Comfortable life in Siheyuan

In the evening, Liu Qingshan returned to the courtyard and mentioned this matter to Xu Damao and his wife.

"Sister-in-law, you have a job that seems to be on the horizon. Today I talked to Director Yang from the street office, and one of her cleaners will quit her job in the near future. If you are willing, you can take over then. The job isn't difficult, you just need to clean a fixed road every day, but it may take a little longer." Liu Qingshan explained with a smile.

"Oh! Thank you so much! You've helped my sister-in-law a lot!" Sun Xiaoyan hurriedly expressed her gratitude.

"Sorry to trouble you, Qingshan! You said that such a small matter has alarmed Director Yang. She is so busy at work!" Xu Damao said with a strange look on his face.

"Okay, I've told you everything, I'll go back first."

"Hey! Brother Liu, take care!"

"See you in Qingshan!"

As soon as Liu Qingshan entered the house, Xu Damao took Sun Xiaoyan back home.

"You can't go for this job. I, Xu Damao's wife, how can I do the work of the widow Qin? I can't afford to lose face like that person." Xu Damao's face immediately turned cold and he said rudely.

"I think it's good. There's nothing shameful about earning money through labor. Besides, isn't it advocated that all occupations should be equal?" Sun Xiaoyan said disapprovingly.

"What do you know? If you do this, how will those people in the courtyard look at me? I, Xu Damao, have always been one of the most capable young people. If my wife becomes a street sweeper, where will I put my face?" Xu Damao's face became even colder.

"Since you are so capable, why don't you help me find a job? If you can't find one, I will go sweep the streets." Sun Xiaoyan did not give in and retorted unceremoniously.

"Sun Xiaoyan, if you don't listen to me, then we'd better get divorced as soon as possible. We men in this city all care about our reputation. If you embarrass me, then there will be no place for you here." Xu Damao said viciously.

"Don't be angry. If you have something to say, why don't you talk about it nicely? The family can't just rely on your salary every month. If I make money, won't you be able to relax a little? Besides, as long as no one tells outsiders about my work, then no one will know about it, right?" Sun Xiaoyan advised in a low voice.

"Let's slow down our work first. I'll go back home this weekend to see if my dad has any solution. Liu Qingshan just wants to laugh at me, and I can't fall for his trick." Xu Damao said with a gloomy face.

"Okay, then I'll listen to you!" Sun Xiaoyan said softly.

This time Xu Damao really took this matter to heart. Half a month later, Sun Xiaoyan went to work as a temporary worker in the coal factory.

Although the job is not easier than sweeping the streets, your reputation will be different if you tell others about it.

Liu Qingshan also mentioned this matter to Director Yang, but Director Yang did not take it seriously.

There are too many people looking for jobs at the street office, and for this job, so many people are vying for it. If it weren't for Liu Qingshan's face, this job would have been assigned to someone else long ago.

Just after New Year's Day in 1966, Liu Qingshan heard a jaw-dropping piece of news.

This was said by Sha Zhu who works in the kitchen.

That day, Liu Qingshan was eating in the third canteen at noon. Before he had taken a few bites, Sha Zhu came over with a lunch box, and with him came Sha Zhu's wife Tian Xiuyun.

"What's going on? The couple came together. My sister-in-law is already pregnant now, right?" Liu Qingshan looked up and saw the two of them, and greeted them with a smile.

"Well, it should be soon. Your Xiaoyu is already two months pregnant. I think she is doing well this time. She doesn't have any morning sickness at all." Tian Xiuyun said.

"Well, this time is much better than last time. There is no reaction, and I can eat and sleep." Liu Qingshan said with a smile.

"I have something to tell you. Have you heard? Cui Dake got married two days ago!!" Sha Zhu said mysteriously.

"What, Cui Dake got married, what's going on, who is the bride?" Liu Qingshan asked curiously.

"The bride is Yu Haitang! She is the announcer at the radio station - Yu the most beautiful girl in the factory!!" Sha Zhu gave an exciting answer.

……

A week ago, on the weekend before New Year's Day, Yu Changhua finally agreed to have lunch with Cui Dake at noon.

Early in the morning, Cui Dake started to prepare the food at home with the purchase. He even bought a bottle of Xifeng wine for lunch.

Yu Haitang didn't want to go at first, but Cui Dake rode his bike to her yard early and waited for her. Finally, Yu Haitang couldn't avoid it, so she got on the bike and went to Cui Dake's house.

"I've told you not to be so polite. I'm not your girlfriend, so it's not appropriate for me to go to your house." Yu Haitang sat there with an unhappy look on her face.

"Just think of it as a gathering of friends. We have known each other for a long time. A few days ago when I was shopping, I met a fellow villager who had shot a pheasant. Let me give you a taste. Let me tell you, I stewed the pheasant in a casserole early in the morning. It smelled amazing." Cui Dake said happily.

"Don't lie to me. If the food is not delicious, don't come to me again in the future." Yu Haitang said suspiciously.

"How could I lie to you? I'm the only one at home, and I can't finish the chicken soup by myself. Wouldn't it be wasted if I left it there? Now that you're here, we can feed it to him together." Cui Dake pedaled his legs hard, and soon he reached his little house.

"This is my first time here, and the house is pretty good!" Yu Haitang nodded his head from time to time and said with satisfaction.

"The factory allocated this house last year. The location is a little off the beaten track, but it's quite spacious."

The house that Cui Dake was allocated is a little bigger than the one that Yan Jiecheng was allocated some time ago, but it is located closer to the city. However, he is a buyer, so it is convenient for him to go to the countryside.

"It's not too bad. It's just that the surroundings are a little quieter. It seems that there are not many families in your yard." Yu Haitang looked around and asked.

"Yes, there are only three families. The family on the east is home to two elderly people who rarely go out. The family on the north is from the countryside and they usually go back to the countryside on weekends," Cui Dake explained.

"Then your place is pretty good, there aren't so many conflicts with neighbors." Yu Haitang said with a smile.

"You sit in the living room first. I have two dishes to fry." Cui Dake said with a smile.

Cui Dake was very quick and cooked both dishes in no time.

"The dishes are here!" Cui Dake put two dishes and a soup on the table, and also bought some fried peanuts.

"You have this ability. The dish is cooked very well!" Yu Haitang took two bites of the dish and said happily.

"I have to live alone, so don't I have to know everything?" Cui Dake explained with a smile.

"Purchasing is still comfortable. You don't have to worry about food and drink. Just a trip to the countryside can get half a month's food supply for the family." Yu Haitang said enviously.

"Don't rush to eat. New Year's Day is in two days. I have a bottle of good wine here. Let's have a few drinks to celebrate." Cui Dake smiled and took out two wine glasses, and then took out a bottle of Xifeng wine from the house.

"I don't drink. It's not appropriate for us, a single man and a single woman, to drink." Yu Haitang said soberly.