Siheyuan: Breaking up with Shazhu at the beginning

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard to calculate the expenses.

Yang Jun looked up at the sky, put on his military coat and complained, "It looks like the weather is going to get worse."

Seeing this, Lao Wu quickly said: There is a stove in the house, let’s go in and talk.

Lao Wu installed a heater in every room to speed up the drying and solidification of the paint, and every day someone was assigned to the yard to look after these stoves.

They came to the living room and sat on the floor.

Lao Wu took out a number of bills from his pocket. According to the previous agreement, the 420 yuan included labor and all material costs.

However, the cost of floor tiles and glass is extra.

We chose high-quality ceramic tiles, at a price of 370 yuan per piece, and we needed about 260 pieces, with a total price of more than 5 yuan; the glass cost 150 yuan per square meter, and we used more than square meters, which is equivalent to about yuan.

Including the daily subsidy of three taels of grain and 7 cents per person, Lao Wu worked for a total of 145 days, and did a total of 43.5 days' work in exchange for 21.75 kilograms of grain and yuan in wages.

The food quota is 60 kilograms, payable in advance.

After calculating the total cost and deducting all miscellaneous expenses, the yard decoration cost only 851.75 yuan, which was a significant saving compared to the previous time, mainly because the cost of the expensive material of imperial bricks was saved.

If imperial bricks are used, the floor tiles alone will cost 2600 yuan.

Yang Jun felt a little regretful about this, after all, he did not enjoy the benefits of the imperial bricks.

After settling the accounts, Lao Wu returned the remaining money and belongings to Yang Jun.

After taking the things, Yang Jun counted them, and then took out five dollars in cash and 10 kilograms of food coupons: "Master Laowu, thank you for your hard work. You can use this money to buy some good food to treat your brothers."

Lao Wu was surprised by Yang Jun’s generosity: Brother Yang, you are such a kind person.

Yang Jun knew that this money and food coupons were only enough for the meals of dozens of people, but he was clear that there were only about seven or eight people who came back with Lao Wu. The others were just helping temporarily and would leave after the work was completed. They were doing this purely to make money.

So even if Lao Wu treats someone, it’s only those few people who enjoy it.

As for his standards, it is unknown.

The stove still needs to burn for a few more days, so leave someone to watch over it at night.

Yang Jun stared at the fire and said.

Don't worry about this. I will be watching it personally every night.

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Yang Jun understood that every room had a stove for heating, so someone would naturally need to stay behind at night.

In the living room, he stared through the glass at the small hall in the back where miscellaneous items were stored. "You should vacate those old furniture that are not in use."

After hearing this, Lao Wu was a little surprised and asked: "Brother Jun, are you really not going to keep these furniture?"

Yang Jun nodded gently: "Just get rid of it. If you like it, you can take it home."

Looking at the possible rosewood furniture, Lao Wu asked: "Brother Jun, are you sure you want to get rid of all of these?"

Yang Jun patted his shoulder gently and said, "I'll give them all to you. I don't like old things."

Lao Wu was delighted to hear this: "Thank you... Sir."

For Yang Jun, even if the purple wooden items were as crystal clear as amber, he still had no interest in them.

This can be called his cleanliness obsession, or to use a less elegant term, it may be some kind of sexual psychology problem.

Whenever he touched objects that were hundreds of years old, he would naturally feel disgusted.

For example, although the pinewood bed looks beautiful, who can lie on it peacefully when they think of how many people have rested on it? Moreover, how can they not feel creepy when they think of the life that once slept on the bed? Similarly, other furniture has also been used by countless dead people. Thinking of this, Yang Jun's discomfort became more and more intense.

For a person without cultural background, collecting antiques is just for the purpose of increasing the value of wealth. What are the goals of people who collect stamps, collect cultural relics, antiques, or purchase old houses?

Is it really just a simple hobby? I think it's probably not that simple.

In most cases, these behaviors are just for the purpose of increasing wealth and dreaming of becoming extremely rich.

Yang Jun could not develop an emotional bond with antiques because he was not short of money and did not have the urge of a time traveler to collect antiques or buy properties.

I have lived two lifetimes and still don’t understand it. Even after experiencing life and death and rebirth, I am still unclear about the affairs of the world.

Even if I were reborn as a human being, if I still worked hard for gold, silver and treasures, wouldn't that be a waste of my life?

Wealth is not the essence of life. Although it is indispensable, we should not lose ourselves because of it and forget the original intention of life.

