Golden Color Xiangjiang: A Young Man's Dream in a Siheyuan

After Zhou Jin left the steel mill, he did not go back to the courtyard directly. He had important things to deal with today, so he sent Xinxin to her grandfather early in the morning.

The Chinese New Year is just two days away, and Zhou Jin still has to give gifts to the factory leaders. He should have given them the gifts a long time ago, but he was having so much fun with his two little girls some time ago that he forgot about it.

There's no way Zhou Jin is just a baby of over 200 months old, so it's understandable that he's a little playful.

Didn't Fan Wei say, "I can choose not to accept it, but you can't choose not to send it off." After all, he had just arrived, so he still had to build good relationships with these leaders. Even if it was a little late, it was better than not sending it off at all.

Fortunately, Zhou Jin had just arrived at the steel mill and didn't know many leaders, including Director Yang, Deputy Director Li, Purchasing Section Chief Liu Jun, Finance Section Chief Xu Yunlong, Personnel Section Chief Wang Wei, and Director Wang of the Street Office.

The only elders I am close to are Uncle Pan Dong and Aunt Liu Fang.

Zhou Jin prepared ten kilograms of pork and mutton, five kilograms of apples and oranges, and two cans of milk powder for each of them. Although these things were not much, they were all supplies that were hard to get on the market.

Zhou Jin first went to the homes of the two factory directors, because they lived in the cadre family compound not far away. The two men refused for a while, and Zhou Jin persuaded them to accept it. After all, for people of their level, it was not difficult to get these things.

The next few leaders were very quick. They just exchanged a few polite words and then accepted the gifts and expressed their gratitude.

Finally, Zhou Jin added ten kilograms of flour and ten kilograms of bacon to the New Year's goods he gave to Uncle Pan Dong and Aunt Liu Fang. After all, these were the closest people to Zhou Jin in the world.

After Zhou Jin delivered New Year's goods to the factory leaders, he came to the street office. The steel rolling mill's salary was cut today, but there were people on duty at the street office every day. Zhou Jin had inquired before coming, and it happened that Director Wang was in the street office today.

Because there are so many people at the street office all day long, Zhou Jin packed the New Year's goods in bags, and you can't tell what's inside from the outside. There's nothing Zhou Jin can do about it since he doesn't know where Director Wang's home is, otherwise he would just send it directly to his home to avoid the trouble of coming to the street office.

Zhou Jin came to the guard room, greeted the security guard, handed over a big front door and went straight in, and came to the door of Director Wang's office.

"Dong dong dong."

"Please come in." Director Wang's voice came from inside.

Zhou Jin hurriedly opened the door and went in, then put his things next to the sofa and sat down.

Director Wang was also very curious when he saw Zhou Jin coming in with a big bag.

"Xiao Zhou, what is the matter with you coming to see me today?"

"Auntie Wang, the New Year is coming soon. As a junior, I wanted to give you some New Year's goods." Zhou Jin said, pointing at the bag.

"You are a man with a conscience. Let me see what kind of New Year's goods you have."

Director Wang said as he walked to the bag.

Zhou Jin quickly opened his pocket.

"Auntie Wang, I've prepared 10 kilograms of mutton, 5 kilograms of apples and oranges, and two cans of milk powder for you. These are all gifts from me to honor my elders. You must accept them."

Director Wang looked at so many things and it was impossible for him not to be tempted. These were all good things, especially the can of milk powder, which could solve his urgent needs.

It turned out that Director Wang’s daughter-in-law had just given birth to a child. Because of insufficient nutrition, she had no milk to feed the child, and she couldn’t buy milk powder. She watched the child crying because of hunger all day long, and her heart was broken.

Director Wang is a section-level cadre in the sub-district office, and her husband is the deputy director of the district public security bureau. Despite their administrative levels, they could not even buy milk powder to feed their grandson. This shows that government officials of that era truly served the people.

Director Wang thought about it for a while and finally refused. After all, it was such an expensive gift and he didn’t know whether Zhou Jin had any ulterior motives, and it was also inconsistent with his own philosophy.

"Xiao Zhou, you should take these things back. They are too valuable. I can't accept them."

Before coming, Zhou Jin also looked up Director Wang's information and knew what kind of person she was. He also thought of her concerns at this time.

"Auntie Wang, I purchased all this meat in the countryside, and I got the fruits and milk powder from my comrades-in-arms. There is absolutely no problem with their sources.

Secondly, I truly regard you as my elder. In the past few months since I came back, you have helped me deal with every problem. That’s why I did these things purely to thank you for taking care of me. I have no other intentions.

I have no intention of asking you for help. This is a New Year gift from the younger generation to the older generation."

Director Wang looked at Zhou Jin's sincerity and decided not to continue insisting, as it would hurt the younger generation's feelings.

"Okay, I'll accept it this time, but it won't happen again."

Zhou Jin felt relieved when he saw that the New Year's goods were accepted.

"Auntie Wang, you see, I'm a buyer, and this is a benefit of our position. I use my benefits to honor my elders, is that okay?"

"Okay, okay, you're right. But I still have to be more careful next time. But I really want to thank you this time. These things of yours really helped me a lot."

After hearing this, Zhou Jin was confused and asked.

"Auntie Wang only has these few things. How can they help you?"

"Oh, you don't know, my daughter-in-law just gave birth to a baby, and she is not getting enough nutrition, and she has no milk to feed the baby. Now these things of yours can not only supplement the nutrition of my daughter-in-law, but also make the baby full first."

When Zhou Jin heard what was going on, he asked as if to ask why didn't you tell him earlier.

