Siheyuan: Struggle Begins in the 1950s

"Why is Qin Huairu asking about the workstation?"

"It's all for Banggeng. Banggeng is now sweeping the streets. As a boy, he has a strong sense of self-esteem and doesn't like to do this. But even if he succeeds Jia Zhang and goes to the factory, he can only be a sanitation worker.

Qin Huairu is Banggeng's mother after all. She has saved a lot of money with Shazhu over the years, so she wants to buy a workstation for Banggeng to work in the factory."

Wang Jianjun then remembered that Banggeng was now doing the same job as Jia Zhangshi, sweeping the streets.

Without Shazhu's help, Banggeng's job as a driver would be impossible.

"So how much is this steel mill position worth?"

"Then you have to see what you do."

Yan Fugui put away the Golden Chicken Biscuits and explained:

"Ordinary workers make about 800 yuan, but sanitation workers like Jia Zhangshi are worth only 850 yuan. The more popular positions in the kitchen cost yuan."

"And the clerk?"

"Clerk? Clerk is more expensive, almost a thousand. But clerk jobs are not popular."

Yan Fugui suddenly looked at Wang Jianjun in surprise and said:

"Jianjun! Are you going to buy a workstation?!"

"Yes, Uncle, you know I am the only one in my family now. My two sons are in Hong Kong, and my cousin's current workstation used to be my father's. I thought this workstation is useless, so I just sold it for money."

Yan Fugui looked at Wang Jianjun in disbelief and said:

"But why are you selling your workstation for no reason? You're already over 60, almost 70, right?!"

Wang Jianjun smiled and said:

"Just a few days ago, Jie Cheng and his wife came to me to borrow money and said they wanted to quit their jobs and start their own business. I was also thinking that now that the policy has changed, I could earn more by doing some business."

Yan Fugui still felt a little sorry for Wang Jianjun and continued to advise:

"Isn't your wife doing business in Hong Kong? You are not short of money now, right?"

Wang Jianjun laughed and said:

"Who would complain about having too much money? Besides, it's boring to just eat and wait for death in the factory. It's better to start a business. Then I'll leave first and see you later."

Watching Wang Jianjun leave, Yan Fugui shook his head and still didn't quite understand Wang Jianjun's thoughts.

However, everyone has different aspirations. For example, Yan Fugui does not think Yan Jiecheng can make a lot of money in business.

After returning home, Wang Jianjun was thinking about who to sell this work station to.

As a result, the buyer came to the door that night.

The person who came was none other than Qin Huairu that Yan Fugui mentioned.

Qin Huairu is also around 45 years old this year.

Because she married Sha Zhu and didn't have to do the physical work that men do in the steel mill, Qin Huairu still has her charm.

A few months ago, she gave birth to a daughter for Sha Zhu.

And coming with her was a guy named Bang Geng who had an awkward look on his face.

"Sister Qin, why are you here today?"

Qin Huairu said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Jianjun, I heard from Second Uncle that you want to sell your workstation?"

"That's true. I'm not going to follow the example of Yan Jiecheng and his wife and quit my job to start a business. This workstation is useless if it's vacant, so I'm going to sell it. Are you planning to buy it?"

Qin Huairu said with a smile:

"Yeah, this isn't a job for the terrier."

As she spoke, she pulled Bang Geng, who was standing beside her, over and said:

"Why don't you call me Uncle Wang?"

Banggeng called out "Uncle Wang" somewhat embarrassedly.

Over the years, life has smoothed out his edges and he is no longer the naughty kid he used to be, and his temper has improved a lot.

"To be honest, Jianjun, the sweeping job I found for Banggeng at the street office was not official, so it has now been replaced by someone else. Banggeng is too embarrassed to lower his face to learn the craft from Zhuzi, so I thought of buying him a regular job."

Wang Jianjun nodded. He didn’t really care who he sold the job to. He had seen the changes in Banggeng over the years.

As long as it's not the original good one, it's okay to sell it to him.

"Sister Qin, since you need it, I'll sell it to you. But you should have heard from Second Uncle that my workstation is a clerk, so it will be more expensive than other workstations."

"I know about this. Uncle Er said that the job of a clerk would cost about a thousand yuan. Do you think a thousand yuan is not enough? If it is not enough, I can add more."

Sha Zhu has saved a lot of money by earning extra income over the years.

So he gave Qin Huairu a lot of private money.

She could still afford to buy a workstation for Banggeng.

Wang Jianjun shook his head and said:

"You don't need that much. Sister Qin, you and Jingru are cousins, so we are related. Just give 900."

When Qin Huairu and Banggeng heard that Wang Jianjun agreed to sell the workstations, they thanked Wang Jianjun gratefully.

Qin Huairu then went home and gave the money to Wang Jianjun, who asked Banggeng to go to the steel rolling mill to handle the formalities the next day.

When Banggeng returned home in the evening and told Jia Zhang that he would be a formal worker in the steel rolling mill in the future, Jia Zhang excitedly knelt at the head of the bed to thank the spirits of Old Jia and Little Jia in heaven.

But when she heard that this work station was bought by Qin Huairu and the work station belonged to Wang Jianjun, Jia Zhang was stunned.

That night, Jia Zhang couldn't sleep for some reason.

The next day, Wang Jianjun came to the steel rolling mill and Bang Geng was already waiting at the door.

Wang Jianjun took him to the Personnel Department to handle the work station transfer procedures.

After completing a set of procedures, Banggeng finally got his employment letter of introduction.

Banggeng excitedly thanked Wang Jianjun solemnly.

Wang Jianjun waved his hand and said:

"You don't have to thank me, your mother paid for it. But I do want to say one more thing, I think you should thank Sha Zhu. Everyone has seen your attitude towards Sha Zhu over the years, but Sha Zhu has never owed you anything, even the money for your workstation was indirectly paid by him."

After listening to this, Banggeng also lowered his head in silence.

Wang Jianjun didn't say anything more.

Whether he can listen to the joke depends on his own conscience.

After Wang Jianjun resigned, he specially invited his former buyers to dinner.

Although several purchasing agents did not understand Wang Jianjun's decision to resign and start his own business, they all offered their blessings.

Under Wang Jianjun's care over the years, they have been doing well in the purchasing department.

Except for Li Yuanfang who was later implicated because he stood on the wrong side.

However, they cannot do the job of buyers for too long.

After the reform and opening up, rural productivity has been liberated.

Many smart village heads went directly to the steel mill to seek cooperation.

In the past, buyers had to go to the countryside one by one to purchase supplies.

Now it is no longer necessary.

The people in those communes would plant and raise agricultural products according to the needs of the steel mills.

The steel rolling mill only needs to drive down regularly to pick up the goods.

This is also due to the increasingly improved transportation infrastructure around the old city in recent years.

Otherwise, those big trucks simply can’t drive into the countryside.

The first two steel rolling mills posted the latest announcement that there will be personnel changes in the purchasing department next year.

A large number of people will be assigned to other departments.