"What's up?"
Sha Zhu said grumpily.
He was angry at Jia Dongxu in his heart, and especially thinking of Jia Dongxu doing things with Qin Jie, Sha Zhu felt even more uncomfortable.
"Chen Jianye has entered the factory to take over the post."
Jia Dongxu completely ignored Sha Zhu's attitude and coldly threw out a sentence.
"Hiss, this kid moves so fast, I thought he'd have to recuperate in the Courtyard for at least ten days."
"Can he work like that? He must be planning to get paid for nothing."
"Bah! A dog who digs at the public's wall."
Sha Zhu was very surprised. After cursing, he looked at Jia Dongxu: "Chen Jianye entered the factory to take over the post. Why are you telling me?"
"Hehe."
"He has to eat, right?"
Jia Dongxu chuckled.
"Hehe."
"Yes, he really has to eat."
Sha Zhu immediately understood Jia Dongxu's intention.
Workers eat in the cafeteria at noon, and Sha Zhu is in charge of serving food.
Normally, it's one scoop, fair to all.
However, Sha Zhu has a unique skill, 'flipping the spoon'. A full scoop, after Sha Zhu's flipping, would only be half a scoop or even a quarter of a scoop.
And while Sha Zhu was performing the flipping, he could see the other person's expression change from joy to nervousness, and finally to despair.
It was incredibly satisfying.
If the workers don't eat enough, they won't have the strength to work.
And for the same price, they can only get half or even a quarter of the amount of food compared to others.
That feeling was simply infuriating.
"It's up to you at noon. Don't say I didn't give you a chance to get revenge."
Jia Dongxu winked.
"Just you wait."
"Three days."
Sha Zhu held up three fingers: "In three days, I'll make him afraid just by looking at me."
Jia Dongxu was completely relieved.
Living in the same Courtyard and growing up together, he knew how vicious Sha Zhu could be.
Sha Zhu's viciousness was bullying the weak,
but when he faced the strong, Sha Zhu would change his tactics and resort to underhanded tricks.
Underhanded tricks were disgusting and impossible to guard against.
Back in the Pliers worker team, Jia Dongxu told Yi Zhonghai about his discussion with Sha Zhu at the cafeteria.
"Hmm, you did well. It's good to make him suffer a bit."
"Originally, we live in the same Courtyard. If he were on our side, I wouldn't mind teaching him personally, but it's a pity."
Yi Zhonghai stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze flicking towards Chen Jianye's side, a cold sneer playing on his lips.
To be honest, Yi Zhonghai had even considered including Chen Jianye as a member of his retirement fallback group.
However, what happened later made Yi Zhonghai abandon this idea.
Instead, he decided to strike at Chen Jianye, to show the young people in the Courtyard the consequences of going against him.
Time flew by, and it was noon.
"Jianye, let's go to the cafeteria for lunch."
"I'll take you around. You have to buy tickets at the cafeteria, and then get your food."
Wang Lif put down his tools and extended an invitation.
"Squad Leader, I forgot to bring my lunchbox. Next time."
Chen Jianye politely declined.
"Alright then, you go home to eat, remember to watch the time."
"We start work at 1:30 PM, don't be late."
Wang Lif reminded him.
"Okay, Squad Leader, I've got it all."
Chen Jianye nodded.
Following the flow of people out of the Workshop, Chen Jianye walked towards the East Gate.
He wanted to buy a bicycle again.
If he had a bicycle, it would significantly reduce the time he spent on commuting.
Considering it was spring of '61, the production of bicycles was very tight.
The entire Rolling Mill didn't have many bicycle tickets to distribute.
Chen Jianye had over 900 yuan in his hand, and he could probably get bicycle tickets on the Black Market for a high price.
But this method of transaction was illegal.
Especially in an environment like the Siheyuan (Courtyard), where there were many envious people, if someone reported him, the Public Security would confiscate the illegal gains.
His money would be wasted.
He still had to go through proper channels.
Chen Jianye walked back to the Siheyuan (Courtyard) lost in thought.
"Oh, Jianye is back."
"Where did you go today?"
Third Aunt asked at the door.
"Third Aunt, I went to the Rolling Mill to take over a post."
