Chapter 21: Want to find a way to cut ties with He Daqing

The recycling station deals with scrap every day—waste cardboard boxes, waste wood and such low‑value refuse; inspection is not very strict.

Given Shazhu's circumstances.

He can easily go in.

Director Wang still needed to ask Shazhu for his opinion; he knew Shazhu was an apprentice at the steel mill, and although they had shouted that equality slogan, a factory of tens of thousands still differed from a scrap station of only seven or eight people.

"If you don't want to work as a cook at the steel mill, I can give you a referral letter right now to work at the scrap station—it's up to you."

"Both the steel mill and the scrap station serve the country; I now have a younger sister to support. According to Eldest Uncle, I can only become a full apprentice worker next year, with a year to go, so I'll first earn money—don't let my sister starve; I'll go to the scrap station."

Shazhu turned his back and sold out Yi Zhonghai.

When the time comes, someone will hold someone accountable.

Only Yi Zhonghai can step forward to take the blame.

Director Wang saw Shazhu's answer and felt a flicker of doubt, as if Shazhu's description slightly differed from the facts he knew.

He didn't think much about it.

He mistakenly thought the steel mill had recently changed its rules.

Which is more important, prospects or food?

Obviously, it's food.

If you don't even have a life, what's the use of talking about prospects?

Shazhu is clearly prioritizing survival.

Director Wang took out paper and pen and started drafting a referral letter for Shazhu to work at the scrap station.

It read: "This certifies that resident He Yuzhu of our subdistrict, born March 10, 1935, who through self‑study has attained an elementary‑school education, has been assigned by the subdistrict and, after comprehensive consideration, is now dispatched to work at the Red Star Scrap Station; a date follows."

As Director Wang was filling in the date, Shazhu decisively stopped him; after an explanation, Wang changed the date from December 12, 1951 to December 13, 1951.

That was merely postponing it by one day.

This was also done to be a bit safer.

Tomorrow is the 13th.

Monday.

Shazhu is an apprentice at the steel mill; he still needs to go to the cafeteria to make a round and settle certain matters.

Actually, he just wants to clear the blame of leaving the steel mill.

It's not that I don't want to stay; you're forcing me to leave.

His plan is to go to the cafeteria on the morning of the 13th to ask about becoming an apprentice worker; if the cafeteria chief says Shazhu cannot be promoted, then Shazhu can in good conscience report to the scrap station that afternoon.

No matter how responsibility is pursued, or whose responsibility it is, it has nothing to do with Shazhu.

That's all.

Having received the referral letter, Shazhu felt a weight lift from his heart; having completed half of his plan to stay away from beasts, he began the second half of his plan.

Move out of the siheyuan!

"Director Wang, may I now put forward conditions? The two rooms I currently live in were allocated by the steel mill to our old man; the old man has gone to Baocheng, and now I'm about to enter the scrap station—it's inappropriate to keep living in the steel mill's housing. I'm thinking of asking you: are there any vacant rooms nearby? We could move there that day, so the steel mill won't chase me out."

Director Wang's brows knotted into a big frown.

Various circumstances combined, creating a strong impact on housing in the capital city.

Typical of more demand than supply.

The number of people needing housing far exceeds the supply.

It's not that Director Wang has no houses.

He does.

Not many.

Would you dare to take a private, standalone small siheyuan?

He dares to offer it.

Shazhu also lacks the courage to take it.

It's not nonsense.

In this situation, using Black Panther band's hit song "Having Nothing" to describe things is most fitting; men and women, old and young, all boast of having nothing.

The poorer, the more glorious!

If your home is bare walls, you are glorious.

If your waist is wrapped in ten thousand strings of cash, you are shameful.

Shazhu's father He Daqing wears on his head a hat from the pseudo‑Japanese era, when he worked cooking in a restaurant set up by the Japanese; if he were to obtain a private, standalone small siheyuan, it would practically be courting death, just asking for bad luck.

Unless Shazhu can clear his father He Daqing of the suspicion of having worked for the Japanese.

How to clear it?

Besides cutting ties, is there any other way?

No!

Cutting ties cannot be done right away; you must first submit an application, then get approval—it's not just a matter of saying a few words with your lips; it must become a written document.

As for the house matter,

Shazhu shouldn't think about it for now.

No!

Director Wang also didn't cut off Shazhu's retreat completely; he said to let Shazhu first live in the siheyuan, and after Shazhu reports to the scrap station, Wang will, on behalf of the subdistrict, send a letter to the steel mill to resolve Shazhu's housing, allowing Shazhu to lodge in the siheyuan as a subdistrict‑affiliated worker, and when the subdistrict has vacant rooms, Shazhu will move out.

This is currently the only way to solve Shazhu's housing.

Shazhu thought it over.

He resigned himself to fate.

At worst, we'll just have to go to the street office a few more times later.

A good woman fears being entangled by a man.

Come a few more times; if Director Wang gets annoyed, he might just settle Shazhu's moving issue.

Seeing his own matters settled, Shazhu chuckled and prepared to leave.

But Director Wang grabbed him firmly.

Looking at Shazhu's confused expression, Director Wang didn't know what had gotten into him, but he always believed Shazhu could help him solve his current super difficult problem.

The prostitute remarries!

These past few days.

Within the street office's area, the matchmakers' business inexplicably boomed; regardless of whether they were of marrying age, as soon as adults thought their children were grown, they would arrange a wife for them.

This is clearly aimed at those prostitutes.

Having matchmakers introduce wives fully reveals the neighbors' attitude toward prostitutes.

Take opera, for instance: many people enjoy listening to it and chasing after those so-called performers, but if their children want to study opera, a hundred twenty oppose it; old-fashioned thinking won't bend, they deem opera a lowly profession, and prostitutes are regarded as even lower.

To command a thousand.

To command ten thousand.

This is also the root of Director Wang's dilemma.

Shazhu couldn't help thinking of Jia Dongxu; Qin Huairu is two years older than Shazhu, Jia Dongxu is two years older than Qin Huairu, and Shazhu is seventeen after the New Year.

That means Jia Dongxu is about to turn twenty-one.

At that age he can marry.

"Director Wang, I've told you about our courtyard's Jia Dongxu, haven't I? If you really can't, talk to Jia Dongxu's mother; failing that, there are three senior stewards—have them step in to handle the Jia Zhangshi matter; as long as the woman is beautiful, I guess Jia Dongxu will surely agree."

In order to get Jia Dongxu to marry this prostitute.

Shazhu boasted extravagantly.

If Jia Dongxu marries the prostitute, Qin Huairu won't be able to enter the courtyard.

"As long as someone gets the ball rolling on marrying a prostitute, your later work will be much easier; I think the breakthrough for this prostitute's remarriage lies with Jia Dongxu."