Siheyuan, don't mess with me

Previously, the First and Second Steel Mills had recruited a group of people for expansion. By the time Yan Bugui knew about it, it was too late. Now the Red Star Steel Mill is also expanding, so Yan Bugui has started to think about it! The most prestigious family working in the steel mill in the courtyard is the old Chen family. Go find him again? But will it cost money? Yan Bugui wants to talk to Yan Jiecheng!

The next morning, Yan Bugui's family had the same old cornmeal porridge for breakfast, one steamed bun for each person, and three pickled vegetables! A typical example of not being full but not starving!

After all the children who went to school left, only Yan Bugui, Yan Jiecheng and Li Ruihua were left!

"Boss, how are you doing lately?"

Yan Jiecheng's heart was beating wildly. What happened again? Why did he care about me out of the blue? "It's just like that. It's hard to get a job now. The only job I can get is to carry bags at the train station. There are no jobs anywhere else!" No matter what, I'll play the victim first!

"You look like you're having a hard time right now, I can't bear it either!"

The more Yan Bugui said this, the more worried Yan Jiecheng became. He wondered what the old man was planning for him.

Seeing that Yan Jiecheng didn't say anything and continued to eat his steamed bread, Yan Bugui didn't care and continued, "I feel really bad seeing you like this, so I've been asking around to find a suitable job for you."

"Have you found it?" Yan Jiecheng was still a little naive after all, and continued, "It's the same as fishing. Once you touch the hook, do you still want to run away?"

“Now there is some hope!”

"Really? Dad! Where are you going to work?" Yan Jiecheng suddenly became excited.

"We are discussing this, but there is something I want to discuss with you!"

Yan Jiecheng was shocked and thought, this is bad, it must be bad! As expected, "You also know that if you want to find a job now, you have to spend money," Yan Bugui said slowly.

“How much will it cost?”

"Eight hundred!"

"What kind of job is so expensive? Isn't it 500?"

"What kind of factory is that? They are all small factories run by the street offices. The one at 800 is a legitimate large factory. How can they be the same?" Yan Bugui said disdainfully.

"Is it a steel mill? It can't be that expensive, six hundred or seven hundred!" Yan Jiecheng was not unfamiliar with the market situation. Yan Bugui's quotation must be inflated!

"What do you know? Six hundred, seven hundred, can you buy it?"

Yan Jiecheng was speechless. Indeed, jobs in steel rolling mills have always been in short supply. There are simply no such jobs on the market. Even if there were, they had already been absorbed internally. How could they flow into society?

"But I don't have any money?"

"I can lend it to you, but you have to pay interest!" Yan Jiecheng finally understood why Yan Bugui wanted to talk to him this morning. It turned out that he was waiting for him here? However, it was a rule that you had to spend money to find a job. Six hundred, seven hundred, eight hundred, as long as it was a good job, Yan Jiecheng would accept it. At most, he could save it for a few years and pay it back slowly! But Yan Bugui also wanted to charge interest, which made Yan Jiecheng feel very uncomfortable. Am I your biological son? If you don't pay for it, can't I just count it as a loan from me? Why do you still charge interest? Isn't this not treating me as a family member?

Although he felt very aggrieved, Yan Jiecheng still nodded. There was no other way. It was so popular to have a formal job. With a fixed salary, he would be more confident no matter what he did in the future. Now that he was in this situation, no one was interested in him even when he went on a blind date!

Seeing that the deal was done, Yan Bugui went to work in a hurry. Yan Jiecheng drank the last mouthful of cornmeal porridge and went to look for work. Li Ruihua looked at his eldest son with his head down and shoulders slumped, and sighed in his heart. If this continued, his eldest son would be useless. But what he said as an old man was right, he couldn't just give the money to his son for free!

After Chen Zhiguo went to work, he continued to hide in the warehouse to study his machine tools, while Xu Damao, carrying a cloth bag, knocked on the door of the Propaganda Section Chief Zou Changqing. Xu Damao looked eloquent and flattered Zou Changqing a lot, but he couldn't find the right direction, so it was all in vain!

But today was different. With Chen Zhiguo's guidance last night, he had a direction, and the matter went smoothly. Section Chief Zou not only accepted the local specialties from his fellow villagers, two bottles of Fenjiu and a peony, but also promised to arrange two apprentices for him after New Year's Day! He also sent him to the door of the office, which surprised everyone in the propaganda department in the large office outside. What happened today? Didn't Xu Damao always walk out of the office backwards with a nod? What happened today that made the section chief happy?

