Chapter 110 Song

He planned to go to Beixinqiao to play chess with some old men. If he won, it would be considered a win and he could get a few cents as a reward.

"Hey, this kid still has an easier life now that his mother-in-law is home. Now he has an old man to help him."

Mrs. Chen kept muttering that Li Zhiguo’s biggest shortcoming before was the lack of elderly people in the family, but now it has been made up.

"Mrs. Chen, what are you mumbling about?"

Jia Zhang lifted the door curtain and came out, wiping her mouth. She had just finished lunch and left the bowl and chopsticks to Dongxu. She came out for a walk.

"Nothing, have you eaten yet?"

Mrs. Chen had washed the vegetables and was about to go home with the dustpan.

"Just ate."

Seeing that no one else was around, Jia Zhang said, "Li Zhiguo now has four people in his family, and the burden is heavy. I'm afraid he will have to live a hard life in the future."

"Ms. Jia Zhang, please stop worrying about it and just live your life well."

Mrs. Chen left after she finished speaking. What was she thinking? Li Zhiguo already had three rooms, and with the support of his father-in-law and his family, he wouldn't have to suffer.

Jia Zhang muttered, "When I go to the steel mill to take over the job, life at home will be better, and Qin Huairu will be jealous."

In the afternoon, Li Zhiguo came back with a few bottles of soda. In summer, you can't do without these, but they are not cheap, 1.5 cents a bottle, and you can get one cent back if you return the bottles.

"Brother-in-law, did you buy some soda?"

Xiao Jingru hurried over. She had drunk once before on the day when the photo shoot was held.

"Yes! One bottle per person. Your sister can't drink it because she's pregnant."

Li Zhiguo put four bottles of soda on the table, opened three of them directly, and asked Xiao Jingru to give one bottle to his mother-in-law as well.

When you drink this stuff, you just drink the carbonation.

It was just a small glass bottle, and he finished it in just a few gulps. Then he lay down on the chair and asked Xiao Jingru to turn down the volume of the radio so that he could take a nap.

Xiao Jingru took a bottle of soda and walked around the yard. When she came back after showing off, there was still half a bottle left.

Seeing that there was still a little liquid left at the bottom of my brother-in-law's bottle, I tilted my head back and drank it all, not leaving a single drop to waste.

Until the evening, Xiao Jingru was drinking soda in small sips. She finally finished it when her sister came back and put both bottles next to her brother-in-law.

"Sister, Auntie is cooking."

Little Jingru hasn't started school yet, so she has nothing to do every day.

"Ok!"

Qin Huairu went into the room and looked around. The man was still resting with two empty bottles next to him.

I couldn't help but whisper, "Jingru, you drank soda again."

"Auntie drank it too. My brother-in-law bought it for me."

Xiao Jingru knew that her sister was stingy, but her brother-in-law loved her.

"How much money do you have to spend every day? Drink less soda, or you won't grow taller."

Qin Huairu muttered something, but couldn't say anything else, so she went to the kitchen.

Xiao Jingru quickly opened the cupboard, took out peanuts, wine bottles and wine glasses, and placed them in front of her brother-in-law.

"Mom, I'm back."

"Huai Ru, go and take a rest. The food will be ready soon."

Qin's mother also loves her daughter, and the whole family benefits from her daughter's kindness.

"I'll get the dishes!"

Qin Huairu couldn't take a break. She was used to it and picked up the bowl and chopsticks swiftly. Xiao Jingru also came over to help.

After the dishes were laid out, Xiao Jingru woke up her brother-in-law and helped him get the washbasin so that he could wash his face sober up before drinking.

In the kitchen, Qin's mother whispered, "Huai Ru, at noon, my son-in-law gave me 30 yuan for household expenses. I only need to buy vegetables, so that I can see meat every day. Isn't this too much money?"

"Give me thirty!"

Qin Huairu’s first reaction was that she had taken too much and she only had to buy groceries, so how could she spend it all?

Jia Dongxu only earned 22.5 yuan a month when he was working before. Now the Jia family only has this much, which is enough for a family of three.

Mother Qin hurriedly said, "How about I give you some back?"

"No, Mom, you take it. My man is not short of money."

Although Qin Huairu felt distressed, she couldn't make the decision. She could ask her mother to pay the water, electricity and gas bills, buy oil, salt, sauce and vinegar, and even use the extra money to buy staple food.

I have to pay rent to my father and younger brother for the three-story compound over there, and I have to make up for it.

But I won’t discuss these things with men, so as not to make things difficult for them.

"Son-in-law, it's time to eat."

"okay!"

