Chapter 87 Sorrow
"Jin You, your idea is superficial. You know that there is a shortage of white flour in the capital now.

The situation is more difficult than we imagined. Last year, we had a bumper harvest across the country, with the total grain output reaching 3278 billion jin, far exceeding the level before the founding of the People's Republic of China.

This is also the reason why we can maintain the supply of white flour, but at the same time, our country's urban population has increased rapidly, more than 6 million more than last year.

In addition, private grain stations purchase grain in bulk and make sharp profits, making it very difficult for our residents to buy affordable grain.

The district attaches great importance to the situation of private grain stations. Our Qianmen Street must take the lead and you go and take over the most difficult grain station.

As long as you make achievements, I will arrange for you to be a leader in a large enterprise in the future, and maybe even a section chief."

Director Li cannot be said to be bluffing, he does have some thoughts in this regard.

Fan Jinyi was excited when he heard this, "Director, if I follow your arrangements, am I still a cadre?"

"You are no longer a cadre in name. You cannot be a manager and a cadre at the same time, but you are a young cadre that our street is focusing on training. I will keep this in mind."

Director Li is fooling you. Just free up the vacancies first. It won’t be too late to make arrangements later once you’ve achieved results.

"Director, I feel relieved with your words. When will I take up my post?"

Fan Jinyou really wanted to go because it would increase his income and would have a bright future.

"I'll let the lady from the neighborhood committee take care of the accounting first. You'll go to the Dazhalan grain store to take up your post this Saturday. There will be a lot of people coming and going there. You should set a good example first and let people see the ability of our street cadres."

"Okay, Director, I'll go prepare it right away and take a few people with me.

Can I take it with you, Mr. Li? He is really good at calculating accounts."

Fan Jinyou is aware of his own abilities and he cannot do it alone.

"Jin You, anyone else is fine except Director Li. He has to stay in the street to settle the accounts. We can't do without him."

Director Li refused directly and asked, "What are you thinking? I arranged for you to leave just to make room for someone else."

"okay!"

Fan Jin was a little disappointed, but maybe he could ask Li Zhiguo for help privately, as that guy was a talented assistant.

After leaving the office, Fan Jinyou was extremely excited, thinking that he would be the section chief of a large enterprise in the future, and Chen Xueru would fall in love with him sooner or later.

If it really doesn't work, can't we find another young and beautiful woman in the Qianmen Street area who is divorced with children? A widow will do!
Hey! It’s better to be single, otherwise I won’t be able to justify it and won’t understand his good intentions.

……

"Ding! The host has seized the cadre status of Fan Jinyou from Zhengyang's sect!"

"Intercepting the evaluation, rewarding the host with the title of composer!"

Oh my god...I can finally hear a loud noise.

Li Zhiguo stepped on the brakes and parked his bicycle on the side of the road. Finally, a reliable reward came out.

He checked the recent records of rewards for intercepting others, and they were all too lame. Some rewards were only a few cents. Who was he trying to fool? So he didn't take it seriously.

But this composer is still very useful. Inspiration is flowing in his mind and he knows how to use musical notation.

His first reaction was to write "Let's Row the Boat Together" so that when elementary school students sing this song in the future, they will remember his name, Li Zhiguo, and bring honor to their family.

Looking at the previous interception rewards, this system is extremely unreliable. Anyone who intercepts using the rewards will receive very little reward again.

The inventions of the pencil sharpener and razor only won small prizes, which were better than nothing, but not as good as the bonuses given by the factory.

Only by intercepting the main characters can you produce useful hits.

In this way, in addition to the three brothers Dongxu, Damao and Shazhu, there is another brother Jinyou?
When he got home, he quickly wrote nursery rhymes, not just one, and first found an opportunity to send out "Rowing the Oars" to test the waters.

It will be great when my child is born and I can sing his songs.

"Li Zhiguo, what good thing has happened to you? You look so happy."

The second aunt came to visit with Guangfu in her arms, so there was a third person present, so there was no need to worry about gossip.

"It's a good thing. By the way, Second Aunt, my wife is pregnant now, and sometimes it's inconvenient for her to work. If you have time, please help her. I will remember your kindness."

Li Zhiguo remembered this. His mother-in-law's busy farming season had not yet ended, so this year's harvest could not be delayed, and she was still feeding the chickens for him.

