Siheyuan, Me and the Yu Sisters

Time flies, and it is February 1st in a blink of an eye. At the end of last year, the factory organized a chef competition. Not only did they invite several chefs from state-owned hotels as examiners, but also arranged more than a dozen workers from various workshops as judges under Zhang Renkang's unique suggestion. Zhang Renkang believed that since the factory was serving the workers, the workers must be involved in the chef competition. Li Huaide praised his idea, and he also strongly supported it and reported it to the Ministry of Industry as a typical example.

The leaders above also agreed with this idea. They wanted to let the workers evaluate whether the chefs could reach the level they were satisfied with. This was very helpful in improving the workers' sense of identity. Otherwise, if you, a chef with a certain level, made a meal that the workers couldn't eat, how could you still call yourself a chef? This idea was adopted by the Ministry of Industry as a model and was promoted nationwide in 65.

"Be the people's chef and cook meals that workers and peasants will love in the new society"

Zhang Renkang also made his name known to many of the leaders above him. In particular, the senior leaders often praised Zhang Renkang for his high level of awareness and his willingness to train other apprentices. Especially for what Zhang Renkang had said before.

"National construction requires the contribution of everyone. If I teach one more person, there will be one more chef with good cooking skills. On the one hand, it can provide delicious meals for more workers and factories, and stimulate production. On the other hand, only through constant competition and collision can this industry have the opportunity to progress and develop."

This was highly recognized by a certain important figure in the central government, who even commented:

"This young comrade has a true proletarian ideology and is selfless."

Lou Huaijin also followed Zhang Renkang's arrangement and followed the second batch of business delegation sent by the country to negotiate, and assisted Secretary Wang in successfully reaching a deal with the Gauls. Five ocean-going cargo ships docked at the port of Shanghai one night. After tens of thousands of people transferred the 1.5 million tons of smelting equipment on the five ships, the Gauls happily returned to Europe with the gold and some silver that the Ministry of Industry had finally collected.

Lou Huaijin also successfully gained a certain degree of trust from the higher-ups, especially with the family property he donated. He was also planning to build a chemical and textile factory in China. There was a voice from the higher-ups asking him to finish building the factory first before considering what to do with it.

Zhang Renkang, Yu Li and Zhang Yushui are making dumplings with bread. Today is New Year's Eve. Zhang Yushui went home after the holiday the day before yesterday. Zhang Renkang and Yu Li are resting today. There are no holidays for the New Year these days. Dedicating youth to the motherland is the right choice. On the afternoon of the 30th, the workers were allowed to go home and rest. As long as it is not a Sunday, they have to go to work on the first day of the new year. In another year, the Spring Festival will be the four olds to be overthrown. Who dares to celebrate the Spring Festival?

Zhang Yushui smiled and smeared a handful of flour on Zhang Renkang's face.

"Sister-in-law, do you think my brother wants to be a cat?"

Yu Li touched her face and said with a smile

“That’s not even close.”

Then he touched Zhang Renkang's face again and said with a smile

“This is a tabby cat.”

Zhang Renkang smiled and looked at his wife and sister-in-law on both sides, and said viciously

"Okay, you two dare to tease me, I will teach you a lesson."

As he spoke, Zhang Renkang smeared flour on Yu Li and Zhang Yushui's faces. After playing around for a while, the three of them chatted and laughed while making dumplings. Soon, Yu Li went to the kitchen with a basket of dumplings, and Zhang Yushui ran to the toilet with a smile. Zhang Renkang looked out the window at the lights of Liu Haizhong and Wang's family across the street, feeling a mixture of emotion. This was Zhang Renkang's first Spring Festival in this world, and he silently said sorry to his parents in his previous life.

Seeing Zhang Yushui coming out of the toilet and sitting on her lap, she said coquettishly

"Brother, did you forget something?"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"Forgot something? No? I don't remember forgetting anything."

Zhang Yushui kissed Zhang Renkang on the face, twisted and turned and said

"Brother, good brother"

Zhang Renkang took out ten big black notes from his pocket and said with a smile

"Five are your lucky money, and five are your sister-in-law's."

Zhang Yushui smiled and snatched it away, ran to the kitchen, and shouted

"Sister-in-law, look how much New Year's money my brother gave you."

Yu Li in the kitchen said with a smile

"Sister-in-law has also prepared it for you, just take it out of your pocket."

Yu Li, holding the colander, smiled at Zhang Yushui who came in and gestured to her trouser pocket. Zhang Yushui smiled and took out five big black cards from it, jumped up excitedly, stuffed them into his pocket and said,

"Sister-in-law, let me help you down"

Zhang Renkang heard the two girls chattering outside. He checked the time, got up, opened the door and walked to the middle courtyard. He smiled at Liu Haizhong who was just leaving. Zhang Renkang said with a smile:

"Uncle, Happy New Year"

Liu Haizhong said with a smile

"Happy New Year, Renkang, let's go to the Central Courtyard together"

As they talked, the two of them walked towards the middle courtyard.

