Chapter 156

Fan Jinyou boasted, "Li Zhiguo, Manager Li is a favorite of the street director, and the aunt director has no control over him at all.

And he hasn’t been working properly since he entered the street, and it’s been many years.”

Zhao Yali stood at the counter, silently remembering who dared to disrespect Manager Li and would report them later.

In the small cafeteria next door, Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen had already understood the new contract clearly, and it was exactly the same as Li Zhiguo had said in advance, with no mistakes.

"Director Auntie, we will sign the contract now."

"Okay, okay, I'll get it stamped by the street office and then send it back to you."

The lady manager looked very happy and said that it would be great if signing contracts with other joint stores could be so smooth.

When Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen returned to the tavern next door, they saw Li Zhiguo coming in holding a child.

"Mom!" little Xu Jingli shouted.

"Oh, Li'er misses mommy."

Xu Huizhen hurried forward to take her daughter, but her daughter refused to extend her hand.

"Okay, since this one is not shy, I'll hold him in my arms."

Li Zhiguo casually said, "Huizhen, when there are no customers in the store, you can take Li'er out to play for a while. Don't keep him in the backyard all the time. It's not good for the child's growth."

"Hey!" Xu Huizhen responded, and then said awkwardly: "There are rules in the store. Children cannot be brought in to play."

"Who said that?" Li Zhiguo frowned. What was going on with his youngest son often going to the silk shop?

"Xiao Fan!"

Xu Huizhen pointed at Fan Jinyou and said, "When I went home to take care of the kids, I was still counted as absent from work."

"It's too late. I'm not even a manager anymore." Fan Jinyou didn't dare to respond. He was already very busy.

Li Zhiguo smiled and said, "Then the rules have been changed. As long as it does not affect business, you can bring your children to the store. I am the manager of the public side, so I say forget it."

The lady director and several aunties from the neighborhood committee were still there. When I heard this, I knew what kind of person she was. She was very domineering.

"okay!"

Xu Huizhen smiled and said, "Brother Li...Manager Li, didn't you just say you wanted to have a meeting?"

"It's already open. I'll take Li'er out for a bit and then go to the silk shop. I'll leave the management of this place to you. Do it according to what we discussed before. You can compete with Chen Xueru to see who is better."

After Li Zhiguo finished speaking, he hugged little Xu Jingli and kissed her again.

"what!"

Xu Huizhen was confused. It was already over, and it was held without her, the private manager, being present?
Then she took her daughter out to play. Is this reliable?

Li Zhiguo didn't say much. He just made fun of her for a while and then was taken over by Chen Xueru. He drank a few sips of wine and left. He got up too early and didn't eat much.

"Manager Li!" Fan Jinyou came over and sat huddled opposite, his spine bent!
"Xiao Fan, is there anything I can help you with? If you want to ask about a position, please discuss it with Xu Huizhen."

Li Zhiguo picked up a piece of rice flour intestine, which tasted okay and was considered the tavern's signature dish.

"It's not a job. I used to rent that yard for 27 yuan. Now I'm a stoker. My salary has been reduced. I already owe a month's rent."

Fan Jinyou tried to speak as quietly as possible, as this was a matter of losing face.

"I heard Wang Qinian talk about this."

Li Zhiguo really knew that whenever he went to the street, he would always chat with Brother Qinian.

"Ah!" Fan Jinyou didn't expect that this would be leaked. "Manager Li, can you let me get some advance on my salary to pay the rent?"

"We need to discuss this!" Li Zhiguo put down his chopsticks and shouted, "Huizhen, Accountant Zhao, both of you come over here."

"coming!"

"Manager Li, what's the matter?"

Everyone gathered around immediately, even Ma Liansheng from the kitchen came. It was still early for noon, so a little while longer was not a big deal.

Chen Xueru was sitting at the table at the back holding Li'er. She didn't come over, but she could hear what was being said.

"It's like this, Fan Jinyou has been renting a small courtyard with seven rooms from the government for 27 yuan a month. He can't pay the rent now and wants to get an advance on his salary.

This is just a small matter. Not only him, but any employee in the store who has difficulties can get an advance on their salary. That’s what I said.”

As soon as Li Zhiguo said this, everyone laughed sincerely. Look, although our manager is unreliable, he is very generous with his money.

Only Fan Jin was annoyed. "Manager Li, please don't make fun of me. I'm really in trouble."

This time he has completely lost face and exposed his family situation.

Li Zhiguo added, "But Fan Jin's situation is very special. The rent is due monthly. Can you still advance it every month? You can't make ends meet after giving me 27 yuan?"

"Manager Li is right. Fan Jinyou only makes a few dollars a month, but he dares to spend 27 yuan to rent a yard."

"That's right. Others can rent a single room in a compound for two dollars."

