Chapter 66: Persuading He Yuzhu to Take on an Apprentice

The incident of Yi Zhonghai's injury made the steel plant pay more attention to workers' safety education; at noon that day, the loudspeaker repeatedly emphasized the importance of safe production, which also let everyone in the plant know that Yi Zhonghai had been injured.

Especially Liu Hai; upon hearing that Yi Zhonghai was injured and even lost a thumb, he felt relieved inside—after being suppressed by Yi Zhonghai for so many years, he could finally turn things over. Missing a thumb, Yi Zhonghai is like a toothless tiger; I estimate his Level 8 Worker position may not be retained.

Yi Zhonghai lay in bed, his eyes vacant as he stared at the ceiling. As a senior technician, he knew too well how important a thumb was to him; now one could say he was already a cripple—there's no way he could feel comfortable.

"Old Yi, don't think so much; your safety is more important than anything." Now even the eldest aunt knows Yi Zhonghai's condition. As a housewife, all she wishes is for Yi Zhonghai to be safe and sound; as long as someone is around, that matters more than anything.

"You don't understand," Yi Zhonghai said despairingly.

"First focus on your recovery; the steel plant will surely arrange things properly."

"Ah," Yi Zhonghai sighed and said nothing more. At this point, saying anything is too late and meaningless.

"Dongxu, have you heard that Yi Zhonghai is crippled?" As soon as Jia Dongxu got home, Jia Zhangshi stepped forward and asked.

"He'll probably be transferred to another post; without a thumb he can't do many jobs," Jia Dongxu said with a sigh.

"If he's reassigned, will his wages also be lower?" Jia Zhangshi worried about how much money Yi Zhonghai could still earn; he is currently a Level 8 Worker. With salary plus subsidies, he can take home 99 to 102 per month—in an era when average wages are twenty to thirty, he is definitely a big earner.

"That's certain; I estimate his Level 8 Worker position may not be kept."

"Will he still be able to support our family in the future?" Qin Huiru asked anxiously.

"Huiru, don't worry; this time Yi Zhonghai's injury might not be a bad thing—now he can only rely on our family's Dongxu," Jia Zhangshi said proudly.

"Old woman, fry me some eggs tonight; I want a drink," Liu Haizhong said happily upon returning home.

Before the famine, Liu Haizhong almost every meal needed fried eggs; after the disaster, he ate them less frequently. Only when the second aunt went to the black market and happened upon them would she buy a few back, after all eggs aren't cheap now; the key is there's none—people can't even fill their stomachs, where would they get grain to feed chickens?

But Liu Haizhong's forging work is physical labor; if nutrition doesn't keep up, it's even worse. So even if eggs are expensive, as long as the second aunt finds them for sale she'll buy them for him—after all, the family still hopes Liu Haizhong will support them.

"What's making you so happy?" the second aunt asked, seeing Liu Haizhong's beaming smile.

"You haven't heard?" Liu Haizhong asked the second aunt.

"I've been tidying up at home all afternoon and haven't gone out. What have I heard?" the second aunt looked at Liu Haizhong, puzzled.

"Yi Zhonghai got injured—a machine knocked off his thumb; his Level 8 Worker position won't be kept. I don't see how he can still act smug toward me. I suddenly feel like a freed serf singing," Liu Haizhong said with a laugh.

"Alright, then I'll go fry you some eggs." The second aunt knew Yi Zhonghai had suppressed Liu Haizhong for years, even overpowering him at the plant. In the siheyuan, Yi Zhonghai was the eldest master, Liu Haizhong the second master; although Yi Zhonghai's eldest-master status had been stripped, Li Qiang had become the Household Manager, which made Liu Haizhong, who originally wanted to show off, now dare not.

"Second Brother, is Yi Zhonghai really crippled?" After dinner, He Yuzhu came to Li Qiang and asked.

"Doesn't losing a thumb make a senior technician essentially crippled?" Li Qiang said.

"Good that he's crippled; saves us from his endless nitpicking, disliking this, disliking that," He Yuzhu said with a laugh.

