Chapter 52 A middle-aged woman comes to visit

"Besides, it is precisely because I am the third uncle and have done more for our hospital, so it is only right that I grab a few more handfuls of peanuts and sunflower seeds."

"Okay, okay, you should do it. Have you finished catching them? If you have, help me lift the rear wheel."

Li Jiandong pushed the cart into the yard, and Yan Bugui helped him carry it in from behind.

Li Jiandong asked someone to ring the bell to hold a simple meeting.

Five minutes later, everyone gathered in the middle courtyard to divide the items.

Each household held a basin, and those whose names were called would come forward and take the basin. Each household received a large handful of peanuts, a large handful of melon seeds, and 5 oranges.

"Are there any that haven't been sent yet?"

After distributing the things, Li Jiandong asked the residents.

Seeing no one answered, he continued,
"This year, our hospital was awarded the Advanced Hospital Award because of the joint efforts of everyone. I just asked Old Yan, our tavern has made a lot of money in the past few months, and we have saved nearly 100 yuan in public funds."

"I suggest taking out 30 yuan from it to celebrate. Do you have any objections?"

"No comment."

The residents cheered in unison, all wanting to have a good meal.

"Okay, since you have no objection, then Old Yan, you can take out the money. Give 25 yuan to Daqing and Zhuzi to buy meat and vegetables, and the remaining yuan to buy two sets of mahjong and a few decks of cards for our courtyard. If the money is not enough, add a little more. Let's not only eat and drink well this New Year, but also have fun."

Li Jiandong announced loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers broke out from below.

There are so many alleys in Nanluoguxiang.

There are at least twenty courtyard houses, and everyone can see how other people are doing in their courtyards.

Without an institute with its own industry and public funds, it is even more impossible to organize institute-wide gatherings to improve life at every turn.

With an old man like Li Jiandong who cares about everyone, the residents feel very happy and contented.

Except for a few people, such as Yi Zhonghai.
Since the deaf old lady was sentenced to two years.

Yi Zhonghai's only ally in the yard was gone.

He had never been able to defeat Li Jiandong before, and now that he was alone, he dared not do anything evil.

Logically speaking, he and Li Jiandong have no grudges against each other.

But Yi Zhonghai didn't know why, he just felt dissatisfied with Li Jiandong.

"Lao Yi, what's wrong with you? Why are you unhappy again?"

Li Huilan saw that Yi Zhonghai was in a bad mood, so she walked up to him, took his arm and asked.

Yi Zhonghai shook him off irritably: "It's okay, don't bother me."

Li Huilan knew that he must be unable to give up his position as an uncle.

He stepped forward and advised: "Old Yi, if you don't want to be the uncle, then don't be the uncle. Li Jiandong has done a good job as the uncle. Compared with other hospitals, our hospital is much happier. People from other hospitals are very envious of our hospital when they talk about it outside."

When Yi Zhonghai heard this, instead of understanding what was going on, he became even more annoyed.

"Can you please stop talking? I've already told you it's okay. Can you please stay away from me?"

"Ugh!"

Li Huilan sighed. She knew Yi Zhonghai's temper very well and knew that she couldn't persuade him, so she gave up.

The whole hospital will have a meeting in the afternoon.

Yi Zhonghai did not attend the event because he had a cold, but it made no difference whether he attended or not, as no one cared about him at all.

The three courtyards, front, middle and back, were divided into several battlefields.

Li Jiandong, Liu Haizhong, He Daqing and Xu Fugui were playing mahjong at Li Jiandong's house.

Jia Dongxu played poker with several of his fellow apprentices and his younger apprentice sister Ding Qiunan.

There was also a group of children playing with firecrackers. A small string of firecrackers was taken apart and stuffed into the cracks in the wall and into the holes in the trees to light them.

Yan Bugui got a chess set from somewhere and started playing chess with Sha Zhu.

He probably thought Shazhu was stupid, so he made an agreement with him that if he lost a game, he would get a handful of peanuts or melon seeds.

Sha Zhu had just learned it and thought that the loss or gain would only amount to a handful of food, so he agreed.

Unexpectedly, after just a few games, Yan Bugui began to feel tired and had to end the game on the pretext that his waist was sore from sitting for too long.

Xu Huizhen walked from outside to the middle courtyard and stood at the door of Li Jiandong's house and called out,
"Brother Daqing, it's four o'clock. The side dishes are all ready. When are you going to go over and start cooking?"

He Daqing said without even looking up: "I'll go after we finish this round."

