Chapter 791: Different People, Different Paths

Nanluoguxiang

Cao Cao Weiguo, full of spring breeze, rides his bicycle past. Yan Yan Fugui hurriedly pulls Yan Yan Jiecheng and shouts: "Cao Weiguo is back! Can you spare a few minutes? Uncle has something to ask you."

Cao Cao Weiguo brakes his bicycle and laughs: "Third Uncle, if you have something to say, say it. Why are you suddenly so polite?"

Yan Yan Fugui says: "It’s not different now? You are a leader in a government unit."

Cao Cao Weiguo says seriously: "What leader or not? I will always be a servant of the people, a brick of the revolution. Wherever I am needed, I will go. You can't put a high hat on me; if it spreads, people will laugh."

Yan Yan Fugui rubs his hands and laughs: "Yes, yes, yes. Look at my slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue. Cao Weiguo, don't take it to heart."

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Third Uncle, what do you want from me?"

Yan Yan Fugui pulls Yan Yan Jiecheng forward and says with a fawning smile: "Cao Weiguo, you also know that my eldest son has been in the plant for a long time, and he is serious and hardworking in his work, never lazy. But he just isn't enlightened, and he hasn't passed the technical assessment several times. I thought about it and felt that my eldest son might not be the material for an electrician. Isn't it heard that you have been promoted? So I came to you with a thick face to see if you can help my eldest son adjust his position."

Glancing at Yan Yan Jiecheng, who is bowing his head and silent, Cao Cao Weiguo laughs bitterly: "Third Uncle, you are really pasting spring couplets on the third day of the New Year."

Yan Yan Fugui: "How so?"

Cao Cao Weiguo: "One step too late. I have been transferred to the Industrial Bureau to work, and I am no longer in the Steel Rolling Plant. How can I help you, how can I help Brother Yan Jiecheng? You’d be better off finding Second Uncle than finding me. He is now an activist in the Revolutionary Committee and is deeply trusted and reused by Director Li. Asking him to help Brother Yan Jiecheng adjust his position is a small matter."

"Ah!"

Yan Yan Fugui is full of disappointment: "Hey, tell me, why is it like this? I thought that since you were promoted, you would have more weight in the Steel Rolling Plant."

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Hi, as the saying goes, when people leave, the tea cools. I no longer work at the Steel Rolling Plant. Even if I wanted to help Brother Yan Jiecheng adjust his position now, my words wouldn't be effective. Third Uncle, you should think of other ways."

"Dad, I said there was no need, but you insisted on coming. Look, isn't this a waste of effort? I’m going back to change the coal, you can blow the wind here by yourself."

Yan Yan Jiecheng curls his lip, turns around, and walks away, full of unhappiness.

Yan Yan Fugui says angrily: "Hey, how are you talking? You’re a grown man, don't you understand?"

Cao Cao Weiguo smiles: "Brother Yan Jiecheng didn't pass the assessment, and he’s not feeling well either. Third Uncle, don't be too anxious. Brother Yan Jiecheng is smart and hardworking; not passing the assessment is just bad luck. Next time he will definitely have no problem. Well, it’s getting late, my wife might be waiting for me to eat. Third Uncle, let’s talk when we have time."

Without waiting for Yan Yan Fugui to open his mouth, Cao Cao Weiguo pedals his bicycle and rushes out, bringing up a gust of wind.

After he returns home, he lectures Yan Yan Jiecheng: "What’s wrong with you? When you ask someone to do something, you have to have the appearance of asking someone to do something. Look at you just now—your nose wasn't your nose, your eyes weren't your eyes. What kind of attitude is that? Is that the attitude of asking for help? If you really have the ability, you should be a leader yourself. Why are you pulling a long face in front of me?"

Yan Yan Jiecheng says resentfully: "What’s wrong with me? Is it wrong for me to pull a long face? I told you long ago that finding Cao Cao Weiguo would be useless, but you wouldn't listen. How about it? You dragged me to find Cao Cao Weiguo, and it was still no play."

