A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1451 He couldn't even last the first day! (Please subscribe!)
In Shanghai, Hua Shier, Wu Shanshan, and Zhuang Tunan returned to school together. After putting their luggage away in the dormitory, they had just taken a stroll around the campus when Lu Datou, who had heard about their arrival, dragged them to a fast food restaurant to inspect the work.

Hua Shier had no choice but to call Wu Shanshan and Zhuang Tunan together to check on the situation of the three stores.

KFC and McDonald's have become favorites among young people in Shanghai, much like the must-visit shops for internet celebrities in the future, with an astonishing number of customers every day.

Starry Night Cafe has become a favorite among white-collar workers. Although there is no such term as "white-collar worker" yet, its bourgeois decor, coupled with soothing music, aromatic coffee, and a variety of exquisite snacks, has successfully attracted well-dressed, fast-paced urban office workers.

The newspaper racks and window seats in the shop are often occupied by people who sip lattes while flipping through financial magazines or chatting in hushed tones. The exquisitely latte art in their hands has become a kind of self-evident symbol of their lifestyle.

Hua and his group first inspected KFC and McDonald's, and finally arrived at Starbucks. As soon as they entered the store, many waiters greeted them, calling them "Chairman Xiang" and "General Manager Lu" repeatedly, which made the customers in the store turn their heads.

Lu Ming thoroughly enjoyed being addressed as "President Lu," nodding and smiling broadly at those around him.

After the group found a place to sit down, Zhuang Tunan sighed and said to Hua Twelve:

"At first I thought you were joking, but now I'm really regretting not accepting your investment invitation."

Before Hua Shier could speak, Lu Ming smiled and comforted him:

"What's there to regret? You and Pengfei are like brothers. With him around, you'll never have to worry about not having a chance to make money. From now on, Tu Nan, just learn from me and blindly follow his lead!"

Hua Shierchao looked at Lu Ming with amusement and teased:

"Big Head, all the waiters here know you. Looks like you've been coming here quite a bit lately to inspect the work. I never knew you were such a careerist!"

Lu Ming hissed, feigning displeasure, and said:

"I won't mind if you call me by my nickname in the dorm, but when we're working, I'll address you by my job title, you know?"

Hua Shier smiled and nodded: "Okay, thank you for your hard work, Officer Lu!"

Zhuang Tunan and Wu Shanshan both burst out laughing.

The group ordered coffee and desserts and chatted in the shop.

Lu Ming told Hua Shier that his two roommates, Chen Xin and Zou Yu, were now filled with regret and gave him the cold shoulder. In the past few days, they had stopped talking to each other altogether.

Hua Shier frowned slightly after hearing this, then pointed at Lu Ming:
"Is it because you can't keep your mouth shut and you're showing off in front of others!"

Lu Ming suddenly felt a little guilty:

"Showing off is normal, isn't it? As the ancients said, 'Wealth without showing off is like wearing fine clothes at night.' If they can't stand it just because I casually show off, then they're just petty!"

"Brother Pengfei, you put the opportunity in front of the three of us back then, but alas, I was the only one who seized it. It's their own fault for being useless, how can you blame me!"

Hua Twelve said irritably:
"The ancients said that wealth should not be flaunted. Why don't you learn from that? You know they missed their chance, and then you succeed, and you still go and show off in front of them. Doesn't that just invite resentment? You should keep a low profile at school!"

He was mainly worried that Lu Ming would implicate him, and Hua Shier wanted to keep a low profile at school.

Jiang Tianyang is right: make money in a high-profile manner, but be humble in your conduct. That is the right way.

Hua Shier had a feeling that his relationship with his two roommates might never be the same again.

Seeing that Hua Shier was speaking seriously, Lu Ming quickly nodded in agreement.

When Zhuang Tunan mentioned buying a house in Shanghai, Lu Ming perked up again:
"Ah, great minds think alike! I had the same idea!"

"Let me tell you, I recently did some research on housing prices in China, and I found that since the opening up of housing sales, especially the opening up of commercial housing, housing prices in China have been rising continuously!"

"Following this trend, as long as our Guo family's economy develops steadily, the rise in housing prices is inevitable. So I've been thinking about buying a house in Shanghai recently, but I'm a little short on cash. I'll buy it as soon as our fast food restaurant starts making profits and I start receiving dividends!"

After saying that, he felt it was a pity:

"It's estimated that it will take two years, and the price will definitely be higher when we buy it!"

Hua Shier was somewhat surprised by Lu Ming's discerning eye. Looking at Da Tou's familiar face, he felt that the other person must be a character from some story.

He suggested, "Datou, we all need to buy a house. How about I give you this task? You can help us find a suitable house. If you succeed, as a reward, I can lend you money to buy a house first, and you can pay me back when you have the money later, how about that?"

