The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

As soon as Yang Dalin entered the office, Comrade Xiao Li made him a cup of tea and brought it to him.

Yang Dalin quickly took it and placed it on the table.

I said thank you, Brother Li.

Wow, why are the people at work being so polite today?

Comrade Xiao Li was also very polite.

Qi Desheng asked Comrade Xiao Li to go out first.

Yang Dalin finally spoke, "Brother Sheng, what's going on?"

What happened?

Why am I so confused?

Oh, right, let's not talk about that now. I brought back half a truckload of mutton and about a hundred mutton hides.

"Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? It's getting hot, what if it spoils?"

"Little Li, Little Li."

Xiao Li pushed open the door and poked his head in: "What's wrong, stationmaster?"

"Go and arrange for the cafeteria staff to weigh the mutton that Da Linzi brought from the car downstairs."

Weigh out the quantity (in kilograms) and write a receipt.

Take it to the cafeteria.

Yang Dalin quickly interjected, "Stationmaster, the canteen has more than thirty of them, we can't use them all."

Each one weighs about fifty pounds on average.

"Wow, so much! We'll weigh it first, keep one-third for the cafeteria's cold storage, and the rest will be sold at one yuan per kilogram. Each employee is limited to five kilograms."

What are you going to do with all those sheepskins?

"I'll give the sheepskins to everyone for free. If there aren't enough, two people can share one."

Yang Dalin gave a generous reply.

Brother Sheng is really generous; he just charged one yuan per jin.

Pork in the market costs 76 cents with meat coupons, meaning most people can't even buy a pound of pork in a month.

The meat, which doesn't require a ration coupon, is only one yuan per pound.

Pork priced at several yuan or even ten yuan per kilogram, far below the black market price.

Everyone should thank Yang Dalin for this.

Not to mention the free sheepskin.

Qi Desheng gave a thumbs up: "Great! Xiao Li, just do as Da Linzi says."

Go quickly.

"Alright, stationmaster, I'll thank Dalinzi on everyone's behalf."

After saying that, Comrade Li closed the door and ran away.

A few days ago, Captain Wang and his team came back with a batch of Tan sheep, and the price wasn't high.

This time, Yang Dalin brought back another batch of gazelles, and the price wasn't high.

Who wouldn't be happy to eat more meat if they could be happy?

Even if the mutton doesn't have that much fat.

But it's cheap.

Other organizations want to do it but can't.

Qi Desheng walked over and patted Yang Dalin on the shoulder heavily: "You're really something, kid."

A commendation order came from the Northwest and was sent directly to the ministry.

They said they wanted to apply for a special merit award for you.

They also expressed special thanks to their company, saying that their company had cultivated a heavyweight talent.

Our unit might award us a collective third-class merit.

Good heavens, everyone was overjoyed.

While working at home, I don't know how I ended up making a big contribution.

When I inquired, it was all because of you.

Can't everyone just applaud to welcome you?

I'm wondering the same thing. What merit did you achieve that the military would apply for a special-class merit for you?

As a result, the deputy minister in the department secretly told me that you had obtained several hundred tons of game for them.

Many soldiers over there fainted from hunger, and several lay down; countless others were malnourished.

You've done them a great favor.

It could be described as providing timely help in a snowstorm, saving countless lives.

I also heard that the regimental commander and division commander went to thank you, but you ran away quietly. It was a pity that the regimental commander and division commander didn't get to see you, but they praised you a lot.

When the top leader found out, he personally called the ministry and asked the minister to give you credit.

It must also be a special-class merit.

You've really made me proud.

"My brother might get promoted again this year, all thanks to you."

Goodness, another special merit award! I guess this meat will be of great help to the experts who are researching high-tech weapons like Miss Qiu's.

Otherwise, Commander Fang's superiors wouldn't have been so generous in applying for a special merit award.

This was truly a tremendous achievement in those famine-stricken times.

It might even speed up Ms. Qiu's research and development.

"Brother Sheng, the others in our unit probably don't know the specifics, right?"

"Of course, everyone only knows that you brought honor to the company, but I'm the only one in the whole station who knows the specifics."