Chen Jianye said with a smile.
"Oh, with your condition, can you work at the factory?"
Third Aunt finished speaking, then changed her tone: "But it's good to go to the factory to take over the post, the sooner you go, the sooner you get paid."
Chen Jianye didn't explain and walked straight towards his home.
Stepping over the steps of the Middle Courtyard, Chen Jianye saw Qin Huairu, heavily pregnant, drying duvet covers.
The weather was good today, and the clothes and duvet covers were drying very quickly.
Diligent women would seize the good sunny weather to wash their household laundry.
And Jia Zhangshi sat at the door, with a bamboo basket on her knees, holding a thousand-layer sole and needlework in her hands.
Seeing Chen Jianye return, Jia Zhangshi snorted.
Chen Jianye ignored her and went home to start cooking.
At this moment, at the Rolling Mill's First Cafeteria.
Sha Zhu rubbed his eyes.
He had been waiting for almost half an hour, but Chen Jianye still hadn't come to get food.
His eyes were almost watering from looking.
"Master, what are you looking at?"
His apprentice, Ma Hua, couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing, mind your own business."
Sha Zhu said grumpily.
Ma Hua said nothing more and honestly served food to the workers.
Soon, Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai came to get food.
Sha Zhu told Ma Hua to step aside and took the ladle himself.
"Where's Chen Jianye? I've waited for him for half an hour, let alone a person, not even a ghost."
Sha Zhu asked unhappily.
"How would I know? He's not tied to my belt."
"Just wait, he'll definitely come to eat, what's the rush?"
Jia Dongxu's words were quite blunt.
Sha Zhu was furious. He dug hard with the iron ladle into the stainless steel trough filled with food, then flipped it over, and the iron ladle was full of dishes.
A hint of joy appeared on Jia Dongxu's face.
He thought Sha Zhu was being considerate; he had provided him with information, and now Sha Zhu was specifically taking care of him.
Sha Zhu saw Jia Dongxu's expression and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
As the iron ladle in his hand approached the lunchbox in Jia Dongxu's hand, Sha Zhu's wrist trembled rapidly.
The dishes in the iron ladle fell out one after another, spilling into the stainless steel trough.
Visibly, only a level spoonful of dishes remained in the iron ladle.
"Hey, Sha Zhu, steady on."
Jia Dongxu reminded him nervously.
"I'm very steady."
As Sha Zhu's wrist trembled rapidly, the range of his left-right swaying increased.
More dishes spilled from the iron ladle.
By the time the iron ladle was emptied into Jia Dongxu's bowl, the amount of food was only half of the usual portion.
Jia Dongxu looked resentful: "Sha Zhu, are you messing with me!"
"Eat it or don't."
Sha Zhu said grumpily.
This unique skill of his was something Sha Zhu had unintentionally developed out of grief after Jia Dongxu married Qin Huairu.
Now, unable to wait for Chen Jianye, he used it on Jia Dongxu, and the satisfaction was doubled.
"Sha Zhu, quickly give me another scoop, or I'll go report you."
Jia Dongxu trembled with anger.
A full big scoop, and in the end, Sha Zhu shook it down to less than a quarter.
That kind of emotional roller coaster was unbearable for Jia Dongxu.
"Stop talking nonsense, the people behind are still waiting in line, get out of here."
Sha Zhu roared impatiently.
Jia Dongxu glanced at Yi Zhonghai behind him, and pointed hatefully at Sha Zhu: "Alright, alright, you're amazing."
With that, he took his lunchbox and left, his chest heaving violently.
"First Master, Chen Jianye didn't come to the cafeteria for lunch, did he?"
Next, Sha Zhu served Yi Zhonghai his food, still asking Don't give up.
"I didn't pay attention to him, I really don't know."
"What's his status, does he deserve me to watch him, don't you think?"
Yi Zhonghai's tone was flat.
"First Master, you're absolutely right."
Sha Zhu smiled and gave Yi Zhonghai a large scoop.
After that, he handed the iron ladle to Ma Hua and continued to scan the crowd waiting in line for food.
He refused to believe that he couldn't wait for Chen Jianye by simply waiting.
