The three of them chatted and laughed all the way back to the backyard.
The food was heating up on the stove in Liu Hai's house.
Although there was no more firewood in the stove, the remaining charcoal ash still had residual heat, which could keep the food in the pot warm.
The dining table at home had been moved to the courtyard because of the renovation.
When not in use, cover it with a cloth. When he used it, he would open it.
"How many people came to work today?"
"There are more than ten of them. There are two people from Uncle Li Gen's house in the front yard. Second Aunt's family is here, and the people you invited before…"
"With so many people, the renovation should be completed soon. I have to find some time tomorrow to find a carpenter and customize some furniture.”
Lu Heng asked about the renovation of the house as he ate.
Suddenly, he thought of something and quickly added,"By the way, you have to remember those who come to help. I'll pay them when the time comes.”
Li Xiuzhi, who had been able to answer fluently before, suddenly stopped. She slowly lowered her head and stammered,"I…can't read."
Lu Heng was taken aback. He smiled and shook his head.
She had almost forgotten about this. This girl had only studied for two years and was not very literate.
This situation was very common nowadays, especially in the countryside.
Because they valued boys over girls, many families would not allow girls to study much even if they did.
When they reached the second or third grade and were of working age, they would be pulled back from school to help their families earn work points.
Mowing grass, chopping wood, feeding pigs, cooking rice, herding cows…
As a girl, what was the use of reading so many books? What was more important was to go home and help earn work points.
Li Xiuzhi was at a loss. She bit her lips and didn't say a word.
Yes, he was a cultured person and a leader.
No matter how she performed, she was still a girl from the countryside. She didn't even know a few words, so how could she have a chance?
The sudden realization made Li Xiuzhi feel inferior.
Some of the fantasies in his mind were shattered at this moment.
"Do you know how to look it up in the dictionary?"
Just as she was feeling dejected, she felt that Lu Heng was shaking his head to mock her for being uncultured.
Li Xiuzhi heard the warm voice again.
It was that voice.
Ever since she came here, he had been guiding her on how to adapt to the current environment.
How should he get along with the people around him?
It was always so soft and gentle, warm and touching.
She couldn't help but want to hear that beautiful voice and see the owner of that voice.
When the warm voice came again, Li Xiuzhi's dim eyes lit up again, as if she had found someone to rely on and became strong again.
"I will," she nodded repeatedly.”
Lu Heng didn't know that this girl was already having a big show in her heart. He still said unhurriedly,
"Then you can start by looking up the dictionary and learn slowly.”
"You can read Wenwen's first grade books after she comes back from school. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Rainwater.”
"Reading is not necessarily to be more cultured, but to broaden your horizons.”
"When you are literate, you will be able to learn a lot of information from your surroundings, such as books and newspapers. At that time, you will have questions. Why is it like this?”
"From there, you will become curious about the current situation of this society. In the process of exploring the answers, not only will you learn knowledge, but you will also be able to understand the world more clearly.”
At this point, Lu Heng shook his head again. He felt that it was a little too far to talk to a girl who had only studied for two years.
He put down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at Li Xiuzhi, and asked,""Then, are you willing to start learning again now?”
This time, Li Xiuzhi didn't know where she got her courage from. She didn't avoid Lu Heng's gaze and nodded vigorously.
"As long as you're willing to learn. I'll buy you a dictionary tomorrow. Although Wenwen has one too, she needs it for school. I'll buy another one for you.”
"Wenwen has some introductory reading materials. You can borrow them from her first and slowly learn from the dictionary.”
"It's not your fault that you didn't have the chance to learn in the past. But now, as long as he still wanted to learn, it was not too late.”
The warm voice echoed in her ears. Li Xiuzhi listened carefully, not wanting to miss a single word or syllable.
During this period, Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao also returned to the courtyard.
After greeting each other, they went home.
The night gradually darkened. The bright moon hung high in the sky, scattering silver ashes in this small courtyard.
Li Xiuzhi waited for Lu Heng to finish his meal, then skillfully put away the bowls and poured tea. She was extremely diligent.
The little girl in Lu Heng's arms had fallen asleep and was breathing softly.
After sending the little girl back to He Yushui, Lu Heng saw that it was getting late and said goodbye to Li Xiuzhi.
With the crisp sound of the bell, Li Xiuzhi, who had been sent to the front yard, watched the figure under the moonlight disappear into the night.
