Chapter 463: Yan Fugui Buys a Job

The Dayuan meeting had just ended.

The Jia family widow, worried that someone would fabricate facts and land her in the same twenty‑year prison fate as Liu Haizhong, harbored a petty mind that judged a gentleman's heart, and went all over the Dayuan apologizing to the neighbors.

Others didn't care.

There wasn't any major conflict.

Jia Zhangshi wasn't embarrassed either.

Only when apologizing to Shazhu did her expression look unpleasant.

That really proved the old saying.

How joyful the earlier elation was, now how miserable the depression feels.

She intended to avoid Shazhu.

But she didn't dare.

She had no choice.

Jia Zhangshi put on a shameless old face, forcing an extremely fake smile toward Shazhu as much as possible, and her tone also carried a hint of bland ingratiation.

"Hehehe, Shazhu, this old woman came to see you for nothing special; I just wanted to say sorry. We've been neighbors for twenty or thirty years. Others don't know what kind of person this old woman is, but you, Shazhu, surely do. This old woman is just a clueless country bumpkin, uneducated, typical sharp‑tongued but soft‑hearted: her words sound harsh, but she truly bears no ill will toward anyone."

That was Jia Zhangshi's reason.

Even a dog wouldn't believe it.

Yet Jia Zhangshi herself believed her own nonsense.

She looked rather humble.

Shazhu also knew why Jia Zhangshi had come.

It was all because of what Yan Fugui had just said at the Dayuan meeting, which stirred certain thoughts among the neighbors and made the Jia family mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law feel a bit afraid.

What proactive reporting?

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi were, aside from Liu Haizhong, the most disgusting people; back then they also relied on that ridiculous squad leader title to swagger about for a while.

Worried that the neighbors in the compound would report them, they tried to ingratiate themselves as much as possible, lest the Jia family mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law also end up eating free rations in prison.

Shazhu toward the Jia family.

He no longer harbored that grudge.

Naturally he wouldn't stoop to listing crimes to frame the Jia family and send them to prison.

From Shazhu's height, viewing the Jia family is like looking at ants; when do people ever care about ants' feelings?

Looking at Jia Zhangshi, his tone was very calm.

"Jia Zhangshi, rest assured, I'm not so petty as to fabricate various charges against your Jia family; you can be completely sure of that. Besides, don't come over for nothing—I'm annoyed."

"Shazhu, is what you're saying true?"

Jia Zhangshi still didn't quite believe it; she couldn't believe Shazhu would be so magnanimous, and if she were in his position she could only kick him when he's down.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

Shazhu slowly closed the door.

Dealing with Jia Zhangshi, or alternatively dealing with Qin Huairu.

There's no need for Shazhu to act himself; some sycophantic petty people in the compound, eager to curry favor with him, will rush to help him deal with the Jia family.

It's merely a matter of occupying that position.

If Shazhu weren't the cafeteria head, the neighbors would surely keep as far away as possible.

Just after sending off the plague god Jia Zhangshi, the unwelcome guest Yan Fugui knocked on Shazhu's door, holding a bottle of erguotou in one hand and carrying a small packet of peanuts in the other.

The liquor and side dishes were all ready.

It was obvious they were missing a drinking companion.

Shazhu laughed as he invited Yan Fugui inside; Yu Li knew Yan Fugui had something to discuss with Shazhu, so she took several children to Yushui's room.

……

The Jia Zhangshi across the way.

Seeing that,

she muttered a few words to Qin Huairu.

saying that Shazhu had a few bucks and didn't know how to show off.

She didn't want to live in this house anymore; in a hurry she moved to another room. In the front, middle, and rear three courtyards, whoever wants to stay can stay wherever—unlike the Jia family, which can't even hold onto its last house.

Qin Huairu, her mind in turmoil, paid no heed to Jia Zhangshi's complaints; she turned her gaze, through the glass, toward the Shazhu household across the way.

The scene of Yan Fugui carrying baijiu to Shazhu's home.

She saw it.

Although Yan Fugui inviting Shazhu for a drink in the Siheyuan wasn't anything novel.

Yet Qin Huairu still felt something was off.

Exactly what was off.

For a moment she really couldn't put her finger on it.

She wanted to go listen to the movements in Shazhu's household inside the compound, but she worried about being seen, after all Yan Fugui had said to get the neighbors to report.

The neighbors really worried they couldn't find any leverage on Qin Huairu.

This damn eavesdropping in the compound got busted.

It was tantamount to a lamb walking into a tiger's mouth.

She then gave up the idea of sneaking outside to eavesdrop.

……

Shazhu fetched two wine cups.

He also cut a small plate of pork head meat.

