Hong Kong Tycoon: Starting from Delivering Dongfeng Express

Chapter 48 Preparations
The planned economy continued into the 80s. With the exception of farmers, almost everyone, from factory workers to drivers, doctors, and cooks, had a permanent position once they joined a company. There was no such thing as unemployment, and they worked until retirement. There were no temporary jobs either.

So Ye Dongsheng was very puzzled, why are there temporary workers in the post office?

He pulled a chair over for the postman to sit down, and asked curiously, "If it's convenient, could you tell me how you became a temporary worker?"

Zhang Weimin sat down and sighed: "Do you know about the return of educated youth?"

Ye Dongsheng was of course aware of the return of educated youth. Since 79, a large number of educated youth who had been sent to the countryside had been trying to find ways to return to their hometowns or the city, and the higher authorities had tacitly approved this. On October 80, 10, the higher authorities officially adopted a policy supporting the return of educated youth, with local governments cooperating to help solve employment problems for these returning youth.

"I returned to Jinghai after the policy was implemented, thinking that the employment problem would be solved, but when I came back I found that a large number of educated youth had been stranded.

The Employment Office stuffed dozens of us into the Post Office, but the Post Office had already accepted a group of educated youth two years ago and didn't want us at all.

Dozens of us, along with our families, went to protest every day. Eventually, the deputy director of the Post and Telecommunications Bureau came forward and reluctantly agreed to keep us, but without any positions. He said we should work first, and when some older employees retire and positions become available, we will have the opportunity to take over."

Ye Dongsheng suddenly understood, but still asked, "What happened next? It's been almost five years since 80, and it still hasn't been completed?"

Zhang Weimin smiled bitterly and shook his head:
"At the beginning, I was full of hope. I didn't get any salary in the first year, but I was still full of energy, thinking that I would be able to become a regular employee in two or three years at most.

Unexpectedly, the country was streamlining its institutions, and the older employees were leaving their positions to their sons, so it wasn't even our turn. This wait lasted over four years..."

Ye Dongsheng sighed after hearing this. A speck of dust from the times, when falling on a person's head, is like a mountain.

The difficulty of finding employment for educated youth who returned to their hometowns caused widespread discussion in society a few years ago, but it has calmed down over time.

In the 80s, if you didn’t have a unit or a job, you couldn’t integrate into the collective. You were seen as an alien in everyone’s eyes, a blind migrant!

So even though Zhang Weimin was only a temporary worker and didn't even get any salary in the first year, his whole family supported him to stay in the post office.

But now it has been almost 5 years, and Zhang Weimin has given up hope of becoming a regular employee. He doesn't care about whether he is on the payroll or not. The development of Jinghai in recent years has told him that making more money is the bottom line!
He had thought about going into business, becoming a self-employed person, or even working as a part-time worker. But after delivering mail for almost five years, he felt like he couldn't do anything except deliver mail. What else could he do?

He was immediately attracted by Dongfeng Express when he saw it today. Postal delivery has been his main job for 5 years!

If it is true as the boss said, then his income here in one year is equivalent to that of working in the post office for 1 years!

Ye Dongsheng extended his hand and said, "If you're willing to come, we at Dongfeng Express would love to welcome you!"

"Thank you! Thank you!" Zhang Weimin quickly stood up and shook Ye Dongsheng's hand.

“How many people are there like you?”

“There are still more than twenty left!”

Ye Dongsheng thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll give you five spots. If they're willing to come, you can bring them along for the interview tomorrow."

Zhang Weimin bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, boss! I'll go find them now!"

Looking at Zhang Weimin's back as he rushed out, Ye Dongsheng smiled. These postmen were perfect for Dongfeng Express!

Not only do they have strong business and professional skills, and can seamlessly transition to the job, but they are also absolutely hardworking. After all, after five years of hard work, those with ideas have long since left, and the remaining ones must be honest, down-to-earth and capable people!
However, Ye Dongsheng only gave 5 places. It was not because he didn't want them, but because he felt that Zhang Weimin might not be able to call even 5, and others might not have the same determination as Zhang Weimin.

……

Zhang Weimin thought that after he came back and finished describing the situation, everyone would scramble for the five spots, but he didn't expect that no one would say a word.

"No, would I lie to you? It's only $2 for a courier, the boss from Hong Kong Island personally guaranteed it! How about I take you to see it!"

