I am Jia Dongjin in the Siheyuan (Courtyard House)

Chapter 17 Taking Over the Post

"Dongjin, no need for that. I'll just deliver the soup to your house later." When Aunt Yang Ruihua saw that Jia Dongjin wanted to come to her house for a free meal, she panicked and quickly started the delivery service.

Yang Ruihua chimed in, and Yan Fugui finally caught his breath. He didn't forget to throw in another punchline, raising an eyebrow and saying, "That's nothing. There was a huge fish at the very end, but unfortunately your third uncle didn't have a net, so he couldn't bring it up. Everyone around saw it clearly. It was a big carp weighing at least three pounds. Oh well."

"Oh wow! What a pity. I wasn't as lucky as you today. I caught a two-pound fish online, but it got away. I only caught these little catfish. I'll make some fish soup tonight, so I won't trouble you, Auntie."

In his past life, fishermen liked to say "Oh ho" when they lost a fish. He didn't expect it to be the same in this life. Jia Dongjin barely managed to suppress his laughter. He took the small bag from the bicycle basket, which contained more than two pounds of small catfish.

"You want such a small fish? It's too much trouble. Your third uncle would be too embarrassed to bring it home; he can't afford to lose face."

When Jia Dongjin was in trouble, Yan Fugui was in good spirits. But being a helpful person, he still habitually stepped forward to help his opponent lift his bicycle.

The hanging flower gate is the only way to the central courtyard. There are three steps in front of the gate, which are difficult for bicycles to climb. Yan Fugui often helps Xu Damao carry his bicycle and takes the opportunity to exchange some benefits.

Jia Dongjin hurriedly thanked him, saying, "Uncle, I didn't have much to show for it today. I can manage on my own, so please don't bother with your help."

He used his right hand to lift the bicycle onto the hanging flower gate. He stumbled as he passed the threshold, but luckily, being young, he reacted quickly and passed safely.

In the courtyard, Qin Huairu was washing clothes at the tap when she saw this scene. She rushed over to help, and the two of them pushed the cart together and quickly carried the fishing gear and sacks back to the Jia family.

"I got lucky today, caught a 6-pound grass carp, and there are still a few pounds left in the sack. I'll have a good meal tonight," Jia Dongjin said in a low voice.

Qin Huairu didn't say anything. She opened the small bag in the bicycle basket and saw the two catfish. She knew she would be busy again tonight. When she untied the burlap sack to dry the fishing net, she found that in addition to a large grass carp, there was a large bag of fish hidden inside. When she picked it up and weighed it, it was more than ten catties.

"There's so much. It's hot now, and fish don't keep well. They'll go bad and be wasted. Remember to exchange the fish for money later, just enough for the family to eat." Looking at the harvest, Jia Zhangshi was initially delighted, but then became worried again.

"It's alright, just fry it over low heat. We're treating ourselves these days, so don't skimp on the oil. I got some oil coupons. I won't bring any home tomorrow; I'll give some to Uncle Li and Aunt Li. We'll try to sell everything for cash later. Whatever you can't finish, do with it. Don't forget to repay the favors to our neighbors in the yard; our Jia family won't owe anyone anything anymore."

The location he chose today was better than yesterday, and Jia Dongjin's harvest was 50% more than yesterday. He was so exhausted that he felt like he was in heaven. At noon, he even went back to the city to secretly sell some more.

As usual, dinner was pickled cabbage and fish. Jia Zhangshi was a master at managing household affairs, and her pickled cabbage was salty and fragrant. Paired with fish slices made by Jia Dongjin, the courtyard was filled with aroma once again.

To prevent Yan Fugui from getting conjunctivitis, Jia Dongjin claimed that it was leftover fish from yesterday, and managed to get away with it.

"Mom, I found a restaurant today. From now on, we'll sell the bigger fish to them, and we'll keep the smaller ones for ourselves. After I eat, I'll take a shower and go to bed. I'll leave the rest to you. I'll get up early tomorrow to go catch some fish."

After dinner, Jia Dongjin took out the money he had exchanged for the fish, placed it on the table, got up to get a change of clothes, and prepared to take a shower and go to bed.

All he wanted to do now was wash up and go to sleep. His body just couldn't keep up; he was exhausted after a long day, his back and knees ached, and he looked completely worn out.

"There are more than 2 yuan, and a lot of coupons. Oh, there's a cloth coupon in there too."

"Cloth coupons!" Qin Huairu suddenly raised her head.

"Mom misread it, it's just a salt coupon," Madam Jia Zhang quickly covered the cloth coupon and replied expressionlessly.

"Mom, the hole in Banggeng's knee is beyond repair, and his pants are way too short."

"As expected of my precious grandson, he grows up so fast!" Of course, Madam Jia knew that Bang Geng's trousers were torn beyond repair and that they were for making trousers for her grandson. She gritted her teeth, took out the cloth ration coupons, and handed them to Qin Huairu with difficulty.

"Thank you, Mom, you're so kind!"

"Give Dongjin an extra cornbread later. Look how tired he is. A man can't go without food. If he doesn't eat enough, he won't have the strength. How can he work and support his family if he doesn't have the strength?"

"Okay, I understand."

"Sister Jiedi, open your mouth." Banggeng took out some dried fish from his pocket, and seeing that Liu Guangfu wasn't paying attention, he stood on tiptoe and put it into Yan Jiedi's mouth.

Yan Jiedi lowered her head and opened her mouth. The dried fish was simply baked and tasted very fishy, ​​but after chewing carefully, the fishy aroma was absorbed through her taste buds, making Yan Jiedi look very satisfied.

