Chapter 52 Opportunity
"By the way, Gu Jie asked if you are free these days. He plans to get together." Li Daqi mentioned this after talking about Wang Jianjun.
Song Yuanchao nodded and said, "It's free now, so come now if you have nothing to do."
"Okay!" Li Daqi nodded with a smile, cleaned up the leftover dishes on the table, and then went out together.
Gu Jie's house was not far from Li Daqi's house, and the two arrived at Gu Jie's place in a short while.
"Brother Song, Daqi, why are you here? Come in and sit down." After knocking on the door, Gu Jie was very happy to see Song Yuanchao and Li Daqi, and quickly invited them in.
Looking inside the house, he saw that Gu Jie and his family were also having dinner. Gu Jie's house was not big, and there was no place for his parents, the elderly, and his brothers and sisters to sit. Song Yuanchao asked Gu Jie if he had finished his meal, and if he had, he could talk outside, as he would not go in and disturb them since they were crowded at home.
Gu Jie smiled and nodded, turned around to say something to his family in the room, and then walked out.
The three of them came to an open space in the urban village. There was a tall fig tree and a few stones under the tree. In the summer, there were many residents who came here to cool off at night. However, it was far from that time yet, so the place seemed very quiet.
They sat down on the stone one by one. Song Yuanchao took out a cigarette and gave one to Li Daqi and Gu Jie. He lit up and said to Gu Jie, "I just went to Daqi's house. Thank you for what happened last night."
"Brother Song, this..." Gu Jie subconsciously looked at Li Daqi. Seeing that Li Daqi didn't care at all, Gu Jie felt a little embarrassed: "Thanks to Brother Song for taking me with him. Wang Jianjun was such a jerk and he was so rude. Daqi couldn't help but get angry when he told me about it, so..."
"I know..." Song Yuanchao waved his hands and said seriously, "You and Daqi both stood up for me, and I am very grateful to you for that. But Gu Jie, have you ever thought about the consequences of doing this? I just told Daqi not to do such dangerous things again in the future. I don't want to see you get into trouble as brothers."
Gu Jie showed a touched expression, and although he was not good at speaking, he nodded vigorously.
"By the way, what have you been busy with these days? I haven't seen you for a few days. Are you okay?" Song Yuanchao asked.
"I'm not busy at all. I'm just staying at home." Gu Jie scratched his head and smiled.
"You feel empty inside all of a sudden, right? No news about work yet?"
Gu Jie shook his head and smoked without saying anything.
Arranging work for the educated youth was a big problem that could not be completely solved in the next few years at least. It was not until after 1983 that the situation gradually improved.
Gu Jie's family situation was the same as that of most educated youth. His family had no connections and no conditions. Moreover, he was not a good student to begin with, so it was impossible for him to go to college.
Gu Jie used to follow Song Yuanchao in the clothes hanger business, and he was very grateful to Song Yuanchao, because not only did he make money, but he also saw his own value.
Unfortunately, this deal only lasted for more than two months before it ended. However, Gu Jie was different from Zhang Bin and Wang Jianjun. He did not blame Song Yuanchao at all. Instead, he was sincerely grateful to Song Yuanchao for transferring the deal to him before it ended, which allowed him to make more money.
But after being busy for more than two months, he felt uncomfortable when he was idle all of a sudden. It was not because of money. Following Song Yuanchao, Gu Jie had no shortage of money Just like what Song Yuanchao said, he felt empty inside.
"It's my fault too." Song Yuanchao said, "There have been so many things going on in the factory these days that I forgot about your affairs."
"It's okay, it's okay. Brother Song is working in the factory now. Daqi said that you are also the workshop director. You are usually very busy. Of course, the big things are important. These small things of mine have nothing to do with it."
"Big things and small things are all important. Besides, I promised you to wait for my news at home. It's my fault for not making proper arrangements. Gu Jie, I'm sorry." Song Yuanchao sincerely apologized to Gu Jie.
Gu Jie didn't expect Song Yuanchao to say this, and he was immediately at a loss.
