Li Chu pushed his bicycle to the side of the road at the entrance, not in a hurry to leave. This road was now used by workers heading into the factory, and it wouldn't be easy for him to go against the flow.
I stood by the roadside, lit a cigarette, and watched the workers walk into the factory. Then I turned and looked into the factory and saw a banner hanging not far from the gate that read, "Surpass Britain in three years, catch up with America in five years." I shook my head. How characteristic of the times!
He was smoking with his head down when he heard someone call him. He looked up and saw it was Yi Zhonghai, an old man in the courtyard: "Uncle, you're here for work."
"Xiao Chu, what are you doing here?" Yi Zhonghai asked as he walked up to Li Chu.
"Hi, I just dropped Qiu Nan off at work. I didn't know your factory doesn't allow outsiders in. I got blocked at the gate. There were too many people on the road, so I'm waiting here until there are fewer people before I go."
"I was just wondering what to do about your wife's job, since the machine repair branch is too far from home. I didn't expect you to transfer her over here so quietly." Yi Zhonghai was a little surprised, since transferring from the branch to the main factory is not an easy thing.
"Uncle, you think too highly of me. I don't have that kind of ability. It was just a coincidence that Qiu Nan was transferred here. The old Dr. Wang from your factory's clinic asked to go to the machine repair shop, which is how Qiu Nan came here." Li Chu didn't mention that his brother-in-law had contacted Director Li.
“Yes, yes, I heard that. Apparently, her husband went to work as a workshop director at the machine repair shop, so she applied to work there too.” Yi Zhonghai nodded.
The two chatted for a few more minutes, then Yi Zhonghai, seeing that it was time, hurriedly went inside.
Once work hours begin, the factory gates will close. If you're late, the workshop foreman will need to pick you up. And getting out is impossible without a permit from the factory management.
At this point, the workers who were still outside and hadn't gone in started running inside. Nobody wanted to be locked out and wait for the leaders to pick them up. Not only would it be embarrassing, but they would also be publicly criticized throughout the factory the next day, and their wages would be deducted.
In the crowd, Jia Dongxu and Xu Damao were also spotted. They noticed Li Chu by the roadside, but before they could speak, they waved as a greeting.
Li Chu noticed that there were fewer people on the road and was about to get on his bicycle when he was called back.
"Dr. Li, Dr. Li Chu..."
He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and saw Li Baonian, the director of logistics.
"Director Li, hello!"
Director Li got off his bicycle and pushed it over: "Dr. Li, what are you doing at our factory gate?"
"Director Li, you can just call me Xiao Li outside. I just came to drop my wife off at work. I wanted to go in and take a look, but the security guards at the gate blocked my way. I was just about to leave."
Director Li explained with a smile, "Our factory doesn't allow outsiders to get in without a letter of introduction. Come on, I'll talk to them and then I'll take you in."
"Is this appropriate, Director Li? I hope it won't cause you any trouble." Li Chu was somewhat tempted.
Director Li waved his hand: "Just follow me."
By this time, the main gate was already closed. Director Li walked in through the side door, said a few words to the security personnel, and then beckoned Li Chu over.
Li Chu walked up to him, and Director Li said, "Xiao Li, please register with your work ID. I have a meeting to attend to, so I won't wait for you. Your wife's clinic is not far from the office building; there's a sign on the door. You can find it there. My office is on the second floor of the office building. Come over for a drink of water when you have some free time."
"Okay, thank you for your trouble, Director Li. You can continue with your work."
After watching Director Li leave, Li Chu took out his work ID, registered it in the register, and went inside.
Following Director Li's directions, Li Chu easily found the clinic. He parked his bicycle, lifted the curtain, and went inside.
When Li Chu went in, Ding Qiunan was wearing a white coat and a white hat, holding a notebook in her hand, and standing in front of the medicine cabinet counting the quantity of medicines.
Ding Qiunan turned around when she heard someone come in, and was pleasantly surprised to see her husband: "Oh, how did you get in? Weren't you not allowed in?"
"I climbed over the wall next to me," Li Chu joked with her.
Upon hearing this, Ding Qiunan took her notebook and hit him with it, saying, "Can't you speak properly?"
Li Chu chuckled: "I was just about to leave when I ran into Director Li from your factory's logistics department. He brought me in."
"That's more like it. What do you think of my place?" Ding Qiunan pointed to her office.
Li Chu looked at it and saw that it was similar to his office in the hospital, except that there were two more medicine cabinets.
"Not bad, why are you all alone?"
"There's also Dr. Liu, but she's on leave today." Ding Qiunan put down her notebook, walked to the corner, picked up the kettle, and poured Li Chu a glass of water: "This is my glass, sit down and have some water."
The factory clinic was relatively quiet. People usually came in to get injections and prescriptions. For more serious illnesses, the clinic doctor would refer them to a larger hospital outside.
The two chatted for a while, then Li Chu prepared to leave: "Alright, you go do your work. I'm going to sit with Director Li for a bit, and then I'll go straight back. I'll pick you up this afternoon."
Ding Qiunan seemed a little reluctant to part. Li Chu listened for a moment, then, finding no further movement, got up and hugged the girl, startling her and making her blush. She quickly pushed him away, afraid he might do something inappropriate, especially since they were in the office.
Li Chu smiled and left. He went outside, got on his bicycle, and headed towards the office building.
When I went to Director Li's office, Li Chu didn't stay long. He sat for a while, chatted for a bit, left me a few pills, charged me five yuan, and repeatedly told Director Li that there weren't many pills left and that he wouldn't be able to make any more in the future. Then he said goodbye and left.
Li Chu didn't intend to get rich through this medicine. He didn't have any lofty ideals. Even with the sign-in system, what he wanted most was a wife, children, and a warm bed.
Pushing my bicycle out of the factory, I looked back and thought of the simple smiles on the faces of the workers I had seen that morning, their eyes sparkling with hope. This era truly is the best era for workers.
He rode his bike directly to the supply and marketing cooperative, took the coupons that Ding Qiunan had brought back that day to buy cabbages for the winter, bought 200 jin of cabbages, and had someone haul them back to the cellar outside the house.
Once inside, Xiao Hei whimpered and crawled over. After getting it some more food, it sat down on the sofa to rest.
"Xiao Chu, are you home?"
Not long after he sat down, Li Chu heard his older sister's voice from outside the door. He found it strange that his older sister had come at this time.
I ran over and opened the door, and saw my older sister standing in the yard pushing her bicycle.
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