A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1450 Women shouldn't discriminate against women either! (Please subscribe!)

After arguing with Lao Wu and his wife that day, Wu Shanshan stayed at the Zhuang family's house that night, squeezing into the upper level of the small house with Zhuang Xiaoting.

It has to be said that a space of just over 20 square meters is not a comfortable choice for six people, so the next day, Hua Shier took everyone to Canliyuan.

Teacher Zhuang and Huang Ling didn't know why their eldest nephew insisted on taking them to a certain place, but out of trust in him, they brought their whole family along.

When Hua Shier opened the somewhat ancient-looking door, kicked away the large dog that lunged at him, and invited everyone inside, Huang Ling said with some concern:

"Pengfei, is this really the garden that Boss Bai lent you to live in? How could you kick his dog like that!"

Hua Twelve chuckled:

"Don't worry, Auntie, Mr. Bai is very easy to talk to. He's from Hong Kong and doesn't usually live here. He told me to stay wherever I want, just consider it helping him look after the house!"

"As for this dog, it's mine, so it's fine. Kick it if you want!"

Xiaotian, who was about to pounce on him and act cute, stopped in its tracks upon hearing this. It couldn't believe that its master, who was supposed to be 37 degrees Celsius, could say such cold words.

Zhuang Xiaoting was a little afraid of dogs: "Brother Pengfei, it won't bite, will it?"

"Don't worry, I'll introduce you to it, and it will recognize you from now on!"

Hua Twelve snapped his fingers: "Xiaotian, come here and identify these people. Remember, they are all my family. Don't bare your teeth at them, understand?"

Xiaotian came over and circled around the group, memorizing their scents, and then began to wag its tail.

"Is its name Xiaotian? It's so cute!"

Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting both love small animals. Seeing Xiaotian become docile and endearing, they both tentatively reached out and petted the big dog.

Although Xiaotian was unwilling to pay attention to these mortals, he could only swallow his anger and let them touch him a couple of times for the sake of his master. Well, it was actually quite comfortable.

Hua Shier led everyone on a tour of the garden. Although it was winter, the scenery in the garden was still picturesque, as if it had jumped out of a traditional Chinese ink painting.

After strolling around, Huang Ling couldn't help but sigh with a hint of envy:
"Wow, this place is so nice!"

Hua Shierchao, Zhuang Chaoying, and Huang Ling extended an invitation:

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm thinking of having Shanshan stay here. There are so many houses here, why don't you move in too?"

Zhuang Chaoying refused outright:
"No, no, this is Mr. Bai's house. Mr. Bai let you stay here, but if our whole family comes to stay, what kind of people would we be!"

Huang Ling was initially somewhat tempted, but upon hearing her husband's words, she nodded in agreement.

“We’re not coming over here. Your Aunt Song can talk to me over there in the alley. There’s no one we know here. Besides, it’s inconvenient for your uncle to work here!”

Hua Shier had anticipated their answer and was not surprised. He then suggested that Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting come and live with them, so that the four of them could stay there during the winter break and have some company.

Zhuang Chaoying wanted to refuse again, but this time Huang Ling persuaded her with a look in her eyes, and the latter agreed to Hua Shier's proposal.

Huang Ling was thinking a lot. It must not be safe for Shan Shan, a girl, to live in such a big house. Her nephew would probably have to stay here with her. If something happened to a man and a woman alone together, it would be hard to explain.

So she thought she might as well let Tu Nan and Xiao Ting move in together, then there would be nothing to worry about.

Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting were both very happy to be able to move into 'Canliyuan'.

Lin Dongzhe was unhappy. When Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting went home to get their luggage, Lin Dongzhe learned that none of his friends would be staying in the alley during the winter vacation, and he immediately became sullen.

Finally, Hua Shier explained the situation to Lin Wufeng, who agreed to let Lin Dongzhe move in as well, and everyone was happy.

