Chapter 18: A Salary of Forty-Seven Yuan and Five Jiao

"Factory Director Yang, this kid is truly incredible! This technique has reached at least Level 3; others might not know, but I am convinced!"

"He has some of the bearing Lao Zhao had back in the day; truly, a tiger father has no dog for a son!"

"It's a pity his years of service are what they are, otherwise I think even a Level 4 Locksmith would be possible..."

A group of old-timers, as if they had found a treasure, surrounded Zhao Gangzi and examined him closely. The more they looked, the more he resembled the Zhao Dehan of the past. At the thought of this, everyone couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in their hearts.

Lao Zhao also had an excellent reputation in the factory. When he was young, his wife ran off, and he raised his child alone—that child being Zhao Gangzi, who had low intelligence since childhood and was often bullied by others.

A Level 8 Locksmith's salary was high, and the two of them couldn't spend it all, so they often helped out the old brothers in the factory; in this regard, Yi Zhonghai couldn't compare at all.

Later, when something happened, it was all handled by a few masters in the factory.

Now, seeing that Lao Zhao's son was so promising, they were all filled with relief. They had originally thought he was just a guy who liked to brag and talk big, but they hadn't expected him to have real substance.

Therefore, they all requested that Factory Director Yang fulfill his promise and directly give Zhao Gangzi the treatment of a senior Locksmith.

"This..."

Yang Feng had, after all, given his word beforehand, but he hadn't expected Zhao Gangzi to be so capable.

As the director of a factory, he naturally kept his word. He directly skipped Zhao Gangzi past the Apprentice stage, granted him Level 3 Locksmith treatment, and added a monthly subsidy of five yuan.

"Gangzi, after all, rules are rules. We can only give you this treatment, but it's no different from a real Level 3 Locksmith. What do you think?" Factory Director Yang announced in public.

"Of course that's fine. Thank you, Factory Director, and thank you, uncles!"

Zhao Gangzi nodded and thanked them repeatedly. Many fellow workers also came over to offer their congratulations. Even Second Uncle Liu Haizhong crowded over; after all, this old official-seeker saw that Zhao Gangzi had such a good relationship with the Factory Director, and perhaps he could use this opportunity to climb higher in the future.

To the side, Yi Zhonghai didn't say a word and just stood there, with Qin Huairu sitting slumped by his feet.

"That was a full two yuan! That's enough to buy two small roosters. When I get back, my mother-in-law and Dongxu will definitely not spare me. What should I do, First Uncle?" Qin Huairu's expression was extremely flustered, and her voice even began to tremble.

In this day and age, one yuan could buy a five or six-pound rooster or a basket of eggs; even for buying cornmeal, it was enough for one person to eat for over half a month!

It was all her own fault for being too greedy. She had fallen into Zhao Gangzi's trap for the sake of those five yuan. Now, not only had she failed to earn the five yuan, but she had also lost those two yuan.

Moreover, she wouldn't be able to get those two yuan in the future; this disability subsidy money was now going directly to Zhao Gangzi. From now until retirement, that would add up to nearly 1,000 yuan!

"Where is that paper you both pressed your fingerprints on? Hurry up and destroy it. Perhaps there is still a turning point; after all, it was only verbal. If you apologize again, maybe this matter will pass," First Uncle also felt a bit sorry for them and hurriedly offered advice on the side.

"Yes, I still have that paper on me. I'll eat it right now!"

Qin Huairu, in a panic, fished the white paper with the two fingerprints out of her cloth bag. Originally, to prevent Zhao Gangzi from going back on his word, she had hidden it quite deep, so it was quite difficult to take out now.

Just as Qin Huairu crumpled it into a ball and prepared to stuff it into her mouth, a hand suddenly clamped onto her wrist. He sneered, "Sister Qin, what are you doing? This white paper with red prints is quite clear."

"Besides, there are so many people watching here; doing this is a bit inappropriate."