Only then did she reluctantly withdraw her gaze. With some melancholy of a young girl and yearning for the future, she walked towards the middle court.
Although it wasn't even ten o'clock yet.
However, at this moment, the lights in every household in the courtyard house had been extinguished.
There was no television or cell phone.
It was summer, and the weather was hot and stuffy. She didn't even have the interest to make a baby, so sleeping early became her only choice.
No, there was another shop with its lights on.
"After I go to the northwest, I will send you money every month.”
"Bang Tien is our godgrandson. When I'm not around in the future, you're her godgrandmother. You have to do your part to take care of him, understand?”
"As for Eastdawn's family, we'll help them if we can. They're all old and weak, and Qin Huairu is still pregnant…"
Yi Zhonghai was still talking about that.
He asked a middle-aged woman to tie up the stick when he went to the northwest. For this, he could take care of the Jia family more.
He also mentioned Silly Pillar who had already entered.
The more the auntie listened, the more upset she felt.
At first, she thought that Yi Zhonghai was going to the northwest and could only come back once a year. She was very hesitant and worried that her husband would not be able to adapt to life there.
However, when she slowly calmed down and heard that Yi Zhonghai had not mentioned her at all, she could not help but feel sad.
Could it be that those who didn't give birth to a son or daughter were destined to live such a lowly life?
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. A middle-aged woman could not help but ask,"You keep talking about the Jia family. Are they so worthy of your concern?”
"When Jia Dongxu took you as his master, you didn't agree at first. Later, when Rulai Qin Huai came looking for you, you agreed.”
"Tell me, you old fool, do you have feelings for her, that's why you're helping those people from the Jia family?”
"When Jia Dongxu was in trouble, you donated 100 yuan. When a stick caused trouble, you helped to bear it, and then stuck in a few hundred yuan. You even borrowed industrial bonds from others.”
"Later on, Qin Huairu and Bang Tiao brought the fan and radio to the hospital, but you didn't say a word.”
"Tell me, if they didn't have something on you, would you have to be so close to them?”
Because she did not leave any descendants for Yi Zhonghai, the woman had been living carefully all these years.
At this moment, when he heard that Yi Zhonghai was about to go to the northwest to assist in the construction, he still missed his family. He could not help but say the words that had been buried in his heart for a long time.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Yi Zhonghai's expression changed drastically. He was a little flustered from being exposed, and he was a little angry.
A man was still a young man until he died. Who wouldn't like a young wife in her prime?
When Jia Zhang-shi married into this courtyard, Yi Zhonghai, who was still a young boy, could not resist the impulse in his heart and peeked at Jia Zhang-shi bathing. He was even discovered.
A few years ago, when Jia Dongxu had taken Qin Huairu as his master, Qin Huairu had come to him in private to beg for his help. He could not help but touch his wife's hand when she looked at him seductively.
These unknown secrets had always been taboo in Yi Zhonghai's heart. Once they were exposed, where would he put his face?
Unexpectedly, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu did not mention this matter, but now his wife mentioned it. Yi Zhonghai immediately flew into a rage.
"Then tell me, why are you so good to the Jia family? It can't be for no reason, right?"
"It's all because of you. If you could give birth to a son and a daughter for me, would I need to take in a godgrandson and hope that in the future, I'll have a stick to support me in my old age?”
Yi Zhonghai finally spoke his mind.
In the past, even when he was counting on Silly Pillar to support him in his old age, he had only set up a scheme in secret and had never mentioned it to others.
Because this was not something to be proud of.
He was a destitute man who couldn't give birth to his own children, but he was counting on other people's children to support him in his old age.
It was not nice to say this, so he could only do it and not say it.
However, now that a middle-aged woman had revealed his other secret, he could only use the fact that the middle-aged woman did not leave him an heir to retaliate and hope that the stick would support him in his old age.
She did not leave any descendants for the Yi family. This was a woman's Achilles 'heel.
When Yi Zhonghai mentioned this, an auntie could only cry secretly.
After a while, a middle-aged woman was the first to admit defeat. She wiped her tears and said,"Can't you just not go?"
Women in this era, especially those who did not have a job, their husbands were their heavens. What could she do if she did not give in?
"You think I want to go?"
"This matter has already been reported to the entire factory. If I don't go now, then the other people who have already been selected don't have to go.”
"At that time, as the one who led the disobedience, can I still continue working in the rolling mill?”
