Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

On the seventh day of the New Year, Zhao Shanhe had to go back to work. He had been lazy for a few days, and it was so cold that he really didn't want to move.

I didn't even go for a run during the New Year holidays. Zhao Shanhe felt that the saying "I gain three pounds every New Year" was true.

There was no choice but to go to work. Qin Jingru still prepared breakfast for me. It was also my last meal, which was still millet porridge and steamed buns with pickles.

The children gave their aunt face and happily finished their meal because it was the last meal she prepared and they could try out their aunt’s cooking skills at noon.

Zhao Shanhe was not so lucky. He had his lunch in the company cafeteria.

On my first day at work, I was called in for a talk by my boss, who mainly asked me if I had any projects to work on.

Zhao Shanhe just taught students and taught himself by reading books. The techniques he knew were of no use at all without computer applications.

Zhao Shanhe came back early in the afternoon, and Aunt Guo asked, "Boss, do you want to cook early?"

"Forget it, let's do it later. The night is long anyway, and those guys are growing up. They get hungry quickly. If they eat too early, they will be hungry again in the evening and need to eat more."

"Okay, leader."

"Xiao Guo, are you used to coming here today?"

"well enough"

"It's a new environment, you'll get used to it after a while. If you have any questions, just tell me."

"Okay, boss, it's nothing, I just want to ask if you can lend me a few of your books. I can't stay here during my free time.

Normally when I'm at home, I chat with my neighbors, but you can't just visit people here, so I can't stay here any longer."

"Borrowing books, no problem, but my books are not suitable for you to read, and you probably won't understand them. They are all mechanical books. I bought more books for my children, and you can read theirs later."

"An Huan, An Huan, come out for a moment."

"What's the matter? Dad, my brother is not at home, he went out," An Feng came out and said.

"Why did this kid go out again? Where did he go?"

"He must have gone to see Sister He Hua. He left after lunch."

"Okay, I got it."

"Dad, why did you come back so early today?"

"It was my first day at work, and there wasn't much to do, so I came back early."

"By the way, do you have any storybooks?"

"Yes. I have all the four great classics."

"Xiao Guo, do you want to read the Four Great Classics?"

"Look, anything is fine as long as it's a book."

"An Feng, lend your book to Aunt Guo for a few days,"

"Sure, no problem."

"Auntie Guo, will you read it now? If not, I'll bring it to you later."

"I won't watch it now. I have to cook later. I'll watch it after I finish cleaning up in the evening."

"Dad, I told you Auntie Guo's cooking is delicious, but it makes me so worried."

"You are so young, why are you so worried?"

"I finally managed to lose weight by running with you. Auntie Guo's cooking is so delicious. I'm afraid I can't help myself and will gain weight again in a few days."

Aunt Guo said, "Boys should be a little fatter. It's good to be fatter. Being fat is a blessing. Besides, you are growing up now. When you grow taller, you will naturally become thinner."

"Auntie Guo, you don't know how fat I was before. I couldn't even run. It was only after running with dad for half a year that I lost weight. I can't get fat again."

"Is that so? Then eat less greasy food and you won't get fat. My kid is fatter than you and not as tall as you, but I never cared about it."

"By the way, Xiao Guo, I haven't asked about your family situation yet. I only heard you say your child is in middle school. What does your husband do? How many children do you have?"

"My husband works as a blacksmith in a factory. We have only one son, who is now in middle school."

"A blacksmith is a hard worker, so you need to eat well. If you come here, how will your wife eat after get off work?"

"Well, isn't this to save more money for the children? My wife can cook. She learned from my father for a few years. That's when I met her.

But before he could finish his apprenticeship, his father passed away, and the family needed someone to support the family, so he went back to take over his father's job."

"In that factory?"

"Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. My family owns that part of it."

"You mentioned the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. What's your husband's name? Maybe I know him. I worked there after I graduated from college and stayed there for more than ten years."

"His name is Wang Jianguo. He was born in the same year as Jianguo was born. He is one year younger than me."

"Wang Jianguo, I really don't have any impression of him."

"Leader, what is your position in the steel mill? Maybe he knows you?"

"Oh, I used to be the chief engineer of a steel mill."

"Leader, not only does my wife know you, even I know you. You became the chief engineer in your twenties, the youngest chief engineer in the factory. It's spread all over our area. I didn't expect it was you."

"Am I so famous?"

"That's right. Most people in our area work in the steel mill. We all know about your family affairs. You are so great that the news has spread everywhere. I didn't expect that I was working for you."

"You used to live in Nanguluoxiang, right? Our house is not far from you, just three blocks away."

"Xiao Guo, blacksmithing is a physically demanding job. Have you ever thought about asking your husband to change his job? I can help you in this regard."

"Of course I have thought about it. It's not easy for a blacksmith to be promoted to a senior worker. Not only does it take a lot of effort, but you don't earn much money. I just started working for you. Isn't it a pity to trouble you so much?"

"What's the trouble? It's just a matter of a few words. Once you've arranged for your husband, you can focus more on cooking for us."

"Then please help me, leader."

"Do you want to continue working in the factory, or come to work in my company? My company is not just a restaurant. We also have construction companies, clothing companies, and shopping malls in the city.

The person you met yesterday was my second brother. He is in charge of the company's affairs. If you don't want to work in the factory anymore, I will ask him to find a job for your husband. He will definitely earn more than your husband does now."

"Thank you, boss. I'll go to the factory after dinner tomorrow to discuss it with him and give you a reply tomorrow night, okay?"

"no problem"

"Then stop standing and talking. Sit down and take a rest. We'll cook when everyone comes back."

"An Feng, where are your sister and your mother? Why haven't they come out since they came back for such a long time?"

"My elder sister also went out to play. They didn't take me with them. I don't know about my mother. She should be in the house."

"After dinner, my wife received a phone call and went out."

"I am so pitiful. My mother never takes me with her when she goes out."

It was six o'clock when the three people came back one after another. "Boss, I'm going to cook."

"Um"

"Jingru, where have you been?"

"Isn't this Bai Xue calling and asking me to go try on some clothes? The new spring styles are out."

"No, when did the garment factory resume work? How come the clothes are already made?"

"We resumed work on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. It's almost March and spring is coming. If the new models are not confirmed, it will be too late to produce and ship them."