Chapter 164: Shout: I'm a man, I need to support my family

A fire at the city gate harms the fish in the moat.

Yi Zhonghai's vomit, however, turned into a blade aimed at Shazhu.

Just as countless people were loudly praising Shazhu's cooking, an untimely voice flew into the ears of everyone in the second canteen.

"Everyone says Master He's food is fragrant, but to me it's just the same—someone is vomiting."

The bustling second canteen.

Became silent and still.

Many people frowned, and while looking at each other in dismay, they also searched in the direction the sound came from for the person who had annoyed them.

They are not blind.

They are not deaf either.

If Shazhu's cooking were truly subpar, there wouldn't be thousands of people flocking to eat his dishes now, and they wouldn't hear so many praises from those who have eaten his food.

Who is it?

Spouting nonsense with eyes wide open.

A figure slowly appeared before everyone's eyes.

Those who didn't know him wondered why he was sabotaging Shazhu, while those who did know him understood why he was targeting Shazhu.

Yang Sanhuan!

An ordinary worker in the Ninth Workshop of the Steel Plant, whose arm was injured in childhood and never properly treated, has never been able to muster strength in that arm.

But the Steel Plant is a unit that demands strength.

Turners, millers, fitters, welders and other trades all have certain physical demands on workers.

Yang Sanhuan, due to his physical condition, still receives a first‑level worker's wage; relying on his seniority, with various subsidies added each month, he ends up with about twenty‑three or twenty‑four.

Under the influence of the belief that many children bring blessings, he had five sons and four daughters so they could help each other in the future.

They are collectively known as the Yang Family Nine Generals.

The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh children are at the stage where they need nutrition for growth.

In a normal year.

The Yang Sanhuan household's rations are insufficient; the elders and children make use of spare time to go outside digging wild vegetables, picking mountain fruits, hunting hares, catching fish and birds, doing everything possible to find extra food to fill the children's bellies.

Then they encountered such a year.

Every household was relatively hard‑pressed.

Many people racked their brains trying to fill their stomachs; wild vegetables and mountain fruits often faced a situation of more demand than supply, sometimes impossible to gather at all.

The Yang family fell into a predicament.

To let the children eat well and eat their fill, Yang Sanhuan used connections to transfer himself to the second canteen; his wages were two units less than in the workshop, but he could save one person's rations.

What is saved is what is earned.

Just as Yang Sanhuan thought he could go to the second canteen as a helper, Shazhu suddenly parachuted into the Steel Plant's second canteen and became its team leader.

This made the already crowded second canteen seem even more bloated and unwieldy.

Thus.

This also cut off Yang Sanhuan's path into the second canteen.

It let Yang Sanhuan experience the tragedy of falling from heaven to hell.

Yang Sanhuan's resentment is understandable.

From the moment he started work, Yang Sanhuan thought of finding trouble with Shazhu, but he never got a chance to blow up until he saw Yi Zhonghai vomiting; he realized this was his only chance to vent, so he used Yi Zhonghai's vomit to focus fire on Shazhu—regardless of the specifics, it was all Shazhu's fault.

He did that.

He angered someone.

Thus: Thus: Mahua.

Thus: Thus: Mahua, who regarded Shazhu as an idol, could not allow Yang Sanhuan to vilify his idol.

Some things Shazhu couldn't say, but he could.

After all, Shazhu is now the canteen team leader, with subordinates; even if he personally steps in, he can only do so against someone comparable to him.

"Yang Sanhuan, what nonsense are you spouting? With so many people in the canteen, listen to what everyone says— they all say Master He's cooking is good, only you, Yang Sanhuan, are spouting nonsense; are you treating your coworkers as blind?"

Pangzi is also a scheming person.

Seeing Thus: Thus: Mahua speak up first for Shazhu, his mind sprang into action; he also wanted to learn cooking from Shazhu and become a renowned chef in the Steel Plant like Shazhu.

He then took advantage of Thus: Thus: Mahua's pause to pick up his retort and jeer at Yang Sanhuan.

"Yang Sanhuan, others may not know you, but can we in the second canteen not know you? The reason you dare to denounce Master He's cooking in front of so many coworkers is merely that you think He stole your chance to join the canteen, you feel resentful, and you deliberately put a shit‑filled hat on his head—don't you think? Today at least three thousand people have eaten Master He's meals; hearing is deceit, seeing is believing—could they believe your lies?"

Only then did Shazhu realize what he had done to offend Yang Sanhuan.

It was also just bad luck.

He gained an enemy for no reason.

Damn it.

Shazhu had no intention of competing with Yang Sanhuan.

He understood Yang Sanhuan.

