Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

It was not yet eight o'clock when Sha Zhu dropped the children off at school.

Sha Zhu lost his bearings while riding his bicycle; the Dongzhimen steel rolling mill wasn't far from here.

Going there too early won't get you anywhere; you'll just be waiting around. It's better to go later.

I have a lot to do today; I need to go to the steel rolling mill to take over my shift.

I need to go back to the courtyard house this afternoon to move my belongings, so I might as well find someone to pull a cart now and arrange a time.

I won't need to look for help moving this afternoon.

Sha Zhu rode his bicycle back to the vicinity of the intersection of Nanluoguxiang Street and found a few people pulling carts.

They specialize in helping people move things or move houses; they've already negotiated prices with several people.

We arranged a time and place in the afternoon, and rode our bicycles to the Military Control Commission.

I greeted the gatekeeper and went inside to meet Director Wang.

"Zhu Zi, you've come here on business," Director Wang asked when he saw that it was Sha Zhu who came in.

"Yes, Director Wang, I'm moving out this afternoon. I've hired a few movers to help me."

"We can get everything ready in one trip. I just came to let you know so you can arrange for someone to take over the house this afternoon," Sha Zhu said.

"Okay, I don't know what it is. Just come over this afternoon when you're moving. I'll arrange for Xiao Li from the housing management department to go with you. You two know each other."

"By the way, Zhu Zi, when are you planning to build the houses near your military control office? Have you found a construction team yet?"

"Not yet. I was planning to ask my master for recommendations when I got to his house. Director Wang, do you know any construction teams?"

"It's fine if you have a plan, but you should ask your master first."

Our military control committee's construction team was all transferred by the district to help build dormitories for public officials.

There are a few carpenters and decorators on this side of the street, but they're not doing any work.

I wouldn't feel comfortable having them rebuild your house from scratch.

"If we really can't find anyone else, I'll try to find a way to bring two more people back for you," Director Wang said.

"Okay, I'll ask my mentor first. Thank you, Director Wang. I'll come back this afternoon and ask Brother Li to come with me. I'll be going now."

After leaving the Military Control Commission, I checked the time and realized it was about time, so I rode towards the Dongzhimen Steel Rolling Mill.

The Dongzhimen Steel Rolling Mill is still a privately owned enterprise, with its largest shareholder known as "Lou Bancheng".

So the current steel rolling mill is called Lou's Steel Rolling Mill, and the owner is Lou Zhenhua.

To prevent sabotage by enemy agents, the government only stationed military personnel there.

It is estimated that the government will arrange for public officials to move in next year to vigorously develop the steel rolling mill, and by 1953, it will be a joint state-private enterprise.

When Sha Zhu arrived at the gate of the steel rolling mill, the first thing that caught his eye was the towering chimney inside.

The chimneys constantly spew out smoke, and below them are neatly arranged factory buildings and workshops.

There are several two-story buildings next to it, which are probably where the office staff work.

Two guards stood at the gate with guns, and when they saw Sha Zhu riding his bicycle over, they looked at him warily.

Sha Zhu quickly got out of the car, explained the situation to the guard, and waited for He Daqing not far from the gate.

In the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, Sha Zhu saw He Daqing walking from the factory towards the main gate in the distance.

Sha Zhu quickly threw away his cigarette butt, pushed his bicycle, and went to the gate to greet He Daqing.

He Daqing explained the situation to the guard, and there was a register of visitors entering and leaving the post on the table next to him.

He signed his name and entered the place where he would work for the next few decades with He Daqing.

Sha Zhu had memories of visiting the steel mill with He Daqing when he was a child.

I haven't been back to Fengzeyuan for more than two years since I went there, but not much has changed. I still remember the exact location of the canteen where He Daqing works.

After parking the bicycle at the designated parking spot, on the way to the kitchen with He Daqing,

Sha Zhu told He Daqing that he was moving that afternoon, and that he would get his work permit today and come back to work tomorrow.

"Be polite to the canteen manager when you see him. He and the factory manager are related," He Daqing instructed Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu thought to himself, "The capitalist's relatives probably won't have an easy time from now on."

After the public-private partnership was established, he didn't know if he would still have a place in the steel rolling mill.

He Daqing led Sha Zhu not to the kitchen, but to a two-story office building next to it.

In an office on the second floor, Sha Zhu met the current cafeteria director. The cafeteria director's surname was Gong, Gong Jianping, Director Gong.

Sha Zhu chuckled inwardly. "Director Gong" and "Director Gun"—although the syllables and tones are different, it still felt a bit awkward to call them that.

"Director Gong, this is my son, He Yuzhu. I've arranged for this kid to come and take over my shift."

"This kid is now working as a third-level cook in the kitchen of Fengzeyuan Restaurant. He can easily stir-fry a small dish or cook a large pot of rice," He Daqing said.

"Master He, have you made up your mind? Are you leaving?" Director Gong asked.

"Yes, I told you a few days ago that I originally planned for my son to start as an apprentice."

Little did they know that the kid's master had already arranged for a stove to be set up at Fengzeyuan.

"Do you think we could just have this kid take over my job?" He Daqing said in a consultative tone.

"Master He, if your son comes over, he can start as an apprentice without any problem."

Even if your son is a great cook, we still have several chefs in our kitchen.

You just left, and your son has already taken your place. I'm afraid the chefs in the kitchen won't be very happy about it.

Since you said your son is working in the kitchen at Fengzeyuan, then he doesn't need to start as an apprentice.

First, have your son cook large batches of food for the workers. Take it slow, and later it will depend on each person's abilities.

This way, I can give the kitchen staff an explanation.

Director Gong thought to himself, "He Daqing, you're about to leave, don't you know what it means to be forgotten once someone leaves?"

Your son is so young, yet he wants to take over your job. If it weren't for your excellent cooking skills, you wouldn't have such a high standing with me.

Before He Daqing could say anything more, Sha Zhu quickly interjected, "Director Gong, Dad, I've just arrived at our steel rolling mill, so it's not appropriate for me to take over your shift right away."

At Fengzeyuan, my master didn't dare let me work in the second or first stove. My main task was to cook some simple home-style dishes.

"It's great that Director Gong arranged for me to cook large batches of food for the workers,"

Sha Zhu looked at Director Gong and continued, "Director Gong, you see, I'll cook a few dishes later, or I'll cook for the workers directly."

He Daqing said from the side, "Director, let my son cook a few dishes for lunch, and we'll have a drink together. We'll need your help in the future."

The kid has something to do this afternoon; he needs to go back and move. We'll schedule him to start work officially tomorrow.

"Noon isn't possible today, I need to go out later. How about this, Mr. He, how about we do it this afternoon?"

Chef He, please cook a few dishes yourself. Anyway, today is your last day at work, and I won't have the chance to eat your food again.

"Let me write out the paperwork for you first. Then you can take your son to the personnel department to complete the procedures and get his work permit. Remember to pick up your work clothes from the logistics warehouse," Director Gong said after thinking for a moment.

“Okay, then I’ll take my son to get the documents done first. I’ll wait for the director to come back this afternoon so we can have a couple of drinks.” He Daqing said, taking the note that Director Gong handed him.