Siheyuan: Starting from a Truck Driver

"Hey, can I still fool you? I'll ask your father Yan Jiefang to go to the locomotive depot with you to pick up the dirty clothes and learn the way by the way, so that you won't get lost at work in the future." This guy is so scheming. On the surface, he is helping with the laundry, but in fact he is hinting at helping his son Yan Jiecheng find a job immediately.

However, if you don't want to say it, then just pretend to be confused. In addition to not drinking alcohol, Li Aiguo readily accepts the service of the third uncle picking up food and the third aunt making tea. In fact, the third aunt's cooking skills are really good, especially her fried peanuts, which make a crunchy sound when you bite them.

After having a full meal and a few drinks, Li Aiguo saw that Yan Bugui did not stay for long at Yan Jiecheng's work. He knew what he was thinking, so he pretended not to know and got up again, saying that he was afraid to walk on the mountain road at night and wanted to go back to the locomotive depot.

Hearing this, Yan Bugui's chopsticks shook, and a large piece of greasy meat fell on the table. How could someone who dared to travel around the world by train be afraid of walking at night?

He really underestimated others. This was a sign that he was full and wanted to run away. The third uncle quickly held Li Aiguo down and said with an embarrassed expression: "Aiguo, wait a moment, I have something to say."

Seeing that Li Aiguo seemed to have expected this, Yan Bugui looked even more embarrassed. But today's table of dishes cost a lot of money, so he had to insist. "Third uncle, we live in the same courtyard, just tell me straight."

"Hey, I want to ask you about the coal workers' job in Jiecheng. Have you asked for me?" Li Aiguo had already understood the reason and laughed, "So, the Third Uncle is not only celebrating my handover today."

Yan Bugui wiped his hands and said awkwardly: "Of course there are two purposes. One is to celebrate, and the other is to talk to you. My children are almost adults, and the children in the yard are busy with their own things. Finding a formal job is really important."

The third aunt also chimed in: "Yes, if you don't have a stable job, it's really not easy to find a wife."

It is not that it is difficult for the Yan family to find a wife, but the standard is very high. Everyone knows that the Yan family is only willing to marry a wife with a stable job and a household registration, and they also insist on not asking for a betrothal gift as a condition.

Otherwise, for someone like Jia Dongxu, marrying a rural girl would be more than enough.

Li Aiguo looked at the third uncle and said, "You also understand that the current situation is very different from the early days of the locomotive depot. Even the lowest-level coal miners will not recruit new employees now."

Hearing this, the Third Uncle immediately became nervous and interrupted Li Aiguo: "Aiguo, Third Uncle is really good to you. It's as if Yan Jiecheng was raised by you. You must help him!"

At this point, Li Aiguo asked in confusion: "Do you really think that Yan Jiecheng was brought up by me?" Thinking back carefully, this actually makes sense.

Waving his hand, Li Aiguo continued, "Uncle, I remember everything you said. I still remember clearly when you can return the books you took away."

Hearing this, the uncle's face turned red, and he didn't know how to respond for a moment. He had promised to return the books, but he had already exchanged them for money.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Third Auntie quickly interrupted and said, "Aiguo, we in the locomotive section now rely on your network of connections. You should help. Don't worry, Third Uncle may not have any other strengths, but he is a master at matchmaking and introducing suitable candidates. In a few days, I will let Third Uncle help you find a few girls from good families in school, and you can choose from them."

It sounds like a beauty pageant held directly in a bathing center, which is ridiculous. Once this matter is exposed, a letter of complaint will lead to their predicament.

Li Aiguo's forehead was covered with sweat. He said awkwardly, "Uncle, forget about the matchmaking. It's not that I don't want to help, but after all, I'm just a train driver, not a human resources manager, and I can't even manage payroll. If possible, let alone a coal miner position, I'd be willing to do my best to help Yan Jiecheng get promoted to workshop director. However, my ability is limited after all, and I have to consider the impact on myself when doing such things."

Originally, the third uncle was thinking that just by flattering and having a meal, he could solve Yan Jiecheng's work problem. But now he realized that he might be too optimistic. Li Aiguo is no longer so stupid.

This made the uncle feel as if he had been hit by a club. He gritted his teeth and responded loudly: "Okay, okay, I know I have to trouble others. Just tell me how much you need, and I will pay for it."

Li Aiguo hesitated for a moment and said, "It's hard work for coal miners, but after two years of work, you can expect to be promoted to a regular employee with similar benefits. Besides, there are also external positions for locomotive depot jobs nowadays, so I can consider it."

After saying that, he raised two fingers. Even if Yan Bugui didn't know the exact price, judging from the fact that he asked for 150 yuan for a vacant position in the steel rolling workshop, he knew that the quota for the locomotive depot must be much higher, and it was not impossible to estimate that the standard was 200 yuan.