Yan Yan Fugui’s face is ugly: "You, why don't you understand any social etiquette? With that cold look of yours, would people be willing to help you? People don't owe you anything. You, you, you are stupid. I don't care anymore, do whatever you want."

Yan Yan Jiecheng’s wife persuades: "Dad, Yan Jiecheng, stop arguing. It’s not worth it. Isn't it just a matter of work? My brother-in-law is about to resume work. When he resumes work, I will go to him for help and operate Yan Jiecheng to work at the grain station."

Yan Yan Fugui’s eyes light up: "Oh, is your brother-in-law about to resume work? That’s good news. Why did you just say it? If you had said it earlier, I wouldn't have gone to find Cao Cao Weiguo. How degrading."

Yan Yan Jiecheng’s wife laughs: "It hasn't resumed work yet. I was afraid that if I said it too early, everyone would be disappointed."

Yan Yan Fugui nods: "Also, eldest daughter-in-law, your personality is good, steady, much better than the eldest. His personality is fickle, and he is arrogant. I don't know who he takes after."

Middle Courtyard

Qin Qin Huairu ignores Jia Jia Zhangshi’s knife-like eyes and walks into Sha Zhu’s room, twisting her waist: "Sha Zhuzi, what good food did you make today?"

Sha Zhu laughs honestly: "Stir-fried a plate of sour and spicy potato shreds. If you don't mind, sit down and eat some."

Yi Yi Zhonghai smiles kindly: "Qin Huairu, during this time, I see you busy all day long, working during the day and washing clothes after work. You must pay attention to rest, don't ruin your body."

Qin Qin Huairu’s brows are tightly locked, and worry and helplessness flash in her eyes. She stands in front of Sha Zhu and Yi Yi Zhonghai and begins her complaints.

"First Uncle, Sha Zhuzi, I really have no choice."

Qin Qin Huairu’s voice is weak, but enough to touch people’s hearts.

"My family has run out of food. I really don't know what to do."

Sha Zhu and Yi Yi Zhonghai hear this and feel a little heartbroken. They both know that Qin Qin Huairu was not wealthy to begin with, and because she fought with Jia Jia Zhangshi, she hasn't worked for several months, and now she is facing a food crisis.

Sha Zhu frowns and looks at Qin Qin Huairu: "Qin Huairu, don't worry too much, we will help you."

Yi Yi Zhonghai also nods, then hesitates slightly and says: "We don't have much surplus food, but as long as we have a bite to eat, we will definitely not watch you starve."

Qin Qin Huairu hears this and her eyes are a little moist. She knows this is the true expression of Sha Zhu and Yi Yi Zhonghai.

However, she needs more than just food; she needs money.

So, Qin Qin Huairu gritted her teeth and said: "I know your good intentions, but I want to borrow some money. I want to use this money to buy some food, and some daily necessities."

Sha Zhu and Yi Yi Zhonghai look at each other, both seeing the difficulty in each other’s eyes.

Borrowing money is not an easy thing, especially in this era.

However, they can't bear to refuse Qin Qin Huairu, this pitiful woman.

"Okay, we will lend you money."

Yi Yi Zhonghai says in a deep voice: "But I don't have much money in my hand, you try to save it."

Sha Zhu hurriedly competes for favor: "I will lend it to you too."

Qin Qin Huairu looks at the two great philanthropists gratefully, the corners of her mouth hooking into a moving smile. She will remember this kindness and repay it when she has the opportunity later.

When she returns to the Jia family, her pocket already has ten catties of grain coupons and twelve Brother Yuan and forty-five cents.

The grain coupons were saved by Yi Yi Zhonghai through scrimping and saving, and most of the money was earned by Sha Zhu doing private work. Because after reconciling with Jin Jin Lian, Sha Zhu’s "business" increased again. Although he didn't earn much each time, he couldn't stand the number of people asking him.

Now Sha Zhu has almost no time to rest, busier than a donkey in a production team, working his life away to earn money, preparing to save enough bride price to marry Jin Jin Lian, and also wanting to earn more money to help the pitiful Qin Qin Huairu.