Siheyuan: How the Little People Live

When talking about the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, we have to mention a famous businessman, Lou Bancheng.

The Red Star Steel Mill was originally a private enterprise, and Lou Bancheng was the chairman of the board. However, since my country is a socialist country, it is extremely hostile to capitalism. In the context of the times, Lou Bancheng donated the Red Star Steel Mill to the country.

Lou Bancheng is the father of Lou Xiao'e, the wife of Xu Damao who lives in the backyard of Hongxing Siheyuan.

Since it was handed over to the state, it was also nationalized and directly managed by the Ministry of Finance.

After being nationalized, the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill underwent several expansions and has now become a large factory with 3 employees.

There are 9 industrial workshops inside, and each workshop is equipped with a canteen. Workshop is a special work workshop, and Sha Zhu, who lives in the middle courtyard of the Red Star Siheyuan, is the head chef of the canteen of workshop , also commonly known as the small canteen of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, which is closer to the office building.

Ye Wenwu and his cousin Zhang Xingbang followed Liu Hua, deputy chief of the security department, towards the office of Deputy Director Li, who was in charge of personnel and logistics.

During the conversation just now, Ye Wenwu also learned that Liu Hua was the deputy chief of the Security Department. There are 30 people in the Security Department, including one chief and two deputy chiefs, each with 10 people, who take turns on duty every day.

When talking about Deputy Director Li, Liu Hua came to mind. Ye Wenwu guessed that Liu Hua might be Deputy Director Li's man.

After all, from beginning to end, every word Liu Hua said was about Director Li, and he never mentioned Director Yang, the factory's director.

As for the secretary of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, he basically doesn't take care of anything and is in a semi-retired state.

When we arrived at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill office building, which only had two floors, Deputy Director Li's office was on the far left of the second floor.

"Dong dong dong."

A young man came out of the office and asked with some confusion when he saw Ye Wenwu and the others:

"Brother Hua, why are you coming to my place this morning instead of going on duty?"

"Xiaotian, I have something to ask the factory director. Is he in the office? Would you like to inform him?"

"Brother Hua, the factory director just arrived at the office. Why don't you come to my office and sit for a while?"

Hearing the words of the clerk named Xiaotian, Brother Hua led Ye Wenwu and the other two into the office.

"Let me introduce you two. This is the factory director's clerk, Wang Xiaotian. If you have anything in the future, please look for Clerk Wang first to see if the factory director has time. If he does, Clerk Wang will arrange it for you."

After hearing Deputy Section Chief Liu Hua's instructions, Ye Wenwu and the others nodded repeatedly.

"Hello, Director Wang."

"Okay, Brother Hua, thank you for your help. Why don't you go and do your work first?"

"Yeah, you kid, you've reached the factory director's place, be smart, I still have to watch at the door here, so I'll leave first."

Ye Wenwu knew that Liu Hua couldn't possibly wait here, and sending him here was already the most he could do. Instead of doing that, it would be better for him to ask for it himself, which would be better.

After Liu Hua left, Wang Xiaotian looked at Ye Wenwu and the other man, and said thoughtfully:

"Are you familiar with Liu Hua? Who is Liu Hua to you?"

I guess Wang Xiaotian saw that he was so familiar with Liu Hua and was sent here by Liu Hua himself, so he thought he was someone related to Liu Hua and now came to check my background.

"Secretary Wang, my brother Hua is my brother, and this is proof of our work performance. I may need to trouble Secretary Wang to say a few good words for us in front of the factory director."

Ye Wenwu walked to the desk and handed over the work indicator certificate, then took out a pack of Peony brand cigarettes from his bag and stuffed it underneath.

Wang Xiaotian took a look and calmly took out the Peony brand Xia Yin cigarette and put it into the drawer, and a smile appeared on his serious face.

"You kid, you can call me Brother Wang from now on. Tell me, which workshop do you want to work in?"

Ye Wenwu certainly knew what Wang Xiaotian meant, but he still pretended to be a little surprised and said:

"Brother Wang, can I still choose this myself?"

Wang Xiaotian looked very proud, motioned Ye Wenwu to sit down, and then he said arrogantly:

"Don't you see who your brother Wang is? Isn't he just a small front-line worker?"

Ye Wenwu showed admiration on his face, "Brother Wang, can you arrange for my cousin to work in a front-line workshop? It would be best if you can find a better master. I don't ask him to have a high level, but I just ask him to be able to teach his apprentices attentively."

Wang Xiaotian was stunned. Usually when he said this, they all wanted him to find a master of a higher level to take over.

But no one has ever been like Ye Wenwu, who only asks for something better and not something higher.

"You're quite clever. To be honest, I've been working here for so many years, but I'm the first one who asks for a master who's not too high. Let me find one for you."

"Then thank you for your help, Brother Wang. I will treat you to dinner when this matter is resolved."

Ye Wenwu also nodded repeatedly in response.

"Well, if you hadn't suggested this, I would have recommended Master Yi Zhonghai from Workshop 1 to you. He is a level 8 fitter at our Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. You should be able to learn something from him."

"Or maybe it's Master Wang Dachui from Workshop 1. He was only a fifth-level fitter, but his three apprentices, including the eldest apprentice, are already fourth-level fitters. The second and third apprentices are both third-level fitters, but his own level is a bit low."

Hearing Wang Xiaotian's introduction, Ye Wenwu's eyes lit up. Although Wang Dachui himself was of a very low level, being only a level 5 fitter, he was able to teach one level and two level fitters, which showed that he was not very secretive.

You should know that Yi Zhonghai, the uncle of Hongxing Siheyuan, is an eighth-level fitter at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, but none of his apprentices are third-level fitters. This shows the intricacies of this business.

Moreover, during ordinary Chinese New Year and other festivals, his disciples were never seen coming to his door to wish him a happy new year or give him any gifts.

This is also because I made this request. If I was introduced to a master like Yi Zhonghai, it would be better to teach myself. Anyway, if I have a master like Wang Dachui, it would be a lifetime of happiness.

"Thank you so much, Brother Wang. Let's call this Master Wang Dachui!"

"By the way, what kind of job are you looking for?"

Wang Xiaotian was a little surprised. Why was this guy looking for a job for his cousin? Wasn't he planning to work here himself?

Ye Wenwu said evasively:

"Brother Wang, I want to work in an office. Do you think it's possible?"

Wang Xiaotian looked at Ye Wenwu. The suggestions he had made for his cousin earlier had made him look at him with new eyes. He didn't expect that he was so ambitious and wanted to work in an office.

However, he did not want to undermine Ye Wenwu's confidence, so he said casually:

"It's not that I won't help you, kid. If you are working in the workshop, I can help you arrange to work under a good master, but I can't make the decision if you work in the office. This needs to be arranged by the factory manager. You can ask the factory manager when the time comes."

After saying that, Wang Xiaotian no longer paid attention to Ye Wenwu and the other two, and started to busy himself with his own work.

Ye Wenwu also knew that this cigarette of his could probably only make the other party do this, but it was enough.

After all, Wang Xiaotian is just a secretary, there is no need to give so much. Otherwise, if his leader finds out that he gave the same amount to the leader as to the secretary, wouldn't that seduce his leader?

Moreover, Wang Xiaotian also said that he could not make the decision on this matter. Even if he could make the decision, Ye Wenwu would not dare to agree. If Deputy Director Li knew that Wang Xiaotian made the decision privately, although Wang Xiaotian might be punished, Ye Wenwu himself felt that he would be punished, which was far less safe than bringing it up with Deputy Director Li in person.