"Auntie Wang, why didn't you tell me earlier? I don't have any other skills, but it's easy for me to get some supplies. I'll take care of the baby's milk powder from now on."

"How can that be? I can't let you suffer a loss. I bought the milk powder and I'll pay you according to the market price."

"Auntie Wang, your grandson is my nephew, how can I charge you for giving me some milk powder?"

"No, you have to accept the money, otherwise don't give it to me."

Zhou Jin knew that this was a matter of principle for Director Wang, so he did not insist.

"Okay, Aunt Wang, if you need anything in the future, just tell me directly."

"Okay, but now that you mention it, I really remember something."

Zhou Jin was just being polite, but he didn't expect Director Wang to be so rude. There was nothing he could do since the words had already been spoken, and it was too late to take them back.

"You say."

"Our subdistrict office is not like your steel mill. We have a special purchasing department responsible for purchasing materials. The New Year is coming soon, and we haven't prepared the New Year's goods yet. Can you help solve the problem?"

When Zhou Jin saw Director Wang asking so seriously, he thought it was some big deal.

"Auntie Wang, what else do you need? Give me a list so I can see it."

When Director Wang heard that this matter had potential, he quickly returned to his desk, took out a list from the drawer, and handed it to Zhou Jin.

Zhou Jin took the list and looked at it. He thought, "Oh my god, you're not ready at all. You haven't even started preparing yet."

The subdistrict office has a total of 136 staff members, including regular and temporary workers. Originally, the plan was to give each person two kilograms of pork and five kilograms of flour. Now, kilograms of pork and kilograms of flour have been prepared.

After reading it, Zhou Jin said to Director Wang.

"Auntie Wang, I can get these supplies, but I can't deliver them to the street office. It would be bad if the leaders of the steel mill found out. I'll come over tomorrow morning to borrow a flatbed truck, and then you give me an address. After I get the supplies, I'll just take them over. What do you think?"

Director Wang agreed when he saw Zhou Jin agreed so readily and even arranged the time and place.

"No problem, you're right, you can deliver it to my house when the time comes, I'll give you the address, and I'll take care of the rest myself, but this is the price."

"Auntie Wang, pork is 70 cents a pound without a ticket, and Fuqiang rice noodles are 30 cents a pound without a ticket."

"Okay, no problem. Aunt Wang has to thank you very much this time. Otherwise, we won't be able to get all the New Year's goods together. We all work hard for a year, and we just want to have something good to eat during the New Year."

"Auntie Wang, I'm originally doing this. Every profession has its own specialty. This is not a difficult task for me. If you need any supplies in the future, just tell me. I can't say I can get them 100%, but at least 80% of them will be available."

"Okay, okay, I know you're capable, and I'll definitely ask you for help in the future. How about this, on the third day of the first lunar month, I'm free at home, so bring your sister and come to my house for dinner."

"Okay, Aunt Wang, we will be there by then. I'll be leaving first. By the way, come find me after you finish the milk powder."

"Okay, go back now."

After dealing with Director Wang's matters, Zhou Jin rode his bike to his grandfather's house. This time he wanted to confirm everything about the New Year.

After a while, Zhou Jin arrived at his grandfather's house. The door was still not closed, so Zhou Jin pushed it open and went in.

But this time seemed different from the past. After Zhou Jin entered the house, no one paid attention to him. Zhou Jin had to park the car alone and then walked into the main house.

As soon as she entered, she found that the old couple was teaching Xinxin to read. They had no time to pay attention to Zhou Jin. At this moment, Zhou Jin thought to herself: "They didn't treat me like this before. They really get tired of the old and love the new."

Zhou Jin walked into the house and greeted her grandmother, and Grandma Yang nodded in response, then continued to tease Zhou Xin, making the little girl laugh non-stop. Grandpa Jin also joined in teasing the little girl.

Zhou Jin could only go to the kitchen alone.

It took almost an hour for Zhou Jin to bring the dishes from the kitchen to the dining table, including braised pork, braised pork, stir-fried cabbage, spicy and sour potato shreds, and a tomato and egg soup, two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup.

When the old couple smelled the fragrance, they took Zhou Xin to the kang. Everyone was used to the food cooked by Zhou Jin and were not too surprised. Then the four of them started eating.

Zhou Jin spoke when he saw that everyone had almost finished eating.

"Grandpa and grandma, the New Year is coming soon. Are you going to come back to the courtyard with us to celebrate the New Year, or do you have any other plans?"

The old couple didn't expect Zhou Jin to ask this question, so they didn't answer directly. Grandpa Jin thought for a while and asked back.

"Xiao Zhou, tell me about your plan."

"To be honest, I don't really want to celebrate the New Year in the Siheyuan. I don't like it there, but there's nothing I can do because it's my ancestral home. And this year is the first time I'm celebrating the New Year at home since I joined the army, so Xinxin and I must celebrate the New Year in the Siheyuan.

I think if it would be too lonely for you two to celebrate the New Year alone, why don’t you just come to my house and celebrate the New Year together? It will be more lively.”

Zhou Jin told the old couple his thoughts in full.

After listening to this, Grandpa Jin lowered his head and thought for a while.

"Xiao Zhou, you're right. You've been away for so many years. This is your first year back home and you have to celebrate the New Year at home. Your grandma and I are naturally willing to celebrate the New Year at your home. It just so happens that we can celebrate the New Year with Xin Xinxin. Thank you, Xiao Zhou."

"I already call you grandpa and grandma. As a grandson, why should I say thank you when you come to my house to celebrate the New Year? It's settled then. I'll go buy all the things for the New Year tomorrow, clean up the house, and then come to pick you up."

"Okay, then we'll wait for you to pick us up tomorrow."