"Banggeng, I'll take you to get some water. I have mint water at home, it tastes really good." Yan Jiedi and Banggeng Liu Guangfu often played together. The Liu family was wealthy, but Liu Guangfu was stingy and rarely shared his snacks with others. Therefore, Yan Jiedi and Banggeng were in the same boat and were quite close. This time, Banggeng stole some dried fish and only gave it to Yan Jiedi.

Mint is one of the flowers and herbs that Yan Fugui grows. In the summer, the Yan family uses mint leaves to make a refreshing drink that is a great way to cool down and prevent heatstroke.

Banggeng is still young, only 3 years old. He gets thirsty easily from eating too much dried fish. He accidentally drank too much mint water, and as a result, tragedy struck. The little guy had a terrible bowel movement and peed all over the new pants Qin Huairu had made.

Banggeng stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly at the large puddle of urine beside his feet, not knowing what to do.

"Hey, why are you acting so lewd? Ouch, you've wet your pants!"

Bang Geng then realized he had caused trouble and burst into tears. Ignoring the mockery of Liu Guangfu and Erdan, Yan Jiedi hurriedly dealt with the crime scene. She took off Bang Geng's wet pants, picked them up with a look of disgust, and carried Bang Geng to the Intermediate Court to find Jia Zhangshi. Pinching her nose, she began to complain.

"Grandma Banggeng, Banggeng wet his pants, it stinks!"

"Huh, why is that such a big pee? How much water did it drink?"

Qin Huairu was at work and not home. Jia Zhangshi was washing her pants with a bad attitude, and made Bang Geng stand naked as punishment.

Banggeng was crying his heart out in front of the tap when Yan Jiedi's wailing came from the front yard, along with Aunt Yang Ruihua's angry curses.

"This is mint water I made for your older brother. It's so hot, and he works so hard carrying bags. He relies on this mint water to cool down. How could you secretly drink it all! Jie Di, you still dare to cry? Go stand outside as punishment."

The two children cried and cried until they were exhausted, then they secretly slipped away to the backyard to play happily with the other children, filling the courtyard with a joyful atmosphere once again.

In mid-June, the sun had just peeked over the eastern horizon, and the heat was already spreading impatiently. The large iron gate of the steel rolling mill was pushed open with a "bang," and the sleepy-eyed security guard grabbed a large broom from the corner and began to sweep. The dirt road in front of the gate had been washed into a muddy mess by the heavy rain the night before.

In the factory area, the first things to awaken are the towering chimneys. Like silent giants, they slowly exhale pale gray smoke, which drifts away in the morning breeze and intertwines with the rosy dawn on the horizon.

Immediately afterwards, the roar of machines rose from each workshop, like a grand symphony, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Beside the rolling mill in Workshop 1, Yi Zhonghai, with his arms bare, was polishing the surface of a part with a knife to achieve a smooth finish. He is a level 7 fitter, and the smoothness he achieves is much higher than that of a grinding machine. He's like someone who can handcraft an aircraft carrier.

Polishing relies entirely on skill and physical strength. Yi Zhonghai worked hard, his back already soaked with sweat, which dripped down his spine, leaving small wet marks on the ground.

"Little Li, pass me the water!"

Yi Zhonghai shouted without even looking up.

Today, Yi Zhonghai was in a good mood and joked with his apprentice, Xiao Li, even calling him "Little Li."

"Yes, sir!"

The apprentice next to him, Xiao Li, had just joined the factory. He was temporarily assigned to Yi Zhonghai. Because of his handsome features and gentle temperament, his coworkers nicknamed him "Little Eunuch."

Yi Zhonghai is a level seven fitter. Xiao Li dreams of becoming his apprentice, but unfortunately, he heard that Yi Zhonghai has just taken on a new apprentice, who is said to be a woman.

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai was in a good mood, Xiao Li quickly joined in the fun, but he didn't dare to kneel down and bow. This is a new society now, and he was worried that if Yi Zhonghai made a mistake, he would never have the chance to become Yi Zhonghai's apprentice again.

Xiao Li was arranging various fitter tools. He picked up the enamel mug on the toolbox, opened the lid, and handed it to him.

Yi Zhonghai took the tea mug, tilted his head back and gulped down several mouthfuls, then wiped his mouth and continued working. After a while, he said, "Buy your own tea mug. The old one on the box is Jia Dongxu's. His wife will be here to take over tomorrow, so don't touch it."

"Comrade Qin Huairu, this is Workshop One."

At this moment, outside the workshop gate, Xiao Wang, the labor and personnel officer, pointed to the gate and looked at the woman in front of him with a hint of sympathy.

A few months ago, Jia Dongxu, a fitter in the workshop, had an accident, leaving behind a widow and her child. Now, Jia Dongxu's wife has come to take over his job.

Hearing that she was pregnant, Xiao Wang glanced at the woman's belly and couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Thank you, Leader Wang. I know, I came here once before."

Thinking of the heartbreak she felt back then, Qin Huairu's face showed sorrow. She lowered her head slightly, quickened her pace, and left this place of sorrow.

"Comrade Qin Huairu, look forward. After you take over the job, we'll all be colleagues. If you need anything, just say so. The labor and personnel department is to the right. From now on, call me Officer Wang or Little Wang, or Comrade Wang is fine too. There are factory rules, so you can't just call anyone 'leader.' It's good that you came a day early; you can get an extra day's pay."

"Thank you, Officer Wang!"

With Xiao Wang leading the way, the two quickly arrived at the Labor and Personnel Department, where Section Chief Liu personally received Qin Huairu.

