Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2528 - 2464: Actually a Sneak Attack

As Meng Xinian’s taunting voice echoed from outside, Ding Haijing suddenly sprang up like a fish thrashing in a pond, his temples pulsing with irritation.

"Meng Xinian! How can a distinguished Great Officer like you resort to a sneak attack?"

He never imagined that even while holding Chiang Xiao’s hand, Meng Xinian would find the opportunity for such an underhanded strike.

Meng Xinian chuckled coldly, "Who told you that being an Officer prohibits one from launching a surprise attack? Ding Haijing, I hadn't realized you were this naive. Furthermore, I find your lack of situational awareness quite worrying."

Ding Haijing gritted his teeth in frustration.

What was wrong with his alertness?

His vigilance was always reserved for others; he simply never expected an attack from him!

Was placing his trust in Meng Xinian his ultimate blunder?

Without a doubt, Wei Yixi had once warned him that those unfamiliar with Meng Xinian might perceive him as stoic, stern, and ruthless in his methods, but beneath that exterior lay the spirit of a rogue and a ruffian.

Now, he had witnessed the truth of those words firsthand.

Chiang Xiao struggled to suppress her mirth. Observing Ding Haijing’s face darken with indignation, she finally surrendered to the humor and burst into laughter.

Ding Haijing cast a resentful glare in her direction.

"Mark my words, Officer Meng, I will have my revenge. Eventually, I’ll find a way to make you take a tumble too."

"Then you better pray that by the time you're seventy or eighty, your joints are still limber," Meng Xinian replied, leading Chiang Xiao toward the vehicle while tossing a key ring over his shoulder.

"Lock up the doors."

Tch!

Catching the keys, Ding Haijing locked the premises. Upon seeing Meng Xinian and Chiang Xiao settling into the back seat, he sighed and climbed into the driver’s side with resignation.

Upon arriving at the hospital, it fell to Ding Haijing to handle the administrative tasks.

Having visited a couple of hospitals already, he had gained some familiarity, though he simply traded a glance with Chiang Xiao upon returning to the car.

Since neither Chiang Xiao nor Meng Xinian offered any information, he wisely chose not to inquire.

Chiang Xiao then directed them to Youqingwei.

Cheng Qiulian was visibly delighted to see her arrival.

"The workshop is nearly ready for business. I’ve finalized the hiring of all the necessary staff."

"Everyone has been recruited already?" Chiang Xiao asked, surprised.

She assumed finding qualified recruits during this period would prove difficult.

After all, most men were focused on finding steady employment, while a majority of women were occupied with domestic chores like washing and sewing. Her standards were quite high, and she had instructed Cheng Qiulian to carefully monitor applicants for their attention to hygiene, which would inevitably disqualify many.

To her amazement, Cheng Qiulian had secured the entire team.

"A good number were recommended by our regular customers, and naturally, I have thoroughly vetted each candidate," Cheng Qiulian said, offering a playful, reproachful look. "Tell me, young lady, are you underestimating the appeal of the compensation you’re providing?"

Although the positions weren't strictly permanent, the prestige of being associated with a prominent tea house like Youqingwei, combined with wages surpassing those of standard factory roles and the promise of holiday bonuses, made the offer quite attractive.

Thus, recruitment was not as arduous as anticipated.

Furthermore, the seven-and-a-half-hour daily schedule allowed employees ample time for their own housework or cooking duties at noon.

Consequently, finding people was not a struggle at all.

Chiang Xiao concluded that offering a premium salary was essential given her rigorous requirements. Each worker was required to sign a strict confidentiality agreement, ensuring that nothing from the workshop—not even a single herb or morsel of flour—would be removed. The sanitary protocols were equally demanding.

"That sounds wonderful, Madam. Let’s pick an auspicious date to inaugurate the workshop."

"Agreed. There is one other matter I wanted to discuss. I believe Old He possesses a real knack for management. Should we consider promoting him to gain more experience?"

"Old He?"

Old He hadn’t been with them for very long, had he? Was he truly capable of handling management duties?