Feng Zhenchang and the others still had to go to the provincial capital on the sixth day of the first month. Feng Yiping also set off a day earlier than they did, but he was not alone. Inspired by the conversation that day, Xiao Zhijie, who once again deeply felt the importance of getting into a good university, was also preparing to go to the county in advance to study hard. Since both of them were going, Wang Changning naturally had to go as well.
After getting in the car, Xiao Zhijie turned his depression into a huge appetite and started picking through the food the three families had brought.
There was still a lot of food left over from the New Year's preparations, and since the adults were going to be gone tomorrow, he packed up all kinds of meatballs and braised pork for them, as well as melon seeds, peanuts, biscuits, fruit, etc. Since they could eat it anyway, and Feng Yiping had a car, he loaded up as much as he could carry, filling each family's sack solidly.
The fatter someone is, the more they can eat. Watching Xiao Zhijie eat without stopping, Feng Yiping and Wang Changning expressed their admiration and envy, 'Why are you looking at me? Starting tomorrow, we'll have to study hard again, so I'd better eat a lot today.'
'Give me one. Watching you eat like this, I feel a bit hungry too.' Wang Changning broke off a banana.
'I really admire you,' Feng Yiping said, looking at him in the rearview mirror.
'Sometimes I admire myself too!' Xiao Zhijie praised himself shamelessly with a smile.
'I admire you not for studying for your parents or yourself, but for Zhang Qiuling. It's really a blessing that a place like ours can raise a passionate seed like you.'
'Yes, it can really be called an extraordinary flower.' Wang Changning was still the usual one who choked to death.
'Wang Lao, you don't need to laugh at my jokes now, Yu Lian is also graduating soon, and you'll see how awesome she is then.'
His words made Wang Changning silent. If there was no hope at the county hospital, Yu Lian would have to return to their township hospital, and then his situation and Xiao Zhijie's would be no better than their predecessors.
Feng Yiping looked at the two silent friends, thought about his own situation, and was quite torn up. For a moment, he really felt some sympathy for them.
They had rented a house in the residential area opposite the school. It was a very fresh two-bedroom house with not much furniture. It seemed that they were preparing to live like ascetics for the remaining six months.
After moving their things upstairs, Feng Yiping looked at the clock and saw that it was already ten o'clock. Without even taking a breath, he took them to the bus station.
It wasn't rush hour yet today, and since everyone was leaving the city during the first month of the lunar year, they would usually pick an auspicious day like the sixth or eighth day of the first month, so there weren't too many people at the bus station today. This 'not too many' meant that it wasn't as crowded as the sixth day, but in fact, the waiting room was also packed to the rafters. Looking out from the ticket gate, the line of people waiting for the bus to the province and the city was also packed, and the line separated by the iron railings was at least a mile long.
The two of them were looking at the sights in the waiting room, while Feng Yiping went to the best hotel in the county next to the station and spent a fortune booking a meal. It really was a fortune, as the hotel restaurant had only been serving staff for the past two days and had not yet opened to the public. The manager on duty only agreed after receiving a 300-yuan red envelope.
There was no choice. At this time of year, all the restaurants in the county seat were closed, and the only ones open were the messy noodle shops in front of the station. The drivers from the provincial youth hostel had been working overtime, and it was the Chinese New Year holiday, so it would be a slight insult to let them eat noodles.
At half past ten, the five very presentable buses from the provincial youth hostel drove up in a line and stopped opposite the station. Before the doors opened, many people, anxious from waiting, went over to ask hopefully, 'Is this the new temporary bus?'
The people queuing at the station also saw it. Some knew what was going on: 'I heard that this is a company chartered by the province, specifically for transporting their employees. Years ago, they were also sent back by these buses.'
'Wow, such a good treatment!' People who were sweating all over in the cold wind, their feet numb from standing, were full of envy!
Soon after the hostel bus stopped, the employees of the convenience store reported in one after the other. They were very relaxed, put their suitcases away, and then leisurely strolled around the county town with their friends. The bus wouldn't leave until 1 pm.
Many of the students were also dropped off by their parents. The fathers were better off, but the mothers were busy at this time, holding their children's hands, giving them all sorts of advice, and helping them fix their hair and clothes. The love and concern they showed was obvious to all.
It was just after eleven o'clock when Feng Yiping and the others were about to take the five drivers out to dinner. Xiao Zhijie, who was standing nearby, seemed to have discovered a new world and nudged Feng Yiping with his shoulder, 'Hey, look!'
Hu Junting's father was walking ahead, pulling a suitcase, while she and her mother were walking behind, holding hands.
'Should we say hello?' Xiao Zhijie asked, but then saw that they were also walking this way, 'She's at the convenience store too?'
'Yes, and she's even the manager!'
'Feng Yiping, what kind of luck do you have?' Xiao Zhijie was so envious, "Not only do you have Huang Jingping, but now you have Hu Junting too.'
Feng Yiping didn't bother to waste his time with someone who had such impure thoughts.