In the middle courtyard, Yan Jiekuang, Wang Dafu, Liu Zhaodi, Sun Laiyun and other children from the courtyard were running together. At the other side, Banggeng and Xiaodang were running outside the gate of Yi Zhonghai's house. After the heavy snow in December, Jia Zhang was sent to a drug rehabilitation center for abusing painkillers. In addition to buying food and a dozen eggs for Auntie to thank her for taking care of Xiaodang and Huaihua, Qin Huairu had a rare surplus, so he gave each of the three children 10 cents for the New Year.

Of course, all the money went into Banggeng's hands to buy firecrackers. Because Yan Jiekuang and his friends didn't want to play with Banggeng, Banggeng could only take Xiaodang and Huaihua to set off firecrackers by himself.

As soon as Zhang Renkang and Liu Haizhong arrived at the middle courtyard, they saw Yan Bugui, Yi Zhonghai and other men of the head family waiting in the middle courtyard. Liu Haizhong smiled and said

"Happy New Year to all the old and young gentlemen"

As everyone gave their blessings, Yi Zhonghai suddenly said

"Old Liu, should we go and pay New Year's greetings to this old lady?"

Liu Haizhong was embarrassed when he heard this. What about Zhang Renkang? Zhang Renkang didn't like the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai, and the Jia family. Liu Haizhong subconsciously looked at Zhang Renkang, who laughed and said

"It's up to everyone to decide whether to pay New Year's greetings or not. You can go if you feel that the relationship is good."

Zhang Renkang laughed and saw Yan Jiefang, Liu Guangfu, Yan Jiekuang, Yan Jiedi, Wang Desheng, Wang Dejuan and four or five other children from the courtyard coming over here. Yan Jiecheng reacted the fastest. Although he was only eighteen this year, Yan Jiecheng was still the first to come up and shout

"Brother Renkang, Happy New Year!"

Zhang Renkang took out fifty cents from his pocket and handed it to Yan Jiefang.

"This is your last time this year. After tomorrow you will be an adult."

(In fact, the age of adulthood was not set until 1991. In our country, the age of adulthood is years old for marriage, so let’s just use years old here.)

Yan Jiecheng said with a smile

"Thank you, Brother Renkang. I will find a job after the New Year."

Yan Jiekuang and Yan Jiedi also came over. Zhang Renkang smiled and gave each of the younger children fifty cents and a piece of White Rabbit candy. The children were so happy that they thanked him again and again. They might not be able to keep the money, but the candy would be theirs.

Seeing Zhang Renkang's generosity, Liu Haizhong smiled and kicked Liu Guangfu who was laughing foolishly at the side and said

"Renkang, you have produced a lot."

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"Is it the New Year? They are all my brothers and sisters in the courtyard. I wish them good luck."

Bang Geng, who was standing by, saw that Zhang Renkang had given everyone 50 cents and White Rabbit candy, and he pulled Xiao Dang and Huaihua to the front of Zhang Renkang and shouted,

"Zhang Renkang, you haven't given us three yet."

"Hurry up and give me our money and White Rabbit candy."

Zhang Renkang looked at Banggeng with disdain, too lazy to pay attention to him. He turned around and was about to talk to Yan Bugui and the others, but when Banggeng saw that Zhang Renkang ignored him, he rushed up and tried to steal from Zhang Renkang's pocket. Zhang Renkang's reaction ability was no worse than that of the special forces in later generations. As soon as Banggeng rushed forward and put his little hand into Zhang Renkang's pocket where he kept candy and money, Zhang Renkang grabbed Banggeng's little arm and pinched Banggeng's hand bones hard, causing Banggeng to cry loudly in pain.

Zhang Renkang pushed Bang Geng back, and Bang Geng fell to the ground, rolling and crying. Qin Huairu, who heard the noise, rushed out of Jia's house, picked up Bang Geng and asked with concern:

"Bang Geng, Bang Geng, what's wrong with you? Who bullied you?"

Bang Geng saw Qin Huairu coming, as if he had someone to rely on, and cried out:

"It was that little bastard Zhang Renkang who stole my money and candy."

Qin Huairu asked angrily when he heard this.

"Zhang Renkang, you are such a jerk. You even want to steal a child's money?"

Zhang Renkang laughed and said

"Qin Huairu, do you listen to what you are saying?"

"There are so many people here, which eye of yours saw it?"

Qin Huairu regretted it as soon as she said it. Who is Zhang Renkang? Where did Banggeng get the money for him to rob? Qin Huairu went back to Qinjia Village last week, and Qin Jingru happened to go home too. Seeing Qin Jingru taking large and small bags home, Qin Huairu asked for a long time but couldn't find out where Qin Jingru went after leaving Jia's house that day.

But Qin Huairu knew that Qin Jingru was probably related to Zhang Renkang. Otherwise, how could Qin Jingru have the money to stay in the city and bring so many things home, especially a five- or six-pound pork belly and two chickens?