Several children moved into the Residual Grain Garden. It was spacious, beautiful, and unsupervised by parents, like living in paradise. The joys of it were beyond description.

Before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve. Early in the morning, Zhuang Tunan got up to wake everyone up. After washing up, they all went back to the alley together.

When they arrived in the alley, the neighbors greeted them and asked where they had been these past two days. Hua Shier simply said that he had been to a classmate's house, and the neighbors did not suspect anything.

Upon entering the courtyard, Huang Ling and Song Ying were preparing ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner.

The two families ate their New Year's Eve dinner together again this year.

Lin Wufeng and Zhuang Chaoying were playing chess when they saw the children return. They smiled and said:
"Pengfei, the New Year's Eve dinner is all yours tonight. The capable should do more, and you're the best cook!"

Lin Dongzhe chimed in, "Yes, yes, I'm craving Pengfei's cooking!"

Hua Shier smiled and replied, "No problem, leave it to me!"

Looking at her son's carefree attitude, Song Ying couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy:
"Sister Ling, do you think I raised this son for nothing? I haven't seen my mother for days, and he seems to have missed me at all since he came back. He didn't even greet me first."

Lin Dongzhe quickly went over and hugged his mother's neck, and a few words made Song Ying happy.

Seeing this, Zhuang Xiaoting also hugged Huang Ling, and Huang Ling smiled and said:
"My thoughts are different from your Aunt Song's. I've been so carefree these past two days without having to worry about you!"

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Next, everyone, including Zhuang Xiaoting and Wu Shanshan, got busy, some sweeping the floor, others wiping the windows, making the already tidy courtyard even brighter and cleaner, as if even the sunlight shining in seemed brighter and warmer.

The Wu family across the courtyard was also working. Zhang Min and Wu Jun wiped the doors and windows clean and then pasted on the couplets they had bought.

Upon seeing Wu Shanshan, Xiaojun ran over and exclaimed, "Sis, where have you been these past two days? I missed you!"

Zhang Min's expression was somewhat complicated, but she still walked over and called out, "Sister!"

Wu Shanshan rubbed her younger brother's head, then took out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies from her pocket and gave one to each of them.

Wu Jun accepted it immediately, but Zhang Min hesitated before refusing:
"Sis, I don't want it anymore."

Wu Shanshan pushed her hand back; "Although I've left home, I'm still your older sister. Just take what I'm giving you. It has nothing to do with anything else, understand?"

Zhang Min nodded, silently put the White Rabbit candy into her pocket, then hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Sister, I'm sorry, please don't hate my mom."

Just then, Zhang Amei opened the door and came out of the Wu family's house. Seeing that the two younger children weren't at the door, she looked around and saw them talking to Wu Shanshan at the Zhuang family's house. Her face immediately darkened, and she called out:

"Xiaomin, come back quickly! Don't talk to that ingrate!"

Wu Shanshan glanced at the person opposite her, smiled nonchalantly, and then said to Zhang Min:

"Alright, you guys should hurry back, or you'll get another scolding!"

Zhang Min and Wu Jun nodded and reluctantly returned to the Wu family home.

For the New Year's Eve dinner, Hua Shier personally cooked, frying, stir-frying, and braising, which whetted the appetites of the Zhuang and Lin families.

After dinner, it's time for neighbors to visit each other and exchange New Year's greetings.

In previous years, the Wu family was the most attentive, but this year they became an outcast in the alley. No one visited them for the New Year, and the Wu family had no intention of interacting with their neighbors.

Song Ying only heard from Wang Yong, who came to pay New Year's visits, that the Wu family had struck gold and would be temporarily transferred to a textile company in Shanxi Province as skilled workers after the New Year, with supposedly quite good conditions. Song Ying was immediately displeased:
"Hey, why are they the skilled workers? Then what are we, Sister Ling and I, who are advanced workers every year?!"

Huang Ling chuckled and said, "I've heard about this too. They went together as a couple. If it were you going, would you go?"

