Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Wang Feng watched Qin Huairu's retreating figure, shook his head, and headed towards the logistics department.

There was no need to queue at the logistics department; it was where cadres received supplies and benefits. Wang Feng quickly received a pound of meat and five pounds of flour, and the meat was all top-quality pork belly.

He had assumed everyone was the same, but he never expected that the cadres received more than twice the material benefits of ordinary workers.

Wang Feng then asked Qin Jingru if she could receive her welfare benefits as well. Unexpectedly, when the logistics staff checked, they found that Qin Jingru was a cadre on a work-study basis and was also receiving benefits as a cadre. So, he simply collected Qin Jingru's share as well.

After receiving the supplies and benefits, Wang Feng headed towards the third canteen. As soon as he arrived, he saw Qin Jingru directing a group of people to clean up.

Qin Jingru stood in front of the food serving window and said, "Old Liu, go and wash all the big pots. Aunt Li, go and mop the floor. Sister Zhang, wipe the stove."

Wang Feng walked over and joked with a smile, "Well done, Jingru, you're showing more and more leadership potential. You're managing people so well."

"Brother Wang Feng, you're here! It's just cleaning, I'm good at that," Qin Jingru said with a smile.

"Hey, Wang Feng, why are you carrying so much stuff? Do you have that many supplies and benefits?"

"Hehe, this is our welfare package. We're both cadres, so we each get a pound of meat and five pounds of flour," Wang Feng said with a laugh.

"Huh? Am I considered a cadre too?" Qin Jingru asked in confusion.

Wang Feng explained with a smile, "How can you not count? You're a worker-in-charge position. Although you're not a cadre, your salary and benefits are paid according to the standards for the deputy director of the canteen."

"Oh," Qin Jingru said, suddenly realizing.

"I've collected your share too, and I've also collected your salary for you. After you finish cleaning, you can go straight home. I'm heading back now."

"Okay, Brother Wang Feng, you can go back now. We'll be done cleaning up soon."

"Um."

Wang Feng glanced around the kitchen and saw a group of people busy at work. Without saying goodbye to Liu Lan, he left the kitchen.

I rode my bicycle back to No. 95 Courtyard. As soon as I entered the front yard, I saw Yan Fugui had set up a table covered with red paper.

"Hey, Lao Yan, are you writing couplets?" Wang Feng joked with a smile.

This is a famous scene: Old Man Yan helped the people in the courtyard write couplets for the New Year.

"Oh, it's Wang Feng. How about it? Tomorrow's the New Year. Do you want your Uncle to write a couplet for you?" Yan Fugui said with a smile.

"Hehe, Lao Yan, you don't charge for these couplets, do you?" Wang Feng asked with a smile.

Yan Fugui smiled awkwardly: "No, no, we're all neighbors, how can I accept money from everyone? That would be too formal."

Wang Feng thought that Yan Laokou had really changed his ways, but then he heard Yan Fugui change the subject.

"Wang Feng, as you know, Uncle San's red paper and ink also have costs. I won't charge you, but if you give me some peanuts or melon seeds, I'll accept them."

"Hahaha, Lao Yan, you're quite the shrewd one! You must have gotten this red paper from school, right?" Wang Feng laughed loudly.

Yan Fugui's lips twitched: "Wang Feng, don't talk nonsense. I bought this red paper. Your third uncle is a teacher; how could he take things from school?"

"Wang Feng, do you want your third uncle to write one for you? Don't worry, I won't charge you. Just give me some melon seeds and peanuts as a token."

"Hehe, I'll take another look."

After saying that, Wang Feng walked towards the central courtyard, occasionally teasing the birds, which was quite interesting.

Back inside, he brewed a pot of tea, but before he could finish it, Qin Jingru returned.

"Brother Wang Feng, I just saw Yan Fugui writing couplets in the front yard. He said he wouldn't charge us, just some melon seeds and peanuts as a token. Should we ask him to write a couplet for us too?"

Wang Feng smiled and waved his hand: "We won't look for him. Just go outside and buy a few couplets tomorrow. Our No. 28 courtyard needs at least two. If we have one here, that'll be three."

"Um."

"By the way, Jingru, could you give Aunt Wu a pound of meat and five pounds of flour? Aunt Wu's family is the one we're closest to in the neighborhood. She's always been quite nice to me. Tomorrow is the New Year, so let Aunt Wu and Yaya have a meal of dumplings for the New Year."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Qin Jingru nodded, drank the tea in Wang Feng's teacup in one gulp, went to the kitchen to get a pound of pork and five pounds of flour, and then went to Aunt Wu's house in the front yard.

After Qin Jingru left, Wang Feng poured himself a cup of tea and drank it by himself.

Ten minutes later, Qin Jingru returned from Aunt Wu's house.

"Brother Wang Feng, Aunt Wu refused to accept it no matter what, and even offered to give me money. I persuaded her for a long time before she finally accepted it."

Wang Feng nodded: "Just accept it. Yu Shui was on vacation a while ago. She and Sha Zhu are living separately now. Give the other pound of meat and five pounds of flour to Yu Shui. We'll go to courtyard number 28 for dinner later. We won't stay here tonight; we'll stay at courtyard number 28."

"become."

Qin Jingru agreed, took another pound of pork and five pounds of flour, and went to find He Yushui.

Watching Qin Jingru busy herself without a single complaint, Wang Feng secretly sighed, thinking how wonderful women were in this era.

Qin Jingru arrived at He Yushui's house, explained her purpose to He Yushui, and He Yushui didn't stand on ceremony, said thank you, and accepted the gift directly.

Back in the house, Qin Jingru checked the time; it was already past four in the afternoon.

"Brother Wang Feng, is there anything else here? If not, let's go to courtyard number 28."

"Okay, let's go."

After locking the door, the two of them each rode a bicycle to courtyard number 28.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Qin Huairu happily returned to the courtyard carrying a pound of pork and four pounds of flour.

Yan Fugui's mouth watered when he saw the meat and flour in Qin Huairu's hand.

However, since their family had been having conflicts with the Jia family recently, they didn't inform Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu returned to the Jia family home. Everyone in the courtyard looked on with envy when they saw her carrying so much meat and flour. However, despite their envy, no one was as stingy as Yan Laokou, who kept asking others to take the meat to his house to cook. After all, no one was a fool.

"Mom, Banggeng, Xiaodang, I'm back."

Banggeng climbed out of bed and saw so much meat in his mother's hands, and kept swallowing.

"Mom, I want to eat meat! I want to eat meat! I want to eat meat tonight!" Bang Geng shouted.

When Madam Jia walked over and saw the meat and flour in Qin Huairu's hands, her face instantly turned cold, and she questioned in a cold voice:

"Qin Huairu, what's with all this meat and flour? Everyone else gets half a pound of meat and two pounds of flour, where did the extra come from? Have you been cheating on me with another man behind my back?"