Siheyuan: Returning to 61 to collect waste

Qin Huairu did not respond immediately. She needed to discuss with Jia Zhang before making a decision, and the decision-making power ultimately lay in the hands of her mother-in-law.

Although Jia Dongxu was unable to continue working, the factory still took their situation into consideration and provided a replacement position.

Deputy Director Li advised: “I hope you can take over this position in the factory and become a new-age woman.

"

He was confident about this matter at first sight: if Qin Huairu could be allowed to work in the factory, everything would be under his command.

When Qin Huairu returned home early in the morning, she had a detailed talk with Jia Zhang to discuss this issue.

When Jia Zhang heard that the compensation was only 300 yuan and the factory would no longer pay for subsequent treatment costs, he immediately became agitated.

"What? That's too unreasonable! I have to go and talk to the factory manager!"

Qin Huairu explained in a low voice: "Deputy Director Li explained that Dongxu used the equipment without authorization, so the factory did not pursue the matter out of benevolence and paid the fee.

"

Jia Zhang remained silent. Yi Zhonghai had told her everything and she knew that her son was indeed at fault.

"What about the money?" she demanded.

Qin Huairu took out a small package embroidered with a handkerchief from her pocket, opened it to reveal the brand new RMB inside, and handed it to her mother-in-law.

Jia Zhang took it without hesitation, spit on her palm first, counted the number, and after confirming that it was correct, she put it away with satisfaction and took two portions out for Qin Huairu.

"The factory is no longer responsible for Dongxu's subsequent medical expenses?" Jia Zhang confirmed again.

Qin Huairu nodded in agreement. Although she was dissatisfied, Jia Zhang still lacked the courage to make a fuss, for fear that if the fuss got out of hand, she might even lose the 300 yuan.

After asking for some details, she had already made a decision in her mind.

In any case, it is a foregone conclusion that he will lose his legs, so it is better to keep the money.

"Then don't treat it. Let the doctor treat it first, and then take it home for a few days to recuperate!" Jia Zhang made the decision.

Qin Huairu looked at the twenty yuan in her hand in astonishment, her heart full of confusion.

"It doesn't matter whether you treat your foot or not. Why waste all that money?" Jia Zhang said in an unquestionable tone.

Qin Huairu nodded in agreement. The family's financial power was under the management of Jia Zhang. She had no objection and felt that her mother-in-law's logic made sense.

Even though amputation would cost at least several hundred dollars, the outcome of not having surgery would be roughly the same, so it is appropriate to keep the 300 yuan.

"Mom, I have something else I want to discuss with you.

"Qin Huairu said.

"What's the matter?" Jia Zhang asked curiously.

"Deputy Director Li suggested that after Dongxu retires and returns home, one of our family members could take over his job in the factory.

"

"Do you want to take over?" Seeing her daughter eager to try, Jia Zhang asked.

Qin Huairu nodded shyly. She was still simple and innocent, and had not yet become completely complicated.

After thinking for a while, Jia Zhang said, “You can go to work, but there is a condition: you give me 3 yuan from your monthly salary as savings for my old age.

"

After getting married, Qin Huairu mainly took care of the housework and had little contact with the outside world. She thought she could earn as much as her husband, and thought it was not an exaggeration to give the mother-in-law 3 yuan, so she immediately agreed to this request.

"Qin Huairu, let me tell you, you are my daughter-in-law and you must abide by women's virtues when you work in the factory.

Otherwise, don't even think about getting the job.

When the time comes, I will send you back to the countryside! " Jia Zhang warned with sharp eyes.

Although she felt somewhat submissive in her heart, Qin Huairu chose to remain silent at this moment and just nodded slightly to show her understanding.

"Also, keep your distance from the stupid guy!"

The news about Jia Dongxu quickly spread in the courtyard. Some people felt sorry for it, while others felt that he deserved it and gloated over his misfortune.

Relying on the relationship with his master Yi Zhonghai, he and Sha Zhu were like little bullies in the courtyard. The former relied on his personal strength, while the latter benefited from Yi Zhonghai's protection.

Most of his peers had suffered from the bullying of these two people, so they did not have much sympathy for Jia Dongxu's experience.

The Ye family has always been ignored like a small transparent family in this courtyard, and of course they are not taken seriously by Jia Dongxu. They almost became victims of beatings in the firewood room incident in the past. At that time, Ye Chuan was still in junior high school and could only hide behind his parents for protection.

When Liu Yue learned about this, she felt a sense of secret joy in her heart. She stared at the location of her own firewood room, thinking that those evil deeds would eventually receive the retribution they deserved.

After discussing with Jia Zhang, Qin Huairu returned to the hospital to take care of Jia Dongxu, who was lying in bed waiting for surgery.

But after the examination, the doctor told Qin Huairu that due to the severity of the comminuted fracture and dead muscles, surgery was necessary to prevent more problems in the future, but the cost would be as high as hundreds of yuan.

Qin Huairu was not aware of the seriousness of the situation and misunderstood it as just a small expense of a few hundred yuan. She shook her head firmly and announced that she would not have the operation, saying that her family could not afford it.

"I've made up my mind," she said.

Although the doctor tried his best to explain the seriousness of the illness, Qin Huairu's mind was unshakable.

This is not difficult to understand, because there is such a precedent in her hometown: someone spent his whole life in the mountains because his injured leg was not treated in time, relying on crutches instead of surgery. Although his muscles did not die, he still lived to be in his eighties.

Jia Dongxu just lost the ability to walk. The so-called "muscle necrosis" was just a scary lie! He didn't understand how dangerous it was to have broken legs. He just accepted the status quo that could not be changed and no longer insisted on surgery.

