Xia Xiaolan wasn’t afraid of employees having burdens.

People from poor backgrounds had two possible outcomes. Some would give up completely, getting worse and worse. Poor before the Reform and Opening Up, still poor by the millennium, and remaining poor by 2017.

Did they not want change?

Of course, they did.

But with ordinary abilities, without putting in 120% effort, how could they compete with the naturally clever ones?

Even with 120% effort, would good fortune smile upon them? No one knew.

But Xia Xiaolan knew that those who didn’t try couldn’t grasp opportunities even when they came.

While some grew poorer, others turned immense pressure into motivation, fighting against the current!

Xia Xiaolan didn’t yet know if Little You was the second type, but from what she’d shown, Little You was willing to be that kind.

If Little You had wanted to rely on men for advancement, today’s troubles wouldn’t have happened.

Dealing with a stepfather – wasn’t that within Shao Guangrong’s capabilities?

It was precisely because this girl had become determined and stopped pinning her hopes of escape on others that this had happened… Xia Xiaolan couldn’t call You Li foolish, she just felt emotional and admired You Li.

You Li was only 17, and what she’d achieved was already impressive. How could she consider everything? She hadn’t been reborn or transmigrated – she was using every ounce of strength to change her life.

Xia Xiaolan was willing to lend a hand:

“Tell Little You to join Qihang without worry. If she can’t afford the medical expenses, the company will lend her the money, to be repaid gradually from her salary! If she performs well, her salary will keep increasing.”

“Understood, President Xia.”

Ge Jian was particularly moved.

He used to be Xia Xiaolan’s bodyguard and was now a manager at Qihang.

President Xia hadn’t shortchanged him – he earned well over ten thousand yuan annually, including salary, bonuses, and private red packets from Xia Xiaolan. In ’86, this was definitely high income.

Of course, he’d been with Xia Xiaolan for quite some time, climbing up step by step.

Though Xia Xiaolan admired Little You, as a newcomer, You Li couldn’t be given very high wages immediately.

Any boss who did that must be crazy – it would create resentment among veteran employees. How could you lead a team with scattered hearts?

It would cause management problems for Xia Xiaolan and wouldn’t benefit Little You either. Sympathy and admiration couldn’t justify giving her an inflated salary… One’s pay should match their abilities. To earn high wages, one had to work desperately to improve themselves!

Paying according to ability was a management principle.

But beyond systems lay human kindness, so Xia Xiaolan allowed the company to lend medical expenses, addressing You Li’s immediate difficulties and strengthening her sense of belonging.

This kindness wasn’t just for You Li – for any long-term Qihang employee, Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t help with poverty but would help with emergencies and life-threatening situations.

Qihang’s salary standards in ’86 were high – if employees were still poor, that was their fault.

No company would give every employee a free commercial apartment – employees’ contributions hadn’t nearly reached that level. Xia Xiaolan doing so wouldn’t be generous, it would be stupid – so borrowing money to buy houses was out of the question. Why should she support consumption beyond income levels?

But saving lives… that’s where Qihang employees were lucky to have Xia Xiaolan as their boss.

Help or not?

Help!

Save the life first, and repay the money slowly.

If it couldn’t be repaid in 5 years, then 10 years – Xia Xiaolan wasn’t worried about indebted employees running away.

Ge Jian understood Xia Xiaolan’s meaning and was determined to handle this flawlessly. Though President Xia might not expect a returns for her kindness, Ge Jian had to consider her interests.

He went to Beijing to relay this news to You Li:

“Your mother’s condition has stabilized. What are your thoughts now? You’ll need to travel between Peng City and Beijing, maybe even nationwide with President Xia. Where do you plan to arrange for your mother?”

You Li’s mother couldn’t be moved around frequently. She would need constant care and hospital stays to maintain her life.

Either Peng City or Beijing – You Li had to choose.

You Li wished she could stay by her mother’s side daily, caring for her.

But reality didn’t allow it.

How could she afford her mother’s medical expenses without working desperately hard?

President Xia said the company could lend money, and You Li was grateful.

But company loans still needed repayment – there was nothing free in this world. Without selling labor and brainpower, only dignity and flesh remained to sell – You Li had her considerations. She had previously wanted to flee Beijing with her mother because of Qiao Quanbing’s presence.

Now that Qiao Quanbing was in trouble, no one could harm her mother, and You Li still wanted to keep her mother in a Beijing hospital.

The capital’s medical conditions should be better than Peng City’s, right?

Moreover, after President Xia returned, she would continue studying, spending more time in Beijing except during holidays, and You Li as her secretary would naturally follow.

You Li felt she would spend considerable time in Beijing over the next year or two.

“We won’t move. Let my mother stay in the Beijing hospital. I’ll report to Peng City myself. The apartment I rented there won’t be needed anymore. Manager Ge, would it be too troublesome for me to stay in the employee dormitory?”

That would mean losing one month’s rent for canceling the lease.

Ge Jian shook his head, “Not troublesome at all. Your thinking is very practical.”

President Xia agreeing to lend money was one thing, but if You Li didn’t know how to reduce expenses, that would be another matter.

When others are willing to help, one should also help oneself.

Not using the free employee dormitory and renting outside didn’t suit You Li’s current situation.

With Ge Jian’s visit to Beijing, You Li would leave with him. Though Qiao Quanbing hadn’t been sentenced yet, the investigation was complete, and You Li would be called back to Beijing if needed… Though worried about her mother, she had to leave.

This time, You Li didn’t cry.

What was there to cry about when heading toward a new life?

Shao Guangrong came to see her off, and You Li spoke to him privately:

“Brother Shao, I’ve always said you’re a good person, and I still say so. I said I’d work like an ox or horse to repay you, but you don’t care for that… I know what you want, but I can’t give it to you now because I’m not worthy of you! When I become worthy of you, if you still feel the same way, I—”

The rest didn’t need saying; Shao Guangrong understood You Li’s meaning.

His heart felt both painful and itchy with those grains of wheat.

He both pitied and respected You Li.

This was different from his previous casual girlfriends; he was willing to give You Li this respect. Shao Guangrong knew You Li wasn’t completely indifferent to him – she wasn’t stone-hearted, how could she be unmoved after such tremendous help?

But You Li felt unworthy of him, and Shao Guangrong wouldn’t force it.

Shouldn’t two people be happy together?

What was the point if You Li was constantly anxious and unhappy?

Shao Guangrong deliberately put on a stern face: “Little You, you know how many women like me. You better hurry up – if you wait until you’re 30 to find me, do you believe my kids will already be graduating from elementary school?”