In the Steel Plant with over ten thousand workers, at least two thousand want to work in the canteen.

Do they like cooking?

Nonsense.

The biggest factor is that the canteen workers can prioritize competing with food.

Many people know that in famine years, there's no reason for cooks to starve to death!

Simply by entering the canteen, it amounts to guaranteeing food for two people at home.

Ah!

A helpless sigh rose in Shazhu's heart; looking at Yang Sanhuan, he felt some sympathy—if not for supporting his wife and Yushui, Shazhu wouldn't have to be stuck in the Yagangchang canteen.

Isn't there no way?

Xu Daming said Qin Huairu's parents all came running to rely on Qin Huairu, then Jia Zhangshi scolded them away on the spot!

What's more, this made Shazhu feel helpless.

After Pangzi talked back to Yang Sanhuan, Yang Sanhuan suddenly burst into loud sobs.

A man in his thirties, right there in front of many coworkers, disregarding his own face, burst into loud tears, crying so hard it was heartbreaking.

"Wuu… wuu… I'm not angry that Master He entered the second canteen; I know I can't compare to Master He. Master He is a head chef; entering the second canteen lets him serve the Yagangchang workers, letting them eat and drink better and go to work happily. If I entered the second canteen, I'd just be a kitchen helper doing what I can. I know that, but I have no choice."

The four words 'no way'!

Turned into a heavy hammer.

It heavily struck everyone present.

The people here.

Every single one of them.

Who has a way?

Every family has several children and elders to support.

Like Yi Zhonghai, who severed his lineage.

Extremely rare.

"My kids at home tell me they smell the neighbor's millet porridge, it's so fragrant, but they know it's the neighbor's and they don't have enough either; they ask me, Dad, when can we also drink millet porridge, even just a sip, it'd be worth a lifetime. I'm a man, I'm the pillar of the family—I have to support my wife and children, my family's support!"

I told them I wanted to work in the canteen; they asked if I got the job, would they no longer go hungry, could they drink millet porridge? I said yes, but they feared I was deceiving them, so they hooked pinkies with me.

Master He has come—what should I do? What should I do? I just want the kids not to go hungry, to be able to drink a small bowl of millet porridge—am I wrong?

Shazhu's heart.

Heavy.

In an instant.

It gave him a strong sense of guilt.

Yu Li once said that, she said the current times are bad, but we're better off than them!

Shazhu turned his head aside.

He didn't even have the courage to look at Yang Sanhuan.

Out of sight.

Peace of mind.

Is it really like that?

Sometimes a man's sobbing tears move you more than a woman's.

Shazhu walked over to the weeping Yang Sanhuan, reached out to help him onto a nearby stool, then waved at Thus: Thus: Mahua; when Thus: Thus: Mahua came over, Shazhu whispered a few words to him.

Thus: Thus: Mahua's face showed reluctance; he glanced with disdain at the tear-filled Yang Sanhuan.

Not far behind, the fat man's eyes flickered with a faint envy, envying Shazhu's attitude toward Thus: Thus: Mahua; if he could, he'd want to take Thus: Thus: Mahua's place, and a strange thought crossed his mind—what exactly did Shazhu have Thus: Thus: Mahua do, and why was Thus: Thus: Mahua so unwilling?

The answer was revealed minutes later.

Coming out of the back kitchen of the second canteen, Thus: Thus: Mahua held an aluminum lunch box containing a serving of stir-fried cabbage, with two steamed corn buns and a white steamed bun on top of the lid.

He walked to the table, set down the lunch box, and snapped at Yang Sanhuan.

"This is food Master He bought with his own meal ticket; he couldn't bear to eat it himself, wanting to bring it home for his family tonight—but now I'm giving it to you."

Yang Sanhuan isn't a bad person at heart.

Just now's outburst.

It was being forced by the family's burden to have no recourse.

Venting a bit is fine.

Those who scrimp end up collapsing.

"Master He." Understanding Shazhu's meaning, Yang Sanhuan refused Shazhu's kindness; regarding scarce supplies, he was the one who knew it best: "Can't do it, really can't do it—I'm angry inside."

In supporting their families at Lake Mouth and providing for wife and children, Yang Sanhuan and Shazhu share a common point.

Yang Sanhuan couldn't and wouldn't take it.

Shazhu couldn't bear to eat it himself, and Yang Sanhuan would feel ashamed to take someone else's.

"Master Yang, don't decline—you've heard that if I enter the second canteen, I might cut off your path to work there as a helper, causing some unpleasantness, but let me be frank: I won't give this job back to you, because I too need to support my family at Lake Mouth, and I believe my working in the second canteen would be more effective than yours; I understand you, and I hope you understand me. Take these things back—there's no other meaning, it's just a token of my goodwill; of course, just this once, let's look to the long term—I believe this hardship will soon pass."

