Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1022 My liver hurts!

Shaking her head, Yu Qiu said, "This person really has a different mindset. He'd rather lie in bed at work than stand up, and he'll drag a few people down with him."

In 92, whether you were a veteran or a graduate, the job market was already in a tough phase. Government agencies were overcrowded, and the number of openings was getting tighter and tighter. Everyone was eyeing these places, as if life would be meaningless if they didn't get a job there.

As a result, government units across the country were filled with extra-staff units and personnel, and the burden on local governments became increasingly heavy. For example, a fleet of five vehicles with twenty or so drivers, or a government compound with four gates and a dozen or so guards, all sorts of strange things, just to accommodate a few more people with connections.

From this perspective, the family planning policy was actually necessary and effectively resolved a crisis. If it hadn't been implemented so swiftly, we wouldn't have this many people now; just imagine the situation. In the 1960s and 70s, families typically had three, four, or even five children.

Around 92, employment for veterans essentially came to a standstill, relying entirely on local connections. Even some veterans who had been assigned to specific jobs couldn't find work after returning. For example, those who came from factories, who were supposed to return to their factories after being discharged based on their seniority, ended up with a large number of them unable to return and having nowhere to work.

Almost all university graduates were assigned to factories and mines, receiving their book and newspaper allowances to work as frontline laborers, and even then, some couldn't get assigned jobs.

From this point on, whether or not there is a relationship, and what kind of relationship there is, became the main unit of scoring in interpersonal social activities.

……

Xiao Wei said, "You can't say that. They have a good relationship, and besides, they work at the Land Bureau. They don't have to worry about making a living, so they're definitely fine."

Yu Qiu said, "That's true, but after working for you for a few years, it's normal for Liu Shangyue to earn around two thousand yuan a month, right? What did that mean back then? Can't you figure it out in today's society? She'll regret it someday."

Xiao Wei didn't reply. The distance was less than four kilometers, which only took a few minutes. The car was parked near the residential building, and Yu Qiu and her two children got out.

Xiao Wei rolled down the car window and said to Qiu, "Hey, let me tell you, Hongmei's dad loves to smoke, and her mom doesn't really buy him cigarettes. Her mom doesn't like those flashy things; she's a real practical person."

Yu Qiu nodded and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. This information was extremely valuable.

Xiao Wei drove the car into the garage and went upstairs, while Yu Qiu and her two companions went into the convenience store.

This is the only place in the area that has all the goods you need, especially in the dead of winter when nobody wants to go far and suffer. The old man's business is getting better and better, and he's happy all day long. He seems to have become much younger, which can be seen from how well his stepmother looks.

Now the old man's family is truly living in harmony and happiness, enjoying every day to the fullest. Zhang Wang and his wife are at peace, and Zhang Fu is now going to work every day without causing trouble. The small shop brings in two to three thousand yuan a month, something they never dared to dream of before.

As Yu Qiu and his family entered the house, the heat from inside hit them. Standing there to adjust to the light, Aunt Ji laughed and said, "Yu Qiu, have you managed to appease Hongmei yet? You're quite the big shot, aren't you? A wife like that is hard to find even with a lantern, and you're still putting on airs."

Yu Qiu said, "Auntie, don't be so rude to me. Do you think I'd dare put on airs with Hongmei? Do you have any good cigarettes? Give me two packs."

The old lady then asked, "Tashan, Zhonghua, Huangshan, and Anji, which one do you want?"

Yu Qiu said, "You still have Anji cigarettes here? Take this one, take this one. Xiao Wei is really good to you guys; you can't find these cigarettes anywhere else."

The old lady was secretly pleased, but said aloud, "Even if we had them, they wouldn't sell well. These cigarettes are too expensive. They say they cost almost twenty yuan just to leave the factory, using special-supply tobacco. I don't know why they're making them so expensive. Two cartons? Why would you buy such good cigarettes? If you want to smoke, just buy Tashan."

