Chapter 74 Waiting
Yi Zhonghai's gift worth dozens of dollars was given away in vain, and he waited for almost a month but still received no reply.

Time passed day by day, and it was the end of the year in a blink of an eye.

The steel rolling mill has successfully completed its production tasks this year and has been rewarded by its superiors. It is planning to hold a dinner for all the workers and cadres in the factory on the day of the year-end meeting to reward and honor all the cadres and workers in the factory.

Three days before the dinner, each department and workshop began distributing dinner tickets.

"Mr. Zhang, have you heard what dishes will be served at this year's banquet?"

"Oh my goodness, the dishes this year are amazing. There are six meat dishes and six stir-fried dishes in total. Each person can choose 12 out of 4 dishes, two meat dishes and two vegetarian dishes. There are braised lion's head, pork belly with skin, pork with preserved vegetables, spicy chicken, Kung Pao chicken, etc. They are all delicious dishes. I'm drooling just thinking about them."

"It's too little to only choose two out of so many delicious dishes. Let's get together and order different dishes for three people. We can divide them among ourselves when we get back."

"You know what, I think this is a good suggestion."

The workers had been discussing early on what dishes to order for the dinner. Two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes were definitely not enough for one person to finish, so this was a benefit the steel mill gave to the workers, allowing everyone to take the dishes home after ordering.

People in the courtyard were also discussing this matter.

Most of the people in Yard 40 are steel rolling mill workers. There are 12 dishes in total, and as long as three people work together, they can get a little bit of each dish. Many families can't even have such a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.

Liu Haizhong, He Daqing, Jia Dongxu, Yan Jiecheng and others were all looking for partners, and Li Jiandong was also approached by several people, so one ticket was not enough to share.

Of course the deaf old lady also heard it. Although she was not a steel mill worker, Yi Zhonghai was.

So when Yi Zhonghai came back from get off work, he asked, "Zhonghai, your factory is having a banquet this year. I heard that there are six meat dishes and six vegetable dishes, right?"

Yi Zhonghai said without even raising his head: "It seems so, I didn't notice it."

The deaf old lady was dissatisfied and shouted: "You didn't even notice such a big thing, what else can you notice? I tell you, quickly find someone to share the meal with, and bring all 12 dishes back for me to taste. I haven't had such a sumptuous meal for more than two years, and I must have a good meal this year."

The deaf old lady stayed in prison for two years. After she came out, she was punished by Li Jiandong and his men. It was indeed a long time since she tasted meat.

Thinking that she could finally have a delicious meal, her mouth started watering.

Who knew Yi Zhonghai said, "Old lady, don't think about it. I have already given the dinner ticket to someone else."

When the deaf old lady heard this, she immediately jumped up and shouted sharply,
"Who did you give the ticket to? Get it back now. I've been waiting for a long time to have a good meal. If you dare to give the ticket to someone else, I will never forgive you."

When Yi Zhonghai saw that the old lady was about to make trouble again, he suddenly looked like he had lost all hope in life.

Under normal circumstances, he might have given the ticket to the old lady in order to calm her down, but not this time.

A dinner ticket is not worth much, but the opportunity to attend the dinner only comes once a year.

Yi Zhonghai planned to take advantage of this opportunity to give the tickets to others. Of course, he did this to do favors and win over others.

The person he wanted to win over this time was a resident in the courtyard. If there was no good excuse of a dinner party, even if Yi Zhonghai gave him benefits, the other person might not accept them.

He was well aware of his bad reputation at the steel mill.

The appearance of Li Huaide can be said to be his only hope, so even in his heart, he cursed Li Huaide for accepting gifts but not doing anything.

Yi Zhonghai could only continue looking for better opportunities to give gifts.

Would Li Huaide care about a dinner ticket?

That is of course impossible.

This dinner ticket from Yi Zhonghai was not for Li Huaide at all, but for a woman in the compound.

Li Huaide was most attracted to women and had been secretly dating two girls in junior high school.

So this time Yi Zhonghai plans to play to his advantage and take down Li Huaide no matter what.

"Old lady, let me tell you the truth. I was planning to give this dinner ticket to my boss, who promised to help me get my original salary back last time.

