Li Huai De spoke as he pulled out a stack of tickets from the drawer and handed them to Lin Yu.
“Xiao Yu, this quarter's radio and sewing machine tickets are all used up. I'll save some for you when the next quarter's tickets arrive.”
“Here's a bicycle ticket and a watch ticket. Take them. When you get married, don't be shy. I'll get you the ‘three turns and one ring’ tickets. Li Shu will make sure you get everything you need.”
Lin Yu grinned and put away the tickets. “Thank you, Li Shu. These are more valuable than money.”
“Right, Li Shu, can you get some high-proof liquor, the stronger the better.”
Li Huai De was taken aback. He wasn't afraid of his subordinates asking for things. The more demands they had, the happier he was.
However, asking for high-proof liquor was a first. Intrigued, he asked, “High-proof liquor? How much do you want? We have it in the logistics department. I’ll get you ten catties.”
Lin Yu glanced outside, walked up to Li Huai De, and whispered, “Ten catties isn't enough, Li Shu. I have some good stuff from this hunting trip.”
Old Li's eyes lit up. This kid was definitely hiding something good.
“What good stuff? Tell me.”
Lin Yu chuckled. “Mountain deer, wild deer. It's a type of deer unique to our Yan Shan Mountains.”
“I shot a male mountain deer. Soaking the deer blood in wine is a great tonic, really good for virility. And if I can dry and soak the deer penis in wine, that's even better.”
“Li Shu, I saved your portion. I also picked out the tenderest parts of the deer blood, deer meat, wild chicken, and wild boar meat.”
Li Huai De’s eyes sparkled. As a man in his forties, sometimes things just didn’t work as well as they used to.
“Good boy, your life is much better than mine. No wonder you don’t care about those meat tickets. Pork can't compare to the things you brought back.”
Lin Yu remained calm, unconcerned as he said, “Li Shu, that’s just the food. I also saved two wolf skins for you. When they are cured, I'll bring them over. You can use them for clothes or quilts.”
“But wolf skin is warm. It’s best to give it to injured people or elderly people who have back or leg pain.”
As he spoke, Lin Yu pointed upwards.
Li Huai De saw Lin Yu’s gesture and instantly understood that this wasn’t a child from an ordinary family.
He had used his connections to investigate Lin Wei Guo’s background.
He had only managed to find out that his father-in-law was in the Beijing Garrison Command.
But that alone was enough to make Li Huai De cautious.
If the Garrison Command had people, wouldn't the Military Region have people too?
He knew the Beijing Garrison Command and the Military Region were both led by the same group of veterans from the War of Resistance.
Thinking this, Li Huai De said to Lin Yu, “Xiao Yu, do you know why Yang Wei Min confronted us today?”
Lin Yu was puzzled. He didn't understand why Yang Wei Min was doing this. What was this big factory manager up to?
Seeing Lin Yu’s expression, Li Huai De smiled and said, “Our steel mill is expanding. The ministry has decided to build two more production workshops on the existing site to the west. They’ll expand the workforce to about 8,000 people.”
“Next year, after the expansion, the old factory director will retire. Yang Wei Min will become the factory director of the steel mill, and I will move up to fill the vacant deputy director position.”
“Although the factory is expanding and the food quota is increasing, the meat quota remains at 800 catties per month.”
“Both Yang Wei Min and I are new to our roles, and we both want to show our faces to the workers. The wages are set by the state and can't be changed, so we can only improve the material standards.”
“Especially since I'm in charge of logistics. Of course, there will be a shortage of meat. Now you have this connection to get meat, so naturally, Yang Wei Min is going to get anxious.”
Now Lin Yu understood what was going on. These two old men were trying to buy people’s hearts with meat.
After a moment of thought, Lin Yu said, “Li Shu, I can't control others, but if you say the word, I can still do something for you.”
“In the future, if you have any events or need meat, just let me know in advance. I can get you some, but I can't guarantee how much. But it’s still possible to get a few hundred catties each time.”
Lin Yu thought to himself, anyway, all the animals in his space will mature in a month. They can be paired up, and in three months at most, he can start selling the products from his space.
Lin Yu had already studied the rules of the hunting space breeding ground. Medium-sized animals like wild boars, mountain goats, and mountain deer mature once a month.
Wild chickens and rabbits mature every ten days.
If he catches some fish and starts the fish pond, he will be able to supply the steel mill.
“Thank you, Xiao Yu. With those words, Li Shu feels relieved.” Li Huai De was very happy to hear Lin Yu’s words.
“Xiao Yu, you are an 8th-level clerk with a level 26 administrative status. I’m going to propose that you be promoted to a 4th-level clerk with a level 22 administrative status.”
“But it’s just our proposal. If Yang Wei Min objects, we'll try to secure a 5th-level clerk position with a level 23 administrative status for you.”
Lin Yu pondered for a moment and understood what Li Shu meant.
Ask for the moon, get the stars.
Getting to the 4th level was a bit difficult. Securing a 5th-level clerk position would be good enough. A 5th-level clerk could apply for two apartments.
Although there were no empty rooms in Courtyard 95, there was a western courtyard.
Although the house was destroyed, the foundation and building area were still there.
Moreover, the western courtyard used to be the flower garden and where unmarried girls lived. There was also a 300-square-meter empty lot, making it a quiet place in the bustling city.
As for buying a courtyard now, that was out of the question. 1958, and the next few years, were the peak years for the population of Beijing. The city was flooded with immigrants.
All housing was owned by the state and assigned to workers and ordinary people who needed housing.
Take the steel mill, for example. With each expansion, they added 2,000 people. How many of those 2,000 people would need the factory to arrange housing?
The population boom in Beijing lasted until 1968, during the peak of the “Go Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside” movement, when it finally eased.
“Li Shu, just do what you think is best. We don't need to rush things. My good days are coming. When you become deputy director, you won’t let me down.”
Lin Yu’s words hit Li Huai De’s heart.