Being a rich man is a good thing, but if you do everything for wealth, it goes against the original intention.

The pursuit of life should be abundance and status, but greed is ultimately empty and without roots, it is like a rootless duckweed.

Since ancient times, the relationship between the two sides has been close. "Only those who have power can get money", but "having money does not necessarily mean power".

The story of Shen Wansan is an example.

The power of businessmen is not rock solid.

After discussing the matter with Lao Wu, Yang Jun decided to go back, "Master Lao Wu, this isn't the first time we've talked, just speak up if you have something to say."

Lao Wu smiled awkwardly and said frankly: "Actually, what I want to ask is whether the old house will be renovated?"

"of course."

Yang Jun gathered his scarf and added, "Once it's completely dry, I'll move over there. Then it'll be free and we can start."

"Understood. I will find out first. If there is no accident, I will prepare the materials as soon as possible."

"It's settled."

After saying that, Yang Jun got into the car without saying much.

In the courtyard of Nanluoguxiang, he parked his car and walked into the courtyard with the oil-paper bag.

It was filled with five kilograms of White Rabbit milk candy. He was invited today to celebrate the engagement, so he had to return a gift to express his gratitude.

First, visit my third uncle’s house in the small courtyard.

"Uncle San, you've worked hard. This is my sister's wedding candy. I hope you can have good luck after trying it."

Uncle San wore reading glasses and took the candy with both hands with a smile on his face, "Junzi, that's very thoughtful."

After some polite conversation, Yang Jun went on to visit the next person and continued distributing wedding candies.

When Uncle San saw that Yang Jun was the first person he sent wedding candy to, he was very happy and a joyful smile appeared on his face.

Starting from the front courtyard all the way to the back yard, Yang Jun personally distributed wedding candies door to door.

Although there were not many wedding candies, only more than ten pieces per household, the thought was enough and everyone unanimously praised Yang Jun for his thoughtful work.

The only exception is my aunt's house, where the security guards are strict.

I heard that the aunt went to visit her niece in the countryside.

This is normal. Yi Zhonghai’s accident made the aunt feel unable to face life in the courtyard house.

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The next morning.

When Yang Jun stepped into the factory gate, he was shocked to see colorful flags on both sides of the gate and a slogan hanging on the beam, which read: "The proletarian comrades of the machine repair factory warmly welcome you."

At this time, security team leader Zhao Haifeng saw Director Yang's car and hurried out of the duty room to greet him.

"Director Yang, do you have any instructions?" he asked.

Yang Jun originally wanted to see what would happen today and intended to drive the car into the factory gate, but when Zhao Haifeng asked, he had to give up the idea of ​​starting the car.

His mind was spinning rapidly, and he deliberately pretended to be deep in thought, and said with a serious expression:

“There are so many people, it’s easy to get confused.

Arrange more people to patrol and inform the heads of each department that each department should appoint a representative to stand guard at the door to prevent anyone from taking the opportunity to cause trouble. "

"Yes, I understand. I will follow the order immediately." Zhao Haifeng saluted with a standard military salute.

And Yang Jun also returned the greeting.

In the steel mill, Zhao Haifeng and his companions were his foundation. Yang Jun did not treat them as superior, but communicated with them on an equal footing like his comrades in the army.

Most of them come from humble backgrounds, receive continuous training and follow strict military management rules. For them, clear orders from their superiors are easier to accept.

He is straightforward and does not tolerate any deception, so those superficial brotherhoods cannot be truly accepted by them at the dinner table. However, Yang Jun's direct and respectful approach can easily gain their trust.

When I walked into the office, Jiang Haitao was already ready.

"Director, the machine repair shop is here. They are ready to go and are expected to arrive on time at nine o'clock."

Yang Jun glanced at his watch. The time was 8:35, less than half an hour before the scheduled time.

"Please inform the other leaders that we will be waiting for them outside the factory gate at 8:55."

"Understood, Director."

"Wait." Jiang Haitao was stopped by Yang Jun when he was about to go out.

"Then have the broadcasting room announce that each workshop should select 20 representatives to go to the factory gate to welcome our fellow workers on behalf of the factory to show our importance."

"Yes, I understand the director's instructions."

After Jiang Haitao went out, Yang Jun poured hot water into his hands, rubbed them, and quickly checked several documents waiting for review.

