Chapter 86 Diligence
Li Zhiguo did not comment. For most people, the so-called city only has parks, supermarkets and restaurants, which are exactly what the countryside lacks.

It is no wonder that Xu Damao's unique trick revolves around this, and he has already realized the truth.

……

Siheyuan, middle courtyard.

After breakfast, the aunties would gather in groups in the yard to wash clothes and chat about family matters.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, you are really good. You swept the floor with a flashlight last night. I never realized you were so diligent before."

Mrs. Chen's question stumped the person.

Jia Zhang said with a bad face: "Can't you keep your own place clean? Sweeping the floor won't be tiring."

But I thought to myself, what a bad luck, I didn't pick up a penny, it was all in vain.

At this time, Aunt Jiang said, "Yesterday, Zengji Grain Store personally delivered 200 kilograms of flour, still at the original price of 1.7 cents. Li Zhiguo must have connections. I want to find him and find a way to buy some grain for storage.

I don’t know if the situation will improve in the future, but I don’t need to panic as long as I have food at home.”

"My family also wants to save some. White flour is becoming increasingly scarce. I heard that there is also a food shortage outside."

Another auntie had an idea. If she put the grain in a jar, it would not go bad in a short time.

"Hey, you guys are chatting!"

The second aunt carried a basin and went to the central courtyard to chat about family matters.

"I was talking about asking Li Zhiguo to buy grain. Did he do it?"

"He got up early in the morning. He received a bonus of 100 yuan at the factory yesterday and went on a big shopping spree. That kid can't save money."

When the second aunt arrived, everyone moved away.

There was a bucket in front of Jia Zhang, and she was pretending to wash a coat, but she was actually just there to chat.

"How about we first calculate how much food is needed, and then talk to him properly when he comes back. We just celebrated his birthday, so maybe it will work."

Mrs. Chen is the oldest and has been more active in the hospital recently, so she can give advice.

"I think it's okay. Just tell us the amount so that others can make arrangements. Li Zhiguo has money now, and I guess he will also need to buy food."

Sun Erniang agreed and immediately called her children to register, because she couldn’t write!

After a while, each family reported their number, but when it was Jia Zhang's turn, there was a problem.

"I say, Jia Zhang, do you want to buy it or not? I left you out last time, and you still plan to eat rotten sweet potatoes?"

"That's not the case. I have to discuss it with Dongxu. He is still asleep."

Jia Zhang is no longer in charge and has no financial power. She only has two dollars a month for her pension, which she saves and dares not spend.

"Oh my, Jia Dongxu is still sleeping. He's even worse than Li Zhiguo!"

"I used to think Jia Dongxu was pretty good, but now I just don't like him anymore."

"I feel the same way. Jia Dongxu didn't even say hello to me when he saw me that day. He just walked away in silence. He was unlike Li Zhiguo who kept calling me sister, which made people happy."

Several aunties unanimously belittled Jia Dongxu. Since he was about to ask Li Zhiguo to buy grain, of course they had to support him.

"Hey, I'll go back and ask Dongxu."

Jia Zhang couldn't wait any longer, so she went home with the bucket. Her daughter-in-law was diligent and doing housework.

"Bihua, go wake up Dongxu and discuss buying food."

"Mom, we still have some food this month. We calculated that it's enough to eat. We saved some food last night and packed up some leftovers."

Chen Bihua really brought back a lot of leftovers this time, so she didn’t have to cook today.

"It's enough to eat, but everyone has to store more food. The aunties outside have to ask Li Zhiguo to buy food for them."

Jia Zhang woke her son up and told him the situation, but he still refused to agree.

Jia Dongxu yelled, "Mom, we don't have enough money. Wait a little longer. I'll buy more food when my salary increases."

"OK then!"

Jia Zhang had no choice but to sulk on the side. Raise wages? Do you think you are Li Zhiguo? You can raise wages just by saying so.

Damn it, why don’t you let Dongxu fight for his dignity?

……

Li Zhiguo came back in the afternoon and did some big shopping, buying a lot of daily necessities, including replacing bed sheets and quilt covers with new ones.

I also had someone send me two loads of coal to store, so I could finish the work at once over the weekend and I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

"Li Zhiguo, it's great that you bought so many things.

I want to discuss something with you. Can you help the hospital buy some food from Zengji Grain Store? "

Mrs. Chen came forward to help carry the things, and a few other aunties followed.

