Chapter 8 Old Spirit
Yu Zhiyuan had breakfast and went to the door to gather with a net bag.

Surprisingly, Shazhu got up so early today!
Let’s set off together from the factory.

He said to Yu Zhiyuan: "Zhiyuan, did you make that stove yourself? Who designed it?"

"Master and I did this together. I figured it out on my own."

"Yeah. That's a good idea. Put more effort into locksmithing." Yi Zhonghai said as he took two quick steps and went to chat with Liu Haizhong.

As they were walking, Sha Zhu approached Yu Zhiyuan and said, "Zhiyuan's stove is pretty good, the fire is pretty strong, and it won't take many coal balls. Can you make one for me?"

As Sha Zhu spoke, he pointed two fingers in front of Yu Zhiyuan.

"Okay! Come to the factory with me early tomorrow, collect the necessary materials, and then get a certificate to pay the money at the finance department."

"Okay! Call me early tomorrow morning!"

Chatting and laughing, we entered the factory and started our day's work.

After lunch, Yu Zhiyuan found Hu Hanguang and gave him 100 yuan and 50 kilograms of national food coupons.

It was not until two o'clock in the afternoon that the second workshop was notified to go to the finance department to collect their wages!
After Yu Zhiyuan received 37.5 yuan and a handful of tickets, he hurried to the Logistics Management Office to pay five yuan and the food coupons in exchange for meal tickets before returning to the workshop.

I finished today's tasks before four o'clock and said goodbye to Bi Zhengliang.

I went to Director Guo to ask for leave again. If you have something to do, please leave early.

Yu Zhiyuan hurriedly walked out of the steel mill.

I arrived at the department store before getting off work, and when I got to the watch counter I saw that it was half an hour.

Amid the salesperson's impatient look, he took out 45 industrial coupons and 120 yuan to buy a Shanghai brand all-steel ladies' watch.

Yu Zhiyuan happily took the watch and rushed home.

Halfway through the journey, I began to feel sorry for the less than 150 yuan left in the treasury.

You still have to work on it slowly!

Go back to the yard, bring your daughter back, and turn on the stove.

Then I took out the lard, washed it, cut it into small pieces, put it in the pot, added a ladle of water to boil the lard.

Yu Zhiyuan also caught four carps, two sticky fish and a lot of crucian carp.

After I gave the viscera and fish scales to the two hens, I saw my wife walk into the backyard.

"Xuemei, go check on the lard. When you're done, go pick some cabbage and peel some potatoes."

Then he took the bicycle key from his wife, took the tofu tickets and pushed the bicycle out.

When Yu Zhiyuan entered the house carrying the tofu and tofu skin, he saw Qiaoqiao holding a small bowl of sugar and oil residue in her hand, eating it with great effort.

When Qiaoqiao saw her father come back, she brought a small bowl and asked him to taste it.

Today was the salary day, and the fragrance of fragrance filled almost every household in the compound, so Yu Zhiyuan’s home was not the only one that was out of the ordinary!

It was not until Sha Zhu took over the kitchen that Yu Zhiyuan invited the three uncles and Xu Damao one by one.

Several people sat in the living room drinking tea, smoking and chatting for more than an hour before Sha Zhu brought the food to the table.

Yi Zhonghai then said, "Zhiyuan, didn't you send anything for the old lady?"

Yu Zhiyuan got up and went to the old lady's room next door. He saw that the old lady, Xuemei, Qiaoqiao, Auntie, Lou Xiaoe, and He Yushui had already started eating!
He said hello to the old lady before returning to his home.

Yu Zhiyuan had just taken out two bottles of Erguotou from the cupboard when he saw Xu Damao take out two bottles of Fenjiu from the cloth bag at his feet.

"Zhiyuan, put down your Erguotou. If it's not enough, drink that. I brought two bottles of Fenjiu today. Drink this first!"

Sha Zhu grinned: "Oh, Xu Damao did a great job today."

Xu Damao glanced at Sha Zhu and said, "Of course, you are a straightforward person!"

"Okay, stop talking. Let's eat and drink well today because of Zhiyuan's game. Don't waste Zhiyuan's kindness! Come on, men, let's go." Yi Zhonghai said, raising his glass.

Putting down the wine glass, Yi Zhonghai picked up the chopsticks and said, "Come on, let's eat some food, eat some food."

Yan Bugui picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork and put it in his mouth, saying, "Zhiyuan has spent a lot of money today! This table costs no less than ten yuan!"

