Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 709 Turning Waste into Treasure and Making Secret Accounts

Scrap yard.

"I almost forgot, there's this too!"

Wang Cheng was patrolling the station, reminding everyone, when he suddenly remembered something and rushed back to his office.

"It should be here!" He pulled open a drawer, revealing a pile of curled-corner receipts and dusty documents.

Wang Chengcai frantically searched inside, stirring up more dust that made him cough a few times.

Finally, my fingertip touched a familiar corner of cardboard! I took out a document from it.

As if he had unearthed a treasure, Wang Cheng carefully pulled out a document bag with a kraft paper cover from the bottom of the clutter.

"Phew—it's still here! It's still here!"

Blow away the dust scattered on the documents.

Wang Cheng awkwardly untied it and took out a document with slightly yellowed paper and curled pages.

"That's it! Luckily it wasn't lost and is still here. If Xiaobai had organized this event, his position as the stationmaster's successor would have been secure!"

A document about turning waste into treasure.

This document existed last year, and Wang Chengcai also wanted to participate, but at that time Bai Xiuwen had just learned the craft and lacked the necessary skills.

Doing ordinary repairs and maintenance is fine, but what about creating these 'masterpieces' that are high-class, creative, and require skill?
So we didn't let him participate, thinking we'd let him hone his skills a bit more.

"This year is perfect. Xiaobai's skills are quite good, so it's the perfect time to hold this event. If we do it well, it will not only benefit him, but I will also benefit a lot."

"Maybe we can get a slightly higher position."

The thought of the "half" chance he might get for a promotion made Wang Cheng feel excited.

This "half" might be something that others might not get even if they stay up all night and their hair turns white!
Wang Cheng is not young anymore; I hope he can take one more small step forward before retiring.

Even a nominal position with a slightly different location and better pay would be enough!
What you save is several years of anxious days!

"Okay, okay~" In an instant, Wang Cheng's heart raced, as if he could already see his name appearing on his leader's desk.

This is not the kind of superficial "filial piety" that involves smoothing things over or sending local specialties during holidays.

These are real, tangible achievements, undeniable and beyond question.

"Xiao Bai's skills are finally bearing fruit this year."

Of course, it was a novice who did the work.

But what does it matter? Bai Xiuwen is his soldier, the technical backbone of the scrap yard!
Bai Xiuwen's credit is rightfully his credit as the station chief!
After the initial excitement, Wang Chengcai's brows furrowed as usual.

"We'll talk to Xiaobai when he gets back. The event won't start for another two or three months, so there's no rush! We can use this time to let Xiaobai focus on improving his skills!"

"This will also relieve Xiaobai of so much trouble. We'll give him a few more factory shares, and we'll stop the scrap metal collection for now. Let them divide up the territory."

Soon, Wang Chengcai had almost figured out Bai Xiuwen's arrangements.

"Now we're just waiting for Xiaobai to come back."

Not long after, Bai Xiuwen, who fired his first shot, successfully returned to the junkyard.

"Stationmaster, I'm back."

"You're back, Xiaobai. You've worked hard." Wang Cheng smiled. "Right now, there's something more important that's directly related to your future!"

He paused deliberately to create suspense.

Bai Xiuwen was indeed intrigued and eagerly asked, "Station Master, what do you say?"

Wang Cheng slowly took out the "Turning Waste into Treasure" document and slapped it in front of Bai Xiuwen:
"Look at this! We didn't participate last year, it's time to show our participation this year!"

Bai Xiuwen quickly took the document and read it carefully.

This was the first time he had ever handled documents since he came to the scrap yard.

After reading it carefully, Bai Xiuwen understood the importance of this matter.

"Xiao Bai, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you do well, you'll not only receive honor, but more importantly, you'll prove yourself to everyone."

"This is also your greatest achievement in taking over as station chief. I have high hopes for you. Whether for the station or for yourself, you must do a good job!"

Bai Xiuwen was somewhat dizzy from the sudden heavy responsibility and promise. Since it involved the stationmaster, he had to take it seriously.

"There are still two or three months until the event. During these months, focus on improving your skills and figuring out how to organize the event. As for the acquisition..."

Wang Chengcai quickly explained his plan in just a few words.

The acquisition has stopped, but the procurement has not.

Bai Xiuwen's heart skipped a beat. He was reluctant to give up the acquisition, but before seeing a real share of the profits, he decided not to make any rash moves.

Immediately, Bai Xiuwen said, "Station Master, can we stop the acquisition for now? Turning waste into treasure is quite difficult."

"Hmm?" Wang Cheng raised an eyebrow, his smile fading slightly.

“Turning waste into treasure is no easy task,” Bai Xiuwen thought quickly and immediately found a reason.

