Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

Page 153

"You're still brothers with the Jia family, you can't just stand by and watch them bully me!"

"Jia Zhangshi, shut up! You're just being ridiculous!"

Jia Zhangshi kept saying that someone was bullying her, which angered Liu Kewei and the other workers who were holding her down. They immediately told everyone what had just happened.

After hearing this, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Now that Liu Haizhong had found a way out, he immediately said, "Mrs. Jia Zhang, even though we live in the same courtyard and I am the second eldest uncle, it is precisely because of this that I must be even more fair and impartial, helping those in the right and not those in the family!"

"So I can't help you, and I even have to criticize you. What you're doing is inappropriate. Do you think the factory is your home, where you can go wherever you want?"

"Great!" Upon hearing this, many workers clapped and cheered.

Only Jia Zhangshi was so angry that she almost fainted.

At this moment, a coworker called over the security personnel.

When Jia Zhangshi saw that the leader was the familiar Section Chief Yang, she immediately showed a look of fear, recalling the previous conflict.

Just as Liu Kewei and the others released Jia Zhangshi and were about to let the security department take over, Jia Zhangshi's anger outweighed her fear, and she suddenly scratched Liu Kewei's face several times.

The movement was too fast and too sudden; no one had time to react.

"You damned bastard, how dare you bully an old man! I'll make sure you pay!"

"Ah! You shrew!" Liu Kewei screamed in pain, blood seeping from between his fingers as he covered his face.

Upon seeing this, the security personnel quickly restrained Jia Zhangshi.

Section Chief Yang was furious, his face turning ashen. This was a slap in the face! They were completely disregarding him!

"Hitting someone in public and deliberately causing trouble, take him back to the guard room and lock him up!"

As Liu Haizhong watched Jia Zhangshi being taken away, he was certain that she would suffer a severe setback this time.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Zhao De finally finished dealing with the reporters from the main factory. He is now in Director Yang's office, and Deputy Secretary Li is also there.

"Boss, just say what's on your mind?" Zhao De asked curiously.

Factory Director Yang said directly, "Zhao De, the factory is planning a gala this year, but we've encountered some difficulties and would like to ask for your help!"

"What help can a worker like me offer?" Zhao De was puzzled.

"We hope you can help us get a few pigs," said Deputy Secretary Li. "This party is the first since the three years of natural disasters, so we plan to make it a grand affair."

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Entrusted by the Leadership, Commended by the Entire Factory!

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Entrusted by the Leadership, Commended by the Entire Factory!

How about getting a few pigs?

Zhao De's eyes widened upon hearing this.

Could it be because I ate pork at the wedding banquet yesterday that I thought of contacting him?

But now, if I go to hunt wild boars, I only have three in my inventory, which isn't enough!

Even if it's enough, it's not good, as it might make people suspect something is wrong.

"Comrade Zhao De, listen to me." Director Yang personally made tea and poured water for Zhao De, his attitude was friendly.

“Actually, we also contacted the meat processing plant, but they could only provide three pigs. You know, our steel rolling mill has more than 10,000 employees, and these three wild boars are not even enough for one bite per person.”

"So we'd like you to bring us ten more pigs!"

"How many?" Zhao De thought he had misheard. "Ten pigs?"

“That’s right, we’ve calculated it. Adding the ten you brought, that makes a total of thirteen pigs, just enough for one spoonful per person.”

Zhao De spread his hands. "No, I don't have anywhere to get these pigs for you, factory manager. I'd like to help, but I have to be able to help!"

"Even if I go hunting, I'd have to run into ten wild boars, right?"

"Let's help if we can," Factory Manager Yang said somewhat awkwardly. "You saved those two little girls today; their parents might be able to help. How do you know it won't work if you don't ask them?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao De exclaimed, "Oh dear, so they were waiting for me!"

So he quickly waved his hand and said, "Factory manager, this won't do. We just rescued people; how can we go and beg them right away? Wouldn't that make me look like a snob?"

"Don't get agitated. I didn't tell you to go and beg someone right away. A week or two is fine. Anyway, the party isn't until New Year's Day, so there's still time," Director Yang quickly reassured him.

Zhao De still felt it was inappropriate; using personal connections to handle official business was simply not worth it!

But this matter cannot be stated directly, since reputation is very important.

He was certain that if the distinction between public and private matters were brought up, these two people would definitely say that they lacked awareness.

"What if they have no other choice then?" Zhao De planned to test their limits first.

Factory Director Yang replied helplessly, "If we really can't handle it, then we can only make dumplings so that everyone can taste the flavor of meat."

Deputy Secretary Li noticed something amiss: "Comrade Zhao De, as long as you agree to help, from now on you can focus on this matter full-time and won't need to come to the factory to work anymore."

“Attendance counts!”

Attendance counts mean that wages will be paid as usual.

"Director Yang, what do you think?"