Li Zhiguo put down the washcloth and felt a little hungry after waking up.

After it was served, I picked up a piece of chicken and ate it deliciously.

My mother-in-law’s cooking skills are much better than Qin Huairu’s. The food she cooks is homely and not easy to get sick of. It’s also good to go to a restaurant occasionally.

After eating for a while, Qin's mother said, "Jingru, you should stay in the same room with Auntie tonight, so as not to disturb your brother-in-law."

"Auntie, I don't want to. I want to live in the same room with my brother-in-law."

Little Jingru shook her head like a rattle.

Qin Huairu continued, "Mom, you can't ask her to leave. Jingru sticks to Zhiguo all the time. She's only young. Otherwise, she would have to steal my man."

"I just want my brother-in-law!"

Little Jingru pouted. It was her brother-in-law who loved her so much that he even bought her soda in the afternoon.

Li Zhiguo smiled and said, "Mom, let little Jingru sleep here until she grows up."

"That's fine too."

Mother Qin didn't say much. Seeing that Xiao Jingru had eaten one and a half bowls of white flour, she knew that she had a good appetite and her son-in-law was really willing to spend money on it.

She just took the second portion of flour, which she could eat.

Qin Huairu felt distressed again. There were four people in the family, and they had to eat more than a pound of white flour for every meal. Her mother had a good appetite, and Jingru's appetite had also grown.

But she is not worried, because her husband is capable and can earn money, but he does not know how to save.

As for Li Zhiguo's consumption of white flour at home, he didn't care at all. It was a blessing to be able to eat it now, but in the future he would have to pair it with coarse grains such as corn flour.

Because there are two kinds of food coupons, fine grains and coarse grains, even if you have money you can't eat fine grains every meal, the quantity is restricted, and coarse and fine grains are given in combination.

But there is a way. Just put two steamed breads in a winnowing basket for each meal to make it look like a meal. It can also be healthy if you add less coarse grains.

After dinner, Li Zhiguo took Qin Huairu out for a walk and left Xiao Jingru to help so that she wouldn't stick to him all day. It felt like he was raising a daughter.

"Hey, are you guys going for a walk together?"

Yan Bugui also came out of the house after finishing his meal. It was not yet dark, and he was repairing an old bench in the yard.

"Uncle, what's that noise in your room?"

Li Zhiguo vaguely heard a different accent. Are there guests coming?

"Hey, well, I bought a radio yesterday and I didn't have time to tell you about it."

Yan Bugui had a subtle smile on his face. Isn't this keeping up with the pace? There is a big item at home.

He was so keen on buying a bicycle and a radio, firstly because they were practical, and secondly because he thought that his son would eventually grow up and would need big items when he got married.

He bought it to enjoy it first, and when his son and the older girl go on a blind date, and others come to the house and see the conditions, then it will be a good deal, right?

So, no matter how you calculate it, you will not lose out. Buy early and enjoy it early.

"Oh, Third Uncle, you've made a fortune. There's no happy event at home, but you still buy something big even if it's not a festival."

Li Zhiguo was not surprised. Yan Bugui was also a trend-setter in the hospital. He was stingy and calculating all the time, but he was always ahead.

Not to mention the radio, we also had bicycles and even televisions. They were never second-hand, just small in size, but we still enjoyed them.

"Isn't this a small profit in the past few months?"

Yan Bugui whispered, bought a radio, and then saved money to buy a bicycle.

"Okay, you keep busy, I'll take Huairu out for a walk."

Li Zhiguo held Qin Huairu's hand openly. No one would say anything if they saw it. He should be more positive and take care of the pregnant woman.

In a blink of an eye, we arrived at Beixinqiao Department Store, which is a state-owned store. There is also a grocery store nearby that also sells vegetables.

This street is one of the few prosperous areas nearby, with a relatively concentrated number of shops.

"Brother, don't go in and shop. It will cost money."

Qin Huairu knew that her man had a bad habit of always wanting to buy something when he went for a walk and never returning empty-handed.

"It's free to go shopping, let's go."

Li Zhiguo brought the people in without saying anything. Since they were already shopping in the supermarket, if they didn't pay the bill, wouldn't it be a waste of time?

That night!

My mother-in-law came to live next door, but it didn’t affect our previous living habits, so it was pretty good.

……

The days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye it was August. Guangyou had his summer vacation and was sent back to the countryside to help harvest rice.

Today is the 3rd, which happens to be Monday, and it is the busiest time of the month for Li Zhiguo, as he has to collect salaries everywhere and also take on a part-time job.

"Morning, Damao!"

