Chapter 23

"Brother Bin, Brother Qiang, Director Wang notified that a general meeting of the whole courtyard will be held." Li Qiang and the others had just finished eating when Yan Jiecheng's voice came from outside the door.

"Got it," Li Qiang replied.

"Brother Qiang, do you think Director Wang is calling a meeting at this time because there's something up?" Li Bin asked Li Qiang.

"Probably it's about the recruitment at the steel mill."

The two brothers came to the central courtyard, saw that many neighbors had already arrived, waited about ten minutes more, and then the neighbors of the siheyuan had mostly arrived.

"I think enough people are here now; let's start the meeting. I came today to talk about the recent buzz regarding recruitment at the steel mill. I'll now announce the recruitment requirements: anyone aged sixteen or older with at least a junior high school education can apply." Director Wang said this very briefly.

"Director Wang, can married people apply?" Jia Dongxu asked.

"The requirements don't specify unmarried or married, so even married people can apply," Director Wang said with a smile.

"If no one else has any questions, just bring your household register tomorrow to the street office to register," Director Wang said, then left the siheyuan.

"Mom, let Huai Ru go apply tomorrow as well," Jia Dongxu said to Jia Zhangshi after returning home.

"Huai Ru applying is fine; then our family will have two wage earners," Jia Zhangshi said, as if merely applying guaranteed acceptance.

"Mom, then you'll have to bear the hardship of looking after Bang Geng at home," Huai Ru said, also full of anticipation.

"It's fine, you guys go to work without worry; I'll stay home and look after my eldest grandson," Jia Zhangshi said, looking at Bang Geng in her arms, smiling with wrinkles all over her face. Since having Bang Geng, his status in the Jia family has been number one.

"Jiecheng, you should also go to the street office to apply tomorrow," Yan Butgui said to Yan Jiecheng after returning home.

"Dad, I haven't even graduated from junior high yet."

"What's the big deal about not graduating? With your grades you couldn't get into high school anyway; you might as well find a job early," Yan Butgui glared at Yan Jiecheng and said.

"Jiecheng, your dad makes sense; you only have a month or two left before graduation, so now is a good time to apply," Third Aunt also chimed in.

"Even if I apply, I might not be selected," Yan Jiecheng said.

"How do you know you won't be selected if you haven't tried? Go apply first, then we'll talk," Yan Butgui glared at Yan Jiecheng and said.

The next afternoon, Yang Fen brought two seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youths to the siheyuan. In those days, many families had many children, and it was common for the eldest son's kids to be older than their own younger siblings. Yang Fen's family had five sisters; her youngest sister, Yang Jie, was the same age as her nephew, Yang Hao.

"Brother Bin's wife, who are these two?" Yan Butgui asked, looking at the two youths behind Yang Fen.

"Third Uncle, this is my sister and my nephew," Yang Fen introduced.

"Oh, I was wondering why they look so much like you," Yan Butgui remarked, really just making conversation.

"I'm heading back now, Third Uncle," Yang Fen said, then took the two people to the back courtyard.

The next day, Yang Jie and Yang Hao went with Li Qiang and the others to the steel mill. After registering, Yang Hao was assigned to the workshop, and Yang Jie was assigned to logistics as a warehouse keeper.

Li Qiang then sought out Li Huaide, explained the situation of the two individuals, and Li Huaide specially allocated two side rooms in the back courtyard for them.

"Brother Bin, do you intend to have these two relatives of yours live with you regularly?" Yan Butgui, seeing Yang Jie and the others following Li Bin back, stepped forward curiously to ask.

"Third Uncle, they're already working at the steel mill, and the mill has given them rooms, so they're not actually living with me," Li Bin said with a smile.

"You're saying they've already gone to work at the steel mill? And they've been given rooms?" Yan Butgui asked in surprise.

"Yeah, those two side rooms in the back courtyard were given to them, one each."

Hearing this news, Yan Butgui felt a pang of envy; his family had been eyeing those two rooms for a long time. He had originally planned to have Yan Jiecheng apply, hoping that if he got into the steel mill he could apply to the street office for those two rooms, but who would have thought they would beat him to it.