Seeing the third brother nodded, Li Aiguo continued, "There are two types of jobs in the railway construction site responsible for loading coal on trains. One is to replenish coal for freight cars, and the other is for passenger cars. There are more jobs on the passenger car side, and you can get an extra ten yuan subsidy per month."

"Another fifty dollars."

Li Aiguo had no intention of tricking Yan Bugui.

Such a position is estimated to be worth at least three hundred yuan if sold in the bird market.

Seeing Yan Bugui's fingers trembling slightly, Yan Bugui's heart began to beat rapidly like a drum:

Two hundred and fifty yuan, how much work would it take to recycle waste cardboard to earn enough?

Seeing Yan Bugui was hesitant, Li Aiguo was not in a hurry. He pretended to be about to leave and said, "Okay, you take your time to think about it. I still have to drive the train. I will go home and catch up on some sleep first."

Yan Bugui knew very well that if he missed this opportunity today, it would not be so easy to invite Li Aiguo to his home again. Maybe he would have to prepare a sumptuous banquet next time.

With a smile on her face, she grabbed his arm and said, "Don't be in a hurry to leave, Aiguo, your third aunt will get the money for you right away."

The third aunt did not expect Yan Bugui to be so generous today. After hesitating for a moment, she was sure that Yan Bugui was not joking, and then she went back to the house. After a while, she took out a stack of money from the vinegar jar under the bed and handed it to Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui carefully counted them and handed them to Li Aiguo: "Do you want to count more?"

"Forget it, your neighbors don't trust you?"

Li Aiguo put the money in his pocket carelessly and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, I will do it tomorrow."

Yan Bugui nodded and responded: "Okay, believe it!"

After Li Aiguo left, Yan Jiecheng, who had been standing in the corner silently without eating, immediately came forward and started to eat the steamed bun with the help of vegetable soup.

"Jiecheng, eat less and leave some for Jiefang and the others. I'll take them to Zhu. They probably didn't eat well at noon."

After telling Yan Jiecheng what to do, the third aunt led Yan Bugui into the inner room. After closing the cotton curtain, the third aunt immediately began to express her dissatisfaction with Yan Bugui.

"Old Yan, didn't you give these two hundred and fifty yuan away for free? Why do my family suddenly seem to have become stupid?"

"What do you mean by giving it away for free?"

Yan Bugui curled her lips and said, "Old woman, you are too ignorant. Can asking Li Aiguo to do something for you be a good thing without spending any money?"

"But he only spent a hundred and fifty dollars at most!"

The third aunt thought for a moment, felt that the amount was too low and changed it:

"Twenty dollars is enough. This little brat Li Aiguo has earned more than enough. We even have to treat him to a meal. It's so easy to make money."

“Don’t worry about how much money he makes, he’s talented.”

Yan Bugui naturally felt bad for spending so much money. So he began to think of ways to comfort himself: "Think about it, our Yan Jiecheng can enter the railway management, and he will make money in the future! I heard that those leaders don't even need to pay for coal, and they can bring a lot of coal back home every day!"

"That will be a long time in the future." Auntie muttered.

Even if you cannot become a leader, even if you become a temporary worker, you can only get a basic salary of 25 yuan and a subsidy of 10 yuan per month, which adds up to a total of 35 yuan.

Chinese teacher Yan Bugui picked up a pen and made careful calculations on a piece of note to settle the accounts for the "three aunts".

"I'm a smart man. I've known for a long time that in addition to this money, there is another benefit for coal workers, which is that at the end of the month, there will be an additional subsidy based on the total amount of coal transported. One ton of coal can earn half a cent. If my family can process an average of 2,000 tons of coal per month, we can get an extra 20 yuan."

"Calculated this way, I can earn fifty-five dollars a month. It will only take about four months to earn back the money."

You see, the Chinese teacher is also good at teaching math.

If anyone says that the Chinese teacher is not good at math guidance, tell them to stand in the corner.

In the hall.

Yan Jiecheng heard Yan Bugui's words through a thick cotton curtain and shivered with fear. He fell to the ground and even the steamed bread in his hand fell to the ground.

"Two tons!" He calculated silently in his mind, thinking of himself as an indefatigable coolie.

You cannot accept other people's kindness for nothing; you must repay others' kindness.

We love our country and Li Aiguo is also a kind-hearted person who is willing to help.

Now that he has promised to help the Yan family, he will never go back on his word easily.

The next day.

Li Aiguo returned from Tianjin. He rode his bicycle back to the courtyard and accompanied Yan Jiecheng to the locomotive depot for the entry procedures.

Evening time,

After Yan Jiecheng got his work clothes.

In order to recover the expenses as soon as possible,

He couldn't wait to get down to work.

The job of delivering coal to the train just happened to correspond to Train No. 131 where Li Aiguo was.

Li Aiguo finished purchasing lunch boxes in the cafeteria and was now taking a walk with Zhao Yazhi to help digest the food.

The two of them walked leisurely to the platform.