When he returned to the ward and saw Qin Huairu, the anger in his eyes was like needles.

"Don't you want to have the surgery anymore, Qin Huairu?"

Qin Huairu was startled and quickly told the truth: "It's not that I don't want you to do it, but the surgery costs several hundred yuan and my family really can't afford it.

The factory has paid all the expenses before today and will not be responsible for the future." Jia Dongxu was furious, but he was helpless about the reality. After all, he made some mistakes in the cause of the incident, and getting 300 yuan was an unexpected gain.

He was unaware of the serious condition of his legs and thought that since he could no longer walk, he would just let nature take its course.

"Give me the 300 yuan the factory paid as compensation!"

Qin Huairu lowered her head and said softly, "The money is with my mother. She only gave me twenty-one dollars to pay for the medical expenses." With the possibility of lifelong disability, Jia Dongxu's mentality has changed a lot. He was very angry when he heard this.

"What nonsense! Get out of here!" he shouted.

Ye Chuan had no idea what was going on in the courtyard. He was sitting in the back of the tricycle, lazily reading the book in his hands.

The sun was scorching hot, and the streets were so quiet in the afternoon that only the occasional sound of wind could be heard. Even the rag collector did not show up.

The weather was still a little cool in the morning. The two walked through the streets and alleys, but they collected only a few scrap steel and used books, making their gains minimal.

When they returned to their business locations at lunch time, others had gained little, or nothing at all.

What comforted Ye Chuan was that they actually found a complete set of four great classics among a pile of old books. Although they were in traditional Chinese vertical format and not worth much, their unique collection value was quite high.

Ye Chuan put it away without hesitation. The afternoon heat was unbearable, so they parked the car on the side of the road. Fatty Han took a nap in the shade of a tree, while he leaned against the car bed and read the book.

This is a traditional Chinese book with slightly simplified text. It is shorter than the simplified Chinese book and does not look too thick.

Ye Chuan was so immersed in this different version of the masterpiece, which was his first time to come into contact with, that he completely forgot about the time.

"Young man, can you help us push the car down?" Kobayashi was concentrating on the scene in front of him, but was startled by a voice.

He looked up and saw a young man standing in front of him. He was wearing khaki pants, a white shirt and a pair of glasses, and looked gentle.

“What did you just say?” Ye Chuan was immersed in the world of the book and did not fully hear what the young man said.

The young man smiled and explained, "Comrade, can I ask you to help push the cart?"

Not far away, a dark-colored sedan was parked quietly on the side of the road.

Ye Chuan agreed, patted the fat guy's shoulder with the book in his hand, and the two followed the young man to the car.

In that era, bicycles were considered a luxury item, and cars were even more so.

Anyone who can drive such a vehicle must be someone that cannot be underestimated.

In that huge steel rolling mill, only a few people like the factory director Yang and the deputy general manager Li had the opportunity to ride in a jeep.

Small state-owned factories probably don’t even have a jeep, let alone cars, which are naturally even rarer.

The young driver said to the technician who was checking the condition of the vehicle: "Master Ma, I have found two people to help. Can you try to start it again?"

Master Ma nodded, opened the hood, looked at Secretary Chen apologetically and said, "Secretary Chen, I'm afraid these two people are not strong enough, can you also help?"

Secretary Chen nodded in agreement and led Ye Chuan and the other man to the rear of the car to help.

When passing by the carriage, Ye Chuan caught a glimpse of someone in the back seat looking at something intently, and obviously had no intention of getting off the bus.

The driver pressed the start button, and the three of them pushed the car forward with all their might. Fortunately, with the help of Fat Brother, they were able to push it forward smoothly.

After repeated attempts, the car still wouldn't start.

The driver had a puzzled look on his face and opened the hood again for a closer inspection.

At this time, the person sitting in the back seat seemed to have finished the task at hand and walked down with a smile on his face.

Ye Chuan was shocked when he saw this scene.

The man was also wearing khaki pants and a blue dacron shirt, and black-framed glasses, looking like the great leader seen in the TV series in his previous life.

Recalling that the driver just called that person Secretary Chen, Ye Chuan suddenly realized that the person in front of him was the invaluable big shot - Sha Zhu's future mentor!

He suppressed his inner excitement and greeted them with a friendly smile.

The big shot also nodded politely, his eyes accidentally falling on a book that Ye Chuan had just put on the ground, and then he leaned over to pick it up, "Don't dirty the book!"

But when the big shot noticed the handwriting on the spine of the book, he was stunned: he had originally expected it to be a popular street novel, but it turned out to be a vertical traditional Chinese version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

He looked at Ye Chuan with doubt as to whether a rag collector could understand this famous work.

Although he had no intention of looking down on the scrap workers, he still had a prejudice deep in his heart that this type of people generally had a low level of education and were unlikely to appreciate this semi-literate historical work.

Ye Chuan didn't take this misunderstanding to heart at the moment.

He vaguely sensed some clues from the engine sound just now, so he followed the driver to the hood.

Although he had never driven a car in his previous life, he was actually a quasi-driver due to his long period of "immersion" in car forums.

Those luxurious cars were the places of his imagination where he often indulged himself.

His experience on the forum gave him a basic understanding of various types of cars. Some posts discussed classic car models, and he had even seen a short video of a blogger restoring and modifying an HQ sedan.

The video is still fresh in his memory. He knows everything about the structure of the vehicle.

The technician was anxiously checking the engine at this moment, his skills were limited to basic repairs and he was making no progress.