I want to take this opportunity to go to him and ask him how it's going. I'm completely broke now, and this dinner ticket is all I have."

Yi Zhonghai was so annoyed by the deaf old lady that he could only tell her the reason.

However, the deaf old lady was short-sighted and just wanted to have a good meal. She kept shouting, "I don't care, you can find whoever you want, but you are not allowed to give my dinner ticket to others."

"Okay, okay, I'll buy you a dinner ticket."

Yi Zhonghai was overwhelmed. He now understood how the other residents in the courtyard felt.

This old lady can really drive people crazy. No wonder everyone in the hospital raised their hands in agreement when they voted to kick her out.

Yi Zhonghai pushed the door open and left as if he was escaping. He stood on the porch to calm himself down before walking to the door of a nearby house.

This is the home of Hu Tao, a young widow living in the Central Courtyard. She is 27 years old and has a baby. She works as a waitress in a street guesthouse. Although the mother and daughter do not live a rich life, they can make do.

Yi Zhonghai stood at the door and knocked. Soon a woman's voice came from the room: "I'm coming."

When the door opened, Hu Tao saw Yi Zhonghai outside the door, and her face suddenly became a little embarrassed.

"Um...Master Yi, do you have something to talk to me about?"

Yi Zhonghai took out a dinner ticket and handed it over, saying, "Hu Tao, our factory is holding a dinner this year, and one ticket can get four dishes, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

I was not feeling well a while ago, so I went to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor said there was something wrong with my blood and told me to eat less greasy food. I thought I shouldn’t waste such a good ticket, so I might as well give it to you.”

The news of the dinner at the steel mill spread like wildfire, and Little Walnut also heard about it.

It was said that this year's banquet would feature delicious dishes. She was of course a little greedy when she heard that, but she also knew that there was no free lunch in the world, especially since the person who gave the tickets was Yi Zhonghai.

Little Hutao did not reach out to take the meal ticket, but asked cautiously: "Master Yi, don't you have an old lady at home? I can't afford such a valuable thing."

Yi Zhonghai sighed helplessly and said:
"Hu Tao, you know that I was helpless when the old lady did that. I can't even shoo her away now, and I regret it so much. How could I leave the good things to her? After so many things, I also figured out that it is important to have good relations between neighbors. Otherwise, no one will help you if something goes wrong."

"I had a lot of unpleasantness with Li Jiandong and his family before. In our Intermediate Court, I have never had any conflicts with your family. So this time I came here, I also want to start with you and improve the relationship between neighbors. Other than that, I really don't have any other ideas."

Yi Zhonghai's attitude was so sincere that people could not help but believe that he was truly repentant.

Moreover, this dinner ticket was indeed very attractive to Little Walnut. It included two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, with large meat dishes in between. Together, it was worth at least one dollar and fifty cents.

If she were asked to buy it, she would definitely not be willing to spend the money.

Looking back at his son who was eating steamed bread in the room, Xiao Hutao gritted his teeth and agreed.

"Okay, Master Yi, thank you then."

Seeing that she agreed, Yi Zhonghai smiled and said, "You're welcome. I want to thank you for giving me a chance to improve the relationship between neighbors. In this case, Hu Tao, you can continue eating. I'll go back first."

Yi Zhonghai gave the dinner ticket and left immediately.

He did not make his request on the spot, as this would have made Little Walnut more alert.

This time he just came to deliver the dinner ticket, and waited for Little Walnut to finish the dinner and relax her guard against him.

Next time you ask her for help, she will feel embarrassed to refuse.

Three days passed quickly.

This day is the Little New Year, and is also the day for year-end meetings and banquets.

Meeting in the morning and lunch at noon.

Because the holiday starts in the afternoon, the workers can pack their meals directly into lunch boxes and take them home.

Li Jiandong, Liu Haizhong and Jia Dongxu shared the meal together. There were exactly 12 dishes for three people, each with a spoonful.

After the fight, when I was about to leave, I suddenly saw a familiar figure.

"Hey, isn't that Little Walnut? How come she also has a meal ticket for our factory?"

Liu Haizhong looked at Xiao Hutao and said.

At this time, Xiao Hutao had already walked to the door of the cafeteria and bumped into Li Jiandong and the others. He called out,
"Uncle No. 1, Uncle No. 2, you guys are also here to serve food."