"I was thinking that while I was collecting them, I could also find out what people needed or what kind of upcycling they were particularly interested in?"

"These things might actually be very helpful in my idea of ​​turning waste into treasure!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng thought about it carefully and said, "What you said makes sense. I didn't consider everything, but you shouldn't focus on this."

"Don't worry, stationmaster, I know what's important," Bai Xiuwen replied.

Wang Cheng nodded. With the acquisition halted, the focus naturally shifted to procurement: "As for the factories to be procured, I'll arrange two for you in the next two months."

"They're all familiar faces. Just follow the same procedures as in the steel rolling mill. Just build up your relationships and you won't have to spend a lot of effort there."

"Yes, please rest assured, stationmaster, I will do my best!"

Seeing the flames burning in Bai Xiuwen's eyes, Wang Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a truly satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Good! Good lad! This is the kind of talent I, Wang Cheng, have my eye on! Go forward with confidence, and I'll help you with any difficulties you encounter."

After discussing the important matters, Wang Cheng changed the subject and started talking about lighter things.

"How did things go with Lao Jin this morning? What did he say?"

Bai Xiuwen immediately explained the situation from the morning in detail, especially emphasizing the usual procedures.

"Oh right, Brother Jin said a batch of scrap is coming this afternoon."

Wang Cheng nodded: "Okay, I'll teach you how to do it when I come this afternoon. Go back and think about it first."

"Okay." Bai Xiuwen turned and left.

Repair shop.

Bai Xiuwen looked at a piece of paper on the table, on which he had roughly written down some plans for the steel rolling mill.

But compared to the document on "turning waste into treasure," it doesn't seem so urgent now.

After all, the plan can only be implemented after he takes over as station chief, and it's unknown when that will be. The documents in front of him are the most important thing.

Bai Xiuwen decisively stuffed the steel rolling mill plan deep into the drawer and locked it.

Right now, apart from that "turning waste into treasure" document, everything else is just icing on the cake, or even a hindrance.

Bai Xiuwen read the document word by word to make sure he didn't miss anything.

The document requires that recycled waste materials be used to create works or reuse solutions that are practical, innovative, or artistic.

Aimed at showcasing the potential and technological strength of the recycling industry, the selection criteria not only consider achievements, but also the process, creativity, and practice of the concept of resource recycling.

Most importantly, it's something that ordinary households can use!

"We need to think about what to do. It would be best to find the things we attended last year and take a look at them to learn from them."

Bai Xiuwen immediately sat down and began to write. Time flew by, and it was already afternoon.

Rumbling--

The roar of a truck engine could be heard.

"The scrap from the steel rolling mill has arrived?"

Without Wang Chengcai reminding him, Bai Xiuwen went straight out the door.

"Xiao Bai, you've come at the right time." Wang Cheng waved and led Bai Xiuwen along.

At this moment, all the workers at the station were present, so Wang Cheng said, "All of you from the steel rolling mill, lend a hand and unload these!"

Needless to say, this wasn't the first time the workers had done this job. They skillfully set up the ramp and nimbly climbed into the truck bed.
Seeing this familiar scene, Bai Xiuwen instinctively wanted to step forward to help, but as soon as he took a step, his arm tightened.

"Xiao Bai, let the masters handle this. I still need to teach you some things. How can I teach you if you go up there?"

"Yes." Bai Xiuwen nodded, watching the craftsmen unload the items and then sort them.

He used to do these tasks himself, but this is the first time he's watched everyone else do them while he stands by.

Master Xiao, Zhang Qiang, and the others noticed Bai Xiuwen watching from the side; it was impossible for them not to feel envious and jealous.

Although Wang Chengcai's words of wisdom made him realize the difference between the two, people always have a sliver of wishful thinking.

Do they really have no chance at all to become stationmasters?

You might think that way, but your body won't act so blatantly.

Finally, the entire carriage was emptied, and various waste materials were piled up into a small mountain.

The craftsmen, panting heavily, silently organized and arranged the categories they were responsible for.

"Old Lin!"

"Here they come." Warehouse keeper Uncle Lin made a grand entrance, glanced at Bai Xiuwen, and guessed what Wang Cheng was planning.

"Uncle Lin."

"Hmm~" Grandpa Lin nodded, equally pleased with Bai Xiuwen's promotion.

"Register me," Wang Cheng said to Grandpa Lin, then turned to Bai Xiuwen: "Come with me and take a look."

Grandpa Lin started walking around with a notebook in hand, each craftsman responsible for a category. When he reached someone, he would ask, "How much?"

"102 jin of scrap wood."

"47 jin of waste paper."

Each category was reported and recorded, but Bai Xiuwen didn't see anything wrong with them. It had always been like this before, with nothing unusual.