'Does Huang Jingping know?" Wang Changning asked.
'She knew before I did.'
Hearing him say that, the two guys, who had been harbouring some evil thoughts, were completely speechless.
Hu Junting was also a little surprised to see the three of them. She said something to her mother and quickly came over to say hello, 'Wow, you're all here, hello Xiao Zhijie, and Wang Changning, long time no see!'
'Long time no see! You're getting more and more beautiful, and your temperament is getting better and better! If you didn't say hello first, I wouldn't dare to recognise you.' Xiao Zhijie's mouth was really honed by Zhang Qiuling.
'We're just about to go eat. Join us, and bring your parents,' Wang Changning said, not knowing what An was up to, and taking the initiative to invite them.
'No need, we'll just find somewhere to eat later.'
'You won't find anywhere to eat today, just come with us, it's rare for a rich man to treat,' said Xiao Zhijie, who was also preparing to cause trouble.
'Let's go together, it's really hard to find somewhere to eat today,' Feng Yiping said, feeling a bit bad if he didn't speak up.
Hu Junting's father, a doctor in the countryside, was not familiar with them and was a little reluctant to accept. 'No, we'll eat at home later.'
'Uncle, since we've run into each other, let's eat together. You can just help keep these drivers company.'
'Oh, you're Tingting's classmate, Feng Yiping?'
'I'm Feng Yiping, how are you, uncle?'
'Young people nowadays are really something. Okay, then we'll take you to dinner.'
'Uncle, why do you say that? You are the elder, and it's rare to bump into you today, so it's only right that I treat you to a meal.' Xiao Zhijie's mouth is really in stark contrast to his awkward body.
In the large restaurant of the hotel, they were the only guests at this table. The food was not much, but it was solid and tasted great.
Of course they didn't drink any alcohol. Feng Yiping poured himself a cup of tea and said, 'I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Our small town has very few places to eat, so you'll just have to make do!'
The drivers knew the situation. At a time like this, there weren't many places to eat, not to mention in the county or the province. They weren't sure what Feng Yiping's identity was, but they knew the car he drove, so even though he was young, they were all very polite. 'No, this is already very generous. There are some things here that we really can't eat in the province.'
Xiao Zhijie and the others made fun of Feng Yiping, but they knew how to judge the situation. When they sat down, they separated Feng Yiping and Hu Junting's parents. Feng Yiping secretly praised them, thinking, 'These kids can be taught!'
Before 1 p.m., the employees who lived farthest from the county seat also arrived at the bus station. At 1 p.m., in the envious eyes of those still waiting for the bus, the convoy set off on time.
In the provincial capital, Gao Zhiyi and the others had already coordinated a large classroom in the children's palace, where all the convenience store employees would undergo two full days of training.
Time was pressing, so the bus took them directly to the children's palace, where they ate the fast food that had been ordered. At 8 pm, the training began. They were told to focus now, so that they would have a good effect tomorrow.
Feng Yiping went up again and spoke for a few minutes. Finally, as a classmate and friend, he began another sales pitch: 'The following words I am about to say have nothing to do with work. They are just my experiences, for your reference only. And please don't spread them outside.
I hope that after you get your wages, you can spend as little as possible and save up. Save up for what? To buy a house! Right now, the average price of a house in the provincial capital is less than 2,000 yuan, and there is a lot of room for it to rise in the future. Whether you buy it for yourself to live in or as an investment to increase its value, it is a very good choice.
If your parents have savings at home, you can persuade them to use the money to buy a house. It is definitely more cost-effective than saving it in the bank. If you are really determined, it is cost-effective to borrow money to buy it. In short, I hope you will all start thinking about buying a house from now on!
Even after so many reforms, many people still haven't realised this problem. Some people have thought about it, but haven't taken action. Some people have thought about it and want to do it, but they don't have the money, so they still can't do it.
If 10% of the people here listen to him and buy a house, they will definitely become his biggest fans and the most motivated employees in the company in the future.
As for those who don't buy a house, they will definitely admire him later. So why not do it?
In the provincial capital, people with and without a house will definitely lead two different lives in the future with the same salary.
Everyone has those crucial steps in life. In retrospect, for most people, the sooner or later of buying a house is also a crucial step. Feng Yiping hopes to motivate them to take this crucial step sooner, so that they can work for the sake of working, not just for the sake of making a living.
Moreover, in the service industry, no matter how much training you give your employees, their emotions will still directly affect their attitude at work. For example, can you expect an employee who has just been told off by his girlfriend's mother, 'You have no roof over your head and no place to stand, and you want to marry my daughter?' to be able to keep his emotions in check at work?
And what about the girl whose landlord keeps raising her rent every month, and who finds that after expenses are paid, there's not even enough left for makeup? Can you expect her to greet every customer with a smile and say, 'Welcome!' when they walk in the door?
In short, this is a win-win-win situation, and Feng Yiping is just saying a few more words.