian and suggested that they needed to add manpower immediately.
"Leave this to Uncle Ma. This workers' complex is for ten thousand households, and we need to complete it within half a year. Without hundreds of people, it will be impossible. So you can start recruiting now. Wages will be favorable, with free food and lodging for seven yuan a day, and eight yuan a day without food and lodging. This price is tentative. If it's too low, you can increase it appropriately for them."
Zhang Liunian had intended to discuss this matter with him, but he didn't expect Ma Quancai to react so quickly. As expected, hiring him as an engineer and general manager was the right decision.
"Understood, I will arrange this immediately." Ma Quancai knew that people would come as soon as he heard this salary. This salary was several times higher than that of a regular worker, and any able-bodied person would be tempted.
"Don't wander off from the lines you've dug."
"Yes, Manager Ma."
"..."
Zhang Liunian watched Ma Quancai turn around and go to supervise the construction site, nodding with satisfaction. He then turned and instructed Du Ziteng, "Ziteng, tomorrow remember to have your father start sending bricks here, as well as cement..."
"Got it," Du Ziteng nodded solemnly.
At the same time, in the young female educated youth dormitory in Zhangjia Village, Zhang Xiaomei was somewhat bewildered by her second brother's sudden and inexplicable enthusiasm towards her.
"Second Brother, what's wrong? If you have something to say, just tell me directly?" She couldn't articulate the unspoken words that her second brother's constant pestering made her feel uneasy.
Zhang Liuxing's expression slightly tightened, but he still smiled, "Xiaomei, we siblings haven't been close for a long time. I've been unemployed for some time, so I thought I'd spend more time with you. If you feel I'm an eyesore, I'll leave."
After speaking, Zhang Liuxing lowered his head, feigning dejection.
Zhang Xiaomei couldn't bear to see this. Although her second brother didn't treat her as well as her third brother, they were still siblings. They had played together as children, so there was certainly affection between them.
Now that Zhang Liuxing had lost his job, he was naturally heartbroken. If she still drove him away, it would indeed hurt him.
"Second Brother, I didn't mean that. I'm just not used to it. If you want to stay here, you can stay," Zhang Xiaomei said, trying to persuade him to stay, which was exactly what Zhang Liuxing wanted. His gaze swept over the key around Zhang Xiaomei's neck, and he knew that this key could open the room where Zhang Liunian kept the recipes for making pickled vegetables and braised dishes.
If he could get this key, he could obtain Zhang Liunian's prepared ingredients. Even if he couldn't get the key, getting the ingredient package would suffice.
Once he brought the ingredients back to the Tang family, they could naturally study their components.
"Xiaomei, you look very busy. How about I help you? Although I haven't done this before, I can learn," Zhang Liuxing, seeing that Xiaomei was no longer driving him away, immediately offered to share her workload.