Chapter 9 Chapter 9 My family are all workers and we have never...
Su Yan patted the two people's heads and warned them, "Remember, what we eat and drink at home must not be told outside."
The two little guys answered in unison: "I know, just say we eat cornmeal steamed buns and green vegetable leaves."
Su Yanshu gave a thumbs up: "Smart!"
The two children told her that Lu Yingzi's belongings had been packed away by her mother in a suitcase. Su Yan searched for them until she finally found them in a corner of Lu Yingzi's parents' room. She found a set of old blue clothes and her high school diploma. Lu Yingzi had returned home before graduating from college, so she didn't have a diploma, so she could only be considered a dropout. There were also some odds and ends: hairpins, hairbands, a diary, and so on.
Su Yan held the high school diploma, thinking that high school students in this era should be able to find a job, but in this era, jobs should be assigned. Lu Yingzi's family background is not good, so she probably won't be assigned a good job. But as long as there is a job, it's fine. Things in the space are not inexhaustible, so you have to increase your income.
Su Yan thought about it, took out five kilograms of rice, two cans of oranges, and one can of lychees from the space, put them in the vegetable basket at home, and covered it with a blue cloth.
She was busy when she heard someone knocking on the door. She opened the door and said, "Uncle Xu!"
Uncle Xu's head was covered in sweat. He was holding some cornmeal and some potatoes in his hands, which probably weighed about half a pound each. Although it was not much, at a time when a steamed bun could save a life, giving him these things was a life-saving favor.
Uncle Xu handed the things to Su Yan: "Yingzi, I heard from the cafeteria at noon that you didn't sign up for meals, so they didn't give you any food. Take these things and eat them for a few days. I'll go talk to Director Lin later."
Su Yan refused to take it: "Uncle Xu, our family still has some money, so we can still buy some food. You can take these things back."
Uncle Xu said, "Why are you being so polite, kid? I've watched you grow up. Your family is in trouble now, and as an elder, I can't just sit there and watch. This is not much, but no one has food right now."
Su Yan had no choice but to collect the potatoes. Cornmeal refused to accept any of the potatoes, saying she had enough food at home. She then asked Uncle Xu, "My father and brother both passed away. It's considered work-related injuries, so they should receive subsidies and pensions, right? I heard from my mother before that according to the policy, I could take my father's job."
Uncle Xu thought for a moment and said, "The pension will be given to you when you return. Go see Director Lin in the office this afternoon. It's difficult right now, so there might not be much. You can replace your father's position. There is a policy now, but it depends on the factory secretary. The old secretary has retired, and the current secretary is very concerned about family background. I'm afraid he won't agree to you replacing your father."
Su Yan saw that Uncle Xu had a good relationship with the Lu family and had worked in the machinery factory for many years. He was familiar with all the things going on in the factory. It would be best to ask him if she had any questions. "Uncle Xu, is there any way to get the secretary's approval?"
Su Yan asked tentatively, "How about sending something to their house?"
Uncle Xu thought about it and shook his head. "That won't work. He's a very principled person. He's not targeting anyone by focusing on the background issue. He just thinks people with questionable backgrounds are unreliable and won't hire them into the factory if he can avoid it."
Su Yan sighed: "Then there is no other way?"
Uncle Xu said, "Not necessarily. The secretary's wife is a warm-hearted person. You should have taken advantage of the fact that the secretary wasn't home that day, visited her with some gifts, and told her about your family's difficulties. The secretary is very receptive to his wife's advice." He then instructed Su Yan, "Don't buy anything too expensive. Just some rice, flour, and canned food will be enough. We've all been comrades for decades, and have been in the factory for decades. We know each other well. We all know who your father is, and who your brother is. We won't be too unkind."
Su Yan thanked him and took out the remaining pound of noodles from the kitchen: "Uncle Xu, this is the noodles I brought back from Shanghai. Please take it. Don't think it's too little."
Uncle Xu was embarrassed: "I originally came to give you something, but who knew I would take advantage of it." But seeing Su Yan's expression, he had to accept it.
Su Yan, following Uncle Xu's advice, realized that sending too many gifts wouldn't be a good idea. So, she brought out another three pounds of rice, and only one can of oranges remained. She then grabbed a kitchen knife and scratched out the date-related text on the can. She packed up her things, washed her face, and dozed off in bed for a while, figuring that once everyone finished their lunch break and headed to work, she'd take the gifts and visit the secretary's wife. Lying in bed, she felt much more relaxed. She'd been thinking about what she'd say to the secretary's wife, and how she'd say it. But she closed her eyes and fell asleep in a matter of seconds.
When she woke up, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. The two children moved a small stool and sat in front of the bed to watch him sleep. When Su Yan opened her eyes, she was shocked. Xiaoyan brought some water and said, "Auntie, are you thirsty?"
Su Yan brought it over, took a sip, and asked, "What's wrong with you two?"