So he can't enter the city at the moment. He plans to arrange the admission of his brother-in-law Qin Guangyou and Xiao Jingru in the second half of the year.

"That's no problem. Your second aunt can give birth to three boys."

Second Auntie's answer is a bit irrelevant to the question.

Li Zhiguo felt that he could no longer sit still, and hurriedly said, "I have something else to do, so I have to go out for a while."

The wind was strong and I was running! I didn't even bother riding my bicycle. I ran out of the yard and went to Beixinqiao to play chess with the old man. If I won a few games, it would be considered a steal and I would get a reward of a dime or two. It was not a loss.

……

There hasn't been much going on in the courtyard recently, and everyone is doing well.

By Friday, Li Zhiguo could no longer sit still. His concubine had just become pregnant, so he had to work harder.

So I went to Zhengyangmen. When passing by the street, I thought about it and went in to ask Fan Jinyou if his matter was settled.

"Hey, why are there so many people today?"

As soon as Li Zhiguo entered, he saw several unfamiliar faces in the front hall, but when he looked carefully, he was surprised to find that these were the same team that Fan Jinyou had in the drama.

The play "Under Zhengyang Gate" begins in the winter of 1954, which was 1955 in the Gregorian calendar, and it was still snowing heavily at that time.

It's already 1953 now, and it's very close. Basically all the characters that should be there are still there.

"Secretary Li, you're just in time!"

Fan Jinyou was happy to see someone coming. Last time, Director Li gave him an idea and asked him to sell his original house in the slum. Now he is financially well-off and can afford the rent.

He also helped Li Zhiguo's father-in-law find a job when their relationship was good.

At the same time, Fan Jinyou also thought that Li Zhiguo would be able to help him become the section chief of a large enterprise in the future.

"Cadre Fan, what's going on?"

Li Zhiguo pretended not to know, as he didn't know anyway.

"It's like this, I'm going to Dazhalan Grain Station to serve as the public manager, starting tomorrow.

These are my selected assistants. This is accountant Zhao Yali, who used to work in the department store. I will need your guidance in the future."

As soon as Fan Jinyou finished speaking, she saw a young lady smiling at Li Zhiguo. She actually had no idea who this handsome guy was, but as long as he was from the street, she couldn't afford to offend him.

"Ah hello!"

Li Zhiguo remembered who this person was. She gave birth to eight children. She was a glorious mother, but her brain wasn't very good.

Fan Jinyou then said, "This is the cashier Kong Yuqin, and there are Lao Ma and Ma Liansheng, who are responsible for the purchase of grain.

The last one is He Yumei, she is a grain seller at the grain station. Then there are the original boss and employees of the grain station. We have almost enough people, and we are looking for more if there are not enough. "

"Hello!"

Li Zhiguo greeted him and said, "He Yumei is the only pretty girl here, but she is not good at accounting or cashiering. Not to mention Lao Ma, a middle-aged man."

Fan Jinyou said hurriedly, "This is our street's Secretary Li, an expert in accounting. All the accounts of Qianmen Street, including the department store, are finally settled by Secretary Li."

When everyone heard this, Lao Ma and He Yumei only thought that he was a powerful person, but the cashier and accountant knew what Li Zhiguo was capable of. The final calculation was not something that everyone could do, and it had to be Director Li's confidant.

Suddenly, Director Li came out. Fan Jinyou hurriedly nodded and bowed to greet him, but the person turned a corner and left.

"Hey, Li Zhiguo, you're here today. That's great. Come inside and have a chat with me."

Director Li smiled and said, "Look, we still need to provide incentives. If he vacates a cadre position for this kid, won't he be motivated?"

This is my third time coming to the street this week, which is a record. It’s not much different from being on a full-time shift.

"Director, I'm just on my way. I have to leave soon."

Li Zhiguo was afraid that he would be suddenly conscripted and asked to work, which would not match his salary.

"It will only take you a moment."

After Director Li finished speaking, he remembered that he had something else to do, "Jin You!"

"Director, I'm here."

Fan Jinyou nodded quickly and stood aside with a smile on his face.

"Now that everyone on your side has arrived, you can explain the situation first and then take them to familiarize themselves with the area. You can go to work at the grain station early tomorrow morning."