While pouring wine for everyone, Yu Zhiyuan said, "I have to thank you all for taking care of my mother's funeral a few days ago, and Brother Zhuzi for the two big pot meals, and Brother Damao for the reception. That's why we didn't make fun of you. It's not a big deal!"

"Zhiyuan, this is too outlandish. We are old neighbors, so we must lend a hand in this matter!" Yi Zhonghai spoke after looking at Yu Zhiyuan. "This shows the benefits of harmonious neighbors and unity in the compound." Yan Bugui said.

"Zhiyuan, didn't you call Dongxu?" Liu Haizhong asked.

"That old guy was busy so I didn't see anyone there. I just saw Bang Geng and old lady Jia eating there!" Xu Damao said with a grin.

Shazhu next to him chuckled, but Yi Zhonghai's face turned black.

"Okay, why are you talking about that! I haven't had such good wine for a long time. Let me recommend you a glass." Yan Bugui raised his glass.

It was only after Yan Bugui interrupted that the atmosphere at the table began to liven up.

After eating and drinking, the party ended at nine o'clock.

Yan Bugui picked up the remaining parts in a small basin and said, "I'll bring the small basin back to you tomorrow."

He went out and walked towards the front yard.

He quietly handed the watch to his wife before going to bed at night, and Yang Xuemei was so moved that she cried.

Before five in the morning, Yu Zhiyuan opened his eyes and tidied up.

He went to the ear room, packed up his things, put his bicycle into the space, climbed over the wall and left the compound.

Having a bicycle is really convenient and fast.

Since the old leader wanted a lot of carp, Yu Zhiyuan dug several more ice holes and his hands were numb from the cold.

There were quite a few carps weighing less than one pound, but Yu Zhiyuan was reluctant to release them back into the moat.

"Looks like I have to ask Shazhu to contact the canteen director."

After packing up, when they were almost at Maoer Hu, Yu Zhiyuan took out the carp and placed it in the basket on the back rack.

As soon as I entered Maoer Hutong, I saw someone smoking there.

Seeing that it was the old clan leader, Yu Zhiyuan followed him into Courtyard No. 18.

After ordering the fish, I was charged twenty dollars.

Just as Yu Zhiyuan was about to leave, the old clan leader spoke up: "If you have other meat, noodles, or grains in the future, you can also send them to me. The price will be based on the market price of pigeons! If you have any, please come over in the afternoon in advance to let me know. I play chess at the entrance of the alley every afternoon."

"Okay, I'll definitely let you know if there's anything good."

"Okay. Don't forget it."

After a hasty farewell, Yu Zhiyuan rushed to the pigeon market in Yonghe Temple.

I was so busy that it was almost dawn when I finally finished cleaning up. I went around and bought five kilograms of rice and rushed back to the compound.

I returned home, took a shower, and because I was really tired, I just lay down on the bed with my clothes on for a while.

As soon as Yu Zhiyuan woke up, he quickly ate breakfast, called Sha Zhu, and rode his bike to the factory to pick out things for him to make the stove.

It is not shameful to earn this money through honest means. Who has an easy life these days? Everyone says that the third uncle Yan Buguikou is a portrayal of most families.

Yan Bugui did not try to avoid deductions. As a primary school teacher, he did not have to figure out how to support a family of six. He just had problems educating his children.

After moving the waste to the door of the second workshop, they asked Sha Zhu to go back.

The days passed as Yu Zhiyuan worked, studied, and did private tasks until Saturday.

Hu Hanguang left for Inner Mongolia on a business trip yesterday.

The stove was also made yesterday and installed for Shazhu.

He hurriedly rode his bike back to the yard, went into the house and put away half a piece of coarse cloth, cotton, two bottles of Erguotou, two packs of cigarettes, a few sticky beards he had specially kept, and a few small animal traps.

Yu Zhiyuan went to the next door and said to the old lady, "Old lady, I have to go to Henggang Village in Fangshan in a while. Please let her know when Xuemei comes back. I will be back on Monday morning."

The old lady squinted at Yu Zhiyuan and said, "Yes. Be careful, just do small things, don't get too excited, understand?"

Yu Zhiyuan nodded and walked out of the house, pushing the cart out of the yard.

The old man is really cunning and the old horse is slippery. It seems that the old lady has seen all my actions in the past few days.

Sure enough, the survival wisdom of the elderly at this age is far beyond what Yu Zhiyuan, who lives a peaceful life in later generations, can imagine. They have experienced too much.

No wonder everyone seems selfish from the outside, who wouldn’t be like that?
(End of this chapter)