Chapter 39 Good Son-in-law

"Thank you, thank you! Actually, this is just a simple little tool. Just take it. I can make one anytime."

"That won't do. This is what you earned through hard work. You deserve a reward for your contribution to the collective.

Tell me about your design concept, and then go eat. You can’t miss the meal if you have stomach problems.”

Bi Jianhua was very satisfied with Li Zhiguo's attitude and did not seek credit for himself, which was a manifestation of his excellent character.

"it is good!"

Li Zhiguo had no choice but to wait and see what happens.

Then he talked about the advantages of the pencil sharpener, and took the pencil sharpener apart and put it back together.

Everyone only then realized that there was a small box underneath to hold wood chips, which was really ingenious.

……

"Dear leaders, I'm leaving now."

Li Zhiguo left, but when he came out of the private room, he found that many workers were already queuing up for food.

"It's a pity. I failed to intercept him."

Li Zhiguo looked annoyed. Although he got the food, he didn't take it out the window and missed the opportunity.

"Brother, here it is."

Qin Huairu's voice came, and she had already taken a seat and got a lunch box and white noodles.

"coming."

He didn't think much about it, it was just cutting off the workers, and the reward probably wasn't going to be a good one.

When they got to their seats, the couple had a good meal.

"Virtue!"

Jia Dongxu was holding a lunch box in one hand and two pieces of white flour in the other, and he couldn't help but break a bite when he passed by.

He also had to take the food back and eat it with his mother and wife.

Seeing Li Zhiguo eating here, it seems that those leaders just now didn't take him seriously.

After a while, Tang Rude came over with a lunch box, "Li Zhiguo, what did the leader say to you just now?"

"What else can I say? I just asked about the situation. It's nothing serious."

Li Zhiguo evaded the question and said it was better not to become famous.

The food at noon today was really good, with two meat dishes, and the portions given by Sha Zhu were large enough to bring back memories for him.

"Brother, the leader took the pencil sharpener away?"

Qin Huairu is still thinking about it, this is a gift for her.

"Yes! They said they'd take it for research, and if they think it's good, they'd give me a reward.

I'll make one for you later."

Li Zhiguo finished his meal, and Qin Huairu ate the rest. Then she quickly went to wash the lunch box, and the two of them left the steel mill.

"Jingru is here, and she's clamoring to go out for a walk. Why don't we go shopping this afternoon?"

On New Year's Day, everything is festive and he likes to watch the fun.

"Okay, but don't spoil her too much. She's very cunning."

Qin Huairu leaned on her man's back with a happy look on her face.

……

In the steel rolling mill, Bi Jianhua and a group of leaders also had dinner, and no exceptions were made.

After the meal, after waiting for a while, several senior fitters from the factory came to the private room one after another, including Yi Zhonghai.

"Masters, come and take a look at this thing. Is it difficult to mass produce it?"

Bi Jianhua pointed at the pencil sharpener on the table, which he had disassembled and reassembled himself.

This structure is very clever, but it contains a lot of small parts.

"Leader, what is this?"

"I can't tell what it is."

Several senior fitters stared at the iron box, not knowing where to start and fearing that it might be damaged.

"It's a pencil sharpener!"

Bi Jianhua took out a pencil to demonstrate it again, then took the box apart and put it back together.

"Boss, who made this? This thing is very clever."

A senior worker praised it highly, saying that regardless of how useful it was, just being able to make it required very good skills.

Yi Zhonghai also said: "It is not difficult to process each part individually, but it is very difficult to make them just right and then put them together without any error."

Bi Jianhua nodded and said, "I will ask an engineer to draw the blueprints. Now I'm asking if these parts can be mass-produced, right?"

“It can be mass-produced!”

“It can be mass-produced, with one or two parts processed in each group.”

"Yes, the material of the outside of the box does not need to be steel. Wood and plastic can also be used instead."

The senior workers expressed their suggestions.

Bi Jianhua had an idea in mind, so he went upstairs with a pencil sharpener to discuss the issue.

He couldn't wait until tomorrow, so he took the pencil sharpener and left immediately.

After the leader left, a senior worker asked again, "Director, is this made in our factory?"

"It was made by a former worker in our factory. Director Bi took a fancy to it and it is very likely that it will be mass-produced and a branch factory will be opened specifically for pencil sharpeners."

Yang Tiegang was also very happy. After all, it was all thanks to the steel rolling mill.

"Who are the former workers in our factory? If we really set up a pencil sharpener factory, we will definitely be rewarded."

Some senior workers are jealous. Who doesn’t want to get the reward? It’s an honor.

Yang Tiegang smiled and said, "It was done by Li Zhiguo, a worker in the second workshop."

