Chapter 211: People Are Iron, Rice Is Steel

On the first day of the Lunar New Year this year, the Siheyuan was much quieter; the children were either too underfed to have the energy to run around, or, having eaten their fill, were reluctant to waste the food in their bellies, preferring to lie down rather than stand.

The youngest brother, Zhang Xile, was also kept in this small courtyard by his parents, forbidden from going out to play wildly, and told to look after his nephews and nieces properly; going out to show off at a time like this would only invite resentment.

"Alright, little brother, when school starts, your sister-in-law will buy you two comic books, picture books."

"Okay, thank you, sister-in-law." Then Xile happily went to play with his nephews in the courtyard.

Wang Xiaoling and Dong Dani were making clothes for the children in the studio that used to belong to the fourth sister, while Zhang Ping'an was steeping tea and reading a medical book with focused attention.

His daughter, Zhang Wanqiu, leaned quietly against Zhang Ping'an to keep him company; what could be more healing than this scene?

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Ping'an's small courtyard was exceptionally lively; the families of the third sister and fourth sister had all come over, and the children were crowded together making a racket. The eldest and second sisters lived too far away, so they had been told earlier not to come.

After staying at his father-in-law's house for a while, Zhang Ping'an's family also returned home; the little ones were all impatient to go back and play.

In the courtyard, the children from the third sister's family, the fourth sister's family, Jia Dongxu's family, and his own family—eleven children in total—were making enough noise to give one a headache.

The three-day holiday passed in the blink of an eye. During the New Year, thirty people were on duty at the Pig Farm; the first day back at work was spent on a deep clean, sweeping the pigsties, harvesting forage, and so on.

"Ping'an, our subordinate Steel Mill also wants to set up a pig farm. Go over and give them some guidance, and by the way, take the pig rewarded to them over there."

"After you eat lunch, you can head over. The factory will arrange for someone to take you, but you might have to stay there for two days, so go home and pack up."

"Very well, Factory Director."

Zhang Ping'an went home, packed a couple of changes of clothes and bedding, told Wang Xiaoling and his parents, and returned to the factory to eat.

After the meal, Zhang Ping'an followed the transport truck, escorting the fat pig, and went straight to the Steel Mill.

"Hu Shifu, I'll have to trouble you to come pick me up in two days. Take this pack of cigarettes to smoke."

"This, Director Zhang, it's not appropriate."

"It's fine, we both belong to logistics; we should interact more in the future."

"Hehe, that works then, thank you very much, Director Zhang."

"You're welcome."

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Steel Mill. The welcome ceremony at the Steel Mill actually caught him off guard; hundreds of workers were standing on both sides of the factory, and they were even beating drums and gongs. Was this too enthusiastic?

"Hu Shifu, they are being a bit too enthusiastic."

"Ahem, Director Zhang, actually, they are mostly welcoming the big fat pig in the back of the truck."

"Uh..." Zhang Ping'an felt a bit awkward, but he also inexplicably felt that this scene was very familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

It wasn't until the transport truck stopped in the center of the factory and Zhang Ping'an got out that, aside from the Steel Mill leaders, the workers' gazes were still fixed on the back door of the truck.

"Welcome, Factory Director Zhang. I am Liu Feng, the Factory Director of the Steel Mill."

"Director Liu, you are too kind. Your workers are all very enthusiastic." Zhang Ping'an also found Liu Feng looking familiar.

"Hahaha, don't mind them, Director Zhang. Everyone hasn't seen meat in a long time." Liu Feng laughed awkwardly.

"Understandable."

"Director Zhang, let's go to the office to talk." Liu Feng then turned his head and whispered to the person beside him.

"Also, tell Nan Yi to slaughter the pig; we'll have a big feast tomorrow at noon."

"Nan Yi?"

Zhang Ping'an keenly caught the name Nan Yi. It seemed to be from a show he watched in his previous life called People Are Iron, Rice Is Steel, though he hadn't finished it at the time. Later, he had watched a few short videos intermittently and had a rough understanding of the overall plot.

