Reborn in Hong Kong, my cousin is Crippled Ho

Chapter 71 If you keep swinging the hoe, you can still pry open a corner of the wall.

Compared to the first recruitment attempt, Xu Neng didn't take it seriously.

This time, Lin Yuanshan pointed it out directly, and Xu Neng remained silent after hearing it.

On one hand, there's an easily attainable retirement pension; on the other, there's a potential opportunity to revive his career. At his age, it's a truly difficult choice.

Lin Yuanshan flicked the top cover of the Zippo with his fingers, making a tinkling sound as it opened and closed, the rhythm getting faster and faster.

A dozen seconds later...

Xu Neng looked up at him helplessly: "A Yuan, do you have to rush me like this?"

Hey, I've been working for Boss Li for over ten years.

If I stay in this position until this time next year, I'll receive quite a sum of money.

In 1963, Hong Kong did not actually have the concept of statutory retirement pensions or mandatory provident funds.

Only civil servants or British-owned trading companies had a formal long-term salary system.

As for Chinese-owned private enterprises, such as Yellow River Plastics.

It was thanks to the boss's "human touch" and the usual practice of Chinese businessmen in employing workers that a one-time bonus was paid to long-term employees, which is the retirement pension that Xu Nengxin longed for.

In factories during that era, the average worker earned about HK$120-150 per month, while skilled workers and foremen earned around HK$180 and HK$250 respectively.

A factory manager in a medium-sized factory, or a master craftsman like Li Rong, can earn HKD 300-600 per month.

Xu Neng is the factory manager of a branch factory in a large factory, and also a long-time employee of the owner. His monthly salary is around HKD 800.

The long-term worker bonus mentioned earlier consists of two parts: the employer's personal touch and the employee's established practices.

According to the unwritten rules of the industry, ordinary long-term workers who have worked for more than ten years are usually paid 6-12 months' salary in a lump sum, plus a personal bonus of about 1000 yuan.

The usual practice for skilled workers, foremen, and workshop supervisors is to receive a lump sum payment of 20-24 months' salary, plus about 2000 yuan as a favor.

Factory managers, master chefs, veteran employees, and trusted confidants typically receive 24-36 months' salary, plus a bonus of over 5000 yuan.

For veteran officials and confidants, the amount of "favors" they receive is unlimited, potentially reaching tens of thousands of yuan.

Xu Neng has followed Li Yicheng for more than ten years, and his 800*36 has already reached 2.88.

Given Li Yicheng's style, it's impossible that he would only offer a starting price of 5000 yuan.

Let's compromise and say it's 8000 yuan. Adding the two together, that's 3.68 yuan.

This is also a common plot in many Hong Kong movies and TV series where a senior employee is kicked out of a company by the young owner for some reason—their retirement pension is too large, and they're reluctant to give it away.

Consider Lin Yuanshan's current net worth; how much is it in total?

Even including the 320 tons of waste, the total is probably still less than that. And if you deduct the loan amount, it's even less.

Lin Yuanshan, with his red lips and white teeth, opened his mouth to try and dig out Xu Neng; it was truly a case of a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

Having explained Xu Neng's net worth, let's return to Lin Yuanshan's side.

Seeing that Uncle Xu had seen through his intention to open and close the lighter, Lin Yuanshan put away the Zippo.

He walked up to Xu Neng, placed his hands on the desk, and stared intently into the other man's eyes: "Uncle Xu, you witnessed the whole process of how I gradually entered the plastics industry."

I only have one question for you: ever since Bo Rong came with me, the factory in the back alley of Tongzhou Street, the scrap and assembly workshop rented across the street, and the laborers He Hongshun who come to work whenever they receive a call.

Limpy Rong said to do it, and everyone did it.

Dozens of people, from top to bottom, all obeyed his orders.

And you? When I first joined your factory, even a loser like Lao Yu dared to talk back to you. What's the point of being the factory manager?

I arrived in Hong Kong on the 3rd, and today is the 22nd, only 19 days ago.

Now I own two factories, several hundred tons of raw materials, and I've even taken care of the product sales.

"If you jump ship now, do you still need to worry that what you earn in the future will be less than the 'burden money' that Boss Li will give you next year?"

Lin Yuanshan emphasized the words "roll up the bedding" in his voice.

The effect was very obvious. Xu Neng, who was breathing heavily and whose face was turning red and blue after being talked to, gritted his teeth and stood up the next second.

Grabbing the phone receiver, Xu Neng gave Lin Yuanshan a deep look: "Yuanshan, this time, I'm betting my entire life savings on you."

After saying that, Xu Neng dialed the number. When the call was connected, he said in a deep voice, "Hello, this is Xu Neng from the Shek Kip Mei branch. Please connect me to Zhou Qianhe, the general affairs officer. If Mr. Li is available, it would be even better to transfer him directly to Mr. Li."

"Mr. Li hasn't returned yet, Director Xu, please wait a moment. I'll pass this on to General Manager Zhou." A young woman's voice came through the receiver, followed by static.

In the 60s, companies and factories typically had one external telephone line and a manual switchboard to connect 10-30 internal telephone lines.

At this point, there was no function to turn it by pressing a button.

That was only available in the mid-to-late 70s. Now, you need to plug in a telephone line in the computer room and transfer it to Zhou Qianhe, the general affairs officer of the Yellow River.

Soon, as the electrical noise disappeared, a steady male voice replaced the clerk's sweet voice: "Old Xu, didn't Mr. Li go to Sham Shui Po to quell the trouble caused by that brat surnamed Lin?"

Why are you suddenly in such a hurry to see him? Did something happen?

Xu Neng, who had also followed Li Yicheng for many years, was sent to Shixiawei to manage the branch factory, while Zhou Qianhe was appreciated by Li Yicheng and appointed to an important position in the Yellow River General Affairs Department.

Although their current development is vastly different, one is in the sky and the other on the ground;

They had been colleagues for many years and had a very good personal relationship, always referring to each other as brothers.

Sensing the concern in the other person's words, Xu Neng took a deep breath: "Brother Zhou, I'm fine! It's my personal decision, and I'm formally submitting my resignation to headquarters today."

I'm informing you by phone now, hoping headquarters can send someone down to the branch factory as soon as possible to hand over my work.

*Snap*

A strange noise came from the other end of the phone; Zhou Qianhe was probably startled by what he said and accidentally broke a cup or something.

A few seconds later, Zhou Qianhe's voice came through again: "Resign? Hey, bro! What the hell are you doing?"

You're going to retire next year, why are you suddenly leaving?

Oh, was it because of that Lin kid's incident that you got dragged into this?

It's okay, you've worked at the company for so many years!

Even if someone makes a mistake or causes losses, Mr. Li will treat them leniently.

Besides, we old friends are still here at headquarters; we'll all plead for you..."

The first few sentences were fine, but Zhou Qianhe's last sentence...

Suddenly, Xu Neng felt very uncomfortable.

Yes, after working here for so many years, many of my old friends were kept at headquarters, while I was reassigned to Shek Kip Mei.

That is, it hasn't reached the worst situation yet. If things really get to the point where a bunch of old colleagues have to plead with Li Yicheng before I can get that money, what's the point of living?

"Brother Zhou, my mind is made up." Xu Neng had come to his senses and had no more hesitation: "I have followed Li Sheng for more than ten years and I will remember his kindness, but everyone has their own ambitions."

I'll go to headquarters tomorrow to handle the written paperwork. Please take care of the rest as soon as possible.