The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 73 The Angry Wife Registering for House Repairs [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

When Zhou Zhiqiang arrived at the Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office, he was stopped at the entrance. However, after showing his work ID and explaining the situation, the guard at the entrance allowed him to enter.

After parking his car, Zhou Zhiqiang randomly approached a clerk from the street office and asked, "Hello, comrade, I'm from No. 63 Nanluoguxiang. I'm here to inquire about the renovation of my private house."

"Private house renovation? Why are you asking us about private house renovation? Oh, you're looking for a construction team, right?"

The clerk at the neighborhood office said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "How do you want to change it? Never mind, I'll take you to Deputy Director Yue to register it. He's in charge of these things."

Zhou Zhiqiang felt that the clerk's words were rather vague, so he nodded and said, "Okay, thank you for your help, comrade. By the way, what is your surname?"

"You're too kind, comrade. My name is Yue Yifei."

"Thank you for your help, Comrade Yue. I am Zhou Zhiqiang from courtyard number 63, from Dafeng Machinery Factory."

After exchanging a few polite words with this man, Zhou Zhiqiang followed him to another office.

After Yue Yifei pushed open the door and entered, he said to the people inside, "Uncle, someone wants to ask you about renovating their private house. They might need to find a construction team, as well as stone and timber."

Deputy Director Yue, sitting at his desk, looked sullen. He then tapped the table with his teacup and said, "How many times have I told you? In the subdistrict office, you must address me by my title or call me Comrade Yue. Stop with all this 'uncle' stuff!"

"I understand, Deputy Director Yue."

After being reprimanded, Yue Yifei changed his form of address. Then, fearing he would be reprimanded again, he stepped aside to reveal Zhou Zhiqiang and quickly said, "Let's resolve this comrade's matter first. I'll continue with the population statistics."

After saying that, Yue Yifei quickly left.

Deputy Director Yue smiled awkwardly and said, "Comrade, I'm sorry you had to see this. By the way, what's up? You need to contact a construction team for the renovation of your private house, right?"

"Yes, I remember I need to register here?"

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't care about what had just happened. It's a grassroots society where personal connections matter. He had connections in the factory too. He had managed to get two people he knew from his hometown into the factory as workers.

"It does need to be registered, but private houses are not strictly regulated. As long as they don't occupy land or exceed the permitted building area, they generally won't be bothered."

Deputy Director Yu took out paper and pen to register, and then continued, "Actually, it's not under our jurisdiction. The housing management office is in charge of building renovations."

But previously, most residents couldn't find the housing management office, and the office had too few staff, covering several subdistricts. Later, they delegated some of the tasks to our subdistrict office.

The housing management office is hard to find, but the street office is easy to find. A few years ago, there were many people who wanted to renovate their private houses, but many of them were enemy agents.

They wanted to dig tunnels and cause damage, so they issued a regulation that all major repairs and alterations to public and private houses must be approved by the housing management office.

However, at that time, the housing management office had too few people and could not manage so many renovated houses in one district, so some tasks such as review were assigned to the street office.

“So that’s how it is”

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded after hearing this, and then continued, "Our family lives at No. 63 Nanluoguxiang. We plan to dig a cellar and renovate the front yard."

I don't know how much stone and timber I'll need, so I'd like to find a construction team to ask them.

Deputy Director Yue was taken aback, and quickly said, "Digging a cellar? Comrade, you can't just dig a cellar anytime. We need to get the neighbors' permission first, and then we need to go and check to make sure it won't affect anyone else."

After listening, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Deputy Director Yue, it won't affect anyone else; that's my home."

People dig cellars in their own homes to store grain and winter vegetables, far away from their neighbors.

"your home?"

Deputy Director Yue was taken aback and asked again, "Which household in courtyard number 63 are you? What about the other households?"

“No. 63 is our family’s detached courtyard house, just our family. It was bought by my father-in-law, Professor Guo Linhua. After he went to the Northwest for aid work, my wife and I lived there.” After hearing Zhou Zhiqiang’s words, Deputy Director Yue remembered that there was indeed such a house in Nanluoguxiang.

"I'm sorry, I misunderstood. Since your house is privately owned, there shouldn't be any problem. The housing authority certainly won't give you any trouble."

Deputy Director Yue changed his tune and said, "Let me register it for you. As long as the house isn't raised and the cellar doesn't exceed the size of the courtyard, there shouldn't be any problem."

The construction team will come to your door whenever you have time.

"Sunday, my husband and I both work, so we only have time on Sundays."

"Okay, please register. It would be best if someone stayed home while construction was underway."

Deputy Director Yue quickly registered the information, ordered the digging of a cellar, the renovation of the three houses in the front yard, and the installation of a water tap in the back yard.

The expenses will be a bit higher, but fortunately, the timber and brick materials don't require any ration coupons if we go through the neighborhood committee.

The materials used to build the house are not necessities; money is all that's needed. The things Zhou Zhiqiang wants to renovate will cost about ninety yuan.

The materials needed aren't much, but digging the cellar is labor-intensive.

Once all these renovations are complete, Zhou Zhiqiang and his wife will be able to live very comfortably, and storing grain will also be much more convenient.

Clean the cellar thoroughly, and once it's repaired, use insect and rodent control measures. The grain should be fine for about ten months, so we'll have to eat some aged grain for a while.

After leaving the neighborhood office, Zhou Zhiqiang rode his bicycle home.

When he got home, Guo Yuting still hadn't returned, which made him a little worried. However, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't worry blindly; instead, he started a fire and cooked a meal.

His wife's pregnancy gave Zhou Zhiqiang a greater sense of belonging to his family, making him more dependent on both his family and his country.

There is indeed a spirit in this era. Striving to build the country is not just empty talk or propaganda, but people around us are working towards this goal.

Zhou Zhiqiang was unknowingly infected by some of it.

It's like being surrounded by good students who are all working hard. If you don't study, even if no one says anything, this atmosphere will make you feel like an outsider.

Just as dinner was ready, Zhou Zhiqiang heard his wife pushing her bicycle in.

He breathed a sigh of relief; if they hadn't come back soon, he was even planning to ride his bike out to look for them.

When Zhou Zhiqiang brought out the food, he saw Guo Yuting parking her bicycle. He casually asked, "Are you working overtime today? Why are you back so late?"

"Yes, two colleagues took leave, and it also coincided with the monthly medicine sorting, so we were really busy."

Guo Yuting said irritably, "Lan Yun has family matters to attend to, so it's understandable that she's taking leave. What could possibly be wrong with Gu Jiayu's family?"

She just wanted to go to the movies with her boyfriend, but she insisted on taking the day off. She had been saying for the past few days that she wanted to see a movie that came out today, without even trying to hide it, but then she used some other excuse when she asked for leave.
"It made us work overtime to pack the medicine; even the head doctor was busy for a long time. If I hadn't been pregnant, I wouldn't be back now."

Speaking of Gu Jiayu, Guo Yuting felt very angry and uncomfortable no matter how she looked at her.

"That's really going too far."

Zhou Zhiqiang then echoed his wife's words and then advised, "She probably won't stay long before she applies for a transfer. She's spoiled by her family and doesn't even know how to maintain relationships with her colleagues."

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)