He went to the yard to wash up and met Brother Damao. "Li Zhiguo, are you going to the Ministry of Agriculture so early in the morning?"

Xu Damao was full of envy. Look, others don’t have to go to work for a day, but they still get a monthly allowance of 12 yuan.

Fortunately, Li Zhiguo didn't make any inventions in the past two months, and it seems he didn't write any songs, otherwise he would have been jealous to the point of going crazy.

"No, I'll go to the steel mill to collect my salary first, and then send your sister Qin to work.

By the way, Fengling is on summer vacation, why doesn’t she come back to visit the hospital?”

Li Zhiguo mentioned the girl next door whom he hadn't seen for some time.

"No, don't worry about my sister. She's busy with other things."

Xu Damao was scared and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Li Zhiguo, I won't teach Jia Dongxu anymore. He came with me several times to show movies for people, but he didn't learn anything and almost broke the machine."

"If you don't want to teach him, then don't teach him. I guess Dongxu doesn't have the talent to act in movies. What do you think? Why don't you let him learn cooking from Shazhu? It's also a skill."

He also worried about whether Dongxu brothers could live a good life.

"Let Jia Dongxu learn to be a chef? Why bother looking for Sha Zhu? Can't he just look for Uncle He directly?"

Xu Damao thought to himself, there are times when you fail to plan well, you are still a human being.

"That's right. Shazhu is not at the level to take on an apprentice yet."

Li Zhiguo also realized that even a fool may make a good decision, and Xu Damao can occasionally be smart.

"Let's not talk about him anymore. I'm busy today. We can talk later."

After washing up, he went back to the room and found breakfast was ready. His mother-in-law was a hardworking person. She got up early every day and never failed to prepare breakfast.

"Huai Ru, when you get your salary next month, you can just take maternity leave."

There is no explicit regulation on maternity leave now, but taking two months is the default rule.

"No, it's still early. You can take a day off after the National Day. The two days off during the National Day are also counted as paid."

Well, Qin Huairu was also trained and learned how to fleece the factory, so the hard work was not in vain.

"I'm not afraid that you'll give birth before National Day. We'll see how it goes next month."

Li Zhiguo had nothing to worry about, as every pregnant woman goes through the same thing.

In the village, there are some very capable people who would dig sweet potatoes in the fields in the morning, go to the hospital to give birth in the afternoon, and be discharged from the hospital in the evening and go home with their babies.

"Ok!"

Qin Huairu knew that the man felt sorry for her, but she could go to work now. Dongxu’s wife was also in the workshop and was doing well.

After dinner, Li Zhiguo took out a notebook and a pen and said to Xiao Jingru, "You can only play after you finish your homework at home. Do you understand?"

"I know, brother-in-law!"

Xiao Jing had a bitter face. She was afraid to do homework, but it was assigned by her brother-in-law. She had never attended kindergarten or preschool and knew nothing.

"Mom, I'm taking Huairu out. You don't have to wait for me for lunch."

He was really busy that day. It was already August and he should have handed in the song that the Ministry of Agriculture had asked him to do so so as not to delay other people's rehearsals.

"Son-in-law, go slowly on the road."

Qin's mother sent her people to the corridor in the central courtyard, then returned home, cleaned up the dishes, and continued to do the laundry, which was not tiring at all.

After a while, the second aunt also came out to wash clothes, and the two chatted about family matters together.

"Huai Ru's mother, are you going to buy groceries later?"

"Buy it! My son-in-law likes to eat fresh vegetables. It's hot this day, and the vegetables bought the day before won't taste good."

Qin's mother had rough hands, and when she rubbed the clothes, they were washed clean with a "squeak".

The second aunt thought she was a good worker, but she was outdone.

"Huai Ru's mother, how much money does your son-in-law give you for household expenses? You buy groceries every day. Is it enough?"

This matter has always been a mystery in the courtyard. Many people are curious about it, and Second Aunt couldn't help but ask again.

"I took fifteen dollars, which was enough for me to spend."

Qin's mother gave a real number. She calculated that this was the amount she spent on groceries every month. Just buying some meat and some side dishes every day would be enough for everything.

She could save fifteen yuan a month, which was unimaginable. She had already secretly given ten yuan back to her daughter.

She doesn't worry about what her son-in-law says, because he is caring and generous. But her daughter is stingy. She has brought up this matter many times, and she is afraid that her daughter will drive her away one day.

After receiving the ten dollars back, Qin's mother felt relieved, and she still had five dollars left for emergencies.

"Fifteen dollars, if you buy groceries like this, won't you have to put money in it every month?"

Second Aunt also buys vegetables herself, so she can calculate the prices for her.

