Chapter 130: with translation of chapter title

In the twelfth month in Beiping City, the cold wind cut the face; but Courtyard No. 95 was bustling, the central courtyard had set up a temporary stove, Sha Zhu wore a new apron and was shouting to a few assistant cooks to bring firewood.

Jia Zhangshi was standing at his own doorway early in the morning, peeking out, and when he saw Yi Zhonghai carrying a piece of meat over, he immediately shouted hoarsely: "First Elder, that meat looks really fat!"

Yi Zhonghai handed over the meat: "Apprenticeship is a serious matter; the necessary formalities cannot be omitted."

Liu Haizhong came over with his hands in his pockets: "Old Yi, I heard that today at this banquet Sha Zhu is in charge of the stove?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Zhuzi at least learned a few days in the restaurant."

Yan Bu Gui: "This apprenticeship ceremony, you have to be proper. First kowtow, then offer tea…"

Jia Dongxu huddled behind his mother, his face flushed bright red. He is nineteen this year, skinny as a bamboo pole, and his job is still the spot he took over from his dead father's quota at the Steel Rolling Mill.

Sha Zhu shouted at the stove: "Second Elder, please step aside, I'm about to go into the pot!"

When the sun rose to its zenith, the courtyard set out three Eight Immortals Tables. At the head of the main table sat Yi Zhonghai, with Deaf Old Lady on his left and the Jia mother and son on his right. Yan Bu Gui and Liu Haizhong sat on opposite sides, and the other neighbors squeezed in according to seniority.

Yi Zhonghai stood up and tapped the tea jar: "Jia Dongxu is an honest person, filial to his elders; today I take Dongxu as an apprentice. In the workshop I will teach him well, and he must also attend to family matters."

Jia Zhangshi pushed his son: "Quick, kowtow! What are you standing still for!"

Jia Dongxu plopped down to kneel, kowtowing with a thudding sound.

After receiving the ceremony, Yi Zhonghai took a thin red envelope from his pocket: a meeting gift from the master.

Jia Zhangshi snatched the red envelope, squeezed it, and his mouth immediately drooped. He said sarcastically: "Yo, First Elder, this meeting gift is a bit too thin, aren't you a big shot at the Steel Rolling Mill, and you give just this little amount?"

Yi Zhonghai's face stiffened; just as he was about to speak, Yan Bu Gui said: "Jia Zhangshi, the First Elder's amount is a gesture of goodwill; you shouldn't be ungrateful."

Jia Zhangshi pursed his lips, about to continue complaining, when Deaf Old Lady spoke: "Enough, stop arguing; today is a happy occasion. Dongxu, study the craft well with your First Elder, and if you become successful later, don't forget your master."

When serving tea, Jia Dongxu's hand shook badly; Deaf Old Lady squinted and let out a soft hum through her nose.

Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses: "Old Yi, taking this apprentice is a good deal."

Yan Bu Gui cleared his throat: "Let me say a few words on behalf of the courtyard…" He was cut off by Sha Zhu shouting: "Dishes are coming!"

The first dish was cabbage with vermicelli; Jia Zhangshi grabbed the biggest chopstick and was about to put it into his son's bowl. Yi Zhonghai coughed: "Let the Old Lady eat first."

When the second course of Red Braised Pork arrived, Yan Bu Gui had already taken three bowls of wine with the dish. His daughter‑in‑law glared from the next table, and Yan Bu Gui pretended not to see.

After three rounds of wine, Yi Zhonghai's face flushed slightly: "Dongxu, the primary quality for an apprentice is diligence. In the workshop, moving material and cleaning must be done eagerly."

Jia Dongxu quickly nodded: "I'll follow the master."

Jia Zhangshi pursed his lips: "He, First Elder, Dongxu is an honest child; you must look after him more."

When Sha Zhu brought out the finale dish—pork stewed with vermicelli—Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened. Xu Damao came up to the stove: "Sha Zhu, save some broth for us, okay?"

No, no, no! Sha Zhu waved the wok: "This meat is portioned by slices!"

Jia Zhangshi stared at the meat basin, salivating, but saw Yi Zhonghai first scoop meat into Deaf Old Lady's bowl. The Old Lady tasted it: "It's salty."

Yi Zhonghai then gave Jia Dongxu a slice of fatty meat: "Study the craft well, and later you will make a good life for your mother."

When the banquet reached its second half, Liu Haizhong began to speak grandly about production tasks. Yan Bu Gui slipped to the children's table, shoveling the leftovers into his own lunchbox. Jia Zhangshi shouted in a high voice: "Third Elder, your way of eating is too unsightly!"

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand: "Never mind, today we are happy."

When the meal was cleared, Jia Zhangshi stared at Sha Zhu who was tidying the leftovers and suddenly said: "Zhuzi, I'll take that half bowl of soup back."

Sha Zhu hadn't answered when Yi Zhonghai spoke: "Leave it for the Old Lady to eat hot tomorrow."