"Fan Jinyou, I can't believe you have to pay over 300 yuan in rent a year. It's too extravagant."

Everyone started to criticize it, which shows that they have already become detached from the masses.

Fan Jinyou looked unhappy. Was this the house he wanted to rent? He was cheated by Wang Qinian in the beginning and went to the director to say that he wanted to live in a good house.

"Everyone be quiet!"

Li Zhiguo asked everyone to be quiet, and then said: "I think this is the way, let the silk shop sublease your yard from the street.

Then I will sub-rent it to you at four dollars per room. How many rooms do you want?"

He was attracted by this government-owned courtyard again and considered it as one of the assets of the silk shop, so it was not a loss anyway.

Fan Jinyou was stunned for a moment before he said, "You can still do it this way. Then I want two rooms. But what about the remaining five rooms?"

Li Zhiguo smiled and said: "Of course it is for employee welfare. We rent it out. The yard is shared but the rent is paid by each employee separately.

The water bill is shared equally, and the electricity bill is a little more troublesome, but it’s not a big deal. Just install a few more meters, and it doesn’t cost extra. ”

"Then how do I explain this to my mother?"

Fan Jinyou was dumbfounded. Although this eased his burden, he couldn't save his face.

"You are stupid, just say you sublet the house and collect some rent to save money to marry a wife, your mother will understand this.

If you think it's okay, you can go to Wang Qinian to cancel the lease. He will go to the silk shop to sign a new contract, and then the silk shop will sublease it to you."

Li Zhiguo felt quite surprised. He suddenly became Fan Jinyou's landlord?

"That's fine!" Fan Jinyou smiled, and the big stone in his heart was finally resolved.

"Okay, that's settled. Xueru, you sign the contract and go through the process when the time comes."

Li Zhiguo finished the wine in his glass and was about to leave.

"Okay!" Chen Xueru understood what was going on immediately and took over one more yard.

Xu Huizhen also suddenly realized that this was a joint venture, but the public housing compound did not generate any profit, which she could not understand.

"I'm leaving now. I'll see if I can come over next week. Huizhen, you have to take good care of the store. Expand the business as soon as possible. I want to see profits.

If this month's profit does not exceed last month's, you, as the private manager, will have to reflect on yourself!"

Li Zhiguo took the burden on himself. Xu Huizhen's talents had not yet been fully developed and she needed more training so that she could help him make more money and support her brother in the future.

"I will definitely work harder!"

Xu Huizhen witnessed Chen Xueru's good days and pressures.

Immediately, Li Zhiguo took Chen Xueru away. They came suddenly and left decisively.

At this time, Kong Yuqin said, "Xu Huizhen, Manager Li just said that he would give Accountant Zhao a five-dollar salary increase, and also said that he would observe us for a month. If he thinks our performance is good, he will also increase our salary, but he will not deduct our salary."

"Ah! There is such a thing?"

Master Xu Hui is numb, this is very Brother Li.

……

Li Zhiguo went to Qianmen Canteen to pack up some main dishes. He had agreed with Lao He last night that when making the Sichuan cuisine series of nine-bowl bowls, two extra servings should be prepared, and he wanted to pack them up.

One portion was taken to the concubine's home, and the other was taken back to the courtyard at night, without favoring anyone.

He spent money lavishly every day, and all the money was settled separately. He did not engage in corruption because there was no need to do so.

He has savings and two wives to support, so why would he be afraid of going broke?
"Li Zhiguo, I'm leaving now. I'll let Lao Fu take over at noon today."

The Lao Fu that He Daqing mentioned is the second cook in the store. His cooking skills are better than his home-cooked dishes, and he can also fool people.

"Okay, I'll transfer two people over to learn cooking from you later."

Li Zhiguo wanted to transfer Xiao Jingru's brother Qin Guangjun and his second uncle's eldest son Jianwa from the Second Silk Shop to the canteen to learn cooking.

Add my brother-in-law Qin Guangyou, well, my father-in-law has three brothers, and each of them has a son learning to be a chef. There must be one who will succeed and be useful to him in the future.

If he fails to learn, when He Daqing retires, won’t there be Sha Zhu to take over?

"It's all a small matter!"

He Daqing was packing the lunch box and planned to ride his tricycle to Bai Yanni's place later as it would be more convenient to carry things there.

It is this tricycle that needs to be sold. The tricycle family can no longer maintain its good status!

Li Zhiguo also carried a lunch box and left with Chen Xueru. Not long after, he saw Xiaobao learning chess.

"Uncle Li, you're here."

Xueyi saw his dear uncle coming over and ran over quickly with his short legs. "Hey, uncle, hold me and see if I've grown any weight."

Li Zhiguo immediately hugged Xiaobao in his arms and gave him a big kiss.

"Uncle Li, I ate a lot."

