Chapter 5: Vying to Report to Yi Zhonghai

Inside the house.

Factory Director Yang looked at Lin Shengli and asked:

"Lin Shengli, is what you just said true?"

"Is Yi Zhonghai really your uncle?"

He found it somewhat unbelievable.

As far as he knew, Yi Zhonghai was one of the few Level 8 Pipe Workers in the factory, and as the Factory Director, he certainly would have known about it.

As far as he knew, Yi Zhonghai had no sons or daughters, and no other relatives either.

Speaking of relatives, the only one he had was his old spouse.

How did a nephew suddenly pop up?

And a blood-related one at that.

Lin Shengli nodded and said:

"That's right."

"I also agreed to work at our factory because I considered that my uncle is here."

"My uncle is getting older and older, and I wouldn't feel at ease not coming back to look after him."

Factory Director Yang: "So filial!"

"Master Yi would surely be happy to hear that."

"Ah, this world is really small."

"Master Yi Zhonghai is already a treasure of our factory, and the new treasure we've recruited happens to be his nephew."

Section Chief Chen: "Yeah, this might just be fate."

Factory Director Yang: "Exactly, exactly, it's fate."

"Hopefully in the near future, you uncle-nephew pair can bring our factory to a new height."

Lin Shengli: "Factory Director Yang, please rest assured, I will definitely do my best."

Factory Director Yang: "I first represent all the factory workers in expressing my thanks to you."

"By the way, Lin Shengli, let your uncle also attend the welcome banquet later."

Lin Shengli: "Okay, then I'll first thank Factory Director Yang on behalf of my uncle."

Factory Director Yang: "Don't be polite, let's first look at the housing."

Elsewhere.

Yan Jiecheng was secretly stealing melon seeds that Yan Bu Gui had hidden at home when he suddenly heard Yan Bu Gui shout "The sky is falling!" He was so startled his hand shook and the seeds all fell to the ground.

He still thought Yan Bu Gui had discovered him stealing the seeds.

He panicked and ran out, asking:

"Dad, Dad, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean the sky is falling?"

Yan Bu Gui: "Lao Yi, your Eldest Uncle, his blood nephew has come."

Yan Jiecheng exclaimed: "What?"

Yan Bu Gui: "What what?"

"You hurry to the factory and call your Eldest Uncle back."

Yan Jiecheng: "Wait, please wait."

"You just said your Eldest Uncle's blood nephew has come—is that really true?"

Yan Bu Gui: "Of course it's true."

"Go quickly."

Yan Jiecheng: "This is work time; I'm afraid my Eldest Uncle can't just leave his post."

"Besides, it's his blood nephew who came, not mine, so I'm not going to run this errand."

Yan Bu Gui, looking exasperated, said: "You're really stupid."

"How could I have a son as stupid as you?"

"How come you didn't inherit any of my and your mother's good points?"

"Think about it—your Eldest Uncle is a Level 8 Pipe Worker at the factory; taking a brief break from his post is nothing unusual."

"Of course, this isn't the point; what is the point then?"

"The point is your Eldest Uncle has always been generous; he has no sons or daughters, and suddenly a blood nephew drops in—how could he not be happy?"

"When he's happy like that, couldn't he give you some benefits?"

"If you run this errand now, you'll receive a reward—maybe even a catty or two of noodle sticks."

"And you still aren't willing?"

Yan Jiecheng suddenly realized: "Right, right, right, I'll go right away."

"Please wait a moment for me."

Saying that, he ran into the house, but he still hadn't managed to steal any melon seeds.

How could he let all his previous effort go to waste?

Jia Zhangshi gave Yan Bu Gui a sideways glance, her face full of disdain, and said: "You're really scheming."

She was in a bad mood now, and everyone looked unpleasant to her.

After saying that, she pulled Jia Dongxu aside and whispered:

"Hurry up and call your Eldest Aunt; later, your master will give you an errand fee."

Jia Dongxu: "........."

Jia Zhangshi: "What are you still standing around doing? Hurry up and go."

"If we wait for San Da Ye to come to his senses, you'll lose this chance."

Jia Dongxu: "Mom, you go yourself; I can't lose face over this."

"I still have to rush back to work."