A dozen people looked at each other in confusion, and one of them whispered, "Brother Weimin, I know you won't lie to us, but who knows how long this company can last? The Hong Kong Island boss is a Hong Kong Islander after all. What will we do if he just walks away?"

Obviously, he felt unfamiliar and fearful about leaving the system.

Another one followed suit, "Brother Weimin, why don't we just forget about it? I heard that more than a dozen veterans are going to retire this year..."

"Are you still thinking about becoming a regular employee? Even if some old comrades retire, will it be our turn?!" Zhang Weimin questioned with his arms open.

"Didn't Luo Weiming transfer last year..."

"He took over his cousin's job!!!"

Zhang Weimin shouted angrily, "We do the most exhausting work every day, yet we get paid a fraction of what others pay us, and we're often looked down upon. Are you going to keep waiting like this endlessly?"

They have been working for almost five years and only earn 5 yuan a month, while the new employees who joined last year already earn 48 yuan, not to mention various benefits such as rice, flour, oil, etc.

And wherever there are people, there will be rivers and lakes, and there will be invisible classes. How can these temporary workers compare with those with official positions? They are basically the lowest level of the unit, even worse than the cleaning lady, after all, the cleaning lady has a permanent position!
"But, we've already waited for five years. Maybe this year..."

Zhang Weimin felt a sense of powerlessness. He sympathized with his colleagues, having nurtured this hope for nearly five years. If it were my turn this year, and I left now, wouldn't the first five years of waiting have been in vain?
But now Zhang Weimin no longer wanted to pin his vague hopes on others. He turned around...

Just when Zhang Weimin was extremely disappointed, someone jumped out:
"Brother Weimin, I'm going with you! I've been wanting to quit for a long time, but my mom would be desperate if I didn't find a job. Now there's a Hong Kong company that's willing to hire us, so I'm going with you!"

"And me! Prices in Jinghai have been rising in the past two years. 48 yuan a month, if I keep doing this, my family won't be able to make ends meet!"

Zhang Weimin turned his head and looked at the two people who stood up. He couldn't help but be overjoyed: "Okay, I'll take you to meet the boss of Hong Kong Island!"

……

The postal and telecommunications system in the 80s was extremely powerful.

At that time, the Post and Telecommunications Bureau had two main businesses - postal services and telecommunications, which almost monopolized the country's communications business. Simply put, the postal service was responsible for sending letters and parcels, and the telecommunications service was responsible for paying telephone bills.

Unlike the miserable times in later generations, today’s postal service is a truly rich and handsome company, single-handedly contributing 80% of the performance of the Post and Telecommunications Bureau, while telecommunications is still a pitiful and struggling company that has to rely on the postal service for survival.

Furthermore, as long as you're a postal employee, you get everything from small items like rice, flour, and oil cards to big things like bicycles. And even those things you buy with coupons outside—like TVs, refrigerators, and other home appliances—are completely unnecessary at the post office, as they're always supplied year after year! It's truly enviable!
Deputy Postmaster General Gong Wei looked at the four young men standing before him with a bit of surprise: "Have you thought it through? Are you really going to resign?" Then he glanced at Zhang Weimin and said, "Weimin, I've seen how you behave. This year has the most retirements of senior employees in recent years, so you've got to think it through!"

Zhang Weimin clenched his fists and took a deep breath. "Director, I've made up my mind. The SAR is calling on us to actively respond to foreign investment and construction. I won't compete with you for this spot!"

"Oh? Have you found a place?"

"Yes, a Hong Kong company, Dongfeng Express."

Director Gong searched his brain for a moment, seemingly unfamiliar with the name. However, he smiled and said, "Congratulations! Hong Kong businessmen are offering such great treatment! I'd probably be envious! Then I won't keep you here. I wish you a bright future!"

Director Gong sighed as he watched the men leave his office. He'd initially taken on these men with some hesitation, but later realized they were quite useful. He could just give them some money and dump all the dirty work on them!
It's not that he hadn't thought about assigning them a position, but the position is one-to-one, and many retired comrades have already found successors. In addition, due to some relationships that cannot be pushed aside, it is difficult for him to make a vacant position!

"Dongfeng Express?"

Director Gong muttered something, then shook his head and laughed. He didn't take it to heart at all.

How many people could the Hong Kong Island company recruit? Could it even compete with the postal service? He actually had to thank them for helping him get rid of some of his initial burdens!

Although these people can't do anything to him, if someone really comes out and makes trouble for the government just to get a job, it will be embarrassing for him.

