Siheyuan: Traveling through three years to gain the power of a palm

The Jiang family of ten occupied a separate area, with the Chen Qiang family and the Xu family sitting nearby. Xu Damao even winked at Jiang Fan.

Soon, Director Wang arrived at the courtyard.

"Director Wang, welcome to read out the superior's orders to us. We, the 108 men, women, and children from Courtyard No. 95, are all here. Please give us your instructions." (Let's just say there are 108 of us.)

Liu Haizhong greeted Director Wang at the door like a lackey.

"Comrade Liu Haizhong, you did a great job."

"Thank you for the compliment, leader."

Liu Haizhong was very happy to receive the compliment from Director Wang, and looked at Yi Zhonghai provocatively.

Yi Zhonghai simply ignored him.

"Comrades, I'm here today because of the announcement from above about the massive steel production campaign. Our subdistrict office has also been given a task target..."

Director Wang said a lot, in short, in order to surpass the bald eagle and catch up with John Bull, we have to carry out the Great Leap Forward in Steel Production!

We hope everyone will contribute all the scrap metal in their homes to the street office for smelting, contributing to social development.

At the same time, we hope that some people from the courtyard can go to the street office to help smelt copper and iron. The requirements are that those under 18 years old and those over 60 years old are not accepted.

Liu Haizhong was the first to express his opinion, "Director Wang said it well! For the development of our society, each of us should contribute our own strength!

I have decided to donate all the iron items in my home, and my sons and I will also participate in the work of smelting steel!"

Director Wang quickly stopped Liu Haizhong and said, "You don't need to take out pots and pans, after all, everyone still needs to eat. We just need some broken iron items."

Director Wang left after she finished speaking. She still had to go to other courtyards to continue issuing orders.

In the courtyard, Liu Haizhong saw Director Wang off and came back.

"Everyone has just heard it. In order to surpass the bald eagle, John Bull, everyone must contribute their own efforts.

Go home tonight and take out any unused iron items from your homes. Tomorrow morning, we'll hand them in to the neighborhood office!"

"Okay!"

People at this time were very simple and willing to contribute.

Each family returned home and began searching for unused iron products.

The Jiang family returned to the house and turned on the fans.

"Erniu, can you get some scrap copper and iron from your scrap collection station?"

Jiang Daniu frowned. He didn't have the habit of collecting junk. If there were broken things at home, Jiang Fan could fix them, so there really wasn't much junk in his house.

"Brother, I'll take care of this."

"Okay, Dad, Second Uncle, don't worry about it. I'll take care of the iron. I've repaired a lot of things this year, so I've gotten a lot of iron lumps."

Jiang Fan returned to the house and brought out a basket of scrap iron products.

Everyone looked at Jiang Fan in surprise. Such a basket probably weighed about 200 kilograms, enough for both families.

Jiang Fan knew that once this order came down, it would be distributed across the country. It wasn't a problem to get some scrap metal at a scrap collection station, but now the collection station probably had its quota.

"Uncle, this much is enough for our family to use for a while. Watch others at the scrap recycling station. If most people take it, you should also find a way to get some. Don't make yourself stand out from the crowd."

"I know, I'll pay attention."

Uncle Jiang nodded. He had lived for most of his life and knew that if a person lacked ability, he could not be unsociable.

As for the other families in the courtyard, Jiang Fan had no intention of caring about them. It was none of his business.

The next day, everyone in the courtyard pushed carts to deliver the collected scrap metal to the street office.

Director Wang of the Subdistrict Office expressed his gratitude and encouragement to the iron delivery team led by Liu Haizhong.

The smile on Liu Haizhong's face became even wider. In order to complete the task, he only had the essential daily necessities such as pots, pans, and utensils left at home.

He even removed the nails from some of the furniture.

Chapter 63 Meeting to Select Personnel

After the scrap metal was delivered to the subdistrict office, the people from the courtyard returned. The steelmaking furnace hadn't been built yet, so it would take another two days for the official start of work.

Director Wang also asked everyone to go back and discuss how many people to choose. Not too many, but at least seven or eight are needed.

Back in the yard, Yi Zhonghai asked everyone to go to work first and come back in the evening to discuss the matter of sending people out.

No one objected, and going to the street office to participate in steelmaking would definitely affect the progress of the work. This matter also had to be reported to the factory, but the factory leaders would definitely not stop it. They would negotiate with the street office.

After everyone went to work, Shen Yue took the gifts and went to find Matchmaker Li.

