Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 874 873 The Last Straw

He Ping was unaware that he had already been transformed into Droy in Tang Zhitong's eyes, and was still smugly pleased with himself for passing the task to Huo Xiaoping.

They chatted and laughed all the way to the school gate. Huo Xiaoping and the other two headed north back to the school, while Tang Zhitong rode her bicycle straight to the Women's Federation.

As Miao Xiaoqin took the bamboo basket and flour bag, she told Tang Zhitong, "Director Ye is in his office. He knows you might be coming over this afternoon and wants you to go over there."

"Okay, thank you, Sister Xiaoqin." Being a leader isn't easy. You only get one day off a week and still have to work overtime. Tang Zhitong wishes she could work two days on and five days off herself.

"Mom, working overtime?" It was a hot day, and there was no air conditioning here. Ye Zhijuan's office door was open, and Tang Zhitong knocked twice and went straight in.

"How did the celebration banquet go?" Ye Zhijuan asked with a smile after hearing her son-in-law's voice. She put down her pen.

"The students were all very happy, but there was one thing I overlooked: I didn't invite the college leaders in advance." It wasn't a big deal, and Tang Zhitong turned his mistake into a big meal, eating quite a bit at noon. When his mother-in-law asked him about it, he honestly confessed.

"The Women's Federation is giving gifts to your college's students, so I'm sure they won't have any objections. Since it's already happened, don't dwell on it. Just be careful not to make the same mistake again." Hearing her son-in-law say this, Ye Zhijuan was both amused and exasperated. She hadn't expected that her son-in-law's long-organized celebration banquet would have missed the relevant leaders.

However, she did not criticize her son-in-law. After all, he was still a young man in his twenties, and young people should be given room to make mistakes.

"Yes, yes, I'll definitely be more careful next time." He was very serious about admitting his mistakes and accepting punishment, practically swearing an oath to his mother-in-law.

"The peaches are nice, quite sweet. The older ladies are very happy and praised you for being very sensible." Ye Zhijuan nodded and then praised her son-in-law again.

The Women's Federation has a meeting today, but it's scheduled for later in the day, so Ye Zhijuan's arrival for roll call isn't particularly early.

Miao Xiaoqin immediately reported on Tang Zhitong's gift of peaches.

Ye Zhijuan took charge and had Miao Xiaoqin wash all the cracked peaches, then picked out some of the larger ones and put them into the conference room.

On a hot summer day, the old man carrying a load of fruit, the cracked peaches, and the ripe apricots instantly portrayed Tang Zhitong as a kind-hearted person who couldn't bear to see the old man suffer and bought the fruit out of his own pocket so that the old man could go home as soon as possible.

Although the Women's Federation is a high-ranking organization, the women there are clearly not wealthy ladies who are unaware of the hardships of ordinary people. Whether they are on business trips or going to the grassroots level, they are always very close to the people.

People in need are everywhere, and helping them one by one is very difficult. However, doing a small act of kindness on a whim, without violating principles, can certainly improve one's image.

"Hey, I'm glad you ladies don't mind." Tang Zhitong was very happy to hear this. He didn't expect that his unintentional action would bring him such an unexpected reward.

These "explosive peaches" are considered second-rate fruit that fruit merchants never accept, regardless of the era. I never expected that a basket of these peaches would earn me so much praise today. It was definitely worth the few dollars I spent.

While happy, Tang Zhitong also reminded herself to avoid telling such lies in the future, because if she were caught, it would become deception...

"You certainly know how to take advantage of a situation." Hearing her son-in-law address the older women as "aunties," Ye Zhijuan smiled and pointed at him.

"Hehe." Tang Zhitong smiled shyly. Calling her "Auntie" did seem like an attempt to climb the social ladder, but Aunt Li was the top leader, and if she could be called "Auntie," then calling the other deputies "Auntie" seemed reasonable.
"Are you so happy you've gone mad? How much did you spend on the peaches? I'll pay you back." Ye Zhijuan said, reaching for her money.

"It's not much money, just a small token of my appreciation as a junior. I dare not mention money." Tang Zhitong waved his hands repeatedly while taking a step back, looking as if he might run out the door at the slightest provocation.

"Alright, then I won't give it to you. In the future, when you encounter something like this, act within your means and don't put too much pressure on your life." Ye Zhijuan didn't insist when she saw that her son-in-law didn't want it.

She was just trying to remind the young couple that they were donating to the orphanage every month, and her own daughter was pregnant. As a mother, Ye Zhijuan didn't want to see the young couple starving themselves to do something so virtuous.

In this respect, the attitudes brought about by the roles of mother and director are quite different.