"How much food do you want?"

Li Zhiguo thought that he had just celebrated his birthday yesterday and made a small profit. If he helped a few aunties he was familiar with, it would be a good way to make a long-term profit.

"Two hundred kilograms of white flour, two hundred kilograms of corn flour, do you have any?"

In fact, there are only six families who need food, which is 400 kilograms.

“White flour can be sold at the original price, but corn flour is 9 cents, and we can’t sell it at 8 cents.

It's right for you to store some food. I estimate that the state-owned store will charge 1.8 yuan for white flour and 1 yuan for corn flour. "

Li Zhiguo is not talking nonsense, he is a street official and knows which way the wind is blowing.

"Okay, we'll take it. Save up a month's worth of food, and then we won't have to worry."

Mrs. Chen and the others nodded one after another. A difference of one cent was nothing.

"Then you help my wife pack her things while I go to the grain store.

See if Lao Zeng has any in stock. If he does, have him deliver it to me. You can pay me on the spot. I don’t make a cent.”

He dared not touch the reselling of grain, and he did not even care about such a small amount of money.

After everyone left, an auntie couldn't help but ask, "Qin Huairu, how did your man know Boss Zeng? He seemed very familiar with her."

"I don't know either. My man is popular wherever he goes."

Qin Huairu was also confused. Others had to queue up to buy grain, but they didn't get grain at a high price. Her husband had someone deliver it to her at the original price. This must be the result of good deeds being rewarded.

Several middle-aged women looked at each other, wondering whether Li Zhiguo had deceived Boss Zeng, or whether it was him.

In less than an hour, the grain store delivered the food with tears in their eyes. Li Zhiguo bought 100 kilograms of flour himself, which cost only a dozen yuan, a drop in the bucket.

"By the way, didn't Jia Zhang buy any grain?"

At this time, a few aunts divided the food and gave the money, but they didn't see the Jia family.

"I've asked, Jia Zhangshi listens to Jia Dongxu and won't buy it for now."

An old lady explained that she felt that Jia Dongxu was not a human being and was not nice to her at all.

"Well, my brother Dongxu still has an idea!"

Li Zhiguo smiled and ignored the Jia family's troubles.

When I got home, the bed sheets, quilt covers, and mosquito nets were all new, and I finally didn’t feel like I was living in poverty anymore.

There is food stored in the kitchen. There is no shortage of eggs, and there is still bacon and sausage. It's just that the weather is hot, so we have to hurry and eat them all.

Life is pretty good these days, except that I didn’t see my brother Damao today.

Sha Zhu is diligent in riding his tricycle, and he is looking forward to a better day!
……

Time passed quickly and it was Wednesday. He accompanied Chen Xueru to the hospital for a check-up. If nothing unexpected happened, she should be pregnant.

"Li Zhiguo, I'm pregnant, it must be a boy."

Chen Xueru came out of the examination room excitedly. If she hadn't been cautious, she would have almost thrown herself into the man's arms.

"Okay, great!"

Li Zhiguo did not avoid the issue. The child was born legally and could take Chen Xueru's surname first. He could just be Uncle Li next door.

On this day, news of Chen Xueru's pregnancy spread like wildfire on Qianmen Street. The owner of the silk shop, now the satin clothing shop, became a celebrity.

Even on the streets of Qianmen, people were talking about this gossip.

"I've met Hou Cheng before. He relied on his foreign knowledge to insist on going to the Ugly Country. I guess Boss Chen is unwilling to go."

"I guess she won't go to the Ugly Country. I haven't seen Boss Chen go through the paperwork yet, and her store's business is getting more and more prosperous."

"It's about Boss Chen's pregnancy. Oh, Hou Cheng has done a lot of harm to people.

But if Boss Chen doesn't go to the Ugly Country, he can divorce her unilaterally. I guess she still has to find a man."

Fan Jinyou was listening nearby and couldn't sit still. His father passed away when he was young and he was raised by his mother. He had lived in poverty for too long.

After much difficulty becoming a street cadre with the identity of a poor urban peasant and a technical secondary school student, he was determined to find a man with good conditions and a lot of money. He didn't care whether it was a second or third marriage, and whether he would have children.

As long as you have money and are beautiful, that's not a problem.

"Wang Qinian, you keep an eye on it. I'm going to walk around the streets."