Xiao Li didn't know anything about it; all he knew was that you brought honor to the company.

Don't worry about that. Everyone knows about the confidentiality regulations and won't pry.

"That's good. Sheng-ge, please tell everyone later, and be careful to keep it a secret. I don't want to attract the attention of certain people."

"Yes, that's a must."

How come you're so good? You can take down so many tanks all by yourself.

Tell me in detail how you played it.

Looking at Qi Desheng's curious expression, Yang Dalin said directly, "Brother Sheng, I just said to keep it a secret, so you'd better not ask."

"No, I'm not asking who you called or where you called. I'm just asking why you called so many. Can't you even tell me?"

"No, Brother Sheng, when I came here, they told me that the whole thing must be kept secret. Otherwise, they would all come looking for me. If I can't get the meat, wouldn't I be offending people?"

So, you shouldn't ask anymore.

Otherwise, the ministry will also ask me to get a batch of meat, but what if I can't catch any?

What if someone comes to you and you don't agree? Then you've offended them for no reason. Right now, it's only up to you, the minister, and the deputy minister to know.

It's best to keep a low profile.

Qi Desheng, upon hearing this, suppressed his curiosity and said, "Alright, what you say makes sense."

Then I won't ask anymore.

You also deserve credit for moving that batch of goods; the leader even issued a commendation, possibly a second-class merit.

This matter is being kept secret.

Nobody knows either.

It's good that you know what's going on.

By the way, did you leave any meat for me and Lao Tian?

"Let's not all stay in the car, shall we?"

"You don't need to tell me, Brother Sheng. It's already been prepared. You and Brother Tian will each get half a Xia Ning Tan sheep and half a yellow sheep. It's mainly because it's getting hot, and I was afraid you wouldn't be able to keep them. Otherwise, I would have given you one of each."

There are also five sheepskins for each of you two; these are locked in my cab.

I'll have Brother Tian take it to your house tonight.

Is there anything else? If not, I'll be going now.

I haven't been home for over twenty days, almost a month. I miss home.

"Okay, then you should go home now."

I'll give you three days off.

"Shall we settle the cost of the mutton on the bus now, or after we get to work?"

"Let's talk about it after we get to work."

"Alright then, go home first, take a three-day break, and come back to work after three days."

"Okay, I'll come to your house for a free meal tomorrow, Sheng-ge. Have your wife cook me something delicious."

"Fine, since we're eating the mutton you brought anyway, get lost."

Yang Dalin left the office.

I took a shower at the company's shower room first.

Yang Dalin did take a shower on the way.

I drove all day, on a motorcycle, so there was a lot of dust. I'm heading home soon to rinse it off.

He took a sack from the driver's seat that he needed to take home.

After locking the driver's cab, I delivered the keys to Qi Desheng again.

When delivering the keys, Qi Desheng said, "I forgot to tell you earlier, that chubby girl Yuan Qiao from Hebei Province will be transferred to the station next month."

I heard that this is the person you've taken a liking to, and that he has good driving skills?

Are you also capable of repairing cars?

Yang Dalin slapped his forehead, almost forgetting about this underling he had taken in. He thought he would have to help him find a solution, but he didn't expect that this kid had already taken care of the formalities himself: "Yes, there is such a thing."

The chubby guy is actually pretty good at driving; he has four years of work experience, two years as an apprentice, and two years of independent driving experience.

He said he loved tinkering with machines since he was a child and was very skillful with his hands, which is why his mother changed his name to Yuan Qiao.

His original name was supposedly Yuan Kui.

"Haha, okay, a chubby guy with a girl's name, and you say he's quite capable, I'd really like to meet him."

"That's really all right now, you can get lost."

Yang Dalin bid farewell to Qi Desheng and Qi Dagouxiong before riding his bicycle home, carrying a full sack.

It wasn't dark yet, and Yang Dalin searched for Ma San all over the train station square.

I couldn't find it; it's probably been taken on by someone else.

Yang Dalin offered cigarettes to Ma San's friends who often waited for work.

Tell them to send a message to Ma San when they see him, saying that they have returned and that he should go home early that night.