212 It's a pity.

According to incomplete statistics, one-tenth of the workers in Yinxing Hutong are laid off and unemployed.

This number is just a small ripple in the context of the entire Five Star Automobile Factory. But in the context of a specific family, it becomes a raging storm.

So when the Guazi Wang couple, who had moved out of Yinxing Hutong, brought news of job openings, they instantly became the most benevolent people in Yinxing Hutong.

"Their factory is in the suburbs... Although it's in the suburbs, it's not actually that far, it's about the same as working in a factory." Jiang Guiying is a restless person. On Sunday, while Guan Aiguo and Wan Xiujuan were resting at home taking care of their child, she went with her old neighbors in the alley to visit the food factory of the Sunflower Seed King family.

Although the couple who own the melon seeds call it a small workshop, the place actually occupies quite a lot of space, and they don't just make roasted melon seeds, they also make other snacks.

In Jiang Guiying's eyes, this small workshop was no different from a proper factory.

Jiang Guiying couldn't stop talking. When she got tired, she took a couple of sips of water and continued to tell the neighbors who hadn't gone to visit: "Don't listen to people's nonsense about how private factories are not respectable. You can't even find a job outside, so what's the point of thinking about respectability? I think these people have forgotten their roots after eating their fill for a few years!"

Matchmaker Liu snorted and said, "Anyone who thinks like that deserves to starve. Anyway, my family doesn't think working in a private factory is shameful."

Jiang Guiying finally found Liu the matchmaker agreeable; the two had argued a lot in the past because Liu wanted to introduce potential partners to her two daughters.

"At least you said something sensible."

"Jiang Guiying, don't judge people by their appearance!" Matchmaker Liu glared at her.

She, Liu the matchmaker, was one of the first fashionable people in the alley to set up a breakfast stall, and her thinking was unlike that of some old feudal people.

Her youngest son was also on the layoff list, but she could manage her breakfast stall by herself, so she didn't need him. As soon as she heard that the melon seed king was hiring, she had her youngest son sign up.

The two of them each chimed in with their opinions, and with other elderly people who had also visited praising it, those who had initially been hesitant couldn't sit still any longer. "When does registration end? Can we still register now?"

"If you really want to find a job, go to the factories and ask around yourself."

Jiang Guiying thought to herself: They've all been laid off, yet they're still picking and choosing jobs. If they were truly capable and had connections, other profitable branch factories would have already snapped them up.

People like Luo Guifang have already set up stalls outside the gate of the factory's affiliated school!

She not only sold her own roasted sunflower seeds, but also sourced them from the Sunflower Seed King's food factory, setting up a snack stall. Gu Yu wanted to spend all her pocket money on these snack stalls every day.

Just as I was thinking of Grain Rain, Grain Rain rushed over.

"Grandma!"

Before Jiang Guiying could react, Lin Ting and Gu Yu tackled her so hard that she fell to the ground.

The next second, both of these naughty kids got a spanking.

"I told you not to pounce on people like that, you guys need to be taught a lesson."

"Ouch! Mom, I was wrong!"

"Auntie, oh dear! I was wrong too!"

Other neighbors turned to watch the commotion, thinking to themselves that Guiying's two granddaughters were quite a handful, and it was Yuehe who should handle them.

Those around Wu Jiawang's age secretly applauded when they saw Guan Yuehe disciplining her children: Sister Yuehe disciplines both her daughter and niece the same way, not just them; it's much more comfortable that way.

Not long after, Lin Ting and Gu Yu, who had just been crying loudly, were sitting behind the counter of the general store with big smiles on their faces, happily eating popsicles.

While the adults weren't looking, she secretly licked a little bit of the icy food from Xiaoyu and Yaoyao. Seeing the two little ones wince from the cold, Lin Ting laughed non-stop. Only after seeing her mother's warning look did she restrain herself a bit.

Just as the popsicles in the box were about to run out, a jingling sound came from inside, and Grandpa Lin brought back another box of popsicles.

The neighbors who were sitting and chatting at the entrance of the alley couldn't sit still any longer and started taking out money from their pockets to buy one.

“Our factory used to give out iced soda and popsicles every summer. Now that the soda factory has been shut down, we won’t have that benefit anymore.”

"Yes, back then the factory would give out soft drinks twice a month in July and August. By the time we got home from get off work, they weren't cold anymore, and they tasted half as good!"

Although everyone says that their factory's soda can't compare to Beibingyang soda, at least it's sweet. When it's time to pick it up, people still happily go to collect it and take it home after get off work to share with their families. The adults can have a taste, and the kids can have a sip or two more.

But how could this soda factory just disappear like that?

Many laid-off workers still couldn't figure it out.

The fan in my hand swayed back and forth, and a few helpless sighs dissipated in the scorching afternoon sun.

"Oh, by the way," Aunt Xu said mysteriously, "Guess who I ran into at Qianmen this morning?"

After a pause, Aunt Xu clapped her hands and announced the answer: "Ding Lao Si's wife!"

"I saw Ding Laosi's wife working as a tour guide for foreigners near Qianmen! I was puzzled, she and Ding Laosi must earn a decent salary, right? Why would she go out to earn extra money on Sundays?"

The sigh just now seemed like an illusion; as soon as they heard this gossip, everyone perked up instantly.

Are you sure you're not mistaken?

"That's right. The couple are both college graduates and have been working for several years. They've all become managers. How could they possibly be earning extra money on Sundays?"

Aunt Xu got anxious, "They came to our alley on May Day. I even chatted with Xiao Ye for a bit. Do you think I wouldn't recognize her? I'm absolutely sure I didn't mistake her! It's Xiao Ye, Ding Lao Si's wife!"