Shazhu forcibly stuffed the lunch box into Yang Sanhuan's satchel.

A man.

No matter how great the suffering.

nor would he tell his family.

They often bury their suffering and tears deep inside.

Just like Yang Sanhuan.

Originally doing manual labor, not eating enough, their bodies naturally lacked nutrition and strength, yet because of family circumstances they still had to save some food at noon, pack it in their satchels, and bring it home to eat together at night.

This is a microcosm of the times.

The Security Section checks everything, yet never inspects the workers' lunch boxes after shift.

This stems from that consideration.

It's not just the Yagangchang workers; in factories big and small, whenever there's a canteen, taking food from the canteen has become an unwritten custom—some due to family hardship, some from laziness, not wanting to cook, so they take extra portions at noon.

In a previous life.

Why is Shazhu living so well?

Why does Qin Huairu get Shazhu's lunchbox every day?

Many people say the Security Section does nothing.

Nonsense!

…

The cafeteria's back kitchen.

Shazhu stretched his back lazily.

With a serving of food.

To resolve a grudge.

He thought it was worth it.

Never underestimate anyone, for you never know if they might become a threat.

More friends, more roads.

More enemies, more walls.

It appears Shazhu and Yang Sanhuan are turning swords into silk, but actually Shazhu is harvesting favors from certain people.

Yang Sanhuan's affair.

Not handled well.

Some people fear they can't even sleep well; Shazhu uses a plate of stir-fried cabbage and two steamed buns to make Yang Sanhuan stop caring whether he enters the cafeteria.

It's like wiping someone's butt for them.

He believes this will reach Deputy Factory Director Li's ears via Liu Lan.

The future actual power holder of Yagangchang!

…

Yagangchang's affiliated hospital.

Jia Dongxu, who came here on the pretext of needing to urinate, stopped a doctor he knew.

Come for blood-recognition kinship testing.

Professional matters should be left to professionals.

"Doctor Liu."

"Jia Dongxu?"

"It's me." While speaking, Jia Dongxu shoved two bottles of finely packaged erguotou into Old Liu's hands, saying, "Doctor Liu, next time I won't help you buy anything, no matter what you say. You don't know—I promised to buy you two bottles of liquor and almost broke my legs running for it. Anyway, you gave me two fen less change—I don't even want those two fen. Take my pulse; I've been feeling a stone pressing on my chest these days, unable to breathe."

How could Old Liu not understand Jia Dongxu's meaning?

Using the pretext of helping buy wine to actually conduct gift-giving.

He waved and led Jia Dongxu into his office; as the door closed, he suddenly lowered his voice.

"Didn't I say to come get the medicine in a few days?" Old Liu warned Jia Dongxu with a stern tone, "What's wrong with you? This medicine can't be taken in excess; even immortals couldn't save you if you overdid it."

"This time I'm not here for medicine; it's like this: yesterday I was eating with some coworkers outside, and somehow the topic of blood-recognition kinship came up. Some said it's a fallacy, not believable; others said it's fact, an experience passed down from our ancestors. I happened to be their intermediary. I don't really understand this, so I wanted to ask Doctor Liu: is blood-recognition kinship reliable? Besides, someone said there's now some technology—draw a bit of the child's blood, a bit of the adult's blood, test it with some instrument, and you'll know their relationship."

Actually it's not for medicine.

It's for getting the child's blood tested.

Moreover, they concealed it, inquiring under someone else's name.

Regarding Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu's matter, Old Liu vaguely knows a bit of the truth; he knows their marital relationship has never been good, and the present Jia Dongxu constantly suspects Qin Huairu of having done something behind his back that betrays the Jia family and himself, which is why he's come to seek confirmation.

Could it be that he guessed the lover?

Otherwise Jia Dongxu wouldn't have inquired like this and also given such precious liquor.

Offering kindness for no reason.

Either adultery or theft.

"Doctor Liu, don't laugh, just tell me if it exists."

"Yes!"

Jia Dongxu jumped up onto the stool with a leap.

He might have felt he acted improperly.

He was trying to cover up his embarrassment.

"I just said yes, and those people insist it's no; tomorrow I'll go tell them to give up that idea."

The conversation shifted.

"Doctor Liu, I'm asking extra: if blood testing can tell the relationship, can our hospital do it?"

"You need to go to a big hospital; our hospital lacks the facilities."

"Then help me check what's wrong with me—I've been feeling insomnia lately and also chest tightness."