"Comrade Qin Huairu, please fill out the form first. We will handle the other procedures for you. After you finish filling out the form, Xiao Wang will take you to Workshop 1. Just follow the instructions of Workshop Director Lao Guo."

"Section Chief Liu, I'd like to switch to working in the cafeteria. Is that possible?"

"Switching to the cafeteria?!"

Section Chief Liu of the Labor and Wages Department was taken aback, and his voice rose a beat higher than usual. Xiao Wang, the staff member next to him, also looked puzzled.

Different jobs have different wage standards.

It's widely acknowledged that fitters in steel rolling mills earn high wages. While canteen work is easier, the pay is far lower. In steel rolling mills, a level six chef is the ceiling, but fitters can rise to level eight.

Therefore, many young people in the cafeteria were clamoring to change jobs in order to earn more money. Unexpectedly, Qin Huairu actually wanted to switch to working in the cafeteria.

Qin Huairu works in the cafeteria, and even with Jia Dongxu's seniority bonus, her monthly salary is only 22.5 yuan. If she were to work as a fitter, her monthly salary would be 25 yuan. The difference of 2.5 yuan is significant, making her lose out badly.

"Working in the cafeteria is no problem, but you need to think it through. There's a huge difference between a kitchen helper and a fitter. Master Yi has already spoken to you; he's willing to take you on as an apprentice. I'll call him over."

Section Chief Liu picked up the phone, intending to have Yi Zhonghai explain the situation to Qin Huairu in detail, so that Qin Huairu wouldn't come to the Labor and Wages Section to make a scene after learning the truth and realizing she had been taken advantage of, thus making everyone lose face.

"Section Chief Liu, you don't need to call Master Yi. I know that the fitter's salary is higher than the canteen's, but I'm a woman, not strong enough, and I'm pregnant. I can't do the fitter's work. I can only wash vegetables and cook. My mother-in-law had a nightmare yesterday and was afraid that something would happen to me too. She wants me to switch to the canteen and insists that I come over today."

Jia Dongjin had specifically reminded her to keep the job change a secret from Yi Zhonghai. Qin Huairu was afraid that Yi Zhonghai would come and cause trouble. She had a secret she didn't want Yi Zhonghai to know, so she hurriedly revealed the reason.

After hanging up the phone, Section Chief Liu noticed Qin Huairu's slender figure and nodded, saying, "That makes sense. Fitting requires strength, and it's indeed hard work for women."

Changing jobs is no small matter. Qin Huairu spent half a morning in the labor and personnel department, filling out a bunch of forms. When Director Li of the canteen heard the news, he came to pick her up personally. Director Li had a connection in the canteen and had always wanted to change to a higher-paying job. It was like a godsend.

It's a good thing that Qin Huairu is willing to go to the cafeteria. A lot of young men there complain about the low wages and want to change jobs. Fitter is a popular job.

Director Li made a quick decision. He called Qin Huairu outside the Labor and Personnel Department, handed her 50 yuan, and whispered that it was a reward for getting her a fitter job through connections. "Comrade Qin Huairu, you have helped me a lot. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

This is an open secret at the steel rolling mill. Director Li won't risk losing more than he gains. There's no need for him to be stingy with 50 yuan. Qin Huairu will find out sooner or later, and there will inevitably be trouble. He'll end up looking foolish, and might even be used by his rivals. Director Li might as well just take it out openly, and Qin Huairu will still remember his kindness.

In any workplace, junior managers are very polite to young and pretty women. Who knows if a woman will have a stroke of luck in the future? There's no need to offend her.

"Director Li, my mother-in-law said that He Yuzhu is a neighbor in the courtyard house, and people who know each other can help each other out. Could I go to the third canteen?"

Jia Dongjin said that He Yuzhu worked in the third canteen, and suggested that Qin Huairu try to be with He Yuzhu so they could look after each other. Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, but decided to listen, as it would at least make it easier for her to establish herself in the canteen.

"It's no big deal." Without even making a call, Director Li agreed. Since the person with connections was working in the third canteen, it was a good match, saving him the trouble of arranging where Qin Huairu would work.

-------

"What?! Huai Ru is filling in for me today and is working in the cafeteria?!"

When Yi Zhonghai learned the news at lunchtime, he was extremely shocked. His hands trembled so badly that he spilled half of the braised cabbage with pork cracklings he had just cooked. His coworkers next to him clicked their tongues in distress.

"Shazhu, put down your rice spoon right now and call Huairu out. I'll wait for her at the gate. Women are so easily swayed, they're just talking nonsense! I'm Master Dongxu, I can't just stand by and watch her suffer."

"Okay, I'll go get her right away."

He Yuzhu felt inexplicably nervous. He didn't understand why Yi Zhonghai was so excited. Qin Huairu was a woman with little strength and was pregnant, so it was normal for her to come to the cafeteria as a kitchen helper.

He knew that being a fitter was hard work, but he didn't have a close relationship with the Jia family, so there was no need to go to their house and cause trouble, lest that old hag Jia Zhangshi make a scene.

Just now, Director Li of the cafeteria assigned Qin Huairu to the third cafeteria and secretly instructed He Yuzhu to take care of her. He Yuzhu had a good impression of Qin Huairu, so he readily agreed.

When getting lunch, He Yuzhu happily told Yi Zhonghai the good news, but to his surprise, Yi Zhonghai reacted violently, which startled him.

"Silly Zhu, I'm eating right now."

Qin Huairu was enjoying her first meal provided by the government. She looked at the oil residue in the new lunchbox and was reluctant to eat it. But thinking of the baby in her belly, she finally mustered up the courage to scoop out half a spoonful and carefully bite into it.

