I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

Yao Xing is leading young employees from the disinfection plant in a comprehensive disinfection operation at Huailin No. 1 Middle School.

This is an order from the municipal party committee, and it must be completed before the end of the year. Today is the last day.

Lime was spread under the school wall to keep out rodents and insects.

Disinfectant is sprayed in every classroom. When the children return to school next year, the smell will dissipate and the classrooms will be clean and tidy.

With three days left until the Lunar New Year, Yao Xing planned to finish this job and then go back to his hometown with his father.

Standing on the third-floor corridor, I suddenly saw the disinfection plant gatekeeper riding a broken bicycle, panting heavily as he entered the school.

"What happened?"

Yao Xing's heart tightened. The disinfection plant wasn't considered a dangerous place, but he was still afraid something might happen.

"No, nothing happened."

The old gatekeeper shouted towards the third floor, but then he couldn't catch his breath and looked like he was about to die.

Yao Xing put down his tools and hurried downstairs.

She tore off her veil and mask and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry? You're panting."

"Director Yao, someone wants to invite you to dinner... No. 126 Songshan Road," the old man said, catching his breath.

"Songshan Road? Who's that?"

"First, a lady called and insisted that you come for dinner tonight. Oh dear..."

Finally catching his breath, he said, "Director Yao, the people living on Songshan Road aren't ordinary people. I was afraid of delaying your business, so I rushed over here."

"Is it Yang Qiao?"

"Yes, yes, she said her surname is Yang, and her father invited you to dinner."

Oh, Vice Governor Zhou is treating us to dinner?

Yao Xing didn't care anymore. He took off his work clothes and hat and handed them to the gatekeeper: "Go tell the brothers to work hard. Once we're done, we can go home for the New Year. I have to go now."

"Alright, go ahead."

Yao Xing rode his bicycle home in a hurry.

Yao Si likes to be bored. Apart from cooking a bowl of noodles for his son in the morning, he is alone at home every day.

Today I bought two thousand catties of coal, carefully pounded it, and got the kang (a heated brick bed) burning.

Even if my son isn't home, we still need to heat the kang (a traditional heated bed), because it's cold when he comes back at night.

He worked hard, breaking large chunks of coal into smaller pieces. Having gotten used to living in the countryside, he felt restless if he didn't do some work.

"Dad, has the water boiled? I want to take a bath."

He worked so diligently that Yao Xing didn't even notice when he returned.

"Hey son, finished your work? Can you come home tomorrow?"

Yao Sixi was overjoyed. He could finally go home. He would bring Yao Xing's mother over next year. Yao Xing was busy, so at least there would be someone at home to keep him company.

"No, I'm going out to eat."

Eating? Why take a bath while eating?

Yao Sixi was puzzled but didn't dare to ask. He put down the coal he was holding, took off his gloves, and went to find a bucket to add water to his son's bowl.

"Dad, where's my black cotton-padded coat?" Yao Xing asked, looking for clothes in the closet.

"Didn't you say you'd wear it home?"

"Wear it today."

"Here, I'll find it for you. Son, who invited you to dinner? Why are you making such a big fuss? Why don't you bring your father along?"

Yao Sixi smiled ingratiatingly, saying he was too lonely at home alone.

"No, it was Grandpa Yang Qiao who invited me to dinner."

"Yang Qiao Gonggong? Is that the leader?" Yao Sixi asked.

"Yes, Vice Governor Zhou, Father, you absolutely must not tell anyone."

"Oh, the vice governor invited you to dinner? Who should I tell? I don't know a soul here. Wear your new cotton-padded coat, and since my sweater isn't torn, you can wear mine."

Yao Sixi quickly rummaged through the clothes, finding the most presentable clothes the father and son wore—clothes belonging to the vice governor's family.

"Son, your underwear has a hole, and mine is torn too. What are we going to do?"

"Dad, my underwear is inside, no one can see it, it's okay."

"Yes, yes, underwear doesn't matter, just wear something presentable on the outside. Son, wear my shoes, they're a little big, it's fine. Your shoes are really dirty."

"Okay, that's settled then. I'm going to take a shower."

Yao Xing carried the bucket to the side room, and Yao Sixi sat excitedly on the kang (a heated brick bed). The coal fire was really hot; it was burning his bottom.

You can't go to your boss's house empty-handed on your first visit.

But we've run out of cured pork at home, and all that's left are some eggplant and chili peels, which aren't presentable.

No, I need to go buy some.

"Son, I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some candy. Wait for me."

After greeting Yao Xing, Yao Sixi put on his cotton-padded coat and quickly went out.

While taking a shower, Yao Xing pondered that since Vice Governor Zhou had suddenly invited him to dinner, he would most likely ask about the profits of the disinfection plant.

Yao Xing took over the disinfection factory for three months. At the end of the year, after deducting all expenses, he made a profit of 18,000 yuan.

Eighteen thousand a quarter, that's forty or fifty thousand a year. Yao Xing wasn't sure if he should tell the truth; he worried that making too much profit would arouse jealousy in others.

He was also worried that the profits would be too small, so Vice Governor Zhou lacked confidence in him.

Of course, the biggest fear is what will happen if Vice Governor Zhou takes back the operating rights?

There are too many twists and turns in officialdom. He was just a small business owner, and someone took back the disinfection plant with just a word.

After taking a shower, Yao Sixi returned carrying a bag of canned goods and a bag of apples and oranges.

"Yao Xing, the leader's family might not care about these things, but we have to take them; we can't go in empty-handed. Dad asked the sales clerk, and she said buying canned goods and fruit would be more appropriate."

"Alright, Dad, I have a question for you. If Vice Governor Zhou asks about the disinfection plant's operations, should I give a positive answer or a negative one?"

"Of course there are difficulties, son. Your father has spent his whole life in the officialdom and he understands one thing: no matter how good things are, you have to pretend to be poor. You know how profitable the disinfection plant is, isn't it a piece of fat meat? Everyone wants a piece of it, today it's the tax authorities, tomorrow it's the fire department."

Yao Xing frowned: "But what if I speak poorly and the leaders don't trust me?"

"You need to be tactful with your words, kid. First, talk about how hard you've worked and how much you've struggled, and how you've achieved some success, but also how you've faced many difficulties since you've just become the factory manager. When the leaders hear this, they'll think, 'Even if you haven't made any great achievements, you've still put in a lot of effort.'"

"Father, you are truly cunning and shrewd."

"You, this is called the way of being an official. Your father hasn't been in the officialdom for nothing all these years."

"Come on, no matter how well he did, he was still just a brigade secretary, and he was even dismissed."

"My dismissal wasn't due to poor performance, but rather a result of being forced into it by circumstances."

"Okay, make yourself something nice to eat at home. I'm leaving now."

Dressed neatly, Yao Xing was wearing the best clothes that both his father and he had. The only problem was that his leather shoes were a bit big and would fall off when he walked.

"Is Gu Tong'an coming back for dinner?"

"You should come back and cook for him."

Yao Xing put the fruit and canned goods into the bicycle basket, pushed the bicycle out the door.

Along the way, Yao Xing pondered whether his father was right or wrong.

The Zhou family are my benefactors, so I shouldn't hide the profits, but I can say less.

Eighteen thousand, just say ten thousand.

After deducting rent, wages, and social security, a profit of 10,000 yuan per quarter would amount to 40,000 yuan per year, which is quite good.

Sigh, it's not good to tell Gu Tong'an and Yao Hongbing about this, otherwise they would definitely give me some advice.

Even though it was his father, Yao Xing didn't say it; he was a composed young man.