Li Bin took Yang Jie and Yang Hao back to tidy up the rooms, and the news that Li Bin's two relatives had not only entered the steel mill but also been allotted two rooms spread instantly throughout the siheyuan.

"Head of the household, you said Director Wang just notified last night that today we go to the street office to apply, but Li Bin's two relatives already went to work at the steel mill today? And they got rooms?" Third Aunt asked Yan Butgui.

"Saying that does seem a bit suspicious," Yan Butgui also realized at that moment.

"What's there to be suspicious about? Don't forget, Li Qiang is the section chief of the Security Section at the steel mill; it's not like we're denying people some privilege—maybe he already has a quota in his hands," Yan Jiecheng said.

"Kid's mom, Jiecheng makes sense; we've all forgotten about Li Qiang. Do you think Li Qiang might still have a quota?" Yan Butgui asked Third Aunt.

"Logically he should have one; even if he doesn't, he still carries some weight at the steel mill. If he steps forward to arrange for someone to get into the mill, the mill's leadership would definitely give him face," Third Aunt said.

"Kid's mom, hand over those two salted fish you've cured," Yan Butgui said, his small eyes darting about as if he'd just had a bright idea.

"You said we were saving them for the New Year feast; what do you want them for now?" Third Aunt hadn't yet caught on.

"You just said Li Qiang might have a quota, didn't you? Even if he doesn't, as long as he speaks to the steel mill leaders about arranging someone's entry, it's no big deal. Tonight I'll take these two salted fish to find Li Qiang and ask, see if I can get Jiecheng into the steel mill," Yan Butgui said triumphantly.

"Cheng, I'll get them for you right away," Third Aunt said, hearing Yan Butgui's words, her heart also delighted; trading two salted fish for Jiecheng's entry into the steel mill is a profit no matter how you calculate it.

That evening Yan Butgui carried two small salted fish to the back courtyard, saying they were small because the two fish were indeed not big, each about two taels; they were the ones he himself had caught—when he caught bigger ones he sold them, the small ones nobody wanted, so he brought them home for Third Aunt to cure with salt to eat during the New Year; in any case they count as a meat dish. At that time the coupon system hadn't been implemented, and private trade was allowed on the streets.

Thud, thud, thud—Yan Butgui knocked on the gate of Li Qiang's small courtyard; ever since Li Qiang moved into the little side wing, a small door had been installed there, making it an independent little courtyard.

"Third Uncle, what brings you here?" Li Qiang opened the door and saw that it was Yan Butgui who had knocked.

"Qiangzi, come in and speak; since you moved into our siheyuan I've still never come to your place—today I'm just coming over to look around."

Li Qiang, hearing Yan Butgui say that, silently cursed; his ghost story was too scary; he'd been living in this siheyuan for over a year and hadn't thought to visit, but today seeing Yang Jie and Yang Hao just start work at the steel mill, he decided to come take a look, still holding two palm-sized salted fish, the fishy smell hitting his nostrils—this is a classic case of Sima Zhao's motives being obvious to all.

"Welcome, welcome," Li Qiang said, although he wanted to curse inwardly, he still warmly greeted Yan Butgui.

"Third Uncle, have some water," Li Qiang said; although he didn't particularly like Yan Butgui, as a host he still observed basic hospitality.

"Qiangzi, don't stand on ceremony—these aren't the salted fish your Third Aunt cured; I'm bringing some over for you to try," Yan Butgui said, waving the salted fish in his hand as if it were a precious gift.

"Thank you, Third Uncle; I appreciate the thought, but you need to take these salted fish back—I was wounded in battle and can't eat salty food," Li Qiang politely declined, for he dared not accept Yan Butgui's gift, knowing that if he took two salted fish, Yan Butgui would surely scheme to get two small yellow croakers from him in return.

"Oh, then you really are missing out—your Third Aunt's salted-fish curing technique is famous far and wide," Yan Butgui's expression was simply indescribable.