Li Jiandong glanced at the clock and said, "Oh, it's really four o'clock. Why don't we just finish this game? After the holiday, there will be plenty of time to play. Let's continue tomorrow."

Liu Haizhong and Xu Fugui also agreed.

After all, He Daqing is the chef for tonight's party, and he can't delay dinner because of playing mahjong.

The whole hospital celebrated the Little New Year together.

Everyone spends New Year’s Eve at home.

There is no TV at night, so I can’t watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Li Jiandong accompanied Qin Huairu in making dumplings, although Sha Zhu rarely cooked since he joined the police station.

But with the hundredfold return from the apprenticeship system, Li Jiandong was able to upgrade his chef level to level 7, so making dumplings was no problem at all.

The two were busy when there was a knock on the door.

Li Jiandong went to open the door and saw that it was He Daqing: "What's wrong, Daqing? Is there something wrong?"

He Daqing sniffed and said, "Dumplings stuffed with wine, vegetables and diced meat."

Li Jiandong laughed: "You didn't come here because of the smell, did you? I didn't prepare anything for you."

He Daqing laughed and said, "How can I, a cook, come to your house and eat dumplings? I came here to ask you if you need a bicycle these days?"

Li Jiandong seldom uses a bicycle, especially during the Chinese New Year holidays.

So he said, "I don't need it, do you want to use it?"

He Daqing said, "If you don't need it, lend it to me for two days. Someone introduced me to a job with the former big boss of our steel mill. From the first to the fourth day of the Chinese New Year, I get 10 yuan for one meal a day."

Li Jiandong was stunned.

"You're not talking about Lou Bancheng, are you?"

"Yes, it's him. I used to cook for him when the steel mill was still in his hands.

However, at that time, he had a chef from the palace with him, and I couldn’t get a seat. I don’t know where the chef went this year, but he came to me anyway.”

He Daqing is quite proud of this kind of thing.

That’s Lou Bancheng!

Where can such a person find a good cook?

The fact that the problem can be traced back to He Daqing shows that He Daqing's cooking skills are well-known.

Li Jiandong didn't expect that He Daqing would be related to Lou Bancheng.

This is probably the butterfly effect caused by He Daqing not leaving with the White Widow.

I don’t know whether Lou Xiao’e would get together with Sha Zhu earlier given the relationship between He Daqing and Lou Bancheng.

"Wait a moment, I'll get you the key."

Li Jiandong turned back to the house, took the bicycle key from Qin Huairu, and handed it to He Daqing.

He Daqing left with the key.

The night passed.

New Year's Day.

Li Jiandong got up early and opened the door. He is the eldest uncle in this courtyard and the master of several apprentices.

According to custom, he has to wait until the younger generations have finished greeting him before he goes out to greet others.

Qin Huairu also got up and was cooking dumplings in her new clothes. As soon as the dumplings were put into the water, Jia Dongxu came with Yan Jiecheng and Sha Zhu to pay New Year's greetings.

"Master, Master's Wife, Happy New Year."

Jia Dongxu and the other two walked into the house, all wearing brand new clothes.

Don’t underestimate this new set of clothes. Many people also patch up their clothes during the Chinese New Year.

Three years new, three years old, and another three years of mending. This is not just a random statement.

The country doesn’t even have enough food, so where is the place to grow cotton? Without cotton, cloth cannot be produced. Without cloth, where will new clothes come from?
Only the people in Yard 40, under the leadership of Li Jiandong, were willing to buy themselves new clothes for the New Year after their lives became prosperous.

"Okay, you guys too."

Li Jiandong responded with a smile.

Qin Huairu took out six red envelopes and handed them to the three people, "These are red envelopes from me and your master. Each of you should keep two."

"Thank you, Master!"

Jia Dongxu and the other two were not polite either.

Although they are no longer old enough to receive red envelopes, as apprentices, it is okay for them to accept them.

Xu Fugui and Xu Damao were the second group to come and pay New Year's greetings, and Qin Huairu also gave Xu Damao a red envelope.

Looking at Sha Zhu who came alone to pay New Year's greetings, Xu Fugui suddenly asked, "Sha Zhu, where is your father?"

"My dad took a job cooking for someone. The journey was quite far and the bus was not running these past two days, so he left before daybreak."

Xu Fugui sneered, "Your father is really obsessed with money. He's going to cook for others on New Year's Day?"

Shazhu didn't know how to respond and simply ignored the conversation.