Xu Damao returned to his office, the projection equipment room. He had been pretending to be calm, but after closing the door, he jumped up excitedly. It turned out that intellectuals were amazing. He used to give gifts frequently, but every time they accepted the gifts, their attitude was still lukewarm. This time he finally found the right way!

Thinking of another thing Chen Zhiguo said, about reading books and newspapers, Xu Damao felt a headache. He knew his own level. He seemed to be eloquent, but what he said was not up to standard. He was very knowledgeable when it came to talking about the dirty tricks, but when it came to talking about big principles, he was like an embroidered pillow with a straw heart, and a rooster could hardly lay eggs!

He lit a cigarette, picked up the newspaper, and flipped through it for a while. Forget it, I'll go out for a walk first. I heard that a young wife has been transferred to the logistics warehouse, so I'll go and take a look. Xu Damao dropped the newspaper and went out, leaving the messy newspapers on the table!

In winter, when it was time to get off work, it was almost dark. The guesthouse was not busy today, and it was a rare occasion for Chen Dayong to get off work with Chen Zhiguo. The two of them did not ride bicycles, but pushed their bicycles while chatting and walking home!

As soon as they arrived at the door of their house, they saw Yan Bugui standing at the gate with his hands clasped. Chen Zhiguo and Chen Dayong looked at each other. What was this old man Yan trying to do?

Seeing the Chen family's father and son coming back, Yan Bugui walked up with a smile, "Dayong, Zhiguo is off work!"

"Master Yan, ok!"

"Old Yan, have you eaten yet?"

"Nope?"

"Oh! It's getting dark, go home early and cook!"

"It's okay, my wife is cooking at home! I'm just taking a walk here!"

"Okay, take your time, we'll go home and cook!" After saying that, Chen Dayong walked towards home, and Chen Zhiguo followed closely behind him pushing his bicycle!

Yan Bugui was stunned. Why didn't you follow the routine? At least you should say hello and come sit down with me. Wouldn't it be natural for me to come in?

Seeing that Chen Dayong had already opened the gate and Chen Zhiguo was pushing his bicycle in, Yan Bugui quickly called out, "Old Chen, Old Chen!"

"Old Yan! I won't accompany you for a walk anymore. I have to cook for the children!" Chen Dayong said and closed the gate!

Yan Bugui looked at the tightly closed door, his lips trembling, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak!

Chapter 224: Li Ruihua, who was hit hard, felt seriously unbalanced!

Li Ruihua saw Yan Bugui coming home and asked, "Old man, is the discussion over so soon? How is it going? Did you agree?"

Yan Bugui held the enamel pot, covered his hands, and said unhappily, "What are you talking about? You haven't even entered the door, how can you talk?"

"Old Chen's family won't let you in? I'll go find him! They are so rude that they won't even let me in. I'm going to scold them to death today and give their family some publicity!" Li Ruihua took off her apron, threw it on the table, and was about to go out and curse in anger!

"Come back! What do you want to do?" Yan Bugui said angrily.

"Go and scold them! How can you do things this way? They don't even let us in the door. They look down on us!" Li Ruihua shouted at the outside at the top of his voice!

"Okay, keep your voice down!" Yan Bugui didn't expect that Li Ruihua would be like a powder keg today, ready to explode at any moment!

"What? You are afraid of their family, but I am not. I am right!" Li Ruihua continued to shout!

"Mom, what's wrong?" Yan Jiecheng walked in from outside the door!

"Son, you're back at the right time. Come with me to Old Chen's house to seek justice. This is too much bullying!" Li Ruihua saw Yan Jiecheng coming back and pulled him out!

"Bang!" Yan Bugui slammed the enamelware pot onto the table, not caring about the splashing hot water or whether the enamel would be knocked off. "Come back, what are you making a fuss about! Don't you want to find a job for Yan Jiecheng?"

"That's not the way they do things. They come to my house and they won't even let me in. Are they looking down on me?" Li Ruihua shouted at the top of her voice. It was time to get off work, and everyone coming and going in the courtyard could hear her voice!

"Okay, stop yelling, aren't you embarrassed?" Yan Bugui was also furious. What happened to this woman today? I've never seen her like this before.

Yan Jiecheng beside her also tried to persuade her, "Mom, don't be angry! Let's not ask their family for help. Let's think of other ways!"

Li Ruihua, who was stopped, sat on the chair and started crying! Today, Li Ruihua was hit hard!

