Living in a Siheyuan

The morning's meeting ended in a farce. Liu Haizhong's wish to be a boss was not fulfilled and he was punched several times.

Li Ping'an watched everyone leave and returned home.

There are only four days of holiday during the Spring Festival, so we have to go to work on the morning of the fourth day.

Time is tight. Tomorrow he has to visit Yu Li's home to wish her a happy new year. He also has to visit Director Wang's home, Zhou Changming's home, Liu Zhiwei's home, and Ji Qingshan's and several other colleagues' homes.

Although he doesn't want to get promoted or get rich, he still has to maintain the necessary relationships.

Besides, he is already very popular now. If he doesn't move around, the relationship will become more and more distant.

Thinking of this, what else did he want to give?

I guess everyone gives cigarettes and alcohol as gifts, there's nothing special about it.

He went into the space warehouse and looked around. There were still a lot of fruits piled up there.

So he decided to send some fruits and tea produced in the space to each family. These are also good things, and it is difficult to buy them now even if you have money.

Pushing the cart, Li Pingan went out with his bag.

We first came to Liu Zhiwei's home, which was also a separate courtyard with a very good environment.

When Liu Zhiwei saw Li Ping'an coming, he welcomed him in. Li Ping'an said, "Section Chief, I came to wish you a happy new year. These are some bananas and oranges from the south that my friend got for me before the New Year, as well as some tea. I'll bring some for you to try."

As he said this, he placed the fruits in the net bag and the tea leaves in paper bags on the table in Liu Zhiwei's house.

Liu Zhiwei was a little surprised to see these things. These were not something that ordinary people could buy. There was a shortage of supplies now, and many things were not in circulation. Without some connections, you really couldn't buy these. This also made Liu Zhiwei pay more attention to Li Ping'an.

After chatting for a while at Liu Zhiwei's house, Li Pingan left early because someone else was coming.

After that, I went to Zhou Changming's home and gave him fruits and tea. Zhou Changming also gave me a warm reception.

In the afternoon, Li Pingan rode his bike to Director Wang's home.

When we arrived at Director Wang's house, only Director Wang, his son Zhang Weiguo and his daughter-in-law were there. Zhang Zhigang was on duty at the Public Security Bureau today.

When Director Wang saw the expensive gifts Li Pingan brought, he said, "Look at you, you brought so many things to our house. Don't spend money recklessly. Save them for your wedding this year."

Li Pingan said with a smile: "Auntie Wang, do you think I can't afford to marry a wife? My wife can't run away."

"My friend got this for me before the New Year. It's not expensive, but it's hard to get. Give this tea to Uncle Zhang. It's good for your health."

Director Wang scolded with a smile: "It's a waste to give it to him. He is a wild boar and can't eat fine bran. He can't tell good from bad!"

Turning around, he asked, "You haven't been to Yu Li's house yet, have you? If you have been, please ask her when we can bring the matchmaker to set the date. If you get married sooner, you will have a wife to take care of you."

"I plan to go tomorrow. I wonder what we should prepare if we bring a matchmaker with us this time?" Li Ping'an also asked.

Director Wang thought for a moment and said, "The betrothal gift must be given this time, and the rest is up to the matchmaker. They know all about this. Let's just keep it simple. We can discuss it when we get there."

After listening to Director Wang's words, Li Pingan was also a little confused. After all, this was the first time he got married in his two lives. He really didn't understand anything.

Without waiting for Zhang Zhigang to come back, Li Ping'an said goodbye to Director Wang's house.

The next day, Li Ping'an went to Yu Li's house in the morning with some things.

This time I brought a lot of good things, in addition to fruits such as bananas and oranges, there were also two fish, two catties of pork, two chickens, as well as cigarettes, alcohol and tea.

When we arrived at Yu Li's house, Yu Li was already waiting there.

Li Pingan smiled and joked: "You are not waiting for me here because you are afraid that I can't survive, right?"

Yu Li was so angry that she snorted, "It would be better if you didn't come. I could relax a little. My mom woke me up early in the morning to clean up just to wait for you to come."

