Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 227 Those People from the Past (Featured Post +)

Master Gong said, "The big factories have gone under in the last two years. I heard they're going to reform them. With the market economy, the planned economy will be phased out, and everyone will have to go out and work. They're no different from small factories. It's still the same old routine of eating, drinking, and kickbacks. Besides, what good are people and goods if you can't bring in money? If you can't bring in a penny, you'll go bankrupt sooner or later."

Master Chang nodded and said, "These triangular debts are really a headache right now. How did society suddenly become like this? You know, there weren't any of these problems before. Back then, everyone made promises they kept. Now, people don't keep their word. Are they all just talking?"

Everyone laughed, and Liu Hongliang muttered, "What else could it be but a mouth?"

Master Chang curled his lip: "Damn it, even my fart counts more than theirs."

Liu Hongliang said, "So, sir, you can only work down there and can't climb up?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Master Chang tapped Liu Hongliang on the head with his chopsticks and started laughing too.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Li Bing, Li Wen, Liu Hongliang, and the others tidied up. They then lit cigarettes, sat by the heater, and drank tea to aid digestion. The electricians went upstairs to continue their work.

Master Chang said to Xiao Wei, "Think about it, the bed sheet factory might work. The yard there is big enough to raise three or four hundred pigs. The boiler is ready, the yard walls are all 24 brick walls, and there are enough houses, seven or eight rooms, and a small two-story building that can be used as living quarters or offices."

Master Gong picked his teeth with a toothpick, spat out a mouthful, and said, "I remember there was a well in the yard, right? I went to nail up the frame when they dug the well before. That was a valuable piece of equipment; don't let it go to waste."

Master Chang said, "Yes, there is one. It's really good. That well is about a hundred meters deep, right? In the middle of summer, you can't drink the water directly after it's been hoisted up. You have to let it sit in the sun. If you drink one sip, it'll pull out your teeth."

Master Gong tossed aside his toothpick, took a sip of water, and said, "Eighty-six, less than one hundred. But I remember it was one hundred and twenty when it was dug. The well was drilled for one hundred and twenty, but the water supply was eighty-six."

Master Chang shook his head and said, "It's been so many years, I can't remember for sure."

Liu Hongliang asked, "How do you know how deep it is? Do you measure it with a ruler?"

Master Gong said with a smile, "Of course, it was measured meter by meter, it took a lot of effort."

Liu Hongliang believed him and said in surprise, "Really? What's the use? It's not worth the effort."

Master Chang said, "You idiot! You need to measure? Putting the pipe in to pump water requires welding, don't you know how?"

Liu Hongliang suddenly realized and nodded, saying, "Right, right, I forgot about that. Advisor, you did the welding too, didn't you?"

Master Chang shook his head and said, "Back then, Lao Gong and I were still apprentices. It wasn't our turn. That was for experienced masters. We just watched from the sidelines."

Master Gong said, "I was working, and my master just squatted to the side and watched."

Master Chang asked, "What was your master's last name again? Ma? Is he still alive?"

Master Gong shook his head and said, "He's gone. He passed away the year before last. My fellow apprentices and I gave him a proper send-off. The old man had no children in his life, and he never remarried after his wife passed away. When he finally left, he left without leaving anything behind."

Master Chang nodded and said, "It's a happy funeral, you must have been over eighty, right? The old man had an incredibly explosive temper; I even got kicked by him once. My master was a bit younger than yours, and his health isn't what it used to be. These days, there aren't many of the older generation left; we're getting old. Who got your master's house?"

Master Gong said, "One of my fellow apprentices took it. His child was getting married, so we discussed it and let him have it. I took a set of tools."

Master Chang took a puff of his cigarette and said, "You carpenters are alright, at least you can leave behind a set of tools, at least you have something to remember us by. What do we in this line of work leave behind? A welding machine? Once we're gone, there's nothing left."

Master Gong said, "These days, nobody cares about master and apprentice anymore. It's different from our time. Once the door is closed, who knows who? If someone comes to your house for ten minutes during the New Year, that's considered a good relationship. That's all there is to it. I don't understand this society now. Alright, enough rambling, let's move on."

As he spoke, Master Gong stood up, put on his cotton hat, and walked out with two other carpenters. Chen Hui said to Liu Hongliang, "Go and deliver it."

Liu Hongliang paused for a moment before realizing what was happening, and then said arrogantly, "Master Gong, come to the back, I'll drive you there."

Master Gong said, "You have a car? That's great." The four of them went to the back.

Master Chang also stood up and said, "I'll look around and calculate the materials, then I'll leave immediately and come back first thing tomorrow morning."

Xiao Wei stood up and said, "I'll give you a ride later, Master Chang."

Master Chang walked out and said, "I don't need to see you off. It's just a short walk. You guys go ahead with your work. The three of you come over first thing tomorrow morning and keep an eye on things. It'll be troublesome to fix things once it's done." He then left from the back.

The foreman building the firewall said to Huang Laowu, "I'm not taking a break either. I'll be finished in another eight hours. Who will pay me then?"

Old Huang's eyes gleamed as he said, "Why would I owe you money? You stingy bastard."

Xiao Wei said, "How much? Come back and collect it from me when you're done. Try to smooth the wall as evenly as possible, sir."

The man nodded in agreement and went to build the wall.

Huang Laowu said to Xiaowei, "It's 150 yuan in total. This is for winter. In summer, you wouldn't even need 100 yuan."

Xia Maosheng said, "So little?"

Huang Laowu said, "What's missing? He's out here to earn extra money. He can only make ten yuan a day at his regular job. We're giving him thirty yuan a day, that's enough to make him happy."

Xiao Wei said, "Fifth Brother, why don't you just find a few people to finish the third floor for me? We're not very familiar with this area, and it's hard to find workers."

Huang Laowu asked, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Wei asked, "Would it be okay to demolish all those offices on the third floor?"

Huang Laowu laughed and said, "As long as it's not a load-bearing wall, it's fine. I'll call someone to come and take a look this afternoon. We mine construction companies don't have much else, but we have a lot of idle people. I can call a whole bunch for ten yuan."

Xia Maosheng sat down and said, "Really? Then Xiaowei, just do it in the backyard and open the back gate."

Xiao Wei said, "Really? Okay, Lao Wu, do you know our yard over there?"

Huang Laowu asked, "Where?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's an old building that used to be vacant, located just across an alley from the west end of the municipal government building."

Huang Laowu said, "Isn't that the area with the 'Children's Education Class' over there?" (Previously, kindergartens were all called "Children's Education Classes")

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Yes, it's the courtyard behind the Yuhong Class. Okay, I'll go take a look with you in a bit. We need to get someone to tidy it up; I'll just hand it over to you. I'll give you five hundred for both places; you can spend whatever you want. Is that okay?"

Huang Laowu laughed and said, "Of course it will work. Why wouldn't someone do something that makes money?"

(End of this chapter)