Li Jiandong nodded, but before he could say anything, Liu Haizhong next to him asked:

"Xiao Hutao, where did you get the dinner ticket? Did you buy it?"

When Little Walnut thought about the origin of the ticket, he felt a little embarrassed to say it out loud.

However, both gentlemen had asked about it, and if she continued to conceal it on purpose, it would be even worse if people found out.

So I tell the truth:
"Uncle No. 1, Uncle No. 2, Master Yi gave me the ticket. He said that he now knows he was wrong and wants to improve the relationship with our neighbors. Since we had never had a conflict before, he wanted to show his goodwill to me first. Uncle No. 1, I think Master Yi is quite sincere."

Li Jiandong nodded and said with a smile: "It's okay, go get some food. Today's pork belly with skin and braised lion's head are good. I suggest you order these two first."

Everyone in the hospital knows that Li Jiandong doesn't like Yi Zhonghai.

Little Walnut thought he would be angry, but when she saw that he didn't care at all, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, uncle. I'll go get the food first. Uncle No. 2, Dongxu, I'll go in first." "Okay, go ahead."

Liu Haizhong put his hands behind his back and nodded at her.

Jia Dongxu also moved aside to make a wider path for Xiao Hutao.

After Xiao Hutao entered the cafeteria, he said to Li Jiandong: "Master, do you think she is telling the truth? Why do I feel that Yi Zhonghai can't be so kind?"

Li Jiandong thought so too.

A dog will always eat shit, and Yi Zhonghai will never stop playing tricks.

However, Li Jiandong couldn’t figure out what use the meal ticket he gave to Xiao Hutao would be.

Could it be that he wanted to win over Hu Tao to join him in causing trouble in the yard?

Yi Zhonghai shouldn't be that naive.

"Let's go back and eat first."

Li Jiandong stopped thinking about it if he couldn't figure it out, but he would pay more attention to Yi Zhonghai next to see what tricks he was up to.

Back at the courtyard, Xu Damao and Liu Guangqi also came back.

There is nothing much to say about Liu Guangqi. It is enough to study hard in college.

This time when Xu Damao came back, he had a medal on his chest.

"Master, look, this is the medal given to me by the Agricultural Research Institute. The hybrid rice cultivated by our team was successful."

When Xu Damao saw Li Jiandong coming back, he couldn't help but want to share his achievements with him.

Li Jiandong had already known about his situation from the apprenticeship system, and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

"Da Mao, well done. Master has read the newspaper. The results of your team have benefited many people."

Xu Damao was so happy to get the recognition from his master that he couldn't stop smiling.

Other fellow disciples also came to congratulate Xu Damao one after another. He was the first disciple who brought honor to his master in public.

The happiest person here is Xu Fugui. He never thought that his son could be so successful.

Before, when Li Jiandong wanted to let Xu Damao go to the countryside, he was very resistant. Unexpectedly, after only a few years, he had already received the medal.

"Old Li, we have to celebrate today. How about we let He Daqing treat us?"

Xu Fugui pointed at He Daqing and said.

He Daqing was stunned when he heard this: "No, Xu Fugui, what nonsense are you talking about?
Your son won a medal, so you should treat him. Why are you asking me to treat him?

Last time I helped your wife find a job, you didn’t ask me for help yet, I tell you, I’ve always remembered it.”

Everyone laughed, Xu Fugui was just joking.

He and He Daqing are on good terms now, but he still can't change his habit of making fun of each other.

"You are so good, Daqing. You still remember this little favor of mine. I'll treat you this time. That's ok, right? But I'm only responsible for paying the bill. You still have to cook."

"no problem."

He Daqing agreed immediately.

Other chefs don’t want to cook when they get home, but He Daqing is different. He really likes cooking.

If the food is cooked by a poor chef, he would be angry because he thinks the food is wasted.

Xu Damao’s house is too small, so the dinner was held at Li Jiandong’s house.

The fragrance filled the entire courtyard.

The deaf old lady who was eating lunch leftovers smelled the fragrance and immediately started cursing again.

"You are such heartless people. You just had a good meal at noon, and you continue to eat at night. Aren't you afraid of choking to death?"

