Chapter 25

Yi Zhonghai really came to the Security Section the next day and found Li Qiang.

"Qiangzi, I heard Lao Yan went to see you last night?" Yi Zhonghai asked with a smile.

"Yeah, he wants me to help get Yan Jiecheng into the factory to work, but it's not that easy; there are people selling work quotas for Yagangchang in the factory, but he doesn't want to spend money."

"How much does one work quota cost in our factory?"

"Five hundred."

"Oh, that price is still fair."

"Elder Yi, what do you need from me?"

"It's your older brother Dongxu who asked me to come find you and ask; he also wants to get his wife into our factory."

"This is a bit difficult; although they're recruiting five thousand people, three thousand are reserved for soldiers returning from the troops, so the competition is still fierce this time."

"Alright, I got it, you go ahead with your work." Yi Zhonghai originally didn't really want Qin Huiru to come work at Yagangchang; he still wanted to keep leverage over the Jia family, so his coming to ask was just a formality—otherwise, if one day Jia Dongxu asked Li Qiang and he hadn't come to ask, it would be hard to explain to Jia Dongxu.

"Okay" Li Qiang really didn't understand what Yi Zhonghai meant at all.

After returning to the workshop, Yi Zhonghai repeated Li Qiang's words to Jia Dongxu, and Jia Dongxu also knew that Qin Huiru's hope of getting into Yagangchang was likely to come to nothing; the only option was to spend money to buy a work quota, but five hundred yuan was a huge sum for Jia Dongxu, and given the Jia family's current situation they simply couldn't come up with that much money, so Jia Dongxu was also resigned.

"Dongxu, don't lose heart; with me around I'll still keep your family from going hungry," Yi Zhonghai said, stepping forward at the right moment to comfort Jia Dongxu.

"Understood, Master," Jia Dongxu said, now also realizing things could only be this way.

After getting off work in the afternoon and returning home, Jia Dongxu told Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huiru everything Yi Zhonghai had found out; Qin Huiru also knew she had no chance of getting into Yagangchang, and she also went to the Subdistrict Office to inquire—this time Yagangchang's recruitment mainly targeted residents with Four Nine City household registration, so someone like her with a rural registration basically had no hope.

"Dongxu, since your master said someone is selling quotas, go ask your master to borrow some money for our family to buy a quota—how about that?" Jia Zhangshi was again scheming against Yi Zhonghai.

"Mom, I'm embarrassed to bring this up; if you want to say it, you say it." Jia Dongxu really felt embarrassed to say it, after all, when Bangeng held the full-month celebration, Yi Zhonghai could cause a fuss over sixty yuan with his family; now you ask him to borrow five hundred—just thinking about it, Jia Dongxu feels Yi Zhonghai would never lend him money.

"This Yi Zhonghai just wants to reap benefits without putting in any effort. Forget it, we'll talk about this later; Yagangchang isn't only hiring this once." Jia Zhangshi also felt Yi Zhonghai wouldn't lend money to her family; rather than seek unpleasantness, it's better not to bring it up.

Yagangchang's recruitment this time expanded its scale by double compared to before. Although it hasn't reached the scale of a ten-thousand-worker factory, Yagangchang now has seven or eight thousand workers, and in the city of 4-9 it counts as a notable large factory.

As the number of workers increased, matters in the factory increased as well, especially the canteen—not saying there are receptions every day, but there are still occasional ones; He Yuzhu and Li Qiang are busy every day.

"Old leader, how did you come?" A middle-aged man came to the office of Director Wang at the subdistrict office; if Li Qiang were here he would surely recognize him, the man is none other than the former Li Director of the Military Control Commission.

"Xiao Wang, how's work?" Director Li asked with a smile.

"Pretty good, welcome, old leader, to come inspect and guide work." Director Wang hurriedly stood up and poured a cup for Director Li.

"Xiao Wang, I didn't come today for any inspection or guidance work; I came today because I have a personal matter and need your help." Director Li said, taking the cup from Director Wang.

"Old leader, just tell me what you need me to do." Director Wang's attitude was very proper.

"Alright. Then I'll speak plainly: my younger sister-in-law is twenty this year, works at a hospital, has been orphaned since childhood and grew up with us; she's at the age to find a partner, but she hasn't found anyone suitable. My wife constantly nags about this, and I don't have much contact with the outside world in the army. Thinking that you, at the grassroots, know many people, could you help find a suitable match and introduce her?" Director Li asked with a smile.

"Old leader, then I'll have to carefully screen for you." Director Wang said with a smile.

For someone like Director Li, it's not exactly hard nor easy; he's somewhat of a leader, ordinary common folk might not look up to him, and good families might not necessarily look up to his family background.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you. By the way, my aunt is Zhou Rong, a doctor at a hospital in the city of 4-9; this is her photo." Director Li took out a black-and-white photo from his pocket and handed it to Director Wang.

Director Li had thought it through thoroughly; if you ask someone to help your aunt find a partner but don't even let them know what your sister-in-law looks like, how can they introduce her?

"Yo, old leader, your sister-in-law is pretty enough!" Director Wang took the photo and examined it carefully; Zhou Rong really does look good—she has a pair of lively big eyes, two braids, delicate features, and at first glance she looks like a cultured and reasonable person.

"Not bad, she's busy with work. Also, she has somewhat high standards; for this my wife has nagged her a lot, and I've been annoyed by the nagging, which is why I came to ask you for help."

"Alright, I will definitely pick a satisfactory brother-in-law for you." Director Wang said with a smile.

"Fine, then trouble you."

"No trouble, by the way, old leader, are you still in the army?"

"I've been transferred to civilian work; today I'm just going to report."

"I don't know which department you've been transferred to, old leader."

"The Public Security Bureau, as a deputy chief at a sub-bureau."

"Then we'll be able to see you often from now on."

"Fine, if you have anything later, you can come to the municipal bureau to find me."

"Sure, from now on you'll definitely not be spared trouble."

"Don't, my place isn't exactly a good one; try to avoid dealing with me." Director Li said with a smile; actually Director Li is right—the Public Security Bureau isn't a good place, who among decent people would want to deal with them?

"Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue." Director Wang also realized this mistake and hurriedly corrected himself.

"Alright, you go about your work; I should head back. Please keep Zhou Rong's matter in mind."

"Fine, then I'll see you off, old leader."

"No need, I know the way; you just go about your business." Director Li declined Director Wang's offer to see him out and left the subdistrict office on his own.

Director Li should now be called Chief Li; after Chief Li left, Director Wang became troubled—Zhou Rong looks good, her work is fine, her family background is not bad, but finding a suitable young man to match her really isn't easy.

Director Wang thought for a long time in the office but had no clue; in the end he still decided to go out for a walk, because staying cooped up in the office really makes it hard to think of a suitable candidate.