Lu Ming's eyes lit up: "That's great! No problem, Pengfei, don't worry, I'll take care of this!"

He took out his notebook and pen from his pocket:

"Tell me your conditions, what kind of house you want to buy, I'll write it all down, and I'll make sure you're satisfied!"

Zhuang Tunan said, "I want to buy a place for around 50,000 yuan, preferably a commercial apartment, on the second or third floor is fine!"

Just as Lu Ming was about to write it down, Hua Twelve said:
"Forget about 50,000. If you're going to buy, go for a better one right away. You can find someone for Da Tou. Money is no problem!"

Just as Zhuang Tunan was about to speak, Hua Shier interrupted him with a smile:

"I'll cover the extra amount for you; you can pay me back when you make money!"

Hearing him say that, Zhuang Tunan took the lead in agreeing, and then smiled and said:
"If you ever have a chance to make money in the future, you have to call me along, otherwise I won't be able to pay you back!"

Lu Ming's eyes widened: "This works? Then I'll borrow more and buy a big house. When you make money, Pengfei, no, godfather, don't forget to include me!"

Hua Shier quickly waved his hand, feigning displeasure: "We're all brothers, why call me godfather? Call me godfather!"

Wu Shanshan was amused by the two of them and covered her mouth to laugh.

Lu Ming said to Wu Shanshan, "Sister-in-law, stop laughing. What kind of product do you want to buy?"

Hua Shier immediately said, "Since your sister-in-law isn't buying a house, and you're already calling her sister-in-law, of course she'll live with your brother!"

Wu Shanshan blushed instantly and punched him hard: "Shameless! Who wants to live with you!"

Although she said that, the coquettishness and sweetness in her tone were impossible to hide, making Lu Ming, a single dog, roll his eyes. This dog food was too coarse, and he almost choked to death.

He quickly turned to Hua Shier: "Brother Pengfei, what kind of house do you want to buy?"

Hua Shier's answer surprised everyone:

"I want an old house. Can you help me look at some old-style villas in Shanghai? I like houses with a historical feel!" Zhuang Tunan interjected.

"Recently, several professors in our department have been commissioned by relevant departments to carry out a project to protect old villas in Shanghai. While I was helping out, I learned some details about the project!"

"Although the sale of houses is now permitted, the sale of those old villas requires special approval, which is very troublesome and basically very difficult to get approved. Moreover, the property rights of most of those old villas are unclear, making it very difficult for individuals to buy them!"

Hua Twelve didn't care:
"Then let's find one with clear property rights. As for the approval, that's not a problem either. If others can't get it done, it's because they lack the ability, but that doesn't mean I can't. If all else fails, we can ask Boss Bai for help!"

Zhuang Tunan nodded when he heard him mention Boss Bai from Hong Kong Island, but he still didn't understand why Hua Shier liked old houses. Weren't the newly built commercial housing units better?

Back in the dormitory, Hua Shier met her two other roommates and indeed felt a faint sense of estrangement.

On the surface, Hua Shier was still chatting and laughing as before, but in reality, he no longer intended to have any deep dealings with the two of them.

I was supposed to help you take off, but you refused to do it. Now you're causing trouble. You're all untrustworthy.

Lu Ming took on the task of finding a house and started working on it the very next day. When he didn't have classes, he borrowed a bicycle and drove around the streets and alleys of Shanghai, determined to find a house that his godfather liked so that he could lend him the money to buy a house.

Meanwhile, in Shanxi Province, Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei, after leaving the dilapidated textile factory, did not immediately report to the coal mine. Instead, they found a public phone and made a long-distance call back to the Suzhou Cotton Mill to explain the situation and request that their employment relationship be transferred back.

The cotton mill leader who answered the phone immediately criticized them:

"Do you think you're the factory managers, able to do whatever you want with whomever you want? Your work assignments have already been transferred, and there's no way you can come back. Besides, this is disobeying organizational arrangements; you have absolutely no organizational discipline or spirit of hard work."

"Learn from Wang Jinxi, the Iron Man. When he went to the Northeast, the conditions were no worse than yours, but he didn't say anything. You're disgracing our cotton mill. Bah, you're nothing!"

Wu Jianguo and his wife were thoroughly spittled over the phone, feeling like the spittle was about to hit their faces. When they tried to complain again, the line went dead.

The couple had no choice but to follow the address given by the old section chief, and after a long and bumpy bus ride, they finally arrived at the coal mine located in the mountain valley.

The air was thick with the smell of coal dust. As far as the eye could see, piles of gray-black coal slag formed small hills, and in the distance stood a row of low, dilapidated workshops.

Several massive, rusty derricks pierced the leaden sky, their winches making a dull, grating sound as they turned.

Everything here is separated from Suzhou, that exquisite, humid city full of everyday life, by thousands of miles, like two completely unrelated planets.