Finally, after all the waste was inventoried and recorded, Grandpa Lin handed it over to Wang Chengcai.

"Station manager, all done."

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Xiaobai, come with me."

Wang Cheng took Bai Xiuwen to his office and locked the door.

"Did you figure out what was going on?"

Bai Xiuwen shook his head: "I didn't notice. I remember it very clearly. The type, weight, and price are all written on it."

"If you didn't notice, that's right. This is an open account. Open accounts should be laid out in the open, without any falsification or deception. The important thing is the hidden account."

"Take a look," Wang Cheng said, handing the notebook over.

The ledger clearly records the quantity, type, and price of items recycled.
"With clear and transparent accounting, we can easily hand over the accounts to the factory at the end of the month by comparing them with the invoices."

"The handover process is just a matter of spending some time checking the numbers."

Bai Xiuwen nodded, explaining that the prices were all publicly available and transparent on the site.

What happens next is known only to heaven, earth, you, me, and the two of us.

Next came the most important part: Wang Cheng took out a list from the drawer.

"This is part of the price in the undisclosed accounts. Take a look, and it's best to memorize it completely and not keep it in your mind."

Bai Xiuwen looked at the form; the handwriting wasn't completely dry, so it was obviously written on the spot.

Lines of numbers danced before his eyes, the prices of the explicit and implicit accounts differing by only a few cents.

Wang Cheng explained from the side: "Keeping secrets isn't a big deal, but it's not a small one either. As long as it's not discovered, it's fine even if everyone knows about it."

"If there's no evidence, then there's no evidence. Even if you report it, it's still not true. To ensure everything goes smoothly, it's best if only we know the price of this secret deal!"

"Speak," Wang Cheng said, tapping his temples with two fingers. "But this is the safest place, and we have to do this without telling anyone."

“I know you and your wife have a good relationship, but just because it’s good now doesn’t mean it will be good in the future. It’s not that I don’t approve of the two of you.”

"But I'm afraid you two will have a fight, and it would be bad if she exposed this. For your own sake, for your wife's sake, and even more so for the station's sake, it's best not to say anything!"

Bai Xiuwen nodded, understanding Wang Chengcai's concerns, and said solemnly:
"Don't worry, stationmaster. Even if it weren't for my own sake, I would never say anything for the sake of the station."

"I won't say anything else, but I'd rather die than tell anyone if it's for the station to give me a share of the profits."

Since Bai Xiuwen started working here, the station has given him a monthly bonus, though it's only a few yuan.

But little by little, it adds up to about 50 yuan a year. It was this monthly dividend that helped him get through the most difficult months at the beginning.

It was also thanks to the dividends that he was able to give his sister a good life, marry Xu Sinan, and furnish a new house.

With all these things accumulating, this is not just his problem, but also the problem of everyone at the scrap yard.

Without dividends, what can people accomplish with a monthly salary of 22 yuan?

Seeing this, Wang Cheng nodded in satisfaction: "I'm relieved that you think that way. There are quite a few types of items on this list. Take it back and look at it yourself."

"Remember this and burn it immediately. Don't leave any trace. As for the other factories' secret accounts, I'll tell you later."

Bai Xiuwen nodded, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, stationmaster, how should we pay this money?"

"It depends on the situation. One is immediate payment, which means you get paid on the same day the scrap is brought in. The other is payment after you've made money from the scrap."

"Also, it's settled at the end of the month and paid together. It depends on the situation. Sometimes it's paid immediately, but if we've done a lot this month and haven't made any money yet, we'll settle it all at the end of the month."

"It depends on the specific situation, but if it's to be given at the end of the month, I'll let them know in advance."

Bai Xiuwen nodded: "Then what kind of stationmaster?"

Wang Cheng said, "Me? I've been doing this for so long, and we all know each other so well. Usually, we get paid together at the end of the month. If you're coming, I suggest you get paid immediately to tide you over."

"I've worked at the station for so many years and have helped it save a lot of money. I can promise to give it to you immediately."

Bai Xiuwen nodded. "Understood."

"Okay, that's all for today. Take the form back and memorize it all."

"Leave this form at the station, lock it up somewhere, and whatever you do, don't take it back."

"Don't worry, stationmaster, I know what to do. I'll write it down in a bit."

Wang Cheng nodded and waved his hand: "Go ahead and get busy."

After Bai Xiuwen left, Wang Cheng continued with the under-the-table business.

While settling accounts at the end of the month is convenient, it also has its drawbacks. He's responsible for so many factories, it's impossible for him to remember them all.

As the saying goes, a good memory is not as good as a bad pen.

He wrote down the difference in the steel rolling mill's earnings and then hid it somewhere.

(End of this chapter)