Xiao Gang said, "Aunt, I went to the kitchen and checked, and the remaining noodles are gone. A thief broke into our house and stole the noodles."
Su Yan smiled and said, "No, I gave it to Uncle Xu. He's been busy running around for our family these days. Just now, when you were taking a nap, he even gave us some cornmeal and potatoes."
Swallow whispered, "Aunt, you're stupid! How can cornmeal be as delicious as noodles?"
Su Yan got up and put on her shoes: "Don't worry, there will be more in the evening. Auntie and brother are going out now, you can play at the door for a while. Remember, you can't touch the thermos or the kitchen."
Yan Zi said, "Aunt, I'll go with you!"
Su Yan touched her head: "Brother is leading the way for me. When I get there, tell him to come back immediately. The sun is very strong now. If you get tanned, you won't be able to come back white later." At the same time, she asked Xiaogang if he knew which building the factory committee secretary's home was.
Xiaogang nodded: "Aunt, I'll take you there!"
The residential buildings are all connected together. Although the factory secretary is a high-ranking official, at most he has a larger house, but he doesn't have his own building. When the two of them arrived, Xiaogang pointed to the second floor and said, "Auntie, 204 is Hu Zi's home. Hu Zi's family is very well off. He even has Shanghai White Rabbit candies to eat during the New Year. He gets a handful every day."
Su Yan nodded, told him to go back and look after his sister, went upstairs with the basket and knocked on the door.
The woman who opened the door looked to be in her late thirties or early forties. She was wearing a blue shirt and had a light blue handkerchief tied around her head. She was stunned for a moment and said, "Comrade, who are you looking for?"
Su Yan smiled and said, "Aunt, I am Lu Dayong's youngest daughter. My name is Lu Yingzi. I came back from Shanghai this morning and came to see you."
She didn't know who Lu Yingzi was, nor did she know who Lu Dayong was before, but she had heard that there was a major accident in the factory and two people died. She welcomed them in and poured a glass of water for Su Yan: "We don't have hot water at home. It's too hot. Drinking some cold boiled water is not bad."
Su Yan put the basket on the table and pushed it over: "Auntie, I came to see you. I didn't bring anything good, please don't despise me."
The secretary's wife lifted the cloth covering the basket and saw that it was filled with rice and canned food. She was a little surprised. Lu Dayong's family was originally rich peasants. She often heard that they had hidden gold bars. The things were good things, but she was a little hesitant to accept them. "This is too valuable. The harvest is poor this year. No one has enough food to eat. We all have to rely on cornmeal to make ends meet. Your few pounds of rice were nothing in previous years, but now it is too valuable. I can't accept it. Come to my house to see me. I know your intentions. You don't need the things. Take them back."
Although she said this, the secretary's wife kept her eyes on the basket and never moved away.
Su Yan understood and said, "Aunt, please don't look down on our family. I know my grandfather was a rich peasant, but that was decades ago. My father was a worker in 1949. My whole family are workers and have never exploited others. The rumors that we have hidden gold bars are complete nonsense. We can't even afford medical expenses and have to rely on subsidies from the factory. Aunt, these cans of rice were bought with the money I received when I was in college. They are clean."
At that time, going to university not only did not require tuition, but also paid money every month. Su Yan had read the letter she wrote to her family, and it seemed that she received five dollars every month. Lu Yingzi's parents were worried that their daughter had no money, so they sent money to school every month.
Su Yan felt more and more aggrieved as she thought about it, her voice almost tearing up. "Auntie, my father and brother worked in the factory, and now they're both gone. My mother is also sick. I went to see her this morning, and she didn't even recognize me. The doctor said she might never recognize anyone again. Auntie, I have two nephews and nieces at home, and I don't know what to do. They all say that in our Jiangzhou Machinery Factory, Auntie is one of the best in terms of kindness and ability. I'm at my wit's end, so I came to you for advice."
The secretary's wife sighed and took Su Yan's hand. "Don't worry. Your father, brother, and mother are all workers at the Jiangzhou Machinery Factory. I can't let your family go hungry. Tonight, I'll talk to Director Lin in the office and ask him to ask you to go to the cafeteria for dinner."
Su Yan wiped her tears and said, "Aunt, I'm not unreasonable. The cafeteria only allows employees to get food. I'm not an employee, so I have no right to do so. It's just a waste of time for others to gossip about me."
The secretary's wife slammed the table. "Who's gossiping? Who has the right to gossip? Your father didn't have to get into trouble. It wasn't someone's carelessness. It was your father who saved the third workshop. You don't have a job yet, so what's wrong with eating in the cafeteria for a few days?"
Seeing that the secretary's wife was indeed a decent and warm-hearted person, Su Yan said directly: "Aunt, I didn't graduate from college, and now that my family is in this situation, I can't go back to study. I remembered what my mother said before, that there is a policy now that children can replace their parents' positions. I don't need the same salary as my father and brother, as long as I can support my nephews and nieces. Aunt, I can't take my nephews and nieces back to Shanghai to study, right?
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