The entire courtyard is full of villains

"You bastard!" Zhang Erhe laughed and gave him a light kick in the butt. "Hurry up and deliver it! After you're done, take your things and go back... ride your Mongolian horse! I'm your brother, not your father, why should I worry about you every day!"

Chapter 76 All Kinds of Things

In the east wing of the front yard, Guan Xue frowned, feeling uneasy—Zhang Erhe hadn't returned all night, nor had he sent anyone to deliver a message; she wondered what had happened. After coaxing Zhang Jiao to sleep, she sat down at the table to wait. She drifted in and out of sleep, not knowing how much time had passed, but when she looked up at the clock, it was almost eleven o'clock. Just as she was about to put on her clothes and go out to check, the door creaked open.

Zhang Erhe carried a bag in, put it down, turned and went out again, and a little while later came back in carrying two bags of flour. "I'm exhausted," he said, panting. "Guan Xue, pour me a cup of tea." Guan Xue quickly got up, closed the door, turned around, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him. Zhang Erhe took it and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls, wiping his mouth casually: "I was so thirsty."

"Erhe, what's this...?" Guan Xue looked at the bags of flour and the unfamiliar bags with a puzzled expression.

Zhang Erhe didn't answer. He walked to the bag and pulled out a large piece of meat, which looked to weigh at least twenty pounds. Then he took out a spare rack of ribs, a piece of pork fat, and two chickens. Guan Xue was stunned. This bag... how could it hold so much?

Finally, Zhang Erhe pulled a large, bulging bag of milk candies from his pocket and tossed it to her: "These candies are for the little money-loser. Two a day, no more. She's teething, too much candy will ruin her teeth."

Guan Xue was so shocked that she couldn't speak, only managing a blank "Oh".

“I asked someone to get some supplies,” Zhang Erhe explained. “Supplies are scarce this year, and it’s the Lunar New Year, so I can’t let you and your money-losing partner go hungry.”

He paused, then said, "Tomorrow, cut five catties of meat and pack ten catties of flour, and send it back to your house. With your father's stubborn, unyielding state, he'll probably go hungry again this year for the New Year. Send it over, so at least your mother-in-law and brother-in-law can have some dumplings."

Guan Xue felt a mix of warmth and sadness upon hearing this. She had just been hesitating about whether to ask Zhang Erhe to send five catties of flour and half a catty of meat to her family, but she hadn't expected him to be so thoughtful. She wasn't feeling well, otherwise she really wanted to repay him properly.

"Alright, stop crying. You're like a person made of water, always shedding golden tears," Zhang Erhe said softly. Guan Xue blushed, spat at him softly, but her heart melted.

The next morning, while Zhang Erhe was still asleep, Zhang Jiao threw herself into his arms and asked, "Daddy, Daddy, did you buy this milk candy for me?"

"If not for you, then for whom?"

"Dad, this candy is so delicious!"

"Even if it's delicious, you can't eat too much, or you'll lose all your teeth and end up like the old deaf man in the backyard!"

Startled, Zhang Jiao quickly covered her mouth and mumbled, "I'm saving my teeth to eat meat!"

Qin Huairu arrived unusually early at the entrance of Workshop 3 of the steel rolling mill. The workers were chatting idly in twos and threes, but she stood there with a worried expression, listening to their discussions.

"Hey, have you heard? Our factory might not be giving out any gifts for the Chinese New Year this year."

"What? You're not giving out anything? I was counting on the factory to give me some New Year's gifts!"

An older worker nearby quickly chimed in, "These past few days I've been making my eldest son go to the market before dawn to queue, but guess what? He's been queuing for three days straight, and he hasn't even seen a bone, let alone meat! What are we going to do? It's Chinese New Year, and we can't even get a bowl of dumplings..."

A young worker leaned over and whispered, "Master Li, I heard that our factory secretary was so exhausted from finding supplies for everyone that he ended up in the hospital. And that new deputy factory director, Li, is a real piece of work! Even the worst factory director could at least manage to give out some things at the end of the year—not much, but enough for the New Year. This new guy is just awful!"

“That’s right,” someone chimed in. “I heard him yelling at someone on the phone in the office building yesterday.”

"If we don't receive supplies this year, how are we going to get through the year..." A worker's sigh silenced everyone.

Qin Huairu frowned as she listened. When Jia Dongxu was around, the factory would always give out some supplies every year for the Spring Festival. Now, although she had taken over the job and received a food ration, the meager amount of food wasn't even enough to feed her mother-in-law alone. Lately, the whole family had been eating cornbread every day, and the sight of it made her throat tighten.

Unlike the gloomy atmosphere here, Zhang Erhe arrived by bicycle just before work. As soon as he entered the office, Wu Liqun was already there.

"Erhe, your tea is ready."

"Master, I can't accept this..." Zhang Erhe blushed deeply, "Others it's the apprentice who makes tea for the master, but you're doing the opposite, making me..."

Wu Liqun waved his hand: "We, master and apprentice, don't stand on ceremony." He paused, then his tone became serious: "Erhe, after the New Year, your junior brother's matter is settled, and we need to go to his family to propose marriage. We'll need your help to arrange things then."

