Chapter 78: Liu Haizhong Seeks Help

In the blink of an eye, it was the second half of 1962; natural disasters had finally passed, all industries began to recover, and grain supply returned to normal levels.

"Is Zhuzi home?" Just after dinner, Liu Haizhong came to He Yuzhu's house.

"Yes, Second Elder, what's the matter?" He Yuzhu came out and asked.

"Zhuzi, my son Guangqi is getting married this Sunday; I'd like to ask you to take charge of the cooking," Liu Haizhong said, his face full of smiles.

"No problem, Second Elder, you've kept this secret well—Guangqi is actually getting married, and we haven't heard a whisper about it in the courtyard," He Yuzhu said with a laugh.

"Hey, it's not my fault; his father-in-law ordered it to be low-key—who let them be leaders? They don't want to draw too much attention," Liu Haizhong said with a laugh.

"Congratulations, Second Master," Li Qiang also walked out of He Yuzhu's house and said. He had come to He Yuzhu's house to ask about He Yushui's schooling. After hearing Li Qiang's words, He Yushui attended a vocational college; he will graduate next year. Li Qiang asked He Yushui where he planned to work after graduation. The vocational college is for cadres, and after graduation the school assigns jobs. Li Qiang meant that if the school assignment is unsatisfactory, he intends to get He Yushui into Yagangchang.

"Congratulations, congratulations, Qiangzi—come drink the wedding wine when the time comes. I originally planned to wait and invite you at your place, but since I ran into you here, I saved myself a trip."

"Sure."

"Qiangzi, you'll have to trouble yourself to accompany the drinks later—my future father-in-law is the deputy director of the machinery factory, and in our compound you're the highest-ranking official, so you're the most suitable to do it," Liu Haizhong said, grinning widely.

"Second Elder, he's a deputy factory director—I'm not suitable to accompany his drinks," (saying) letting Li Qiang attend the wedding feast is no big deal; they're just neighbors, but having him accompany the drinks really makes him reluctant.

"There's nothing unsuitable about it—although he's a deputy factory director, his factory is small, and although you're the Section Chief of Security, by rank you're equivalent," Liu Haizhong said with a smile.

"Second Elder, then your future father-in-law is fine," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Not bad—she's just an only daughter; you know our son Guangqi graduated from technical school and is on the cadre track, and as soon as he was assigned to their factory, her father took a liking to him—this is practically introducing his own daughter to our Guangqi," Liu Haizhong said, somewhat humblebragging.

Before time-traveling, Li Qiang had heard about the original plot; in the original story, Liu Guangqi hardly appeared at all, and according to the description, after graduation he indeed found a leader as his father-in-law, but the day after the wedding he took his wife and left with his father-in-law for elsewhere, and never really came back.

"Second Elder, how many tables are you planning to set up, and what standard will you follow?" He Yuzhu began to get to the point.

"This time I intend to make it grand—ten dishes, after all, my future father-in-law is a deputy factory director; if the standard is too low it won't look good." Liu Haizhong constantly mentioned his future father-in-law being a deputy factory director, as if afraid others wouldn't know; actually, we can understand his feeling—his greatest wish is to become an official. Yet heaven doesn't always comply: after so many years at the Yagangchang steel plant, he hasn't even managed to become a small group leader, but his son's success in getting into technical school means their family counts as having a cadre. The Liu Haizhong household has three sons; toward the eldest he is completely obedient, but toward the other two he is entirely another story—either beating or scolding.

"All right, but Second Elder, let's speak plainly first: taking charge of the cooking is fine, but when I cater banquets outside I usually charge five yuan per table. With two meat dishes, since we live in the same compound, I'd charge four yuan per table, and I wouldn't bring the meat dishes myself," He Yuzhu said solemnly.

"Zhuzi, I understand your rules; Second Elder won't shortchange you—just five yuan per table," Liu Haizhong said, very reluctant to spend money for his eldest son.

"That works; I'll bring an assistant cook, and I'll cover his wages," He Yuzhu said, not being pretentious.

"Then thank you, Second Elder—I plan to set up fifteen tables, so everyone in our compound can join the fun; since the natural disaster, we haven't had any lively gatherings for a long time," Liu Haizhong said, truly generous.

"Sure," He Yuzhu said, not caring how many tables you set up—anyway, he charges by the table.

"Qiangzi, since you're here, I have another favor to ask," Liu Haizhong said to Li Qiang with a smile.

"Second Elder, what is it you want to say?"

"I'm planning fifteen tables with ten dishes each, so the meat coupons are far short. I know you have a way to get meat; I'd like to ask you to buy some, of course at the black-market price," Liu Haizhong said to He Yuzhu, always addressing him as "Second Elder," but when speaking to Li Qiang he dare not use that title, for Li Qiang is the "First Elder."

"Sure, tell me how much you need, I'll find some acquaintances to get it for you," Li Qiang likewise didn't refuse; he's not stupid—if there's money to be made, he won't pass it up.

"Zhuzi, could you calculate how much meat we need?" Liu Haizhong asked He Yuzhu.

"Second Elder, how many meat dishes are you planning to use?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Qiangzi, what kind of meat can you get?" Liu Haizhong asked Li Qiang.

"Pork, chicken, fish, beef, mutton, and eggs—I can get them all," Li Qiang said after thinking. In that era, eggs were counted as meat dishes.

"Six meat dishes are enough," Liu Haizhong said, counting on his fingers.

"Second Brother, for each meat you should prepare ten catties, with one chicken and one fish per table, and five eggs per table," He Yuzhu said after a rough calculation.

"Second Elder, do you have any objections to the quantities Zhuzi mentioned?" Li Qiang asked Liu Haizhong.

"No, no other demands—just get the standard up to par; spending a bit more is fine, we can't let Guangqi's father-in-law look down on us," Liu Haizhong said, truly not one to pinch pennies; he's a Level 7 Worker earning over eighty yuan a month, and he really doesn't care about this little food-and-water money.

"All right, then I'll buy according to Zhuzi's standard."

"No problem, having a little extra of each is fine—otherwise we might come up short and lose face," Liu Haizhong said, being generous with money.

"Second Brother, prepare an extra two catties of each meat, and for the rest prepare enough for two more tables."

"All right, which day of the week?" Li Qiang asked He Yuzhu.

"No delay."

"Then it's settled—you two brothers chat, I've got to go to the black market to look around. See if I can scrape together enough 'three-transfer one-response' tickets for Guangqi," Liu Haizhong said with a laugh.

"Sure, take your time."

"Second Brother, Liu Haizhong really went all out for his son Guangqi's wedding," He Yuzhu said after Liu Haizhong left.

"In Liu Haizhong's eyes, Guangqi is a treasure; besides, Guangqi is promising—he got into technical school and is now on the cadre track. Liu Haizhong never managed to become an official himself, but now his son fulfills that dream for him—don't you think he'd be reluctant to let go?" Li Qiang said with a smile.

"I estimate Liu Haizhong has also emptied his savings this time—those 'three-transfer one-response' light tickets on the black market would cost several hundred yuan, let alone anything else."

"With money, it's hard to find willing sellers; even if he had to go into debt, he'd be willing—let alone emptying his savings," Li Qiang said with a smile, now imagining what Liu Haizhong's expression would be after Guangqi takes his wife and moves away with all their belongings.