“Old Ding, I gave you one yuan this morning, but you didn't do any work. Give me back fifty cents.”
Jia Zhangshi reached out to demand payment.
“Ah? Didn't we agree on one yuan? Why are you asking for it back?”
Old Ding was startled.
“This morning, you only pulled my Dongxu once, to the Security Section and back to the Courtyard. Did you exert any effort?”
“You didn't put in any effort at all, and you're taking one yuan. Don't you feel guilty?”
Jia Zhangshi scolded loudly.
Old Ding pursed his lips, feeling very reluctant, but still pulled out fifty cents in loose change from his pocket.
Jia Zhangshi snatched it and put it in her pocket: “Alright, you can go busy yourself.”
Old Ding left unhappily, pulling his flatbed cart out the door to continue looking for work.
Jia Zhangshi pulled a chair over and sat next to Jia Dongxu. Thinking that she would no longer have her son to support her, her nose stung.
Aside from the cold few hundred yuan in her pocket, Jia Zhangshi felt her life was truly meaningless and she was very lost.
The fragrant aroma wafting from the Chen Family's house brought Jia Zhangshi back from her reverie.
She sniffed, and thick saliva welled up in her mouth.
So fragrant.
The food this little beast made is so fragrant. Why doesn't Qin Huairu have such good cooking skills?
Jia Zhangshi immediately got up and walked back home: “Qin Huairu, what are we eating today?”
“Mom, today we're having two-grain steamed buns, corn paste, and white rice porridge.”
“As for dishes, we have spicy kimchi and shredded potatoes in vinegar.”
Qin Huairu replied.
“Eating vegetarian food every day, my mouth is bland. Look at the Chen Family, they have big meat dishes every day.”
“Where does our Jia fall short compared to the Chen Family? Why don't you learn from the Chen Family?”
Jia Zhangshi looked disappointed.
“Mom, you have to give me money for that.”
“Our Jia's food expenses are only eight yuan a month. How can we afford big fish and meat?”
“Mom, the factory's compensation for Dongxu, can you give me fifty yuan? That way I'll have more money for groceries.”
Qin Huairu complained.
“Useless thing, that's my son's life savings.”
“No one can touch it. I want to save it for my retirement. No, that money needs to be saved for Bang梗's marriage later.”
Jia Zhangshi's face changed drastically, and she angrily rebuked.
“Mom, then what about our Jia's food, clothing, and daily expenses in the future?”
Qin Huairu's face was displeased.
“Tomorrow, our Jia will go to the Rolling Mill for work, and next month you'll still get your salary. It's still eight yuan for daily expenses a month, you won't be shorted.”
Jia Zhangshi grumbled.
“Alright, Mom, whatever you say.”
Qin Huairu nodded in agreement.
Jia Zhangshi went out, stood at the door, and sniffed several times, her heart itching.
Little beast, eating big fish and meat every day, let's see how long you can keep it up.
Maybe you won't have many days left to live, and you'll go down to accompany my Dongxu.
When someone died in the Chen Family, the factory only compensated three hundred yuan, but my Dongxu was compensated...
After cursing silently for a while, and then thinking of the large amount of compensation her Jia had received, Jia Zhangshi felt a bit more comfortable in her heart and went home to eat.
At noon, Chen Jianye returned to work as usual.
“Everyone, listen to me for a few words.”
Wang Lif held up his hands, his face full of smiles.
A person in joy is in high spirits.
He received information that the Security Section had reached an agreement with the Jia, and the Jia would no longer block the door and cause trouble.
This was one thing.
Secondly, the promotion list for the Carpentry transfer exam had been released, and several people in the First Workshop's Fitter First Team had successfully advanced.
As a Team Leader, Wang Lif had prestige.
Everyone gathered around Wang Lif.
“This time, in the Carpentry level test, several people in our team performed excellently.”
“Comrade Chen Jianye, Zhao...”
Wang Lif called out four names, then paused slightly: “Congratulations to you all on your successful promotion.”
“Thank you, Squad Leader.”
“Thank you, Masters.”
The four people whose names were called showed excitement and expressed their gratitude.
A one-level promotion in Carpentry increases the salary by five to seven yuan.
The annual salary difference between an Intern Fitter and a First-Level Fitter is sixty yuan.
Sixty yuan can buy many supplies, enough to raise a child.
Being able to advance one job level is a very celebratory event for ordinary people.
Other workers in the team also congratulated the four who were promoted.
