Chapter 13 013 The Poor Guy
It wasn't until early April that Guan Yuehe finally ended her days of traveling with her boss every day.
Although it was called a business trip, it really just meant taking a two-hour bus ride from the Zhuoyue Garment Factory to the Leather Shoe Factory every day. She didn't get a single day off during that time. As soon as the business trip ended, the boss waved his hand and gave everyone who had accompanied her on the trip two days off, which finally gave Guan Yuehe time to go home.
She rested in her dormitory for half a day, and at noon she found Xu Chengcai in the cafeteria to ask him about the situation of her neighbors in the alley.
Zhuoyue Garment Factory originally planned to recruit workers, and there were quite a few openings. Many people in Yinxing Hutong thought that if they didn't get the job at the car factory, they could try the garment factory instead. But things didn't go as planned. The garment factory's recruitment plan was halted, and they directly took over a workshop from the shoe factory. The remaining openings were few and were used to place military dependents or veterans.
Several of the founders of Zhuoyue Garment Factory were military families, and over the years, a certain number of positions have been reserved for military families or veterans—an unwritten rule in the factory.
As a result, there are no more openings for external recruitment.
"They're even better informed than I am. Last week they found out that one of the workshops in the merged shoe factory was making athletic shoes, and they even knew they wouldn't be hiring externally. They all came to ask me if it was true. I said I hadn't received any news, and they said I couldn't stand to see them doing well..."
Xu Chengcai felt both angry and amused when he thought about it. "I'm in the workshop all day operating the sewing machine. Nobody talks about it, and you're never around. How am I supposed to know?"
His biggest connection in the factory was his childhood friend Guan Yuehe, who worked in the factory office.
"After a few days of howling, they stopped and are now thinking of other ways to get out of this mess."
What can we do if we don't take a break? The factory doesn't hire from outside, so can outsiders force us to hire?
As another batch of children are about to graduate, those who will not continue their studies, those who are unemployed, unmarried, and over sixteen years old will be notified by the educated youth office and the street office to go to the countryside.
"The Ding family is always making a fuss." Xu Cheng sneered and said, "Brother Ding's two sons, one sixteen and the other fifteen, will definitely not pass the high school entrance exam, and they will have difficulty finding jobs. They are making a scene at home, trying to get Brother Ding and Sister-in-law Ding to give up their jobs."
The Ding family has four working employees: the eldest and third sons work at a car factory, the second son is a temporary worker at a food factory, and the second daughter-in-law works as a waitress at a restaurant.
Ding's two sons were close in age and went to the countryside one after the other, so the two brothers not only set their sights on their father's job, but also on their aunt's job.
Guan Yuehe also wanted to laugh, "Would Sister-in-law Ding agree?"
"Of course they'd agree! They think they're smart, but the other person isn't stupid! Even Brother Ding himself doesn't want to give up his job, let alone Sister-in-law Ding?" Xu Cheng said, "Aunt Ding would disagree even more. Don't let her constant 'my precious grandson' fool you; when it comes to money, even that title doesn't matter."
Indeed, there's a huge difference between a job belonging to one's own son and one belonging to one's grandson.
Ding's mother currently has a firm grip on the wages of the four workers in the Ding family. However, if her grandsons were to take over, not only would their wages be reduced, but it's uncertain whether they would even reach her hands.
Guan Yuehe was amazed. She used to think that Aunt Ding treated her grandson better than her own son, but she never expected that they would be the same when it mattered.
"Maybe Aunt Ding is even thinking of enrolling her two grandsons in Xue Wen's school."
Xu Chengcai just said it casually, but upon closer inspection, it really is possible!
The two said in unison, "Let's send a message to Brother Xuewen!"
Before they could even begin writing their letter, Ding Xuewen received a package from Beijing while he was at a youth settlement called Sidaogou Village in Northeast China.
"Your childhood friend wrote to you again? Oh, and this time he even sent something." The educated youth in the same room had a complicated expression.
They were among the same group of educated youth sent to the countryside. When they arrived, Ding Xuewen brought the least amount of belongings and had very little money. Everyone felt sorry for him and hesitated about whether to lend him warm clothes when it got cold. If they lent him clothes, they were also strapped for cash; if they didn't, they couldn't just watch him freeze to death, could they?
Unexpectedly, before the weather turned cold, Ding Xuewen received a large package. It contained cotton quilts and cotton-padded coats, as well as biscuits and brown sugar. There were also general grain coupons in the envelope.
They assumed it was sent by his family, but Ding Xuewen said it was collected by several childhood friends.
I felt sad that he had no family to help him, but I also envied that he had childhood friends who cared about him.
Although Ding Xuewen didn't receive packages every time, each package contained valuable items. These weren't just childhood friends; they were practically siblings!
Ding Xuewen, who was usually reserved, couldn't contain his joy. He pursed his lips and responded softly, then eagerly went to open the envelope.
There were thirteen sheets of paper inside, written in three different handwritings, depicting trivial matters in a vivid and interesting way.
Yuehe got a room?!
They all reminded him to remember to give gifts to those moving into their new homes, and Guan Yuehe even specifically asked for some of the wood ear mushrooms, hazel mushrooms, and pine nuts he had sent back. Ding Xuewen smiled as he finished reading the letter, and just as he was about to put it back, he noticed there was a 10,000 yuan note inside the envelope.