Although he said this, he still slowly picked up the things in the car.

As we walked in, he said, "Why are you carrying so many things? We brought a lot before the New Year. You just spend money recklessly."

"Then I was thinking of taking the baby that someone has raised for almost twenty years back home and bringing some extra things as compensation." Li Ping'an joked with a smile.

Yu Li got even angrier. She said, "You've spent all the money. How can we live in the future? I can't say anything to you."

Li Pingan didn't dare to provoke Yu Li anymore, so he said, "Don't worry, it won't cost much. You know how much money I make every time I go into the mountains. This is nothing. From now on, I will give you my money."

After hearing this, Yu Li's expression looked much better.

The two of them talked and walked into the door.

Yu Haitang and Yu Xiaohu, who were playing there, stopped playing when they saw Li Ping'an. They quickly ran over and said, "Happy New Year, brother-in-law!"

After saying that, the two of them stretched out their little hands.

Li Ping'an also smiled and gave them the red envelopes that he had prepared long ago.

After receiving the red envelopes, the two happily ran over to help carry the food. They knew that Li Ping'an would always have delicious food.

I was even happier when I saw a bunch of bananas and a dozen oranges inside.

Although Li Ping'an had plenty of these things, he didn't take them out often. The two of them ate even less.

Several people carried the things into the house. Yu Linhai and his mother were both at home.

Seeing that Li Ping'an brought so many things, he also blamed him for spending money indiscriminately.

Yu Linhai said, "Ping An, we will be a family soon, so don't be so polite in the future. As long as you two live well in the future, your aunt and I will be satisfied."

"Uncle Yu, don't worry. We will be fine in the future." Li Pingan replied.

Yu's mother also said, "Ping An, you are old enough after the New Year. When do you plan to get the marriage certificate?"

"Aunt, when I went to Aunt Wang's house yesterday, she asked me to come and ask you. When is it convenient for us to bring a matchmaker to your house?"

Yu Linhai touched his chin, thought for a moment and said, "How about this, you will start work the day after tomorrow. Come next week, this way you won't delay your work."

After the business was settled, Li Pingan chatted with Yu Linhai at Yu Li's house. Yu's mother and Yu Li were cooking in the kitchen.

At noon, the small table was filled with delicious meat and dishes. Yu Linhai happily took out a bottle of wine and drank with Li Pingan.

During this time, Yu Li remembered He Yuzhu drinking at her father-in-law's house. She kept staring at Li Pingan, fearing that he would drink too much. As a result, Li Pingan did not dare to drink more, but just casually drank a few sips with his father-in-law and put down the glass.

After dinner, Li Pingan took Yu Li with him, followed by Yu Haitang and Yu Xiaohu.

The group went to the streets to walk around. There were some small vendors on the streets during the New Year, selling snacks and so on.

Yu Haitang and Yu Xiaohu had eaten too much delicious food at noon, so they couldn't eat anything now. Each of them was holding a string of candied haws and eating while playing.

Li Pingan and Yu Li followed the crowd and watched the two children strolling around happily for the whole afternoon.

The next day, Li Ping'an brought gifts and went to the homes of Ji Qingshan and several other colleagues with whom he had a good relationship, and sat in each house for a while.

He was also warmly received by them. After all, they were just colleagues and rarely interacted with each other except during working hours.

By the fourth day of the New Year, people's holiday is over.

Today is the first day of work in the new year. The factory organized a meeting in the square.

First, Director Yang gave a passionate mobilization speech, and then each department and workshop made some summary reports.

The logistics department was a bit of a hit this time. The several banquets before the New Year and the welfare during the New Year made the steel mill famous in the area.

Many factories and units do not offer as rich welfare benefits as steel rolling mills.

Li Huaide reported last year's achievements to everyone on the podium with high spirits, and assured everyone that this year will be better and richer than last year.

These practical benefits made all the workers in the factory very happy. Everyone applauded enthusiastically.