It turned out that this morning, the men all went to work, and Chen Wanyi and Jia Zhangshi from the Central Court, as well as Li Ruihua, went to buy vegetables together. What vegetables could be bought in winter? The cabbages and radishes had already been distributed to the families, so they just went to see if they could buy some meat!

Chen Wanyi is now married to He Daqing. They have nothing to lack at home. She often goes out shopping and playing with Jia Zhang. After a period of recuperation, Jia Zhang is no longer so thin. This woman has a physique that is prone to obesity. After a period of recuperation, she has become plump again. Although she is not as fat as before, she is better than when she just escaped. At least she has meat on her body and her skin has become whiter!

"Jia Zhang, what delicious food do this son and daughter-in-law prepare every day? They are so well-fed," Li Ruihua said with envy. These days, everyone has a pale complexion. Who is like these two women, one fairer than the other, and plump! Although Li Ruihua is also old, no matter how old a woman is, it cannot stop her yearning for beauty!

Chen Wanyi is spoiled by He Daqing and doesn't have to cook every day. She just has to do some housework. But I have to prepare three meals a day, wash clothes and do housework after that. I am busy every day!

And Jia Zhang is even happier. Her daughter-in-law Qin Huairu is very capable. In the past, she did all the work alone, but now the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law work together while chatting and laughing. When Jia Zhang just came back, she was skinny and dark, but it has only been a short time, and look at how well she is taken care of. How can Li Ruihua not envy and jealous when she is with the two of them!

It's okay to compare looks! When buying vegetables, there was nothing to buy in the state-owned vegetable market. Chen Wanyi wanted to buy tofu, but she was too late and it was sold out. Jia Zhang also came to the butcher shop but found nothing. Only Li Ruihua picked a few shriveled potatoes that others couldn't sell!

When the three of them passed by a small alley, Jia Zhang pulled them over. There were a few farmers squatting there who had come to the city. "Uncle, how much is this chicken?"

"Four dollars!" The old farmer squatted on the ground and there was a chicken coop in front of him. Inside were two skinny chickens.

"Can you make it cheaper? I'll take both!" Jia Zhang looked at them and said,

"Let's buy them together for 7.5 yuan!" The old farmer held a pipe in his mouth, his face full of vicissitudes!

"How about six pieces? The chicken is too skinny, only the bones are left!" Jia Zhang reached out and touched it, bargaining.

"Sister, we really can't sell them. If you don't need money urgently, who would think of selling the chickens? These are new year chickens. They can lay eggs if we raise them!" The old farmer looked reluctant. If he didn't really need money urgently, he would keep them at home and lay eggs to exchange for money or other things!

"Six dollars and fifty cents, please! It includes the chicken coop. If you agree, pay up. If not, just wait for the next wave!" Jia Zhang is no longer as harsh as before, and she speaks in a soft and slow voice. It seems that she has really changed!

The old farmer hesitated for a while, and when Jia Zhang was about to turn around and leave, he said, "Big sister, I'll give it to you!"

Jia Zhang paid the money and carried the chicken cage home. Li Ruihua didn't dare to speak during the bargaining. After Jia Zhang paid the money, she asked, "It's so expensive, how could you bear to spend it?"

"Dongxu, now my salary is high, I'm a third-level worker, and I get 46 yuan a month, and I get 10 yuan for retirement. What should I do with the money? Buy something!" Jia Zhang was showing off, which made Li Ruihua feel sour! When her family asked her son for some money, she had to ask the old man for it. Look at other people, they gave it automatically! But she didn't think about it. Jia Zhang used the money to buy things and feed her children, but what about them? What would happen?

"This chicken is too skinny!" Li Ruihua said with disgust, but he was extremely greedy in his heart. He hadn't eaten meat for a long time!

"Take it back and take good care of it. It will lay eggs, which will be just right for my grandson and daughter-in-law to nourish their bodies!" Jia Zhang's words immediately broke Li Ruihua's defense. Is this still the lazy Jia Zhang? How come she has become so nice now!

Chen Wanyi and Jia Zhang each held a chicken cage in one hand, while Li Ruihua followed behind with a basket astride. When they passed by someone, Chen Wanyi stopped and asked, "Brother, how do we exchange this fish?"

"These are all the ones I just caught. You see, they are all alive! Big sister, how many do you want?"

A small bucket, half full of fish, but they were not big, about 20 to 30 grams. Chen Wanyi did not start to catch them, but just shook the bucket. They were all alive and kicking. "I want them all. How do you think we can exchange them?"