As soon as Zhao Gangzi finished speaking, he immediately snatched the paper ball from her hand. Qin Huairu's tears welled up instantly. She hugged Zhao Gangzi's leg to keep him from leaving and begged bitterly, her face streaked with tears:

"Gangzi, Sister Qin was wrong. Please forgive your sister just this once! Our family is so difficult, and your Brother Jia won't be able to stand for the rest of his life. Do you have the heart to take away our family's two-yuan subsidy?"

"That's right, Gangzi. Their family really isn't having it easy. Just treat it as a joke and don't take it to heart. Give me some face," Yi Zhonghai's tone also softened.

"Don't bother. Your face isn't worth these two yuan."

"Besides, I don't want others to call me a saint."

Zhao Gangzi intended to scam them to the end. After all, they were the ones who provoked him first; it was only fair that they were countered. This was all their own humiliation, brought upon themselves.

Ding-dong, Hatred Value from Yi Zhonghai +1000!

Ding-dong, Hatred Value from Qin Huairu +1000!

"Beautiful, two thousand Hatred Value is equivalent to two yuan. They are truly my benefactors!" Zhao Gangzi secretly rejoiced.

For those who provide Hatred Value this quickly, if you're going to offend them, offend them thoroughly. The more they hate him, the richer he becomes.

"Zhao Gangzi, do you really have no regard for our relationship at all?" Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice.

"Lao Yi, this is where you're in the wrong. You didn't stop them when the two young ones were making the bet earlier, so acting like this now isn't fair!"

"That's right, everyone knows Qin Huairu is your apprentice's wife. Lao Yi, you're being biased here."

Some of the Level 8 Locksmith masters who were at the same level as Yi Zhonghai were more inclined toward Zhao Gangzi's side. After all, Qin Huairu had spoken so harshly before; it was purely her own doing.

Even Factory Director Yang spoke up, stating that he was the witness. Yi Zhonghai didn't dare to speak anymore, otherwise, it would mean he didn't take the Factory Director seriously, and he would inevitably be given a hard time.

"Alright, the fingerprints are there. Accountant Zhang," Factory Director Yang waved his hand and called over a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, saying, "Record the account: Zhao Gangzi, Level 3 Locksmith treatment, plus a five-yuan subsidy, totaling forty-five yuan and five jiao."

"Cancel the two-yuan subsidy for the apprentice Qin Huairu and add it to Zhao Gangzi's account. Pay him forty-seven yuan and five jiao every month!"

To be honest, Yang Feng definitely had some personal feelings involved. At the time, Jia Zhangshi had caused a scene at the Rolling Mill and almost slapped him across the face.

This time, having caught this reasonable opportunity, he directly canceled Jia Dongxu's two-yuan disability subsidy, and they couldn't even find a reason to argue.

Shazhu did not attend the assessment this time, so naturally, things remained as they were; he was still stir-frying in the back kitchen and was even docked two yuan in wages for unexcused absence.

As for Xu Damao, he had officially become the Rolling Mill's Film Projectionist, with a monthly salary of over thirty yuan; it could be said he was doing quite well for himself.

Evening.

It wasn't until seven or eight o'clock in the evening.

Only then did Qin Huairu dare to sneak back to the Siheyuan. Moreover, she didn't dare let Jia Zhangshi and the others know about this, but after all, paper cannot wrap up fire.

Xu Damao, with his big mouth, soon spilled the beans about Zhao Gangzi and Qin Huairu, and the news naturally drifted into Jia Zhangshi's ears.

"That heaven-slaying little slut! A full two-yuan subsidy just gone like that? Our Jia Family must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to have married you from Qinjia Tun! Ah!!!"

From the Jia Family in the Middle Courtyard came the continuous, angry roars of Jia Zhangshi. Jia Dongxu was also beating and scolding Qin Huairu; don't look at how his lower body was crippled, his hand strength hadn't diminished in the slightest.