Looking at this situation, had he replaced Cui Dake in delivering the pig Xiaozhuang to them? If so, would Cui Dake ever have a day as a worker?

"That works too."

In the office, Factory Director Liu Feng brought out a map of the Steel Mill and its surroundings.

"Director Zhang, look, this whole area belongs to our Steel Mill. Where do you think is suitable for a pig farm?"

"You have a river here? That saves the trouble of digging a well. Then, scatter grass seeds around a spot two hundred meters from the river, and build the pigsties behind the forage."

"Director Zhang, you might not know, but there are quite a few Rolling Mill workers living around this riverbank. Won't the pig farm smell too strong? By then..."

"Director Liu, you can rest assured about that. As long as you can clean up the pig manure and have the forage surrounding it, even inside the pig farm, the smell will be very faint."

"That's good, that's good."

"Director Liu, let's go for a field inspection."

"That works too."

Liu Feng hadn't expected Zhang Ping'an to be so swift and decisive. In fact, Zhang Ping'an was just doing it to finish the task early so he could go back sooner.

A group of five people rode factory Bicycles to the riverbank.

"By the way, Director Liu, I haven't asked how large of a pig farm you intend to build?"

"Ahem, two mu of land."

"How much?"

"Director Zhang, our Steel Mill is a small operation; we can't compare to the General Manager's big establishment. Two mu is already our limit."

"This fat pig was our reward from the General Manager for exceeding our targets last year."

"Hmm, very well. Once your pig farm is built, come to me to buy piglets; I'll give you a cheaper price."

"Good, good, good. Thank you very much, Director Zhang."

"Eh, we are all part of the same factory system, after all."

"Yes, yes, yes."

After confirming the site for the farm by the river, the group of five returned the way they came. By the riverbank, a boy of about eight years old was digging for wild vegetables by the roadside with what appeared to be his two younger brothers.

"Damao, it's getting late. Take your brothers back early, so your mother doesn't worry."

"Yes, okay, I know, Uncle Liu."

"Director Liu, who are these children?"

"Sigh, they are the children of Liang Ladi, a worker in our factory. Her husband died years ago; it's not easy for a woman to raise four children on her own," Liu Feng said with a sigh.

"Hmm, that is indeed very difficult."

"Forget it, I won't say any more. Factory Director Zhang, the dormitory I've arranged for you is also nearby; it's a private courtyard with three rooms. Please don't mind that it's simple."

"How could I? The conditions are already very good."

"Hahaha, that's good then. This is the place. There is also a kitchen inside, and some grain and vegetables. I'll have someone bring your luggage over in a moment. If you need anything, just ask."

"Alright, thank you, Factory Director Liu."

Zhang Ping'an went in to take a look; there were three main rooms and a kitchen, all cleaned very neatly, and the courtyard was about fifty or sixty square meters.

Zhang Ping'an was very satisfied, though the neighbors on the left and right were a bit close, so he would only be able to eat his food inside his space.

"That's settled then. Factory Director Zhang has been traveling for a long time and spent the afternoon walking around with us, so you'll need to tidy up the room a bit. We won't disturb you any further."

"There's a big banquet tomorrow at noon. Factory Director Zhang must try the cooking of our factory's chef, Nan Yi; his ancestors were Imperial Chefs."

"Hahaha, alright. After hearing you say that, Factory Director Liu, I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow's lunch."

"You certainly won't be disappointed when the time comes." Not long after Factory Director Liu left, someone brought his luggage over.

Zhang Ping'an tidied up the room a little, first heating the kang, then simply making some sweet potato porridge, and just grabbing a vegetable from his space.

"Damao, when did someone move in here?"

"Mom, it was someone Uncle Liu brought. It seems he's some kind of Technician; he was still looking at blueprints by the river this afternoon."