Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

New Year's Day.

Yi Zhonghai called Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, and they moved the square table to the water trough in the middle courtyard.

There were sunflower seeds and peanuts on the table, ready for a big New Year's gathering for the whole college.

"As usual, it's fate that we all live together, so let's all come out and exchange New Year's greetings." Yi Zhonghai greeted them with a teacup. Although it was called an old custom, the group greetings had actually been suspended for several years. However, everyone just wanted to make it convenient and lively. The matter of kowtowing to any "ancestors" was no longer involved. It was just a simple exchange of pleasantries on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Yi Zhonghai wasn't annoyed. Since the people in the courtyard were giving him face, he could take it one step at a time and slowly rebuild the rules.

You can't rush things.

Suddenly, the door to the east courtyard opened.

Zhang Dabiao completely ignored the New Year's gathering ceremony. He and Qin Jingru carried two large sacks filled with flour, pork, oil, and sugar. They went straight to the outer courtyard, met up with Mu Wanqing, and got on their sidecar motorcycle.

As usual, Mu Wanqing sat in the back seat, while Qin Jingru sat in the sidecar carrying supplies. The three of them left the courtyard and headed towards Qinjiatun in Changping.

Go and wish your master a Happy New Year.

Upon arriving at Qinjiatun, people greeted us from afar at the village entrance.

Captain Qin Dingsong stood on the threshing ground, watching Zhang Dabiao unload the mountain of New Year's goods.

He kept thinking to himself that the best thing he had ever done in his life was taking Zhang Dabiao as his apprentice.

Despite the natural disasters of the past few years, not a single person in Qinjiatun starved to death!

If Zhang Dabiao weren't from outside the village, he would have given him the position of brigade leader directly.

Qin Dingsong stroked his beard and looked Qin Jingru up and down.

The little girl had rosy cheeks, was dressed neatly and cleanly, and had grown quite a bit taller. I heard she even got into high school.

"Da Biao, sending this girl to the city was the right decision," Qin Dingsong nodded.

"Master, what are you saying? We're all family, what's this about right or wrong?" Zhang Dabiao handed over a Daqianmen cigarette.

He did some mental calculations.

Over the past three years, Qinjiatun has helped him collect over a hundred pieces of fine porcelain, as well as a pile of ancient coins.

Qin Dingsong taught him two sets of practical martial arts, and Lao Pizi taught him how to use a hunting rifle and hunting techniques. Qin Mancang even killed someone to save him.

All he paid was a little over 1000 yuan a month for food. Over nearly three years, that's about 40,000 yuan. But the cultural relics, antiques, and paintings he found far exceeded that price. Old Jin found several treasures among them.

No matter how you look at it, this deal is a win-win.

Moreover, after the autumn harvest in 62, the grain supply was basically self-sufficient, so Qin Dingsong had long since stopped asking Zhang Dabiao to give him 2000 jin of grain every month.

However, the Qin family members were still there in Lishuiqiao Village, keeping an eye on things. If they needed food, they could just go and buy it directly, paying real money, so it wasn't like they were taking advantage of Zhang Dabiao for nothing.

------------

Early in the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Zhang Dabiao took Mu Wanqing to Zhangjiatun in Shunyi.

Uncle Zhang Er pulled Zhang Dabiao into the inner room and closed the door.

He pulled a cloth bag from under the kang mat and placed it heavily on the table.

"Da Biao, this is what we've collected over the past few months," said Uncle Zhang, rubbing his rough hands.

The cloth bag was opened, revealing two Qing Dynasty official kiln blue and white porcelain plates, as well as four small, golden yellow fish.

Zhang Dabiao weighed the item in his hand and put it into his bag.

He pulled out a thick wad of ten-yuan notes from his pocket and neatly stacked them on the table.

"Second Uncle, even close brothers should keep clear accounts. You take this money and distribute it among everyone according to the market price."

"As long as I'm here, our Zhang family branch will never go hungry." Zhang Dabiao slapped the table.

Uncle Zhang's eyes were red, and he clutched the money tightly in his hand.

No need to say anything more, the grudges of Zhang Banxian's generation are long gone.

------------

The steel rolling mill resumed operations after the holiday.

The fervor of "learning from Daqing in industry" continues.

At the factory-wide meeting, Director Yang personally named Yi Zhonghai.

