“Da Mao, morning!”
Monday morning, Li Wu Wei rinsed his mouth by the water pond in the courtyard. He was quitting his job today, but he could still get one more day’s pay.
“Such a fancy guy!”
Xu Da Mao also came out to wash up, taking an old washcloth and wiping his face with it a few times.
“Brother, wash your face.”
Qin Huai Ru came out carrying a basin. She got up early and breakfast was already prepared.
“Yeah!”
Li Wu Wei replied and took the wrung-out washcloth, carefully wiping his face.
Then Qin Huai Ru rinsed the washcloth in the basin. She used the same washcloth to wash her face.
This was normal. It wasn't just couples. Some families shared one washcloth and one cup amongst everyone.
Xu Da Mao couldn’t stand it anymore. He felt distressed. Why did Li Wu Wei, this villain, get to be so successful? A fine young man like him was still single and struggling. The heavens were unjust!
To avoid being shown off his bicycle by this guy, Xu Da Mao hurriedly ate breakfast and wanted to leave.
But as he stepped out of the house, he saw Li Wu Wei pushing his bicycle in the yard, with Qin Huai Ru next to him, wrapping a scarf around his neck. The scene struck Xu Da Mao again.
Xu Da Mao was stunned, and only reacted when Li Wu Wei and Qin Huai Ru passed by.
“No, Li Wu Wei, you’re going out together, not going to work?”
“We are!”
Li Wu Wei waved his hand. It was meaningful to wake up early and report to the factory on his last day.
“This… ”
Xu Da Mao quickly followed, looking at Qin Huai Ru’s graceful back and feeling heartache.
When they got to the middle courtyard, Sha Zhu and Jia Dong Xu happened to come out of their houses and met together.
In the courtyard, four young men of similar age, all working at the steel factory, met.
Li Wu Wei used to be the one with the worst conditions, without family support, but in the blink of an eye, he not only bought a bike, but also married a beautiful wife. The difference was immediately apparent.
“Qin, Qin Jie, morning!”
Sha Zhu subconsciously greeted Qin Huai Ru. This was the first time he had spoken to someone.
“Sha Zhu, good morning!”
Qin Huai Ru thought this guy was silly and a little rough-looking, but she felt sorry for him. Yesterday, his father almost ran off with a widow.
“Hi!”
Sha Zhu was delighted, reaching out to scratch his head, feeling lost.
Jia Dong Xu looked at Li Wu Wei with a gloomy face, his eyes filled with resentment. Stealing his wife was an unforgivable crime.
“Well, we’re going ahead. I have a bicycle so I’m faster, you guys can’t keep up.”
When they reached the gate, Li Wu Wei let Qin Huai Ru sit in the back seat and put his arm around her waist.
He held a cigarette in his mouth, but didn’t dare light it. If the wind blew it, he would be choked with smoke.
“I say, Li Wu Wei, you’re going to work, why did you bring Qin Jie with you?”
Xu Da Mao also called her Jie now, feeling it was more intimate. Qin Huai Ru was older than him anyway.
“It’s a secret for now, you’ll know soon enough.”
Li Wu Wei pushed off with his foot, “Let’s go!”
Jia Dong Xu, the three of them, watched Qin Huai Ru, with a happy expression on her face, getting farther and farther away on the bicycle. They sighed one after another.
Xu Da Mao couldn’t help but tease, “Jia Dong Xu, how can you take this? Qin Jie should have been your wife!”
“Xu Da Mao, it’s none of your business. Qin Huai Ru didn’t choose me. She’ll regret this later.”
Jia Dong Xu slightly raised his head. He heard that this way, tears wouldn't fall.
Sha Zhu mumbled beside him, “Qin Jie is such a good person. She even greeted me.”
Jia Dong Xu frowned. “Sha Zhu, what do you mean? Do you have feelings for Qin Huai Ru?”
“Jia Dong Xu, don’t talk nonsense. Don’t ruin Qin Jie’s reputation.”
Sha Zhu glared at him. Two days ago, Jia Dong Xu tried to extort money from him. He wasn't going to put up with it.
The three of them had their own thoughts, but they couldn’t escape, because they all had to go to work at the steel factory.
…
Li Wu Wei woke up early specifically today. After arriving at the factory, he parked his bicycle and asked Qin Huai Ru to wait for a while.
He went to the workshop to clock in. He earned about 1.3 yuan per day. As long as his name was recorded, even though he was quitting today, he would still get a day’s pay.
After entering the factory, Xu Da Mao parted ways with Sha Zhu and Jia Dong Xu.
The three of them, one went to the propaganda department, one went to the workshop, and the other went to the canteen. They were all set.
Suddenly, Xu Da Mao’s eyes lit up. He saw Qin Huai Ru standing alone under the office building. What was going on?
“Qin Jie, why are you in the factory?”
“Xu Da Mao, nice to meet you. I’m here to work.”
Qin Huai Ru told the truth, because it was impossible to hide, and there was no need to hide it.
“What? Li Wu Wei can even arrange a job for you?
Wait, you and Li Wu Wei just got married. How can the neighborhood committee arrange a job?”
Xu Da Mao was confused. This didn’t make sense.
Unexpectedly, Qin Huai Ru dropped a bombshell. “My man is retiring today, and I’m taking over his position as an apprentice钳工 [literally means “clamp worker”] in the workshop.”
“Qin Jie, what did you just say? I didn’t quite hear you.”
Xu Da Mao was dumbfounded. What kind of crazy operation was this? Li Wu Wei actually let Qin Huai Ru take over his job. It was simply unheard of, defying the traditions of the courtyard, and even the whole of the capital!
Just then, Li Wu Wei came over, yelling, “Da Mao, why are you still here instead of clocking in?”
“No, Li Wu Wei, Qin Jie just said she’s taking over your position.”
Xu Da Mao still thought he had heard wrong.
“Yeah, so what?”
Li Wu Wei said calmly, “Women can hold up half the sky too. Two people in a family, someone has to work and earn money.”
“No, it means you’re not going to work, and you’re letting Qin Jie come to the factory to earn money to support you?”
Xu Da Mao figured it out. This was simply shameless, embarrassing Beijing men.
“Da Mao, don’t say that. If I could, would I not go to work?
I’m sick. The doctor said my stomach is not good and I can’t stand for long. To avoid affecting the workshop’s production, I have to retire early.
Okay, why am I explaining so much to you? Go clock in quickly. I’ll take Qin Jie to handle her entry procedures.”
After finishing his words, Li Wu Wei said again, “Huai Ru, let’s go. After you’ve done your entry procedures, I’ll take you to get your factory uniform. When you get to the workshop, your position and tools will be all yours.”
“Okay, Brother!”
Qin Huai Ru happily followed her husband upstairs.
“I, heavens, this is unfair! ”
Xu Da Mao almost yelled, why did the villain prosper while good people suffered?
“I say, Xu Da Mao, what are you howling about?”
A middle-aged man came over.
“Chief, nothing, my throat just felt a bit uncomfortable. I’m going to work now.”
Xu Da Mao quickly ran away. But his heart was still blocked. Li Wu Wei’s series of actions made him see human nature. How could it be so dark? It was a pity for Qin Jie!