Chen Jianye had almost no interaction with other workers in the team, but a few people still congratulated him.
Yi Zhonghai looked at Chen Jianye deeply, feeling very emotional.
Back then, Jia Dongxu worked as an Intern Fitter for three years, and only with his urging did he painstakingly transfer to a First-Level Fitter.
However, Chen Jianye joined the company only ten days ago and successfully transferred without anyone's help.
Yi Zhonghai could only say that the gap between people is greater than that between people and dogs.
Now that Jia Dongxu was dead, his retirement plan was disrupted, but Chen Jianye was a good prospect.
Unfortunately...
Facing Chen Jianye, who had previously tried to kill him, Yi Zhonghai really couldn't trust him to provide for his retirement.
Moreover, Chen Jianye's brain problem was a big issue.
He might die any day.
‘If Chen Jianye were healthy and had no grudge against me, how great would that be.’
Yi Zhonghai felt some regret. He should have known that Chen Tuntian was dead, and he shouldn't have been so excessive.
That way, Chen Jianye wouldn't have brought a knife to attack him, and naturally wouldn't have been injured in the head by Sha Zhu.
When Chen Jianye came to the factory to take over the position, he would definitely become his apprentice.
That way, even if Jia Dongxu died, Yi Zhonghai could still train Chen Jianye to provide for his retirement.
Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai clicked his tongue. Some things truly have no remedy for regret.
“Everyone, work hard and improve your skills. I've told you many times, working is never in vain.”
“I hope everyone can get promoted. It would be best if our team produced a few Carpentry masters like Master Yi, then I would be worry-free.”
“...”
Wang Lif gave a speech, encouraging everyone to work hard and diligently practice their skills.
Afterward, he announced the dismissal of the meeting, telling everyone to return to their posts and work hard.
“Squad Leader, are you free tonight? I'd like to treat you to a meal.”
Chen Jianye kept pace with Wang Lif, speaking softly.
“Let's do it next time.”
“The Jia Dongxu matter just ended, and the Leader sees me unfavorably everywhere. It would be truly improper for me to go drinking with you again.”
Wang Lif said sincerely.
“Alright then, I'll listen to you. I'll treat you next time.”
“We've agreed.”
Chen Jianye didn't insist.
“Absolutely.”
Wang Lif raised his eyebrows.
Chen Jianye returned to his post and continued working.
He wasn't too curious about how much money the Jia would get from the factory for causing trouble.
It had nothing to do with him.
If the Jia could get more money, that meant the Jia had ability.
Chen Jianye only wanted to upgrade.
In the afternoon, before the dismissal bell rang, Hu Nanpeng came to inspect the parts again.
Chen Jianye took off his labor protection equipment and cleaned his workstation.
“Jianye, I truly admire you a bit.”
“Jia Dongxu is gone, and everyone is talking about it, but you just keep quiet and work diligently.”
“You'll at least be a Sixth Grade Worker in the future.”
Hu Nanpeng chatted with Chen Jianye while inspecting the parts.
“I'll take your auspicious words, Uncle Hu. If I become a Sixth Grade Worker in the future, I'll treat you to a meal.”
Chen Jianye smiled.
“That's a must. A Sixth Grade Worker is a senior skilled worker, you absolutely must treat me to a meal.”
Hu Nanpeng went along with the conversation.
“Uncle Hu, are Third Grade Worker, Sixth Grade Worker, and Ninth Grade Worker different from other levels?”
Chen Jianye suddenly remembered the system's broadcast message from the morning, that drawing lots could only be activated when a skill reached level three or a multiple of three.
Level six was exactly a multiple of three, so perhaps there was a connection.
“Of course, they're different.”
“Intern Fitter to Second Grade Worker are considered junior workers. Third Grade to Fifth Grade are intermediate workers, and Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade are senior workers.”
“In our team, Master Yi is the only Eighth-Grade Fitter. Going further up is Assistant Engineer, which can also be called Ninth Grade, but that's a different path.”
“However, Master Yi is old and learns slowly, so he's reached his limit in this life.”
Hu Nanpeng said casually.
These were all basic knowledge.
“So that's how it is. Third Grade, Sixth Grade, and Ninth Grade indeed have significance.”
Chen Jianye nodded.
Hu Nanpeng chatted with Chen Jianye for a while longer, and when the dismissal bell rang, he left promptly.
All the old hands were like this, they ran off as soon as work ended, not staying an extra minute.