Seeing how confident Aunt Xu was, most of the people believed her. Just as they were wondering, Sister-in-law Ding cleared up their doubts.

"The fourth brother's wife quit her job to start a business. She opened a tourism company that specializes in receiving foreign tourists."

The neighbors were shocked. "Why?"

These days, no matter how much the higher-ups call for it, the number of people actually taking unpaid leave or resigning to start their own businesses is truly small.

They could barely understand Cao Lili taking a leave of absence without pay; after all, Cao Lili seemed ambitious, and if she stayed in the state-owned store, she'd be a sales clerk for life. But why Ye Zhiqi? He was a perfectly good cadre, in charge of foreign trade, and foreign trade was so lucrative these days...

Sister-in-law Ding was even more baffled than they were. Working at such a good company, why would she consider quitting to start her own business?!

If their two nephews hadn't run into Ye Zhi Qiu outside, they wouldn't have known either.

They knew it, and the fourth brother and his wife would come to the alley during holidays to deliver gifts to the Guan and Lin families. But they never thought of visiting her house.

The relationship between everyone is just so-so, it's none of their business what others do.

Inside the general store.

After handing the four chattering children over to Grandpa Lin to stay in the living room, Jiang Guiying and Aunt Fang nudged Guan Yuehe, who was rummaging through the shelves, and asked, "Is Xiao Ye's company doing alright?"

"It should be very good."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have said he planned to buy a minivan by the end of the year.

They even said at the time that they would try to buy another car next year, so that their own cars would be enough for all four families to go on outings.

Jiang Guiying and the others only found out on May Day that Ye Zhiqi had resigned from his job and was starting a travel company.

Their shock was no less than that of their neighbors; a perfectly good job, just like that, gone?

What a pity.

Looking back now, most people feel it's a pity, but when the time came to 1990, Jiang Guiying changed her mind.

"Xiao Ye has foresight. He quit his job early to start his own company, getting ahead of others and earning more." Jiang Guiying smiled and reminisced, "Xiao Ye is such a good person. He insisted on going out of his way to bring me back. Oh my! This trip wasn't a waste. I got a ride in a car... Xiao Ye's car is so steady. I didn't feel dizzy at all on the way back! Riding in your brother's car back to our hometown made me so dizzy."

Guan Aiguo quietly curled his lip and said, "How could it not be safe? President Ye is driving a sedan, and he's only giving you a ride. My older brother drives a minivan; you could buy several yellow minivans with that sedan."

"By the way, what did your second brother and sister-in-law say about Juanjuan's enrollment? Are they planning to enroll her in high school or vocational school?"

"Your second brother said that he'll ask your eldest sister and the others for advice tomorrow when they're off work."

Guan Weiguo and Li Qiuyue felt that their education level was not high enough and were afraid of hindering Juanjuan's development, so they thought they should ask someone in their family with more experience to help them analyze the situation.

“That’s the right thing to do.” Guan Aiguo nodded. He planned to ask his older sisters for help when Yao Yao took the high school entrance exam.

Sometimes, you just have to listen to advice.

Those who listen to advice will have good days ahead.

If my older brother had listened to my brother-in-law's advice earlier and gotten his vehicle registration two years ago, leaving the factory to start his own business, he might have made money much earlier.

In the past two years, seeing his fellow apprentices make a fortune by going out on their own, he finally decided to take a leave of absence without pay from the factory. He had already fallen far behind others.

Thanks to his brother-in-law's help, he was able to buy a used minivan to drive as a taxi. Meanwhile, his fellow apprentices had upgraded to Xiali or Jetta cars, charging higher fares and earning more money.

If you're slow on one step, you'll be slow on every step.

Guan Aiguo and Wan Xiujuan exchanged a quick glance before asking, "Will my brother-in-law be coming tomorrow too?"

Jiang Guiying was wary. After glancing at him a few times, she knew that this kid was up to no good.

"What are you planning to do now?"

"What else can I do?" Guan Aiguo said directly, "The barbershop is about to go under. If I don't hurry up and think of another way out, I can only wait for the layoff list to come out before I can think about it."

These days, taking a leave of absence without pay to start a business is nothing new. Even the deputy director of the factory responded to the call and resigned to start a business in the south.

Even if he wanted to stay at the factory as a hairdresser, the factory would have to be able to keep the barbershop open forever!

In 1988, when some branch factories were first closed, very few of the laid-off workers were ever recalled to work. In the past two years, the factory has closed three more branch factories, and now only automobile manufacturing remains as its main business.

The number of privately owned barbershops outside is increasing year by year, and they are more fashionable and have more advanced equipment, making state-owned barbershops have no competitiveness at all.

He could already foresee that if another list of layoffs came out, it would be his turn.

"I'm thinking of taking a leave of absence without pay and opening a hair salon," Guan Aiguo added. "I don't want to compete with my dad's business; I'm planning to move to a different location... ugh!"

Guan Aiguo turned to look at his father, wanting to glare at him but not daring to, since he hadn't said anything wrong!

"What are you saying?" Guan Canghai said irritably, "You came back after taking a leave of absence without pay, and the hair perming business in the shop is handed over to you. You'll pay me rent every month."

“Your shop is so old-fashioned, who would want to go there… Hey hey hey! Can’t I just tell you the truth?” Guan Aiguo got up, grabbed Yao Yao who was playing with a tin frog next to him, and slipped out. “I can’t explain it to you. When my brother-in-law comes tomorrow, I’ll have him talk to you.”

"Even your eldest sister's opinion doesn't work!" Guan Canghai was so angry that he started spouting nonsense.

Author's note: It's in the final stages, and there are probably about ten more chapters left to finish.