A family of several people with 15 yuan for household expenses cannot afford any meat. Water, electricity, coal, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, rice and flour all cost money. A load of coal alone is not cheap.

"It's nothing, Huairu is also giving it to me."

Qin's mother lied and used her daughter as an excuse.

"Hey, Qin Huairu is still good. She knows how to care for you as a mother."

When the second aunt heard the gossip, she quickly washed her clothes and went to the central courtyard to chat.

"The fifteen yuan that Li Zhiguo gave me for household expenses would be enough for me to live like the Jia family.

But he often eats meat, and even if he buys half a pound of meat at the market, it costs him 40 cents. If he uses the remaining meat to buy some vegetables, he will have 50 cents a day. How can he make a living like this?"

"The family has other expenses, and it's hard for Huairu's mother. Fortunately, Qin Huairu gave her some subsidies."

"That's right. I heard from Qin Huairu that Li Zhiguo gave her seven dollars for food. This is not unfair."

"Let me do the math. Li Zhiguo gets 45 yuan a month and gives out 22 yuan, which is almost half. He should be calculating it.

This is good, he has his own money, and he also has the family assets from previous rewards, so he doesn't have to bother us."

After chatting with the aunties, they felt relieved. Li Zhiguo was not poor, so they could have a good chat with him.

Jia Dongxu was listening nearby with a look of envy on his face. Li Zhiguo only had 23 yuan saved every month, which was more than his wife's salary. How could he spend it all? He also didn't know how to take some out to help his brothers.

……

At this time, Li Zhiguo had already received his salary in the steel rolling mill office building. He stood aside and counted it. It was exactly thirty-three yuan.

"Brother Li, I have counted this too."

As usual, Chen Bihua followed and collected the money without having to queue.

"Bihua, can you still go to work with your big belly?"

He just asked casually. There were other pregnant women in the factory, so it was not uncommon. It was popular to have more children now, as more children meant more blessings.

"I can do it. I'm used to it."

Chen Bihua followed him downstairs. There was no need to rush back to the workshop. Everyone can learn to be lazy.

"I want to ask you something!"

He took her aside and asked, "After you gave birth to your child and took advantage of the steel mill, will you continue to work there, or will you let your mother-in-law take over?"

"My mother-in-law is going to take over?"

Chen Bihua was surprised. Wasn't it agreed that Dongxu would come back to take over the position?
"I am assuming this, now let me ask you what you think."

Li Zhiguo was also quite surprised. Oh my god, Jia Zhang is quite sinister. She hasn't confessed her thoughts to him yet?

"I don't have the final say. You have to listen to Dongxu and mother-in-law."

Chen Bihua actually wants to work, but she also wants to take care of the children.

"Okay, just pretend I never asked."

He didn't worry about it and just rode away on his bike.

Chen Bihua stood there until she disappeared from view, and then left after a while.

……

Li Zhiguo left the factory directly and did not go to the workshop. He had a lot of money in his hands. If he continued to invent frequently, he would become a petty bourgeois, so he cooled down first.

He is going to the agricultural building to hand in a song now, but he has no intention of bragging about it. As long as he has proof of making money, he can spend it as much as he wants and let others guess. He doesn't have to worry about being reported.

Soon, I successfully received the twelve yuan allowance. I had come here last month and was familiar with the process.

I didn't rush to leave today, I went straight upstairs to find Director Fang.

This person's position is similar to Director Bi's in the Ministry of Metallurgy. If he were to be in a local position, he would not necessarily be a very high-ranking leader.

But this is the capital, where the administrative level is high. If the director of the street office is placed down, he can manage an entire county.

So Director Fang can be considered a big leader, but he still doesn't flatter, because he has all the identities of scholar, farmer, merchant and industrialist, and can change his mind at any time, so he is very stable.

"Li Zhiguo, are you here to exchange songs?"

Director Fang made some guesses as soon as they met. This guy had been missing since he came to collect his allowance last month, so he must have something wrong when he showed up today.

"Fortunately, I have accomplished my mission! A chorus of children's songs and a high-pitched solo!"

Li Zhiguo handed over the playlist as he spoke. Not only did he have the lyrics, he also composed the music, with the pitch of the music indicated on it.

"Wait a minute, I'll call two professionals over."

Director Fang's face turned red. He had a broken voice and couldn't tell whether a song was good or not. He was from the Ministry of Agriculture, so it was not shameful.

"I'm not in a hurry!"

Li Zhiguo sat on the sofa.

Director Fang immediately made an internal call and called the people from the Propaganda Department.

Director Fang took this opportunity to look at the lyrics.

(End of this chapter)