042 A helpful comrade
After receiving her salary, Guan Yuehe wanted to go to the meat station to buy meat as usual, but she was a step too late.
"They're all sold out. Come earlier next time!"
Today was payday, and some family members who were collecting wages on their behalf went to the workplace early to collect their paychecks, so the meat at the meat station sold much faster than usual.
Guan Yuehe wasn't disappointed. With so many days off from work, she refused to believe she wouldn't be able to get a piece of meat! She was determined to get a good piece of meat!
The elderly people behind her in line were also grumbling and complaining that it was unusually difficult to buy meat this year.
It's not that they're too clumsy to queue up; it's that all the black markets, big and small, have been shut down. The traders who haven't been caught are temporarily afraid to come out and sell things. With one less channel for buying supplies, meat is even harder to buy.
Although she couldn't buy meat, Guan Yuehe couldn't skimp on herself. She turned around and bought a bag of peach shortbread.
This stuff is considered a high-end snack; it costs seven cents and six ounces of grain coupons per pound. She used to buy a pack every month or two at most, but today she impulsively bought three packs.
They were very happy to hand over the money and tickets, but as soon as they left the grocery store, they looked at the three bags of peach shortbread in their hands and grimaced with heartache.
But after eating half a piece, she actually felt she could buy two more packs. To avoid making another impulsive decision, Guan Yuehe resisted the urge to turn back and quickly ran home.
At the entrance of the alley, I saw Jingjing, Bao'an, and Baoning playing jump rope. I divided the remaining half of the piece into three portions and gave them to them to eat.
"Didn't you two go to school today?" Guan Yuehe asked the twin sisters.
Bao'an Bao Ning was originally supposed to start primary school in the second half of the year, but after being abducted, Zhou Da Sao applied to the factory to have them enroll in the first grade at the affiliated primary school. This way, along with Bao Yu, who was in junior high school, the four of them could leave home together in the mornings.
Bao'an, being the older sister, was more lively. She tilted her head back and replied, "Many classmates have caught colds and fevers, so the teacher told us to stay at home."
No wonder Lin Sitian has been so busy lately; she probably has a lot of sick children at the car factory's clinic.
Guan Yuehe followed the example of the three girls, squatting by the wall and breaking off another piece of peach shortbread to eat. She ate it in big bites, while the three next to her ate in small bites.
Sun Jiawang ran out, stared at them for a while, and then reached out to Guan Yuehe, "I want one too!"
"I think you're going to hit me." Guan Yuehe wasn't going to let him get away from her. "Get out of my way if you keep blocking my sunbathing, or I'll kick you into a tree and hang you there."
Guan Yuehe has always believed in gender equality, respect for the elderly and love for the young, and she would kick anyone she didn't like, regardless of age or gender.
Since his father, Sun Dashan, was arrested, the neighbors in the courtyard have become even more hostile towards his family. His grandparents have been scolded a lot, and the adults have told their children to stay away from him.
Even a child knows to read adults' expressions and act accordingly. He knows that no matter how naughty he is, others will not tolerate him anymore.
Furthermore, ever since Guan Yuehe moved to Courtyard No. 2, Sun Jiawang has encountered many obstacles with her. No matter what he does, it goes unpunished, and even his parents don't dare to offend him.
Sun Jiawang pouted, looking aggrieved, and angrily squatted down next to Guan Yuehe. He glanced up, but no one paid any attention, so his pout deepened.
A short while later, upon hearing his grandparents' voices, he was so aggrieved that he almost cried. He rushed out like a cannonball, demanding to eat peach shortbread, but this time he didn't get his wish. His grandparents slapped their thighs, crying and cursing, scolding Wu Erni for being heartless.
The family members who went to the car factory to collect their wages also returned. Some brought bags of snacks, while others brought a few pieces of candy or biscuits, all bought to appease the children.
Guan Yuehe and three children were squatting by the wall sunbathing, looking like two mushrooms, one big and one small.
"Why did Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun do that?" Guan Yuehe asked curiously.
"Ha, the finance department said they weren't considered employee family members and couldn't collect salaries on their behalf. They made a scene at the finance department for a while, but it didn't work out, so they got angry."
Another older woman said, "Those two shameless old hags! Wu Erni was willing to let them stay at home and they don't even appreciate it. They're even thinking about taking advantage of Wu Erni's salary. They don't even know what kind of relationship they have with Wu Erni."
"It's also because Wu Erni is stupid; if it were me, I would have kicked them out long ago."
“Do you think she doesn’t want to? Sun Dashan’s previous earnings are all in the hands of his grandparents. Sun Jiawang is biased towards his grandparents. They said that if they kick them out, they will take Sun Jiawang with them. Wu Erni can’t bear to part with her son.”
