Qin Huai Ru immediately took the bag to the kitchen and saw that there was a bag of flour, a small bag of rice, a piece of meat, and some fresh vegetables. It was so rare.
“Huai Ru, there’s also cooked beef, we won’t be lacking anything in the future.”
Li Wu Wei gave some instructions and then went to lie down, waiting for dinner.
But thinking about how it was Saturday tomorrow, and he still had to go to work, he felt uncomfortable.
Next week, he wanted to retire and become a trendsetter, a free-lancer in the 1950s, or rather, an unemployed youth.
At dinner, he closed the door and had a little drink, half an ounce was enough.
“Brother Li, you’ve been working all day, are you tired?”
Qin Huai Ru had never been to a factory and didn’t know what it was like.
“It’s okay, I’m used to it.”
After dinner, Li Wu Wei took his chair and went to lie down in the courtyard. He happened to see Xu Da Mao miserably washing vegetables.
“I say, Xu Da Mao, have you eaten yet?”
“Li Wu Wei, you’re a lucky dog, I’ll find a wife to marry soon too.”
Xu Da Mao was burning with resentment, why did he have to be this way.
“Alright, then I’ll be waiting for that.”
Li Wu Wei put down his chair and leaned back on it. Soon, he saw Qin Huai Ru come out with a basin to wash the dishes.
This made Xu Da Mao even angrier. With a bitter face, he ran home and started shouting about wanting to marry a wife.
“Mom, find a matchmaker and introduce me to a wife. I can’t be outdone by Li Wu Wei.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll find a way for you.”
Xu’s mother also thought that if she could find a wife like Qin Huai Ru, wouldn’t she be enjoying the good life?
…
At night, Li Wu Wei got up and went to the outer room to light a cigarette, standing shoulder to shoulder with the ancient sages.
Soon, Qin Huai Ru brought him some hot water to wash up.
“Huai Ru, don’t be busy, there’s something I need to confess to you.”
Li Wu Wei felt the atmosphere was right and decided to tell the truth.
“Brother, what’s the matter?”
Qin Huai Ru was a little confused. Could it be that her man had dated other women before?
“Well, I have a stomach problem. I can’t stand for too long. It was fine before, but it’s been getting worse lately.
Don’t worry, I’ve already seen a doctor. It can be gradually recovered with long-term care.
But this stomach problem has affected my work, so I want to retire, well, that’s to say, I’m going to resign from the steel mill.”
Li Wu Wei thought he should give her a heads-up first, because he was going to do something about it tomorrow.
Qin Huai Ru thought for a moment and said, “Brother, we have money, and we can still get the rent from the shop. We can live a good life.
But if you don’t work, how can we pretend to be poor? We’ll have no income.”
“Smart!”
Li Wu Wei didn’t expect Qin Huai Ru to have such insight. She was indeed born to be a schemer, but she hadn’t fully awakened yet. So he had to keep her under his thumb.
“Huai Ru! I can’t work, but you can. This position was passed down from my father, I can’t lose it.
You take my place and go to work at the steel mill.”
“Ah! I go work at the steel mill? But I only have a junior high school education, I don’t know anything.”
Qin Huai Ru was a diligent worker, but she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to do it.
“It’s okay, once you get to the steel mill workshop, just hang around. After three years of apprenticeship, you’ll be a full-fledged worker. As for the assessment, it’s just a formality, all you need is hands.
I’ll collect your salary for you. I’ll occasionally go to the steel mill, so no one will dare to bully you.”
Li Wu Wei thought this operation was brilliant. Qin Huai Ru would work, he would collect the salary, turning their own tactics against them.
“Brother Li, is this really possible? I’m not unwilling to work, but it feels a bit… wrong.”
Qin Huai Ru couldn’t put her finger on it, but it just felt different from other families.
The only people in the courtyard who didn’t work were the old lady and the children.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m recovering from illness. When my stomach problem is better, I’ll find another job, and our family will be a double-income household.”
Li Wu Wei thought to himself, there’s no way I’m going to work. As far as everyone’s concerned, Qin Huai Ru is the one supporting me.
“Alright! Brother, I’ll listen to you.”
Qin Huai Ru agreed. It was just being a worker, she could definitely do it.
“That’s right! Come on, let’s go to bed, it’s cold outside.”
Li Wu Wei took Qin Huai Ru’s hand. This was the only thing he could control.
The next day, when he went to work on his bicycle, he didn’t see Sha Zhu, nor did he see Jia Dong Xu and Xu Da Mao. Did they leave early on purpose to avoid him?
He didn’t care. When he arrived at the factory, he clocked in and then went to the medical office to get a note, and then went to the head of the group to ask for leave to go to the big hospital.
“Doctor Mu, my stomach problem is really serious, can you give me a medical certificate? I want to retire early.”
“Retire early?”
Doctor Mu was dumbfounded. “Master Li, you’re so young, retiring early means retiring early?”
“Not retire, I’m going to have my wife take my place. I’ll stay at home and recuperate for a few years before talking about it. What do you think?”
Li Wu Wei said this, then took out a wad of money and placed it on the table. There was no one else in the ward. He had inquired about it and knew this doctor was someone who took bribes.
“Master Li, health is important. Your idea is not wrong.”
Doctor Mu calmly took the money and put it in his pocket. He didn’t even need to count it, it must have been at least a few dozen. This was a big deal for him.
“Then I’ll trouble Doctor Mu.”
Li Wu Wei successfully obtained the certificate and quickly rode his bike back to the factory, finding the factory’s responsible person in charge.
“Director Tang, I can’t take it anymore. I went for a checkup this morning, and the doctor said I’m no longer suitable for work. Here’s the medical certificate.”
Director Tang pushed his glasses up and looked at the medical certificate, saying in surprise, “Stomach problems can be this serious? You’ll faint after standing for just half an hour?”
“It’s inherited! Director Tang, I’ve gotten married, and my wife can take my place.
There are only two of us in the family, and I’m sick. You see, can my wife’s salary start from the third year of apprenticeship?
Of course, the apprenticeship is still three years, but just give her a slightly higher salary.”
Li Wu Wei thought that he couldn’t be too disadvantaged. He had to earn as much as he could.
Director Tang pondered for a long time before saying, “Alright, let your wife take your place. Her monthly salary will be twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents, and she can become a full-fledged worker after three years.”
“Thank you, thank you, Director Tang!”
“Then I’ll bring my wife to work tomorrow morning.”
The reason Li Wu Wei chose him was because this person was about to be promoted, a crucial time. He was willing to help, which meant he owed him a favor.
Whew! Next week, he finally wouldn’t have to work on the shop floor. It was worth all the effort he had put into getting this woman.
From now on, wouldn’t his new life begin? Isn’t that great?