Chapter 328 Do You Prioritize Hiring Young and Good-Looking Employees Like You?

Chapter 328: Do You Give Priority to Young, Attractive Candidates Like Yourself?

The backlash over the job posting grew increasingly intense.

Su Taotao, the factory director, lived on the compound, and most of the dependents there also worked in the factory.

Those who hadn’t started working yet could easily find out about the new factory’s situation.

Even if people wanted to know more, they wouldn’t dare ask Su Taotao directly—at most, they’d ask Auntie Zhong or Xia Zhiqiu—so Su Taotao was left undisturbed.

Secretary Zhao, on the other hand, was swamped. Whether at the county government offices or at home, he was mobbed by people daily.

The office phone rang nonstop, with endless inquiries about the factory and job openings.

His voice was nearly gone from all the talking.

Left with no choice, he had two clerks set up a consultation desk at the entrance, directing those with questions there.

He couldn't avoid family either—some outright demanded job placements from him, wearing him down.

When relatives from his hometown called asking for positions, Secretary Zhao barked:

"Do you think the factory is some family business? Do you even know who Su Taotao is? Let me say it again—if you want a job, you go through the public recruitment process. No favors for anyone, not even if you bring out our ancestors’ memorial tablets!

If I dared pull strings for you, my days as secretary would be over!"

With that, Secretary Zhao slammed the phone down forcefully.

His wife handed him a cup of tea and gave him a look. "It’s just a subsidiary factory—why are you so stressed? Don’t you even have the authority to secure a job? No matter how powerful the factory director is, can she really outrank you, the county party secretary?"

Secretary Zhao, his throat parched, was about to take a sip when he heard his wife’s words. He snapped the enamel cup’s lid shut with a loud clang and set it aside.

"Stop trying to weasel it out of me. I said no means no," Secretary Zhao said warily, eyeing his wife. "You didn’t accept any gifts from someone again, did you?"

His wife averted her gaze. "Of course not. Married to such an upright secretary like you, I’m broker than a joke. How would I dare take any gifts?"

Secretary Zhao’s expression softened slightly. She had done such things before, and only after repeated warnings did she rein it in. He was genuinely worried she’d backslide at this critical moment and drag him down.

"Good. What I said earlier wasn’t an empty threat. Su Taotao’s leadership style is different from other factory directors. This factory is my golden ticket—there’s no room for error. If we succeed, I might even get transferred back to the city. Don’t you dare hold me back."

His wife pursed her lips. "Fine."

Married to such a penny-pinching bureaucrat, she was stuck pinching pennies herself—even their children suffered, their clothes and belongings inferior to those of ordinary working-class families. It was downright humiliating.

...

With Dad and Uncle away, Chenchen’s life followed a routine.

The little boy had learned to sleep alone.

With Mom telling him bedtime stories and Bai Bai keeping him company, he wasn’t scared at all.

He was a big boy—when he grew up, he’d protect Mom. How could he be afraid of sleeping alone?

He woke up on time every day, washed up, then listened to the radio while playing with Bai Bai and Duo Duo.

After that, he’d enjoy Mom's home-cooked breakfast, head to school, have lunch with Mom at the canteen, and in the evening, go grocery shopping and cook with her.

The house was quieter, but with Mom, Bai Bai, and Duo Duo around, Chenchen never felt lonely.

On Sunday, Chenchen went to school as usual.

Su Taotao slipped some cash and meal tickets into his little pocket, telling him to get lunch at the cafeteria with Pangpang and the others, getting whatever he wanted.

The little boy grinned and promised he’d do it.

Su Taotao asked Chen Pingguo to help look after Chenchen and stay until she got back to pick him up.

Chen Pingguo naturally had no objections.

Su Taotao took Auntie Zhong, Xiao Lu, Zhang Jingan, and a few helpers to the People's Square for an open Q&A and to collect job application forms.

That day, the square was swarming with people, filling every corner—unusually lively.

Secretary Zhao and other county officials arrived early. The venue was already set up, and security was in place.

As soon as Su Taotao and her team arrived, the Q&A began immediately.

Reporters from the radio station and local newspaper were also present.

It could be said that no factory recruitment had ever been conducted with such grandeur.

After brief opening remarks from the leaders and a speech by Secretary Zhao, Su Taotao gave a simple introduction about the factory before opening the floor to questions.

What really got the crowd buzzing was the leadership team on stage.

The county officials were all men in their fifties or sixties.

Meanwhile, the factory leaders were all young and attractive, each one younger and better-looking than the next.

Even the oldest among them, Auntie Zhong, looked much younger than the county officials.

This wasn’t a song-and-dance troupe performing—why did the factory pick leaders just for being young and good-looking?

Even the reporters on-site questioned whether such a young leadership team could truly run such a big factory.

Thus, the first question from the public spoke for everyone:

"Director Su, will this recruitment give preference to young, good-looking hires like you and your team?"

...