Thinking of this, Director Gong planned to hold a symposium in a few days to encourage these people to find new jobs, so that if anything happens in the future, the blame will not be put on him!

……

As Ye Dongsheng had expected, Zhang Weimin only brought three people with him. But after chatting with them one by one, he was very surprised. One of them was called Chen Jiabao, who used to work as a mail sorter at the post office!
Ye Dongsheng doesn’t lack couriers now, but he really needs someone to sort the couriers!
He immediately gave Chen Jiabao a base salary of 500 yuan, which made him extremely happy! This scene also made everyone else feel relieved. This boss was not lying to them!

Looking at the 25 couriers in front of him, Ye Dongsheng raised his hand: "I give you two choices."

"First, the company will provide each of you with a motorcycle..."

Everyone was excited when they heard about motorcycles. These things were very valuable and most people couldn't afford them. They didn't expect their boss to be so generous and even give them motorcycles!
The motorcycle that Ye Dongsheng mentioned should actually be called a scooter, which is the small-displacement motorcycle that Chen Jiaju's girlfriend Amei rides, the Honda Spacy50. It became popular in Asia as soon as it was launched, and each car costs less than 4000 yuan.

"In this case, each person will get 1 yuan for each delivery!"

After Ye Dongsheng finished speaking, he looked at everyone. When they heard the word "1 yuan", their excitement disappeared immediately.

"Boss, what about the second option?"

"Second, you ride your bikes, and each delivery costs 2 yuan!"

"Boss, I choose the second one!" Everyone said at the same time.

Motorcycles may be cool, but they can’t be used to make a living!

None of these people are afraid of hardship. Riding a bicycle for dozens of kilometers every day is nothing. Why would they choose to reduce their income by half just for the sake of fatigue? Besides, motorcycles also burn gasoline, which is very expensive!
"Okay! In the next few days, I will divide the area according to your situation. You must be familiar with all the terrain within the area, especially the distribution of various factories!
I'll give you a task. Each of you should visit all the factories at the same time according to the map, write down the addresses and memorize them in your mind!
If you can't complete it, just leave!"

Everyone was shocked: "Boss, don't worry, we will definitely complete the task!"

Xu Jiang stood by and watched with a smile. He felt that being the boss's personal driver was still a comfortable thing. He didn't have to ride a bicycle in the wind and sun, and could just follow the boss every day.

But the next moment, Ye Dongsheng turned around and looked at Xu Jiang: "Xiao Jiang, and you..."

"Ah? Me?" Xu Jiang looked confused.

After a while, Xu Jiang, with his mouth open, realized that his car was not a private car, but a public car!

In the next few days, vehicles and some equipment were purchased. While decorating the store, Ye Dongsheng also trained the employees. During the process, he also asked several postmen to tell everyone about their past deeds and share their experiences.

Seeing the work the couriers handed him, Ye Dongsheng nodded with satisfaction. The preparations for the Jinghai branch were almost complete, so he just had to let Wang Jianjun and Wang Jianguo take care of it and follow the procedures. It was time for him to return to Hong Kong Island!

……

Portland Street, Hong Kong Island.

"Dongfeng Express is hiring a clerk for registration... Monthly salary, wow! 3000 yuan!"

When the woman saw the number 3000, her clear and bright eyes could not be moved away. They widened and then she smiled unconsciously into a crescent moon.

When she worked as a clerk in a factory, her salary was only HK$2000. As a result, her boss ran away and the factory closed down. She was unemployed and looking for a job, and she saw a job that paid half as much as her previous salary!

"Thank you, Miss. I understand your situation. If you are hired, the company will notify you!"

In the newly renovated store, Ye Dongsheng had just sent away an interviewee when he saw a girl rushing in in a hurry and almost bumped into him.

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm applying for a clerk position!" The girl bowed repeatedly.

"It's okay, come in." Ye Dongsheng took a step back and waited until the girl raised her head before he could see her face clearly.

Her thick long hair, like clear soup noodles, fell to her shoulders. Under her curved eyebrows, her eyes were like clear springs, her nose was straight and beautiful, and her lips, which were not made up but red, were gently pursed, with a hint of nervousness and anticipation.

She had a slender figure and wore a light blue shirt that was a little faded from washing but was neat and clean. The collar was slightly worn, but it couldn't hide the girl's natural beauty.

Ye Dongsheng couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with the feeling of white moonlight, and then he smiled and introduced it:
"What's your name, miss?"

"My name is Ruan Mei."

(End of this chapter)