I Am Cultivating in the Apocalypse

Chapter 773: Family Meeting: Dividing Positions at the Cigarette Factory

"Can a three-hundred-strong armed force and one hundred professionals suffice?"

Jing Shu nodded. The current armed forces not only excelled individually and were incredibly strong, but they were also skilled in logistics, construction, and cigarette manufacturing. They were versatile elites, highly efficient in every trade they undertook.

Their only flaw was that the young lads had large appetites. If left to eat their fill, they could devour a mountain.

The squad assigned under Jing Shu’s command secretly rubbed their feet, the corners of their mouths lifting in a grin they couldn’t quite hide. Those not selected could only blame their bad luck.

Jun Bao then shifted his gaze to another group. "Hao Yunlai, you lead the Elite Team and a five-hundred-strong armed force back. You’ll be responsible for setting up processing factories in New Lan Chuan Shu Chang’an."

Hao Yunlai opened his mouth and muttered, "Really, that many people aren’t necessary... They’re only giving Mirror that many people. Are they looking down on me? Well, Mirror is admittedly more formidable. Sigh, and no more tasty food for me..."

Jun Bao squinted. "There’s been a crime wave in the country recently. It’s not safe. Who knows which nation’s forces have infiltrated. Once we’re done with this busy period, it’s time for all of you idle ones to leave your homes and return the favor."

For some reason, Jing Shu thought back to the recent conflict with the Wild Tribe and wondered if there was any connection.

Only then did Hao Yunlai stop talking, nodding excitedly. He could go out and play again. His whole family had long been restless, and he was struggling to keep them in check.

A chill breeze blew past, and everyone felt the room temperature drop by a degree or two, but no one paid it much mind.

Jun Bao would take the remaining people to oversee the factories south of the hinterland. The Cigarette Factory was tied to too many interests, and it was inevitable that people would try to get involved. He had to personally take charge. Furthermore, he intended to use this opportunity to secure some benefits for Wu City.

How well they would live in the South Sea and how many resources they would have all depended on the performance of the Cigarette Factory.

And the major task of restarting the train tracks... that also needed to be put on the agenda, not only for transportation but also as a contingency plan for Wu City’s future.

As for the mass migration, so far, there had been 80% fewer deaths than expected. The tunnel had been indispensable, saving countless people from freezing to death. Even though the journey ahead would be much harder, the temperature had risen from minus sixty degrees Celsius to above zero. The cold could no longer kill people.

So, the second-in-command would lead the team for the next phase.

「」

That same evening, Jing Shu set off with fifteen military trucks and their supplies, taking two days to rendezvous with the main contingent.

It was nearly a month before she saw the entire Jing family again.

Hearing that Jing Shu had matters to discuss, they also called over Elder Aunt, Little Aunt, and others.

「」

"What? Child, you’re leaving again? You’ve just gotten back, why are you leaving so soon? And you’re not going with us?" Grandma Jing looked at Jing Shu with concern, noting the faint red marks from the cold on her face. She kept rubbing Jing Shu’s cold hands, only relaxing when she confirmed there was no frostbite.

In the corner, Fat Chicken covertly tapped its claws, Why isn’t anyone concerned about me, the chicken?

Just as it had this thought, Grandma Jing brought over a bowl of leftovers and placed it in front of Fat Chicken. She stroked its belly and plump backside. Satisfied, Grandma Jing nodded and then turned her attention back to Jing Shu.

Fat Chicken: ...

These days, a chicken doesn’t dare come home unless it’s got a few eggs in its belly!

Jing Shu gulped down a large bowl of pig stomach and chicken soup and took large bites of freshly made egg flatbreads, saying as she ate, "Here’s the situation. I need to recruit enough people. Once I’ve got everything else in order, we need to leave quickly, the day after tomorrow at the latest. The Township Government is still arranging their quota, and we’ve nearly settled ours. Now, I need a few reliable people to go over first and establish operations. Things will run smoothly once we’re on track..."

Mrs. Jing nodded. "Joint ventures like yours are more complicated. And with such a large prize at stake, it’s easy for things to go wrong if you’re not careful. So, have you decided who you’re taking and what they’ll do?"

Mr. Jing coughed. "Well, your Elder Aunt and Uncle’s boar breeding business isn’t going well, so maybe...?"

Jing Shu shook her head. "Elder Aunt and Uncle’s business will do better once they reach the resettlement area, and I have other tasks planned for them.

"Let Little Aunt manage the purchasing department of the Cigarette Factory. She can act as a supervisor under the guise of being a procurement officer for the Township Government canteen. She’s gained experience over the years and will be up to the task. This position is lucrative and prone to corruption; I don’t trust anyone else with it.

"Little Aunt, the Cigarette Factory is different from other places. It has contracts with the Insect Factory, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the livestock industry for mutual resource supply. The quality of these resources must be absolutely guaranteed."

Pausing, Jing Shu continued, "This factory is rife with nepotism. Subpar products are passed off as good, superiors are deceived, and cover-ups at every level are inevitable. Initially, you’ll have to work hard to scrutinize everything from the bottom up."

The Cigarette Factory was large-scale, with initial plans to hire three thousand people.

Its major departments included Sales, Finance, Planning, Human Resources, Construction, Production Workshops, and more than ten others.

Although the Purchasing Department was overseen by the Finance Department, as long as they had an order slip, they could make purchases. This department was responsible for everyone in the factory’s clothing, food, housing, and transportation. The quality of goods, purchase prices, holiday benefits, and even daily meals—from rice and oil to other essentials—all depended on Purchasing.

Which suppliers to use and how much to pay were all decided by Purchasing. There was too much opportunity for dishonesty. Therefore, they had to place someone trustworthy and of good character in this role. This would help avoid absurd situations, like the old joke of an emperor paying ten pieces of silver for a single egg.

Little Aunt frowned. It wasn’t that the position wasn’t good; rather, it was too coveted. With so many people fighting for it, she wouldn’t ordinarily get a chance even if she waited in line for eight hundred years.

But... this factory was partly owned by her niece. A job for which numerous people fought tooth and nail had come to her while she simply sat at home. Ah, what can you say? Life is unpredictable, full of complex twists.

Little Aunt hesitated. "Then I’d be using one of the Township Government’s slots, so I’d be considered their personnel... In the last few days, I’ve heard the rumors too. People have gone crazy fighting for the Cigarette Factory slots. They’re all trying to squeeze someone in and are looking for connections now."

"That’s simple," Jing Shu said. "I’ll trade the Finance Department director’s position with the Township Government. They’ll be happy with that. This way, they’ll have two people in high-ranking positions, which is a very good deal for them."

The Finance Department was even more sensitive. The Township Government people were eager to secure this post, not to embezzle funds themselves, but because they feared people from the other parties might embezzle or commit fraud.

It didn’t matter much to Jing Shu. Representatives from all three parties were watching the finances, and they had to reconcile accounts together each month, making it difficult to cause trouble.

Little Aunt still wanted to say something, but Jing Shu was already discussing the next matter with Mrs. Jing. "Uncle will go with me. He will serve as the deputy general manager of the Cigarette Factory. Uncle’s son, Da Long, who didn’t get into university, can start from a basic position at the Insect Factory. With Aunt helping him from the outside, he should be promoted quickly."

Just then, with a BANG, Mr. Jing slammed his smoking pipe on the table.

All eyes shifted, looking toward Mr. Jing.