Yi Zhonghai said angrily: "Old lady, just eat your food. Eating meat can't stop your mouth."

It would have been fine if he didn't speak, but as soon as he spoke the deaf old lady started shouting, "What do you mean by eating meat? Where is the meat? We ate up all the meat we had at noon, and the rest are all vegetables. Why don't you find me two pieces of meat?"

"I was wrong. You are eating vegetarian food, okay."

Yi Zhonghai was too lazy to argue with her. Just at this moment, Xiao Hutao, who lived diagonally opposite, opened the door and came out to wash the dishes.

Yi Zhonghai quickly went out with the bowl, chopsticks and kettle.

"Hu Nut, are you washing dishes too?"

Yi Zhonghai stepped forward to greet him, put the kettle in front of him and said, "It's so cold, use some hot water, otherwise your hands will be frozen."

Little Walnut smiled and said, "Thank you, Master Yi."

"Hey, we're all neighbors, why should we be so polite?"

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, he suddenly continued, "By the way, Hu Tao, I remember you were in the studio at the street guesthouse, right?"

"Yes, as a waiter."

Walnut said while washing dishes, although the money is not much, it is also a formal job.

For a woman, this is already very good and there is nothing to feel inferior about.

"It's like this, Walnut. Our factory has been expanding for the past two years, and the guesthouse is a bit insufficient. I heard that we are going to open two more small kitchens in the spring of next year. Are you interested in working there?"

"The leader over there is my old classmate. If you go, I can help you get into the kitchen. By then, whether it's salary or promotion, it will be much easier than being a waiter on the street."

Yi Zhonghai spoke seemingly casually, but Xiao Hutao's heartbeat quickened.

The treatment at the steel rolling mill is already outstanding among all units. Although the salary is the same, other benefits, including the year-end dinner, are not available in other units.

Even if I could transfer to a steel mill to work as a waiter.

Xiao Hutao was also very willing, not to mention that she was asked to enter the kitchen as a cook apprentice. Once she graduated, her salary would immediately increase to more than 20 yuan.

Not only can you make more money, but you can also work in the kitchen and get the upper hand. Do you think there is any cook who is short of food?

"Master Yi, it would be great if I could really go to your factory, but are you sure about this?"

Little Walnut said nervously, this was such a surprise for her.

Yi Zhonghai smiled and said, "Don't worry, my classmate's words will definitely be useful. I'll ask him for you later. But if he is willing to help, we can't let him work for nothing. At least treat him to a meal, don't you think?"

"Yes, that's right. Master Yi, please ask for me first. If it really works, I will never forget your kindness."

Little Hutao has not yet realized that she has fallen into Yi Zhonghai's trap. She thinks the other party is really that kind.

Yi Zhonghai's plan went smoothly, and the smile on his face became even brighter: "Okay, this matter is settled, just wait for my good news."

After saying that, he took his bowl, chopsticks and kettle and went back into the house.

Only the excited little Walnut was left, who was already looking forward to becoming a worker in a steel mill.

…………

Over the next few days, the yard began to become lively.

Li Jiandong bought several red lanterns from the department store. He hung two large ones at the gate of the compound, and six small ones on both sides of the archway of the third courtyard.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Yan Bugui wrote door couplets for everyone in the compound. Of course, he couldn't write them for free, he had to be paid a fee.

This money comes from the public funds of the courtyard, and each household does not have to spend any money, so no one bothers to care about it.

This year's No. 40 Courtyard is still advanced. In addition to the peanuts and melon seeds as rewards, oranges have been replaced with fruit-flavored hard candies, which are cheaper than oranges and are more popular with children.

Xu Damao learned to ride a horse and went to Xujiatuan with Yan Jiecheng.

The rice he developed cannot be used in Xujiatuan. Only crops such as wheat, corn, and sweet potatoes are grown here, and rice is not suitable for growing here.

When he came back, he brought two rabbits and half a wild boar meat, which were specially reserved by Xujiatuan for Li Jiandong and Xu Damao.

Of course, Li Jiandong also asked Xu Damao to send some sugar and cloth to Uncle Xu and the others, which were definitely more valuable than the meat they sent.

The most important thing is that you can’t buy it in the countryside even if you want to, especially cloth is too rare.

(End of this chapter)