Fan Jinyou said hello and went out. He had been to the silk shop several times before, but was turned down every time. This time he had to listen to the sound.

Even if Chen Xueru is very capable, she is still a woman. She can't raise a child alone, right?

"Tuk-tuk!"

"Sister Xueru, Officer Fan is here again and says he has something to talk to you about." In the silk shop, Chuntao knocked on the office door.

After a while, Chen Xueru opened the door a crack and said, "Tell him to wait in the hall outside for a while."

"Okay Sister Xueru!"

Chuntao was a little confused. Li Ge'er came. Did he leave through the back door? Or was he in the office?

After the door was closed, Chen Xueru kept muttering, "This Fan Jinyou is so annoying. I'm pregnant, and he's still trying to show me affection!"

"Xue Ru, who made you so charming?"

Li Zhiguo thought for a while and said, "I will go to the street office to find Director Li later and try to find a job for Fan Jinyou to keep him busy.

If he comes to see you again, just ignore him.

If he doesn't know what's good for him, I'll make him lose his position as an official."

"Li Zhiguo, please don't do anything rash. You can't do anything illegal. You have a child."

Chen Xueru touched her belly. She was no longer alone and had to give birth to a child to carry on the Li family's bloodline.

"Don't worry, it's not that difficult to deal with Fan Jin. Go and send him away. When you come back, we can think of a name for the child."

The two of them were just thinking of a name. Now is the dangerous period, so it would be good if they can finish it for half a day.

"Well! I'll be back soon."

Chen Xueru then tidied up her clothes, opened the door and went out.

When she arrived at the hall outside, she saw Fan Jinyou sitting on the sofa waiting for her. When he saw her arrive, he immediately stood up.

Today's silk shop has been renovated, with sofas and coffee tables in the front hall, and tea is also available.

"Boss Chen, congratulations."

Fan Jin had a smile on his face. No matter how he looked at it, Chen Xueru was a perfect match for him. With such a big store, how much money could she make in just one day?

"Yes, you have to congratulate me on having a child. Officer Fan, you can't go to the inner hall next time you come. I have to avoid suspicion."

Chen Xueru just stood there and didn't ask anyone to sit down.

The smile on Fan Jinyou's face gradually froze, "Boss Chen, I heard that you won't go to the Ugly Country?"

"Not for now, I can't leave the store. That's it, I have something else to do, so I won't greet you. If you want to buy something, go find Chuntao."

After saying this, Chen Xueru turned around and left.

"List……"

Fan Jinyou wanted to chase after him, but there were other customers watching in the store, so he had to be careful of the impact.

"Ugh!"

Fan Jinyou sighed and walked away with a stern face. He didn't understand why Chen Xueru had no feelings towards him even though he was so young and a cadre.

In the street, even Li Zhiguo has a wife, and I heard she is quite pretty. Why is he still single?

Chen Xueru quickly returned to the office and said, "Fan Jinyou still hasn't given up and asked me if I would go to the Ugly Country. He must be after my money. He can't compare with you."

"I say, don't compare me with him. We are not at the same level, uh, the same level."

Li Zhiguo thought to himself that he was not short of money, nor was he a mean person, but a model worker and a sunny and warm man.

"Xue Ru, I just thought of a few more names. Which one do you think is best?"

The two chatted for a while, and then Li Zhiguo went out the back door and went straight to the Qianmen Street Office.

"Hey, Li Zhiguo, why are you here today? You're not here for work!"

Wang Qinian's work requires him to be stationed in the street for a long time, and he is basically there during working hours.

"I just stopped by for something. The director must be inside!"

Li Zhiguo didn't see Fan Jinyou. Where did he go to recuperate, or was he holding back his illness?
"Inside."

Wang Qinian didn't ask what the matter was. This Li Zhiguo was no ordinary person. He couldn't catch up with his speed even if he rode a horse.

"Then I'll go in first."

Li Zhiguo went to the director's office and saw that the door was not closed. The director was reading a newspaper furiously, so he knocked on the door lightly.

"Tuk-tuk!"

"Director, I hope I didn't disturb your work!"

The director looked up, put down the newspaper, and said with a smile: "It's you, kid, come in quickly, how come you have time to come back today?

I heard that you won another award at the steel mill and built two razor factories."

"Director, you are well-informed. This happened just a few days ago."

