Chapter 238 The Fuse
Zhou Yi was shocked by the old man's words.
"Uncle, are you in trouble?" Zhou Yi asked quickly.
"Oh..." The old man sighed and wiped away his tears.
Zhou Yi knew it was time to ask. If he didn't, the old man would jump into the river as soon as he left the house.
After repeated questioning, the old man finally told what happened.
The old man's words scared Zhou Yi.
The old man is 76 years old this year. His wife has been dead for more than 40 years. He has been both a father and a mother, raising two sons and a daughter.
At this age, I should enjoy my retirement, after all, my children have all started their own families.
However, hemp ropes tend to break at the thinnest part. The eldest son worked for a private company boss and was accidentally electrocuted at work, resulting in the amputation of both his hands. He had not received any compensation yet and could not bear the blow. Later, he jumped into the river and committed suicide.
The second daughter got married and had children, but unfortunately she got uremia a few years ago, which drained the family savings. In the end, she passed away because she had no money to see a doctor.
Only one youngest son was left. He was quite promising. He got a job in a steel mill, married, and had a child.
The old man has been living with his youngest son. Since his youngest son and his wife are both workers in the steel factory, he helps take care of the children. When he has time, he goes out to pick up some waste to supplement the family income.
Although life is a little hard, at least the family is safe and healthy.
But three months ago, the youngest son accidentally broke his leg while working in a steel factory, so he returned home to recuperate.
Since it was a work-related injury, the steel plant said that it would not only pay wages but also reimburse medical expenses.
But in the end, the second month's salary was not paid. Not only was the salary not paid, but the medical expenses paid were not reimbursed either.
The younger son was so angry that he went to the factory on crutches and made trouble several times, but each time the factory leaders made excuses to shirk responsibility.
The family was not well-off to begin with. After not receiving any salary for several months, coupled with the medical expenses from previous treatment, the family soon became so poor that they could not even make ends meet.
The younger son was so angry that he borrowed some money from someone to buy some rice and flour to make do.
As a result, on the way back, I passed by a restaurant and saw the factory leader who had been making things difficult for me when asking for money, having dinner and drinking with his friends, looking very relaxed.
The younger son stepped forward to ask for an explanation, but was scolded by the factory leader. In a fit of rage, he beat the man.
The youngest son was arrested and detained for fifteen days and has not been released yet.
The factory leader even brought people to their house and not only asked for compensation, but also threatened to fire his youngest son.
The old man was extremely anxious, but there was nothing he could do.
Just yesterday, when the old man was rummaging through trash cans to pick up waste, he suddenly fell to the ground with a stomachache.
This attracted the attention of passers-by. A kind-hearted person came forward to check on him, saying that he was a doctor. He told him that he felt a lump in his abdomen and suggested that he go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination, as he might need surgery.
When the old man heard that he needed surgery, he was so scared that he quickly endured the pain and climbed up, saying that he was fine.
After returning home, he lay awake all night, thinking about it over and over again. The old man realized that at his age, it would cost a lot of money to go to the hospital for treatment and surgery. Not to mention that he didn't have the money at all, even if he did, it wouldn't be worth spending on himself.
Thinking of all the bitterness in his life, the old man decided not to live anymore.
But seeking death has always been a difficult thing. Only when you face it do you realize how difficult it is to die.
The old man wandered around for a whole day without drinking a drop of water. It was not until dark that he finally made up his mind while standing by the river.
At that moment, if Zhou Yi hadn't come over and shouted, he would have jumped down.
Later, he asked Zhou Yi for money to buy steamed buns, thinking that he could eat well before going on his journey, so as not to starve to death when he got off.
After hearing what the old man said, Zhou Yi was stunned.
It's not just because of the old man's miserable life, but also because the old man's death was the fuse that triggered a riot in the steel plant in his previous life.
According to Zhou Yi's memory, next Monday, which is the day after tomorrow, the steel plant will announce the first batch of layoffs, and his parents are on the list, which has caused a huge social response.
There were second and third batches following, and at the same time, workers at No. 1 Steel also began to be laid off.
But when the layoffs were first announced, the workers' emotions did not fully erupt because they were still in a stage of frustration and hoped that the factory would change its mind.
It was not until a worker named Huang Xiaomao stepped forward and said that the factory leader brought people to his home to threaten to fire him, forcing his father to jump into the river and commit suicide, that the workers' emotions were completely ignited.
A large number of workers rushed into the factory and asked the factory leaders for an explanation, not only for Huang Xiaomao, but also for themselves!
As a result, a conflict broke out between the two sides, and a factory leader was beaten up.
But Zhou Yi didn't know the specific details.
Firstly, he was just a small police officer in Nanhu Street at that time, and it was not his responsibility to deal with such matters.
Secondly, large state-owned units like steel mills have their own security departments. Many things that happen in the factory, as long as they do not rise to the level of criminal cases, are handled by the security department.
Later, the conflict escalated and the matter became a big deal. It was the branch police and the municipal police who were dispatched to calm the situation and maintain stability.
So some of the information he knew was what he heard from his parents.
The only thing he was relatively clear about was that his master Zhang Ning had mentioned that the police station next door had found the body of an old man in the river before. After investigation, it was confirmed that the man had committed suicide by jumping into the river. At that time, the Nanhu Street Police Station also assisted in investigating the old man's identity.
Therefore, the old man in front of me should be the old man who committed suicide by jumping into the river in the previous life.
