Siheyuan: I just want to live

Chen Feng returned to the communication room, continued to sit on the chair, took out a book and started reading. Unconsciously, it was five o'clock, and the employees who were running outside the scrap station also came back and gathered in front of the bungalow to brag and chat.

Chen Feng also packed up his things, came here, stood behind the crowd, and listened to their discussion.

Employee A asked, "Hey! Do you know how much meat we're going to distribute today?"

The employee replied, "I don't know! They didn't tell me when they notified me at noon!"

… …

They were discussing how much meat to distribute later. Chen Feng did not tell everyone how much meat was about. What if Chen Feng said the wrong amount? What if the leader wanted to keep some? It was best not to speak nonsense on this issue. How much the leader distributed was the leader's business and had nothing to do with him!

For Chen Feng himself, it doesn't matter how much he sends. He doesn't care, since he still has some fish in his space and is not short of money.

After everyone had arrived, Zhou Ping and Wang Dajiang brought two old tables over, one of which they placed the meat and fish on, while the other, Accountant Xiaojuan, took out a notebook and a pen and sat there.

After everything was ready, Station Master Li walked out of the office. After all, he was a leader, and leaders usually appeared last.

Li Guotao stood behind the table, raised his hands and pressed them down, then began to speak, "Okay! Everyone, stop talking!"

"Today we are distributing bear meat and fish. Each person will receive six pounds of meat and one fish, both weighing more than three pounds! There are also some bones. After this distribution, we will not distribute any benefits on New Year's Day."

"Lao Wang will be in charge of cutting the meat, Zhou Ping will be in charge of weighing the fish, and everyone will pick a fish. Finally, we'll go to Accountant Xiaojuan to sign. The bones are in the basket next to you. Go get them if you want."

"Alright! Everyone line up and start getting your meat. Don't be chaotic. Line up! The sooner you get your meat, the sooner you can go home and stew the meat."

Chen Feng listened to the speech of Stationmaster Li and looked into the basket beside him. Good fellow! Now I finally understand why Stationmaster Li asked him to call Wang Dajiang. The bones in the basket are shaved cleaner than those chewed by dogs! Uncle Wang is a bit underemployed at the scrap yard. He should go to work in the meat processing factory.

Everyone lined up, and Chen Feng stood at the end. The people in front had already started cutting and weighing the meat, and then choosing the fish. Some people chose grass carp, some chose carp, and some people preferred to eat fish heads, so they chose silver carp.

When it was Chen Feng's turn, there was only one carp and four silver carps left, so Chen Feng picked a carp. Although he had plenty of money, he would rather take advantage of the benefits his company gave him.

Seeing that Stationmaster Li and the other three didn't pick it up, it might have been reserved long ago.

There were a total of thirty-eight people in the entire station, including Li Guotao. Except for two security guards on the night shift, everyone had received the meat.

Stationmaster Li then instructed the day shift security guard, "Zhang Dalong, come here and take the meat from the two men on the other shift. Give it to them when the shift is over."

Zhang Dalong came forward to collect the meat for them. Stationmaster Li looked at the remaining two fish and nearly a pound of minced meat. Then he said to the three people who were busy cutting the meat and recording it.

"You three have worked hard, so just divide these things up! Remember to clean up after you're done!"

Then he went back to the office to get his things and rode his bike home from get off work. The other employees looked at the big carp hanging on his bike handlebars and said nothing, after all, they also had fish, just a little smaller.

Uncle Wang and the others discussed it, and finally Wang Dajiang and Zhou Ping each took a fish, and Accountant Xiaojuan collected the scraps of meat on the table with newspaper.

Then Uncle Wang and Zhou Ping put the table and benches back to their original positions. They carried their things and left work. Chen Feng saw that only the security guards had not left and were waiting for the shift to be handed over. Everyone else had gone home, so Chen Feng also locked the door and left work, even though it was still more than ten minutes before the end of get off work.

It was less than 5:30 when I returned to the courtyard, and Sha Zhu and the others had not returned yet. Although they got off work half an hour earlier than Chen Feng, the steel mill was outside Dongzhimen, which was a bit far from the courtyard. Usually they would get home around 6 o'clock, and now only Yan Fugui and other people who worked nearby and some old women were in the courtyard.

He pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, and Yan Fugui was still watering the flowers at the door. When he saw the fish and meat hanging on Chen Feng's handlebars, he dropped the water sprinkler in his hand and ran over to Chen Feng.

Chen Feng was startled by the sound of the shower head falling to the ground. He looked up and saw Yan Fugui rushing over and grabbing his handlebars. Then he stared at the bright red piece of meat and asked.

"Chen Feng! Where did you get such a big piece of meat? Did you buy it? Why did you only buy lean meat and not fat? Fatty meat is delicious, it smells so good when you take a bite!"

Chen Feng was helpless as he watched Yan Fugui holding onto his bike handlebars. He thought: If I don't talk this old man out today, I won't be able to get home. So he said helplessly, "Uncle, let go first! You're a teacher! Be respectful! Let me talk to you after you let go."

After hearing what Chen Feng said, Yan Fugui let go of the handlebars and straightened his messy clothes. He looked at Chen Feng expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

"I didn't buy the meat. The fish and meat were distributed by the company as New Year's Day benefits. Everyone in the company got one. It was bear meat, so it was mostly lean meat."

Yan Fugui asked in disbelief and surprise, "Everyone has one! The treatment at your scrap yard is so good!"

Chen Feng replied calmly, "It's okay. Anyway, these are all I have given out. Your company may give out more tomorrow."

