Chapter 21: Blood Boiling with Excitement

  "Where's Yingying?" Chu Tian Shu sat down opposite Zhang Wei and asked.

  "I've sent her to her grandmother's house." Tan Yufen said as she handed Chu Tian Shu a bowl of porridge.

  Chu Tian Shu looked at Tan Yu Fen's delicate face and smiled: "Sister-in-law, thank you."

  "What's the thanks for? You usually bring Yingying and it doesn't cost you less money." Tan Yufen twisted her body, and put the small bamboo basket with the roasted wheat cake in front of Chu Tian Shu. "I know you've been sleeping all morning, so Zhang Wei specially asked me to make your portion too."

  "Haha, every time Wei Ge comes home for dinner, I always tag along and get a free meal."

  "Hey, little Chu, busy with work?" Zhang Wei took a bite of his cookie and saw that Chu Tian Shu was smiling somewhat ambiguously, so he quickly changed the subject.

  Chu Tian Shu took a sip of porridge and said, "It's okay, every day is just some messy things, can't say busy or not."

  "Didn't see you for two nights, nothing uncomfortable?" Tan Yufen sat down, wrapped scallion and egg in a pancake, handed it to Chu Tian Shu, and asked with concern.

  Chu Tian Shu took it over and shook his head saying: "There isn't any, sister-in-law."

  Zhang Wei said: "Yufen, Xiao Chu is already a big boy, he should have his own affairs, you don't have to worry about it blindly."

  "Without a family, you're still just a child." Tan Yufen smiled and took a look at Chu Tian Shu, saying: "Little Chu, you've been wearing these clothes for two days now, in the sweltering heat of summer they must be smelly, I'll wash them for you later."

  Chu Tian Shu's face turned red as she said: "No need, sister-in-law, I don't have anything on me today, I'll wash myself."

  Tan Yufen gave him a white eye and said, "Look at you, learning to be polite with your sister-in-law too. Your brother Wei's clothes haven't been washed yet, adding these two pieces of yours will exhaust me."

  Chu Tian Shu was deeply moved. For two years of renting, Tan Yu Fen had been treating him like a younger brother with all her heart.

  Just as they were talking, a middle-aged man with a thick beard and mustache walked in from outside the courtyard, carrying a blood-stained bag in his hand.

  Zhang Wei hastily got up and warmly greeted: "Master, you've arrived?"

  The newcomer is Zheng Xiaomin's father, Zheng Tufu. When he was in the factory, he used to be Zhang Wei and Tan Yufen's master.

  Tan Yufen hastily moved over a small stool and smiled: "Master, let's eat together."

  "I've eaten, I came today to thank Director Chu specially." Zheng Tufu's meat stall was set up at the exit of the Municipal State-owned Assets Commission, and later Zheng Xiaomin also worked as a receptionist in the commission's office building, so he was quite familiar with the people from the commission and would greet everyone by calling them "Director".

  The people from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission are also familiar with him, and they all call him Zheng Tufu when they meet.

  Zhang Wei asked Zheng Tufu to sit down and asked: "Master, what's going on?"

  Zheng Tufu put the bag under the dining table and wiped his eyes, saying: "Zhang Wei, you know that your teacher's mother is in the hospital..."

  "What's wrong with Shifu? I went to see her the day before yesterday, and she was fine." Tan Yufen handed Zheng Tufu a cup of tea and asked in a hurry.

  Zheng Tu Fu sighed and said: "It's not that the hospital bill is still short of 20,000 yuan, but she's clamoring to be discharged."

  "That won't do. There's only one treatment left, can't give up now." Zhang Wei said: "Master, it's really not enough, I'll make up for it here first."

  "It's all right, it's all right." Zheng Tutu waved his hand and said: "Yesterday afternoon, Director Tian from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission office came to the hospital and paid 30,000 yuan at once. He said it was a donation from Xiao Chukou and him together."

  Chu Tian Shu hastily said: "Master Zheng, it's only right, it's only right."

  Tian Tuzi was still quite sensible, and indeed credited himself with half the merit. This undeserved reward made him feel uneasy in his heart, but he had no way to explain it, so he could only make a few polite remarks vaguely.

  Zheng Tutu stood up and bowed respectfully to Chu Tian Shu.

  Chu Tian Shu quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, grasped Zheng Tu Fu's hand and said: "Master Zheng, this won't do. You're Wei Ge's master, which makes you my master too."

  Tan Yufen listened, excited with tears in her eyes: "Master, Xiaomin is really lucky to have such good colleagues and leaders, she should thank them sincerely."

  "Yes, yes, I don't know about Director Tian's family, but I do know that Little Chukou has been living with you for a long time. Here, I brought some pig trotters and a pair of winter bamboo shoots. Yufen, can you help me cook them? Tonight, let's invite Little Chukou to have a few drinks, it's just a small token of my affection as Old Zheng."

  "Good!" Zhang Wei patted Chu Tian Shu's shoulder and said: "Brother, you're quite righteous. Yu Fen, prepare a few dishes, I'll come back early tonight and have a few drinks with Master to accompany Little Chu Brother."

  After dinner, Zhang Wei and Zheng Tufu left together.

  Tan Yufen hurriedly washed the clothes that Chu Tian Shu had changed out of and the pajamas she had brought back yesterday.

  Chu Tian Shu returned to his room, called Liu Chun Na, asked a few questions, took a short nap, and finally felt refreshed. He then went out to buy two bottles of wine and some braised dishes.

  Around six o'clock in the evening, Zheng Tufu and Zhang Wei came back early, and Tan Yufen had already set up wine and dishes on the small dining table.

  Three people sat in the courtyard, gathered around a small dining table and started drinking.

