In late October, the wind is warm and the sun is beautiful. This is the best time of the year in Western Zhou Dynasty. Usually at this time, the things in the fields have just been harvested, and some people who have been busy with the autumn harvest begin to use a year's harvest and several years of savings to renovate their own houses. Naturally, people from ten miles and eight villages come to the factory to find Yangliu Fang custom-made furniture, especially Yantan, which is close to the northern suburbs of Xizhou. Compared with the crops in the rural areas in the outer suburbs, which are mainly corn and potatoes, people living in Yantan are far away from the factory. It is close to the city and is also close to the Yellow River. Just dig a well four to five meters deep underground and you can get water. So they started growing vegetables very early, and over time they became the vegetable basket of Xizhou City, and their income from growing vegetables was of course much higher than that from crops.
Because Yang Liufang helped the vegetable farmer and his neighbors, who were the first to build houses, to make doors, windows and furniture, his reputation had already spread, and many people came here. From the beginning of October to now, in addition to doors and windows, four furniture items have been set. The whole house was customized with furniture, and Yang Liufang and his workers began to operate at full capacity.
One day, Yang Liufang was working with the workers. The vegetable farmer came to ask Yang Liufang to make furniture for his new house with a man of his age. Of course, Yang Liufang went happily. A group of three people took the car hired by the client and went straight to Yantan Village. After a year of renovation, this village has changed from when Yang Liufang first made furniture. There are many small two- and three-story buildings built by farmers on their homesteads. Most of them built the first floor into shops or warehouses and rented it out to people doing business in the city. They kept the houses on the second floor for their own living, so the main furniture production was done on the second floor. There were also three-story buildings, but even if they were built, the third floor would still be empty. In those days, renting a house was not as easy as it is now.
The car they were in drove forward along the newly built road in the village, and stopped in front of a newly built building in the village where the scaffolding was being removed.
"Xiao Yang, we are here, right here."
"Oh, so grand." Yang Liufang has learned to flatter now, but this small three-story building is indeed different from other homes in the village. Their new house has one-meter-high white wall tiles pasted under the wall. Compared with Unlike other homes, only 50 cm high cement plaster is done at the base of the wall, which makes the decoration look much more high-end.
"Hey! It's so grand. I just thought that now that I've done it, I'll get it done in one step."
The three of them were chatting when a worker in tattered clothes turned his back to them and climbed down from the scaffolding on the second floor on his hands and knees. Yang Liufang looked familiar from the back. When the man came down and stood still, when he turned around, Yang Liufang was shocked.
"Brother Qin! It's you."
"Brother Xiao Yang." Qin Jiajun was also surprised. He wanted to come up and shake hands, but then immediately retracted. He smiled sheepishly and said, "Oh, look at me." He spread his hands.
"It's okay." Yang Liufang stepped forward, smiled, and held his hand happily. Yang Liufang found that his hands were covered with calluses.
"Brother, aren't you in the army?"
"Oh! It's a long story. Now, I'll finish installing this cart of scaffolding and send it over. You go and get down to business first. I'll come find you at noon and treat you to dinner."
"Okay, Brother Qin, we'll meet at noon when we're done."
After the two settled down, they each went about their own affairs. At noon, Yang Liufang had just finished measuring all the furniture. Accompanied by Uncle Han, the vegetable farmer, he walked out and saw Qin Jiajun squatting under the shade of a tree not far away, waiting for him. He had already changed into clean clothes, and next to him There was a military satchel on the ground, which should contain his work clothes. Uncle Han did not join them because he was going to the vegetable field. Yang Liufang said goodbye to Uncle Han and walked towards the Qin family army. The two met and followed each other to a beef noodle restaurant in the village.
Each of them ordered a large bowl of beef noodles, and Qin Jiajun also ordered a bottle of beer.
"Drink this to relieve fatigue when doing physical work."
Yang Liufang couldn't drink, so he ordered a bottle of 504 soda. The two chatted while eating.
