stjorthotic Chapter 106 Going into the Water
Chapter 106 Going into the Water
"Fine, since Director Li of the cafeteria isn't giving me face, don't come to me if the cafeteria lights go out in the future. Just be patient."
Jia Dongjin felt his own insignificance once again, and for the first time, he had the idea of making things as difficult for others as possible within the scope of his power, just like the security guard in his previous life.
"What are you doing? I still have to stay in the canteen. Besides, it's nothing serious. Deputy Factory Director Li spoke up for me."
Qin Huairu was a kitchen helper in the canteen, and a large part of her job was washing vegetables. Winters in Beijing were cold, and the tap water was icy cold. Jia Dongjin felt sorry for the woman and specially asked someone to get her a pair of medical rubber gloves, hoping to make Qin Huairu's work easier. Unexpectedly, he violated the taboo of the petty bourgeoisie.
Fortunately, Li Huaide was attending the meeting as an observer. He spoke up for Qin Huairu and managed to get through the situation, thus escaping a disaster.
After telling her own story, Qin Huairu mentioned her colleague Liu Lan. She and Liu Lan were the same age and were known as the two beauties of the cafeteria. They usually got along well.
"The way Deputy Factory Director Li and Liu Lan were exchanging glances was very unpleasant."
Qin Huairu pursed her lips, expressing her attitude and concern for her friend.
"Two points to note here: First, you should address Director Li as such in private; this is a necessary courtesy. Second, don't meddle in or spread rumors about other people's private affairs."
With an upright demeanor, Jia Dongjin lectured the woman on workplace etiquette.
In the original drama, Li Huaide and Liu Lan were in cahoots. Unexpectedly, the two had already started in 59. Suddenly, Jia Dongjin shook his head and remembered the day he went on a business trip to Qinjiacun.
Liu Lan's family life is very unhappy. Her husband is an alcoholic who not only drinks but also beats his wife and children. Liu Lan comes from a rural background and married her husband for a stable job. This is a tragedy and a private matter that outsiders cannot interfere with.
It's understandable that Liu Lan might have colluded with someone seeking protection or comfort, since her man was a scoundrel. We can't just stand on moral high ground and criticize women for their shortcomings.
Fortunately, at this time, the relationship between men and women was strictly controlled, and most people honestly pretended to be saints, unless they were extraordinary people like Li Huaide.
Even someone like Li Huaide only dared to seek out eggs with cracks. Qin Huairu had a happy marriage, so Li Huaide could only dream about it and dared not provoke her.
At that time, the gap between leaders and the masses was not large. If something happened, the workers would really dare to beat up the leaders. The best thing was that after the beating, it didn't really matter. There was no such thing as being laid off. The title of "Big Brother" was not given for nothing.
If you just randomly pick someone to stalk, they'll be paraded through the streets with their shoes on, and that'll be the least of your worries. They might even be sent to support the Great Northwest. Liu Hong is a prime example. Back then, Jia Dongjin withstood the pressure, and no one could persuade him otherwise. He managed to send the security officer to prison. Now, at the steel mill, no one dares to joke around with Qin Huairu anymore.
Li Huaide wasn't exactly a saint either. Jia Dongjin was worried that Qin Huairu would suffer a loss, so he couldn't help but give her a few more words of advice. Qin Huairu laughed and said, "I didn't know that. In the past, when the leaders ate and drank extravagantly and had special meals, although they could skim some money off the leaders, I never participated. It was all Sha Zhu and Liu Lan's business."
The woman sees things very clearly: if she has no weaknesses, no one can take advantage of her; if she has no delusions, no one will covet her.
Now that the Jia family's finances have improved, Qin Huairu has no desires or wants, and ordinary people simply cannot and dare not manipulate her.
In the adult world, this is how relationships between people work: economic independence means equality in status.
The reason Yi Zhonghai dared to coerce Qin Huairu into going down into the cellar was because the Jia family was starving and had to rely on him for a living.
The word "to beg" vividly illustrates the inequality in terms of personality and status.
"That's good. Liu Lan has had a tough time. She did it all for her family and children. Don't look down on her. Just pretend you don't know anything."
The couple sighed heavily as they talked about this. The hardships of life were suffocating, and such phenomena were no longer surprising.
You're admiring the view from upstairs, and others are also admiring you as part of the scenery.
The bright moon adorns your window, and you adorn someone else's dream.
Qin Huairu was just coasting along in the cafeteria, taking advantage of its benefits. Jia Dongjin had a high salary and the skill to catch fish, which gave the Jia family the confidence to keep Qin Jingru.
Ma Quansheng's family didn't have a canteen, and they relied entirely on their fixed salary for food and drink. Zhang Qin was a picky eater and had been used to eating refined grains since childhood. After becoming pregnant, she deeply resented the bland and watery meals she ate every day.
Ma Quansheng was so worried that he couldn't sleep. The feeling of helplessness made him feel terrible.
In order to provide his wife with better nutrition, he risked his life to go to the pigeon market several times before the Lunar New Year. Unfortunately, he was caught in a police raid. After paying the fine and writing a self-criticism, he was finally released by someone from his workplace.