Li Jiandong came to his rescue and said, "Old Xu, you don't know that Daqing's job today is not ordinary. It's four consecutive days, and I get ten yuan for one meal a day. I'm going to do it too."

"Hiss! Ten dollars a day?"

When Xu Fugui heard the price, he was indeed shocked.

His monthly salary was only 40 yuan. He Daqing earned his monthly salary by eating four meals. This was too enviable.

"Who does he cook for? Isn't he too rich?"

"Lou Bancheng."

Li Jiandong only said three words and Xu Fugui understood everything.

It is indeed possible to cook a meal for Lou Bancheng for only ten yuan.

Li Jiandong saw Xu Fugui's eyes rolling around, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

His wife, Sun Xifeng, would work as a nanny in the Lou family in the future, and because of this, she became acquainted with Lou Bancheng's wife, which led to the Lou family marrying Lou Xiao'e to Xu Damao.

Now, He Daqing has hooked up with Lou Bancheng, a capitalist, which may speed up the process of Sun Xifeng going to the Lou family.

But this had nothing to do with Li Jiandong, he was just thinking about it.

Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Whether Lou Xiao'e will be with Xu Damao or Sha Zhu in the future is all their own fate.

Xu Damao is different now, and Lou Xiaoe might not have bad results if she married him.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Li Jiandong went to Qin Huairu's house.

From the third to the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, I played mahjong with my old friends in the courtyard.

These days, there is no such thing as being too nervous during the Chinese New Year.

But from ancient times to the present, six has been an auspicious number, so work always starts on the sixth day of the first lunar month.

The steel rolling mill was filled with red flags and crowds of people. Director Yang stood on a high podium and delivered a speech at the opening of the work.

The whole process was not long and the mobilization for work was over before ten o'clock.

The workshop directors and their workers started the new year's work.

Li Jiandong also returned to a familiar workshop. Just as he was about to turn on the machine to warm up his hands, Director Cao suddenly came trotting over.

"Old Li, stop busying yourself. Director Yang wants to see you."

Director Cao had a look of joy on his face, obviously there was something good going on.

Li Jiandong smiled and asked, "Director Cao, do you know what it is?"

Director Cao chuckled.

"I'm not sure what happened, but I heard that our factory is going to expand this year. We are going to add several more fitter workshops, forging workshops, riveting workshops, and sand washing workshops. We are seriously short of cadres in our factory."

"I guess Director Yang is looking for you because he wants you to take over one or two workshops."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu said excitedly: "Master, are you going to be promoted?"

Li Jiandong smiled and shook his head: "We haven't even started yet. Let me go to Director Yang and come back first before we talk."

After saying this, Li Jiandong walked out of the workshop. On the way to the office building, he was still considering whether to accept the promotion.

He is now an eighth-level fitter and his salary is much higher than that of newly promoted cadres.

But Li Jiandong had money rewarded by the disciple-taking system, which he could not spend all.

Therefore, he does not need to worry about the issue of salary, and his locksmith skills have reached the maximum level, so there is no point in staying in the locksmith workshop.

But he had never considered promotion before, and he was not mentally prepared for the sudden promotion.

After arriving at the office building, Li Jiandong went directly to the factory director's office on the second floor.

The two exchanged pleasantries.

"...Jiandong, let me ask you, if I give you a workshop, do you have the confidence to manage it well?"

Director Yang's expression changed and he asked seriously.

Li Jiandong hesitated for a second, but decided to accept the promotion.

After all, he has reached the maximum level as a fitter, and no matter how bad the promotion is, it is still easier to make progress than continuing to work as a fitter.

So he nodded and said, "I have confidence."

Director Yang regained his smile and said, "That's good! To be honest, most of the people who are promoted are level 6 workers, and even level 7 workers are relatively rare."

“First, the difference in salary between a newly promoted cadre and a seventh- or eighth-level worker is too great, and many people cannot accept it.

Another thing is that your work is irreplaceable, and being in a management position will inevitably affect your ability to teach more apprentices."

"But after careful consideration, I still want you to give it a try. Do you know why?"

Li Jiandong asked: "Because I'm young?"

"Yes, young."

Director Yang said, "Young people are energetic and more likely to move up. You are only 30 years old and already a level 8 fitter. Where can you move up in the next 30 years?"

"Even if you are promoted to a senior technician, you are still just a worker. I am not saying this to look down on workers. I just think you should have more room for improvement. So Jiandong, you must not let me down."

Li Jiandong nodded and said, "Director Yang, don't worry, I will do my best."

