Siheyuan: Starting to work in the security department

Niu Ping'an left the Security Department holding his work clothes. He was in a very good mood and humming a little tune.

When we arrived at the entrance of the steel rolling mill, Liao Qigang was smoking with Old Li from the mail room.

"Ping An, are you done? Come and have a cigarette."

When Liao Qigang saw Niu Ping'an coming out, his eyes lit up and he called Niu Ping'an over to have a cigarette.

In that era, sixteen years old was considered to be able to set up a household and take over the family's job to earn money to support the family.

Smoking and drinking are out of the question.

"Brother Liao, I don't know how to smoke!"

Niu Ping'an shook his head and refused. He knew how to smoke, but the cheap cigarettes didn't have filters and they were choking.

Cigarettes with filters are expensive and I can’t afford them.

Liao Qigang shook his head regretfully.

"It's okay if you don't smoke! Come, let me introduce you, this is Old Li from the mailroom."

Old Li is not young, so Niu Pingan politely called him "Uncle Li".

"You are Baoguo's nephew, right? Young man, work hard and don't embarrass Baoguo."

Old Li smiled and teased Niu Ping'an.

Niu Baoguo is in the security department just to retire, but he actually has no future.

It is not easy to be promoted in the Security Department unless you have made great contributions.

However, now that the enemy's spy system has been almost destroyed, there are not many opportunities to make meritorious service.

"Hey, listen to Uncle Li!"

Niu Ping'an scratched his head embarrassedly.

"You two are busy. I have to go to the street office to take care of household registration matters."

"Okay, go ahead and get busy. There will be plenty of opportunities to chat later."

"Well, say hello to Baoguo!"

"okay!"

……

Niu Ping'an returned to the courtyard, and in addition to the labor protection supplies he had been given, he also took some vegetables.

"Hey, Ping An, are you going to work?"

As soon as they arrived at the front yard, the three aunts saw what Niu Ping'an was holding and asked curiously.

"Yes, Auntie Three, I just completed the job application today."

Niu Ping'an replied with a smile.

"Which unit are you in?"

"The steel mill took over my uncle's job."

Now that the matter has been settled, Niu Ping'an no longer hides it.

"That's very good!"

The three aunts' faces were full of envy. Niu Baoguo's job was an easy one with little work and good pay.

"You are busy!"

Niu Baoguo smiled and laughed, feeling good.

All the way back to the backyard, the aunties would ask curious questions whenever they saw Niu Ping'an.

It has been a week since I moved to the Siheyuan, and the neighbors have become more familiar with each other.

"Uncle, I'm back!"

Niu Baoguo sat at the door drinking tea and basking in the sun. He was in poor health and could not go anywhere.

"Well, I'll go and get my household registration done this afternoon.

Ping An, can you ride a bicycle?

Niu Baoguo looked pale and spoke weakly.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"You are working now, go buy a bicycle."

"Ah? Uncle, do you have a ticket?"

"No, just go to the Trust store and buy a second-hand one."

Trust stores are actually pawnshops before the public-private partnership, which sell a variety of second-hand goods.

Because there are professional craftsmen who can see clearly, you rarely buy fakes, and the credibility is guaranteed.

"Row!"

In the old city, bicycles are not a rare commodity and can be seen everywhere on the streets.

Bicycle tickets are not easy to obtain, but you don’t need a ticket if you buy a second-hand one.

"Uncle, it's still early. I'll go to the street office to handle my household registration first, and then come back to cook."

Seeing that it was early, Niu Ping'an thought about getting his household registration first and collecting his grain certificate and other things.

"Row!"

The street office is not far from the courtyard, and there are acquaintances there, so it is very convenient to get things done.

It didn’t take long for Niu Ping’an to get his household registration book and from then on he joined the group that ate commercial grain.

At the same time, I also got the grain and oil book, non-staple food book, coal purchase certificate, and industrial book.

Because it was not yet time to issue the bills for next month, the street office also subsidized Niu Ping'an with some bills.

People in the old city could start buying food for the next month on the 24th of each month, and then go to the grain and oil station with their grain books to get food coupons.

The bill system was very complicated, which made Niu Ping'an dizzy and miserable.

After dinner, Niu Ping'an went to the trust store with the money.

Trust stores can be comprehensive or professional. They mainly sell second-hand goods and conduct secondary exchanges of goods to adjust surpluses and shortages.

Trust stores have two approaches to second-hand goods:

One is that customers send their used goods to a trust store and entrust the store to sell them on their behalf. The price of goods is based on the principle of "old is not better than new", negotiated by both parties, and the price is determined by quality. After the goods are sold, the store charges a certain percentage of the handling fee, and the remaining payment is returned to the entrusting customer.

The second is that after the store receives the goods, it will directly purchase them at a price based on the conditions of the goods or the wishes of the customer and sell them as its own goods.

There are many trust stores in the old city, Xidan, Caishikou, Tianqiao, Xisi, Dongsi, Beixinqiao, Xinjiekou...

In the end, Niu Ping'an bought a 60% new Fei Ge brand 28-inch men's bicycle at the Xinjiekou Trust Store.

It cost a little over a hundred dollars, but luckily there was no need for a ticket.

Bicycles are an important means of transportation. According to regulations, bicycles must have headlights when traveling at night. When bicycles leave the factory, there is a special device for installing headlights on the handlebars.

Niu Ping'an rode his bicycle, took the purchase invoice, and went to the public security agency to go through the bicycle registration procedures.

At the same time, you will receive a bicycle license with a red cover, which contains the bicycle owner's personal information and bicycle information, as well as the bicycle tax record.

Each bicycle is required to pay a 3 yuan driving tax every year.

I rode a bike around for a while, it was pretty good, at least it saved me a lot of trouble on my commute.

Niu Ping'an rode his bike to the coal station, took the coal book and bought the shares of coal and firewood.

I called a rickshaw and spent a little over ten cents to take me to the hospital.

Niu Ping'an pushed his bicycle back to the yard, followed by Wo Bo who was carrying coal. The neighbors couldn't help asking him a few more questions.

But there are quite a few bicycles in the yard, so there's nothing special about it.

"Uncle, how about this car?"

Back in the backyard, Niu Ping'an showed off to Niu Baoguo with a smile.

"It looks OK. It will be more convenient to go to work with a car."

Although bicycles are not rare, they are considered large items. They can add a lot of points whether you use them in daily life or when looking for a wife in the future.

"When the time comes, go to the car dealership and paint it, and it will look much newer."

"Well, you can do whatever you want."

"Uncle, I used my share of the coal."

"Well, use what you need, and you have to plan how to use the rest."

"Uncle, I know."

After putting the coal away, Niu Ping'an started practicing boxing again.

Niu Ping'an has been exercising these days and has plenty of energy, so he is becoming more and more energetic.

But in contrast to him, Niu Baoguo became increasingly haggard.

Niu Ping'an saw Niu Baoguo coughing up blood several times, and he felt anxious but helpless.