Li Pingan wondered what Li Huaide's expression would be like at the end of the year. When everything was in short supply, would the workers still be so enthusiastic?

After the meeting in the morning, there was not much work to do on the first day.

Everyone is chatting in the office.

In the afternoon, Liu Zhiwei called Li Pingan and Zhou Changming over.

When I arrived at Liu Zhiwei's office, he said happily, "Ping An, you made our purchasing chief look good before the New Year. Director Li of the logistics department is very happy."

"This time Director Yang also proposed to raise your rank. We all unanimously decided to assign you to the sixth-level clerk. You must work hard in the future."

Li Pingan was a little surprised to hear that he had passed the Level 22 exam so quickly. He joined the factory last July and was promoted from a Level 43 clerk with a monthly salary of yuan. In less than a year, he was promoted to Level with a monthly salary of yuan. This is higher than the salary of technical secondary school students who just joined the factory.

After thanking Liu Zhiwei, Li Pingan and Zhou Changming returned to their offices.

He told Yu Li the good news, and Yu Li was happy for him.

After that, their combined monthly salary was just over 60 yuan. After they got married, their family would be more well-off.

Thinking that she would soon marry Li Ping'an and live her own life, Yu Li was filled with longing.

As the days passed, the festive atmosphere gradually faded away and everyone started to go back to work.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Li Ping'an got up early in the morning.

Today is Sunday, and he is going to Yu Li's house with the matchmaker and Director Wang.

Li Ping'an took all the things the matchmaker had given him two days ago and rode his bike to Director Wang's house.

When he arrived here, Director Wang and the matchmaker were already waiting for him.

This matchmaker was also invited by Director Wang, and I heard that she is very famous in the neighborhood.

When Director Wang saw Li Ping'an coming, she checked the things again out of concern. Because she had already bought a watch and a bicycle for Yu Li, she only brought two kilograms of milk candy, two kilograms of meat, two packs of snacks, two thermos bottles, a wash basin and a spittoon.

Seeing that everything was ready, they didn't delay and rode directly to Yu Li's house.

When we arrived at Yu Li's house, everyone knew that she was getting engaged today. There were quite a few people gathered at the door, and some children were waiting too.

Seeing Li Pingan and his friends coming in, everyone happily gave them their blessings and the children also gathered around them.

Li Ping'an took out the fruit candies he had prepared long ago and gave two to each person.

When we entered Yu Li's home, her family was there, including several of her relatives. Everyone was very welcoming.

Li Pingan also put everything on the table.

Everyone knows that Yu Li's watch, bicycle and work were all arranged by Li Ping'an. Now seeing that she has brought so many things, everyone admires Li Ping'an's generosity.

Afterwards, according to the matchmaker's request, Yu Linhai was given another ten yuan as a betrothal gift.

This completes the etiquette.

The next step was to set a date. Since everyone was busy with work, they didn't care too much. After discussing it for a while, they decided to set it on March 1, which was the 22nd day of the lunar calendar. It just so happened that that day was also a Sunday, so it wouldn't affect everyone's work.

Everything was settled, and it was time for lunch. Yu Li's family also set up two tables to entertain guests today. One table for men to drink, and one table for women and children.

After a lively dinner, everyone went home.

On the way, Director Wang said, "Ping An, there is less than half a month left. If your family needs anything, please tell us right away. It is not too late to prepare it for you now."

Li Pingan thought for a moment and said, "Auntie Wang, you see, the furniture in our house was just bought last year. We have a radio and a sewing machine. What else do you want?"

Director Wang also thought about it and said, "Then you have to make a few new quilts, and you have to find someone who is blessed with both sons and daughters to do it."

Li Pingan thought for a while and said, "Then I'll find Teacher Yan's family in our front yard. She has three sons and one daughter."

"Well, his family is fine. Come with me to his house and I'll get you some cloth and cotton coupons. Go and buy everything early." Director Wang said.

Li Ping'an still had some cloth coupons, but not many cotton coupons. He didn't hesitate and followed Director Wang to his home.