Siheyuan, my new life

Hao Aiguo stomped his foot angrily, tightened his khaki cotton coat, and strode out of the courtyard gate, heading quickly toward the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Now he understood perfectly well that those opportunists in the courtyard were scared off by that stinky cook He Daqing's threat to report him to the security department at the courtyard meeting last night. They were afraid that if they continued to get close to him, He Daqing would hold a grudge, so they deliberately avoided him.

As Hao Aiguo walked, he sneered inwardly. These scoundrels—last night, when he suggested that He Daqing and that brat who had just moved into the courtyard get cheap grain for the residents, they all chimed in like they were on steroids. But after He Daqing and his son, along with that brat surnamed Guo, gave them a good scolding, they immediately shut up and became cowards, even changing their tune and pointing fingers at him.

These two-faced scoundrels don't even use their brains. They suggested that He Daqing and that Guo kid get cheap grain, not just for Hao Aiguo's family. They believed that as long as everyone worked together, what did it matter if He Daqing was a cadre? Would he dare to openly offend all the residents of the courtyard? Once He Daqing and that Guo kid got grain for everyone, they would have to continue supplying the courtyard residents in the future. Otherwise, if they were reported, the two of them would be in deep trouble. Of course, Hao Aiguo wasn't just trying to help those people in the courtyard take advantage. He had his own little scheme. Once He Daqing and that Guo kid were caught in his trap, they would be at his mercy.

Hao Aiguo had long coveted the food at the Security Department's training base canteen. More than once, in his senior brother's workshop director's office or while listening to his senior brother and several workshop leaders talk about the daily meals served at the Security Department's training base canteen, Hao Aiguo couldn't help but drool just hearing about the beef stew with potatoes, pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli, and ginseng chicken soup, with unlimited steamed buns and rice as staple foods. Good heavens, the food served at the Security Department's training base canteen for lunch was something his family couldn't even afford during holidays.

Hao Aiguo wasn't stupid. He could hear the obvious envy and jealousy in the conversation of his senior brother and the others. They were all workers at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, so why was the food in their security department so much better? The steel rolling mill canteen only served boiled potatoes and cabbage every day, and the staple food was just a few cornbread buns. They could only eat meat once or twice a month, and the so-called meat dish was just three or five slices of meat in each dish.

In the courtyard house at No. 95, the old deaf man in the backyard is undoubtedly the best in terms of living standards. After all, He Daqing and his son live with the old deaf man, and the old man has all kinds of food brought back by the He family from the canteen of the security training base. The aroma of meat can be smelled in the main house of the backyard almost every day. At a time when other neighbors are struggling to get enough to eat, how can he not be envied and jealous in private?

However, no one dared to openly admit it, since He Daqing was now the director of the canteen at the security training base, and his monthly salary was said to be only eighty or ninety yuan. In addition, his son He Yuzhu was also a cook at the training base canteen. According to the residents of the compound, He Yuzhu's basic monthly salary was more than forty-five yuan, and with overtime pay and various subsidies, he could earn fifty or sixty yuan a month.

With the He family father and son earning a monthly salary of 140 or 150 yuan, plus the fact that the old deaf man is the oldest resident of the courtyard at No. 95, and there is also a little girl around ten years old, this whole family really has the means to live a life of luxury.

What Hao Aiguo envied most was that Fang Dahu's wife and Xue Widow's eldest daughter were now working as temporary workers in the canteen of the training base of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill Security Department. Although their monthly salary was less than twenty yuan, the food at the training base canteen was of a high standard, and there were also some miscellaneous benefits. Now, Fang Dahu's wife was radiant, and Xue's eldest daughter had grown from a thin and weak girl into a graceful young lady. Even the adults and children of both families looked much better than those of other families.

Although the Fang and Xue families insisted that their jobs were arranged by the neighborhood committee, none of the residents in the courtyard at No. 95 were stupid; they were absolutely certain that He Daqing was involved.

What annoyed Hao Aiguo the most was that since He Daqing could give each of the Fang and Xue families a temporary worker position, why couldn't he give one to his own family? You know, his wife is currently unemployed and can only do some housework at home, at most taking odd jobs like pasting cardboard boxes at the neighborhood committee to supplement the family income.

Hao Aiguo harbored a grudge against He Daqing ever since. Unfortunately, He Daqing is now the director of the canteen at the security training base. His senior brother said that he would be promoted to the rank of section chief next year, while Hao Aiguo could only work hard in the workshop dealing with machine parts all day long. Ever since he became the third uncle in charge of the No. 95 courtyard, he has been looking for an opportunity to scheme against the He family father and son.

Last night's company-wide meeting was a great opportunity, but unfortunately, the residents of the courtyard were all only thinking about taking advantage and failed at the crucial moment, becoming fence-sitters. Hao Aiguo walked along, secretly annoyed. If all the residents could work together, would He Daqing and that Guo kid really dare to offend all the neighbors? Wouldn't they worry that when the factory conducts social relations visits before their promotions, these neighbors would talk badly about them behind their backs?

Hao Aiguo followed the flow of people to work into the gate of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Upon reaching the second fitter's workshop, he headed straight for the workshop director's office. Normally, to highlight his special relationship with his senior apprentice, he would change his work clothes there every day. Today, he had to greet his senior apprentice. Although he didn't know if that stinky cook He Daqing would complain to the security department, he still needed to inform his senior apprentice beforehand. With his senior apprentice's presence, Hao Aiguo wasn't afraid of He Daqing complaining. After all, he had saved his senior apprentice's life when they were apprentices together. Later, his senior apprentice was lucky enough to be promoted to a sixth-level fitter early on. Having also attended high school, he was considered educated. Hao Aiguo, striving for advancement, successively served as a team leader, deputy director, and director in the workshop. His senior apprentice had always taken good care of him after becoming an official, which was Hao Aiguo's source of confidence.