"Zhuzi, it's fine to say that at home, but don't say it outside," Li Qiang reminded.

"Don't worry, Second Brother—I'm not stupid. Hey Second Brother, Yi Zhonghai is now crippled; do you think the plant will still retain his Level 8 Worker title?" He Yuzhu was particularly concerned about this.

"What are you thinking? The Level 8 Worker rank isn't decided by the plant alone; he can't perform Level 8 Worker tasks now. Even if the plant wanted to keep it, higher-ups wouldn't agree. You think the annual evaluation is just for show? If he weren't injured it'd be fine, but now that he is, keeping his Level 8 Worker status would surely draw objections—unless he can prove he can still do Level 8 Worker work and pass the assessment." Li Qiang explained.

"Then will he be demoted for use?" He Yuzhu continued asking.

"A thumb accounts for fifty percent of a hand's function, and it's the right hand—do you think he can still do any level of work? I'd estimate he's now not even as good as Jia Dongxu," Li Qiang said with a laugh.

"Then he's completely crippled; how do you think the plant will arrange for him?" Li Bin also chimed in.

"If it were someone else, even if they couldn't work, at least the skill remains; they could give workers some training. But the plant leadership has repeatedly asked him to take on apprentices, and he's refused each time—do you think the leadership would still expect him to train workers?" Li Qiang said.

"Then what do you think the plant will arrange for him?" He Yuzhu asked.

"I'd guess he'll be transferred to the logistics department to retire," Li Qiang analyzed.

"Serves him right—letting him act high and mighty; frankly he's not even as good as Liu Haizhong, who has taught many apprentices. Look, during festivals Liu Haizhong's apprentices still know to buy little gifts to visit him; but look at Yi Zhonghai—aside from Jia Dongxu he's never taken on an apprentice, and not only has he never received gifts from apprentices, each month he even has to subsidize them; I'm amazed at him," He Yuzhu said, pursing his lips.

"By the way, Zhuzi, the last time I went to the back kitchen looking for you, I saw your back kitchen had a nice young fellow named Ma Hua—why not consider taking him on?" Upon hearing He Yuzhu talk about apprentices, Li Qiang suddenly thought of Ma Hua.

Li Qiang remembered that in the original story, the foolish Zhu later became destitute, lacking even the money in his pocket to call his son; he went to borrow from Ma Hua, who without hesitation handed over all the cash on his person. Later the foolish Zhu froze to death under a bridge; it was his nemesis Xu Damao who collected his corpse, and He Yushui and Ma Hua handled his posthumous affairs—even his son He Xiao didn't come. In the end, Ma Hua draped him in mourning clothes and saw him off to the grave. For such a loyal disciple, Li Qiang didn't want He Yuzhu to miss out.

He also didn't want He Yuzhu to, like in the original drama, take his apprentice Pangzi out to earn extra cash while neglecting the honest, simple Ma Hua—only to end up betrayed by Pangzi.

"Second Brother, why do you take a liking to that kid? I feel he's just a block of wood," He Yuzhu said; at this time he really hadn't taken a liking to Ma Hua.

"Zhuzi, I don't know what rules your culinary trade has for taking apprentices, but I know many trades look first at character when taking apprentices—good character, even if comprehension is a bit lacking. If the master teaches wholeheartedly and the apprentice endures hardship, there's not much difference," Li Qiang guided He Yuzhu.

"That also makes sense; I've been paying attention to him lately. If he's really as you say, I'll take him on," He Yuzhu said indifferently.

"Zhuzi, when have I ever misjudged a person?" Li Qiang asked He Yuzhu with a laugh.

"Indeed," He Yuzhu replied after Li Qiang said that, thinking back from when Li Qiang returned from military service—whether doing anything or observing anyone, he had never been mistaken. This also made him start to pay attention to Ma Hua; since Li Qiang thinks highly of Ma Hua, he really ought to take note. After all, he is closer to Li Qiang than Ma Hua is. Besides, whether Ma Hua knows Li Qiang or not is another matter; he trusts Li Qiang, knowing Li Qiang won't harm him.