"No problem, Master." Zhang Erhe nodded and leaned closer. "By the way, Master, have you prepared everything for the New Year?"

Wu Liqun frowned immediately: "What else do we need to prepare? Your teacher's wife queued for a week and finally managed to buy two ounces of fatty pork through connections. With the current situation, we're lucky if we can even have dumplings with meat filling. Let's just make do."

Zhang Erhe looked around, then leaned forward and lowered his voice:

"Master, please stay home tonight and leave the door open for me!"

Wu Liqun jumped up, his voice trembling with anxiety: "Erhe! You went to the black market to trade again? You kid, you really are..." He was so anxious he was about to jump up and down, "You're the deputy workshop director now, how could you still..."

"Master! I helped the factory get a batch of supplies." Zhang Erhe quickly explained, "I just got a little extra on the side, so I can prepare some for ourselves for the New Year. I'll deliver it to you tonight."

"You really didn't go to the black market to trade yourself?" Wu Liqun stared at him suspiciously.

Zhang Erhe immediately raised his hand: "I promise the old man!"

Wu Liqun breathed a sigh of relief and said earnestly, "Erhe, it's not that your master is trying to criticize you, but your status is different now; you're a cadre! If you go back to dealing in the black market, it's not like before. That's making a mistake, and it could lead to serious trouble!"

"I know, I know, Master." Zhang Erhe looked both amused and exasperated.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the factory's conference room was heavy. Despite the hospital's insistence that he stay, Secretary Su personally attended and presided over the meeting.

"Huai De, Li Ming," Secretary Su's voice was a little hoarse, "I called you here today to discuss the supplies one last time. The end of the year is just around the corner, let's see how big the shortage is... If all else fails, I'll swallow my pride and go cry to the old leader!"

Yang Liming stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray: "Secretary, I only managed to get two thousand catties of flour. I'll go out and think of something else this afternoon."

Secretary Su nodded, his expression still grave: "I've also gotten a batch of eggs, but the quantity is limited."

When it was Li Huaide's turn, he seemed the most relaxed: "Secretary, Director Yang, I have secured 1,100 jin of flour and 1,500 jin of pork. In addition..." He paused before dropping the most important news, "There are also 400 jin of sugar. However, this batch of sugar is from the export screening and is not packaged."

"Huai De, you...you really managed to get so much stuff?" Secretary Su could hardly believe it. His earlier dejection vanished instantly. He slammed his hand on the table. "Great! We can finally get through this year's hurdle! It's alright if the candy isn't packaged; I'll have someone print some right away. Four hundred catties of candy should make about forty thousand pieces. If each worker in the factory gets ten or so, at least everyone can have something sweet. Huai De, you're amazing!"

Yang Liming, standing to the side, had a flicker in his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. But with Secretary Su present, he couldn't contradict him on the big picture, so he forced a smile and joined in the praise.

Chapter 77 was hilarious

January 24th, the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, was the Little New Year in northern China. But Qin Huairu's family was running out of food. Early in the morning, she steamed three cornbreads with the last of her grain.

Entering the inner room, Jia Zhangshi was still fast asleep. Qin Huairu stepped forward and nudged her: "Mom, I've already fed Xiaodang. There are three steamed buns in the pot. You can eat two, but remember to leave one for Banggeng. If Xiaodang is hungry at noon, you can give her some water to tide her over."

She paused for a moment, then said, "I reckon that after I finish cleaning the workshop and collect my wages this morning, I should be on holiday."

Upon hearing "holiday," Jia Zhangshi suddenly sat up on the kang (a heated brick bed) and hurriedly said, "Huai Ru, you must remember to bring back everything the factory issues!"

Qin Huairu smiled bitterly: "Mom, I'm afraid there won't be any benefits this year. In previous years, there would be rumors about welfare payments long ago. But this year the factory leaders haven't said a word, so I guess there won't be any."

Madam Jia was immediately annoyed: "You've had it every year, why is it that you've stopped this year just because you're working?"

Qin Huairu patiently explained, "Mom, don't you see what the situation is like this year? The rations have been reduced so much, we're barely making ends meet. Last time my family came, they said that some people in the village had run out of food..."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi fell silent, only muttering under her breath, "What kind of world is this..."

Seeing that her mother-in-law was no longer speaking, Qin Huairu came out of the room. Just then, the curtain of the east wing opposite was lifted, and Yi Zhonghai came out with his bag on his back—he had been taking a lot of leave recently and hadn't earned much money, so he had been going to work early these past few days.

"Huai Ru, are you all packed?"

"Master, it's all packed up."

"Let's go then."

As soon as the two stepped out the door, Liu Haizhong caught up from behind, panting, "Old Yi, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me!"

The three of them reached the alley entrance, and Yi Zhonghai turned to Liu Haizhong and asked, "Old Liu, haven't you heard anything about getting any bonuses at the factory this year?"

"What are they giving us?!" Liu Haizhong complained bitterly. "When we workers in the workshop asked the foreman, he said each of us would get a piece of workpiece to take home and smash around with!"

Qin Huairu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle.