Therefore, the Spring Festival of 59 was the most difficult Spring Festival for Zhang Qin. Apart from the two ounces of pork provided by the steel rolling mill, there was nothing for the New Year's Eve dinner except for a meal of meat dumplings.
Logically speaking, meat dumplings are already quite good, at least much better than Lao Yan's pickled cabbage vegetarian dumplings.
The courtyard house wasn't big, and the neighbors all knew exactly what each family ate. Smelling the aroma of food from Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongjin's house, Zhang Qin couldn't help but throw a tantrum, "You call yourself a cadre? You can't even compare to two workers! Look at the kind of life you've been living!"
Ma Quansheng suppressed his anger, smiled apologetically, picked up a meat dumpling, and sincerely admitted his mistake, saying, "It's all my fault. I will definitely work hard in the future and promote you as soon as possible. I promise you will live a good life."
He admitted his mistake, but the bitterness in his heart was indescribable. Zhang Qin was beautiful, but she seemed otherworldly.
Yi Zhonghai is a level 7 fitter, which is said to be almost the same as a level 8 fitter. Jia Dongjin is a workplace monster; he was promoted to level 5 electrician in just one and a half years and then became the electrician team leader.
These two were top performers among the workers, earning roughly twice his monthly salary.
Ma Quansheng is indeed a cadre, but his current job rank is low, and he is incomparable to the other two.
Objectively speaking, including Zhang Qin's income, the Ma family's monthly salary totaled 60 yuan, which was among the highest in the courtyard. The reason why Zhang Qin was dissatisfied was only because of the Jia family.
In fact, Zhang Qin's life is not bad; it's much better than most people's.
The reason why life is not going well is mostly due to Zhang Qin. Before the New Year, Zhang Qin bought new clothes and a pair of leather shoes, spending nearly 60 yuan.
Everyone wants to live a good life. As long as it's not excessive, being particular about food and clothing is a normal life need and not a major flaw.
However, during this difficult period, this shortcoming was magnified to the point that it broke Ma Quansheng's back.
Moreover, Ma Quansheng is not without ties; he also has to donate 8 yuan to his hometown in Miyun every month.
The Chinese New Year is a time for celebration, and arguing is considered very unlucky.
Ma Quansheng held his breath and gave all the meat dumplings to his wife, while he silently ate cornbread, barely managing to earn a smile from Zhang Qin.
Couples often quarrel in bed and make up before going to sleep. Zhang Qin calculated that there was still time, and Ma Quansheng finally got his chance to eat meat.
"Quansheng, you've lost so much weight! Are you even capable?"
The man was all skin and bones, and his face had lost the rosy glow it had on their wedding day. Zhang Qin finally felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help but reach out and caress her husband's cheek.
How could a man say no? The moment the woman showed interest, Ma Quansheng was overjoyed. He worked up a sweat and was no longer the dejected man who used to squat in front of the door smoking to relieve his boredom.
Afterwards, Zhang Qin took the initiative to wipe her husband's sweat for the first time. She said softly, "Quansheng, I won't buy anything after the New Year. Go buy some pig offal and nourish your body."
"Okay, I'll buy it for you next year when I'm better off. But I'm fine, so I'll pass on the offal. The Jia family always braises it, and I can't stand the smell of offal. The baby is due soon, so I need to save more money for the baby."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Despite saying that, Zhang Qin still asked her father to ask someone to buy her pig liver, pig stomach, and a set of pig intestines.
"Xiaoqin, your cooking is amazing! This offal is so well braised, it smells so good! Anyway, it won't spoil now, so if we cut some up for each meal and are careful, it can last for a month."
Once they got home, Ma Quansheng stopped complaining about the smell and ate with gusto, leaving Zhang Qin stunned. After the initial shock came a wave of emotion and delight.
"Quansheng, eat more. I'm pregnant, and I don't want to eat when I see the offal."
The woman, fearing the man would be too modest, directly picked up the plate of vegetables and shoveled the offal into her husband's bowl.
"No, you have to eat it for the sake of the child."
The man smiled and served his wife three large mouthfuls of braised offal. The woman secretly swallowed her saliva in the kitchen; he had seen it all clearly just now.
"Yes, let's eat together."
Zhang Qin took a bite, and then gave the man the braised pig liver that he liked.
At this moment, the way to express love is so simple. Looking at his wife who is growing up and maturing, Ma Quansheng felt as sweet as if he had drunk honey.
A fool might look to his neighbor for New Year's greetings, but Ma Quansheng was a smart man, and he also started thinking about learning a trade.
Just then, Ma Quansheng realized his family was short of a radio, and he wanted to learn how to repair radios. However, Jia Dongjin, who worked in the courtyard, was also repairing radios, and the two had a good relationship. Ma Quansheng felt embarrassed and didn't want to take away his neighbor's job.
Therefore, this kind-hearted man was caught in a painful choice.
Ma Quansheng was young after all, and after eating braised offal for only a month, his complexion improved a lot.
As expected of the new year, just as Jia Dongjin finished compiling the electrician's operating rules and safe electricity usage manuals, the Jia family received good news.