"Why are you so reluctant to part with Sun Jiawang? How old is she? It's easy for her to find another one. If this son is gone, she can just have another one."
"You're telling me, he's still your own son, how can a mother be so heartless?"
“What’s wrong with being a mother? Does becoming a mother make you less of a person? That kid Sun Jiawang is bad to the core. Even if he were good, he was corrupted by his father and his grandparents.”
The older woman's words made sense, and Guan Yuehe nodded in agreement repeatedly.
Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun were furious. They cursed all the way home, waiting for Wu Erni to come back so they could get their wages.
When Wu Erni finally returned from get off work, before Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun could even ask for their wages, Wu Erni said to the people behind her, "It's them. I have nothing to do with them, yet they're still living in my house. Shouldn't we kick them out?"
Grandpa and Grandma Sun were stunned, looking at the calm Wu Erni and the two unfamiliar police officers, Director Ma from the street office, the head of the security department of the automobile factory, and the women's federation staff of the automobile factory behind Wu Erni.
"You, you guys..." Grandpa Sun panicked for a moment, "What do you mean by 'you guys'?"
The head of the security department didn't waste any words and said directly, "This room is a family housing unit of our automobile factory, allocated to automobile factory workers and their families. You are not Wu Erni's family members, so you can't occupy our factory workers' housing. You have one day to pack up and move out tomorrow. Otherwise, our factory will send the police to send you back to your hometown."
The Sun family's ancestral home was in the countryside. After Sun Dashan got Wu Erni's job, Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun moved to the city by relying on relatives.
However, when they moved to the city, it was a time of strict restrictions on household registration. Without a receiving unit, they could not change their status from rural to urban.
The family relied entirely on Sun Dashan's salary to make ends meet, and life was always tight. Otherwise, Sun Dashan wouldn't have thought of divorcing Wu Erni and marrying Zhou Dasao. With two workers in the family, they could earn an extra income.
Going back to their hometown now? Before they moved to the city, they offended all their brothers and relatives back home. If they go back, not only will they have nowhere to live, but their reputation will be completely ruined!
"Why should we?! Jiawang is our grandson, and the house was allocated to Wu Erni. Won't Wu Erni's house eventually belong to our grandson? What's wrong with us living in our grandson's house?"
Upon hearing this, the neighbors in Courtyard No. 2, who had finally seized this opportunity to get rid of these two old scoundrels, all chimed in, saying, "We'll talk about the future later. This house belongs to Wu Erni now! You're not her parents, so you can't live here!"
"That's right!"
Grandma Sun whispered something to Sun Jiawang, and Sun Jiawang immediately yelled, "I don't want Grandpa and Grandma to leave! You're not allowed to send them back to their hometown!"
Wu Erni stared at him quietly. "If you can't bear to leave your grandparents, then go back with them."
Sun Jiawang's howling stopped abruptly.
The surrounding crowd cheered, "Sun Jiawang, if you can't bear to leave your grandparents, why don't you go back with them?"
Although Sun Jiawang grew up in the city and never lived in the countryside, he had heard adults chatter a lot and knew that life in the countryside was not easy.
He was terrified that his mother would really send him away too.
When Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun realized that even their grandson couldn't be relied on, and that Wu Erni was determined to send them away, they really panicked.
"I don't want to live anymore! You're trying to force two old people like us to our deaths. Tomorrow I'll hang myself in front of your car factory!"
Crying, making a scene, threatening suicide—these tactics are all too familiar to the police, neighborhood committees, security departments, and women's federations.
As long as you take a firm stance, there's no tough nut you can't crack.
"We're here today to give you a heads-up. If you don't move out by the end of the day after tomorrow, we'll report you to the police. Your son has already gone to the Northwest, so your reason of seeking refuge with relatives is not legitimate. If we report you to the police, you'll be treated as migrant workers. Think it over carefully!"
Grandpa and Grandma Sun looked deathly pale. The head of the security department offered another solution, "Or, we could send you to the far northwest to reunite with Sun Dashan; they're short-handed there..."
"We're not going!" Grandpa Sun refused without even thinking.
"Either go back to your hometown, go to the Northwest, or become a migrant worker and be reformed on a farm before going back to your hometown. You decide what to do. We'll come back the day after tomorrow."
They were given three options, but none of them allowed them to stay. Before leaving, the head of the security department talked to Grandpa Chang and Grandpa Zhang, asking them to keep an eye on them and be careful that the two old men didn't cause any trouble.
Once the cadres left, only Wu Erni remained. Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun became fierce again, constantly cursing her as an ingrate and unfilial, and then hugging Sun Jiawang and crying.
Wu Erni didn't argue, she just watched them make a scene.
After the neighbors had watched the commotion for a while, they went home to prepare dinner.
Guan Yuehe finished preparing the meal and went to visit her neighbor, carrying a large bowl.
