Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai's face was getting more and more serious, but he just refused to admit that he had an apprenticeship quota, he asked again: "Wait... Uncle, you are not reluctant to give up the apprenticeship quota in your hand and want to exchange it for money, right?"

"You are a level 8 fitter in the factory, and you are the eldest uncle in our courtyard. You must not be so stingy in your conduct, otherwise, how can you be a role model in the courtyard in the future?"

Yi Zhonghai's expression became even uglier.

Faced with the huge hole he had dug for himself, he couldn't decide whether to jump or not.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai standing in front of him racking his brains to think of a solution, Wang Dong spoke again: "Uncle..."

"I can't just keep silent every time something happens to me..."

"You should say something..."

"It's not a difficult task. All you have to do is to find an apprenticeship position..."

"Didn't you call a general meeting to help the young people in the institute solve their work problems?"

"Now that the solution to the problem is in your hands, why have you become mute all of a sudden?"

"Could it be that the reason you convened the whole hospital meeting today was not to find jobs for the young people in the hospital and help them solve their problems, but to slander me, suppress me, and plot against me without any reason..."

"If that's the case, then we need to have a good talk."

"We have no grudges against each other, and I haven't provoked you during this period. Why did you suddenly call a meeting of the whole courtyard to plot against me, and even wanted to bring so many neighbors in the courtyard to plot against me together."

"You must explain this matter clearly, otherwise I will go to the street now..."

Faced with Wang Dong's series of counterattacks, Yi Zhonghai knew he had to speak.

Once Wang Dong really comes to the street, the old man’s hat might be lost.

No matter how much he has to pay at today's full-house meeting, he must keep his title as the great uncle.

He gritted his teeth and replied, "Dongzi, you misunderstood. I definitely did not intend to call a meeting of the entire institute to plot against you..."

"Everything that happened tonight was an accident."

"It's my fault for being too impatient. I called a meeting of the whole institute without clarifying the situation, which caused everyone to be happy for nothing..."

At this point, although Yi Zhonghai was reluctant, he still gritted his teeth and answered, "I do have an apprenticeship quota..."

After saying this, Yi Zhonghai felt as if he had lost all strength and had no energy at all.

He originally wanted to sell the apprenticeship position privately.

Although four hundred yuan is not a lot, it is his four months salary.

As a result, instead of finding a way to trap Wang Dong today, he ended up trapping himself and had to give up the apprenticeship quota.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, he continued, "But there is only one spot, and I didn't know who to give it to, so I haven't told you all yet."

"Since Wang Dong has brought this up today, I will take out this apprenticeship quota, and we can discuss who should get it."

The third uncle Yan Fugui had already given up any hope for the apprenticeship quota at the steel rolling mill, but he did not expect that the situation would take a turn for the better and the stingy old man Yi Zhonghai would actually be willing to give up the apprenticeship quota he had. This was definitely a pleasant surprise.

He believed Yi Zhonghai's instigation and convened a meeting of the entire school, which also offended Wang Dong. Yi Zhonghai said that he should give himself some compensation, so the apprenticeship quota should be given to his boss.

He immediately stood up and said, "Old Yi..."

"Please grant this apprenticeship quota to my family..."

"I suffered a lot today because of what you said. You should give me some compensation. Otherwise, I, the third uncle, will never let you control me like you did today..."

Yi Zhonghai heard the hidden meaning in Yan Fugui's words. Although he did not plot against Wang Dong today, he succeeded in alienating the relationship between Yan Fugui and Wang Dong.

Although he lost an apprenticeship spot and lost four hundred dollars, it was not without gain.

If he could take advantage of the apprenticeship quota to win over Yan Fugui and make him completely side with him, then he would have two votes among the three masters in the yard, and it would definitely be much easier for him to do anything in the future.

I nodded subconsciously.

But how could Wang Dong let Yan Fugui, who might have been plotting against him, gain any benefit from this general meeting?

If the apprenticeship quota went to Yan Fugui, Yi Zhonghai and Yan Fugui would definitely be together in the future.

Although Wang Dong no longer needs to be afraid of them, the fewer opponents there are in the yard the better.

We must also try our best to divide our opponents and prevent them from uniting.

Before Yi Zhonghai could speak, he interrupted: "Third Uncle..."

"You are so unkind..."

"There are so many young people without jobs in our hospital. Why should the apprenticeship quota provided by the third uncle be given to your family..."

"The uncle just said it very clearly. He didn't know who to give the apprenticeship quota to. He brought it out for us all to discuss together."

"Now that we haven't spoken yet, you're taking this apprenticeship quota in the name of the Third Uncle. Are you the local tyrant of our yard or something? We haven't even had a chance to speak, and you, as the Third Uncle, have decided the matter..."

Yan Fugui didn't expect that Wang Dong would intervene and prevent him from getting the apprenticeship quota. He felt both regretful and afraid.

If I had known that today's general meeting would have such an outcome, I should not have listened to Yi Zhonghai's nonsense.

At the same time, he was also full of fear about the label of local tyrant that Wang Dong put on him.

Now is a new society, and if you are not careful your work will be affected.

He quickly waved his hand: "Wang Dong..."

"Don't talk nonsense..."

"I never stopped people from speaking up in a town hall meeting..."

"As for the job quota that Lao Yi offered, I didn't say I had to have it."

"It's just that everyone knows my family's situation. It's very difficult for one person to support six people, so I shamelessly asked Lao Yi for this job."

Wang Dong immediately responded: "Uncle San, this is where you are wrong."

"The uncle just said that people should not be too selfish and should think more about others."

"Although there are six people in your family, at least one person is working outside. Add to that the money that Brother Jie Cheng earns outside, so it's definitely no problem to earn 40 yuan a month."

"There are still several families in our courtyard who don't even have a formal job, and they rely on odd jobs to support their families every day."

"You are nothing compared to these neighbors."

"I suggest calling out all the young people in the yard who need this apprenticeship quota, and giving each family one vote. Based on the poverty level of their families, everyone can vote to decide who will get the apprenticeship quota."

"Of course, this apprenticeship quota belongs to the courtyard after all, and those who get the apprenticeship quota cannot get it for free."

"From now on, I will take out five yuan from my salary every month to help the poor households in the courtyard. I will do this for six consecutive years, a total of three hundred and sixty yuan, which is equivalent to the money for an apprenticeship quota. What do you think?" (End of this chapter)