Chapter 253: Work Arrangements

"You all live here?"

"Yes, Comrade Public Security. I don't have a formal job, and it's hard to even get enough to eat, so I had to build these three rooms with my younger brothers and sisters."

Qian Dahu felt somewhat embarrassed. He was the first to leave the Welfare Institute, and these were all people who later came to rely on him. As it turned out, he couldn't support them at all, so everyone just scraped by together like this.

Among these people, only he was a bit sturdy; the others were all painfully thin. No one wanted to hire them for work, so they could only scavenge through trash every day to barely fill their stomachs.

Afterward, Zhang Ping'an frowned as he looked at the iron pot bubbling away.

"What is being cooked in this pot?"

"It's cornmeal porridge and some wild vegetables."

In truth, it wasn't even cornmeal, just some grain scraps he had picked up while carrying heavy sacks at the grain store.

Looking at the thin, weak children one by one, Zhang Ping'an sighed inwardly; they were all a group of pitiful kids.

"Alright, I'll let it slide this time. In the future, you are not allowed to block the road and rob people. Find honest work to earn money."

"Thank you, thank you! Comrade Public Security, you are a good person." Qian Dahu had already regretted going out to rob today; fortunately, no major disaster had been caused.

After Zhang Ping'an left, the group clearly breathed a sigh of relief, though they were still terrified in their hearts, having nearly ended up in prison for life.

Half an hour later, Zhang Ping'an returned and set down a bag of sweet potatoes and a bag of cornmeal.

"You all should eat these sparingly. Dahu, I see your skills are quite good; would you like me to recommend you to join the Security Department?"

"Me? Can I do it too?"

"There shouldn't be much of a problem. Wait for my news."

The Security Department was currently part of logistics, and with Qian Dahu's skills, it shouldn't be difficult to get him hired with his recommendation.

"Thump."

"Thump." X9

"Whether it works out or not, thank you, Comrade Public Security."

"Alright, get up. A man has gold under his knees; don't go kneeling at every turn in the future."

There wasn't much Zhang Ping'an could do to help them, but finding Qian Dahu a stable job would at least keep them from starving to death.

"Yes, yes, Comrade Public Security, I'll consider this grain a loan from you. Once I earn money in the future, I will definitely pay you back."

"Hehe, that works too."

It was nearly ten o'clock when he returned to the Siheyuan. When Yi Zhonghai came back, he had told Zhang Ping'an's parents that he would be back late, and Zhang Laohan hadn't paid it any mind.

"Brother Ping'an, are you alright? After eight o'clock, Brother Yi came to say you had to handle something urgent. Why so late?"

"Mm, I ran into something. I didn't expect it to be this late either. It's fine, everything is settled."

"Mm."

Zhang Ping'an had just forgotten to thank Yi Zhonghai. He had been able to bring his son and some tools to come help when he might have been facing danger;

although they didn't end up helping much, the fact that someone dared to come save you meant you had to thank them.

Originally, Zhang Ping'an had maintained a neighborly relationship with Yi Zhonghai all these years, but perhaps because he had read the original story, there was always a sense of wariness in his heart.

He hadn't expected him to help regardless of the danger. Thinking about how the plot had already collapsed, Zhang Ping'an didn't find it strange anymore.

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an still got up early to exercise. Today was another day off, so he decided to invite the Yi Zhonghai family over for a meal and have Yi Zhonghai's good buddy, San Jie Fu, Lao Jia, come along to keep them company.

So, after finishing his workout, Zhang Ping'an went out and returned with a chicken and three jin of fresh meat.

After eight o'clock, Zhang Ping'an went to Yi Zhonghai's house to let him know.

"Brother Yi, thank you and Jiabao for backing me up last night. I've set a table at home today; bring your wife, Jiabao, and Jiabei over at noon."

"Ping'an, we didn't really help much yesterday, so there's no need to go to such expense."

"Brother Yi, I've already bought the things, and I've already invited San Jie Fu. I also want to learn more about this Qian Dahu from Jiabao."