"Li Zhiguo, is it him?"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned. It was really Li Zhiguo. Before in the workshop, the leader said that he wanted to talk to Li Zhiguo.

It seems that this pencil sharpener was made by Li Zhiguo in the workshop this morning.

"I remember who Li Zhiguo is. He is the worker who robbed Jia Dongxu's wife. How could he be so capable?"

Senior workers are also human beings, and they can't avoid gossip.

Director Yang was also happy to chat with a few key members.

No one knew when Yi Zhonghai left. He went to the workshop alone and started processing pencil sharpener parts based on his memory.

It was reproduced in a short time, and its size and specifications seem almost the same as the pencil sharpener made by Li Zhiguo.

But when Yi Zhonghai assembled the parts and took out a pencil to try it, he actually broke the pencil.

Yi Zhonghai then disassembled the parts and polished them again. This time it was slightly better, but still did not meet the standards.

"Li Zhiguo's talent is so strong that his calculation ability is comparable to that of an engineer. No wonder he is so good at calculating!"

Yi Zhonghai stayed in the workshop for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking. Finally, he took apart the pencil sharpener he had just made and threw them into the scrap warehouse.

……

However, Li Zhiguo had already arrived at Wangfujing Street with his wife and the Qin family.

There are Wangfujing Department Store, Dongfeng Market, Xinhua Bookstore, Beijing Department Store, etc.

"Huai Ru, take your parents shopping. If you want to buy something, tell me. Don't hesitate!"

Li Zhiguo was holding little Qin Jingru in his arms. They walked here, which was only two kilometers from the courtyard to here.

"Ok!"

Qin Huairu responded, but she was reluctant to spend money and just wanted to watch the fun.

Qin's father and mother were already dazzled, and only because their son-in-law was rich did they have the confidence to go shopping in the department store and dare to pick up things to look at them without being so afraid of damaging them.

Qin Huairu has been here before and bought a woolen coat here. Now she proudly takes her parents around here.

Li Zhiguo also went along with his three children.

When we got to the upstairs area where ready-made clothes were sold, there were a lot fewer people.

"Huai Ru, come here and pick out some New Year clothes for your parents, Guangming, and Guangyou."

Li Zhi's country is financially strong, so he must maintain his reputation.

Finally, under his insistence, even little Qin Jingru bought a cotton jacket for ten yuan.

He did not treat his wife badly and bought Qin Huairu a new cotton-padded coat.

He spent a total of one hundred and two dollars, but he didn't buy anything himself.

"Son-in-law, look, we have bought everything, and you..." Qin Changchun had already put on new clothes. While he was happy, he also thought that he should not treat his son-in-law badly.

"Dad, I just bought a set a few days ago and haven't had time to change into it yet. It will be spring soon after the Chinese New Year, and I will buy spring clothes then."

The new clothes that Chen Xueru gave him are still there.

He doesn't care much about what he wears. Everyone on the street looks the same, so there's no need to compare himself in this regard.

The afternoon passed quickly!

After returning to the courtyard, Qin Huairu and her mother were busy in the kitchen. Although little Qin Jingru was only seven years old, she could help wash vegetables and so on.

Li Zhiguo and the Qin family's father and son were drinking tea and resting in the main house.

"Son-in-law, look how much money we've spent on you just for this trip."

Qin Changchun has never worn a complete set of clothes. Among the clothes he bought today, this one is the most expensive, costing him twenty yuan.

"Why spend so much money? My rent alone is one hundred and thirty-five a month. I can go collect the money on the third day after tomorrow."

Li Zhiguo must serve it. Next year, the Qin family should feed more chickens and ducks, and send them to him when they are fattened up!
"That's good, that's good!"

Qin Changchun once again sighed that his daughter was lucky.

Qin Guangming and Qin Guangyou's eyes lit up as they listened nearby. This was a good day!

"The meal is ready. Guangming and Guangyou, come and get the food."

Qin Huairu shouted from the kitchen.

"Here we come, sister!"

The two guys hurried over to help with the chores.

Soon, a dish of braised pork and peanuts was served. Qin Changchun personally poured wine for his son-in-law and handed him chopsticks.

The favored boy in the family can also sit at the table and eat first.

The women and girls had to wait until all the dishes were served before they could sit at the table.

The worst off are the women who are responsible for cooking at home and also have to clean up the kitchen.

Li Zhiguo now understood how Qin Huairu's hard-working and submissive character was developed!

"Huai Ru, you're here to eat too, don't get too tired."

Li Zhiguo still loves his wife. She is a member of his Li family and it is enough for her to serve him alone.

"It's okay. I have a soup in the pot. I'll come over after the leaves are cooked."

Qin Huairu felt happy when she saw the whole family eating and drinking well.