Song Ying shook her head: "I'm not going. Then my husband Lin and Dongzhe will be left without anyone to take care of them!"

Huang Ling laughed and said, "Isn't that exactly right? So what are you complaining about?"

Song Ying rolled her eyes:
"I just don't accept it! Why is Zhang Amei a skilled worker? With those fingers, as we Northeasterners in our factory would say, they're as clumsy as a cotton-padded trouser waistband. A skilled worker? When will she ever be considered an advanced worker?"

Everyone laughed, and Lin Wufeng advised, "Keep your voice down, it's not good if someone hears you!"

Song Ying, with her neck stiff, shouted loudly outside, "So what if you heard me? I'm just telling the truth, what's there to be afraid of?"

Lin Wufeng helplessly covered his forehead, an expression that made the others laugh again.

Song Ying asked Wang Yong, "Wu Jianguo works in the same workshop as you. You can do what he can do, so why don't you go there?"

Wang Yong chuckled and said;
"If it were a few days earlier, I definitely would have looked for it. Song Ying is right, why can't I go?"

"But I don't want to go now. Ask anyone in our factory in the alley, does anyone want to go? It's all thanks to your factory director, Mr. Lin. We've all agreed that after the New Year, we'll go to the rural appliance subsidy program to make big money. We can make a hundred or two every few days. It's much better than going to Shanxi Province to eat coal dust!"

Wang Yong chuckled to himself after he finished speaking:
"Do you think they, as a couple, want to go? It's just that they're too ashamed to mention it to Director Lin. Otherwise, they definitely wouldn't go, believe it or not!"

Song Ying then understood: "You're right. Ling-jie and I are on the same side and have cut ties with Zhang A-mei. They have no chance of getting goods from Lao Lin!"

Huang Ling was deeply moved and held Song Ying's hand, sharing a heartfelt sisterly moment.

In the evening, the children in the alley all ran out to set off firecrackers. Zhang Min and Xiao Jun were led by Wu Shanshan to play, and they were not ostracized by the other children. In Hua Shier's words, adults' affairs are adults' affairs, and children's friendships are children's friendships.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it was another day that everyone was reluctant to go. Led by Zhuang Chaoying, the whole family went to Grandpa Zhuang's house to pay their respects.

The younger generation didn't want to go, but Mr. Zhuang was stubborn and couldn't let go of his filial piety no matter how biased his parents were.

Fortunately, Grandpa and Grandma Zhuang didn't cause any trouble this year; they warmly welcomed Wu Shanshan, who was visiting for the first time.

But as everyone was leaving, Grandma Zhuang subtly suggested:
"Chao Ying, I heard that Peng Fei and Tu Nan made money selling home appliances. I wonder if you can bring Zhen Dong and Zhen Bei along to do it together?"

Teacher Zhuang quickly explained:

"They're just working part-time during the holidays and will go back to Shanghai after the New Year. But Lin can continue working there, though it's hard work and the pay isn't much. If they want to do it, then let's not let the two kids do it. Anyway, Ganmei is just staying at home. If Ganmei wants to do it, I'll talk to Lin properly."

Zhuang Ganmei perked up upon hearing this and inquired carefully about the rural appliance subsidy program. When she heard that she would have to take the appliances to the countryside to sell, she immediately shook her head, saying that she couldn't endure the hardship. Besides, the market wasn't safe these days, and if someone ambushed her on the way to the countryside, she wouldn't even know how she died. It wouldn't be worth it.

Seeing that her youngest son refused, Grandma Zhuang didn't try to persuade him any further.

Once the dealer was out, Hua Twelve laughed:
"Uncle, you saw it yourself. It's not that we don't want to help them, it's just that they're not up to the task. They just want to freeload. What can you do about it?"

Huang Ling nodded in agreement. It was something that several children could do, but Zhuang Ganmei, who was over thirty years old, didn't want to do. If she couldn't make money like this, who could she blame?