Holding the letter in one hand and the large sum of money in the other, it took him a long time to calm his myriad thoughts.
I took out my notebook and wrote down everything I received, finally noting the date I received it.
He didn't know when he would be able to repay this kindness, but he thought that day would come.
I gathered all the received items, took out a box of cookies, and locked the rest in the box.
I'm going out for a bit.
After everyone left, people in the dormitory started talking about him again.
"Did his childhood friends really send it? Could it be his girlfriend? Hey, Chen Lizhong, you and Ding Xuewen went to the same high school, you know that?"
Chen Lizhong glanced at him and said, "We're not even in the same class, we're not close. Everyone says they're childhood friends, why are you making wild guesses? Are you jealous?"
"Pshaw! I'm jealous of him? It's not like my family hasn't sent me things!"
Chen Lizhong ignored him and turned back to his book. He vaguely heard someone say, "The college entrance exam has been canceled, so it's useless to study it. It's a waste of time," but he pretended not to hear it.
More than two hours later, Ding Xuewen returned carrying a bag of things. Only then did he find paper and pen to prepare a reply.
"I'm going to the commune to mail a letter tomorrow too, shall we go together?" Chen Lizhong asked.
Ding Xuewen nodded, "Okay."
—
Guan Yuehe first went to the post office to mail her letter, then turned around and went to the nearest meat processing station.
She used half of the meat coupons she received this month to buy half a pound of pork belly. Luckily, she was quick-witted and spoke up, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to get any!
As I walked out carrying the meat, an old man behind me rolled his eyes at me.
Guan Yuehe held up the meat and waved it around the old man three times, making him so angry that his eyebrows stood on end. Especially when the news came from the front that "there's no more pork belly," the old man's face turned ashen, and he disliked her even more.
Guan Yuehe walked on tiptoe with a smug look on her face and turned into the department store next door.
The people queuing in front of the meat station muttered resentfully, "That brat! She's so annoying!"
As usual, Guan Yuehe browsed the entire department store before buying what she needed.
Even if you can't buy them all, you can still feast your eyes.
The Zhuoyue Garment Factory is doing well, so her salary is quite good. She's currently on a management-level salary of thirty-two yuan a month. Various types of coupons are issued, but industrial coupons aren't issued in fixed monthly quantities; sometimes she gets one, sometimes two. If she wants to buy large items, she has to accumulate them slowly. Fabric coupons are issued less frequently, but since it's a garment factory, within a certain limit, she can buy defective fabric from the factory without coupons.
If you urgently need the ticket, you'll have to pay someone to exchange it, and that's not easy either. Unless you go to the black market, where it's easier to exchange, but it's much more expensive.
Guan Yuehe was once again relieved that she didn't have to hand over her salary to her family. Otherwise, how could she have the mind to be frugal? On the day she received her salary, she would probably go out and go on a shopping spree, just like her sister.
As she left the department store, her net bag was full of her daily necessities.
That's why everyone wants to work in a big factory. For example, at Five Star Automobile Factory, workers with the same length of service may not earn as much as workers in a garment factory, but they receive more receipts every month!
For example, menstrual tickets are no longer available at the garment factory. The women's director has already submitted an application, but it's unclear when it will be approved. She often trades defective fabric that she can buy for others; luckily, fabric is a valuable commodity!
Guan Yuehe calculated her finances. Besides the money she needed to spend on moving, buying furniture was also a significant expense. Oh! She had also asked Gu Mannian to exchange the defective fabric for curtains and tablecloths... She felt like she was about to become penniless again.
So when she passed by the state-run restaurant, she managed to resist the urge to buy two meat buns.
I only bought one.
After finishing the food in a few bites, my stomach started to rumble with hunger. I walked a short distance ahead, but I couldn't resist my legs and turned back to buy another one.
What you eat is worthwhile; even if you're penniless, you'll be a strong, healthy penniless man.
With this thought, Guan Yuehe's reluctance disappeared.
This time when she went home, thankfully no one enthusiastically surrounded her to ask her questions; when they saw her, they just nodded and greeted her.
That's true. The garment factory has just filled its quota, and it probably won't be recruiting any more workers this year. Asking her more questions won't help.
Some people haven't given up on introducing her to potential partners, but they haven't shown it yet. Her parents have repeatedly said there's no rush, yet they keep pushing her forward; that's not trying to set her up, it's trying to make enemies.
Passing by courtyard number two, Guan Yuehe peeked inside. It was quiet and peaceful; no one was causing trouble. She was quite satisfied.
Meanwhile, people in courtyard number three were arguing with each other over the wall.
How could Jin Junwei from the front yard and Aunt Xie from the back yard actually get into a fight? How strange!
Guan Yuehe quickened her pace to get home.
"You gigolo who lives off a woman, how dare you say that? If it weren't for your wife, would you even be able to eat?"
"Hey~ So what if I'm a gigolo? Your eldest son's a freeloader too, isn't he? Your youngest son wants to but can't get any! You old hag!"
I'll tear your mouth apart!
"Come on! Come on!" Jin Junwei, dressed impeccably, stood with one hand on his hip and the other making a delicate gesture as he cursed at the backyard. When he saw Guan Yuehe, he stopped and greeted her gently, "Yuehe is back."
Guan Yuehe suppressed a laugh and said, "Hello, brother-in-law."
As soon as she crossed the front yard, Jin Junwei's voice immediately rose in volume.
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