The aroma of the oil residue permeated every part of her body, making every cell in her body cheer with joy. The beautiful woman felt refreshed and relaxed, as if even the air in the steel mill was sweet. Zhao Jie, who was standing next to her, was completely baffled.

"An old man is calling you out. He's waiting at the gate, and he seems to be in a hurry."

He Yuzhu was in a hurry to get back to the window to get his food, so he left after saying that and went back to his post.

Eating is the most important thing in the world, and He Yuzhu can't afford to be delayed for too long, otherwise the workers queuing at the window will start cursing, and Director Li of the canteen won't let him off the hook either.

Unlike He Yuzhu's haste, Qin Huairu thought for a moment and still finished her meal carefully. Fortunately, she didn't wash the lunchbox because there was still half a portion of food inside.

The woman put down her lunchbox before getting up and leaving the cafeteria to meet her destined master.

In the open space outside the workshop, several young female workers sat under the shade of a tree, eating hot and sour shredded potatoes they had gotten from the canteen while chatting away. They all wore faded blue cloth hats, with a few strands of hair damp with sweat peeking out from beneath them.

"Have you heard? A new young widow has joined the cafeteria. She's quite pretty!" a female worker with braided pigtails exclaimed excitedly.

"Really? We'll have to take a good look." Another female worker chimed in with a smile.

Just then, a slightly angry voice came from afar. They looked up and saw Yi Zhonghai leading a beautiful woman, talking angrily. The beautiful woman didn't speak, but kept shaking her head and occasionally wiping away tears.

"That's her, isn't she pretty? I heard her husband just died, and she came to fill in for him while pregnant."

"It's a pity that Liu Lan isn't as pretty as her. It seems the cafeteria's beauty queen will have to change."

"What are you talking about? Liu Lan said her name is Qin Huairu, she's only 25 years old, and the man is the one who just died in the workshop, the one named Jia Shiyao Xu. She's from the countryside, and she's managed to become a city dweller through a job placement program, she's not at a loss."

"Your heart is made of iron; who would want a dead man? What a tragedy!"

"Everyone, watch closely! Yi Zhonghai dares to bully our sisters. We're going to see what he's got to do with this today!" A middle-aged female worker squinted at the two of them, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"What's so interesting about this old man's melon?" the female worker with braided hair said, pursing her lips.

"He's quite robust; he might be a big shot. But a level seven worker isn't someone to mess with." The middle-aged female worker couldn't help but lick her lips.

"Yi Zhonghai can't even have children, he must be a wretched old man." The female worker with braided hair was acquainted with Guo Da Piezi from the first workshop and knew Yi Zhonghai's background.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? What's so interesting about this old wimp? He's all talk and no action. No wonder he dared to pull and shove in public. Let's go home and take a nap." The middle-aged female worker swallowed the last spoonful of food, her eyes devoid of any light.

The canteen was filled with the rich aroma of food. He Yuzhu absentmindedly swished his ladle, occasionally glancing at Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu outside the door. A worker happily thanked him, "Master He, thank you so much, you've really been kind today!"

"It's nothing, no need to thank me!" He Yuzhu replied casually. Upon closer inspection, he realized that he had ordered too much food.

He Yuzhu chuckled, his ugly face contorted with amusement. He decided to go all the way and picked out a larger steamed bun, placing it on the lid of the worker's lunchbox.

"Silly Zhu, why are you so happy today?" Liu Lan finished serving the food first, put down her large ladle, and looked at He Yuzhu meaningfully.

Ever since Qin Huairu came to the third canteen, He Yuzhu has been whistling as he walks, excitedly introducing her to everyone up and down. Everyone in the third canteen has heard the news and knows that Qin Huairu is his neighbor in the courtyard house.

He Yuzhu called her "Sister Qin" so affectionately that the people in the third canteen secretly chuckled, and Liu Lan could see it all clearly.

"What's there to be happy about? Look how angry the old man in our compound is."

He Yuzhu chuckled and gestured towards the two people at the cafeteria entrance.

"Oh, it seems there's more to this story. Your courtyard is quite murky! Silly Zhu, your grandpa is really young, hehe!" Liu Lan chuckled and rolled her eyes at He Yuzhu, that big idiot.

Liu Lan experienced many setbacks, matured rapidly psychologically, and gained a much deeper understanding of issues than He Yuzhu.

In the adult world, the fact that an old man is involved with a young and beautiful woman speaks volumes. Only He Yuzhu is foolish enough to think that neighbors should help each other, which is just a stupid imitation of Feng.

"This old man is almost 50, how can he look young?" He Yuzhu had also finished getting his food. He didn't understand the advanced language, so he banged on the big basin to let the workers outside know that the food was all gone and not to waste their time at the window.

"You're such a silly Zhu, hehe!"

Liu Lan tossed her braid, picked up her teacup, and walked out of the canteen, hoping to hear some inside information so she could broadcast it over the loudspeaker later.

Qin Huairu is prettier than Liu Lan and is a formidable opponent. Since her future interests are at stake, Liu Lan plans to keep a close eye on her.

As the sun rose higher and higher, the temperature grew hotter and hotter. The large willow trees in the factory area looked listless under the sun, their leaves drooping limply.

Yi Zhonghai remained unaffected. Despite the scorching heat, he continued to earnestly advise Qin Huairu. "A kitchen helper is nowhere near as good as a fitter. Otherwise, why would anyone pay to replace him with a fitter? I'm Master Dongxu; I can't let you suffer. Come with me to the labor and personnel department right away. I'll put in a good word for you. The longer this drags on, the harder it will be to salvage the situation."