Xueyi patted his belly. His appetite was much better now than before, but still couldn't compare with Xiaoguanxiang.

Xue Yi is thinner and his face is not as chubby. Although he still looks similar to Xiao Guan Xiang, at least they don’t look like twins. When they are put together, they look like brothers!
"As long as you can eat, uncle will reward you with a trip to the park this afternoon."

Li Zhiguo held Xiaobao tightly and refused to let go. But after a while, Xiaobao wanted to ride on the big cow. Well, he had no choice but to serve as the ox.

Grandma Chen looked at him with a happy face and asked again, "Xue Ru, tell me the truth, whose child is Xue Yi?"

Mother Ding, who was taking food from the lunch box, paused and listened attentively.

"Grandma, don't ask anymore. Isn't it good like this now?"

Chen Xueru has never responded directly. Perhaps she will tell this secret only when her grandmother passes away one day.

"Hey! It's pretty good."

Grandma Chen looked at Li Zhiguo, who was wearing a shirt and leather shoes, and was being ridden like a cow or a horse by his precious grandson. If this wasn't his biological son, then could it be that his stepfather was the one who spoiled him so much?

"Xue Yi, come down quickly, don't tire your Uncle Li out."

Chen Xueru went over and picked up her son, thinking to herself, when you grow up, don't forget your uncle's kindness.

"Uncle Li, I have toys for you to play with."

Xue Yi took Li Zhiguo to his cabin.

After lunch, the family of three went shopping in Xidan in the afternoon. It was not easy to meet acquaintances, so we had a great time.

……

It is said that He Daqing has already arrived at Bai Yanni's house. This was originally the Bai family's house. Li Xinmin was not a son-in-law, but it was almost the same.

He Daqing brought the food over and found an excuse that he wanted to make a Yan Gang dish, boiled beef, by himself, so he stayed in the kitchen.

Just a little while after lunchtime, Bai's father arrived. He was a middle-aged man with a flat head and a former Sichuan Army soldier.

While cooking, He Daqing was thinking about how to find a chance to call dad. Suddenly, the opportunity came. Sister Wang, whom he had met yesterday, called Bai Yanni out and said something.

He Daqing saw the opportunity and quickly took the boiled beef out of the pot and brought it to the living room. He was not embarrassed when he saw Bai's father because Bai Yanni had just given him a brief introduction not long ago.

Father Bai frowned as he looked at the chef, who seemed older than him, and pondered his relationship with his daughter.

"Dad, the boiled beef is ready. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."

He Da had trained well early in the morning, so when he called out "Dad", his face didn't blush but his heart was pounding. Although Li Zhiguo analyzed the situation for him, he was still afraid of being beaten out.

"What did you call me?"

Father Bai was confused. Was the generation right? Was it because he went to war in his early years that his daughter lacked fatherly love? Why did he find a man in his 50s?

"Call you dad! Dad, I look quite old, but I'm actually in my early 40s."

He Daqing's heartbeat slowed down. His future father-in-law did not rush into the kitchen to get a knife immediately. It seemed that his life was saved.

Father Bai was silent for a long time before he said, "Old He, hey, I'll call you Little He. How long have you been with my Yanni? Did you know that she has a man?"

"I know! I listen to Jenny in everything. If she tells me to go east, I will never go west. I will do whatever she tells me to do."

He Daqing didn't need anyone to teach him this, he just did it. Didn't his younger brother Cai Quanwu use the same trick to conquer Huizhen? It hurts to think about it.

"Oh!" Father Bai wanted to say something, but he saw his daughter coming back.

"Oh, I can smell it, Lao He, the boiled food you made is so delicious."

Bai Yanni was in a good mood and didn't notice anything unusual.

"Then you eat, I'll bring the food in the pot."

He Daqing hurried back to the kitchen, took the steamed nine-bowl bowls out of the pot, and served them on the table one after another.

Then he said, "You guys eat, I'll go back."

Father Bai was stunned for a moment, and saw that his daughter had already picked up the chopsticks. Wow, she didn't leave any family status for others. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for Old, uh, Xiao He.

"Lao He, I'm sorry to bother you today."

Bai Yanni didn't see the guest off, nor did she give him any money. She also wanted to test Lao He to see if he could tolerate her bad temper.

"No trouble, I'll take your orders! Then I'll be leaving."

After He Daqing finished speaking, he left quickly. He was afraid that if he stayed, he would be exposed, so he ran away first and waited for three days to see if what he had told Li Zhiguo was true, that Yanni would divorce him.

Inside the house, Father Bai tasted the food on the table and praised, "Daughter, you have a good eye this time. You picked a great chef who made authentic Sichuan cuisine. You will at least have good food for the rest of your life."

"Dad, what are you talking about? Lao He and I are just friends, it's not what you think!"