It turns out that after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, with the shift in the focus of the party and the country's work and the in-depth development of reform and opening up, our party gradually adjusted the country's foreign principles and policies. In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Central Military Commission to carry out a major disarmament, the country has decided that from the second half of 1985 to the end of this year, our army will reduce its personnel by 1 million. This is an effort by our party and our army to shift the focus of the country's work to socialist modernization. A strategic decision and a major action taken by our country is also a solemn commitment made by our government to the world to maintain world peace. Unlike other countries that just shout slogans, we do what we say and set an example to ensure world peace.
Against this background, Qin Jiajun's army was also disbanded in August because he was a platoon leader in the army. Unlike the rehabilitation of soldiers, he was transferred to another job. So he was assigned to a printing unit and worked as a security guard there. Because he had left the army due to his personal relationship, his dormitory in the army was also taken back and allocated to other soldiers in need. After so many years in the army, Qin Jiajun received more than 10,000 yuan in retirement pay. He used this money and borrowed another 30,000 yuan with other comrades, but Ding Kemao ended up in Beiguan, Xizhou, with his wife Yanhua. I bought a small house with one bedroom and one living room near the work unit. After buying the house, I didn't have any money to decorate it, so I moved in the wedding furniture and other things that Yang Liufang had made for them in one go. Settled down in Xizhou City.
He works in the security office of a printing factory and earns more than 100 yuan a month. Yanhua earns less than him a month, and Xizhou City's expenses are high. Apart from water, electricity, food and drink, the two of them have little money left for a month. But the tens of thousands of dollars in debt had to be repaid as soon as possible. In that era, everyone was in a hurry for money, so Qin Jiajun had no choice but to go out and do odd jobs after work.
After all, a person's energy is limited. Going out to do odd jobs will inevitably delay the work of the printing factory. In addition, he has an upright character developed in the army. He does not take advantage of the masses. As a security guard, he does not take advantage of the public. His responsibilities are even more important. He was not used to seeing people in the get off work place carrying old books, newspapers, packaging boxes, etc. out after work. After he was caught a few times, the people in the work place scolded him for being nosy. He didn't dare to resist in name, but even wore small shoes to complain behind his back. has happened. His work in the unit became increasingly unsatisfactory.
Qin Jiajun resigned from the printing unit when he was angry. After resigning, he first worked part-time as a coolie with others. Because he was quite proficient in car repairs and car circuits when he was driving in the army, he could also help the electricians when he encountered some people's home renovations, such as threading wires, arranging drainage pipes, etc., which is half a big job. In this way, I can earn much more every day than working as a security guard in a printing unit.
This time I met the client Yang Liufang who had to remove the scaffolding after the new house was completed. Originally he came here as a driver, but when he saw that there were not enough workers to dismantle the scaffolding, he also participated in the dismantling of the scaffolding in order to make more money.
The two of them were eating noodles. Yang Liufang listened to Brother Qin's story and looked at his tanned face. He admired the brother who had helped him even more. No matter whether people are in trouble or adversity, they must work hard to make themselves better off. He wanted to help Qin Jiajun, but he didn't know how to talk about it, and he had nothing to say.
"Brother Qin, where do you wait for work every day?"
"It's right in Beiguan Yellow River Labor Market."
"Is it easy to find a living?"
"I'll catch up as soon as I can."
"Oh, Brother Qin, our factory just bought a car."
"I know. At that time, Zhang Feng and your brother came to me to ask for help, but I couldn't help."
"Oh, what are you talking about? Brother, I mean, see if you can do something with the cars in our factory. Doing odd jobs all the time is not an option." Yang Liufang finally said his thoughts in one breath Speak up.
"Oh, brother, big brother, thank you. Don't you pity me?"
"Brother, what are you talking about? I sincerely invite you. Now, I am also very depressed. The development of the furniture factory has entered a bottleneck period. I originally agreed with my brother to start a leather business, but we encountered trouble in selecting a location. I am depressed. When I was there, I didn’t even have anyone to talk to.”
"Brother, I know you want to help me, but I am in debt now and can only earn money every day. I can't help you with anything else for the time being. In this way, when I feel more relaxed, I will definitely go to you."
"Then Brother Qin, it's settled."
"Yeah, definitely."
After the meal, the two left the small restaurant. Yang Liufang went to the vegetable farmer's vegetable field and talked for a while before going to the roadside to catch a ride back to the factory.