When he was about to stretch and relax after finishing his work, Yu Haitang's sweet and pleasant voice came through the radio:

"Dear colleagues from the steel mill, we have important news: the proletarian comrades from the Nantai Machine Repair Plant will be visiting us soon. We ask all the representatives and cadres to wait outside the factory gate to greet them."

After confirming that the time had come, Yang Jun took the documents and left his desk, locked the office door and walked to the main entrance downstairs to greet the guests. The two factories were merging, and as the manager of the steel plant, he naturally had to be there in person to welcome the arrival of the new members.

In addition to your own responsibilities, you also need to consider communication with shop officials.

Apart from the factory director Yang Jianguo, Yang Jun is also one of the most important people in the steel plant.

Imagine if he did not attend the relocation event and Li Huaide and others attended instead, when the people in the machine repair factory saw it, would they think that Yang Jun looked down on others and finally stand on Li Huaide's side?

When Yang Jun and Li Huaide were chatting at the door, they suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums in the distance.

A convoy gradually approached the steel plant. On each side of the front of the vehicle, there was a group of people holding gongs and drums and with red silk tied around their waists, coming forward happily.

A car stood out from the crowd and stopped directly at the gate.

The person who got off the bus was a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit. He had a slicked-back hair and two pens on his chest. While running over, he kept observing Yang Jun and others.

After he glanced at Li Huaide and the others, his eyes immediately fell on Yang Jun. He quickly stepped forward and stretched out his hand.

Deputy Director Yang, I am Liu Feng, the former director of the machine repair factory.

We have been ordered to relocate the factory today. Please follow your arrangements.

Yang Jun looked at Liu Feng with satisfaction. Obviously, he was a smart guy. He must have spent a lot of time getting to know the core cadres of the steel plant before the integration.

The moment he got off the car, he had already determined his importance.

Comrade Liu Feng, I am here to welcome you on behalf of all the employees of the steel plant."

Since the merger of the two factories, Liu Feng's original position as factory director no longer exists, so he can only be addressed as comrade.

Liu Feng shook hands with Yang Jun warmly, and then greeted other steel plant leaders one by one.

Then he said:

Deputy Director Yang, this is our gift to the steel plant. I hope you won’t find it shabby.

Before Yang Jun and others could ask what the "meeting gift" was, the gong and drum players in the team shouted loudly: "Xiao Zhuang! Xiao Zhuang!" The scene was quite lively.

Everyone thought that a heavyweight leader was visiting, and everyone stood solemnly, looking forward to it nervously.

Then a truck drove up and a dozen excited people jumped out of the truck, whistling and in high spirits.

"Slow down, be gentle, don't bump into anything..."

Everyone was extremely surprised, as a pig with pointy ears appeared from the carriage.

It turns out that the so-called Xiao Zhuang is this pig.

Yang Jun and the others looked at each other, trying their best to hold back their laughter.

Seeing their confused expressions, Liu Feng explained the reason:

This is a gift from Nantai Commune to the machine repair factory. We were reluctant to eat it, so we brought Xiao Zhuang along, hoping to have lunch together.

When Yang Jun saw the red flowers on the pig's neck, he couldn't help laughing, although he tried hard to suppress his smile.

At that time, people rarely tasted meat, so the people in the machine repair shop regarded it as a treasure and gave it a meaningful name.

Only large steel mills can produce meat all year round.

Understanding this, Yang Jun understood why Liu Feng presented this generous gift in such a grand manner.

Taking a few steps forward, he shook Liu Feng's hand and thanked him: Comrade Liu Feng, your friendship is sincere. Even if it is just sending pork from a thousand miles away, it is a precious gift.

I would like to thank you on behalf of my colleagues at the steel plant.

Deputy Director Yang, you are too polite. We are fellow workers.

Several leaders concealed their smiles and came forward to express their gratitude.

The young man with the bowl cut gently stroked the pig, just like an elder teaching a younger one, and people who didn't know the truth mistakenly thought they were in a close relationship.

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Notes:

1. A gift of goose feathers from a thousand miles away is a token of deep sentiment. It means that although the gift is not valuable, it represents a very deep sentiment.

2. Pot-cut (a description of a hairstyle) The way the young man interacts with the pig is likened to a scene of fatherly education, implying that he is taking care of this important gift.

3. The passage reflects people’s living conditions of material shortages and their emphasis on interpersonal relationships under the social background of that time.

Liu Feng observed for a long time and noticed the strange expressions of the leaders of the steel rolling mill. He guessed that there might be some joke on his side, but for the sake of face, no one showed it.