Of course, I mainly wanted to hear gossip.
Wu Erni endured it silently for several years, and after working for less than a month, she was able to stand up straight?
"If she can't straighten her back, she can expect to be criticized for the rest of her life!" said Zhang Ersao. "Do you know what Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun are planning?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Zhang Ersao scoffed, "They plan to divorce, and then Grandpa Sun will marry Wu Erni. That way, they'll still be family, and Wu Erni won't be able to get rid of them!"
Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.
Is this something a normal person could come up with?
After the initial shock, everyone felt disgusted. First, there was Sun Dashan wanting to divorce his wife to marry Zhou Dasao, and now there was Grandpa Sun wanting to divorce his wife to marry his former daughter-in-law... Although there's nothing new under the sun, this was the first time they'd ever heard of anything like it.
Guan Yuehe regretted it. She shouldn't have been curious. After hearing this, she felt so disgusted that even fried rice didn't taste good anymore. She frowned and let out a long sigh.
Just one night and one morning later, news of Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun's plan spread throughout Ginkgo Alley, and people from other places even came to inquire about the truth of the matter.
Even the elderly folks who went to the gatekeeper's office at the Zhuoyue Garment Factory to chat were asked, "Is the Sun family in your alley really going to marry their own daughter-in-law?"
Grandpa and Grandma Sun didn't even dare to leave their house. As soon as they went out, someone would throw a liquid mixed with something unknown at them and yell at them to get out of Ginkgo Alley.
Now that's good, they won't dare to hang themselves at the car factory anymore.
On the morning of the 3rd, Guan Yuehe saw Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun leaving Ginkgo Hutong with large and small bags, while Sun Jiawang sat at his doorstep crying his heart out.
Grandma Bai clapped her hands in delight, "Finally, we've gotten rid of those three scourges of this family!"
As for the smaller one, as long as Wu Erni can be ruthless enough, she can still straighten its roots a bit.
This is such a great thing!
Guan Yuehe was in a good mood, so she decided to go out today to get her father a haircut, get a letter of introduction, and take photos to get everything done.
To look better in the photos, I specially changed into a white shirt inside and wore a red sweater on top.
She looked at herself in the mirror again and again, and then praised herself to herself with satisfaction.
Guangming Road outside the car factory is lined with shops, all run by the car factory, including guesthouses, barbershops, and supply and marketing cooperatives.
The barbershop was a place she used to frequent, either to get the key from her father or to watch other people get their hair cut.
Her father's skill was not passed down to any of his siblings because none of them were interested in cutting hair.
"That's all I want." Guan Yuehe clearly stated the length she wanted, forbidding her father from showing off his hairdressing skills, and even preemptively said, "Old Guan, look here."
Old Guan's lips twitched. "How about we get someone else to serve you?"
"No! I'm your daughter, Dad!"
If we replace her with someone else, wouldn't that only be her father's old partner, Uncle Chen? Uncle Chen used to be a veterinarian, but I don't know why he was assigned to the barbershop.
Grandpa Chen is skilled at treating cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, but his barbering skills are worse than a dog chewing. When her sister was little, she had her hair cut by Grandpa Chen once, and cried all the way home from the barbershop.
Guan Canghai: "......"
He was just calling him "Comrade Lao Guan" a moment ago, but now he knows to call him "Dad"?
Grandpa Chen, happy to shirk his responsibilities, went to sit by the door and smoke again.
She cut off a section of her hair, leaving just enough for her to tie a short ponytail, which only reached her shoulders when let down.
"Isn't this just a gun head?!"
“Mine is a bit longer.” Guan Yuehe tied her short ponytail and said proudly, “Our factory manager has this hairstyle.”
"Okay, okay," Guan Canghai replied perfunctorily, urging her to get up quickly, as there were people waiting to get their hair cut.
Three or four people lined up behind him, specifically asking for Master Guan, completely ignoring Grandpa Chen.
After getting a haircut, Guan Yuehe looked more energetic. She went to the Municipal Revolutionary Committee to get a letter of introduction first, and then took a detour to the photo studio to take two-inch photos.
With documents previously issued by the Municipal Revolutionary Committee, certificates from the factory, admission notices, and letters of introduction, my identity was obtained smoothly.
Hearing that the woman who fought off an armed robber with her bare hands in the newspaper had arrived, many people from the Municipal Revolutionary Committee put down their work to take a look at what she looked like.
"What does it look like?" asked a colleague who had missed it.
"Tall and strong, he looks like he could eat three bowls of rice in one go. He is indeed a helpful and kind comrade."
A truckload of pears arrived at the gate to be distributed to the staff. Comrade Guan Yuehe even helped with the unloading.
Comrade Guan Yuehe, always ready to help others, had arrived at the photo studio. When she came out, her flat backpack bulged out in two places. She opened the backpack and buried her face in it, and you could smell a faint pear scent.