Zhou Yi couldn't imagine that he would encounter such a thing while taking a walk.
"Uncle, which steel mill does your son work in?"
"It's that Er...Ergang." The old man replied.
Sure enough, they matched perfectly.
But at the same time, Zhou Yi was also in a dilemma. What should he do about this?
The old man’s youngest son beat someone and was detained. This is the consequence he must bear. Moreover, detention for fifteen days is the maximum punishment. He must have beaten someone quite severely.
Although the circumstances are excusable, he had already violated the law the moment he took action.
As for the old man, he can pay for the hospital check-up himself, but what if he really needs surgery?
I am not a rich person and my family's conditions are just okay. My mother does have some money now, but that is my grandfather's life savings.
And there are many more cases like this old man in the world.
Even if I spend all my wealth, I can’t help those suffering in this world.
Moreover, giving money door to door to save people is not only unrealistic but also stupid from a grand perspective.
"Uncle, don't worry. My parents are also workers at No. 2 Steel."
"Really?" The old man seemed to see a glimmer of hope. "Then... could you ask your parents to plead with the factory leaders? Don't fire my son, okay?"
Zhou Yi sighed inwardly and thought to himself, if my parents had this face, they wouldn't have been laid off.
"It's like this. It was definitely wrong for your son to hit someone, but the police have made him pay the price. As for wanting to fire him based on this, that's not something that any one leader can decide." He couldn't say that it didn't really matter whether he was fired or not. Even if he was fired, he would be laid off before the process was completed.
But he couldn't say that, otherwise the old man would definitely go out and dive into the river as soon as he heard it.
"As for compensation, that's not up to him. It requires an injury examination and negotiation. Even if he sues your son in court, your son doesn't have the money to compensate him now. There's nothing anyone can do unless the factory pays the compensation along with the salary first."
Zhou Yi's words clearly brought a glimmer of hope to the old man's eyes.
Zhou Yi took out a handful of money from his pocket. It was the leftover money from buying snacks when he went to the welfare home today. There were about seventy yuan.
He first paid for the noodles and beef, then stuffed the rest into the old man's hands and said, "Uncle, take this money. I don't have much more on me. A checkup at the hospital should be enough. As for whether or not to have surgery, that depends on the results of the examination. Don't let yourself get so depressed. If you die, what will happen to your son and grandson?"
When the money was stuffed into the old man's hand, he was shocked and kept saying that he had already eaten his food and he couldn't take his money anymore.
Seeing his panic, Zhou Yi told him that this money was a loan from me. When your son has money, he can pay me back. My father is Zhou Jianguo, and he drives a forklift in the third workshop. Just ask your son and he will know.
The old man stopped refusing and carefully hid the money in the pocket of his clothes.
Zhou Yi thought that it was necessary for the old man to have a check-up, but as for the results, that would be up to fate.
To be frank, if it is diagnosed as cancer, then forget it, even a god won't be able to help.
But if it's not serious, maybe there will be a turning point later. After all, what he plans to do next is closely related to laid-off steel factory workers like Huang Xiaomao.
The old man kept wiping his tears and said that Zhou Yi was a good man, and that good people like him would definitely be rewarded.
After leaving the noodle shop and watching the old man leave, Zhou Yi felt complicated.
When I touched my pocket, I felt even more complicated.
Because at this moment his pockets are cleaner than his face, and doing good things costs money, he couldn't help but sigh.
When I returned to my aunt's house, it was time to leave as agreed with Lu Xiaoshuang, because if I was any later, I would miss her dormitory closing time.
My aunt said with a smile, "That's nothing to worry about. Zhou Yi lives on his own now, so if he can't catch up with her, then he can just live with her."
Zhou Yi frowned and said, "Aunt, that's too much. I'm just a little girl, don't you care about my reputation? Be careful what you say to my mother next time. I didn't say anything, but you guys are really excited."
Zhou Yi knew what kind of people his mother and aunt were. They were typical middle-aged women who were petty-bourgeois. He hadn't said anything before because they were his elders, but what his aunt said today made him feel that it was too much.
It won't work without some knocking.
The aunt could clearly see that Zhou Yi was angry, so she changed her words back.
Zhao Min hugged Lu Xiaoshuang and said, "How about you stay here, sister-in-law? Come sleep with me tonight. My bed can easily accommodate two people."
Zhou Yi raised his hand and flicked Zhao Min's head, saying, "You too."
"I'm just screaming, what can you do to me? Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, sister-in-law..."
After arguing for a while, the two of them left.
Standing at the bus stop, Zhou Yi suddenly asked, "Xiao Shuang, do you have money?"
"Yes, what's the matter?"
"Then you have to treat me to a ride today." Zhou Yi said with a smile.
In the end, Zhou Yi did not send Lu Xiaoshuang back to school because Lu Xiaoshuang felt there was no need to spend extra money on a train ticket.
She didn't ask Zhou Yi why he had no money, even though she saw the clerk give Zhou Yi change when she bought snacks in the morning.
She knew that Zhou Yi must have his reasons.
After returning to the dormitory, Lu Xiaoshuang washed up and prepared to rest.
The bag Zhou Yi gave her in the morning was still on the bed. She left in a hurry and didn't put it in the closet.
She opened the closet and took the clothes out of the bag and put them in the closet.
Suddenly, she realized that something seemed wrong with the sweater.
When I unfolded it, I saw that the sweater was covered with cuts.
The whole sweater was torn into pieces!
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