Chapter 74

He Yuzhu rode his bike home and found that at the gate of the Courtyard House, the eldest aunt seemed to be waiting for someone, peering out in the cold wind.

Zhuzi, you're finally back. The eldest aunt hurried forward, "Why are you back so late today? Is there some urgent work at the factory?"

He Yuzhu laughed and shook his head. He works in the canteen; even if the factory has an urgent task, it's the workshop workers who are busy, and it's not his turn.

The eldest aunt felt a bit embarrassed; the weather is very cold now, she wants He Yuzhu to help, to bring a few pieces of clothing to Yi Daye, and also Da Mao'er's boots.

As for He Yuzhu sending Yi Daye to the Garbage Disposal Station, the eldest aunt didn't think much of it; over the years, she has always looked down on the things Yi Daye has done.

But even when she advised Yi Daye, he wouldn't listen.

"Alright, go back and tidy up." He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

Inside the Courtyard House, the eldest aunt is still a decent person, whether in her character or in social interactions.

The eldest aunt happily went back to tidy the clothes.

"Hey, look, look, the eldest aunt and Shazu are coming in laughing and chatting; maybe their two families are about to reconcile." Jia Zhangshi leaned against the window looking out.

Qin Huairu was so exhausted she couldn't straighten her back, and had no mind to worry about these things.

"Looks like it didn't tire you out; you can pick up a few cents a day now." Qin Huairu snorted, "If in the end you have to make up the bill, just wait to cry."

Jia Zhangshi didn't care, and He Yuzhu isn't asking about these either; who knows if he'll remember during the New Year.

"Go and contact Yi Daye; maybe with this opportunity our two families can reconcile, and then we'll be able to eat sliced pork and meat-and-egg dumplings again."

Qin Huairu understood that she and He Yuzhu were impossible, but going to see Yi Daye was still not bad.

In the early morning's thin mist carrying a hint of chill, scattered fallen leaves buried the path ahead; Qin Huairu carried a bundle and hurried toward the Garbage Disposal Station.

Although there isn't much food at home, she still took out some dried vegetables and a few steamed buns; when visiting others, one certainly should bring something in hand, and she herself knows etiquette.

When she found Yi Daye, he was lying asleep on a plank, with a blazing stove beside him; Qin Huairu gently woke him and was about to fetch water for him to wash his face.

"No need to busy yourself; I'll sleep a little longer later. After all these years of toiling in the workshop, I now realize this place is truly a good place."

Not working, not laboring, yet this goes against the thinking of the times, and moreover, a person who goes a long time without labor is not far from being useless. It's all the same.

"Yi Daye, you can't do this." Qin Huairu stared for a moment, "You are a first-class craftsman; you could still go back to the workshop by finding a leader, and what you did isn't a big problem."

"Wasting grain can be big or small; Qin Huairu feels that with Yi Daye's status, he wouldn't come here over such a small matter; the leaders all know this is He Yuzhu striking back in retaliation."

"What big problem, small problem—here there are no problems."

Qin Huairu sighed, left the things there, and just walked away.

If she didn't leave now, He Yuzhu would probably come over soon.

Qin Huairu guessed correctly; she had just stepped out of the Garbage Disposal Station's area when He Yuzhu rode his bicycle in.

"Old Yi, why are there so many people looking for you today? Just as one left, another arrived."

He Yuzhu took the clothes the eldest aunt had brought and moved them into Yi Daye's room.

"Zhuzi, why do you have time to come over today?" Yi Daye turned over, "Come over and warm yourself by the fire; you must have frozen along the way."

"Yi Daye, hurry up and get up; we'll have breakfast soon."

Yi Daye yawned, indicating that he had heard that people at the Garbage Disposal Station eat breakfast; he himself now only has one meal a day, and after eating he goes to sleep.

He Yuzhu works in the canteen and also knows how the meals here are; these people are too lazy to go to the canteen themselves, so they send someone over to fetch food.

But he didn't know that the people here don't eat on a schedule; they eat whenever they're hungry, and if there's no food they find a place to sleep.

He Yuzhu shook his head; these people are a bit like those great gods of later times.

"Alright, if you have something to do, go get busy; if you stay here too long, you'll end up feeling envy, jealousy, and hatred."

Leaving the Garbage Disposal Station, He Yuzhu rode his bike while thinking about how to tidy up the supplies section, but what came to mind instead was Goujian sleeping on firewood and tasting gall, and Liu Bei planting chives.

Yi Daye might be pulling a 'build an open road, sneak through Chen Cang' maneuver; we need to be on guard.

Back in the canteen, He Yuzhu began arranging the day's work and also ordered the staff: henceforth, upon seeing idle people, if it's not mealtime, they are to be driven away.

At this moment, the Garbage Disposal Station was especially lively.

"Old Yi, I didn't expect so many people outside to be thinking of you, and they've brought so many tasty things; you, an eighth-level worker, are just different from us trash."

Yi Daye tightly held the things in his hands, glancing warily at the surrounding coworkers.

"Just some pickled vegetables and such; my family isn't well-off either, but Old Ye's family has money—last time they brought you salted meat, right?"

Old Ye nodded, continuing to doze.

"We're all in the same boat; my family gets by, but others probably haven't had meat in ages—Old Ye, bring it out so everyone can have a taste."

The others' eyes burned with anticipation.

"Why?"

"Your family is well-off; helping those without money is only right—given our situation, we should help each other even more."

Yi Daye's words seemed somewhat reasonable, and when the others saw a chance to gain an advantage, even though each had already given up, they all started chattering away.

"Sigh, I thought there would be no infighting here, but it turns out everyone is like this." Old Ye closed his eyes, his heart already irritated; he came here precisely because he didn't want to engage in backstabbing in the workshop.

"Yi Zhonghai, shut your trap already—you stick your nose into everything, thinking you're so noble, but you're the factory's moral degenerate."

If he said that outside, Yi Daye would have nothing to say, but inside the Garbage Disposal Station it's different.

"I'm the moral degenerate; you're not exactly a gem either, having been a backward element for several years—what right do you have to criticize me?" Yi Zhonghai stood up, "We're evenly matched."

After strolling around the room, Yi Daye was about to give a passionate speech, but the others didn't want to hear his nagging; with that idle mind, they'd rather go bask in the sun by the wall.

"Talk that brings no benefit is like an electric vehicle without electricity."