"Don't worry, Mom. Wenwen and I earn a little over a hundred yuan a month combined, so we'll definitely do things within that budget," Tang Zhitong assured his mother-in-law, understanding her meaning.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go home now. You've had a long day, get some rest." Ye Zhijuan smiled and nodded, urging him to leave. She hadn't finished her work yet and didn't want to work overtime...

Back home, Tang Zhitong brought back mulberries for Xiao Wang.

The newspapers wrapped a large bundle, which was then shared with Fengzhi as a treat.

"Did you buy these?" Seeing the mulberries, Xiao Wang's mouth started watering again. She felt that she was evolving into a gluttonous woman since she got pregnant, wanting to try every kind of fruit she saw.

"I picked them on the way back. If I don't pick them now, I'll have to wait until next year to eat them again." Tang Zhitong lied happily. Mulberries were almost out of season, and the mulberry trees on the way home had already been picked clean. The mulberries she brought back this time were actually bought outside Changping Railway Station.

"They're quite productive; all the mulberries in our company's backyard have already been picked clean." As he spoke, Xiao Wang took out a basin to wash them.

"Sister-in-law, let me do it!" Upon seeing the mulberries, Fengzhi had already put Beibei aside and volunteered to take over the basin when she saw Xiao Wang taking it.

"You're always so eager when you see food." Tang Zhitong smiled and flicked her sister's forehead, then put down her bag and picked up a bucket: "I'll go fetch a few buckets of water."

The rain has been over for several days, and the weather has become hot again. Around three o'clock in the afternoon is the hottest time of the day.

At this time of day, whether you're lying at home or under the shade of a tree, it feels hot.

Although no one has organized it yet, many residents of the Tieluguzhi neighborhood have already spontaneously started splashing water on the street.

Ladles of water were poured onto the street, kicking up clouds of dust, and the water that fell to the ground seeped into the earth at a visible speed.

It probably takes three to five splashes to bring out a slight coolness.

After splashing water on the street, sitting under the gate and enjoying the breeze would be the most pleasant thing to do on a hot summer day.

Some children who crave coolness often find the breeze too unsatisfying and will draw a bucket of water from the well, soak their hands and arms in it, then wet their legs and feet, lay down on a straw mat under the door, and enjoy the breeze.

This feeling of comfort is temporary. If parents or elders see it, they will at least scold you, or at worst beat you. It's just like childhood.

Tang Zhitong watched this scene with a smile, filled the water tank at home, then used a ladle to wet the street in front of his house, and secretly put a little bit of air conditioning into the room.

It got hot early this year, and the temperature is high, so we have to use the air conditioning sparingly.

On days without air conditioning, this is the only way Tang Zhitong can cool down without attracting the attention of her family; she'll have to stock up on more next year.

Fengzhi, being cunning, fed the mulberries to each of them. After handing a handful to Fengzhen, she took the opportunity to make a small request: "Sister, I want to eat some 'taffy candy'." "We have mulberries today, no candy," Fengzhen accepted the candy her sister offered, but returned the candy untouched.

Fengzhen refused, and Fengzhi had no choice but to stick out her tongue and make a face at her sister.

Her protruding tongue was purple, and her teeth were also stained purple. In the eyes of the older generation, she looked no different from a hanged ghost. As a result, Fengzhi successfully got a slap from her own mother: "Put your tongue back in."

Tang Zhitong was delighted to see his younger sister get beaten. While wiping his arms and neck with a towel that had been soaked in water, he teased Fengzhi, saying, "Your tongue and teeth are all stained. You'd better hide them well, or your classmates will think you were greedy and secretly drank some gentian violet when they see them tomorrow."

"No way!" Fengzhi was hit with one blow after another. She said no, but her body language betrayed her. She scrambled to the mirror and stuck out her tongue to check, only to be slapped by her mother: "I told you to put your tongue back! Why won't you listen?"

"It's all my brother's fault!" Looking in the mirror, Fengzhi realized that her tongue had turned purple. Looking at the mulberries in her hand, she hesitated for a moment, wondering whether she should continue eating them.
"Don't listen to your brother. Look at mine, it's purple too. Keep eating." The mother-in-law was superstitious about hanged ghosts, so Xiao Wang didn't stick out his tongue. After saying that, he just grinned, revealing his teeth.

"Mmm!" With her sister-in-law as a reference, Fengzhi's initial hesitation vanished without a trace, and she transformed back into a happy foodie.

Of the whole family, only the two of them eat quickly and eat a lot.

Even after dinner, Xiao Wang's tongue was still purple.

Tang Zhitong remembered a joke about a medical accident caused by underwear fading color, and adapted it to tell Xiao Wang. Of course, this time the underwear had nothing to do with it; it was all the mulberry's fault.

"Where did you hear all this? I'll just cut it off for you and put an end to your hopes." At this moment, Xiao Wang was only relaxed in terms of posture; her mind was far less open than that of women who had given birth. She stretched out two fingers, making scissors, as if to castrate her man.