"Uncle, we were supposed to come with you tomorrow to complete the procedures, but my mother-in-law has been crying all morning and insisted on coming today to complete the job transfer. She even wanted me to come to the canteen. Last night, Dongxu appeared to her in a dream and said that she could eat her fill at the canteen. My mother-in-law is terrified of food shortages, so I really have no choice. It's also good that I don't want to burden you in the future."

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears, looking utterly helpless.

"Dongxu appeared in my dream?!"

No matter how strong the efforts are to dispel feudal superstitions, it must be done step by step. People at that time were not highly educated and generally revered ghosts and gods.

Yi Zhonghai suddenly took a step back, his face turning ashen. Gone was his previous anger; instead, a hint of fear flickered in his eyes. Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and scrutinized Yi Zhonghai's expression.

"I'll talk to my sister-in-law tonight. There's no such thing as a good cook as a fitter. It will affect Banggeng's future as well. You have to think about Banggeng's future and not let things go wrong. As long as you think it through, I'll help you get back to being a fitter, even if it means losing face."

The woman looked puzzled. Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat. He knew his reaction was too strong and too focused on appearances, so he quickly changed to a gentler tone.

"Thank you, sir. Dongxu will remember your kindness from below."

"No need to thank me. Who told me to be Master Dongxu? A teacher for a day is a father for life. It's only right for neighbors to help each other."

Qin Huairu either lowered her head and remained silent, or wiped away her tears. There was no way to reason with a woman. Yi Zhonghai talked until his throat was dry, but it was of no use. In the end, he had no choice but to blame it on his lack of knowledge and was so angry that he almost threw away the remaining half of the dish.

The two were talking at the entrance of the third canteen. Workers passing by were all curiously looking at the two, especially the pretty Qin Huairu, who attracted a lot of attention from the steel rolling mill.

"Hey, Master Yi, why aren't you coming in for a meal? And who is this lady?"

"Old Yi, come on, it's so hot outside, what are you standing at the door for? I'll treat you to lunch, you just pay for your meal. This must be your new apprentice, right? Treat him to some fried pork cracklings while you're at it, I guarantee they'll be delicious!"

Some of the workers, shameless enough to be brazen, approached Yi Zhonghai directly, taking the opportunity to sized up the beautiful woman and inadvertently helping Qin Huairu out of an awkward situation.

Unable to attract the women from under the tree in public, Yi Zhonghai worried about the danger of them watching the melons, so he had no choice but to give up and went back to the canteen for dinner in a huff.

"Sister-in-law, I don't agree with Huai Ru going to the cafeteria. We need to think long-term. You have to think about Bang Geng's future."

As soon as he got off work in the afternoon, Yi Zhonghai rushed back to the courtyard house without waiting for He Yuzhu, and went to talk to Jia Zhangshi.

"My uncle, Dongxu, appeared in my dream and it made me feel terrible. I didn't sleep well all night, and my heart was pounding when I woke up. That's why I asked Huairu to go to the cafeteria today. An old woman has to obey her son, and I had no choice. What Dongxu said in the dream was so real. As for Banggeng taking over the job later, I really can't worry about that now. I need to eat first and think about it later."

Madam Jia spread her hands in a helpless gesture. She felt sad when Jia Dongxu was mentioned, and quickly lowered her head to wipe her eyes.

"Sister-in-law, this is a huge matter. What should we say to Dongjin?"

Gao Cuilan also came to the Jia family. She didn't understand why Yi Zhonghai was in such a hurry, even a little exasperated, but she felt it was necessary to help him.

"Dongjin doesn't know yet. He got up early to catch fish. He's been quite diligent lately, but unfortunately, he can't find a job. He's an old man. You're Dongxu's master, and Dongjin is Dongxu's younger brother. You can't just ignore him. Dongjin is a good man, even more filial than Dongxu. He'll definitely be filial to you in the future."

Not missing any opportunity, Jia Zhangshi took the chance to bring up Jia Dongjin's job situation.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, Zhonghai will definitely take care of Dongjin. He hasn't been sleeping well these past few days trying to find a solution for Dongjin. This morning, Zhonghai even told me to get some cornmeal so Dongjin wouldn't get too thin." Gao Cuilan carefully glanced at Yi Zhonghai before putting down the small grain bag in her hand, which contained two jin of cornmeal.

"Alas, what a misfortune for our family. Thank you so much for taking care of him, Uncle. When Dongjin comes back from catching fish, I will ask him what he thinks. Huairu going to the canteen is a small matter. If Dongjin can become a fitter, that would be a big deal. I will make him kowtow to you in public." Madam Jia's eyes darted around. She was really worried about Jia Dongjin's job, so she made up her mind and gave him enough hints at the end.

"Sister-in-law, I will do my best to advance the project to the east, but the steel mill is not hiring recently, so please give me some time."

The east corner is lost, and the mulberry elm is harvested.

After receiving confirmation, Yi Zhonghai picked up the glass of cold water on the table and drank it all in one gulp, his expression finally softening.

Gao Cuilan's old face beamed like a blooming chrysanthemum. Without asking Yi Zhonghai, she ran straight home and brought eight steamed buns made from two kinds of flour for Jia Zhangshi, saying that Jia Dongjin loved her cooking. Jia Zhangshi accepted them with profuse thanks, her face also beaming with joy.

When Qin Huairu got home from get off work, she saw an old man and a child happily eating steamed buns made from two kinds of flour.