Yi Zhonghai's tone was still lukewarm, but it was clear that he couldn't refuse to go just because he wanted to.
"Why don't you go and beg Little Lu in the backyard?”
"He's the associate chief physician now. You should lower your head to him and let him think of a way.”
Yi Zhonghai frowned and did not answer.
The thought of bowing to Lu Heng flashed through his mind.
However, he could not get over the hurdle in his heart.
Also, he knew that he had ruined Lu Heng's marriage in the past, and there was already a grudge between them.
It might not be useful to plead now.
At that time, if the other party still did not agree after he apologized and begged for mercy, where would he put his face?
"Why don't I sound him out first?”
………
Three days later!
June 15th was a joyous day for the workers of the rolling mill.
Yi Zhonghai and the other ten old factory workers carried the big red flowers and got into the car under the gaze of many workers.
It wasn't a small car, but a big car used by the factory to transport goods.
He didn't sit in the front, but stood at the back.
They would wear red flowers and parade on the bus.
Through the streets where they lived, they let their neighbors know their dedication.
After the glory was over, he would drive them to the train station and board the train to the northwest.
The entire process was spectacular.
It could be said to be the sound of gongs and drums, the sound of firecrackers, the fluttering of red flags, and the sea of people.
When the ten people left the factory with the car, the workers who had been organized by the factory to send them off scattered like a swarm of bees to welcome their own celebration.
Today was payday. This was the time for the workers to celebrate.
At this moment, Lu Heng received his first salary since his rebirth from the cashier of the Finance Department. 64.3 yuan.
Last month, he had been a Level 3 fitter for about twenty days.
During that time, he could only receive the salary of a Level 3 worker.
In the next ten days, he was promoted to Level 7 fitter, worked as a class monitor, and transferred to a technician.
In total, his salary was 64.3 yuan.
In addition, he also received 45 catties of food coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons, industrial coupons, and other coupons.
For many people, this was a high income.
The round-faced girl in charge of the cashier in the finance department wiped her saliva and counted twice before handing it to Lu Heng.
Lu Heng's pen moved like a dragon and snake. He signed his name in a few strokes and did not count it on the spot. He casually rolled up the money, stuffed it into his pocket, and walked straight out.
His domineering temperament was instantly revealed.
"Next! Liu Wei, salary 32.5 yuan."
When the round-faced cashier saw that Lu Heng's gaze did not linger on her, even for a moment, she glared at his receding back before calling for the next person.
After leaving the finance department, Xu Damao, who had been waiting for a long time, walked over and handed over 10 catties of food stamps.
Xu Damao was no longer a projectionist, but a staff member of the second workshop. He was mainly responsible for logistics, such as receiving and counting materials.
However, they still had to do some heavy manual labor part-time, so they were classified as heavy manual workers and had a monthly quota of 45 pounds.
The so-called part-time job naturally did not exist. It was just for show.
However, if he was put into his category, the monthly rations would be much higher.
This was the charm of power.
Then, Xu Damao, with his small appetite, would transfer some food stamps to Deputy Director Lu, which was reasonable.
"I'll charge you 10 cents for a catty of food stamps.”
Lu Heng took the food stamps and handed Xu Damao a dollar.
"How can I take your money, director? It's just ten catties of food stamps. Consider it my filial piety. If you didn't allocate me to…"
Xu Damao's mouth was open. He wanted to say that the extra 10 catties of food stamps were all because Lu Heng classified him as a heavy manual laborer. He should have given it to Lu Heng.
However, he received a cold gaze. His heart trembled. He knew that he had said the wrong thing and quickly stopped.
This kind of thing could be done, but it couldn't be said.
"I'll give you money, so just take it. You can't finish it, but I happen to lack it. We're helping each other, understand?”
Lu Heng took the food ticket and stuffed a dollar into it.
It was true that Lu Heng did not lack food stamps. He had a lot of them in his interspace, but he had to give an explanation to the outside world.
After all, his family was still raising Li Xiuzhi, who had no food.
These days, they hired people to renovate their houses, and they were even given seven taels of food stamps every day. Ten people would get at least seven catties a day.
Although there were food stamps rewarded by the factory as a cover, it was not a long-term solution. There had to be a new source.
At the very least, he had to let outsiders know that he had obtained a stable source of food stamps through the exchange to support the extra person in the family.
Only in this way could he slowly wash away the food stamps in his space.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。