B5SB -Chapter 48 Wages

At the end of the month, things were quite busy. Gu Yihan arrived at the office early, checking the attendance records sent over by HR in order to calculate wages.

“Wow!”

Hearing Sister Li’s exaggerated exclamation, Gu Yihan looked up toward the door and saw Wang Xiang standing there in a beautiful green military uniform.

Sister Li said with a suggestive tone, “Who’s this? She’s so fair… her skin is like a White Rabbit candy, just looking at her makes you feel sweet.”

“Really makes me want to go up and lick her.”

“Hahaha!” Laughter filled the office.

Gu Yihan laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes. She rubbed them with her fingers and said, “Sister Li, you’re too funny.”

Wang Xiang, blushing, said to Sister Li, “Sister Li, you’re really talented… so you were tricking us all along, huh?”

Sister Li chuckled, “It’s just that you look so good in that outfit, I couldn’t help it.”

Zhou Na sized up Wang Xiang’s attire and asked bluntly, “You’re married?”

Wang Xiang nodded awkwardly, seeing everyone staring at her. “I listened to you and got my marriage certificate first before looking for a partner.”

Zhou Na immediately frowned, looking at her coldly. “Listened to me? You wanted the certificate yourself, don’t drag me into this.”

Sister Li also looked at Wang Xiang with some confusion. “Your mom agreed to give you the household registration so you could get married?”

Wang Xiang looked guilty. “Yes… she agreed.”

Gu Yihan saw the guilty expression on her face and knew things weren’t that simple. As the saying goes, “Mind your own business, trouble follows.”

Since Wang Xiang had already obtained her marriage certificate, out of respect for others’ fates, she wouldn’t say another word.

In the following days, Gu Yihan spent her time checking attendance, calculating each worker’s actual wages, and organizing the vouchers needed for distribution.

There were so many workers at the machinery factory, and with Wang Xiang on leave, it was almost too much to handle.

Zhou Na and Sister Li also helped Gu Yihan organize the various vouchers.

While working, Zhou Na complained, “I don’t know what Wang Xiang is thinking—she takes leave whenever she wants.”

Sister Li lowered her voice and whispered, “You don’t know, Wang Xiang stole her household registration to get the marriage certificate.”

Gu Yihan and Zhou Na looked at Sister Li in surprise.

Zhou Na anxiously asked, “Sister Li, what else do you know? Don’t leave us hanging.”

Sister Li then leaned in mysteriously. “After Wang Xiang got the certificate, her mother went to the groom’s family to demand the missing betrothal gifts… guess what happened?”

She kept them on the edge of their seats.

Straightening up, hands on her hips, Sister Li mimicked the sharp tone of the groom’s family. “Your daughter came to us voluntarily, and yet you’re asking for a betrothal? What daydream are you living in?”

“She’s trying to get men like that? Coming to push my son to marry her—if it weren’t for the fact she has a job, she wouldn’t even get through our door.”

“Ugh, who knows how many men she’s been with before, and now my poor son ends up the rebound guy.”

Sister Li shook her head. “Her mother was so furious that she fainted on the spot.”

Gu Yihan and Zhou Na were dumbfounded.

Sister Li saw their expressions and said, “There’s even worse… I’m embarrassed to tell you two unmarried girls.”

Zhou Na swallowed hard. “Didn’t she check before choosing a partner?”

Sister Li pursed her lips. “What good would that do? She acts all sweet outside, but her true nature shows after marriage. Once they live together, divorce isn’t an option.”

Gu Yihan shivered. Honestly, if times allowed, she would have preferred to never marry.

But in this era, a single woman staying unmarried risked attracting old bachelors and troublemakers—it was impossible to be completely safe.

She had to carefully select someone with good character and a decent family. She couldn’t just be charitable in choosing a husband.

Sighing, Zhou Na turned to Gu Yihan, who was busy tallying vouchers. Her eyes lit up. “Xiaohan, do you have extra industrial vouchers?”

Gu Yihan looked at her. “You need industrial vouchers?”

Zhou Na spoke honestly. “I want to buy a bicycle, but saving for a year isn’t enough. My monthly wage is 40, and I only get two vouchers each month. I want to trade with you—whatever vouchers I need, I can swap with yours.”

Gu Yihan thought for a moment. “Do you have cotton vouchers? And how many industrial vouchers do you still need?”

Zhou Na smiled excitedly. “I have some. I’ll trade with you—I have cotton vouchers. My family gave them to me to make dowry quilts. I still need 15 more industrial vouchers. I’ll trade 10 jin of cotton vouchers with you.”

“After hearing about Wang Xiang, I think it’s better to take care of myself. I’ll buy the bicycle myself—earlier enjoyment is better.”

Gu Yihan looked at her, thinking: vouchers make people bold.

She pretended to pull 15 industrial vouchers from her pocket, though she had actually retrieved them from her storage space, and handed them to Zhou Na.

Zhou Na took them and then looked at Gu Yihan’s pocket in surprise. “You carry them with you? You’ve saved so many?”

Gu Yihan rolled her eyes. “You know I live alone. Where would I need so many?”

Zhou Na slapped her forehead. “I forgot—you live alone.”

“I don’t usually carry vouchers with me. I’ll give them to you tomorrow.”

Gu Yihan nodded; after all, they were colleagues, a little trust was expected.

On payday, Gu Yihan stood at the accounting office doorway with the payroll sign-off sheets, calling out, “Line up, everyone.”

The machinery factory workers formed orderly lines. Zhou Na directed them to sign and stamp, while Gu Yihan checked money and vouchers. With this organization, wages were distributed quickly.

HR staff Ma Chao came running to the accounting office, gasping. “Zhou Na… you… get out of the way!”

Gu Yihan and Zhou Na looked at her in surprise. “We’re busy—payroll’s happening.”

Ma Chao, catching her breath, said, “You’re still handing out wages? You better hide—Wang Xiang’s mother is coming to settle scores.”

“Our homes are close; you know that woman isn’t easy to deal with.”

Zhou Na didn’t care—it had nothing to do with her. She continued directing the line to sign and stamp. Seeing the workers craning their necks in curiosity, she slammed the table. “Hurry up and sign! Stop staring around!”

Ma Chao, panicking, grabbed Zhou Na’s arm and tried to drag her into the office. “Hide first!”

Gu Yihan, thinking of Wang Xiang’s situation, advised, “Sister Zhou, hide for now. Let Sister Ma help.”

Zhou Na looked at them helplessly. “Fine. I’ll go into the office.”

Ma Chao, still uneasy, said, “Lock the door behind you.”

Zhou Na waved her off. “Got it.”

Ma Chao took over Zhou Na’s duties. Inside, the lined-up workers were just as curious, itching to know what was going on.

One middle-aged woman, after stamping her hand, whispered, “Xiao Ma, what’s happening here?”

Ma Chao snapped, “How would I know?”