"The magpies were chirping this morning, which I knew was a good omen. Sure enough, I got eight steamed buns made from two kinds of flour for free. Hey! Huai Ru, what are you holding in your hand?"

Upon opening the lunchbox in Qin Huairu's hand, Jia Zhangshi immediately regretted it immensely. She had just eaten four steamed buns made from two kinds of flour, and she couldn't possibly eat the fried cabbage and pork cracklings in the lunchbox.

"Oh dear, there's meat in the lunchbox!"

Banggeng only got one steamed bun made from two kinds of flour. Although he was already full, he could squeeze his little belly a little more and put in some fried pork fat.

The braised cabbage with pork cracklings was bought by Qin Huairu with He Yuzhu's meal tickets before she left work. Together with the half portion of braised cabbage with pork cracklings left over from lunch, it filled most of her lunchbox.

Qin Huairu had a very fruitful day, and she was in high spirits. She picked up a spoon to feed the gluten cracklings and took out the 50 yuan reward for changing jobs.

"See? I told you there was good news! I just gave Dongjin 50 yuan, and the money came back in the blink of an eye! Haha!"

Unexpectedly, there was an even greater surprise. Jia Zhangshi was overjoyed and happily put away the 50 yuan.

"Mom, they're willing to pay 50 yuan for the fitter's job, and the old man's words make sense. Aren't we really losing out?"

"We'll talk about whether it's a loss or not later. Let's put the money in our pockets first. If we really feel we've lost money, we can ask Yi Zhonghai for help. He just boasted that he could help us get it back."

Jia Zhangshi didn't take it seriously at all; getting the benefits first was her survival habit.

Having a long-term vision is the privilege of the rich. The poor at the bottom of society are already doing their best to survive, and have no right to have a long-term vision.

"Huai Ru, I just gave the old man a hint, and he eagerly brought over steamed buns. Now you know how good it is to have a son; just wait and see how much you'll enjoy the benefits from now on."

Looking at Banggeng, who was engrossed in picking out the pork cracklings to eat, Jia Zhangshi had a loving expression on her face.

"Hey Banggeng, you ate all the pork cracklings, didn't leave any for Grandma and your mom?"

When Jia Dongjin returned after his hard work catching fish, the leftover oil residue in the dishes had been completely eaten by Banggeng.

Looking at the remaining cabbage, Jia Dongjin frowned, and finally squinted his eyes.

"Uncle, the fried pork cracklings are so delicious, so fragrant! You have to bring me some every day from now on." Banggeng was full of energy after eating so well, and he said proudly, licking the oil from the corner of his mouth.

"Snapped!"

Before he could finish speaking, Bang Geng was hit on the head. He opened his mouth to cry, but then he was hit again.

"Don't cry, or I'll beat you up. No one can talk to you. Stand against the wall, stand up straight, you've got such a bad habit."

Ignoring the two women's attempts to stop him, Jia Dongjin began to lecture the little stick-like creature. He picked up a tree branch and waved it around to scare it away.

"As the old saying goes, spoiling a child is like killing him. Eating the pork cracklings all by yourself, leaving nothing for Grandma and Mom, that's selfishness. Banggeng, if you dare do that again, I'll give you a fist as big as a clay pot. If you're not afraid, go ahead and try; your uncle has plenty of fists."

"Dongjin, what are you doing? Banggeng is still a child."

Jia Zhangshi was too powerful; she used all her strength to rescue Bang Geng.

"Mom, don't worry about it. A sapling won't grow straight if it's not pruned! As long as I'm home, Banggeng won't be able to act arrogantly. He's been spoiled rotten."

Finally, Jia Dongjin had no other choice but to drag the worm stalk outside and lecture it at the earthworm breeding pond.

One cannot be lenient with the master thief. Although Jia Dongjin showed mercy, Bang Geng was still in excruciating pain.

Everyone in the courtyard came to persuade them, but Jia Dongjin was in the right. In the end, the crowd stopped Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu and advised the two women not to get involved.

The courtyard house was bustling with activity once again, as the residents watched a delightful spectacle of a street urchin teaching his nephew a lesson.

Banggeng's buttocks ached from the beating. After his reinforcements were blocked, he dared not be arrogant anymore and finally obediently admitted his mistake, standing against the wall as punishment.

Giving him a stick alone wouldn't do, so Jia Dongjin thought for a moment and took the stick back into the house to stand as punishment. He was starving and needed to make sauerkraut fish to fill his stomach.

"Bang Geng, admitting your mistakes makes you a good kid. I'm telling you straight, if you're sick, you need to get treatment. Once you're cured, you'll be a good kid again, understand?"

"Understood." Bang Geng hid his resentment and obediently cooperated on the surface, hoping to get through this difficult time first.

"Will you dare to be greedy and not leave any for Grandma and your mom again?"

"Uncle, I won't do it again."

"Stand still and acknowledge your mistake. You're pouting, you're definitely not convinced. That's okay, I have plenty of ways to deal with you, no one can change that."

After leaving Banggeng as punishment, Jia Dongjin quickly started making sauerkraut fish. The two women looked at each other and, seeing that Jia Dongjin was really angry, stopped interfering to avoid him further punishing Banggeng. They then started preparing the fish.

Jia Dongjin was lucky today and caught a turtle. He kept the turtle in a bucket and told Banggeng, "If you stand still, I can let you play with the turtle, but you can't touch it. Otherwise, if the turtle bites you and won't let go, it's no joke. I might have to cut off my hand to save you."

In order to play with the turtle, Banggeng stood firmly on the plate until the sauerkraut fish was served before Jia Dongjin freed him.