  The people living in the courtyard were all former colleagues from the factory, although they had been laid off and were making a living on their own, but under the same roof, each family would take care of each other's big and small matters, with very deep feelings. Zhang Wei was also a man who valued loyalty, seeing Da Hu, Lao Wan and a few others return, he shouted for them to sit down together and drink wine.

  Several people heard that Chu Tian Shu had donated a lot of money for Zheng Shi Mu's illness, and they all gave him a thumbs up. They all offered toasts to Chu Tian Shu, and Zheng Tu Fu also expressed his gratitude.

  Dahu, Lao Wan and a few others were all straightforward people. Two bottles of wine quickly reached the bottom, Dahu brought another bottle from his home, drinking, drinking, several people more or less had some intoxication.

  As they drank and chatted, Zhang Wei and his friends started talking about things at the factory.

  Chu Tian Shu couldn't get a word in edgewise, so she just held her cup and listened.

  Zhang Wei said: "Master, today I heard the old workshop director say that the factory is going to sell the factory."

  Zheng Tutu was surprised: "Really? Didn't they say that the Provincial Machinery and Electronics Group would be merged a few days ago? How can it change suddenly? Everyone is still waiting to re-register after the merger."

  Zhang Wei said: "I heard from the old director that Secretary Guo and Director Liu had no intention of cooperating with the Provincial Machinery and Electronics Group, so after several talks, they still couldn't reach an agreement."

  Zheng Tufu said: "Why? After merging, everyone has something to do, isn't that good?"

  Big Beard took over the conversation and said, "The leaders are in a difficult position. After the merger, they will have to compete for their positions again. As for Secretary Guo and Director Liu, what can they do besides indulging in food and drink? They certainly don't want to be acquired."

  Zheng Tufu scolded: "The two of you are a pair of good-for-nothings, and this perfectly fine factory has been ruined by the two of you!"

  Lao Wan held his cup, suddenly enlightened and said "oh" in a low voice, looked around and said: "In that case, I dare to say that the Guo and Liu families will benefit from this."

  "Master Wan, this is something that can't be casually said outside." Da Hu pulled on Zheng Tufu's sleeve. "We can't afford to provoke these two good-for-nothings."

  Lao Wan's hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and he said, "What can we do? I heard that in a month or two, the factory won't even be able to pay our severance packages."

  Zhang Wei said: "Now there are developers who have set their sights on the land in the factory, and they want to build houses and engage in real estate. The Guo and Liu families plan to package the entire factory as a whole and sell it to the developer at one time."

  "Damn it, what a waste! The factory is sold, what are we going to do now?"

  Zhang Wei said: "As for the workers, I heard that they are going to use the money from selling land to buy them out."

  Zheng Tufu said: "Boss, how much money can you get from selling the house? Even if you get a few hundred thousand yuan, how will you spend the rest of your life?"

  "Ah, yes... if the factory is really sold, we'll have no hope left at all."

  At this time, Tan Yu Fen suddenly interjected: "Zhang Wei, didn't that storefront also disappear?"

  Zhang Wei said: "Isn't that right? Upon hearing this remark, the neighboring Mao Tou and Xiao Wu started scolding their mothers."

  Tan Yufen said with a worried and bitter face: "If it's really like this, how can everyone make a living?"

  Zheng Tutu anxiously said: "Zhang Wei, you have to discuss this with everyone, there are several thousand people in the factory, it can't be fooled by a few wastrels like that."

  Zhang Wei suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Chu Tian Shu: "We are a state-owned unit, should be managed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Xiao Chu, I heard that the initial plan has been submitted, do you know?"

  Zhang Wei is right, the reform and restructuring of state-owned enterprises are indeed led by SASAC.

  However, for the SASAC's official business matters, the General Office is always the last to know. As for whether the reform plan of the Instrument Factory has been submitted or not, Chu Tian Shu fundamentally does not know. His face turned hot as he vaguely said: "There isn't one."

  Zheng Tutu said with great expectation: "That's good, Little Chu, you're a kind-hearted person and also the leader of SASAC, so please take charge for us laid-off workers."

  These words made Chu Tian Shu feel extremely ashamed and humiliated, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

  Alas, as an ordinary clerk, I have no control over my own affairs, how can I make decisions for the thousands of workers at the Instrument Factory?

  Listening to Zhang Wei and others' gossip, looking at Tan Yufen's worried face, Chu Tian Shu couldn't help but secretly sigh: The ordinary people at the bottom really suffer too much!

  However, Guan Haoyu and Huang Rishan, who were sitting in the air-conditioned office, only heard reports from Secretary Guo and Director Liu, but they couldn't hear the voices of laid-off workers or see their hardships. What they wanted to maintain most was the official hat on their heads, rather than the legitimate rights and interests of laid-off workers.

  At this moment, Chu Tian Shu deeply realized that his previous ambition to become an official was only for buying a house and a car, finding a good wife, not being bullied by the likes of Tian Ke Ming, and letting Liu Chun Na's family live a good life. These ambitions were so trivial and insignificant in the face of the survival of thousands of laid-off workers!

  Chu Tian Shu regretted that he couldn't become the director of SASAC tomorrow, and didn't dare to say that he would seek welfare for the vast number of laid-off workers, at least he could help them maintain their legitimate rights.

  Chu Tian Shu was speechless, Zhang Wei slapped his chopsticks on the table and said loudly: "We really have no choice, let's go to Beijing together to petition."

  Zheng Tutu, Da Hu and Lao Wan also clinked their wine cups heavily and said: "Right, let's drink it all up!"

  Watching Zhang Wei and several others in high spirits, Chu Tian Shu was also boiling with enthusiasm!

  When in office, when holding high positions, it is for the sake of familiar relatives around you and for the ordinary people who suffer at the bottom!