"Factory Director Yang already knows; if you don't go back now it's considered absenteeism, and that's no longer just a two‑point deduction and a two‑yuan fine."

Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh: "Then you go quickly, run there."

"You must get there before Yan Jiecheng and deliver a message to your master."

"Then I'll ask your master for the running‑errand fee."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bu Gui, his face anxious, shouted toward the house:

"Yan Jiecheng, hurry, quickly."

"Jia Dongxu reported the news before you; you won't reap any benefit."

Upon hearing it, Yan Jiecheng hurriedly grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, slipped them into his pocket, and ran outside.

He didn't even have time to pick up the seeds that fell to the ground.

At the same time.

Under Jia Zhangshi's incessant urging, Jia Dongxu ran toward the outside of the Siheyuan.

Yan Bu Gui, watching Yan Jiecheng lag a step behind, became so anxious he almost cried: "Hurry, you better run faster."

"You must get there before Jia Dongxu."

The next second.

Yan Jiecheng bolted, cutting through the road……

Yan Bu Gui shouted at the top of his lungs: "Yan Jiecheng, go for it, go for it, Yan Jiecheng, you're the best."

Jia Zhangshi hummed and said:

"Always scheming, even Lao Yi you have to scheme against."

"I'm telling you, Lao Yi is my son's master."

"He naturally knows who is close and who is distant."

Yan Bu Gui: "Hmph, you still have the nerve to say that."

"This idea was mine; how can you compete with me for it?"

Jia Zhangshi: "I not only want to compete with you for Lao Yi, I also want to take his Yi Dama."

Those words snapped the dreamer awake.

Yan Bu Gui slapped his forehead and, without a word, ran toward the Zhongyuan.

Jia Zhangshi also ran over.

She, trailing behind Yan Bu Gui, gasped and shouted:

"He, his Yi Dama is me, I thought of it, you can't, you must not compete with me."

Yang Changzhang also heard the conversation between Jia Zhangshi, Yan Bu Gui and the others.

He truly couldn't help but laugh.

With a sigh, he shook his head and said:

"How can there be such a person?"

Section Chief Chen echoed: "Yeah, truly eye‑opening."

"This is really a weird case."

Lin Shengli smiled faintly, saying nothing.

If he said, this courtyard "produces many talented people".

Not only are Jia Zhangshi and the calculating Yan Bu Gui masters of every messy tumble, enough to give even ghosts a headache, but also the overambitious yet incompetent official‑obsessed abusive husband Liu Haizhong, the ultimate widow‑licker He Yuzhu, the white lotus Qin Huairu, the scheming petty man Xu Damao, and even his uncle, who is a Moral Heavenly Venerable; after that, Factory Director Yang and Section Chief Chen probably won't dare set foot in this Siheyuan again.

Factory Director Yang: "Enough, let's not talk about them."

"Let's talk about the house."

"Lin, the worker, for now I'm imposing on you."

"As an engineer, you should be allocated a better house."

"It's just that the factory doesn't have a suitable one right now."

"Later, once there's a suitable one, I'll immediately assign you another unit."

Lin Shengli: "Thank you, Factory Director Yang."

Section Chief Chen: "Lin, the worker, you can also see that this is a one‑room, one‑hall layout."

"The area is over twenty square meters."

"After receiving Factory Director Yang's instructions, I immediately arranged for people to come and clean up."

"These pieces of furniture were left by the previous owner."

"Although a bit old, they're still usable."

"If you want to add anything later, you can do so."

"By the way, the bedroom has a bed and a wardrobe."

Lin Shengli: "I'm truly grateful!"

"Now I don't need to buy anything; I can move in directly."

"There's a desk, a stool, a bed, a wardrobe—enough."

As they spoke, Lin Shengli and the others walked into the bedroom.

Section Chief Chen: "This 1.2‑meter bed is a bit small."

Lin Shengli: "Hmm, it's a bit small; let's settle in first and talk later."

"Doing revolutionary work, one can't indulge in pleasure."

"That's what was said, but Lin Shengli had already decided in his heart what to buy."

"Big bed, tea table, tea set, and sofa......"

"These are the most basic."

"With these, it then feels like a home."

"However."

"He now has only a few dozen yuan as his total possessions."

"We'll have to wait until payday to talk about it."