Is this woman out of her mind? How can she spout such nonsense with her eyes wide open?
Huang Lian had repeatedly given instructions in private, and he himself had witnessed many donkey - hide pieces with donkey hair mixed into the pot. With such filthy things, how could this pot of glue juice still be usable?
Li Ying noticed his uneasiness, but calmly smiled and continued, "It was my oversight. I forgot to tell everyone that when scraping the donkey - hide, you mustn't scrape it too clean. Otherwise, it will be bad for the glue production."
"I wonder which experienced master who has been making glue for years came up with this trick and selflessly shared it with the other workers? Such an experienced senior shouldn't be buried in trivial matters. Manager Du, we must give him an important position!"
Du Zhong beside her knew she was about to take action, so he readily played along.
"So that's how it is! I never thought there was such a genius hidden in my small Dejitang! Huang Lian, go and get the silver from my room quickly to reward everyone!"
A tray full of shiny silver coins made the workers dazzled.
Huang Lian secretly broke out in a cold sweat.
Li Ying must have noticed something, so she deliberately spouted nonsense to try to get the insider to reveal themselves.
He gave a signal, and the workers looked at each other, seemingly speculating about the truth of Li Ying's words.
But seeing that she actually told Shi Hu and the others to transfer the first batch of basin - covered glue into a deep urn and add other herbs to continue boiling, it was obvious that she didn't intend to discard it at all. Then a young worker tentatively stepped forward.
Li Ying remained calm and smiled, "I didn't expect this experienced glue - making master to be so young. Truly, one can't judge a book by its cover."
Du Zhong without hesitation handed a piece of silver to him personally.
What?
The shoddy work they did before actually hit the mark? And they could still get silver?
Most of the workers recruited by Huang Lian were lazy people who were only after money. Seeing one person get a reward, they couldn't hold back their eagerness and rushed forward one after another.
"I also deliberately left donkey hair on the hide!"
"Me too!"
Du Zhong saw more and more workers standing out. His heart sank, but he didn't slow down the action of distributing the silver.
This money was what they deserved. These shoddy workers naturally couldn't stay in Dejitang anymore, but their wages still had to be paid.
The new workers were overjoyed when they got the silver, and they secretly sneered in their hearts.
They could earn a reward just by muddling through. What a good thing in the world! Manager Du and that Lady Li were really fools!
After distributing the silver, Du Zhong slowly said, "Everyone, although you accidentally made the first batch of glue well, Dejitang can't tolerate workers with impetuous minds. Your wages have been paid. Please leave on your own."
Those workers were unwilling and wanted to make a scene. But Li Ying, looking at Huang Lian with a half - smile, said indifferently, "Your little tricks have been seen through. Do you still want to stay here as a loner?"
Everyone's eyes suddenly fell on Huang Lian.
Li Ying calmly exposed how he had colluded with the Qin family and Tianxiang Tower and deliberately had someone tamper with the basin - covered glue. Several old workers who were familiar with Huang Lian were instantly stunned.
"Huang Lian... The manager has treated you well. Why did you collude with outsiders and do such a stupid thing!"
Du Zhong also looked heart - broken and couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Seeing that his deeds were exposed, Huang Lian no longer hid his feelings. He gritted his teeth and glared at Li Ying fiercely.
"It's all because of you! I was the apprentice most valued by the master. Many people were watching me, believing that I would surely become the new manager of Dejitang in the future!"
"But because of you, you blinded the master. The master has become more and more impatient with me! In others' eyes, I've become a joke overnight!"
Du Zhong never expected Huang Lian to say such things.
Looking back on it, he had indeed been stricter with Huang Lian recently. But wasn't it because he didn't want this young apprentice to be hot - tempered and quarrel with Li Ying?
Du Zhong's intention was that the relationship between a master and an apprentice was like that of a father and a son. A strict father didn't need to be too polite when teaching his son.
Unfortunately, Huang Lian misunderstood his intention and got angry instead. The five - year master - apprentice relationship had fallen apart overnight, which was really regrettable.
"Huang Lian... Our master - apprentice relationship is over... In the future, you'd better take care of yourself."
Du Zhong looked dejected and didn't want to say more.
Seeing that Huang Lian, their supervisor, had been caught, these dozen or so new workers had no intention of entangling anymore. They took the money and left. Truly, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
Huang Lian gritted his teeth and glared at Li Ying hatefully, "You little woman, don't be too happy too soon. Evil people will surely be punished! You've ruined my bright future. You'll surely get your comeuppance!"
He turned around and left without a single bit of nostalgia. The workers of Dejitang never expected that such a big change would happen within the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Everyone's expression became rather subtle.
"All of you are the trusted people of Dejitang. As long as we work together, when we make the basin - covered glue in the future, the manager will surely not treat you badly."
Rewards and punishments were clearly defined. These honest workers would also get a reward.
When it was Shi Hu's turn to receive the silver, the young man couldn't help asking, "Lady Li... Will all the first - batch glue we've made be wasted?"
It was really painful to see three days of hard work go to waste just to catch a few muddling - through insiders.
Li Ying smiled, "Of course not. What I said just now is true. We do need to leave some donkey hair when making the basin - covered glue. Only in this way can we get better glue. Everyone, please remember this trick in the future."
Only then did Shi Hu wake up as if from a dream - no wonder Lady Li had deliberately given them a holiday!
She believed that the old workers were all loyal and hard - working, and they would surely handle the donkey - hide perfectly, which would actually be bad for the glue production.
Deliberately letting these new workers scrape the donkey - hide would not only have no negative impact on the finished product of the basin - covered glue but also help to find out who was being lazy. It was a win - win situation!
"Thank you, Lady Li and the manager, for your trust! Shi Hu will surely live up to your expectations!"
Shi Hu was the first to realize this. He knew that although the two of them had set a trap, they had never doubted them from the beginning to the end. He was deeply touched.
Soon, the other workers also realized this. Originally, Dejitang was in a state of panic because of this incident, but now everyone was in tears.
The manager trusted their character so much. If they were to repay kindness with enmity like Huang Lian, they would be heartless!
Li Ying just smiled without saying a word. Du Zhong, looking at her confident expression, felt deep admiration in his heart.
This girl was really thoughtful!
After getting rid of the insiders, instead of making everyone in Dejitang panic, she actually won their hearts. The insiders couldn't have any impact on the basin - covered glue business. The old workers took a three - day holiday to recharge their energy, and they would be more productive when they started working again!
Such a three - pronged plan was so ingenious that even the boss might not be able to do better!