Factory Director Yang thought for a moment and said, "That's possible. After all, this matter may take a lot of time and effort, and we need to put our heart into finding someone to help us! But we should add one more thing: isn't the mother of those two little girls in a song and dance troupe? You can think of another way to get her to send someone to our factory to perform two shows. Whether it's singing or dancing, the workers love to watch."

Zhao De initially wanted to refuse, but then he remembered Yu Li's second aunt.

Last night, he heard from Yu Li that his second aunt was going to the meat processing plant today, so maybe he could ask her if she had any ideas.

As for Jiang Yong, that's a last resort; we'll only go to him as a last resort.

It's not too much trouble for the song and dance troupe to perform two shows; it's not as difficult as finding ten pigs.

Zhao De considered it for a long time, which was necessary because once he agreed, even if he couldn't find ten pigs, he would try his best to provide some; otherwise, it would be better not to agree at all.

Factory Director Yang and Deputy Secretary Li did not interrupt Zhao De's thinking, but they mentioned that the factory would recognize and reward those who did good deeds, and there would be no shortage of such rewards.

The subtext is that if you agree, additional compensation will be included in this reward.

Zhao De understood perfectly, and after careful consideration, he decided to agree.

Upon seeing Zhao De agree, the two were overjoyed.

"That's great, that's great, Comrade Zhao De, thank you for your contributions to the factory!"

"No, no, don't blame me if we don't have ten pigs by then."

Zhao De first gave a heads-up, then slipped away.

"Don't rush off. Wait until we finish the meeting and you receive your reward before you leave."

"understood!"

When Zhao De returned to the workshop, as expected, a group of his coworkers surrounded him and asked what had happened.

After hearing the thrilling story from yesterday, Zhao De also heard about Jia Zhangshi's disturbance in the workshop. Zhao De was speechless. Why did Yi Zhonghai even send her to the workshop? He'd rather she had stayed in the cleaning team like Jia Dongxu!

Could it be that because the workshop wages are higher, Yi Zhonghai is looking for an opportunity to deduct the 100 yuan from Jia Dongxu's IOU? That possibility is quite plausible! Zhao Dezheng pondered this question.

Suddenly, an announcement came over the factory's loudspeaker:

"Attention, fellow workers! Attention, fellow workers! We are now reporting a serious assault incident."

Zhang Cuihua, a new fitter apprentice in Workshop 2, is the mother of Jia Dongxu, a former member of the cleaning team. Because Jia Dongxu was sick and unable to work, his mother Zhang Cuihua took his place.

Considering that Comrade Jia Dongxu was transferred to the cleaning team due to health reasons, and also considering their family's financial difficulties, we arranged for Comrade Zhang Cuihua to return to her original position in the workshop.

However, Zhang Cuihua was lazy and had a problematic mindset. Soon after arriving at the workshop, she began to complain, disobey orders, and refuse to work.

During her education, she even physically assaulted Liu Kewei, the workshop director.

Now, we are issuing a factory-wide reprimand to Zhang Cuihua, punishing her by making her clean the toilets and workshop, and ordering her to pay Liu Kewei 20 yuan for his recuperation expenses.

If Zhang Cuihua commits another offense, she will be expelled.

Zhao De had expected to hear a commendation, but instead received negative news about Jia Zhangshi.

Twenty yuan is no small sum, and Jia Zhangshi is now in for a headache. They say young people are impulsive, but this old lady isn't young either!

Not long after, while the whole factory was still talking about Jia Zhangshi, the loudspeaker blared again:

"Attention all workers, we are now broadcasting a heroic act of bravery. Yesterday at noon, Comrade Zhao De, a seventh-grade fitter in our factory..."

"In order to commend Comrade Zhao De for his heroic act of selflessly sacrificing himself at a critical moment, the factory leaders, after deliberation, decided to reward him with 300 yuan in cash, 100 jin of grain coupons, 10 jin of sugar coupons, 20 jin of non-staple food coupons, 30 jin of oil coupons, 80 feet of cloth coupons, and 25 industrial coupons."

"Fellow workers, please take Comrade Zhao De as an example and carry forward the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation..."

Inside the warehouse, Jia Zhangshi, who was shouting loudly, was stunned when she heard the broadcast: Three hundred yuan!

Soon, someone delivered the prize to Zhao De. Amidst the envious gazes of his fellow workers, Zhao De left triumphantly.

Back at the courtyard house, as Zhao De passed through the central courtyard, he saw Qin Huairu washing clothes.

"Huai Ru, your mother-in-law got into a fight at the factory and had to pay someone twenty yuan in compensation!" Zhao De said this deliberately, only mentioning the bad news and not the good.

Qin Huairu was getting anxious. Why was her mother-in-law always causing trouble? She suddenly felt a surge of anxiety.

When Zhao De returned to the house, he first hid the prize and then placed ten mousetraps outside.