Director Li has no time to take care of the grain station's affairs right now.

"Okay, Director, I will convey the organization's spirit right away."

Fan Jinyou sent the person in with a smile on his face, and then turned back. At this time, Lao Ma hurriedly asked: "Officer Fan, it seems that Officer Li is highly regarded by the director! Isn't Officer Li on duty at the street?"

"Director Li has a stomach problem and only works one day a month, or four days at most. It's only right for the director to take special care of him. Don't ask about it."

Fan Jin was somewhat jealous, but when he thought that Li Zhiguo posed no threat and that he would have to assist him in the future, he did not care too much about it.

He Yumei and the other two daughters seemed to be thinking about what was said, but they didn't ask any more questions.

Here, Li Zhiguo followed the director to the office and just sat down when he heard the good news.

"Li Zhiguo, I have already reported your status as a reserve cadre.

From now on, you are a reserve cadre of Qianmen Street. You will be promoted to a regular employee in one year at most, when you have worked for five years.

If you make any special contribution along the way, the time can be advanced."

The director was in a good mood and thought that he should be able to snatch this general from the steel mill.

Li Zhiguo suddenly had an idea and took out his previous composition, which already had the lyrics written on it, which was the children's song "Let's Row the Boat Together".

"Director, this is a nursery rhyme I wrote when I took my wife to Beihai Park. I was inspired and wanted to publish it to earn some money to support our family. Please give me some advice."

It is legal to get the money, and it only takes a few strokes of the pen. It is not tiring!

"Children's song?"

Director Li was stunned for a moment before taking the manuscript, thinking that the scope of this project was too big.

Before, I worked as a fitter in a steel rolling mill, then I worked as an accountant on the street, and now I can write songs. With such a smart brain, I wonder if I can get into a technical secondary school or high school!
"Hey, your lyrics are really special! The red scarf faces the sun, and the sunlight shines on the sea.

The lyrics not only show the scenery of Beihai Park, but also have a special rhythm. Wait a minute, I'll hum a few lines."

Director Li has a high level of education. Nowadays, most university students learn to read music scores, and the music teacher also teaches songs based on the music sent by Doremi.

"Let's row, row our oars, and push the boat through the waves..."

After Director Li finished singing the song, he couldn't help but applaud, "Li Zhiguo, you wrote such a great song."

"I just wrote it down in a few minutes. I think it's pretty good."

Li Zhiguo was pretending to be the one who composed the original song. This song was written in 1955 by someone else in Beihai Park in just over ten minutes.

Now that he has taken advantage of the situation, he believes the original owner can write a better one. There is only one Beihai Park in Beijing, but Shichahai is not far away next door. You don’t need a ticket to enter, and the sea water is connected, which saves costs.

"It's more than just okay. Once this song is released, Beihai Park will be packed with tourists."

Qianmen Street is only six kilometers away from the Beihai Park ticket office, and the straight-line distance is even shorter. Director Li occasionally goes there for fun, and he became even more excited when he saw this song.

"Can I make money? I just want to supplement my family income."

Li Zhiguo knew that the price was probably a bargain price, but he didn't think it was too little. Now that capitalism was accepting socialist transformation, everything should be aligned with the collective.

"How could you be short of money? It won't be much more than your monthly rent."

Director Li thought, you must be pretending to be poor all the time, but you have to look at the location, this is the street office, your old nest.

"Ahem! That's good."

Li Zhiguo also reacted and said, Oh my god...the director knows his background.

"Director, this song should be signed with my real name. Can you help me submit it?"

“Why bother submitting? I will directly invite the director of Beihai Park to come out and ask him to report to the higher-ups and organize the primary school students to rehearse the chorus in the park.

Within a month, all primary school students in Beijing would be able to sing this song.

Li Zhiguo, can you add the words "Qianmen Subdistrict Office" to your signature? "

Director Li also wanted to gain some sense of honor and was labeled as a Daqianmen person.

"That's no problem! I wrote this song during my break time on the street."

Li Zhiguo also reciprocated the favor. Honor meant nothing to him.

At this moment he was thinking, if elementary school students could really sing it, wouldn't it just be an alternative song about a lone hero?

"Well, you have this awareness. You are born to be a cadre."

After chatting for a while, Director Li personally sent the person out. When he returned to the office, he made a few phone calls, contacted the director of Beihai Park, and also made an appointment with the street director there.