“It’s not acceptable to murder one’s husband. I learned this from the doctor. Doctors know a lot more.” Tang Zhitong quickly grabbed Xiao Wang’s hand, forcefully dissuading her from such bad thoughts.

"Nonsense, how could a doctor know these things?" Xiao Wang didn't believe it.

"Seriously, doctors know a lot of things when they're performing surgery." Tang Zhitong said this nonsense with a straight face. In the era before he came here, operating room doctors were the best at telling jokes. Due to the prevailing social atmosphere, it's unlikely that this is the case in this era.

"Pah, I don't believe it. You've never performed surgery on anyone else."

"Hehe." Tang Zhitong smiled without saying anything. The mention of surgery reminded Tang Zhitong that he did indeed have another surgery to perform.

Recently, Beibei has shown signs of mating, meowing a few times in the yard at night. To prevent this from happening, Tang Zhitong decided to perform neutering surgery on male cats in Beijing free of charge.

Let's start doing this tomorrow!

People's joys and sorrows are not shared. While the young couple were joking and laughing happily, Xiao Song, who worked at the small canteen of the Post and Telecommunications Institute, was so hungry that he couldn't sleep.

Xiao Song, the one who served at the victory celebration banquet, is named Song Tie.

Song Tie's family was poor. His parents believed in the fortune teller's idea that names could change one's fate. They named their eldest son Song Jin, their second son Song Yin, their third son Song Tong, their daughter Song Yu, and Song Tie also had a younger brother named Song Xi.

Song Tie was called "worthless" since he was a child. Compared to gold, silver, bronze and jade, iron was indeed not worth much, but his parents did not favor one over the other.

Two years ago, when Song Tie was working on steelmaking, he finally received praise because of his name. Song Tie is a homophone for "sending iron," which means he has high awareness.

The parents found a distant relative to send Song Tie to the city to learn a trade. Before he left, they repeatedly told him: "Master, Master, you are both a teacher and a father. Never disobey your master. Endure any beatings or scoldings. Be observant and diligent. Once you have mastered your master's skills, good days will come."

Song Tie kept his parents' advice firmly in mind.

During the two years of apprenticeship, I endured a lot of hardship, but I didn't learn much skill; I was even less proficient than a waiter in a restaurant.

Before becoming an apprentice, there was an agreement that everything would be done according to the old rules. There was no salary during the apprenticeship, but the master would provide food and drink.

In previous years, when the harvest was good, Song Tie's life was a bit tough, but he could still manage and at least have enough to eat.

But this year is different. My master has a family to support, and they've started to find me a hindrance and are trying to get rid of me in various ways.

Today's three pounds isn't the first time; it's been deducted twice before this month.

Song Tie was very hungry, and for some inexplicable reason, he began to wonder where the canteen's dry food was kept.

Once I started thinking about it, the idea started growing wildly in my mind like weeds, and I couldn't get rid of it no matter how hard I tried...

Monday, April 6th.

Tang Zhitong rode slowly while escorting Xiao Wang to work, scanning the area with his radar on, specifically targeting male cats.

In just two or three seconds, the male cat that had been tricked lost its scrotum.

Without anesthesia, although the strange sight of sticking out my tongue was gone, it still hurt!

Each male cat that was released let out a heart-wrenching wail.

"What's wrong today? I heard several cat meows, like someone stepped on my tail." Xiao Wang couldn't tell if the cat was male or female, but he could hear the pain in its meows.

"Maybe it really did get its tail stepped on. Hurry up, the speed of sound is 340 meters per second. As long as we're fast enough, we won't hear the meowing anymore," Tang Zhitong joked with Xiao Wang.

“Even if you were to fly, you couldn’t fly that fast.” Ms. Wang was quite helpless about her husband’s wild idea. Even airplanes can’t fly that fast, so how could she possibly surpass an airplane with just two pedals under her feet?

To ease Xiao Wang's worries, Tang Zhitong temporarily suspended the creation of the cat eunuch. Only after sending Xiao Wang to the National Library of China did he resume his efforts to combat the cat problem in Beijing.

Along the way, plucking and weeding, accompanied by the cat grandpas' loud accusations, Tang Zhitong finally arrived at the Post and Telecommunications Institute, and the cats of Beijing enjoyed half a day of peace.

Tang Zhitong had finally settled down to study for the exam today and was concentrating on reading when Wei Zhizhen called him out.

"Xiao Tang, did you borrow three jin of grain coupons from the canteen staff yesterday?" Wei Zhizhen asked bluntly.

"What the hell?" Tang Zhitong was dumbfounded. The sky cleared and the rain stopped. Did Old Huang think he was capable again? Did he go crazy from eating too much braised pork yesterday? Is he turning on his own?
(End of this chapter)