According to Jiang Ping'an's explanation yesterday, he had already met Chen Qian's father and he went to his home for dinner. This signal showed that the other party's family was still satisfied with Jiang Ping'an.

However, Jiang Ping'an hasn't mentioned this matter in the past few days, so she, as a mother, has to go there in person.

Jiang Fan taught Jiang Yu to read at home, while Jiang Yang and Jiang Yue were taken away by Jiang Erniu to do hard labor.

Shen Yue came back at noon and brought back good news.

"Mom, what do you mean, if I take my brother to Chen's house for dinner tomorrow, maybe we can settle this?"

Even though Jiang Fan knew that the blind date process was simple in this era, he was still often surprised by the speed.

Two people meet, introduce themselves, ask someone to inquire about each other's family situation, and if they think it's suitable, they can get married directly and spend the rest of their lives together.

The duration usually does not exceed one month. At that time, it would be good enough if he could ask the girl out for dinner or to see a movie within a month.

Moreover, marriage at this time may be a lifelong commitment, and divorce is rare.

It doesn't happen here that people get married and then divorced two days later.

"Well, it's agreed. Today, your Aunt Li and I went to Chen's house to meet her mother. They thought your eldest brother was dissatisfied and had been unwilling to go to meet her.

"At least we have to let the girl's parents meet. Let your father and Ping An take a day off tomorrow, and we'll treat them to a meal."

Shen Yue felt a headache when she thought of Jiang Ping'an. Her eldest son was good in every way: honest, kind, and family-oriented, but he just couldn't think straight sometimes.

"It seems that I will have to ask Danniu to teach him what a couple should do. Otherwise, when will I be able to hold my grandson?" Shen Yue thought to herself.

"Okay, Mom, have you decided where to go?"

"Fengze Garden, I've made a reservation with your Aunt Li, and she's going there tomorrow too."

After knowing that everything for tomorrow had been decided, Jiang Fan didn't bother with it anymore.

In the afternoon, after everyone came back from get off work, the Jiang family was very happy when they learned about this.

This is the first marriage in Jiang Ping'an's generation. It is a major event to continue the family line. Nothing can compare to it.

It was agreed that Jiang Daniu would first go to the steel mill to ask for leave tomorrow, and then go to invite Li the matchmaker and the Chen family.

The people from the Jiang family who are going tomorrow include Jiang Daniu's family and Uncle Jiang, but Aunt Jiang and Da Lei are not going.

In the evening, Liu Haizhong called a meeting of the people in the yard to discuss who would go to the street office to participate in steelmaking.

"Ahem, everyone, please be quiet. I believe everyone knows what this meeting is about, but I still need to explain it again.

Director Wang praised our institute today, but we must not be complacent and must continue to work hard. We are holding this meeting to discuss sending people to the subdistrict office to participate in steel smelting. Now let's let the elder one speak."

Liu Haizhong finished saying all these words with a rosy complexion and a constant smile on his face.

"I don't have much to say. Director Wang said that those under 18 and over 60 don't need to go. Those with physical disabilities don't need to go either. People of other age groups are welcome.

Of course, we mainly want young and strong men. I hope everyone will sign up enthusiastically."

Yi Zhonghai picked up the cup with his left hand and took a sip of tea. The news that his right hand was disabled had long been no secret.

At this time, Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses and said, "Everyone, let me say a few words. I also went to the street office to find out more today.

We go to the neighborhood office, it won't affect anyone's work, as long as we have the certificate issued by the neighborhood office. Everyone can go to the factory to ask for leave, and the factory won't deduct anyone's salary."

Yan Bugui's words dispelled everyone's last remaining concerns. No salary deductions, and still being able to contribute—how great!

As a result, people from every household signed up enthusiastically, and some women even asked, "Why don't we accept women? Do we look down on them?"

Yi Zhonghai and the others quickly explained that the main reason was that there weren't enough people needed, and that steelmaking was a very hot job, and most of the people there were men, so they could take off their clothes when it got hot. Not allowing women to go was also for their own good.

In this way, the female comrades were appeased, but it was also agreed that if more people were needed, the female comrades would go.

Finally, it was decided that Jiang Ping'an, Yan Jiecheng, and Wang Bing would be in the front yard; Jia Dongxu, Sha Zhu, and Chen Gang would be in the middle yard; and Liu Guangqi, Qian Feng, and Hu Dadao would be in the back yard.

