The once noisy group of classmates instantly went quiet, the sound of their breathing shallow in the sudden stillness of the hall. Some who had hoped to sneak in felt it was a pity, their shoulders sagging as they looked at the floor, while those who actually wanted to work seriously were full of energy, their eyes fixed on Manager Li.
Manager Li continued, her hands clasped loosely in front of her. "Here in Xingfu Shiyuan, we don't care about your background. Everyone working here is related to the boss's family anyway. If we're talking about connections, all of you have them. What matters is your mindset.
Still, congratulations, because without Director Jing's introduction we wouldn't have considered you. Most of our labor quotas already go to the government, so we don't need costly temp workers anymore."
Jing Shu nodded, her gaze sweeping over the heated stone floors. Manager Li really lived up to being in HR. She sounded lofty and strict, but in the end she still managed to flatter her a little. That was someone who knew how to deal with people.
A lot of students sighed, the sound echoing softly against the high stone walls.
Manager Li raised her hand and counted with her fingers, her movements precise. "There are three kinds of jobs here. First, formal workers. You will work ten hours a day, get two meals of white rice with vegetables, and live in a single room where you can bring two family members. There's extra pay in virtual coins, one day off every month, and weekly assessments. Fail, and you will be pushed down to the temp worker level.
Second, temp workers. You will also work ten hours a day, get one meal of white rice and one meal of rice mixed with bugs, vegetables once a week, and live in a double room. Depending on circumstances, you might be able to bring one family member. There's no extra pay, no days off, and if you fail twice you're fired.
Third, government-assigned laborers. They work eight hours a day and the government gives them two meals of red nematode patties. We don't manage them, but if you report someone slacking off you will get 0.1 virtual coin."
She clapped her hands together, the sharp sound making several people flinch. "That's the deal. Now, if you have got special skills, stand on the right. If you have only got strength, stand on the left. Special skills include things like farming, breeding, or craftsmanship."
Everyone moved quickly, their boots scuffing the stone, but only a handful stepped to the right.
Even so, Manager Li seemed satisfied. She pointed at a huge boulder nearby, its surface jagged and grey. "Every day, we need to move rocks like this to places machines can't reach. The test is to move an irregular boulder to the other side within two minutes. Do that, and you're hired today."
Temp work was pure manual labor. Quite a few classmates gave up immediately, looking at the massive stone with defeat, though some unwilling to quit still tried, their faces reddening as they gripped the cold rock. After all, even temp benefits here weren't bad.
The government only offered two meals of red nematode patties, but here you got one meal of white rice, one of mixed rice, and, most importantly, a place to live inside Xingfu Shiyuan. This place was like a paradise. There were no earthquakes, no deafening rumbling, and you could even bring one family member in.
While others struggled with the boulders, Manager Li turned with interest to those claiming skills. "So, what can you do?"
The first to speak was Mu Xiaoxuan. Jing Shu remembered her—the quiet girl who had given her a bodhi tree seed. She looked cleaner than most now. Her clothes had patches, but she wore them neatly, and her complexion wasn't as thin and sallow as the others.
"My family has grown peach trees, fruit trees, and medicinal trees for generations. I have got rich experience and techniques. Even after the apocalypse started, we kept peach trees alive. I can even cultivate peaches now."
Manager Li clapped happily. "Perfect, just what we need. Report to the Agriculture Department and you will be a formal worker right away. As long as you pass weekly assessments, you will stay on. If you bring your peach trees, you might even become a manager. I will send Xiao Wang to discuss cooperation. Our environment here is better, so the fruit will be higher quality. Your family will still hold ownership of the trees; we will just treat it as a lease."
Mu Xiaoxuan nodded excitedly, her fingers twisting the hem of her jacket. The weather was too cold, and without electricity they couldn't run the grow lights at home. If she didn't find a good place for the peach trees, they would all die. But selling them was unthinkable, since they were her family's livelihood.
The classmates looked at her with envy. Who would have thought that someone who had been poor, just growing peaches before the end, would suddenly be in such demand now?
"I used to run a tailor shop; I can make clothes," another said.
Manager Li shook her head. "Not professional enough. Next."
"I'm a chef from a five-star hotel; will that work?"
"Report to the restaurant for an assessment. If you pass, you will be a temp worker. If one day your food surpasses the formal chefs, you will be promoted."
To Jing Shu's surprise, He Shouwu was also among the crowd. She hadn't noticed him at first, but why would he show up here for work? His family had been ginseng growers. After the apocalypse, the government had merged all medicinal herb dealers and growers into the Medicinal Herb Association.
She hadn't noticed him at first, but why would he show up here for work? His family had been ginseng growers. After the apocalypse, the government had merged all medicinal herb dealers and growers into the Medicinal Herb Association.
She hadn't seen him in a long time. He hadn't joined any of the class gatherings or even spoken in the group chat. Now he stood there, his face gloomy and sad, looking nothing like the sunny rich kid from before.
His clothes told the story. He was wrapped in so many ragged layers he looked like a beggar, filthy and messy from head to toe.
"And you? What is your skill?" Manager Li asked.
"Growing ginseng; does that count?" He Shouwu answered.
She frowned, looking him over with a doubtful eye. "Didn't the state merge everything a year ago? Why didn't you report to the Medicinal Herb Association? Their benefits are good too."
Jing Shu raised her eyebrows, finally speaking for the first time. "Yeah, I remember from our class chat that your family still had quite a lot of ginseng after the apocalypse. Even giving the government one root would have earned plenty of virtual coins."
He Shouwu's teeth clenched, his jaw tight as he spat the words. "Don't bring that up. At first, trading ginseng really helped us survive better, but then people started targeting us. Last New Year, armed men came. They had guns, cars, and even threw firebombs. They burned our house, killed my family, and stole every last root."
His lips trembled as he spoke, the memory dragging him back into pain. "I wanted revenge. I even reported it, but the police said their data showed the attackers used dual identities and couldn't be tracked. I told myself I had to survive and get stronger if I wanted to avenge them, so I went to the Medicinal Herb Association. But because the heritage skipped a generation and my parents didn't have official planting records, they refused to let me in."
Jing Shu frowned. That explained it. She had been robbed last year too. Everyone who came had died, but they could never track down the accomplices. So it was because of fake identities.
"But I really can grow ginseng. My family has done it for generations. I started working with it when I was three."
Manager Li was about to say she sympathized but still needed him to pass assessments when Jing Shu cut in. "Manager Li, this classmate really is from a ginseng family. Their stock used to be excellent. Don't let talent slip by."
Manager Li nodded. "He Shouwu, right? Report to Medicinal Planting."