Chapter 754: Jiaojiao 34

The workers watched the large truck drive off into the distance, their eyes filled with joy. "Manager, are we going to continue production now?"

Li Shun glanced at the workers. "Next... Next, we’ll follow Brother Qi’s arrangements, of course. Once Big Guy and the others get back from the delivery, we’ll hand out wages and bonuses, then take a two-day break. You can come back to work the day after tomorrow."

A female worker raised her hand. "Manager... I don’t want to rest, I just want to work!"

With someone taking the lead, others immediately chimed in, "Manager, we want to earn money!"

"We want to help the factory make money!"

The clamor gave Li Shun a headache. "You all just pulled an all-nighter yesterday. Do you have a death wish, trying to do it again?"

Ah Mei had to step in to calm everyone down. "Everyone just wants to earn a little more. How about we just rest for today? We can resume work tomorrow. If you make the aunties rest, they lose a day’s pay."

Li Shun looked to Little Liu, who thought for a moment. "Then let’s go with Sister Mei’s idea. We’ll rest for today. While Big Guy and the others are out on delivery, everyone can come to me to sign their pay slips. Once we’ve confirmed everything is correct, we’ll distribute the wages."

At the mention of getting paid, everyone grew excited. They truly hadn’t expected to get their wages after working for just over half a month. Many factories withheld wages for one or even two months. What place was like this one, where you could get paid so soon after starting?

Around nine o’clock, Big Guy and the others who had been out for the delivery finally returned. After handing the delivery slip, signed by the recipient, to Li Shun, Big Guy let out a sigh of relief. "Manager, I’m hungry."

Li Shun put the delivery slip away. "Go get some breakfast. Everyone else has already eaten, but we saved some for you. They’re all in the kitchen now, helping prepare lunch."

Seeing Big Guy about to leave, Li Shun thought for a moment and followed. He didn’t speak to Big Guy, but instead offered a cigarette to the man with the bright eyes. Li Shun asked casually, "Brother Biao, where did you work before?"

This Brother Biao had been recommended by Zong Qi. He usually seemed quiet and honest. Seeing that he kept a low profile and didn’t try to stand out, Li Shun had assigned him to the security team.

But he hadn’t expected him to be so vigilant, able to notice something was wrong at the same time as Big Guy. Big Guy was exceptionally gifted with naturally sharp hearing, but this man... his alertness seemed honed from long-term exposure to danger.

Brother Biao paused for a second, then smiled. "It was nothing prestigious. Brother Qi and I met back when I was fighting in the underground circuit. I’m not young anymore and can’t keep up with that, so Brother Qi recommended me for this place."

Li Shun smiled as well, half of his worries dissipating. ’At least he’s not some kind of terrorist,’ he thought with relief.

"In that case, how about this? The factory’s security is a bit lax right now. Brother Biao, starting today, you’ll be the security captain. How about you take charge of training a dedicated team?"

Li Shun had been planning this for a while, but he’d been too busy focusing on production to deal with it. Now that the factory was starting to make money and the business was up and running, it was time to put the necessary security measures in place.

Brother Biao was the perfect candidate for the job.

Brother Biao didn’t refuse. "Alright. I’ll draw up a plan. Should I train the current factory workers or recruit new people?"

Li Shun waved Little Liu over. He came over in a few steps, and the three of them gathered to discuss the matter.

Big Guy, who was eating rice noodle rolls while listening to them talk, suddenly interjected, "Isn’t Brother Qi coming? We can just ask him."

Li Shun clapped his hands. "Right! We’ll ask Brother Qi tonight then."

While the workers were joyfully collecting their wages and having a big feast at the factory, Chen Jiao finished her own grand meal at home and headed to her agency with Zong Qi. It was a small company, but generally, it was a clean one.

The managers were quite protective of the budding actors under them. Take Chen Jiao, for example. She had been in the industry for three years, and while she still wasn’t famous, she had at least avoided most of the filth.

’I wonder how the company will treat me now that I’ve made a name for myself on the streets?’ Chen Jiao thought, a little excited by the prospect.

Tan You just chuckled. ’If a manager is overly protective, they’ll certainly shield their artists. But at the same time, it means losing a lot of opportunities. Of course, that’s a personal choice. In this industry, very few stars can make it to the top with a completely clean record.’

’Male stars have it relatively better, but female stars... they’re practically treated as accessories for the rich and powerful. The thought alone is disgusting. These are things that Chen Jiao, still a minor, obscure actress, can’t even imagine.’

Around two o’clock, Chen Jiao and Zong Qi entered the agency. As soon as she walked through the main doors, Chen Jiao felt something was off. She recalled that the office was rarely this crowded; everyone was usually on set or running to auditions.

’Why are there so many people here now? Even Xu Xuan, the agency’s top actress, is here? Doesn’t she have a show to film?’

Her manager, Brother Zhen, looked at the several artists under him, his expression shifting. "Let’s go to the conference room. I’ve gathered everyone today mainly to announce something important."

Chen Jiao had a bad feeling. "Teacher, judging by Brother Zhen’s expression, this doesn’t seem like good news."

Tan You replied, "It’s not. Your company has been bought by the Three Dragons Gang. It belongs to them now."

Chen Jiao’s steps faltered for only a moment before she continued toward the conference room with a normal expression. Tan You teased, "So calm?"

Chen Jiao said, "So what if we’ve been bought out? I have you, Teacher. You won’t let me be taken advantage of. Besides, anyone who wants to bully me has to get through you first."

Her flattery put Tan You in a great mood. "That’s right. The Three Dragons Gang is coming for you. After Ye Rong suffered such a major defeat at your hands, someone was bound to want a face-to-face showdown with you."

Chen Jiao remarked, "That’s a pretty grand gesture, buying an entire company just to deal with me."

Tan You said nonchalantly, "Does it cost a lot of money to buy your company?"

Chen Jiao really had no idea how much money Tan You had. She wanted to ask, but they had already reached the conference room, so she swallowed her words. Once inside, she quietly sat in a chair at the very edge of the room, behind Qi Zhen.

Assistants naturally weren’t allowed in this kind of meeting, so Zong Qi waited for Chen Jiao in Qi Zhen’s office. However, by listening to the other assistants’ chatter, Zong Qi got the gist of the situation.

’So, the Three Dragons Gang... why would a triad like that suddenly take an interest in an entertainment company? Are they interested in the company, or the people in it?’

Inside the conference room, Chen Jiao watched the newly appointed company president speak. She remained perfectly calm the entire time, showing no anxiety about the change in ownership. Her confidence didn’t come from the company, but from Tan You.

Therefore, she paid no mind to the empty promises the new boss was making. Looking around the room at the other stars and actors, she saw a wide range of expressions. It was clear that with the sudden change in ownership and a triad boss now in charge, everyone was deeply worried about their future.