Chapter 87: Reliable

Seeing Zheng Shusen neither nod nor speak, he continued: “In terms of system, young people without jobs taking commissions from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative are no different from roadside cart or tricycle transport—only more formalized and fixed, operating within the street’s guidance and requirements. In short, they’re still laborers.”

Zheng Shusen nodded and said: “I understand your meaning, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other implications. Just tell me your real goal.”

Li Xuewu knew the current red line was low and would stay low for a long time, which was why he chose this lowest, most despised industry.

After thinking a moment, he told Zheng Shusen: “My request is simple: a few childhood friends either lost their fathers or lost their whole families—they’re struggling to survive. In our family’s terms, I just want to find them a way to earn a living.”

Li Xuewu glanced at his adoptive mother and continued: “If one day they can support themselves, it’ll also ease the burden on you and the others. After all, the more unemployed youth find work, the lighter the street’s pressure becomes.”

Hearing Li Xuewu’s words, his adoptive mother spoke: “I understand your intent. I know the people above, and I’m familiar with those you mentioned. I know you mean well for them, but the situation now is special—it must be handled slowly, since we’re still in the exploratory stage.”

Li Xuewu nodded in full understanding: “I know it’s hard to do this now. That’s why I came today—to hear your opinion, Adoptive Father. You’re closer to higher directives, with broader vision. A little guidance from you would save me from taking detours.”

His adoptive mother smiled: “Why be so formal with your Adoptive Father? What’s said at home won’t leave this house. But try not to get involved in this kind of thing. At the steel mill, just do your security work well—no one can touch you.”

Li Xuewu understood this was his adoptive mother warning him about the current situation. He nodded to show he heard, but he still had to speak up and fight for something.

The Green Gourd Immortal

“Father, my point is: not through handicrafts, not through the Industry and Commerce Bureau, but through the street committee—officially certifying a few unemployed residents forming a cooperative group to engage in physical labor. No production means, just taking commissions from scrap companies and the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to collect scrap. No business license needed, so no legal entity, no responsible person.”

Zheng Shusen pointed to the file folder: “That’s acceptable. After all, tricycle drivers on the street also take commissions and earn pay. Since you have your own collection point, the street just needs to certify your cooperative group as a legitimate entity for accepting commissions.”

Zheng Shusen pointed to Director Wang: “Have your adoptive mother draft a certification document and file it with the district. These are normal procedures. Once you have the document, you can begin collecting scrap according to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s commission files. This is simply an extension of their business—if anyone asks, tell them to go ask the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.”

Good heavens, now everyone treats the Supply and Marketing Cooperative like a senior elder—who’d dare ask them? This was Adoptive Father giving him a tip.

Under this interpretation, the cooperative group would be recognized by both sides—and yet not recognized by either.

From the street’s perspective: contracts must be signed by an official unit. The street is a unit; the people belong to the street. So the street is Li Wenbiao’s unit. With the street’s certification, Li Wenbiao can sign contracts in the name of the four-person cooperative group.

From the Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s side: transferring the scrap company’s acquisition contract to the cooperative group is reasonable. So the Cooperative acknowledges the group as doing work for them—but only as a business arrangement, no affiliation, no ownership.

From the scrap company’s view: same thing. I entrusted the job to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, but they’re lazy and passed it to another group called the cooperative. I don’t care who they are—it’s none of my business. I just want my scrap collected. Should this cooperative group not exist? Well, no—it’s a collective doing work for us, so we acknowledge it.

So this was Adoptive Father and Adoptive Mother working together to deliberately muddy the concepts, crafting a tangled mess: three units could certify they weren’t individual economic entities—since there was no legal person, no one could pursue personal liability.

After all, in the early stage after the founding of the nation, we gradually transitioned from cooperative groups to cooperatives.

Now, what Li Xuewu wants to establish is precisely this kind of labor: simple tools, relatively short hours, scattered or changeable workplaces. No one will care about scrap collection.

To ordinary people, it’s just a bunch of down-and-outers who’ve sunk to collecting scrap—every day riding tricycles or pulling horse or donkey carts, shouting for scrap. So shameful.

But without these people, who’d do it? Who’d bother?

If the street really made you go collect scrap, wouldn’t you be utterly humiliated?

Lin Tingting said: when the scrap collection station couldn’t gather enough, the supervisor sent five young people, each with a scale on a tricycle, to collect scrap. Good heavens—everyone agreed it was better to dig air raid shelters than collect scrap. Everyone said it was too shameful.

Li Xuewu didn’t think it was shameful. Shen Guodong had an elderly grandmother to care for, no father, no mother. Wen San lost both parents. Lao Biao’s older brother took over the job—his father couldn’t arrange housing or a bride for him. Erhui was even worse—his whole family was gone.

Now ask them if they want to do it—they’ll ask if they can work every day, no holidays. Who wants to hunt for food at midnight when they can bask in the sun?

His adoptive mother was straightforward: she took back the commission letter and contract and said: “Tomorrow, have Li Wenbiao come see me at work. Where’s the location set?”

Li Xuewu smiled at his adoptive mother: “Prime location—the courtyard you helped me buy. Right at the alley entrance, one turn from the main street, covering our entire neighborhood. I’ll have my old aunt watch the shop. The four of them will ride tricycles all over the streets collecting scrap—just to shame those kids who sit at home and still rely on their parents. Let them see what it means to earn your living by sweat.”

Zheng Shusen and his adoptive mother both laughed at Li Xuewu’s words.

Li Xuewu turned again to his adoptive mother: “Mother, there’s another thing—I want to renovate the four rooms assigned to me and tidy up the courtyard. Could you recommend a construction team?”

Director Wang didn’t look up, organizing papers on the coffee table as he scolded: “It’s freezing outside—why are you messing around like this?”

Li Xuewu complained: “There are too many people in the house. I’ve moved out on my own—I’m preparing to fix it up early so I can find you a daughter-in-law.”