After the Lantern Festival, Hua Shier, Wu Shanshan, and Zhuang Tunan set off to return to Shanghai for school.

Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei have already packed their bags; today is the day they will depart for Shanxi Province to report for duty.

Before leaving, Wu Jianguo instructed Zhang Min:

“Xiaomin, you found a job at the hair salon on your own. Although your mother and I didn’t approve at first, you’ve been doing very well lately, and we’ve all seen it. Now that you’re a grown woman, and your mother and I aren’t here, you need to take good care of your younger brother. Your mother and I will send money home every month!”

Zhang Min nodded, while Wu Jun looked indifferent. Anyway, it was the same whether his parents were there or not. No, he was more free without them.

Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei boarded the train to Shanxi Province with high hopes.

When they arrived at their destination, there was no one to pick them up. Following the address on the letter of introduction, the two found the textile factory under a certain coal mine.

I saw that half of the factory gate was gone, and the words "a certain coal mine textile factory" were missing two characters, leaving only "a certain mine factory".

It looked like an abandoned factory that had been deserted for many years. When the couple saw this, their hearts sank.

They found the personnel department, but only the department head remained on duty.

"What? You're technical workers who came to help? That can't be right. If you had this problem, why didn't you do it earlier? Our factory has been shut down for more than three years, and we've already sold all the machines!"

Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei were dumbfounded:

"Comrade Section Chief, is there some misunderstanding? Look at the letter of introduction, we were assigned here!"

The section chief put on his reading glasses and looked at it carefully: "It really is! Let me ask him!"

He picked up the phone and dialed, then hung up a moment later.

"I've found out what happened. Five years ago, our factory submitted a report to higher authorities, hoping to recruit technical talent from a large factory in the same industry. It was never approved until recently, but now our factory is closed down."

Wu Jianguo and his wife were dumbfounded, and Zhang Amei immediately objected:

"Comrade, we can't just come all this way for nothing! You have to reimburse us for our wages and travel expenses for the past few days. We can't just go back like this!"

"Go back? Go back where?"

The head of the personnel department was somewhat surprised:

"Your work relationships have all been transferred here. If you go back, it will be considered a voluntary resignation, and you won't have any work relationship with them anymore!"

"what?"

Wu Jianguo spread his hands: "If your factory is shut down, what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to guard the gate?"

The old section chief laughed: "Do you see our factory even has a gate? There's only a night watchman left, so we don't need you guys!"

He adjusted his glasses again:
"Since you're here, we can't let you come for nothing. Our factory was originally a subsidiary of a coal mine, and we still have mines. I'll write you a note so you can report to the mine and become miners. The pay is better than what you textile workers receive, and there are even subsidies!"

Zhang Amei immediately started making a scene: "You want me to go down into the mine? I'm a woman!"

The old section chief immediately became unhappy:
"What's wrong with women? Women hold up half the sky, you can't discriminate against women!"

The old boxer unleashed a flurry of blows on Zhang A-mei's face. What's wrong with being a woman? Women shouldn't discriminate against other women!

“We also have female workers in our mine. As for how capable they are, and how you are not, it’s up to you whether you want to go or not. If you don’t want to go, you can go back to where you came from, but your employment relationship will be automatically terminated. If you want to stay, you can only go down into the mine. It’s up to you to decide!”

In the end, Wu Jianguo and his wife had no choice but to take the note written by the old section chief to the mine to report for duty.

As soon as the two of them left, the old section chief picked up the phone and made a call to the mine to explain the situation, saying that two troublemakers had come and that they should be sent to the most arduous mine for a few years of training!
Okay, now you know why the factory has stopped production and he's the only cadre left behind?

A master of internal strife, check this out!
His main problem is that he's petty and narrow-minded. If you dare to argue with me, you might as well become a coal miner!

Thank you to 08a, Little Tiger of the Demon Realm, Meow Big Woof, and Brother Li Meng of the God of Death for their generous donations. Thank you also to the brothers who voted with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Thank you so much!