Yu Qiu said, "It's not for me. It's for Hongmei's dad. He loves to smoke, and I figured if he's going to smoke, he should smoke the good stuff so it's less harmful. Anyway, we can afford it."

After the old lady said, "This son-in-law is really something," she bent down and took out cigarettes from behind her back. "Give me five hundred. We're family. Xiao Wei told me to sell them for thirty."

Yu Qiu's mother gasped and turned her head away, not wanting to look anymore. It wasn't just her heart that ached; her liver hurt too.

After the old lady took the money, she smiled and asked, "Would you like two more bottles of wine? I have all the wines Xiaowei sells, and they're much cheaper than what he sells there."

Yu Qiu laughed and said, "Alright, ma'am, please let me go. I can afford to drink that wine. These two packs of cigarettes are a bit expensive, but they'll last me a while. That wine will be gone in one meal. I'd better buy something else."

Auntie said, "Okay, it's good to drink less alcohol. Hongmei's mother is willing to buy that when she comes, her sister likes to eat this, and the old man has cigarettes, so you don't need to consider it." She gave Yu Qiu a few things that she usually buys for reference.

Yu Qiu discussed it with her mother and bought enough gifts in four different colors. The three of them then went upstairs.

Yu Qiu's mother said, "Why are these cigarettes so expensive? Don't let them fool you."

Yu Qiu said, "These are the cigarettes Xiaowei and his friends smoke. They're not sold anywhere else; they were specially ordered from a cigarette factory. The shop owner is Xiaowei's uncle and aunt. Do you think they can fool us?"

Yu Qiu's mother said, "Oh, your uncle? No way, he wouldn't be interested in either of them."

Yu Miao, holding her new clothes, asked, "Brother, what kind of wine did she say it was? It's quite expensive! Your face looks pale."

Yu Qiu said, "I can't afford it. The cheapest bottle costs several hundred yuan, and the good ones cost several thousand. That's like drinking gold. I can't afford it."

Yu Qiu's mother asked, "So expensive? What kind of wine is it?"

Yu Qiu said, "It's foreign wine. Xiao Wei and his friends bought some from a winery abroad. It's quite delicious, and it's not sold anywhere else right now. I'll get some for you to try in a few days."

Yu Qiu's mother shook her head: "No way, I won't do it, it'll make me feel hot."

Yu Qiu said, "It doesn't cost any money. In a few days, when we get year-end bonuses, Hongmei and I will both get some, including this wine."

Yu Qiu's mother said, "You're really willing to spend that much? Oh my, this boss is so generous. He's doing big business. You guys should work hard. I think your boss is good, reliable, and doesn't show off."

The house that Shan Hongmei had prepared for Yu Qiu's family was right across from, or next door to, the Shan family's house. The three of them went inside. Yu Miao put down her clothes, Yu Qiu's mother tidied herself up, and then the three of them came out and knocked on the Shan family's door.

The door was opened by the father; the two sisters, Hongmei and Hongjuan, had both gone to work.

Upon seeing that it was Yu Qiu and her son, Mr. Shan smiled and said, "My dear in-laws, come in, come in, have a seat."

Although Mr. and Mrs. Shan were not satisfied with the mess that Yu Qiu's mother had made, and were even quite angry, what could they do when their daughter had taken a liking to someone else's son, got together with him, and then became pregnant? As the girl's parents, they were inherently at a disadvantage at this point, unlike in later generations when they were incredibly powerful and influential.

Hearing the voices, Aunt Shan came out to greet them: "In-laws, come in. No need to change, it's snowing heavily outside, so it won't be dirty. Come in, come in. Is this little Qiu? She's so pretty. Come in and warm up inside."

Yu Miao bowed to Uncle and Aunt Shan: "Hello, Uncle. I'm Yu Miao, you can just call me Xiao Miao."

The group entered the living room, and when Shan's father saw what Yu Qiu was carrying, he said, "You're here, why buy anything? We have everything at home, it's a waste of money."

Yu Qiu said, "Uncle, it's my duty. I'm so sorry to have troubled you both during this time."

(End of this chapter)