Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

"Comrade Li Jianguo, when your academic performance is the same as your brother Lai's, you can go to bed. Hehe." He Lai said in a serious tone and patted him on the shoulder.

"Hey, brother, you are obviously one year younger than me." Li Jianguo turned away He Lai's hand and pouted. In his heart, he was thinking how good this guy is at studying. Oh, there is no comparison. He lowered his head and began to compete with the book.

He Lai just smiled slightly, turned his head and continued to lie down.

Soon after school, He Lai returned home and found Director Wang was there. He watched Director Wang really talk to the women in the hospital about the new country and the new atmosphere, and how women can hold up half the sky, and encouraged everyone to go out to work, but the effect was very poor.

When Director Wang saw He Lai, she immediately called him over. "Little Lai, come here quickly. Auntie Wang has something to tell you."

He Lai took him in his arms and continued, "Everyone knows that some time ago, Comrade He Lai's fishing method helped everyone solve part of their food needs, so that the entire Nanluoguxiang could eat fish. Let's applaud our little hero!"

After saying that, he immediately took the lead in applauding, and everyone followed suit.

"The Military Control Commission decided to give Comrade He Lai a certificate of merit and the title of Life Skilled Hand, and a reward of 50 yuan as a token of gratitude."

After saying that, he handed a certificate and an envelope to He Lai with both hands. He Lai also took them with both hands and bowed to express his gratitude.

Director Wang then conveyed his thoughts to everyone, asking them to stay vigilant, keep an eye on their children, not go out at night, and other related matters, and then went to the next courtyard.

He Lai went home, put his things away, and then went to Uncle Li's house.

I found Uncle Li holding Little Stone and heard what Director Wang said. I was thinking about what Director Wang meant and whether to let Aunt Li give it a try.

Seeing He Lai coming over, he immediately said, "Xiao Lai, come quickly, help me think about what Director Wang said, whether Aunt Li can go to work."

After all, I am a carpenter and I may not be available tomorrow, so it would be best if I could go to work.

After all, my family is young and not as stubborn as others. If possible, as for the children, I can just ask my parents to come over to help.

"Uncle Li, I think it's okay. I heard that the textile factory is recruiting a large number of female workers. Aunt Li, Uncle Li can also give it a try."

"Really? Okay, Uncle Li will go and ask tomorrow!"

Uncle Li immediately became excited when he heard there was a play, and Aunt Li also looked expectant. Aunt Li is only 20 years old now, so naturally she wants to work. After all, she has lived in the courtyard for a long time, and her family's life is considered poor, so her parents went back to their hometown to farm.

"Uncle Li, you'd better ask Director Wang before you go. After all, it would be better if Director Wang can make a recommendation."

"Yes, yes, yes, Xiao Laizi is still smart. By the way, why did you come to see Uncle Li? What do you want to make?"

Uncle Li looked excited.

"Well, my mother planted some vegetables in the yard and asked Uncle Li to help build a vegetable rack and a roof."

"Okay, that's easy. Just some wood. I'll get it done for you tomorrow morning."

"Then I'll trouble Uncle Li."

The two of them went into the courtyard together, measured the size, and said that 1 would be enough.

After Uncle Li came back, he thought about the other two people in the backyard who were also living in poverty, Zhang Ergou, who carried a big bag, and Aunt Li, who swept the street. He invited the two to come over and discuss whether they were willing to go.

Zhang Ergou and his wife expressed their willingness to go, but Aunt Li refused. After all, she was old, and her grandson would graduate from high school in two years and would be able to go to work, and their lives would be better then.

Thus an agreement was reached, and the two couples went out to discuss it with Director Wang.

Director Wang quickly understood the situation and said that it would be no problem for the two women to enter the textile factory. Zhang Ergou should also be able to go in to do the transport work. Li Dawa (I just thought of a name, I feel embarrassed to keep calling him Uncle Li or Uncle Li) should be able to go to the wood processing factory since he has carpentry skills.

The four of them quickly agreed, and Director Wang quickly wrote out the letter of introduction. The four of them went back happily.

Originally, Yan Fugui wanted his wife to go, but she was pregnant and the family would soon have four children, which was too fertile. If she went to work, the family would probably be in chaos, so he had to give up!

The rest are workers in steel rolling mills. Their wages are enough to support their families, and there are no elderly people at home to take care of the children, so they don't have any thoughts in this regard.

When Wu Juan came home from get off work and learned that Director Wang had come to reward her son, she was also very happy! She immediately turned on the mother mode and coaxed him for a long time, saying that she would need to spend money to marry Yu Shui in the future, and took away the 50 yuan.

He Lai could only bear it. He couldn't say he wouldn't marry her. Then he brought this happiness to Yu Shui and made more efforts to learn addition. This time he had to read and write at the same time. He tried to start arithmetic as soon as possible.

The two kids went from sitting side by side at the beginning to sitting opposite each other now. He Lai has transformed into the role of a little teacher. He Lai lies on the desk and teaches Yu Shui how to write numbers, correcting him from time to time.

The rain did not resist and wrote slowly. As long as my brother is willing to teach, I am willing to learn. Anyway, I have to read and write every day, and I am getting used to it.

Wu Juan cleaned up the housework, heated up the food, and lay on the rocking chair, watching the two cute little ones study and live with a smile. She just had to wait for them to finish and eat, without worrying at all.

……

The next day, Li Dawa took his wife and Zhang Ergou and his wife to the textile factory. With Director Wang's letter of introduction, the two women were quickly approved and were able to start work as textile workers after nearly a week of training. Zhang Ergou was also assigned to be a porter.

Both families were delighted as they finally didn't have to worry about their daily needs.

In this way, Ergou and his wife and Dawa's wife stayed in the textile factory to study, while Li Dawa went to the wood processing factory. The factory director was very happy to see that he was a carpenter. After Li Dawa demonstrated his skills, the factory director immediately decided to hire him as a master chef with a monthly salary of 45 yuan. Li Dawa was very happy.

People finally began to believe that the country had really become better and there was no more oppression and exploitation.

When it was time to get off work, while the two little ones were still reading an article in their Chinese textbook, Li Dawa and his wife and Zhang Ergou and his wife came to their house, one carrying 2 kilograms of meat and the other carrying 6 pig's trotters.

"What are you doing?" Wu Juan sat up from the rocking chair.

"Sister-in-law He, this is what happened. Our two families found jobs today. Four of us got jobs. Three of them went to the textile factory, and I went to the wood processing factory.

So I came over to get some things, thank Xiao Laizi for his advice. Otherwise we would still be undecided!"

After Li Dawa finished speaking, the two of them handed over the things.

"Oh, this is inappropriate. I can't accept it. Why should I ask you for something just to make a suggestion?"

Now the two of them started a tug of war, and the two little ones were enjoying it.

Finally, He Lai couldn't stand it anymore and said why don't we all eat together. Now everyone agreed to listen to Xiao Laizi, and the three women started cooking. He Lai also took 4 bowls and made 4 bowls of egg custard and put them in the steamer.

Then he and Yu Shui went to help the deaf old lady over so that she could have a good meal.