After all that commotion, he had some room in his stomach, so Jia Dongjin gave him the stick and then the pickled fish.

The sauerkraut fish was as fragrant as ever. As Bang Geng ate, he forgot about Jia Dongjin's cruelty and started chatting and laughing with Jia Dongjin again, asking him how to play with the turtle.

Children never learn, and Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu looked at each other again. The two women finally breathed a sigh of relief and put their minds at ease.

Thus, Jia Dongjin gave his nephew a slap on the wrist and a sweet treat in return, thus ending the "teaching nephew" movement.

During dinner, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu talked about the day's events. When Jia Dongjin heard Yi Zhonghai's unusual concern and his persistent questioning about Qin Huairu's job, his heart pounded.

Jia Dongjin knew that Yi Zhonghai was unwilling to easily abandon the Jia family. Over the years, Yi Zhonghai had invested too much in the Jia family. Qin Huairu working in the canteen was tantamount to being out of control. All the previous venture capital investments had gone down the drain, which was equivalent to losing everything.

On the contrary, just like in the drama, Qin Huairu became Yi Zhonghai's apprentice and could only rely on him for survival. Only by making Xiang Dong dare not go west could Yi Zhonghai easily control Qin Huairu.

"It's alright, Mom pushed you out. Gao Cuilan is very satisfied with you, and Mom is doing this for your job. Now it depends on whether Yi Zhonghai is satisfied."

Madam Jia Zhang hinted that she didn't care at all about Jia Dongjin kowtowing in public; getting the benefits was her top priority for survival.

For people who are chronically hungry, having enough to eat and wear is more important than honor and disgrace; etiquette is nothing to them!

Many people are unaware that when the armies of certain countries entered Beijing, some civilians helped the Allied forces by holding ladders for them. Many items in a park were looted by civilians who rushed in. The emperor suffered, but for the starving people, no one cared. Instead, many people gloated.

Looking at the smug Jia Zhangshi, Jia Dongjin had a bitter pill to swallow. The matter of the electrician's license needed to be kept secret for the time being. He couldn't say that Yi Zhonghai might have designs on Qin Huairu and was trying to have a child through surrogacy, otherwise Jia Zhangshi would go crazy.

Jia Dongjin glanced at Qin Huairu, his eyes filled with pity and relief. In any case, he had turned the tables for the Jia family and saved Qin Huairu from a life-threatening trap.

It was later proven that the gears of fate had changed direction, and Qin Huairu defied destiny, thus escaping Yi Zhonghai's control. Yi Zhonghai lost the opportunity to force Qin Huairu into the cellar.

Changing jobs is not uncommon, and Qin Huairu, being new to the factory, was still unaware of the ins and outs.

Effort requires a correct direction in life. Jia Dongjin remembers that many people admired Liang Ladi, who was also a widow, and compared her with Qin Huairu. They praised Liang Ladi for being self-reliant and growing into a fourth-level welder who supported several children, while despising Qin Huairu for being cunning and deceitful, always working as a low-level fitter, not seeking advancement, and only relying on her beauty to cheat people out of steamed buns.

Jia Dongjin could only sigh. These people didn't understand factories. Welders relied purely on skills, while fitters, in addition to skills, also relied heavily on strength.

Any policy or system is refined through repeated trials and deliberations, leaving very few loopholes to exploit.

High salaries aren't easy to come by; there's no such thing as a free lunch. Senior professionals are shrewd and wouldn't just casually set high salaries for fitters.

A fitter is a trade that primarily involves manual labor, using various tools to manufacture parts, assemble equipment, and repair it. The name comes from the bench vise used to hold workpieces on a workbench.

For a simple example, can you saw through a steel pipe in a few minutes? Can you turn a tool to tap threads?

Many metalworking jobs require strength and are not something that ordinary women can do, especially in this era when there are no mechanical devices to assist them.

If Liang Ladi were beautiful, she wouldn't be so broad-shouldered and muscular. You can't have both beauty and a broad back and muscular build. If Liang Ladi were to work as a fitter, she would be just as useless as Qin Huairu.

With Qin Huairu's intelligence, she would definitely excel as a welder, electrician, or even a milling machine operator.

Because of her incorrect job assignment and being controlled by Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, lacking physical strength, could only remain at the bottom of the fitter's level no matter how hard she tried.

Women cannot become skilled movers; this is determined by their physical limitations, and failure is inevitable.

Yi Zhonghai must have known the inside story. His arrangement for Qin Huairu to work as a fitter only shows how treacherous people are. Yi Zhonghai had no good intentions from the beginning. Those who understand will naturally understand.

The woman at the dinner table remained calm, unaware that her fate had been altered. She would no longer have to struggle for two pounds of cornmeal for the rest of her life, and would have a future she could never have dreamed of.

"Mom, the magpies chirping is a good sign. It's great that we had a good harvest today. Please prepare the supplies for tomorrow. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."

After relaxing, Jia Dongjin yawned repeatedly. Riding on the sandy road for a long time was very tiring. He had a hard day and then spent a lot of time playing with Banggeng. He had to get up early to catch fish tomorrow, and now he just wanted to take a shower and go to sleep.

As Jia Dongjin began snoring, the two women in the inner room started talking.

"Huai Ru, does that old bastard have feelings for you? Why are you in such a hurry? Just for that reason, you should stay in the cafeteria. You'd better be careful in the future. I thought he was helping you out by taking you on as his apprentice, but now it seems like it's not a good thing. He's like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken; he's up to no good."

