The north wind was howling outside the window, making the newspapers pasted on the window rustle.

Li Jianghai was wrapped in a patched blue quilt, curled up in the corner of the bed like an old quail.

He secretly glanced at his wife and saw that she was counting a stack of crumpled bills in the dim light of a 15-watt bulb, her fingers dipped in saliva and making a smacking sound.

While she wasn't paying attention, he quietly reached out to pull at the corner of Da Mudan's quilt!

Unexpectedly, as soon as he pulled the quilt, he was hit by a flying pillow. When he looked up, he was nailed to the wall by Li Guifang's eyes!

Li Jianghai poked his head out from under the covers and asked, "Wife, what have you been busy doing all night, rummaging through boxes and cabinets?"

Li Guifang didn't even glance at him, "You're just bored, now you need some exercise!"

As he said this, he continued to smack his hands!

Seeing that she had no intention of saying anything, Li Jianghai curled his lips and tucked his head back into the quilt. Well, he didn't really want to know!

Li Jianghai rubbed his red nose, rubbing his fingers on the tip for a long time. Finally, he couldn't hold it in any longer and asked, "Well... Wife, that early retirement thing you mentioned last time, is it really possible?"

Li Guifang slammed the tin biscuit box shut and stuffed it into the cupboard without looking up. "I don't know if it will work. I'm just suggesting it, just saying it casually. Believe it or not! It's up to you whether you want to withdraw or not. I'm not forcing you!"

Li Jianghai was anxious. He just needed a confirmation. As long as his wife said "quit", he would go to the factory to handle the paperwork tomorrow morning! However, who knew that Li Guifang would not tolerate his bad behavior at all, which made him even more uneasy!

Li Guifang looked around Li Jianghai before saying, "Actually, in my opinion... you might as well just sell your job!"

"Sold it?! That's 23 years of service!"

"You still can't bear to part with your old stove?"

"It's not that I'm reluctant..." Li Jianghai rubbed his rough fingers, "but I've worked here for over 20 years. If I sell it, what if the factory does well and my pension increases? Wouldn't I be at a loss?"

Li Guifang tutted. "Li Jianghai! Why are you still dreaming?" She lowered her voice. "Didn't you see Old Wang's family in the alley next door? His son works at the machinery factory, and they couldn't even pay their salary last month, let alone your little factory!"

Li Guifang raged inwardly: "What a fool! How can this factory be profitable? The first batch of state-owned factories will be eliminated!"

But she couldn't say it too clearly, so she could only hint at it in a roundabout way.

"You said you retired early, but you have no money and no skills. What can you do if you retire early? You might as well keep the stove burning for a few more years, and then you can get a little more in pension.

As for why I suggested you sell your years of service, it was because I thought that when you retire now, you can use the money to do some small business, or at worst, buy a house. I don't believe you will lose money.

I've told you my thoughts, and you can decide how to do it yourself. But you should know that I won't invest my money in your business!

Li Jianghai was shocked by this brain wave.

He really didn't think about it that much, or he instinctively felt that after retirement he would just eat and drink, and never thought about starting a second career!

He held his head in his hands and thought for a fraction of a second in the quilt, "Sell, sell, sell! Let the news spread tomorrow!" Then he began to flatter himself about his position again!

Suddenly popped up again, "But wife, why did you suddenly think of this..."

Li Guifang pulled the quilt off his head and said, "Go to sleep!" Seeing that he was still not calm, she started to persuade him earnestly!

"Look at the people setting up stalls and running shops outside now, who doesn't live better than you old workers?

In my opinion, in a few years, these factories will all go bankrupt, and by then, the length of service will be worth less than toilet paper!

Li Jianghai was frightened by her and grimaced, but he was also worried in his heart - indeed, the factory's performance has been getting worse and worse in the past two years. Last month's salary was delayed for many days!

"So... do you really want to sell it?" he asked hesitantly.

"Sell!" Li Guifang said firmly, "While the policy is still valuable, sell it quickly!"

"But if I sell my seniority, what am I going to do?"

Li Guifang rolled her eyes. "Are you stupid? There are opportunities everywhere these days! Look at Mr. Zhang from the street ahead. He quit his job selling pancakes last year, and now he has a color TV at home!"

Li Jianghai scratched his head: "But I don't know how to make pancakes..."

"Who told you to make pancakes?" Li Guifang said, frustrated. "You've been a fireman for half your life. Now you can go out and do something else. Isn't it better than staying in the stove?"

Li Jianghai's heart perked up after hearing her words. Yeah, things are really different now. He used to think a "iron rice bowl" was precious, but now it seems there are plenty of people who go hungry even with an iron rice bowl...

"Okay!" He slapped his thigh, "Tomorrow I'll go find Mr. Zhang from the Information Department to inquire about the market!"

Li Guifang finally revealed a satisfied smile, and casually pulled out a small notebook from under the kang cabinet, flipping to the last page: "Here, I've calculated everything. Your years of service can be exchanged for more than 3,000 yuan, enough to open a small shop."

Li Jianghai's eyes widened: "You've even calculated this?"

"Nonsense!" Li Guifang snorted complacently. "Do you really think I can just open Guifangzhai at random?"

After Li Guifang finished speaking, she stuffed the notebook back into the box and gave Li Jianghai a push: "Remember, go get it done tomorrow morning. Don't waste time!"

Li Jianghai nodded, and his heart suddenly relaxed a lot - yes, times have changed, instead of guarding a half-dying factory, it is better to go out and try his luck!