Chapter 1088: Happy New Year

Front Courtyard

The Yan Family

The family that had finished eating gathered in the room listening to the radio.

The Third Aunt said: "The sound is too small, turn it up."

The Third Uncle fiddled with the radio: "It's enough if you can hear it, it wastes electricity if the sound is loud."

The radio was playing crosstalk, and the Yan family boys stared at the fried peanuts by the Third Uncle's side.

Yan Jiecheng couldn't help but say: "Dad! Everyone is waiting!"

The Third Aunt also said: "Hurry up and distribute them for them to eat."

The Third Uncle nodded: "Fine! Good!"

Saying this, the Third Uncle picked up the basin containing fried peanuts: "One shovel each."

Just like that, distributing fried peanuts one shovel each, Yan Jiecheng picked one up to eat, but Yan Jiefang hurriedly stopped him: "Wait, wait, wait, don't eat yet, lest Dad doesn't distribute them fairly."

Yan Jiecheng put down the peanut: "Yes, yes, yes! Dad, be fair!"

The Third Uncle held the basin and the shovel: "If I'm not fair, then there is no fair person in the world."

After saying this, he continued to distribute peanuts with the shovel. When it was Yan Jiekuang's turn, Yan Jiekuang picked up a peanut: "Dad! Why did you give an empty one?"

The Third Uncle handed the basin over: "Then you change one."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and took a peanut from inside.

When it was Yan Jiefang's turn, Yan Jiefang suddenly grabbed another handful of peanuts.

"Why did you take more!"

"You can't take more!"

"Dad! Second brother took more!"

Immediately, the Yan family brothers and sisters were not happy and started arguing.

The Third Uncle reached out to stop them: "Don't argue! I'll find one for each of you to make up for it! And then he won't get any more, who told him to take more!"

The eldest daughter-in-law held the fried peanuts and muttered: "Dad, you are too good at living! Isn't it just some peanuts, can't you buy more? Look at Cao Weiguo's family, not only peanuts, melon seeds, and dates, but also chestnuts, candied fruits, and milk candies, everything is there! Look at our family, just these few peanuts!"

The Third Uncle lectured: "You, look at Cao Weiguo for what! That kid is bloated! He doesn't know what his surname is! He's only been an official for a few days! Eating and drinking extravagantly! Wasting! And taking gifts from others! If he keeps going like this, he will have an accident sooner or later. Besides, our family has so many people, just me and Jiecheng earning a salary, it's not bad that you can have fried peanuts for the New Year, be content!"

Back Courtyard

The Liu family was also very lively. The eldest, Liu Guangqi, brought his wife and children back together.

The family sat around the table eating dumplings and chatting. Liu Haizhong sat on the side listening to the radio while eating dumplings: "Don't talk! Didn't you hear me listening to state affairs!"

The eldest, Liu Guangqi, picked up a dumpling and said: "I say Dad, you too, you like caring about state affairs too much."

Liu Haizhong took a peanut, acting pretentious: "You don't know shit! This is called 'the mountain rain is coming, the wind is blowing through the building'! Didn't you hear the highest instruction! Every sentence is worth ten thousand sentences! This is pointed, do you know that."

The second, Liu Guangtian, teased: "Dad, you, it's a pity you aren't a leader! If you weren't a leader, that would be a major loss for this factory."

Liu Haizhong said with regret: "I tell you, that was back then, I just didn't have culture, otherwise I would have gone up during the Great Leap Forward in '58, do you know that!"

The Second Aunt said: "Isn't that so! At that time the leader talked to your dad, later because your dad was primary school."

Liu Haizhong stared and corrected: "Hey, hey, hey! Higher primary school!"

The Second Aunt: "Right, right, right! It's higher primary school culture! That person had junior high school culture, later that person went up, and your dad didn't go up."

The eldest, Liu Guangqi, laughed: "This is the luck of history!"

The second, Liu Guangtian, and the third, Liu Guangfu, giggled.

Liu Haizhong scolded with chopsticks: "What are you saying! Is there any way to talk about your dad like that!"

This was only because it was the eldest, Liu Guangqi; if the second or third son had dared to say such a thing, they would have been served with a belt long ago, and even if it were the New Year, their backsides would have been whipped until they bloomed like flowers.

Liu Guangqi laughed: "Dad! If you ask me, instead of reminiscing about the future, you might as well look to the future. I heard that Cao Weiguo, who lives in the same back courtyard as us, has become a Deputy Division Chief! You fawn over him more, let him promote you!"

Liu Haizhong drank wine and was a bit unconvinced: "What is he! Isn't he just having a little culture! High school graduate! And knows how to cook a few dishes! And knows how to fawn and flatter! That's how he entered the leader's eyes! Look at him now! Nostrils facing the sky! Not recognizing his own kin! Looking down on people! I said so many nice things to him, but I didn't see him recommend me to the factory leadership. Instead, he helped Xu Damao, that bastard, become a section leader. Ungrateful thing!"

Thinking of how he fawned over Cao Weiguo but didn't get any real benefits, Liu Haizhong felt angry in his heart.

Liu Guangtian said: "Dad! You still have the nerve to say! You just said a few nice words, what does that count for? Look at Xu Damao, he sent gifts to Cao Weiguo and invited Cao Weiguo to dinner, so how could Cao Weiguo not help? If you ask me, you, you are just reluctant to spend money!"

Liu Haizhong slapped the table in anger: "Bullshit! I'm reluctant to spend money! I look down on Cao Weiguo! He's a junior! What qualification does he have to make me, an elder, send gifts! I am the Second Uncle of this courtyard! He should be the one sending me gifts!"

Liu Guangtian lowered his head and curled his lip, Liu Guangqi shook his head secretly, and the others buried their heads in eating without speaking.

Times have changed!

So what if you, Liu Haizhong, are powerful in the courtyard?

When you get to the Rolling Steel Factory, you are just a worker.

No matter how small Cao Weiguo's seniority is in the courtyard, he is a factory leader.

Is it useful for you to put on airs?

The Cao Family

Cao Weiguo and his wife made a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

This was the first New Year they spent together after getting married, which had a special commemorative significance.

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

The couple clinked glasses gently, their faces filled with bright smiles.

This year was full of joy for Cao Weiguo.

Married a wife!

Got a raise!

Earned a lot of money!

In a few months, he will also have a child!

Wife, children, and a warm kang, he has it all!

Cao Weiguo picked up a piece of stir-fried bacon for Song Yulan: "Wife, you've worked hard!"

Song Yulan poured a glass of wine for Cao Weiguo: "You are the one who worked hardest."

The young couple were affectionate, and after eating, they cleaned up the housework together.