Tian Xin went to the city to hang out with her classmates for a day and received a call from Zhang Shuai the next day.
"Boss, I found our old coworkers. They're all doing odd jobs now, but three of them agreed to drive at the factory. They asked if the salary could be higher, since they live far away and have families."
"Three? You're quite efficient!" Tian Xin said excitedly.
"Not bad, right, Boss? Rarely hear a compliment from you! So, is it doable? Give me a definitive answer." Zhang Shuai said.
"Keep them for now; I'll need to discuss the salary raise with the factory manager." Tian Xin said.
Tian Xin didn't dare delay and called Li Baiwan right away to discuss. Li Baiwan told her to make the decision herself, saying that as long as they're people she trusts, the salary can be raised a bit, and she should go ahead.
This Li Baiwan is not bad!
When Tian Xin called Zhang Shuai, Zhang Shuai mentioned something that made him quite distressed.
"This Master Li is older, stubborn as a mule. Once he sets his mind on something, no one can change it. I went to see him, and he scolded me terribly before throwing me out without even letting me in."
"Then why bother with him? Anyone who's difficult to manage won't last, and we'll have to accommodate him."
"But his work is undeniably good. Back when he was at the factory, he voluntarily took on a lot of loading and unloading tasks. Others wanted less work and more pay, but he just focused on working, doing tasks others avoided, just to earn more."
"Did he mention why he's unwilling to come? Is it because of the low salary?" Tian Xin asked.
"No, he just scolded me and told me to leave, without mentioning salary. I told him the salary could be raised, but he said it doesn't matter how much—he won't go."
Such people do exist?
Tian Xin thought for a moment and asked, "Did you offend him before?"
"Not really!" Zhang Shuai said, "He treated me well, looked after me at the factory. If I offended him, it would be the incident last time."
"What do you mean?" Tian Xin asked?
"He's the one who got hit by the factory manager's son last time."
Hearing this, Tian Xin instantly felt the situation wasn't simple, so she went with Zhang Shuai to find this Master Li.
It's hard to find good truck drivers, especially suitable ones, so it's worth negotiating.
Master Li's family lives in a suburb ten kilometers from Ancient City, an industrial park surrounded by factories. It's where Zhang Shuai and his colleagues used to work.
His family, consisting of five people, is non-native to the area. Apart from him and his wife, there are two daughters and an elderly mother.
The family rents an old house in a village in the city. When Tian Xin and Zhang Shuai visited, she felt like she was back to the day she died in her previous life.
"Master Li, I'm Zhang Shuai's friend. We would like to invite you to work at our factory. We can negotiate the salary. Can we talk?" Tian Xin asked, knocking at the door.
A woman in her forties, presumably his wife, opened the door: "He just went out."
"Oh, do you know where he went? We need to discuss something with him." Tian Xin asked.
"It's his day off, he went for a walk. Come in, have a seat, he'll be back soon!" The woman welcomed them inside.
As soon as they entered the house, Tian Xin smelled a damp, moldy odor. The cramped space reminded her of where she lived before dying in her previous life.
Aside from two double beds, a small writing desk, and a simple cloth wardrobe, there was no other furniture.
There wasn't even a table, so Tian Xin placed the gifts she brought next to the wardrobe on the floor.
Children's clothes were piled everywhere, and the place was stuffed with household items. The entrance was filled with shoes, and Tian Xin accidentally kicked one aside as she entered.
Master Li's elderly mother sat on the bed mending socks, threading the needle for ages without success. Tian Xin quickly helped thread it, and the elderly lady warmly instructed her daughter-in-law to pour tea for their guests.
The only places to sit were the bed and a stool by the writing desk. Tian Xin felt awkward sitting on the bed, so she sat on the small stool. Zhang Shuai stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
"Come, dear, sit here, let the young man take the stool. It's small here, don't mind," the old lady patted the bed beside her, gesturing Tian Xin to sit nearby.
"No, no, Grandma, we're here to discuss something with Master Li. We'll leave shortly, no need for tea," Tian Xin politely declined.
"That's not right, you're guests. You must have some water," the old lady insisted warmly.
Master Li's wife made tea for them, placing one cup on the writing desk next to Zhang Shuai, and handing the other directly to Tian Xin, then leaving after informing her mother-in-law.
Holding the hot glass cup, Tian Xin had to put it on the writing desk next to Zhang Shuai.
"She does odd jobs, cooks two meals for a family daily, earning 100 bucks a month," the elderly lady pointed to her daughter-in-law who had stepped out.
"Oh, what is Master Li doing now?" Tian Xin asked.
"Ah, it's tough—money's hard to earn, and life is full of grievances."
The three sat awkwardly, chatting intermittently.
Soon, Master Li returned from outside and hesitated upon seeing Zhang Shuai.
This man was tall but lean, wearing a loose, old suit jacket with pants washed to a pale color, his face covered with stubble framing his gaunt cheeks. His deep-set eyes showed fatigue.
Tian Xin quickly stood up: "Uncle Li, I'm Zhang Shuai's friend. I heard you used to drive trucks for the factory. We've opened a factory and would like to invite you to join us..."
"I already told you last time, I'm not going. Why'd you come again?" Master Li interrupted Tian Xin and questioned Zhang Shuai.
"Uncle Li, we're sincerely inviting you. If you're willing to come, salary is not an issue."
"I already said, not going, not going. How many times do I have to say it? Just leave, I don't want to see you," Master Li issued a direct eviction order to Zhang Shuai.
"Uncle Li, we..."
"Leave, leave, you're not welcome here." Master Li promptly ushered them out and placed the gifts Tian Xin brought outside, before closing the door firmly.
Seeing this, anyone unaware might think they had a deep-seated hatred for Master Li!
Tian Xin ran to the window and called inside, "Master Li, if you feel the salary is inappropriate, we can discuss it. Anything can be discussed."
"I just don't want to go, and I don't want to see this person again. Just leave." Master Li's voice from inside was unwavering.
"Uncle Li, why do you have such prejudice against me? We used to work together, and you treated me the best, like my father. I wasn't lucky; I had a deadbeat dad. You treated me like a son, why can't you stand seeing me now?"
Zhang Shuai shouted at the window, and Master Li inside seemed affected, but still didn't open the door.
"Uncle Li, I'm laying it out today. I just want you to come with me. I know your family's situation. If you're willing, you can be the team leader, and your salary can be increased. You name a figure, and if it's not enough, I'll cover the difference."
Zhang Shuai was emotional, speaking rapidly, his face flushed red, almost in tears.
The door opened.
Master Li stood at the entrance, speaking word by word: "Young man, remember, never come to my house again. Let's pretend we don't know each other. Forget the past, don't mention it again."
"Why? I helped you fight Liu Xin..."
"Because you fought Liu Xin, made everyone lose their jobs. Look at my family's situation, I've been supporting them all. Losing my job brought no income for six months, what did we eat or drink?"
Zhang Shuai was interrupted by Master Li loudly.
"You impulsively hit someone, getting several of us fired together. Did you think about it? You're alone, fed and unburdened by family, but I need to feed my family."
Master Li was emotional and loudly voiced, bringing neighbors looking curiously from the door.
Master Li continued, "You wanted to stand up for me without asking if I needed it. Let me tell you, I didn't need you to stand up for me. I got hit, but as long as it didn't kill me, the police would handle it. Why play the hero? It's been a year since the dismissal, and you didn't come around, only now saying these niceties. I don't need it. Just leave."
"..."
After those words, Zhang Shuai stayed silent, frozen in place.
Tian Xin felt the situation was excessive and wanted to smooth things over, but Master Li went in and shut the door.