"Well, there's nothing else to do. You should go back to your original workshop and continue to work. After the branch has studied the matter and issued a transfer order, you can take on the next challenge."

When Li Jiandong returned to the workshop, Director Cao came over to him.

Jia Dongxu and other workers also put down their work and pricked up their ears. "Old Li, what's going on? Is it a promotion?"

Li Jiandong nodded: "I agree."

Director Cao patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's right. Although you, a level 8 worker, earn more than me, it's too difficult for a level 8 worker to move up. Rather than being stuck at level 8 for the rest of your life, you might as well get promoted while you're still young. Maybe before you retire, you can even try to get the position of Director Yang."

Director Cao is just good at talking. How can it be so easy for him to be promoted to the position of Director Yang?
In addition to ability, opportunities are also needed, and sometimes some other help is needed.

Li Jiandong smiled and said nothing.

He has been working for so many years, it is impossible for him to take seriously just a nice word from others.

With the apprentice-recruiting system in place, his goal is not to become a factory manager.

It would be wrong if it really came to that, after all, the steel rolling mill is a department-level unit.

The news that Li Jiandong was going to be promoted spread quickly throughout the fitter workshop.

Those workers who were more familiar with me came forward to congratulate me.

Especially those level 6 and level 7 fitters, they all privately inquired which workshop Li Jiandong would be assigned to be the director, and wanted to work under him.

Jia Dongxu corrected Li Jiandong, and he went from being a know-nothing fitter apprentice to a level 6 fitter.

I don't want to be the first to get the moon because I am close to the water.

Some people even asked about Yi Zhonghai, because after all, two people lived in the same courtyard.

This made Yi Zhonghai very embarrassed and also made him more hostile towards Li Jiandong.

lunch time.

Liu Haizhong was waiting at the canteen door early.

Seeing Li Jiandong and Jia Dongxu coming over, Liu Haizhong hurried over and said, "Old Li, congratulations."

When Li Jiandong saw Liu Haizhong, he knew that he was going to be promoted, and the news had even spread throughout the forging workshop.

"Old Liu, you are well-informed."

"I'm not well-informed. It's just that you're too famous in our factory. You're only a level 38 fitter, and now you're going to be promoted. Everyone in our factory knows about it."

Jia Dongxu was standing next to him and deliberately said, "Uncle Li, when are you going to propose a job?"

These words touched Liu Haizhong's heart.

He took Li Jiandong's arm and said, "I want to be promoted, but the leader must be willing to promote me. Lao Li, let's not stand here. Let's talk inside while we eat."

Liu Haizhong walked in front, and everyone came to the cafeteria and lined up.

"Old Li, you have a wide network of contacts and know many leaders. I heard that the forging workshop will also add two more people this time. Do you have any inside information? Do you know who will take over?"

Li Jiandong really didn't know about this.

"I just found out about the expansion today, so it might be even later than you know."

"Is that so? Then I'll ask someone else later."

Liu Haizhong couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

He was waiting for Li Jiandong here, just to find out if there were any candidates for the two newly added fitter workshops.

In the past two years, he has saved some money and plans to ask someone to help him get the money.

It is quite common for level 6 workers to be promoted to senior officials, so Liu Haizhong's idea is not unrealistic.

But the problem is that he is not smart enough and he does not have the most important characteristics required by a manager.

However, Liu Haizhong did not have this self-awareness, and he still planned to find someone to try.

Compared with him, Yi Zhonghai is much wiser.

After starting production, the factory will recruit a group of people.

Then, in just one month, it will be the spring exam.

Yi Zhonghai has been receiving the salary for a level 3 fitter for half a year, and he can be said to have been surviving on barely any living expenses during these months.

Now that the exam is finally coming up, Yi Zhonghai’s goal is to pass level 7.

Although his true ability is between level 6 and level 7, a normal person would take the level 6 exam first for safety, get a stable level 6 salary, and then wait half a year before taking the level 7 exam.

But Yi Zhonghai wants to save face.

He fell in the Level 7 assessment, and he had to get up again in the Level 7 assessment.

Don’t you, Li Jiandong and Jia Dongxu, go out early and come back late to practice overtime?
I, Yi Zhonghai, can do it too.

So, after returning from work, Yi Zhonghai started working overtime.

When I came back every night, many houses had turned off the lights.

Li Huilan felt sorry for him and took the initiative to find Li Jiandong that day.

Li Jiandong was stunned when he saw Li Huilan outside the door.

(End of this chapter)