Last year, Yi Zhonghai trained five apprentices to the seventh level of craftsmanship.

His own Level 8 workstation has also been steadily restored.

"Comrade Yi Zhonghai is a model of technical mentorship in our steel rolling mill!" Director Yang announced loudly through a megaphone.

The factory staff pinned a big red flower, bigger than his face, on Yi Zhonghai's head.

The letter of commendation was broadcast three times over the factory's public address system.

Yi Zhonghai stood on the podium, his back ramrod straight.

The scenery is infinite.

All the frustration of the past few months vanished.

Liu Haizhong stood in the workshop line, looking at Yi Zhonghai on the stage.

My heart is bubbling with bitterness.

After getting off work, Liu Haizhong drank three glasses of bulk liquor.

"Why should Lao Yi get to wear the big red flower!" Liu Haizhong slammed his wine cup heavily on the table.

"I'm the second oldest in our institute, my understanding of diagnosis and treatment is far superior to his!"

Fueled by alcohol, Liu Haizhong had an idea: all he wanted was to be recognized as an advanced worker! If he became an advanced worker, the factory would have to acknowledge it—so he'd find something to be recognized as an advanced worker!

So the next morning, Liu Haizhong went straight to the factory office to find Li Huaide.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, our family is actively responding to the national call, and I plan to send my youngest son, Guangfu, to the countryside!" Liu Haizhong said with a big smile, his belly protruding.

"This is my stance on the matter, as you see it, could you consider me for the position of workshop director?"

Li Huaide was looking down at the documents when he heard this and he was completely stunned.

What the hell does it have to do with me that you sent your son to the countryside?

[Sending your son to the countryside and expecting him to become a workshop foreman?]

You're selling your son, not me!

"Comrade Liu Haizhong, the factory is currently focused on production and technology," Li Huaide said coldly, throwing down his pen.

"You sent your son to the countryside and went to the local street office, what are you trying to gain credit from me for?"

"go out!"

Liu Haizhong was rebuffed and slunk out of the office.

Li Huaide immediately told Liu Guangqi about it. Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill and Hongxing Daily Necessities Manufacturing Plant were not far apart. Since the reorganization of Hongxing Daily Necessities Manufacturing Plant, the two plants often exchanged parts for each other, so they were very familiar with each other.

"Guangqi, your dad, that guy, here..." Li Huaide pointed to his temple.

"Is something wrong with you?"

Liu Guangqi was both amused and exasperated. What could he say? That his father was obsessed with becoming an official?

------------

I get off work in the evening.

Liu Guangqi went directly into the back room.

"Dad, what kind of joke did you make when you went to see Director Li today?" Liu Guangqi asked coldly, cutting to the chase.

"How did I make a fool of myself? I went to show my loyalty!" Liu Haizhong stubbornly insisted.

"What the factory needs are technical role models! Yi Zhonghai has trained five level-seven workers, what do you have?" Liu Guangqi immediately poured cold water on the idea.

"You neither made any technological breakthroughs nor exceeded your targets."

"You used your experience of being sent to the countryside in Guangfu to try and get a promotion. The fact that Director Li didn't directly punish you is already showing you mercy!"

"If word gets out that you'd even buy your own son to get an official position, then not only you, but I, as a cadre, would be finished!"

Liu Haizhong's face was ashen, and the flesh on his face was trembling.

I couldn't refute it at all.

Liu Guangqi was too lazy to say more. He had mentioned it once before, but this time he was being foolish again. Liu Guangqi knew that he couldn't change his father's mind in a short time. The situation was not very stable right now. Why don't you get your skills to level 8 first?

Didn't you see that even though Yi Zhonghai was recognized as an advanced worker, he didn't become an official? Being a cadre isn't that easy.

He gave a few more words of advice and instructions before turning and leaving.

Liu Haizhong was seething with anger, and just then he saw Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangtian returning from outside.

"You jinx! It's all because of you!" Liu Haizhong ripped off his belt and pounced on him.

Liu Guangtian turned around outside the door and ran away.

Liu Guangfu was pinned to the ground and given a thorough beating, the pain bringing tears to his eyes.

He clutched his head and roared inwardly.

Why am I always the one who gets beaten up?!

What's the reason this time?

Am I really their biological child?

If you're so tough, why don't you drag Liu Guangtian into the fight too!