"Well, alright then, we'll come over later."

"Good."

Only then did Zhang Ping'an go to San Jie Fu, Lao Jia's place, to talk about the drinking session at noon.

"What did Lao Yi do? You have to set a table to thank him?"

"Mm... it was last night..." Zhang Ping'an briefly explained what happened last night.

"So that's how it is. Then you really should invite him. Alright, I'll have San Jie go over and give your wife a hand."

"Alright."

After nine o'clock, the Yi Zhonghai family and San Jie Fu, Lao Jia, arrived one after another. The women went to the kitchen to help, while the men drank tea.

Zhang Ping'an asked Yi Jiabao many questions about Qian Dahu and the orphans.

"Uncle Zhang, Brother Dahu and Brother Xiaohu aren't bad people. They were probably just desperate from hunger yesterday."

"Mm, I know. I don't intend to hold yesterday's events against them. Tell me more about them."

"Alright, thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Through Yi Jiabao's account, combined with yesterday's encounter, Zhang Ping'an had a rough understanding of Qian Dahu. His nature wasn't bad; one could even say it was very good. If there was food, he would let the younger brothers and sisters from the orphanage have it.

Last night, it was likely as Yi Jiabao said—they were desperate from hunger. Plus, the things Zhang Ping'an saw in that pot yesterday didn't look like food. If they hadn't been pushed to the limit, he really wouldn't have resorted to robbery.

Time quickly reached noon. The dishes were ready, the men drank, and the women took the children to set up another table.

Over the years, the relationship between the Jia Family and the Yi family had grown closer. San Jie and Tan Cuicui were colleagues, Lao Jia and Yi Zhonghai were colleagues, and their children went to school together. As neighbors of several decades, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call these two families brothers.

"Come, Lao Yi, let's have a drink."

"Coming."

"Brother Yi, I'll toast you too."

"Come, come, everyone. Uncle Zhang, Zhang Daye."

After this meal, the relationship between Zhang Ping'an and Yi Zhonghai had drawn much closer. Although they were good neighbors before, there had always been a sense of distance, but now the relationship between the two families had taken a step forward.

In the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an took some tea leaves and Medicinal Wine to Li Huaide's house. Qian Dahu's entry into the Security Department still had to go through Comrade Li.

"Hmm... the Security Section is all retired soldiers; nominally they are under our logistics management, but in reality, the Public Security Bureau is mainly in charge," Li Huaide said after hearing about Zhang Ping'an's encounter, and then he offered his own suggestion:

"Ping'an, why not send them to the pig farm? As you said, one person's salary supporting ten people is ultimately a bit far-fetched; it would be better to give them three spots at the pig farm."

"Alright, I'll listen to Li Ge."

"Hmm, sigh, Ping'an, you did very well. If you hadn't encountered this kind of thing, that would be one thing, but since you did, you should help out if you can."

"Hmm, thank you, Li Ge."

"Hey, we're just doing what we can."

Zhang Ping'an immediately went to where Qian Dahu and his group were staying.

"Dahu, I can't arrange work in the Security Section, but I have arranged three jobs for you at the pig farm."

"Really? Officer Zhang?" Qian Dahu's eyes dimmed a little when he heard the first part, but Zhang Ping'an's following words ignited a light of hope in him again.

"Naturally it's true. Do you have identification?"

"This... we all have certificates issued by the orphanage, except for Xiaoju and Xiaozhu."

"How about this, I will arrange for you all to be on one household registration, that way you will all have identification."

Qian Dahu and his group immediately wanted to kowtow in thanks, but were stopped by Zhang Ping'an.

"Alright Dahu, now that you have work, you must earn money to support your family properly, and you cannot make mistakes again."

"Discuss among yourselves for the remaining two spots; the age must be over sixteen. I will come tomorrow to take you to handle the identification and employment procedures."

"Thank you, thank you," Qian Dahu said with tears in his tiger-like eyes, bowing repeatedly.

"Sigh."