Lu Weimin laughed, of course he knew about his elder brother's situation. After graduating from university, he was assigned to the Red Flag Machinery Factory, where he was cultivated as a key cadre. After a few years of work, he was promoted to the position of deputy workshop director, a position with a bright future. However, Lu Weimin knew that his elder brother's ambitions went beyond this.
"Father was already unhappy with you taking on outside jobs, thinking it was illegal and out of line. Now you want to jump ship entirely, how can that be acceptable?"
"The factory has only so much work. I can do my job as deputy workshop director with just one-fifth of my energy. Do you think I should just waste my time like this? I help private factories design and process some work on the side. First, itâs a way to earn some extra income. Using my skills to earn money in my free time isnât illegal, right? Second, itâs a way to practice and gain experience." A proud smile appeared on Lu Yongjun's face. "I graduated from university with the intention of achieving something significant. Just getting by like this isnât what I want."
In his previous life, his elder brother indeed resigned and went to Shanghai, but only after arguing with their father for over a year. After working for two years with a classmate, he returned to Changzhou and invited a group of former colleagues from the Red Flag Machinery Factory to start an auto parts factory. The business grew, and he even invested in enterprises in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, becoming a well-known entrepreneur in Changjiang Province.
"Brother, if you really believe you can do better outside, I think you shouldnât hesitate and should just go now! You know Fatherâs temperament. No matter what you say, he wonât change his mind. Only when you prove your choice through your actions will he acknowledge it." Lu Weimin looked at his brother seriously and said, "Going to Shanghai will broaden your horizons and allow you to apply your knowledge. You might even develop some social connections, which will be very beneficial if you want to start your own business in the future. Itâs much better than wasting your time at the Red Flag Machinery Factory. Brother, I support you! If you need money, I can sponsor you!"
"Wow, Damin, do you really think so?" Lu Yongjun's eyes sparkled, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. He never expected his younger brother to support his decision to resign and venture into business so wholeheartedly. He thought his family would unanimously oppose his idea, but he found support from his third brother.
"Brother, life is short, like the passing of grass and trees. You should do what you want to do, or youâll regret it when youâre old. I believe in your abilities and know you can achieve greater things than at the Red Flag Machinery Factory. With the reform and opening up, venturing into business isnât shocking. Many capable people are leaving their stable jobs to start their own ventures, especially in Lingnan. My classmate, who was assigned to the Lingnan Provincial Planning Commission, didnât want to work there for long and decided to start his own business. His family already had a factory, but I think you can also carve out your own path." Lu Weimin said earnestly, "If you need money, I have some and can sponsor you."
"Ha, when has your brother ever had to borrow money from you?" Lu Yongjun laughed, feeling indescribably happy, not just because of his brotherâs support, but because his younger brother had grown up. "Your brother, no matter how bad, wonât lack the money to venture out. Iâve earned some money from helping others with design and processing over the past two years. It might not be enough for a big business, but itâs enough for me to start in Shanghai."
"Brother, donât say that. We are brothers, blood is thicker than water. If you need to do something, and we have the ability to support you, we should do so wholeheartedly." Lu Weiminâs tone was calm.
"Oh? Damin, youâve only been working for two months. How much have you earned? Your monthly salary is only a hundred or so yuan, right?" Lu Yongjun teased his younger brother with a smile.
"Brother, how much can my salary be for living expenses? But the kiwi fruit from Nantang had a good harvest, but the sales were poor. I and Jinfeng took a risk and transported the kiwi fruit to Guangzhou to sell, and we made some money." Lu Weimin said casually.
"Oh? How much did you make?" Lu Yongjun was surprised; he didnât expect his younger brother to be so resourceful.
"How much? Five thousand?" Lu Yongjun was shocked. He thought his brother might have made a few thousand yuan, which would be a decent income, but he didnât expect Lu Weimin to say five thousand yuan. This was far beyond his expectations, and his expression turned serious. "Damin, you didnât sell the kiwi fruit to the factory, did you?"
"Brother, I knew you would worry about that. Donât worry, I wouldnât do something like that. The contract with the factoryâs labor service company was signed by the countyâs modern agricultural development company. I just facilitated the deal. Jinfeng and I earned our money cleanly and honestly. Jinfeng made three trips from Nantang to Guangzhou, working hard for half a month. I guaranteed the shipment, and we got paid after the sale, netting us five thousand yuan." Lu Weimin was quite proud of his first business venture, especially since it was his first commercial operation after returning to this world.
"Hmm, Damin, not bad. Did your classmate in Guangzhou help?"
"Yes, we first smoothed out the logistics, then finalized the deal, and finally shipped the goods. Itâs not easy to do business without capital. If it had failed, I would have had to work for free for several years." Lu Weimin scratched his head, "But it worked out in the end."
"You wonât know if you donât try. Everything is difficult at the beginning, and everyone has a first time. However, Damin, since youâre working in the government, itâs best not to get involved in business. If you want to do business, you should leave the government agency." Lu Yongjun said this with a serious tone.
"Brother, I understand the boundaries. Thatâs why Jinfeng handles these things, and I just provide ideas and strategies." Lu Weimin nodded, "I still want to do my job well."
"Hmm, as long as you understand the importance." Lu Yongjun felt that his younger brother had indeed grown up. His demeanor and speech now had a sense of calm and confidence, a far cry from the listener he used to be in front of him. Now, he could have an equal and reasoned conversation with him, and the confidence in his words was deeply moving.
Lu Weimin and his elder brother Lu Yongjun had always had a good relationship, and in his school days, he was a role model. In those days, being admitted to Tsinghua University was almost like becoming a top scholar for a rural county.
Although Lu Yongjun didnât say much when he left, Lu Weimin knew that his words had likely convinced his brother to leave the Red Flag Machinery Factory and venture into business. In Lu Weiminâs view, if he was determined to venture out, it was better to make the decision sooner rather than waste another year at the factory, which would be a waste of time.
Itâs midnight, and the novel has reached 160,000 words. Brothers, please support me with clicks and recommendations. Iâll try to get on the list tomorrow!
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