Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

When Huang Qiuxia came to work in the afternoon, she heard that the annual holiday would start on the 23rd day of the lunar calendar. She found it unbelievable. In that era, most factories and units still had to work on New Year's Eve, and the annual holiday was only three days on the first, second and third day of the lunar calendar.

The office was fine. It was closed on the 23rd before the Lunar New Year and resumed work on the 16th of the first lunar month. That was more than half a month. She couldn't understand why it was not good to make money. The period before the Lunar New Year was also the peak consumption period for ordinary people.

The more I think about it, the more regrettable it is that we have to go on holiday so early.

So Huang Qiuxia found Liu Guozheng and said, "Guozheng, isn't it too early for us to go on holiday?"

"Sister Huang, don't worry. All of you will receive paid annual leave, and your salary will be calculated during the leave."

"Guozheng, that's not what I meant. The New Year is the peak period for consumption, especially the week before the New Year. It would be a pity to miss it."

"Sister Huang, there is no end to making money. Isn't it good to have plenty of rest time?"

"Guozheng, you're just sitting there doing nothing anyway. If you trust me, I can come to the office to help you out during the week after the holiday."

Since she started working in the office, Huang Qiuxia's family situation has improved greatly, especially during the two months when Zheng Jiandong was not at work. Not only was her family not greatly affected, but they lived better. This is all thanks to her being able to work in the office.

Now that the office is on holiday, and she is sitting at home with nothing to do, she thought about doing her part to generate more income for the office in the week before the New Year.

"Sister Huang, are you really restless?"

"I can't stay idle. Before I came to the office, I was still pasting matchboxes on New Year's Eve. Now I have more than 20 days off. I will earn less money."

"Then let's do this. If you work normally from the 23rd to the 29th of the lunar calendar, I will triple your salary."

In fact, Liu Guozheng also understands that people who are used to being busy will feel uncomfortable as long as they stop. What's more, there are not many entertainment programs these days, and it is not popular to travel during the New Year. Many people really don't want to have a holiday early.

"Ah, Guozheng, didn't you say that it's a paid annual leave? No need to pay extra salary."

Huang Qiuxia was really shocked. Her current salary was basically one yuan a day. If, as Liu Guozheng said, she could get triple the salary in six days, that would be 18 yuan directly, which was more than half a month's salary. This was not what she intended.

"This is also the salary standard that the office and the food factory have already set."

"I don't want it. I'm just helping our office on a voluntary basis."

"No, that won't work. We must abide by the established rules. You can only choose one between triple pay and holiday."

"Well, then I'll choose triple the salary."

Huang Qiuxia had no choice but to agree. As long as she could sell enough items within six days, she would be worthy of the salary.

Maybe we can go find Lou Xiaoe and ask her to persuade Liu Guozheng to change this "weird" rule.

"Brother Zheng, if I continue to work, will it be considered triple salary?"

After Huang Qiuxia left, Xu Damao started to have ideas. He couldn't go to Hope New Village directly after the holiday like Li Dabao did. Even if he wanted to go, he had to wait until New Year's Eve.

"No, you are a non-staff member and do not enjoy this policy."

"Brother Zheng, I don't want any salary, but I can just help you out on a voluntary basis, right?"

"Well, you can have this."

"But, Brother Zheng, I know you. You will definitely not let us work in vain, right?"

"I will definitely not let you work in vain. I will let you have a couple more drinks at dinner. No, you are not thinking about my wine again, are you?"

"Brother Zheng, wise."

Xu Damao and Li Dabao looked at Liu Guozheng with expectant eyes.

"I say you two aren't keen on climbing up the social ladder, so why do you need so much alcohol? Five bottles of alcohol a month, you two can't spend all the pocket money you earn, right?"

"Hey, Brother Zheng, who told you to make good wine? Besides, five bottles is a bit too little. You don't know how many people want to buy wine."

"I don't care how many people want to buy it. Anyway, there are only so many each month. If it's not enough for the two of you, then go find Erlang and Laosan and see if they will give you two some."

"Don't even think about Erlang and Laosan. They don't even have enough for themselves to drink."

"I can do nothing to help you."

Liu Guozheng shrugged, spread his hands, and looked at Xu Damao and Li Dabao with a smile.

Li Dabao turned his eyes and said, "Brother Zheng, I don't want white wine, I want yellow wine, is this okay?"

After hearing what Li Dabao said, Xu Damao's eyes lit up and he quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, yes. If Zheng Ge doesn't have white wine, yellow wine will do. Yellow wine will do."

"Five jars per person, the kind that hold one pound."

"Brother Zheng, it's a little too little. You know that rice wine is like a drink, so it goes down faster."

"That's right, Damao is right. I want to prepare a few jars for my father-in-law."

"Dabao's words reminded me that my father and my father-in-law also need it."

Speaking of rice wine, Liu Guozheng also likes it. When he has nothing to do in winter, he can warm up some rice wine, prepare some good side dishes, and drink it by himself or with family and friends. It is a wonderful thing.

"How about we have hotpot tonight?"

"Brother Zheng, don't change the subject. The issue of the wine hasn't been resolved yet. We can have hot pot anytime."

"I agree with what Damao said. Brother Zheng, please tell me if you can get more."

"Why are you two in such a hurry? I didn't say no. How about this? Ten jars each, as your year-end bonus."

This was something Liu Guozheng suddenly thought of. He had been worrying about what to give as the year-end bonus. Now it turned out that this year Xu Damao and Li Dabao's year-end bonus would be rice wine.

"Brother Xie Zheng, aren't we going to have hot pot tonight? I'll go to the market to see what vegetables there are and bring some back."

Having achieved his goal, Xu Damao ran away happily.

"Brother Zheng, didn't you say you shouldn't drink and drive, or drive after drinking? How dare you drink at night?"

"Dabao, you fool, your sister-in-law can drive too."

"Oh, I forgot."

"Okay, let's not sit here anymore, let's go to the front and see if we need any help."