Chapter 1126

The cadres of the rolling mill were constantly having meetings, while the workers of the rolling mill were full of joy.

At the beginning of the New Year, the workers were all discussing the worker technical grade assessment.

As long as they passed the technical grade exam, their wages and benefits would increase accordingly.

Since it concerned their rice bowls, no one was careless, not even Shazhu, who was gearing up.

After the meeting, Cao Weiguo came to the cafeteria and heard Nanyi and others discussing the exam.

Seeing Cao Weiguo come over, Nanyi said excitedly: "Leader! Are you signing up for this grade exam? Let's do it together!"

Cao Weiguo smiled: "Of course I'm signing up. Everyone in our department who can sign up should sign up as much as possible; let's all improve together!"

Nanyi said: "The leader's cooking skills are beyond reproach; you'll definitely succeed in the exam!"

After lunch, the Personnel Department posted the registration notice for the grade exam on the bulletin board.

Subsequently, all departments received the registration application forms.

Shazhu found Cao Weiguo with a stinky face to get an application form: "Section Chief Cao, what grade exam are you planning to take?"

Cao Weiguo: "Fifth grade, how about you?"

Cao Weiguo was currently a seventh-grade cook, but he had confidence in his cooking skills and was preparing to take a skip-grade exam.

Shazhu was slightly stunned, then snorted proudly: "I was originally planning to sign up for the sixth-grade exam, but since you're signing up for the fifth grade, I can't fall behind."

Cao Weiguo smiled: "You're currently an eighth-grade cook; signing up for the fifth-grade exam is quite difficult. In my opinion, you should be more down-to-earth, cherish the exam opportunity, and don't be overly ambitious."

Shazhu: "Hmph! You don't need to worry about my business! Just wait and see! In terms of cooking skills, I'm definitely not worse than you!"

Shazhu took the application form and walked out with his head held high.

In the workshop, the Second Uncle, Liu Haizhong, also signed up, preparing to take the eighth-grade exam.

In the Sihe Academy, Yi Zhonghai was the First Uncle, and in the factory, he was an eighth-grade worker, always holding him down.

This year, he was preparing to make a desperate effort to pass the assessment and become an eighth-grade worker.

Then he would find an opportunity to take Yi Zhonghai down and become the managing uncle of the Sihe Academy whose word was law.

For the next few days, everyone put all their effort into preparing for the exam.

A few days later, the exam results were posted on the bulletin board.

For a time, some were happy, some were dejected...

Unsurprisingly, Cao Weiguo passed the exam smoothly and became a fifth-grade cook.

Unsurprisingly, the overly ambitious Shazhu failed and did not pass the exam.

Watching Cao Weiguo enjoying the congratulations of the crowd, Shazhu's eyes turned red with jealousy, and his heart felt like it was blocked by a large stone.

Shazhu clenched his fists, cursing wildly in his heart: "The bastard examiner must be blind! He took money! How could I be worse than that despicable villain Cao Weiguo!"

On the other side, the Second Uncle Liu Haizhong, Yan Jiecheng, Liu Guangtian, and Chi Ping'an were sighing.

Liu Haizhong failed the eighth-grade exam again because he was too nervous during the exam and his cultural knowledge wasn't up to par.

Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangtian were purely overconfident; they had been working for less than a year, their skills and experience weren't up to standard, and they had taken on a job they weren't qualified for, just going to try their luck.

Seeing Cao Weiguo in high spirits, the neighbors who didn't pass the exam felt uncomfortable.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the distance watching Shazhu and Cao Weiguo, and it would be a lie to say he didn't regret it.

Why was he so blind back then to have chosen the reckless Shazhu?

If he had chosen Cao Weiguo, how good would that have been!

Unfortunately!

There is no regret medicine in the world!

Besides Cao Weiguo, Nanyi, Chu Jinshui, and Liu Limin also passed the exam, but the second apprentice, Li Fei, was still lacking.

Passing the exam is a happy event, and those who didn't pass should continue to work hard.

That night, Cao Weiguo took his friends and apprentices to a state-run restaurant to celebrate.

The neighbors in the Sihe Academy didn't get to share in the benefits, and they felt uncomfortable.

If it were before, they would have instigated the three uncles to make Cao Weiguo set up a banquet to treat them.

But now, no one would bring up this topic.

Bringing it up would just be asking for trouble.

But although they didn't mention it, the thought was always there.

Especially after hearing that Cao Weiguo took his friends and apprentices to a restaurant, these neighbors felt extremely unbalanced.

You, Cao Weiguo, have a high salary and don't lack money; you can treat friends and apprentices outside to a meal, so why can't you set up a few tables in the courtyard?

As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor; are we neighbors not as good as your fox friends and dog companions outside?

Jia Zhangshi took the opportunity to mutter in the courtyard: "Times have changed! Now that Cao Weiguo has made it, he looks down on us poor neighbors!"

The neighbors echoed her, and their words were also sarcastic.

Although they didn't dare to speak ill of Cao Weiguo openly, the dissatisfaction in their words couldn't be hidden.

They were all complaining that Cao Weiguo had no human touch and never cared about the neighbors in the courtyard.

He Yushui felt disdain when she heard this, thinking that you didn't care about Brother Weiguo before, so why should Brother Weiguo care about you?

Just because you have thick skin?