"I just happened to come to you today for something. Don't touch the clothes hanger business for now. I have two ideas and I want to hear your opinions."
"Brother Song, you speak, I listen."
Song Yuanchao took a puff of his cigarette and said, "One is very simple. I am now the workshop director of the school-run factory. I have the right to recruit a temporary worker, like Daqi. Although it is not a formal employee and the work is more tiring, it is still a job after all."
Having said this, Song Yuanchao paused and looked at Gu Jie.
There was a hint of surprise in Gu Jie's eyes. Although he had made some money before, a real job was exactly what he had dreamed of. Even if it was a temporary job, it was still a serious job!
However, Gu Jie did not speak immediately and continued to listen to Song Yuanchao.
"Another option is to continue helping me with other things. Although it's not a proper job, you can definitely make a lot of money. But there is one thing that is risky."
Song Yuanchao looked at Gu Jie and said, "Consider which one you choose."
Gu Jie thought for a while and asked, "Brother Song, do you think doing other things is similar to making clothes hangers?"
"Yes! But it's not the kind of business that sells clothes hangers. I figured out something a while ago that I need someone to do. But you know I'm quite busy right now, so I need someone I can trust to help me take care of it outside."
"I choose the second one!"
As soon as Song Yuanchao finished speaking, Gu Jie gave the answer without hesitation.
Song Yuanchao originally thought that Gu Jie would hesitate for two days before giving him an answer, but who would have thought that Gu Jie made the decision as soon as he finished speaking, and was so determined.
"Friends are friends, but I must make it clear to you. If you choose this, it will be risky. You also know about Zhang Bin and Wang Jianjun's affairs. If you don't handle it well, you will end up like them. Gu Jie, why don't you give it some thought?"
Facing Song Yuanchao's serious expression, Gu Jie smiled and said, "Brother Song, I understand what you said, but you just said that you need someone you can trust to help you run your business. Since Brother Song can say this, it means that you trust me, Sanmao, and treat me as a true friend. This is giving me face. Although I don't have much ability, I still understand the principles of being a human being."
"Besides, there is no business without risks. Brother Song, if you are not worried about me as an errand boy, what else should you worry about? I will do whatever you ask me to do. In fact, I have wanted to follow you for a long time."
Song Yuanchao looked at Gu Jie with admiration. Since Gu Jie said so, he was not hypocritical. He was indeed short of people now, and he was short of people he could trust. Although Gu Jie was introduced by Li Daqi, they knew each other late and only knew each other through the clothes hanger business. But in these short two or three months, Gu Jie gave him a very good impression, and it was because of this that Song Yuanchao transferred the clothes hanger business to Gu Jie.
Since it was settled, Song Yuanchao patted Gu Jie on the shoulder and asked him to wait for his news at home. It was getting late and it had been dark for a long time. After Song Yuanchao and Li Daqi left and walked out, Li Daqi suddenly asked a question.
"Yuan Chao, why don't you let me help you outside?"
Song Yuanchao turned around and looked at Li Daqi. When he was talking about this matter with Gu Jie before, Li Daqi had been silent. He was thinking about this matter for a long time.
"What are you thinking about?" Song Yuanchao said with a smile, "It's not appropriate for you to go out now. Besides, I also need your help with this matter, but it's different from Gu Jie. He has his plans, and you have yours. Do you understand?"
Hearing Song Yuanchao say this, Li Daqi immediately laughed: "Why didn't you say so earlier? I thought you had forgotten about me."
"Hey, how come I noticed that you have become so petty? You are not a woman, and yet you are jealous?"
Song Yuanchao squinted at Li Daqi, who blushed in anger and rushed forward with his fists raised: "Ce Na! You are just a fool, and you are talking nonsense. I will beat you to death!"
"Hahaha, don't hit me, I was just kidding."
"Are you kidding? Is this even a joke? My sexual taste is normal, but today I will teach you a lesson..."
The two friends were laughing and playing, one chasing the other, and in the blink of an eye they were far away...
