Chapter 32 Vegetables
"Isn't this Lao Yang's son-in-law? How did he come to Grandma's place?"

"The vegetables in your yard are growing beautifully. Do you want to buy some for Xuemei?"

"It's just a small matter, what do you mean by buying? That's so ugly. Wait."

As the old man spoke, he took a small shovel and walked into the vegetable garden with his small feet.

The shoveled spinach and rapeseed were tied up with straw ropes and brought to Yu Zhiyuan.

Yu Zhiyuan took the vegetables and put them in the basket, then looked at his chicken coop.

The old man came into the house, holding a basket, and counted eggs for Yu Zhiyuan.

Eggs are five cents each and vegetables are just ten cents.

The old man pointed out to Yu Zhiyuan which restaurant had the best food, saying that there were people at home too.

Yu Zhiyuan returned to his father-in-law's house carrying two baskets of vegetables and a few eggs.

"Why are we harvesting these vegetables? We have some in our own plot of land."

Yu Zhiyuan moved the dish away and asked his father-in-law to look at the eggs underneath.

The mother-in-law quickly asked, "Is Xuemei okay? Can you sleep well?"

"It's good, but I have to eat more meals every day, and I can't eat much at each meal."

"That's fine. You take care of her. I'll go make noodles. Is the egg stew okay?"

"That's great, Mom. I've been missing your noodles for a long time."

After watching my mother-in-law go to the kitchen to cook, I said to my father-in-law, "Zhiqiang has arranged everything. He will be in charge of the labor warehouse of the steel mill. He will be responsible for registration and also carry some things for the workers. It's not tiring. I think I can get a permanent job by the end of the year. The house is at the back of our yard. After cleaning it up and opening a larger window at the back, it will be no problem for people to live there. It's just a little small."

Yang Dachuan nodded: "What's the big deal about being small? It's good enough to have a place to live. I can't be picky."

"What day do you start work?"

"I'll start work on the 3rd. I'll ask Zhiqiang to pack his luggage and go to the city in the afternoon. He'll stay at my place first, and then move in on his own when the house is ready. I'll feel relieved when he goes."

Yu Zhiyuan gave his father-in-law a cigarette and said, "Dad, you have to ask my second uncle to make a bed for Zhiqiang, a cabinet and something else. He should have a place to sleep. You can add other things later."

After Yu Zhiyuan finished speaking, he asked Yang Zhiqiang to pack his bedding, clothes and so on.

While eating, Yu Zhiyuan said, "Dad, please make a few more baskets so that I can harvest more persimmons, cucumbers, peppers, etc. when the weather is hot."

I saw my father-in-law nodded.

Yu Zhiyuan quickly finished his meal and asked Yang Zhiqiang to take the basket and follow him.

After working for more than an hour, I harvested five baskets of vegetables and about a hundred eggs.

It’s still a little early, the green vegetables haven’t grown very big yet.

Hang the basket where it should be hung, tie it where it should be tied, and put the bicycle in it.

Yu Zhiyuan told Yang Zhiqiang to pack his luggage and take a bus to the city.

Halfway through the journey, Yu Zhiyuan adjusted the vegetables and eggs before rushing to the city.

Yu Zhiyuan rode his bike into the city and went to Fan Changjun's house first. He left a basket of vegetables for him and also gave him the money for the cattle and sheep he had bought some time ago.

Then he rushed to Hu Hanguang's house, brought him a basket of vegetables with eggs under it, and also paid off the money for the seafood he had bought some time ago.

Yu Zhiyuan then rode his bike slowly towards his master's house.

When I arrived, I parked the car in front of the master's house and carried the vegetables into the master's house.

"You are always busy all day long. Your father-in-law is pretty good. I haven't had a drink with him for a long time."

"My brother-in-law has also started working in the factory, so you two will have plenty of opportunities to drink. I'll take them home, and Zhiqiang will be here soon to pick up the things for him."

"Go ahead, don't be an eyesore here."

He pushed the cart, packed the basket, and left the master's house with Xuemei and Qiaoqiao.

As soon as I entered the gate of the courtyard, I heard Yan Bugui's voice.