"Mom, what are you saying? I've always been honest and hardworking. That old man meant well. Being a fitter is definitely better than being a kitchen helper. Director Li even gave me a 50 yuan thank-you fee, which is a real benefit. But the canteen is quite nice. The work isn't tiring; it's just peeling, picking, and washing vegetables, similar to being at home. Before, Dongxu would come home exhausted after a day's work and wouldn't even want to talk. I'm definitely not as good as Dongxu as a fitter, and I don't know how tired I'd be. Today I received my work insurance, which included two bars of soap, the Lighthouse brand. Now we'll have soap for showering at home. It's a pity I started my job half a month late, so I'll miss out on half a month's wages, a loss of eleven yuan."

"How's the food?" Jia Zhangshi was most concerned about her stomach.

"I only found out today why Sha Zhu is so strong. It's all because of the food in the cafeteria. Sister Zhao said it's called 'stealing customers.' They really don't hold back. They always pick out the best food for themselves. Sister Zhao scooped up a lot of pork cracklings for me. Look how much the corn stalks are enjoying their food. I'm full too. If there are any leftovers before I leave work, I can buy them home with my meal tickets. I can bring my own lunchbox home from now on."

"That's good. At least you have a lunchbox. Just be careful not to get caught by the security guards. But when you have time, try to find out if you really lost money in the exchange. If the fitter is good, we'll have to find a way to get it back."

"Um."

Qin Huairu touched the dog beside her and suddenly said to Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, the dog was acting strangely today. People in the yard also said it was inappropriate for the dog. Erdan's mother even said it was unfilial and that we should discipline it. But the dog is still young. It's okay to make it stand as punishment, but don't hurt it."

"Kids are all like that. Boys are just more mischievous than girls. It's nothing serious. They'll grow up and be more sensible. Dongjin was just taking his anger out on the stick because he was tired. I'll find a chance to talk to him about it later. What kind of uncle hits his nephew like that?"

"Mom, I'll listen to you."

Bang Geng cried so bitterly that Qin Huairu's heart ached.

Like all widows, the stick is Qin Huairu's bottom line and her future support.

She felt that Jia Dongjin had gone too far and was full of malice towards Bang Geng, and even worried that Jia Dongjin was seeking revenge for pushing him down.

"Huai Ru, when you're working outside, stay away from those scumbags. They're only after your body, they don't really like you, and they would never raise your child. You need to understand that."

"Mom, I know."

"Now we're just waiting for that old bastard to take the bait. Once Dongjin gets a job, our Jia family won't be afraid of anyone, especially that old bastard. We'll just wait for him to bring us things. He clearly has several thousand yuan saved up, and he still has the nerve to pretend to be a good person with just eight steamed buns. He treats everyone like fools all the time. Sooner or later, all that money will be ours."

As Jia Zhangshi spoke, she became more and more excited, but she received no response for a long time. She turned her head and saw that Qin Huairu had already fallen asleep.

------

"Qin Huairu, Director Li asked you to help serve dishes at the private kitchen, why don't you want to go?"

"Liu Lan, I'm new to the cafeteria and I don't know anything. If I accidentally break a plate and offend a leader, that would be a big mistake." Qin Huairu looked up and smiled, then lowered her head to peel potatoes.

Qin Huairu worked efficiently, skillfully turning the cleaver, thin potato slices curling and falling off – she was clearly a hard worker.

Liu Lan pursed her lips, secretly relieved.

The leftovers from the small kitchen were much better than the food cooked in the big pot. She relied on the leftovers from the small kitchen to supplement the nutrition and oil for her children.

Qin Huairu is prettier than her. Director Li wanted Qin Huairu to help out at the private kitchen. Liu Lan felt threatened. When she learned that Qin Huairu had declined, she rushed over to try and improve the relationship between the two.

The reason why the women didn't go to the private kitchen was partly because they were new to the cafeteria and didn't understand it, and partly because of Jia Zhangshi's warning. Qin Huairu had been surrounded by covetous eyes since she was a child, and she knew very well that she was good-looking.

She worried that if she ran into any leader, she might cause unnecessary trouble. It would be better to stay in the kitchen and work honestly. After all, she was used to doing these kinds of jobs since she was a child, and it would also prevent her colleagues from being envious.

Sure enough, Liu Lan, who was helping out at the private kitchen, came over to curry favor. Qin Huairu was just a hair's breadth away from creating an enemy for herself.

"Sister Qin, you're a few months older than me, so I'll call you 'sister' from now on; it'll sound more intimate. I've been here for two years longer than you, so I know the cafeteria very well. Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." Qin Huairu was perceptive; the skilled chef He Yuzhu was clearly paying attention to her, and Liu Lan's tone was even more affectionate.

"That would be great, thank you. I won't be polite from now on." Qin Huairu smiled, and Liu Lan moved a stool over, and the two of them started peeling potatoes together.

"Hehehe, what are you chatting about during work hours?" He Yuzhu was in a hurry to cut potato shreds. Before frying the potato shreds, he had to soak them in water so that they wouldn't stick to the pan.

"Silly Zhu, we're the fastest at peeling, why are you rushing us!" Liu Lan rolled her eyes. He Yuzhu saw a large bowl of peeled potatoes next to Qin Huairu and immediately shut his mouth, taking the peeled potatoes over to chop them.

Seeing that Liu Lan looked like an old-timer in the cafeteria, Qin Huairu thought for a moment and finally asked about her job.

"I don't know anything about fitter work, but I can ask around for you. By the way, I have a neighbor who works as a fitter in the second workshop. She'll be out of maternity leave soon. I'll introduce you two sometime." Liu Lan thought of her neighbor Chunhua in the tenement.