Jia Zhangshi's face turned iron blue. Deaf Old Lady, leaning on a cane, said: "I can't eat it, take it."

Under the moonlight, Yi Zhonghai escorted Jia Dongxu back to his room. Jia Zhangshi closed the door and tore open the red envelope: "Only twenty thousand! That's enough to buy what?"

Early the next morning, Jia Dongxu followed Yi Zhonghai to work. In the workshop the machines roared, and Yi Zhonghai pointed at the steel material piled like a mountain: "All of this must be moved today."

During the noon break, Jia Dongxu was so tired his hands shook and he couldn't steady his lunchbox. Yi Zhonghai frowned: "You have no strength at all?"

Jia Dongxu lowered his head, not daring to speak. At that moment, the workshop supervisor came over: "Old Yi, I heard you took on an apprentice? This youngster looks quite spirited."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and said: "Supervisor, I will definitely teach him well."

The supervisor patted Jia Dongxu's shoulder: "Work hard, don't embarrass your master." In the afternoon work, Jia Dongxu became even more vigorous, but his body was thin, and soon he was panting heavily from fatigue.

Yi Zhonghai watched him, feeling a bit reluctant, but kept a stern face and said: "Hold on, you can't even endure this little hardship, what craft are you learning?"

When it was time to finish work, Jia Dongxu collapsed exhausted on the ground. Yi Zhonghai pulled him up,

"Let's go, go home and get a good sleep, continue tomorrow." Back in the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi saw his son's exhausted state, felt deep sorrow, and began to blame Yi Zhonghai: "He, First Elder, you are too harsh, making my son this tired."

Yi Zhonghai frowned: "If I'm not harsh, he won't learn anything; you shouldn't protect him then."

Jia Dongxu forced himself to say: "Mother, the master is for my good, I can endure." Seeing his son's determined gaze, Jia Zhangshi could not say more.

That night, Jia Zhangshi saw his son collapsed on the kang and muttered angrily: "Yi Zhonghai is treating my son like a draft animal!"

Half a month later, when Jia Dongxu was moving material he sprained his ankle. Yi Zhonghai glanced: "Young man, rest for half a day and that's enough."

When he got home, Jia Zhangshi saw it, and instead of worrying about Jia Dongxu, his first words were: "Can the work injury get a subsidy?"

Yi Zhonghai gave no reply. The next day, Jia Dongxu limped and kept moving steel material.

Jia Dongxu was so exhausted at night he kept humming, and Jia Zhangshi cursed: "Yi Zhonghai, that old miser, deliberately torments people!"

Sha Zhu came to deliver the labor‑protection gloves issued by the factory, and added: "All apprentices are like this; back when I was in the restaurant I chopped meat filling every day."

Time flew to the year's end. Yi Zhonghai took Jia Dongxu to pay New Year's respects to the leaders, and returned empty‑handed. Jia Zhangshi peered through the door crack: "What stinginess, not even a little New Year's gift!"

On New Year's Eve, the whole courtyard had a dinner, and Yi Zhonghai said publicly: "Dongxu still needs training; the first‑level worker exam after the spring is still pending."

Jia Zhangshi on the spot broke his chopsticks: "My son works himself to death every day, and this is all we get?"

On the fifteenth day of the first month, the Steel Rolling Mill apprentice assessment took place, and Jia Dongxu indeed failed. The certificates were taken by others, and Jia Zhangshi at home smashed basins and bowls.

But the next day when wages were paid, Jia Dongxu found his pay was less than others'. Yi Zhonghai explained: "The batch of material you damaged last month must be deducted."

That night, the Jia household was heard smashing things. The next day Jia Dongxu came to work with swollen eyes.

On the spring equinox, Yi Zhonghai was training the apprentices in the workshop when he suddenly started coughing nonstop. Jia Dongxu stood there at a loss, but a coworker ran to help him to the infirmary.

After waking up, Yi Zhonghai saw Jia Dongxu curled up at the doorway and sighed: "Go finish moving today's material."

Returning from the infirmary, Yi Zhonghai unusually gave Jia Dongxu two apples: "Take one for your mother."

Jia Zhangshi, upon receiving the apples, pursed his lips and said: "They must be from the factory; they only give us when they can't finish eating them."

The late‑spring evening wind rustled the fresh leaves of the locust tree. Yan Bu Gui whispered to Liu Haizhong: "Old Yi's disciple took this, it's a pure loss."

Liu Haizhong hummed: "What do you know? This is just tempering one's character."

Only Sha Zhu saw through it without saying anything. While stir‑frying, he said to Yushui: "See? First Elder, this is training a donkey."

Yushui blinked: "Brother, what does 'training a donkey' mean?"

Sha Zhu tossed a pinch of salt into the pot: "It's making the donkey work while not giving it enough fodder."

At that moment Yi Zhonghai was in the Workshop watching Jia Dongxu move materials, his gaze like he was looking at a tool. When Jia Dongxu turned his head, Yi Zhonghai forced a smile: "Do a good job."

But that smile never reached his eyes.