Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

Early in the morning, Xing Xiao rushed back to the factory, looking travel-worn.

Just around New Year's Day, the 10,000-ton hydraulic press finally completed its trial run, and the project team successfully completed its mission. However, as soon as the celebration party ended, Xing Xiao was eager to return home. He had studied Zhuang Zhongchen's letter many times and was now in a hurry to conduct experiments on hydraulic oil substitutes.

"Old Xing, we started preparing as soon as we received your call. Now everything is almost ready."

"Can we start the experiment now?"

"This isn't urgent, why don't you take a break?"

"I'm not in the mood to rest. Let's begin!"

"Alright, let's start with the first alternative."

"Uh-huh."

Half a day later, upon seeing the latest experimental report, everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

"No way? I can't believe this actually works?"

"I have a feeling that this alternative is even better than hydraulic oil?"

Amidst the laughter, Xing Xiao said, "Zhuang Gongzhong said in his letter that it will definitely affect the lifespan of the equipment, and it needs to be replaced once a year, especially the filter element, which should ideally be replaced every three months. Otherwise, it will easily become clogged. Besides, genuine products are definitely better. Even our domestically produced genuine products... still need to work on that!"

"Old Xing, shall we continue the experiment?"

"Keep going! Get ready for the second substitute." Xing Xiao clapped his hands with a smile. "Remember, Engineer Zhuang said it's just a theoretical hypothesis, so make bold assumptions and verify them carefully! Be very careful during the experiment, as there's a possibility of failure. You should also collect more experimental data. We'll publish our research findings together later."

"Huh? Will Zhuang Gong agree?" The others were overjoyed. That was a scientific research achievement they got for free; it was practically a windfall.

Xing Xiao laughed and said, "Although I haven't met Engineer Zhuang in person yet, I've known him for a long time. I know Engineer Zhuang very well; he would never seek empty fame and would definitely devote himself wholeheartedly to scientific research."

"Wow! Engineer Zhuang is like those great scientists?"

"Yes, yes! He devoted himself to his work day and night for the sake of national development!"

"Wow--!"

"..."

……

At this very moment, a certain great scientist was completely absorbed in Mi Cuicui. Only when her panting gradually subsided did he finally light a cigarette, satisfied.

She angrily punched him several times, but the naughty bear beside her seemed unfazed, while her little hands did hurt a bit. Mi Cuicui said softly, "There's still pork hock stewing in the casserole. Let me go! Hehe. You're so mean!"

"hehe."

After New Year's Day, the Spring Festival is approaching. Various companies will distribute a lot of New Year's goods. Of course, besides the New Year's goods, Zhuang Zhongchen is now a big spender and he is not short of money (shopping vouchers).

Just like today, I used over a dozen shopping vouchers to buy good things like braised pork hock, and even bought a can of milk powder for Xiaoxue. It made Mi Cuicui very happy.

Serving up a casserole full of pork hock soup, Mi Cuicui nestled close to Zhuang Zhongchen: "Chenzi, we've finally made it through the past year. Luckily we met you, otherwise Xiaoxue and I would have died several times over."

"Don't talk like that, it's bad luck. We'll start the new year like this again, half the money goes back to our colleague, and the other half goes back to his relatives."

"Hmm." After hesitating for a moment, Mi Cuicui complained, "That bastard Da Chan, why should he pay back the money he borrowed? The more I think about it, the more my heart aches. Can we not pay it back? It's so infuriating! Hmph."

Although it was impossible not to repay the money, Zhuang Zhongchen was still very happy. At least the little devil had shown some respect for his family, and Mi Cuicui had truly become his little woman.

As a seasoned veteran of society, Zhuang Zhongchen believes most in profit—everything else may lie, but money will never lie!

Actually, this applies to both men and women. Perhaps romantic moments under the moonlight will lead to lies, perhaps sweet words will lie, perhaps living together will lie, perhaps even registering a marriage will lie…

However, as long as you treat your partner's money as joint family property, just like your own, then there shouldn't be any major problems in your marital relationship.

However, if one party controls the family finances, keeps it strictly confidential from the other, and hands over their entire salary, only giving the other a small allowance, then basically... there's not much affection between them; the couple just makes do.

Of course, whether things can continue indefinitely depends on various circumstances.

Money never lies. Where money is, feelings will be too!

"Cuicui, is your factory still busy?"

"It's alright! Small factories like ours on the street are never full, but we never starve either."

"That's good. It's already a blessing to not starve. I heard from Niu Ke last time that the waiting list for unemployed youth is already three or four years in advance. The neighborhood committee can only try to introduce as many odd jobs as possible. But there aren't many odd jobs left."

"Exactly. They say it's better to get married early."

"..."

Doing odd jobs was similar to the later migrant worker system, usually involving unloading coal at train stations or iron ore at steel mills. Wages were paid daily, and the income wasn't low. However, it was very unstable, far less lucrative than government-employed or collectively-employed jobs.

The term "temporary worker" didn't exist back then. But doing odd jobs meant doing temporary work.

In this era, there is a distinction between cadres and employees. Under normal circumstances, cadres are in a class of their own, which should be common knowledge.

Among employees, both state-owned and collectively-owned positions are considered "iron rice bowls"—guaranteed employment. Generally, dismissal is not permitted under any circumstances. Otherwise, how could it be called an "iron rice bowl"?

There are only a few very special exceptions, which will not be discussed here.

Here's an interesting little-known fact: many heavy industrial companies have a policy of immediate dismissal for any fight that breaks out on the factory premises. Regardless of who's right or wrong, anyone who throws a punch is fired! It's true. Crimes go unpunished, but fighting is a guaranteed dismissal.

This is a lesson learned the hard way. In heavy industrial enterprises like steel rolling mills, in the heat of the moment during a fight, someone might grab a lump of iron and smash it, killing someone instantly? And what about chemical plants, where the valves just keep malfunctioning? Who can withstand that?

So in the end, when conflicts arose among the employees in the factory area, they would only argue and fight, but would never resort to violence.

Anyway, let's resolve any conflicts outside the factory area. If you're so tough, don't leave after get off work, or let's settle this at the factory gate? Or we could just put a sack over your head on the way.

Including Haidu. There are many heavy industrial enterprises there, so the workers have developed a conditioned reflex. They'll argue in the streets for ages, but never actually fight? Ultimately, this makes it a source of national amusement—Haidu men are all effeminate!

Okay! sissy it is! Actually, there's a reason behind it. It's because he can only talk, never act.

Then there are unemployed youth (doing odd jobs), including housewives. This situation is the worst.