"What are you taking these pictures for?" the photographer asked.
"It's something you have to pay when you go to university."
The photographer lifted his head from behind the camera, looked her over carefully, said "oh," and then told her to straighten her back, raise her chin, and open her eyes wider.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you look your best in the photos."
After paying the fee and keeping the receipt, you can pick up the photos in a week.
Before going home, I even bought a bag of brown sugar to give to He Shuangshuang on the 6th.
Quite a few things were done today.
In the front yard, when Wu Erni came home from get off work, she saw her son with swollen eyes from crying, and a house that had been almost completely emptied.
To make life go smoothly, they needed to buy a lot of things. But Wu Erni felt relaxed and had a sense of purpose.
Add a little bit each month, and life will get better soon.
When Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun were packing their things to leave, some people tried to stop them, but Grandpa Sun and Grandma Sun shouted that their son had bought these things and they wouldn't leave unless they were allowed to take them with them.
No one dared to stop them; they could only watch as the Japanese devils stuffed needles and thread into their pockets and took them away.
Just as Wu Erni was about to take stock of the family's belongings, her second aunt brought over some cornbread, Aunt Zhao brought a basket of cabbage and radishes, Cai Ying brought half a bag of salt and half a bowl of oil, Guan Yuehe brought a small half bag of sugar, and Sister-in-law Zhou scooped out two bowls of rice...
Like the other houses, the Sun family's chimney was emitting white smoke. It seemed like just another ordinary day.
But even on the most ordinary days, there are always plenty of mundane, everyday occurrences.
Guan Yuehe had no interest in watching the commotion, not knowing which courtyard was causing it. Not long after finishing her meal, she reached for the two pears she had received for doing a good deed that day.
"You didn't call me when there was good food!" Lin Sitian looked aggrieved, as if Guan Yuehe had done something terribly wrong to her.
Guan Yuehe said matter-of-factly, "I was just about to go call you, wasn't I? Look, I haven't even cut it yet!"
Lin Sitian hummed twice and handed her a small bag of dried shrimp. "Look! My brother sent me food and I'm still thinking about you."
"I was thinking of you too. Here, I'll give you a big piece."
Lin Sitian looked at the two pears from different angles but couldn't tell which one was bigger.
After taking a bite, they both nodded in satisfaction.
"It's delicious! Where did you get it? Do they sell it outside?"
"It was a gift from someone who did a good deed; I heard it was transported from a neighboring province." If she could buy it, she would buy several more.
It was rare for Lin Sitian to be able to leave work on time; the two of them hadn't spoken for many days.
When they met, all they talked about was gossip about the Five Star Automobile Factory and Ginkgo Alley.
"Oh, isn't your sister getting engaged? All the men in our factory are regretting it to death."
They thought Guan Yuehua looked down on those from non-cadre families, but it turned out she turned around and found a man from an ordinary clothing factory worker background, which shocked everyone. Now they regretted believing the rumors that Guan Yuehua was trying to marry into a higher social class.
Guan Yuehe waved her hand dismissively, "They're not ideologically sound enough. It's no use if they pursue them. My sister doesn't even look at them."
Lin Sitian nodded, "If it were me, I wouldn't like it either."
There was no radio to listen to at her place that night because she forgot to buy batteries. Lin Sitian got really into the conversation and ended up staying at her place to sleep that night.
The next morning, she said with a resentful look, "Your kang (heated brick bed) is so wide, how could you kick it over like that? I'm really impressed!"
It was fine when she slept in her room before, since it was small and you could easily bump into each other if you turned around. But now, it's so spacious! Guan Yuehe could easily roll from one end of the kang (heated brick bed) to the other and kick her!
"Nonsense! I sleep very soundly!" Guan Yuehe couldn't explain herself, so she urged her to get up and go to work.
"Ahhh! Lin Sitian, you pulled off my blanket!" A gust of wind blew in, and the blankets had to be warmed up again.
Lin Sitian's mischief worked, and she happily went to work.
Guan Yuehe was having a wonderful time, eating, drinking, sleeping, and listening to gossip. Before she knew it, it was the 6th, and she went to He Shuangshuang's house for a full-moon celebration. Then, just like that, it was the 10th, and she went to pick up the photos.
She laid out all the documents she needed to go to school on the kang (a heated brick bed) and checked them one by one.
Clothes and blankets can be packed on the morning of departure.
She's about to go to university, and the Guan family has produced its first college student. The family has decided to get together for a meal to celebrate.
Guan Yuehe thought it was a good thing that she didn't inform her maternal grandparents and her aunt's family this time, so that she wouldn't be unhappy even if she ate a good meal.
Gu Mannian, as the future brother-in-law, also received an invitation, and his uncle's family came to his house on the 11th.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