Director Li, the director of the subdistrict office, is at the division level, because in Beijing, it is one level higher than the official rank, while in other places it is at the section level, the difference between a town and a county.

I am eligible for a car, but now I ride a bicycle to keep a low profile. There are only 3,000 cars in the whole capital, so I don’t need to draw lots for license plates.

Not long after, Director Li met with the director of Di'anmen Street and the principal as agreed.

"Take a look at this song."

After a moment, Director Zhao said in surprise: "This song is so well written. Even your Qianmen Street Office produces songs, and they are children's songs?"

"Don't worry about that. It's just about the signature. If there's no problem, let's discuss how to promote this song to all the primary schools in Beijing."

Director Li just wants to make Qianmen Street famous. This is a political achievement. Although they are both street directors, there is a big difference in their ranks.

……

Li Zhiguo, after finding the director for the promotion of this song, forgot about it. When he hears this song sung in the theater one day, he will know that it is time to get the composition fee.

"Li Zhiguo, why are you here today?"

Chen Xueru is still working in the store. She did not go back to take care of the baby because she was pregnant. This is because people nowadays only have two months of maternity leave, and most people go directly to the hospital to give birth while still at work.

"I came to see you!"

There's no one else around at the moment, so there's no need to pay attention to what he says.

"Don't go to the inner hall today, come to my house!"

Chen Xueru looked at her watch. It was almost time for lunch.

"Oh, this is not good! How do you introduce me to grandma?"

Li Zhiguo remembered that the rich young woman had said before that there was only a grandmother and a servant left at home.

"My friend! I told you today that I would go back for lunch at noon, so if you go there, it will just be an extra pair of chopsticks."

Chen Xueru didn't wear lipstick today. After becoming pregnant, she has been paying attention to her lifestyle habits.

"Okay, let's go see grandma. Get in the car and go. I know where our home is."

Li Zhiguo did not hesitate and went to his concubine's house to get acquainted with the family.

"Ok!"

Chen Xueru gave some instructions and got on the back seat of the bicycle.

Would you rather laugh on a bicycle than cry on the road? Once upon a time, bicycles also had their place!

"By the way, Fan Jinyou has been assigned to be the manager of the private grain store in Dazhalan. He will take up the position tomorrow. He is not a street cadre now, so his file is still in the street."

Li Zhiguo mentioned this matter, telling people not to let that boy affect his young wife's mood.

"Ah! He was transferred away so quickly, and he lost his cadre status?"

Chen Xueru was very surprised. Even though she was also a representative among the merchants, she really couldn't do anything about a street-level cadre.

Li Zhiguo thought about it and told the truth, "The director wants to make room for me. I am currently a reserve cadre of Qianmen Street, which means I have taken away Fan Jinyou's cadre status.

You could say I am in the internship period now. Next year, when I have five years of service, I will be automatically promoted to a second-level fitter in the steel mill, which will be comparable to a formal street cadre. "

"Ah! That means you have taken over Fan Jinyou's cadre position. The director thinks too highly of you!"

Chen Xueru never doubted her lover's ability, but you only work a few days a month, and only stay for half a day. How could you squeeze out Fan Jinyou so quickly? It always feels a bit dreamy.

"Of course not. Don't you know how good your man is? I have special skills!"

Li Zhiguo pedaled with a smile and arrived at the destination in no time. Chen Xueru's house was not a courtyard house, but a building.

This is the capital city, where high-rise buildings are not uncommon. It’s just that the old tradition is to live in large courtyards. In other places, a small courtyard is actually just a small bungalow. It’s only unusual because it’s the capital city.

"Well! After that, I simply stopped seeing Fan Jinyou. He was the manager of a grain depot in Dazhalan, and he had nothing to do with a silk shop."

Chen Xueru was in a good mood and looked even more beautiful when she smiled, which made people distracted.

"Fan Jinyou is a very incompetent guy, but he likes to show off. Just wait and see, the grain station will have problems sooner or later. I'm watching the account books, and he will suffer."

Li Zhiguo never considered that man as an opponent from the beginning, because Fan Jinyou couldn't even defeat Cai Quanwu.

But he is a trend-setter who came out of the courtyard house and is totally not on the same level.

(End of this chapter)