Yan Fugui looked a bit embarrassed; he had thought peanuts and liquor were a perfect match, but he hadn't expected Shazhu to still have prepared a plate of meat dishes.

He had intended to invite Shazhu for a drink, but it turned into the two of them drinking together.

"Shazhu, take a look at how this matter has been handled."

"San Daye, put away your little thoughts, come on, let me see how this second-distilled liquor is."

Shazhu casually grabbed the second-distilled liquor.

There were rumors in the courtyard that Yan Fugui diluted his liquor with water or watered it down.

We must guard against counterfeits.

"Shazhu, can San Daye still deceive you? This is the second-distilled liquor he has stored for over three years; if it were you, Shazhu, or anyone else, even if the factory director of Yagangchang came, he couldn't get me to bring out this bottle of liquor."

Yan Fugui's face.

Showing great pride.

Shazhu saw traces of earth burial on the liquor bottle.

Thus he knew Yan Fugui was telling the truth.

However, this storage method is no different from not storing it; a glass bottle stored for a hundred years remains the same, unlike liquor stored in ceramic jars.

He saw through it but didn't expose it.

He twisted open the liquor bottle cap.

He poured himself a small cup, then topped up Yan Fugui's liquor cup, set down the bottle, lifted the cup, and took a strong sniff near his nose.

Don't say it.

This Ox Barrier Mountain second-distilled liquor.

It really is like that.

At the very least, it's much stronger than the watered-down liquor Yan Fugui usually drinks.

"Shazhu, San Daye didn't deceive you, did he?"

"San Daye, trust me once, come on, let's have a drink, brothers."

He raised his neck.

A cup of liquor went down his belly.

Inside his abdominal cavity.

Instantly a burning pain surged up.

This liquor is the real deal.

He used chopsticks to pick up a peanut.

Looking at Yan Fugui, he wore an expression of deep feeling.

Yan Fugui had thought of many things, but he never expected Shazhu's face to show such a myriad of emotions; for a moment he could hardly contain himself.

"Shazhu, why are you looking at San Daye with that look?"

"I feel it's a bit unreal." Shazhu counted on his fingers, listing: "In our Siheyuan there are three steward elders: the first elder Yi Zhonghai, the second elder Liu Haizhong, and the third elder you, Yan Fugui. Yi Zhonghai has died and vanished, and even now new employees at Yagangchang still use Yi Zhonghai as a negative example."

"Not only Yagangchang, but Red Star School has also started using Yi Zhonghai as a negative example."

"His name will stink for ten thousand years."

Yan Fugui felt a deep sigh of regret.

Yi Zhonghai had sought a reputation his whole life.

But he never expected his reputation to be ruined.

It drew everyone's curses.

Even in true death he could not find peace.

"Second Elder Liu Haizhong is now in prison, eating free meals for twenty years; his three sons are all unfilial, but you have nothing to worry about, although you may have schemed too much, you've been lazy and fine so far, San Daye, I'll speak frankly with the liquor's courage: you too must be careful, lest you end up exactly like Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong."

"Shazhu, what nonsense are you talking?" Yan Fugui wore an expression of cherishing his reputation, "San Daye, what kind of person he is, you already know; as for his character, you, Shazhu, just need to be reassured."

Shazhu felt a flicker of emotion in his heart.

In his previous life.

Having fallen for the schemes of Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, he impulsively founded some sort of retirement home; many who had wanted his life were instead kept alive in that home.

Shazhu earned money all day to feed those beasts.

The wages weren't enough.

He took on side jobs.

The money from side jobs wasn't enough, so he borrowed from Thus: Thus: Mahua and asked Lou Xiaoe for money.

Feeding these freeloaders with good food and drink, Yan Fugui was the first to notice that Shazhu's retirement home faced a revenue shortfall; the penny-pinching Yan Fugui, who had schemed all his life, lowered his dignity to scavenge for trash to sell, trying to subsidize Shazhu's retirement home; Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, two beasts, only after a long time discovered Yan Fugui's scavenging, and they furtively followed him, cornering him at the scene.

One, taking a moral stance, said Yan Fugui had dug himself into a money hole, eating Shazhu's food, drinking his water, living in his house, yet wanting to hoard his own private cash.

Another, using moral blackmail, urged Yan Fugui, saying that his scavenging amounted to blackening Shazhu's face.

Either way, it was Yan Fugui who confessed the truth to them, and with Yan Fugui as an example beforehand, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong then took up scavenging.

Yan Fugui is not essentially bad.

Even if it was scheming, they laid it out clearly in the open, writing how much for couplets, how much for letters.

It's simply that they earned little and had many family members.