"If you want all of them, give me five kilograms of food coupons!"

"Too expensive! This fish is too small. It's troublesome and wastes oil to cook it at home. I can't serve it to guests. I can only eat it at home. If it wasn't for the fact that it's fresh, I wouldn't want it. Please give me less!" On the street, people were coming and going. The fishmonger didn't dare to stay for long. He just hid aside and no one came to ask. Then he bravely brought it to the street, "How about giving me four pounds of food coupons?"

"Three catties, if you want to change it, then change it. If not, I'll leave!" Chen Wanyi didn't want to bargain anymore. After all, the location was not suitable and it would take a long time to catch the fish! The fishmonger had the same mentality. Besides, this was the fish he caught himself, so it was just a matter of spending some time!

In this way, Chen Wanyi spent three kilograms of food coupons to exchange for more than a dozen small fish. It was not expensive, but it was really troublesome and difficult to clean up. Moreover, when cooking, you have to put enough oil and ingredients, otherwise it will taste fishy!

"Lao He and Zhuzi love this. Take the small fish back and cook it with onions, ginger, garlic and soybean paste, then freeze it overnight. The fish jelly is a great dish to go with wine! It's just that I didn't buy tofu today, so I can't make crucian carp and tofu soup for Yu Li! The girl is pregnant and still busy every day!" Chen Wanyi's words stabbed Li Ruihua in the heart again. Li Ruihua swore that she would never go out to buy groceries with them again. It was too discouraging!

Yan Bugui's family had never bought fish. Whenever they ate fish, Yan Bugui would go fishing. If he was lucky enough to catch a big fish, he would just trade it for the fish. As for the remaining small fish that no one wanted, he would take them home to make soup. The soup was lacking in oil and salt, and it had a strong fishy taste in his mouth!

Li Ruihua was devastated after following the two aunties to the street! That was not the end. Not long ago, when Li Ruihua was peeling potatoes at the door, he saw Chen Wanyi coming out with a bottle of wine, "Old Chen, where are you going?"

"The soy sauce at home is all used up. I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some soy sauce!" Chen Wanyi shook the bottle of wine in her hand. Just as she was about to go out, she saw He Daqing walking in from the front door. "Where are you going?"

"Go get some soy sauce! I'll buy some small fish that you like today and roast them for you to eat with your wine!" Chen Wanyi said with a smile.

He Daqing took the wine bottle from Chen Wanyi and handed her a box of cakes. "These are your favorite pea yellow and sesame roll cakes, as well as yam cakes! I got off work early today, so I went to buy some!"

Chen Wanyi took the cake and said with a smile, "You just know how to waste money!"

"I'm giving it to you, why would you be reluctant to give it up? I'm going to get some soy sauce, it's too late and people will be off work! By the way, don't touch the fish, wait for me to come back, you just take a rest!" He Daqing walked towards the door with the wine bottle. Li Ruihua was jealous when he saw it. What kind of family is this? He can't even have enough food at home, but they have already prepared pastries, and they still don't allow him to cook! Looking at himself, Yan Bugui acts like a master when he goes home, and he has never been to the kitchen. He is really comparing himself with others, and he is so envious!

"Old Chen, you either buy fish or buy soy sauce every day. How much allowance does Old He give you? You won't pay for it yourself, right?"

"Lao He gave me all his salary, leaving only ten dollars for cigarettes!"

Chen Wanyi's words were like a knife stabbing Li Ruihua's heart. Li Ruihua had never managed money in their family. He had to ask for permission from Yan Bugui before buying anything. Only with Yan Bugui's consent could he take money from him to buy something. Even when he went out to buy vegetables every day, he had to report to Yan Bugui after coming back. Not a penny less would be accepted. Moreover, the things he bought could not be short in weight. Yan Bugui would weigh them again. Gradually, in order to reconcile the accounts, Li Ruihua also developed the habit of taking advantage and buying cheap goods!

"Aunt Chen, what are you doing?" As they were talking, He Yuzhu and Yu Li came back from outside, holding two large bones in their hands.

"Talk to your Aunt Li. I bought some fresh fish today. They're perfect for you and your dad to drink with!"

"Okay! I'm going back home to cook. I bought some big bones today and made some bone soup to supplement calcium for you and Yu Li. Zhiguo said that drinking bone soup is good for you!"

"Didn't you send some to your in-laws?"

"Give it away, half for each family!"

"That's good! Let's go back! Yu Li, take this back. This is what Lao He bought. Go home and fill your stomach first!"