Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

Red Star Hospital

"Lao Yi, who did you offend? This is the second time."

Looking at Yi Zhonghai lying on the hospital bed, Tan Guihua's face was full of worry. She lived in fear every day. She now asked others to bring back the groceries she bought for her, as she was afraid of being beaten on the road.

Yi Zhonghai became even more depressed. The last time it happened was the day before the assessment, and this time it happened again, which meant that he missed the assessment again this year.

Both times, someone put a sack over his head and even when we called the police, they couldn't find any clues.

This is two years, right? I wasted all my skills. I have the ability of an eighth-level worker, but I am paid the salary of a seventh-level worker. How much money have I lost in the past two years? It hurts to think about it.

"Ugh!"

Yi Zhonghai was worried! The day before yesterday, he had assured the workshop director that there would be no problem with the assessment. Now, Yi Zhonghai had become a laughing stock in the steel mill.

Everyone in their workshop became the target of others' ridicule, just because before the assessment, they trusted Yi Zhonghai too much and bet with others that Yi Zhonghai would definitely pass this time. They never expected that Yi Zhonghai's leg would be broken again the day before the assessment.

As a result, up to now, no one in the entire workshop has come to the hospital to see him.

The same was true for the people in the compound. Except for Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu who came to see him yesterday, the rest of the people pretended not to know, which made Yi Zhonghai feel heartbroken.

During these two days when Yi Zhonghai couldn't sleep, he often reflected on his previous actions. In the end, he came to the conclusion that he was not wrong, it was all the fault of the people in the compound, and they were all ungrateful.

Think about how many times Yi Zhonghai had won awards for outstanding courtyard houses when he was a big boss. These were all achievements made under the leadership of Yi Zhonghai. But less than two years have passed and those people have forgotten about him one by one.

There are also Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, who have lived in vain for so many years and are so inhumane.

"Old Yi, Old Yi, are you feeling better?"

When Yan Bugui came in, Yi Zhonghai was cursing Yan Bugui in his heart. When he heard Yan Bugui's voice, Yi Zhonghai felt a little guilty. When he saw what Yan Bugui was holding, the guilt disappeared without a trace.

When people come to the hospital to visit patients, they usually bring fruits and cakes.

Yan Bugui was different, he brought pig's trotters.

It’s just a pig’s trotter. It’s ok if you bring more, but Yan Laokou only brought one pig’s trotter.

"Old Yan, I'm sorry to have cost you so much money."

Yi Zhonghai could only force a smile. As long as he came, it was good enough. It was considered that Yan Bugui was thoughtful.

"Old Yan, it's a good opportunity for you to chat with Old Yi. I'm going back to cook."

It was time for lunch, and Tan Guihua needed to go home to cook and then bring it to Yi Zhonghai.

"Okay, it's been a long time since Lao Yi and I sat down and talked."

Tan Guihua's words were exactly what Yan Bugui was thinking. He came here today with his own little thoughts.

"Old Yan, tell me, is there anything I can help you with?"

After Tan Guihua left, Yi Zhonghai asked directly.

"Old Yi, what are you saying? We have been neighbors for many years. Can't I come to see you if I have nothing to do?"

Yan Bugui pretended to be very unhappy.

"Haha, Old Yan, just like you said, we have been neighbors for so many years, who doesn't know each other? Now it's just the two of us, don't be shy, tell me what's going on first."

"Old Yi, since we have come to this point, I will speak frankly."

"Ah."

"Old Yi, I heard that your factory has two vacancies for work positions. Do you think Jie Cheng has a chance?"

Yi Zhonghai understood that Yan Bugui was eyeing the position at the steel rolling mill.

"Old Yan, there's nothing I can do about this."

"Old Yi, you know a lot of people, think of a solution."

"What can I do? I can't even take care of myself. Look at me now. I'm in the hospital every other day. I missed the eighth-level worker assessment again. I don't have the slightest solution."

Yi Zhonghai was in no mood to help Yan Bugui now. Besides, the Yan family was not worth his help, and he would not get any benefit from helping. In fact, the most important thing was that Yi Zhonghai had made the entire workshop lose face this time, especially the workshop director, so he was even more embarrassed to ask for help.

"Old Yi, I won't let you work in vain. I'll pay this amount?"

As he spoke, Yan Bugui stretched out five fingers.

"hehe."

Yi Zhonghai sneered. Five hundred yuan might have been fine in previous years, but it was really impossible to buy it in these years of famine.

"Old Yi, how is it?"

"not so good."

"Old Yi, you know my family's situation. We have saved this much money by living frugally. Please help me out since we have been neighbors for many years."

"Old Yan, do you know how much it costs to buy a workstation?"

"know."

"You know? I thought you didn't know. You only pay 500. Who will pay the remaining 300? Me?"

"No, Lao Yi, you have worked in the factory for so many years, and you are a senior worker, so your face should be worth three hundred, right?"

"I can't help it. My face is not worth a penny."

Others may not know, but Yi Zhonghai knows that he has lost all his face in the past two years.

There are only a few level seven workers in the factory, so they don't need one like me.

If I were an eighth-level worker, it would be different. Unfortunately, this year's opportunity has gone down the drain again. It is still uncertain what the situation will be like next year. Yi Zhonghai is now psychologically traumatized. He is really worried about what will happen if something goes wrong again during the assessment next year.

(According to Baidu, the eighth-level worker assessment seems to be twice a year, but this book sets it as once a year, alternating between the first half and the second half of the year.)

"Old Yi, I will ask Yan Jiecheng to become your disciple and take care of you in your old age."

Yan Bugui took out what he thought was his trump card.

"Old Yan, let me be frank. Whether your children can provide for you in your old age is another matter."

"You... Old Yi, what nonsense are you talking about? If my son doesn't take care of me in my old age, who will he take care of? Besides, I have always been impartial at home and never treated anyone unfairly, even the maids. How could a child raised in this way not take care of me in my old age?"

"Then we'll see."

"Old Yi, if you help me this time, I will follow your lead in the future. What do you think?"

"I don't think it's a good idea. You know what's going on in the compound now. Who will listen to us? Who will still recognize us?"

"No matter whether others recognize it or not, as long as we work together and make more plans, we can at least have a say, even if we can't return to our former glory, right?"

Yi Zhonghai fell silent. He had not forgotten the position of manager of that compound. Although he was very impressive at that time, at least no one dared to speak loudly in front of him.

If he could form an alliance with Yan Bugui again and win over a group of people, it would not be impossible to regain control of the compound.

"Old Yan, prepare a thousand yuan, and I'll set you up with some help. You can talk to our workshop director in person."

"What? One thousand? Lao Yi, look at how much I'd be worth if you sold me off?"

"Old Yan, stop talking nonsense. You can think about it first. On Sunday, I will ask Qin Huairu to invite the workshop director to my house. Then you can talk about it. If you have any ability, use it then."

"Well... okay then."

The two chatted for a while, and when Tan Guihua came to deliver the meal, Yan Bugui said goodbye and went home.

After leaving the hospital, Yan Bugui's face fell. He was very dissatisfied with this trip to the hospital. He did not achieve the goal of saving money and was unhappy. Even when he returned home to eat, Yan Bugui had a gloomy face.