Li Zhiguo sat on the stool and felt that this way of getting along was quite good. He was a part-time employee and could leave at any time, so the director had to be polite to him.

Director Li really values ​​talent and is trying to lock down Li Zhiguo completely to prevent him from being snatched away by the steel mill.

"Li Zhiguo, the street office has a staffing of two to seven cadres. We are full here. I want to promote a deputy director to make room for you?"

The director thought of this idea, but was still hesitant. After all, having a deputy director might not be a good thing for him.

"Director, you think too highly of me."

Li Zhiguo was a little confused. Could it be that gold shines everywhere?
"I feel relieved to have you to settle the accounts. Besides, your talents are known to the higher-ups."

The director heard through the grapevine that shaving is now a trend among the people and that this is the trend.

Li Zhiguo thought for a while and said, "Personally, I really want to be a street cadre, but I don't think it's appropriate to promote me to a deputy director.

Otherwise, just reduce one position, that would be great.

Isn't the grain store going to be a public-private partnership? Why not send a cadre out to take charge and serve as a public manager? If someone is willing, this position will be available.

If no one is here, forget it for now. I have a stomach problem anyway, so I won’t be able to attend full-time work for a while.”

When the director heard this, he hesitated for a moment and said, "Your idea is very good. The district originally had this idea. Who among the cadres do you think is the most suitable to go?"

Well, Li Zhiguo shouldn’t have responded to this. Everyone has a feeling of jealousy towards talented people, but it also depends on how you say it!

"Director, I think Fan Jinyou is the right person to go. He came to me to complain before, saying that he had financial difficulties after renting the yard.

If he becomes a public manager, with his abilities, he will surely be able to make the grain store prosperous and earn more money.

In a few years, this cadre position will be vacant again, as Mr. Fang is about to retire.”

Li Zhiguo is very clear about the personnel affairs of the street, because he even calculates everyone's salary.

"Well, then Fan Jinyou will go. You and I want to go together to take care of his family situation. It's not easy for him to take care of his mother.

Go and see if Fan Jin is in the office. If he is, call him over.

Come back next Monday and I'll give you a definite answer. If it works out, I'll make you a candidate for a street cadre position and you'll be a reserve cadre first."

The director cannot directly promote someone because in addition to length of service, academic qualifications are also involved. But in name, it is fine to be a reserve employee.

"Okay, I'll go call him now."

Li Zhiguo left the office and went to find Wang Qinian, asking him to notify Fan Jinyou. This was a detour.

As long as Fan Jinyou becomes the official manager of the grain store, it will be a great thing. He will definitely get into trouble and temporarily lose his status as a cadre.

"Li Zhiguo, you were just inside, why didn't you go and inform Fan Jinyou yourself?"

Wang Qinian was a little puzzled, as he still had to look after the front hall.

"I have a stomach problem. It's time for afternoon tea. I'll treat you another day when I'm free. Go quickly. The director is waiting."

Li Zhiguo made up a pretext, saying that Brother Qinian was the only person of good character on this street who was worth making friends with.

"Oh, I'll go then."

Wang Qinian didn't think much about it and took a few steps to reach Fan Jinyou's office. It was not an independent office, and several street officials worked there.

"Fan Jinyou, the director wants to see you, go quickly."

"The director wants to see me? Okay, I'll go right away."

Fan Jinyou was genuinely healing from his emotional pain, but when it came to the director, he immediately put on a smile and happily walked over.

"Tuk-tuk!"

"Director, you're looking for me?"

"It's Jin You, come here quickly, I have something to discuss with you."

Director Li waved his hand. Among the several street cadres, this guy had the worst ability and the worst conditions, but they were all his subordinates, so he had to take care of him.

"Director, what's the good news?"

Seeing the director smiling, Fan Jinyou wondered if he was going to fail in love but succeed in the officialdom?
"It's indeed a good thing. Recently, I heard from a kind-hearted colleague that your family is in financial difficulty.

So, I plan to arrange for you to be a public manager at the grain station."

When Director Li said this, Fan Jinyou was stunned.

"Director, I am a street cadre, how can I be a public affairs manager?"

Fan Jinyou panicked. This was not a kind colleague at all; he was clearly trying to harm others.

Could it be Wang Qinian? Yes, it must be that guy who just reported to the director.

(End of this chapter)