There are nine of them, all of them are young and strong men. Other young people have also been arranged to serve as the reserve team.

As for the fact that Liu Guangqi currently lives in the dormitory and not in the yard, Liu Haizhong slammed the table and said that he would let Liu Guangqi take leave and come back tomorrow.

However, due to the special nature of Xu Damao's work, the steel rolling mill still needs him for the time being, so he managed to escape the disaster.

Jiang Fan didn't understand either. The steel mill was now a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, and there were quite a few people in the publicity department. Why was Xu Damao the only projectionist?

After things were settled, everyone dispersed and went home.

"Brother Ping'an, can I come with you when we go to the neighborhood office?"

Wang Bing, who lived in the front yard, found Jiang Ping'an.

"Okay, we'll go together then."

Jiang Ping'an didn't hesitate at all. Wang Bing was one year younger than him and they had a good relationship. He also graduated from junior high school and was currently unemployed. Like Yan Jiecheng, he was doing odd jobs everywhere.

Wang Bing's family consists of only his father, who works as a fitter in a steel rolling mill. He also has a sick grandmother, a younger brother and a younger sister. Wang Bing's mother died in the war, taking with her the unborn fourth child.

Because the family situation was not good, Wang Bing's father Wang Tiandi did not remarry. Now he only wanted to find a job for Wang Bing and then find him a wife.

However, Wang Bing was unlucky. He was not selected when the steel mill recruited workers this year.

"Okay, Brother Ping'an, I'll listen to you when the time comes."

Hearing Jiang Ping'an's agreement, Wang Bing didn't stay any longer. He chatted for a few words and then left.

The next day, Jiang Daniu took Jiang Dalei to the steel mill and asked for leave for himself and his son.

After returning, I took Shen Yue to find Matchmaker Li and asked her to invite the Chen family. We had made an appointment yesterday, but we still had to invite them. We also needed Matchmaker Li as a middleman to liven up the atmosphere. (We haven't gotten married yet, and we haven't had any blind dates, so let's just leave it at that.)

Chapter 64 Jiang Ping'an gets engaged

After Mr. and Mrs. Jiang had agreed with Matchmaker Li, they went home to prepare, and Matchmaker Li also prepared to go to Chen's house.

Because they had agreed on it yesterday, the Chen family was waiting at home. When matchmaker Li came, the Chen family members also smiled.

Chen Li, in particular, had been puzzled for the past two days. He had told Jiang Pingan that he would be home for dinner when he was free, so why hadn't he come? Was he dissatisfied with his daughter?

Later, I asked Chen Qian and found out that Jiang Ping'an was a little stunned. He was quite reluctant to marry his daughter, so I asked the matchmaker again. In addition, Shen Yue came to the house yesterday to explain.

Then he realized that the boy didn't understand.

But he was also relieved. Such a son-in-law was honest and his daughter would be able to make decisions in the future. So he did not object to this marriage.

So he asked for leave early in the morning, waiting to meet the Jiang family. If the Jiang family was nice, he would settle the matter.

Finally, the two families met at Fengzeyuan Hotel. However, because the eldest son of the Chen family was unable to attend due to work, the Chen family's parents, Chen Qian's sister-in-law Li Jia, Chen Qian, and Chen Shengli came instead.

There are six people in the Jiang family, plus matchmaker Li, a total of twelve people.

After matchmaker Li introduced the two parties, the two families officially got to know each other.

"Brother Chen, my eldest son is just too honest. He didn't understand what you meant. That's why he was delayed for so many days. It's also my fault for not teaching him well. I apologize to you."

Jiang Daniu explained to Chen Li in person why he invited the Chen family to dinner at this time.

Although Shen Yue had already talked about it yesterday, this matter still needs to be said in person so as not to make people feel that you don’t take it seriously.

"Brother, you are too polite. It doesn't matter if the meal is a day earlier or a day later, as long as the two children like each other."

Chen Li didn't really hold on to this point. What could he blame? Blame Jiang Pingan for being too honest?

At this time, Jiang Fan kicked Jiang Ping'an, and Jiang Ping'an immediately stepped forward.

"Uncle Chen, this is my fault. I didn't understand what you said. I bow to you and apologize."

Jiang Ping'an may not understand what other people say, but he can always understand Jiang Fan's meaning very well.

"It's okay, kid, just be honest. Uncle likes honest people like you."

Chen Li helped Jiang Ping'an up and was very satisfied with his act of apologizing in person.