After listening to Chen Feng's words, Yan Fugui also looked forward to the company giving out a lot of benefits tomorrow so that he could save enough to have a good year.

But he then asked, "Isn't it the day after tomorrow? Usually the benefits are distributed tomorrow! Why are they distributed today?"

Chen Feng explained, "Today, another person sold a bear to the scrap yard, so the yard manager distributed holiday benefits today."

Yan Fugui's eyes turned and he said, "Chen Feng! It's New Year's Day soon. The year 1958 is almost over and the year 1959 is about to begin. You will have fish and meat while I will have wine. Let your aunt prepare a table of delicious dishes. Let's have a good drink today, and together we will reminisce about the past and look forward to the future. What do you think?"

Chen Feng said in a very unpleasant tone, "I don't think it's very good. I'm going back first. You can stay here to reminisce about the past and look forward to the future!"

After saying this, he pushed the cart away, not giving Yan Fugui a chance to react.

This old man Yan was so full of wishful thinking that the abacus beads flew all over his face. How could the meat come out after it entered his house? And the wine! I'm afraid it's not the bottle of water mixed with wine!

Watching Chen Feng push the cart away, Yan Fugui shouted from behind, "Hey! Chen Feng, don't be in such a hurry to leave! Let's discuss this further?"

Chen Feng ignored him, otherwise it would be endless. You are arguing with him, he can argue with you for a whole day just for this meat! Let's go! Chen Feng quickened his pace and walked quickly towards the backyard.

Yan Fugui watched Chen Feng's back gradually going away, and couldn't help feeling a little helpless in his heart. He murmured to himself: "Hey! This kid! It's getting harder and harder to take advantage of him!" After that, he shook his head gently, as if he was a little disappointed with this change.

However, just as he turned around to leave, his eyes suddenly caught sight of the shower head on the ground. Yan Fugui's heart tightened, and he rushed over and squatted down to take a closer look. As expected, the bottom of the shower head had been dented, obviously due to some kind of impact or pressure.

Yan Fugui's eyes widened immediately, his face full of astonishment and distress. He pointed at the shower head with a trembling hand, almost crying, and shouted in collapse: "Oh! My shower head! I really lost a lot today! I just bought this!" His voice was filled with endless annoyance and regret.

At that moment, Yan Fugui fell into deep self-doubt, and the world around him seemed to become dim and dark. He stared blankly at the broken shower head in his hand, feeling lost and helpless...

Chen Feng returned home and cut the meat into two pieces, one large and one small, and fried the large piece with cabbage in a large pot. There were no other vegetables in the north in winter, and Chen Feng did not go to find vegetable seeds, so he could only do this for now.

Chen Feng took out the food that he had placed in the space to preserve freshness yesterday and ate it. He had lunch at the steel rolling mill today and did not eat the food he brought with him.

I'll eat it for dinner now. I'll bring the freshly fried ones into the space later. Chen Feng is going to grind flour in the space today. It will take a long time, so I'll make more food and bring it in. If you're hungry, just eat it. You don't have to come out to cook.

Just after finishing the meal, someone knocked on the door. Chen Feng shouted through the door, "Who is it?"

"It's me! Your Aunt Jiang from the front yard! The quilt and cotton clothes are ready! I brought them to you, open the door and take them!"

When Chen Feng heard that it was Aunt Jiang, he hurried to the door and opened it. "Oh! Aunt Jiang, you are so troublesome to come here in person! Just now when I passed by the front yard, you could have just told me and I could have brought it back myself, right?"

Aunt Jiang said cheerfully, "No trouble! No trouble! I'm old, so I'd better walk a few steps to loosen up my muscles and do some exercise! Here! This is the quilt and cotton clothes. There is also some good cotton fabric left, so I brought it to you."

Chen Feng only took the quilt and cotton clothes, and did not take the remaining cloth and cotton.

Seeing that Chen Feng did not take the remaining things, Aunt Jiang said, "Chen Feng! Take the remaining things back quickly. There is still a lot left! If you add some more cloth, you can make a cotton-padded jacket."

"Didn't we agree at that time? You helped me make clothes and quilts, and the remaining things were given to you. You didn't charge me for it? These remaining things are all yours. How can I take them back?"

Aunt Jiang hesitated a little. If she added two feet of cloth to these things, she could make cotton-padded clothes for both grandsons. But she felt embarrassed to take it back. After all, she just helped make some things, how could she take so much?

Chen Feng saw Aunt Jiang's hesitation, so he said to her, "How about this, Aunt Jiang! I have four old quilts at home. Please help me take them apart and wash them, and then find someone to play with them again and put them on again."

"I'll give you the money for the cotton fluffing, and the remaining cotton fabric will be used as your payment for these two visits. Is that okay with you?"

Aunt Jiang agreed to Chen Feng's request. Chen Feng returned to the house, put down his things, went to Grandpa's room to get his two quilts, and took the one and a half pound piece of meat from the kitchen chopping board.

When he got to the door, he handed it to Aunt Jiang, stuffed another five dollars in it and said, "Get these two first. I'll use the other two. When these are done, get the other two."

"This is the New Year's Day benefit issued by the company. It's free. Take it and go home to give it to your children. Just think of it as a small token of my appreciation as an uncle."

Aunt Jiang looked at the meat in her hand and wanted to refuse it, but when she thought of the two frail children at home, she accepted it. She said to Chen Feng with a choked voice:

"Okay! I'll do as you say! Auntie will definitely clean it for you and make the quilt cover beautifully! You go ahead and do your work. I'll go back first and bring it to you when it's done."

After saying this, Aunt Jiang left with red eyes.