"Oh, Zhiyuan, are you going to see your father-in-law? The vegetables are so fresh." Yu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Yes, let's go and have a look. You are counting on your mother-in-law to take care of you during the confinement period. How can you not be more diligent? You didn't go fishing today."

"Don't mention it. There are more people than fish during this holiday. I went for a walk and came back. It's bad luck."

Yu Zhiyuan parked the car and handed a basket of vegetables to Yan Bugui.

"It's not a good thing. Please share it with the people in the hospital so that they know that you have calculated it clearly."

As he spoke, he took out a handful of spinach and a handful of rapeseed from another basket and handed them to Yan Bugui.

"This is for you! Please share it with the neighbors in the courtyard if you have trouble."

After saying this, he took the mother and daughter away.

Yan Bugui looked at the basket at his feet and the vegetables in his hands, and wondered what this kid was up to.

Yu Zhiyuan smiled and said to Xuemei: "Don't feel bad, this is called eating someone's food and being grateful, it's good for Zhiqiang."

When Xuemei heard this, the distressed look on her face disappeared instantly.

After entering the house, Yu Zhiyuan said to his wife, "Please clean up the west room. Zhiqiang will be here soon. I'll feed the chickens and cook dinner later."

With Zhiqiang's arrival, there was finally someone to cook for Yu Zhiyuan.

After breakfast the next day, Xuemei took her brother and daughter to go shopping.

Yu Zhiyuan asked Yang Zhiqiang several times to keep an eye on his sister.

Yu Zhiyuan took the book to the library, returned and borrowed books, and went home to make lunch.

After lunch, I didn’t feel like moving at all.

You have to go to the lounge chair. It’s nice to bask in the sun in the yard when you have nothing to do.

Early in the morning on the 3rd, Yu Zhiyuan led Yang Zhiqiang, and Sha Zhu led Hao Yingjuan to gather with everyone.

When Yi Zhonghai saw this, his face turned dark.

Yu Zhiyuan said in his heart: You want to calculate everything, you take yourself too seriously. My master is not that easy to control.

When they arrived at the factory gate, Yu Zhiyuan handed the person over to Sha Zhu and ran to the second workshop.

Before the official start of work, Director Guo said to everyone: "The factory will expand three more fitter workshops. In principle, two workshops will form a new workshop. We will form Workshop 7 together with Workshop 1. Anyone who wants to go to the new workshop can sign up with me. There is no rush. The transfer and merger will start in two months. There will be a subsidy of two yuan per month for those who go to the new workshop. This is the first thing."

"The second thing is that the factory started recruiting this afternoon. A new fitter apprentice will come to our workshop the day after tomorrow. He will have to study in our workshop for two months, and then be assigned after the new workshop is completed. In principle, one person will take one. During these two months, regular workers who take on newcomers will receive a subsidy of one yuan per month. Okay, get busy!"

Amid the buzz of discussion, today's work began.

After lunch, Yu Zhiyuan strolled to the labor warehouse and saw Zhiqiang learning how to register things and the principles of labor payment with a woman in her forties.

Yu Zhiyuan didn't disturb him and strolled back to the workshop.

At 3:20 in the afternoon, when I went to collect my salary, I saw from a distance a large group of people queuing up at the gate to fill out forms.

Yu Zhi seemed to see Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangtian from a distance.

After lining up, I saw the canteen director leading a group of girls and boys towards a canteen, and Qin Huairu, who was pregnant, was also there.

He silently calculated in his mind: Qin Huairu will give birth in a month or so. It seems that Sha Zhu really got the job done, and Yi Zhonghai didn't contribute at all.

After work in the afternoon, Sha Zhu and Hao Yingjuan saw Yu Zhiyuan squatting at the gate smoking and walked over.

Yu Zhiyuan gave Sha Zhu a cigarette and looked at Hao Yingjuan: "How is it? Are you used to it?"

"I went there today. Usually there are no entertaining and no guests, so it was quite relaxing." Hao Yingjuan replied with a smile.

"Then your position is good. How about Brother Zhuzi? It's much better than working in the workshop."

"That's it!" Sha Zhu replied.

"Don't get too close to Director Li. Just do your job well."

(End of this chapter)