"Uh... pretty good, quite creative," Nian Suian gave a thumbs up to Gu Junxing.
This idea was something Nian Suian could never have thought of. Tomorrow happened to be Sunday, and Gu Zhijing didn't have classes. Working a night shift wouldn't disrupt much. Moreover, with Gu Junxing taking him out, the place would surely be pre-arranged.
Nian Suian mentally tapped a wooden fish twice, then decided to go to bed and indulge in some TV series.
Meanwhile, Gu Zhijing followed Old Yu through the door, and what he saw was a very bright and spacious workshop. Rows of people wearing identical uniforms sat with their heads down, their hands moving incessantly.
Old Yu still wore his smiling expression, as if he hadn't noticed Gu Zhijing's shock. Instead, he led him through several production lines to an empty spot in the middle and said, "Here, you'll sit here tonight."
Gu Zhijing sat down in a daze, completely unaware of what he was supposed to do.
Old Yu patted the young man sitting in the adjacent seat, signaling him to pause his work. "Little Zhou, please guide him. He's a relative's child, first time working."
"Certainly, Manager Yu."
With that, Old Yu left, leaving Gu Zhijing in the workshop.
"Little brother, you're Manager Yu's relative, why are you here? Our work here is very tough," Little Zhou whispered to Gu Zhijing.
Gu Zhijing hesitated before replying, "We're just distant relatives."
Little Zhou made an expression of sudden realization and said to Gu Zhijing, "Our job here is very simple, just screw in the screws." As he spoke, Little Zhou demonstrated, able to complete one accurately and quickly without even looking.
"We're paid by piece here. The more you do, the more you earn." As he said this, he slowed down to demonstrate for Gu Zhijing.
The people around were all working diligently, seemingly uninterested in the newcomer.
Gu Zhijing felt too embarrassed to remain idle, so he started to mimic Little Zhou's actions.
For some reason, though, the components that behaved so obediently in Little Zhou's hands were completely different in his.
Seeing this, Little Zhou consoled Gu Zhijing, "It's okay, everyone's like this at first. You'll get better with practice."
"Brother Zhou, how much can you earn in one night?"
"I'm not even among the fast ones, just over 200 yuan. The quick ones can earn 300 to 400."
Gu Zhijing fell silent upon hearing this. He realized he had probably never earned 200 yuan by himself in his entire life.
"Is night shift mandatory here? Don't you feel sleepy during night shifts?"
Faced with Gu Zhijing's barrage of questions, Little Zhou didn't seem impatient at all, nor did he find it strange.
"The factory has both night and day shifts, it's up to you. Night shifts have monthly allowances, so many people prefer them. As for feeling sleepy, of course you do at first, but you get used to it."
"It's your first time working, right?" a Female Worker next to them asked Gu Zhijing.
Gu Zhijing looked at her and nodded.
"You look so young, why aren't you in school?"
Gu Zhijing didn't know how to answer. Seeing his hesitation, Little Zhou spoke for him, "Why do you care why he's not in school? If everyone went to school, who would do these jobs?"
"I'm just being kind. Who would want to do this for life if they could study?"
Hearing her tone, Gu Zhijing curiously asked, "Isn't it good here?"
"What's good about this place?" The Female Worker chuckled lightly, then lowered her head and continued working.
Little Zhou whispered, "She's only been here for a month, still not used to it. It's pretty good here, the wages are among the best in the industry, and the dormitory conditions aren't bad. There are even bonuses during holidays. Other factories can't compare to this place."
By the latter half of the night, Gu Zhijing was practically in a sleeping state. Little Zhou, seeing how young he was and that it was his first day, didn't wake him.
As soon as the shift ended, Gu Zhijing was eager to leave, but Little Zhou held him back.
"Let's go eat together. Night shift workers get free breakfast."
"I'll pass, I..." For some reason, Gu Zhijing couldn't bring himself to say 'I want to go home'.
"I need to see Uncle Yu about something. You go ahead and eat."
"Alright then, you go ahead." Hearing this, Little Zhou released him and hurried to catch up with the other workers.
"You don't belong here, do you?"
Gu Zhijing turned around. It was the Female Worker who had spoken to him last night.
Gu Zhijing didn't respond, and she didn't seem to expect an answer. She left after speaking.
The once-crowded workshop emptied in an instant, and Gu Zhijing trudged out dejectedly.
"Young Master Gu, ready to go home?" Manager Yu was standing outside the workshop, now wearing a knowing smile as he saw Gu Zhijing.
"Uncle Yu, how much did I earn last night?"
As if anticipating this question, Manager Yu immediately replied, "Forty-three yuan and sixty cents."
In fact, among this 43.60 yuan, quite a few were defective products. Manager Yu, not wanting to discourage the boy, didn't mention this.
"I can transfer it to you via WeChat."
Gu Zhijing thought for a moment and said, "Can I have cash instead?"
At 7 AM, Gu Zhijing clutched the 43.60 yuan in cash and walked out with heavy steps.
Before he even left the industrial park gates, he saw his father's car parked outside.
Gu Junxing got out of the car to meet his visibly dejected son.
"Dad! Waaaaaaaahhhhh!"
Unlike his fake crying in the grade director's office before, this time it was real tears and snot, his voice already breaking as he called out "Dad".
"Waaaaaaaahhhhh I only earned forty yuan for a whole night's work waaaaaaaahhhhh~"
"I was wrong waaaaaaaahhhhh I'll study hard from now on."
Gu Junxing raised his hand and awkwardly patted his son's back.
"Alright, stop crying."
"Stop crying."
"Waaaaaaaahhhhh!"
...
"Stop!"
"Hic~ Sorry, Dad."
"Alright, take your forty-three yuan and sixty cents, let's go home."
After wailing outside, Gu Zhijing fell asleep almost immediately after getting in the car.
"Wake up, we're home." Gu Junxing had no intention of carrying his sleeping son back to his room, instead opting to wake him up with a pat.
"Dad, I want to sleep, I'm so tired."
"Go sleep in your own room."
Gu Zhijing slept until evening. During this time, Butler Su, worried, checked on him twice, carefully feeling for breath to confirm he was still alive before sighing in relief.
During dinner, Gu Junxing noticed that Gu Zhijing's face still bore a defeated expression. It seemed the 43.60 yuan had left quite an impact.
He pretended not to notice. He hoped his son would gain something from this experience on his own.
"He really didn't come back," the Female Worker said.
Little Zhou glanced at the empty spot beside him, gave a simple smile, and said nothing.
"You think so too?"
"He has a good father."