Liu Haizhong glared at her and continued to complain, "If you ask me, we're not even as good as the big boss at the food factory in the backyard! At least they give each person two pounds of chicken cakes. We're a large state-owned factory, and we're not even as good as a small food factory!"

"Second Uncle, what you said really resonated with me!" Sha Zhu's voice came from behind. The three turned around and saw him wrapped in an old overcoat, his neck tucked into the collar.

"Zhu Zi, why are you at work so early today?" Yi Zhonghai asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yesterday when I left work, the workshop foreman specifically told me to come early and clean up the canteen. Who knows... I might have to cook a special meal for the leaders."

"There's still special treatment at this time?" Yi Zhonghai blinked.

"Yes! When have they ever gone without food?" Sha Zhu curled his lip. "Especially that new Deputy Factory Director Li, he's obviously no good, always keeping an eye on Liu Lan in the kitchen."

Liu Haizhong chimed in, "Exactly! I heard when he first came, people in the factory were saying he was related to some leader in the ministry, but it turns out he's all show and no substance—all bark and no bite! I remember last year everyone got a pound of meat, but this year, nothing! It's fucking ridiculous!"

“That’s right!” Sha Zhu complained bitterly. “The other day he said he was going to pull some strings and talk about benefits, and he was giving us special meals every day. I thought he was really looking out for the workers, so I didn’t even pick out any food from his portion when cooking…”

At this point, Sha Zhu abruptly stopped talking—he had been so excited that he had accidentally revealed his old trick of "picking things out of the vegetables." What would happen if word got out?

Of the three, Liu Haizhong was slow-witted, but Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu were both shrewd and intelligent.

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat: since Sha Zhu could get some oil and grease from the kitchen, and the family was almost out of food, if all else failed... she might as well get closer to him. She knew Sha Zhu well—even when Jia Dongxu was still alive, he always liked to stare at her. Now that they were starving, she could always borrow some money and food from He Yuzhu. He lived alone, so he should have a surplus of food.

With these plans in mind, the group soon arrived at the steel rolling mill.

After separating from Yi Zhonghai and the others, Sha Zhu headed straight for the cafeteria. Just as he was about to enter, he saw the cafeteria manager hurriedly taking attendance.

"Is everyone here?...Most of them are here, who's missing?"

"Only He Yuzhu is missing!"

The cafeteria manager stamped his foot: "Oh dear! That He Yuzhu, I told him a thousand times yesterday to come early, but he just wouldn't come. He's really infuriating..."

Before the words were finished, the curtain was flung open with a "whoosh," and Sha Zhu stepped in:

"Director, I could hear you talking about me from far away—what were you talking about?"

"I was wondering why you took so long to arrive! Now that you're here, perfect timing, come with me!"

"Go? Where are we going?" Sha Zhu was taken aback.

The director lowered his voice: "Come with me—to distribute the meat."

"Meat? Where did the meat come from?" Sha Zhu was completely stunned.

"Nonsense, of course the leaders got the meat!" The cafeteria manager rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"How come I didn't know?"

"I only found out about this last night! What would happen if you knew? With your big mouth, the whole factory would be buzzing with the news! If it leaked to other factories, those logistics managers would be green with envy, pulling strings to snatch it away! Haven't you heard the old saying, 'If a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose his life; if matters are not kept secret, they will lead to disaster!' Stop arguing and come with me now. The sooner we get the meat, the sooner this will be over!"

Upon hearing the word "meat," Sha Zhu immediately forgot everything else, rushed into the kitchen to grab a knife, called two kitchen helpers, and hurriedly followed the canteen manager away.

Meanwhile, Qin Huairu and her group arrived at the workshop and gathered with their coworkers, inevitably launching into another round of complaints. But as soon as the work bell rang, everyone fell silent and picked up their tools to begin cleaning.

The workshop had just been cleaned when the loudspeaker at the entrance blared with a "whoosh":

"Attention all workshop directors: After your workshop staff have finished cleaning, proceed to the finance department to collect your wages in workshop order, and then go to the first canteen to collect this year's holiday supplies!"

Immediately afterwards, a man's voice came out; it was none other than Deputy Factory Director Li, whom they had been cursing incessantly.

"Comrades! This year, due to some unforeseen circumstances, everyone's food rations have been reduced. However! Thanks to the efforts of our steel rolling mill leadership team, under Secretary Su's guidance, and with the tireless efforts of Director Yang and myself, we have finally managed to secure some supplies for everyone!"

He paused, his voice tinged with seriousness: "Supplies are limited. Each person will receive half a pound of meat, a pound of flour, and twelve milk candies. After receiving your wages, please collect your supplies in an orderly fashion from the canteen, organized by workshop. Rest assured, the meat will be cut on the spot to ensure fairness; there will be no shortchanging! Please queue up and maintain order!"

As soon as the broadcast ended, the workshop fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers.

In the distant broadcasting room, Li Huaide listened to the cheers coming from the workshop, a smile playing on his lips. The head of the publicity department, standing nearby, stepped forward, beaming, "Director Li, it's all thanks to you! This year has been so difficult, yet you still managed to secure so many good things for our factory. Director Li, you're truly capable! The workers are overjoyed!"