Chapter 1175: Disabled Employee Representative

Duan Xinmin contracted polio when he was three years old. His mother was a farmer who did odd jobs in the city, and although his father was a worker, they had run to hospitals all over the country to treat him, resulting in a mountain of debt.

Later, his parents recognized the reality. They couldn't do odd jobs, so they stayed at home to take care of him. His father's salary, apart from eating and drinking, was all used to pay off the foreign debt.

As for him, when he was in elementary school, his mother carried him on her back. Gradually, as he grew older, his mother couldn't carry him anymore, so she put him on the back of a bicycle and pushed him to school.

But by middle school, because the school was too far from home, he decided to study at home. Three years later, he passed the high school entrance exam, and another three years later, he passed the college entrance exam.

At that time, the whole family was happy for him, but reality forced them to bow their heads again. Because his legs were severely deformed and his muscles had atrophied, he could only sit in a wheelchair.

But at home, where was the money to buy him a wheelchair? Usually, when he went out, he relied on his hands to hold two small stools and moved out little by little. Going to college, so far away, how could he live alone?

Most importantly, the family didn't even have the travel expenses. In the end, Duan Xinmin made another decision: not to go to college and to study at home by himself.

And then he really did complete the university curriculum through self-study. Later, he went everywhere looking for work, but it was useless.

In his condition, even if he completed a master's or doctoral degree through self-study, no unit would hire him.

In the end, he gave up and went to help out at a paper box factory where his mother did odd jobs. The boss saw that their family was pitiful, so he didn't say anything.

Just like that, he worked at the paper box factory for four or five years, earning little, but it was enough to subsidize the family.

He thought he would just be like this: his parents were still alive, he could eat his fill, and when the day came that his parents were gone, he estimated he wouldn't live much longer either.

But what he never dreamed of was that half a year ago, the winery, brewery, and electronics factory under the Yugong Group were going to recruit disabled workers.

At the time he heard this news, he didn't believe it, but it kept spreading and became more and more true, so he couldn't help but run to the winery to ask.

It was actually true, but this matter was handled by the relevant departments of the city, and the factory was only responsible for receiving them.

Duan Xinmin went directly to the community to inquire. The community leaders knew about his family situation, but they only told him to wait for news at home.

This made him very disappointed, because for so many years, he had heard too many such words: wait at home for news, and there would be no news.

His mother knew what he went to do. Seeing him return, she just asked with a smile what they were eating for dinner, and didn't say anything else.

But he knew very well in his heart that his mother had no questions; she had actually guessed the result.

He looked at his mother, who was not yet fifty but already had gray hair, and felt the bitterness behind her smile, making him want to cry out loud.

That day, even his strong and unyielding father became silent. The drink he was used to having every night was not drunk either.

Just like that, days passed in oppressive calm for another week. That morning, his father had just finished eating and was going to work.

Aunt Zhang from the community and a young girl came to their home and took out a form for him to fill out.

When he saw the "Yongchuang Tianya Brewery Recruitment Registration Form" printed on it, he was stunned, and then tears streamed down his face.

That night, his mother bought two catties of meat and stewed it. His father made up for the drink he hadn't had the day before, and even drank an extra glass.

He saw a brilliant smile on his mother's face that he had never seen before. He also saw light in his father's eyes again.

………………

Early morning, the old hen his mother raised kept clucking, and the smell of stewed sauerkraut drifted in from the outer room.

Duan Xinmin got up, put on his clothes, climbed off the *kang*, picked up his two small stools, and went out of the room, seeing his mother squatting by the stove burning fire.

"Mom, why are you stewing sauerkraut so early in the morning?"

"Your dad came back last night and brought a piece of pork ribs. I thought I'd stew it for you in the morning." Mother Liu Meifen said, her tone a bit complaining: "You say, wouldn't it be better to buy some meat? Ribs are all bones, just spending that unjust money."

Duan Xinmin took his tea mug and toothbrush, preparing to brush his teeth: "If you bought it, you bought it. I'll get paid this month, and our family's debt will be paid off. In the future, we can eat meat every day."

Hearing his son's words, Liu Meifen's face broke into a smile. Her son had just started work, and for the first month of training, he only had a salary of over one hundred. By the second month, when he was officially on the job at the winery, it would be over two hundred.

By July, when he went to the brewery, it would be over three hundred every month. If he added some overtime, he could get four hundred, which was double his father's salary. There was only three hundred yuan of debt left, which would be paid off this month, and life was getting better and better.

"What are you two talking about?" Father Duan Qingyou came in from outside.

"Talking about the son getting paid this month, and our debt will be paid off." Liu Meifen answered with a smile.

Duan Qingyou laughed and said to his son: "It's colder today than yesterday. You should wear more."

"I know." Duan Xinmin took his tea mug and toothbrush and went outside to brush his teeth.

By the time he finished washing up, Liu Meifen had already served the cornmeal pancakes and pork ribs with sauerkraut on the table.

"Hurry up and eat, don't be late for work."

Duan Qingyou brought over a plastic jug containing loose liquor: "Son, accompany Dad for a drink?"

"No drink!" Duan Xinmin shook his head.

"If you don't drink, forget it, I'll drink it myself." Duan Qingyou poured himself a glass: "I heard that the winery is inviting quite a few big stars for the New Year's party this year. Is it true or false?"

"True!" Duan Xinmin took a bite of the pancake: "Because the winery's cultural palace can't hold so many people, the winery's branches, the electronics factory, and our brewery—each workshop draws lots. Whoever draws it gets to go."

"This is good, fair." Duan Qingyou nodded: "Did your workshop draw it?"

"No." Duan Xinmin looked disappointed: "I was happy for nothing, I can't go."

"If you can't go, you can't go." Liu Meifen comforted her son: "Since they invited stars this year, they will definitely invite them next year. You will definitely be able to see them."

Duan Xinmin smiled, having eaten enough: "I'm going to work."

Watching his son go out of the room leaning on his small stools, Liu Meifen said: "After paying off the debt this month, we'll buy our son a wheelchair next month."

………………

Duan Xinmin took the bus to the factory. As soon as he entered the workshop, he was called by the director, Du Gang: "Xinmin, do you know why I called you here?"

Duan Xinmin shook his head: "How would I know why you called me."

"It's a good thing." Du Gang said: "The boss just held a morning meeting. All disabled employees in our factory can go watch the New Year's party."

"Ah?" Duan Xinmin was stunned, then looked pleasantly surprised: "Really?"

"Of course it's true." Du Gang said angrily: "It's early in the morning, do I have nothing to do but call you over to joke?"

Duan Xinmin laughed. Du Gang shook his head: "Also, during the New Year's party, you are going to represent our factory and the disabled employees to speak on stage."