Chapter 90: and then title translation, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list

The grand movement began, Yagangchang was also in a semi-shutdown state; workers spent each day either in meetings or studying, with no heart for production. After Li Huaide became head of the Revolutionary Committee, his first act was to oust Factory Director Yang, though he didn't go too far—just making him sweep the streets.

In the Siheyuan, Yan Jiefang, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Guangfu all wore red armbands, swaggering about each day.

"Comrade Liu Haizhong, we are now formally notifying you that from now on our status will be different; you must be polite to us, or don't blame us for being impolite," Liu Guangtian said, pointing at the red armband on his own arm, speaking arrogantly.

"You little rabbit bastard, still rebelling against heaven, daring to speak to me like that," Liu Haizhong said, pointing at Liu Guangtian's nose and cursing.

"Comrade Liu Haizhong, if you remain obstinate, don't blame us for rallying our revolutionary comrades to struggle against you," Liu Guangfu said from the side, full of vigor.

Hearing Liu Guangfu say that, Liu Haizhong really felt a bit afraid; at Yagangchang he had seen plenty of the miserable plight of those who had been struggled against—if those two rascals really gave him a session, he truly couldn't dodge it.

"Look, look, what have those two become now?" Liu Haizhong said, pointing at the Liu Guangtian brothers to Second Aunt.

"Alright, calm down first; why bother arguing with two kids?" Second Aunt also felt she couldn't provoke those two sons, so she could only urge Liu Haizhong to calm down.

"Mom, we haven't eaten yet; go fry two eggs for us brothers," Liu Guangtian ordered arrogantly at Second Aunt.

In the Liu household, being able to eat eggs was a symbol of status and position; previously only Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangqi were qualified to eat eggs, but after Liu Guangqi ran away from home, the household eggs could only be eaten by Liu Haizhong; Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu had long been drooling over fried eggs, and now they had finally turned things around and could also eat fried eggs.

"If you want fried eggs, bring the money," Second Aunt replied habitually.

"Mom, you'd better watch your words; this is openly opposing proletarian revolutionary fighters—you'd better think about the consequences," Liu Guangtian threatened.

"Alright, I'll go fry them for you—I really owe you from a past life," Second Aunt, hearing Liu Guangtian say that, could only agree; now even Liu Haizhong had softened, and she dared say nothing more.

Seeing his two sons' state, Liu Haizhong trembled with anger, truly embodying the saying 'a tiger fallen to flat ground is bullied by dogs'; this also accelerated his determination to become an official.

"How are we supposed to live from now on?" Second Aunt said to Liu Haizhong after the Liu Guangtian brothers had finished eating.

"No, I need to think of a plan," Liu Haizhong said.

"What plan?" Second Aunt asked Liu Haizhong.

"If I also became an official, they wouldn't dare be so arrogant," Liu Haizhong said fiercely.

"But after all these years, you haven't even become a squad leader," Second Aunt complained.

"This time is different; our factory's Revolutionary Committee Chair is Li Huaide, who is rather greedy—as long as I give him some gifts, he will surely promote me," Liu Haizhong said confidently.

"But we don't have anything valuable to give as a gift," Second Aunt said.

"Give me some money; tonight I'll go to the black market to see if I can buy a small yellow croaker to give him."

"Isn't that too much?" Second Aunt said sadly; back then a small yellow croaker cost only two or three hundred yuan, but per capita income was also low—ordinary workers earned only twenty or thirty yuan a month, so a small yellow croaker nearly equaled an ordinary worker's annual salary.

"That's just a woman's view—you don't understand the saying 'if you're reluctant to sacrifice your child, you won't catch the wolf'," Liu Haizhong said, looking at Second Aunt with frustration.

"Alright," Second Aunt, not daring to defy Liu Haizhong, could only obediently hand over the money.

The next day Liu Haizhong came to Li Huaide's office carrying a small yellow croaker bought from the black market.

"Director Li, hello, I am Liu Haizhong, a seventh-rank forging worker in the forging workshop," Liu Haizhong said obsequiously.

"Oh, Master Liu, what do you need?" Li Huaide said, very pleased with Liu Haizhong's attitude.

"I picked this up at your office door; I think you might have dropped it by accident," Liu Haizhong said, handing over the small yellow croaker wrapped in a handkerchief.

"You see my brain—indeed it was me who dropped it, thank you, Master Liu," Li Huaide said, taking the small yellow croaker with a smile.

"You're welcome; this is what I should do," Liu Haizhong said, feeling relieved seeing Li Huaide accept the gift.

"Master Liu, is there anything else?" Li Huaide knew Liu Haizhong wouldn't give a gift for no reason.

"Director Li, I'm considered a veteran worker in our factory, still a seventh-rank forging worker, yet our workshop director won't even let me be a squad leader," Liu Haizhong said with a smile.

"What? Your workshop director is outrageous—how could such an excellent worker as you not be promoted and valued?" Li Huaide said, feigning anger.

"Director Li, then what do you think?" Liu Haizhong, hearing Li Huaide say that, knew his chance to become an official had opened.

"Coincidentally, the Workers' Pickett Squad lacks a deputy squad leader—just have you take the post," Li Huaide said magnanimously.

"Thank you, Director Li; rest assured I will give my all and absolutely not betray your trust and promotion," Liu Haizhong immediately declared.

"Alright, go report to the Workers' Pickett Squad; I'll call them right now," Li Huaide said, though inwardly he deeply despised Liu Haizhong's petty nature.

"Thank you, Director Li," Liu Haizhong said, satisfied, and left Li Huaide's office.

"Liu Haizhong, you're not working properly, running around everywhere?" As soon as Liu Haizhong arrived at the workshop, the workshop director saw him.

"Director Chen, let me tell you, I came to tell you that from now on I won't be working in the workshop; Director Li just promoted me to deputy squad leader of the Workers' Pickett Squad, the squad leader has come to greet you, and from now on you won't be able to control me," Liu Haizhong said, full of petty triumph.

"You..." The workshop director, though angry, also knew he couldn't afford to offend Li Huaide, so he could only seethe.

"Alright, as squad leader I won't stoop to your level; now I'm going to take office," Liu Haizhong said, then walked out of the workshop with his hands behind his back and belly protruding.

"Petty man gets his way," the workshop director muttered, watching Liu Haizhong's retreating back.