Qin Huairu pulled Jia Zhangshi home: "Mom! Stop talking nonsense outside! You're not afraid of Cao Weiguo at home, but I still have to go to work at the rolling mill. If he hears you speaking ill of him and gives me a hard time, making me lose my job, our whole family will have to drink the northwest wind."

Jia Zhangshi shouted with a face full of anger: "He dares! Isn't he just a small leader? A villain who has gained power! What is he! If he dares to give you a hard time, tell me, and I'll go to the factory to complain immediately. I don't believe there's no place to reason in this world! Can Cao Weiguo cover the sky with one hand? Bah!"

Thinking of Cao Weiguo doing better and better, Jia Zhangshi felt unbalanced and unhappy.

If her son hadn't died in an accident, he would definitely be more successful than this bad seed Cao Weiguo!

Qin Huairu ignored Jia Zhangshi's nonsense.

You're only fierce in the nest; who takes you seriously when you go outside?

And go to the factory to complain? Do you think the rolling mill was opened by your family?

However, at this moment, not only was Jia Zhangshi unhappy, but Qin Huairu was also unhappy.

Thinking of Cao Weiguo taking Song Yulan to eat and drink well at the state-run restaurant, while she was at home eating corn buns and drinking thin porridge, how could she feel good?

At this time, Yi Zhonghai came to the door with his hands behind his back: "Huairu, come out for a moment, Uncle has something to tell you!"

Jia Zhangshi pulled a long face: "What kind of shady business can't be said in front of me!"

Yi Zhonghai said: "Old sister-in-law, what are you saying! Fine, fine, fine! Then I'll say it in front of you! The situation is this: a relative of mine from my hometown asked me to borrow money for an emergency, but I don't have much money on hand, so, look, can you return a portion of the money I advanced for your family? I know your family's life isn't easy, and I'm not asking you to pay it all back at once. This time, just return fifty or sixty to me first, and you can pay the rest slowly."

Hearing that Yi Zhonghai was here to ask for money, Jia Zhangshi's face immediately turned ugly.

If she had known, she would have let Qin Huairu go out!

Jia Zhangshi clutched her head and said: "Huairu! My headache is acting up again, I'm going back to the room to lie down for a while. You're the one in charge of our family's affairs; you talk to the First Uncle about paying back the money."

Jia Zhangshi ran away clutching her head, and Qin Huairu said with a face full of difficulty: "First Uncle, you know my family's situation. I really don't have any money in my pocket right now. Please give me some more time. After I get my salary this month, I will definitely return a portion to you no matter what."

Yi Zhonghai sighed and said: "Huairu! I know you're in difficulty. How about this: I still have some radishes and cabbage stored in the cellar. My family has few people and can't eat that much. You come with me to the cellar and take some back to eat. It will save you from going out to buy vegetables, and you can save some money, so you can pay me back sooner."

"Cellar!"

This is a good place!

Qin Huairu's pretty face flushed, and she retreated half a step in a panic: "First Uncle, my family still has quite a lot of vegetables left from the New Year, so we don't lack vegetables at home for the time being."

Yi Zhonghai stared straight at Qin Huairu with his old eyes: "Huairu! You have to understand Uncle's difficulties! Over the years, I've helped your family a lot! I've also lent your family a lot of money! My family used to be well-off, and I never asked your family for debt, but this year I've spent a lot of money because of Shazhu and the Deaf Old Lady, and my family's savings have been almost emptied. You have to know, we are a couple without children, and every cent is retirement money. Our two families have a good relationship, but friendship is friendship, and your family should pay back the money that should be paid back."

Qin Huairu said hurriedly: "First Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely pay back the money I owe you. In the future, I will take care of you for Dongxu, and I will never let down your care for my family."

Yi Zhonghai nodded with a smile: "Huairu, I know your character. You are a filial and smart child. That's fine, remember the matter of paying back the money. If you can pay it back, pay it back sooner. Your Uncle isn't easy either. By the way, if your family really can't go on, tell Uncle. Although Uncle doesn't have money, I have a lot of vegetables and grain stored in the cellar, and I definitely won't let your family go hungry."

Qin Huairu said with a crying face: "Thank you, First Uncle! First Uncle, walk slowly!"

Yi Zhonghai walked away with his hands behind his back, and Qin Huairu returned to the room with a worried face.

Jia Zhangshi said with a gloomy face: "What did that shameless old man Yi Zhonghai say?"

Qin Huairu said with a bitter face: "What else could he say? He's urging our family to pay back the money."

Jia Zhangshi cursed: "That shameless bastard! He pretends to be kind-hearted on weekdays! But he's actually full of bad intentions! I don't think he's in a hurry for money; he's in a hurry for people! I'm telling you! Our family won't pay back a cent! And you can't let him touch you!"

Qin Huairu: "Not pay back the money? You say it easily! He is the First Uncle in the courtyard! He is an eighth-grade worker in the factory! If our family doesn't pay back the money, it would be easy for him to fix me or our family. Can our family of orphans and widows fight him? Maybe by then you'll be driven out of the Sihe Academy by him and sent back to your hometown."

Jia Zhangshi fell silent immediately; she was just tough-talking. Compared to this old fox Yi Zhonghai, she was just a little white sheep.

Jia Zhangshi thought about it and said: "How about this! You go find Shazhu! Shazhu has money! Let him pay the debt for our family!"

Forget it!

Shazhu, who was cooking at the Great Leader's house, sneezed, and his neck suddenly felt cold. ===== CHAPTER 1128 =====