The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 41 The Stubborn Clerk
"That's right, my father-in-law went to the Northwest to help with industrial construction, and now my wife and I live here."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he asked in return, "What's wrong, comrade?"

"Here's the thing, housing is quite tight in our area. Many workers are either crammed into factory dormitories or have nowhere to live. I was wondering if you have any ideas about renting out any spare rooms."
If you're interested in renting it out, the neighborhood committee can help you. We'll transfer the rent to you every month.

After listening to what the comrade from the subdistrict office said, a question mark seemed to appear on Zhou Zhiqiang's forehead.

They were suddenly advised to rent out the house for no apparent reason.

"No need, comrade. We don't want anyone else to live here. Besides, most of the rooms have been renovated, and there are only a few rooms left that are habitable."

Zhou Zhiqiang bluntly refused, saying, "Why would we let outsiders stay in our private residence? We're not short of money."

Furthermore, Zhou Zhiqiang plans to renovate a bathroom in his home. If other people move in, will they be allowed to use it? What about the kitchen and toilet?
There will definitely be a lot of troubles, and the couple still have so many good things: two bicycles, two watches, a sewing machine, and a radio.

Although I don't want to think the worst of people, who can guarantee who will move in?

Therefore, Zhou Zhiqiang refused very decisively, and Guo Yuting, who was standing next to him, nodded in agreement. She also did not want outsiders to move in.

Seeing Zhou Zhiqiang's immediate refusal, the woman from the neighborhood office continued to persuade him, "Comrade, why don't you reconsider? This courtyard is so big, you and your husband can't possibly live in it all. Renting it out would bring in some rent every month."

Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted, saying, "No need, we don't plan to rent it out. Comrades, is there anything else? If not, my wife and I still need to cook."

"I'm telling you, comrade..."

"It's alright, it's alright. Comrade Zhou, you can go ahead with your work. We still need to notify the other compounds."

Seeing that Zheng Yiyi wanted to continue talking, Tian Weihong quickly pulled her arm and dragged her away.

After the two people from the neighborhood committee walked away, Guo Yuting couldn't help but say, "That person really has no sense at all. Even after hearing the refusal, he kept trying to persuade others to rent the house."

"She thought that once she completed the task assigned by her superiors, she would be fine, completely oblivious to how much trouble she would cause others."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "There will be more and more people like this in the future, and they will be further and further away from the people. Letting them become government clerks is a hidden danger."

Guo Yuting didn't quite understand the last sentence, but she echoed, "That's right, why doesn't she let others rent their house?"

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Go back and cook. Yuting, come and help, otherwise we'll be eating very late again tonight."

"Good~"

After responding, Guo Yuting followed Zhou Zhiqiang cheerfully into the house; the two people from the neighborhood committee did not affect her mood.

“Comrade Zheng Yiyi, you didn’t need to say those things just now. That’s someone else’s private property. We should only ask about it, not offer any advice.”

After leaving the Guo family's second courtyard, Tian Weihong advised Zheng Yiyi: "Don't say such things again. If Comrade Zhou complains to the director, you will definitely be punished."

"I don't think they're any good people either. How can the two of them live in such a big yard?"

Zheng Yiyi said indignantly, "Other people with big houses agreed to rent them out to workers after we persuaded them. Look at them, they refused without even considering it."

Her mother works for the Dongcheng District government and has a good relationship with the director of the subdistrict office, so she doesn't care about the punishment or criticism that Tian Weihong mentioned.

"And those two were dressed so well, wearing watches, looking every bit like landlords and capitalists." "Comrade Zheng Yiyi!"

Tian Weihong couldn't stand it anymore. He sternly reprimanded her and said, "You're going too far. I know Guo Linhua. He's a professor who went to Northwest China to help with the reconstruction. He's also an honor to our neighborhood office."

Moreover, this courtyard is someone's private property. The director has repeatedly instructed us that we can only inquire, not advise. You have already violated the rules, and now you're even calling them landlords.”

Zheng Yiyi grew increasingly impatient as she listened, but Tian Weihong was considerably older than her and held a higher rank as a clerk, so she held back her rebuttal.

After saying a few words, Tian Weihong was unwilling to say any more. He knew that the director of the subdistrict office took good care of Zheng Yiyi.

However, Tian Weihong had made up his mind that he would immediately apply to have someone else take over Zheng Yiyi's team when he got back, because he didn't want to continue promoting with Zheng Yiyi.

Being too arrogant and unable to receive the public calmly will inevitably lead to arguments with nearby residents sooner or later.

------

Dinner wasn't very lavish, and Zhou Zhiqiang and Guo Yuting agreed to go out for a better meal on the weekend.

In the morning, Zhou Zhiqiang went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a watch. At noon, he went to Bianyifang to eat roast duck. In the afternoon, he went to bring back the coal stored for winter.

During the meal, Guo Yuting also told Zhou Zhiqiang a lot about her worries.

The main issue is that her suggestion to Director Xu about increasing drug production and reducing costs has somehow gotten out of the public eye.

Many doctors in the hospital dislike traditional Chinese medicine, but rumors have circulated that Guo Yuting has suggested introducing Chinese medicine to reduce drug consumption.
This made some doctors suddenly famous.

Do you complain that they prescribed too many medications?
Treating patients is our job as doctors. How can patients recover without prescribing medicine? Why are you, a support staff member, getting involved?
Such gossip quickly spread throughout the Second Hospital, mostly from doctors expressing their indignation.

However, Director Xu of the pharmacy department was reasonable. He comforted Guo Yuting twice in private and even argued with a doctor who was gossiping in the cafeteria, which helped to curb the trend.

"It must have been that disgusting Gu Jiayu who leaked it. She's been giving me trouble in the pharmacy department all the time. I was so blind before."

Thinking back to how she had considered this guy a friend, Guo Yuting felt like she had been blind to his true worth.

Thinking back carefully, Gu Jiayu had dug many traps for her before, but Guo Yuting herself didn't think much of it at the time.

"Zhiqiang, I really want to switch departments now. I don't want to see that disgusting guy Gu Jiayu anymore, but all my friends are in the pharmacy department."

After finishing the meal, Guo Yuting tugged at Zhou Zhiqiang's sleeve and swayed it from side to side, speaking in a coquettish tone.

"But changing departments is difficult. I'll definitely have to get familiar with everything all over again when I move to a new place. Can you give me some advice?"

"I don't have any good ideas."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly thought of something and asked, "How about this, tomorrow you go and ask your department head and the others to see who wants sewing plane tickets, radio tickets, and bicycle tickets."

First ask your department head; if they need them, use these vouchers to negotiate with them.

(End of this chapter)