Without scheming, they might not be able to support so many children.

The factors stem from these aspects.

Shazhu was happy to interact with Yan Fugui.

Looking at Yan Fugui.

They lowered their voice.

"San Daye, you came to see me tonight; besides drinking, there should be something else, right?"

What is it?

Shazhu had already guessed roughly.

There are no eternal secrets in the world.

Except for the work indicators in his hand.

There is no other explanation either.

"Shazhu, San Daye originally wanted to wait until we were almost done drinking, then San Daye would tell you the matter, but you got impatient."

Things have come to this.

Naturally, we should speak frankly.

He came to find Shazhu; drinking was merely an excuse.

"San Daye heard people say that you have two work permits to enter the steel plant."

Shazhu nodded.

Seeing Shazhu not deny it, the big stone in Yan Fugui's heart finally fell.

"Shazhu, San Daye will speak frankly: today I didn't come to drink with you; I'm after the work in your hand. San Daye also knows what to do; let's go by market price—what do you think?"

A lesser job.

The market price is around three hundred.

Equivalent to one and a half years' salary after hiring.

A better job.

The price is around five hundred kuai.

A job at the steel plant is naturally a good job.

Shazhu didn't ask Yan Fugui who he was buying the job for or why; his intention in asking Factory Director Yang for the work quota was to accumulate funds.

Selling to someone is not selling.

He readily agreed to Yan Fugui's request.

Worried that delay would bring complications.

Yan Fugui returned home and told the truth to Third Aunt.

Heard that Shazhu was asking for five hundred.

Third Aunt still felt a bit reluctant.

According to her opinion.

Considering Shazhu's relationship with their family, at most it would be four hundred.

In the end, the opening price was five hundred.

Yan Fugui gave an explanation.

Buying a job from Shazhu for five hundred is not a loss; Yan Jiekuang can't be sweeping streets all day, and recently, through a matchmaker, he was introduced to a prospect.

The other party is a worker at a textile factory.

Upon hearing that Yan Jiekuang sweeps streets, they immediately said goodbye.

Using Yan Fugui's own words to describe it, if Yan Jiekuang marries a working wife, the money spent buying the job would be earned back in a year, making the Yan family a dual-income household.

Nor did they dare let Yan Jiekuang lose his street-sweeping job; with nothing to do, wandering the streets all day would surely cause trouble.

Buying a job.

It is an important matter.

Third Aunt, persuaded by Yan Fugui, turned and went to the wardrobe, pulling out an iron box—this is where the Yan family keeps their money.

Inside were fifteen or sixteen hundred.

Third Aunt counted fifty whole ten-dollar bills.

She handed them to Yan Fugui.

"Take another fifty more."

Yan Fugui seemed to think of something and, without allowing doubt, told Third Aunt.

"Isn't that a slap?" Third Aunt frowned, looking puzzled at Yan Fugui, "Why do we need to take another fifty?"

"Just take it; why all this nonsense?"

Although fifty kuai equals Yan Fugui's monthly wage.

But at this time.

But we can't be stingy.

We should be generous.

"Do as you say." Third Aunt also decisively grabbed a handful of money, counted out five big unity bills, stuffed them into Yan Fugui's hand, "Here you go."

The largest denomination bill in the 1970s was ten kuai; ten of them make a hundred.

Bulging.

It stuffed Yan Fugui's pockets full.

He grabbed the pocket with his hand.

Leaving his own home's gate, he headed toward Shazhu's house in the central courtyard.

After entering the house.

The two then staged a scene of exchanging money for goods hand over hand.

Yan Fugui handed the five hundred kuai to Shazhu.

Shazhu handed the Yagangchang workers' press certificate to Yan Fugui.

Looking at the words of the Yegang chang baowei ke report written above.

Yan Fugui's heart.

If it weren't for his throat blocking it.

Maybe it would fly out of his chest.

Security Section.

It turned out to be the Security Section.

Just thinking that Yan Jiekuang had been transferred to work in the Yegang chang baowei ke, Yan Fugui's face was filled with endless glory, feeling that spending an extra fifty yuan was totally worth it.

"Zhuzi, you really gave San Daye a bombshell."

"Just because of this Yegang chang baowei ke press certificate."

"Just realize how deep the leadership's trust in Shazhu is at the Yegang chang."

"When Deputy Factory Director Li was in office, Deputy Factory Director Li unconditionally trusted Shazhu; when Factory Director Yang became head of the Yegang chang, he also unconditionally trusted Shazhu."

"San Daye, you also helped me out."

"Not saying another word, you know, I know, heaven knows, earth knows the matter."

"San Daye, there is a specific report date above; be sure not to delay it."