The registration area was in a dimly lit bungalow. The mine manager who received them had dark, rough skin, and coal dust stuck between his fingers. He took the slip of paper, glanced at it, and then looked the two "city people" whose clothes were out of place with their surroundings. A cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Oh, you two are the couple from the textile factory? Okay, I got it. We're short-staffed for the mine work. The man can go to the tunneling team, and the woman can go to the transport team to help push the ore carts."

The mine manager picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and spoke in a calm and casual tone:
"Since you're here to provide support, you'll stay in the dormitory for now. When housing becomes available, we'll give you and your spouse priority in getting rooms. Meet at the wellhead at six o'clock tomorrow morning, and someone will guide you."

"Pushing a mine cart?"

Zhang Amei's voice suddenly became shrill, her patience finally reaching its limit:
"I'm a technician at the cotton mill! I can't do that! That's physical labor for men!"

The mine manager didn't even lift his eyelids, scribbling in his notebook with a pencil:

"There are already few female workers in the mine, and the only ones they can do are assist with transportation and sorting gangue."

He raised his head, his eyes sharp:
"The old section chief from the textile factory made a special phone call to 'instruct' you, saying that you have high awareness and are willing to be trained in the most difficult places. Now your work relationships have been transferred, and the mine has arranged everything for you. What, do you not want to work here anymore?"

"You can quit if you want, but that means you'll automatically give up your status as workers in the Guo family. You can pack your bags and leave. But let me make this clear: if you leave, you'll lose your seniority, social security, and pension! You two should think it over!"

The mine manager's words struck Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei like a cold piece of coal gangue.

Give up the secure job as a worker?
In this day and age, it's tantamount to cutting off one's own path to survival.

Although they didn't receive any income during holidays when they worked at the Suzhou Cotton Mill, at least they had years of service and could receive a pension when they retired. If they lost their worker status, their entire lives would have been wasted.

Zhang Amei wanted to argue, but Wu Jianguo grabbed her and shook his head, his face ashen.

My fellow miners led me to a two-person dormitory. The so-called dormitory was just a small, cold brick room with peeling paint and broken windows covered with old newspapers.

The room contained only two bare wooden beds and a rickety table, and the air was thick with the lingering smell of mildew and sweat.

As soon as Zhang Amei entered the door, she burst into tears, cursing and blaming Old Wu for being useless, cursing the damned section chief, and cursing the injustice of fate.

Wu Jianguo remained silent, staring blankly out the window at the dark coal mountains and mine shafts.

At five o'clock the next morning, while it was still pitch black, a piercing whistle broke the silent, cold air of the mining area.

The first time I went down into the well felt like a terrifying journey to the Earth's core.

The fear of weightlessness as the cage descended rapidly, the boundless darkness underground with only the miner's lamp illuminating a small area in front of her, the air mixed with coal dust, engine oil, and some indescribable stuffy smell, the omnipresent dripping sound, and the faint roar of machinery in the distance—all of this made Zhang Amei tremble all over.

She gripped Wu Jianguo's arm tightly, her nails almost digging into her husband's flesh.

Zhang Amei's job is to follow behind the coal-laden mine cars, pushing them forcefully to the designated location in the low, slippery, and uneven tunnels.

The mine cart was incredibly heavy, and even a two-person team struggled to get started.

After less than half an hour of massage, her arms, shoulders, and back felt like they had been disassembled and reassembled, and she was in unbearable pain.

Sweat mixed with coal dust, carving deep lines into her face. Her throat was filled with the taste of coal dust, and even with a mask on, she couldn't stop coughing.

The heavy rubber boots were filled with icy water from the alleyway, making a squelching sound with every step, and my feet quickly became numb from the cold.

The situation was even worse for Wu Jianguo; the tunneling face was the deepest, most advanced, and most dangerous and arduous part of the mine.

The deafening sound of the pneumatic drill, the choking rock dust, the continuous high-intensity labor of swinging heavy iron picks or operating machinery, and the rock layers overhead that seemed to be pressing down at any moment—by the end of the day, he was so exhausted that he was almost completely drained. Except for the whites of his eyes and teeth, his whole body looked like he had been pulled out of ink. When he ate, his hands trembled so much that he could barely hold a steamed bun.

When they finished work, the couple almost didn't recognize each other. Their faces were covered in coal dust, making them look like Bao Longxing had reverted to his ancestral ways. They looked at each other as if Li Kui had seen Zhang Fei.

At night, lying on the cold, hard bed, my whole body ached as if it had fallen apart.

Zhang Amei stared at the roof covered with newspapers and said to Wu Jianguo in a hoarse voice, "Old Wu, when will this end? I can't take it anymore."

Wu Jianguo remained silent for a long time in the darkness. What could he say? It was only the first day.
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