Bai Yanni ate a piece of boiled beef, which was spicy, fresh, tender and went well with rice.

Who knew that Father Bai suddenly said, "Daughter, Li Xinmin has been in the workshop for too long. I didn't do anything at the time because I wanted to see if he could find a solution himself. Who knew he was also a mediocre person.

Such a person cannot give you a peaceful second half of your life. I think you should get a divorce tomorrow so that you can part ways amicably. He can live a peaceful life as a workshop worker. You are still young and can find another one. "

"Dad, didn't you tell me to live happily with Li Xinmin? Why did you suddenly ask for a divorce?"

Bai Yanni was stunned. The surprise came too quickly and too suddenly.

"This is a different time now. If you don't leave me, where will you put your face?"

Mr. Bai got so excited that he started speaking in Sichuan dialect.

"Old man, I will leave tomorrow."

Bai Yanni thought that her father was embarrassed because Li Xinmin had always been a worker.

"Okay, I'll send someone over tomorrow to wait for you to complete the divorce procedures and make sure Li Xinmin moves out immediately. From now on, you two won't have any contact with each other anymore."

Father Bai breathed a sigh of relief and stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a large piece of fatty meat, also known as sweet and sour pork.

It is made with thick slices of pork belly, with a cut in the middle but the skin still attached. Brown sugar is sandwiched between two slices of fat, then coated with a layer of sweet potato flour and steamed on top of sweet potato cubes.

It tastes fat but not greasy, soft, glutinous and sweet, suitable for all ages. Sichuan cuisine at that time was actually not spicy.

"Dad, I'll listen to you."

Bai Yanni was moved. Since she was divorced, she could consider Lao He and do as Xu Huizhen did, with the three family rules.

All the family earnings had to be handed over, the child took the mother's surname, and the mother had to stay at home to take care of the child.

……

The next day, Li Zhiguo transferred Qin Guangjun and Jianwa to the cafeteria. When he was instructing them about learning how to cook, his concubine suddenly came to him.

"Old He, I think you'll succeed this time. Sister Wang came to the store just now and said that Bai Yanni and Li Xinmin went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to divorce early in the morning."

"What, you're leaving so soon?"

He Daqing was so happy that he almost jumped up. Suddenly he thought of something and quickly took out two red envelopes he had prepared in advance from his pocket.

"Manager Chen, Manager Li, this is just a small gift, please accept it."

"No, what do you mean, Lao He? This is just the first time. It won't happen again."

Li Zhiguo took both red envelopes as soon as he stretched out his hand. His concubine didn't mind this little money.

He Daqing said cheerfully: "There won't be a next time. This time I'm going to marry Bai Yanni and live together till old age."

Li Zhiguo thought, this is hard to say. Since ancient times, anyone who marries into the wife's family will have a hard time in their later years, unless their biological children are reliable.

Time flies, and it’s the end of August and school is about to start.

Yan Bugui was wiping his bicycle in the yard, waiting to ride to school, so he said he had bought a new bike, and let people know that he was not a stingy person.

Now that the family has a car, he has face and a good reputation. In the future, it will be easier for the boss Yan Jiecheng to find a partner, so he will also benefit from it.

Just as Yan Bugui was fantasizing about the beautiful future when he would save up wages for his three sons and one daughter, he suddenly saw someone coming out carrying a large bag.

"Hey, Lao He, are you going to run away?"

"Old Yan, I'm not running away. I'm in the capital, just like my father and brother, marrying into the family."

He Daqing grinned and tied the big bag to the back seat of his bicycle. He still had to make two trips home.

"When did you find the widow?"

Yan Bugui didn't even need to guess, he must have fallen into the trap of some widow.

“It wasn’t long ago. My wife’s surname is Bai. She is much better than Bai Hehua who ran away.

Old Yan, you are here, please tell Sha Zhu that I will leave this tricycle to him, and tell him not to forget the reputation of the tricycle family. "

In the end, He Daqing did not take away all the family fortune. He left behind a large item, which also served as a thought.

To be honest, my family was able to get through the hard times thanks to the money I earned from riding a tricycle.

The other tricycle was sold to Jia Dongxu and is still in the yard. This one is left to my stupid son. I hope he can find a widow in the future... I don’t want to be a widow, as long as I can find a wife.

"No, so you still found the White Widow!"

Yan Bugui pushed up the frame of his glasses and asked hurriedly, "You ran away now? And you took advantage of the time when Shazhu was at work and Yushui went to the Children's Palace?"

"Old Yan said it doesn't count. Sha Zhu knows about my situation, but I can't tell Yu Shui. I'll come back to see her after I've settled down."

He Daqing wanted to take Yu Shui with her when she got married, but after thinking about it, he realized that his father didn't take him with him when he ran away.

(End of this chapter)