"Huai Ru, you come and eat, mom will watch the pot. Our son-in-law is so good and caring. Unlike your father."

Qin's mother happily asked her daughter to sit down. When she came to the kitchen, she was already wiping away tears. She was so happy.

"Why hasn't Li Zhiguo come back today?"

"When he's not here, I always feel like something is missing in the hospital."

"It's New Year's Day, why isn't he here? This walk isn't so lively anymore."

Yan Bugui came out from the backyard where he had just taken care of the potted plants when he heard people in the middle courtyard talking about Li Zhiguo!

"Li Zhiguo took Qin Huairu back to the countryside to celebrate New Year's Day."

When everyone heard this, they immediately realized that they were going to Old Qin's house to plunder again.

"This is shameless. How can a man marry a wife and then eat the father-in-law's food? You can't compare to my Dongxu."

Jia Zhang sighed. She was also chatting in the yard, trying to build some connections so that the banquet could be held.

Everyone shook their heads and said, don’t compare Jia Dongxu with Li Zhiguo, one cheats his own family, the other cheats other families.

As they were talking, Cai Quanwu came back from outside. His tricycle was parked outside. He went home to eat and change shifts.

"Old He, you made a lot of money today!"

"What are you looking at? This is Lao Cai. He Daqing is at home. I just saw it all."

"Like, these two brothers are so alike."

"Mr. Cai, today is New Year's Day, business is good!"

When Cai Quanwu was asked about it, he was not good at lying and told the truth directly, "It was good, I made 1.45 yuan, and there were a lot of people coming out of the train station."

"Oh my, you are really terrible!"

Yan Bugui was jealous.

Jia Zhang was even more eager to snatch the money. Her family was broke and was waiting for the factory to close down the day after tomorrow.

I took half a day off last month, which means I lost another 40 cents.

"Why isn't Brother Li here today?"

Cai Quanwu looked around but saw no one.

"He went back to the country to eat with his father-in-law."

Some residents answered quickly, saying that Li Zhiguo had set a precedent in the courtyard, making everyone feel that marrying a rural wife is not that bad after all.

"Brother Li still has an easier life."

Cai Quanwu was so envious.

Jia Dongxu arrived at the yard at some point and whispered, "If he continues like this, my father-in-law's family will be emptied out sooner or later."

"Jia Dongxu, stop being so sarcastic. Li Zhiguo is really capable. You are also a country girl. Why don't you go to your father-in-law's house and get something back?"

"That's right. You talk about Li Zhiguo every day, but I don't see how well your wife is doing."

People in the hospital didn’t dare to say anything about Li Zhiguo to his face, but they dared to say anything about Jia Dongxu.

"you……"

Jia Dongxu turned around and ran back home. How could the courtyard be like this? It was obvious that Li Zhiguo was the villain.

……

But Li Zhiguo had already taken a break. He had been walking around for the whole afternoon and would not go out at night.

Now there is no TV to watch, so you can wash up almost immediately after dinner.

There are many rooms in this courtyard, and the two brothers-in-law each chose one, and they both have space to live in.

Li Zhiguo also went to bed early and picked up a book to read to help him sleep.

"Brother-in-law, chuckle!"

Suddenly, the voice of little Qin Jingru was heard.

"No, why are you here?"

Li Zhiguo was a little dumbfounded.

At this time, Qin Huairu came into the room and said, "I'll take her to sleep."

"I'll sleep in the middle!"

Little Qin Jingru smiled and went into bed.

"Well, just treat it as bringing a daughter."

Li Zhiguo pulled the quilt and covered her up. He told her to be nice to Qin Jingru now so that she could help him take care of the children when she grew up.

"Brother-in-law, can I live here forever?"

Qin Jingru didn't want to go home after a long day today.

"That won't do. You have to go back to school and learn to read, otherwise you will be illiterate when you grow up."

Li Zhiguo spoke profound truths and there is nothing wrong in encouraging people to read.

"Oh!"

Qin Jingru seemed to understand, "Brother-in-law, do you have a lot of money?"

"Of course, I'm your brother-in-law and I'm not short of money!"

Li Zhiguo had to save face, and in fact it was not bad.

"Brother-in-law, can you give me two cents?"

Qin Huairu packed her clothes, turned around and said, "Don't listen to her. She only knows how to spend money at such a young age."

"Sure, it's just two cents, but Jingru, what do you want the money for?"

Li Zhiguo leaned down and let little Qin Jingru lie in his arms.

"I want to buy a hairpin. It costs 20 cents."

Qin Jingru saw it today when she was shopping in the department store, but she was too embarrassed to ask for it.

"Oh, you already know how to love beauty at such a young age."

Qin Huairu said this and got into bed. The three of them shared one quilt, which was warm.

(End of this chapter)