Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

At 6:30 in the morning, the streets were already bustling with people.

Wang Feng drove his mother-in-law, and Ma Hua drove his father-in-law. In less than fifteen minutes, the four of them arrived at the station.

After personally seeing his father-in-law and mother-in-law off to their car, Wang Feng handed Ma Hua a Daqianmen cigarette, patted him heavily on the shoulder, and laughed:

"MCA, thank you for your hard work this time, making you get up so early today."

Ma Hua took the cigarette and shook his head repeatedly: "Brother Wang, what are you saying? If it weren't for you, I would still be working in the kitchen, earning a maximum of eighteen yuan a month. In this kind of year, I have my mother and a younger brother to support. With just eighteen yuan, even if I don't starve, life will definitely be difficult. You have been so kind to me, your business is my business. Don't say things like that again."

Hearing Ma Hua's words, Wang Feng took a deep drag of his cigarette, smiled, and nodded.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Go to the factory more often these next few days. When you see Zhang Dali and Li Jianjun, tell them to come to the factory next Monday. I'll transfer some supplies to them so they won't be transferred to the workshop. I'll also treat you to a good meal while I'm at it."

"Haha, okay, I heard from Zhang Dali that you promised them before that you would treat them to drinks if your wife got pregnant," Ma Hua laughed.

"Hehe, we men of Beijing keep our word. I mean what I say, and you'll definitely get your share of the drinks. Alright, it's settled then. I have something to do at home, so I'll be going now."

"Okay, take care, Brother Wang."

Wang Feng and Ma Hua shared a cigarette and chatted for a while before going their separate ways. Ma Hua also had to go to the countryside to make purchases; he wasn't as free as Wang Feng. If he didn't work hard, it would be difficult for him to complete his monthly purchasing quota.

Back at No. 95 courtyard, everyone was already up. It was Saturday, and they would have to work one more day before resting.

On his way back to the Intermediate People's Court, he encountered many people. When they greeted him, Wang Feng responded with a smile.

"Brother Wang Feng, you're back so soon? Have my parents gotten on the bus yet?"

Before Wang Feng could even park his bicycle properly, Qin Jingru, who was cleaning at the entrance, hurriedly asked him what was wrong.

"Don't worry, I personally saw my parents off to the bus," Wang Feng said with a smile.

"Okay, that's good."

"Brother Wang Feng, it's still early, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"No need. I went to bed so early last night and didn't go to the black market to sell my prey. I'm too tired to sleep now. Let's go keep Goose company for a while."

Qin Jingru smiled and nodded: "Okay, wait for me a moment, I'll be done soon."

"Okay, no rush, take your time."

Soon, Qin Jingru finished her housework, and Wang Feng and Qin Jingru left courtyard number 95 to go to courtyard number 28 to keep Lou Xiao'e company.

......

Steel rolling mill, fitter's workshop number three.

Qin Huairu was still the same as always, slacking off as soon as she got to work. She had really tried hard to learn how to be a fitter from Sister Hua, but she just couldn't learn it. Now she finally understood why Jia Dongxu had remained a first-class worker his whole life.

For someone with a talent for fitting, learning to fitter is indeed not difficult, but for someone like her with only a primary school education, who can barely read or write, cannot understand blueprints, and has particularly poor hands-on skills, it is indeed very difficult.

However, she wasn't in a hurry. Anyway, she had something on Guo Da Piezi. As long as she didn't push Guo Da Piezi too far, he wouldn't dare to do anything to her, let alone reduce her salary.

Now she can't squeeze much money out of Wang Mazi and Tieguai Li each month, so she has to think of a way to make ends meet, otherwise this little income is not enough to support her family.

Qin Huairu feels extremely irritable at work every day, worrying about making a living. Less than half an hour into her shift, she went to the rest area to get a drink of water, where she happened to run into Li Huaide and a group of steel mill leaders who were inspecting the workshop.

Upon seeing the factory director, Li Huaide, her eyes lit up. Why hadn't she thought of Li Huaide before?

Li Huaide is the director of the steel rolling mill, and also the top leader of the mill. Who in the entire steel rolling mill is richer or more powerful than Li Huaide?

With just a word from factory director Li Huaide, her salary could immediately rise to the level of a first-grade worker's wage of 33 yuan. Ideally, she could be transferred to the kitchen so that she could eat a free meal in the canteen and take leftovers home every day.

Moreover, if she could charm Li Huaide, she would never have to worry about Banggeng and Xiaodang going hungry again. Maybe their family could even eat meat every day from now on. Wouldn't that be better than Wang Feng?

Thinking of this, she unbuttoned two buttons on her work clothes, revealing her snow-white neck and the deep cleavage.

She deliberately slowed down, and just as she was about two meters away from Li Huaide, Qin Huairu smiled and greeted Li Huaide and a group of leaders.

"Hello, Director Li, hello, leaders."

"Okay, okay."

Li Huaide and the group of leaders responded with smiles, then ignored Qin Huairu and continued walking towards the workshop.

Just then, Qin Huairu suddenly tripped and stumbled.

"what!"

Qin Huairu exclaimed in surprise and fell towards the group of leaders, landing squarely in Li Huaide's arms.

Qin Huairu's two bulging grain sacks pressed firmly against Li Huaide's chest, giving Li Huaide an extremely soft feeling.

However, with so many people watching, Li Huaide forcibly suppressed the pounding in his heart, reluctantly helping Qin Huairu to her proper place, and feigning concern, said:

"Comrade, how are you? Are you alright?"

Qin Huairu's cheeks flushed red, her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, and she stammered nervously:

"Director Li, leaders, I tripped just now, I'm sorry."

When Li Huaide saw Qin Huairu's nervous expression, the bulging grain sacks, and Qin Huairu's pretty face, he felt his mouth go dry.

"It's alright, it's alright, comrade. It's just an accident, isn't it?" Li Huaide smiled awkwardly.

"Thank you for your understanding, Director Li and all the leaders. I... I'll go to work now."

Qin Huairu revealed a charming smile and turned to walk towards the workshop.

"Let's continue our patrol."

Looking at Qin Huairu's round buttocks, Li Huaide swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the impulse in his heart. He greeted a group of leaders and then continued to inspect the workshop with them.