Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Not to mention the salary of the past two months, the first bonus I received alone was several hundred yuan that I haven't used yet!

As they walked home, Yingzi felt a pang of heartache looking at the grandfather clock in his arms.

Ninety-nine yuan for a clock is too expensive.

However, since the purchase has already been made, there's nothing more to say.

Anyway, we can afford it, and my husband likes this kind of thing.

It's just a bit extravagant.

Thinking of this, Yingzi reminded him, "Jianguo, if anyone asks about it later, you can give them a favorable answer."

Buying a clock for ninety-nine yuan is really too extravagant.

Fortunately, this thing is something that ordinary people can't understand.

He'll believe whatever you say, so we have to be reasonable.

"Okay, let's say it's a defective product, over thirty yuan, how about that?"

Yingzi nodded and said, "I think it's a good idea."

The two of them finished matching the notebooks, and by the time they returned to the courtyard it was completely dark.

Without disturbing anyone, they went straight home.

The door was unlocked, and the curtain of the Jia family's door was lifted.

Qin Huairu tucked the basin into her waistband, supported it with one hand, and carried a book in the other as she came out…

Without even looking around, they arrived at the pool.

Put the basin down and turn on the tap.

Wow…

The water dripped into the pool, skimming the edge of the basin, leaving him speechless.

"Sister Qin, Sister Qin."

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Yingzi called out a couple of times, waiting for Qin Huairu to come to his senses and look at himself.

He then smiled and pointed to the pool, saying, "The water is leaking."

Looking down, Qin Huairu hurriedly put the basin under the tap, saying, "Look at me, I've made a mess of things."

Looking up at Yingzi, he said gratefully, "Thank you, Yingzi."

Yingzi nodded, smiled, and went back inside.

I saw the two of them, one after the other, carrying boxes in their arms, going back into the house.

Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment, and when she came to her senses, the water in the basin was overflowing.

Qin Huairu hurriedly turned off the water, looking at the full basin without knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The water in the compound is a shared resource and is billed collectively.

In the past, if anyone wasted water, even if it wasn't intentional, they would still get a few words of criticism from everyone.

Fortunately, it's night now.

Qin Huai looked around, tilted the basin slightly, and poured some out.

Only then did he clutch the book and laboriously carry it home.

Inside the room, Yang Jianguo and Yingzi placed the grandfather clock next to the phonograph and looked at the hands inside.

click, click...

The only sound in the quiet room was the ticking of the clock; perhaps these days are just too boring.

The two of them actually found the voice rather pleasant.

It's quite addictive, and it's very soothing to listen to...

I glanced at the time; it was already nine o'clock at night.

Yingzi picked up the basin and went next door to fetch water, and while she was at it, she also took a look at the little...chicken.

Even through the wall, Yang Jianguo could hear her talking to that person.

"Grow up quickly, gain more weight so you can nourish yourself after giving birth..."

Yang Jianguo was dumbfounded. You're making 'people' grow faster, so you're just going to be slaughtered and cooked?

This little...chicken is really pitiful!

Yang Jianguo touched his watch, thinking about his wife's birthday.

I'll surprise her on that day.

The assessment team arrived as scheduled on Wednesday.

Early in the morning, the factory started making announcements.

The songs playing on the radio were also a few octaves higher than usual.

I've submitted an application; it will require an assessment.

Everyone's waiting for news about the exam format and who will be tested first.

Is it an actual drill, or an explanation to the assessment team?

Or perhaps a person directly sets the questions and controls the process remotely.

These are all unknowns!

It is said that the questions for the last assessment were given privately.

After that, they were disguised as orders and sent to each workshop.

Let the foreman who is to be assessed be in charge of doing the work.

Finally, the evaluation team started scoring directly based on the products; it was practically a 'major purge'.

Of the applicants, more than half were eliminated in one go.

It's not that their skills are lacking, it's that they're lazy and haven't shown their true abilities.

Treat them all as regular orders; as long as they meet the requirements, that's fine.

What is considered "qualified" is seen by the assessment team as "perfunctory, lagging behind, and unqualified".

The questions they set were right at the passing mark.

You can do it if you're a level 6 worker, or you can do it if you're a level 5 worker; it all depends on how you do it.

You may have the technical skills, but you don't demonstrate them in your work.

Make do with what you can, just barely meet the minimum requirements.

How can we approve someone like that?

This is more shameful and despicable than substandard technology.

Therefore, everyone was on tenterhooks during this assessment, fearing that there might be some new tricks.

However, they were clearly overthinking it.

The assessment team went directly into the workshop to conduct face-to-face audits and tests.

Then, a few products are randomly selected from the applicant's previous orders for scoring.

The overall score is based on technology, past performance, and product effectiveness.

The news elicited excitement from some and nervousness from others.

Most of those who were nervous were just filling in occasionally, having their apprentices take over, barely making up the numbers to meet the minimum requirements.

Those who are excited are the ones who are strict with themselves.

They are conscientious and responsible in their work, never cutting corners.

Li Yaoguo, who received the news, was one of them.

"Jianguo, it seems I'm getting promoted this time," Li Yaoguo said confidently, his face beaming.

He was confident in the work he did every day.

The same applies to one's own technology.

Yang Jianguo nodded in agreement, as the actual person in charge of the workshop.

He knew Li Yaoguo's past behavior best.

In special workshops, there is no such thing as a "line jamming" problem.

If you have eight points of skill, you have to do at least eight points of work for me.

If you lack technical skills, make up for it with patience, meticulousness, and focus.

In short, no one can shirk responsibility.

We share the honor, and we share the responsibility.

Instead of striving for progress, they're dragging the workshop down.

He couldn't stay if he held that mindset.

After waiting all morning, the assessment team still hadn't arrived, and everyone seemed distracted.

The assessment is a big deal, so it's no wonder people are anxious.

Take Yang Jianguo for example, he was restless all morning, glancing at the door every now and then.

We ate lunch at the small canteen.

Yang Jianguo brewed a pot of tea, drank it for a while, and then went out to walk towards the workshop.

Zhang Chao and Qin Huairu were already waiting.

Seeing him come out, the two of them immediately followed.

Zhang Chao took the teacup from his hand and helped him serve it. Qin Huairu leaned closer and whispered, "He said he'd be coming this afternoon."

The two of them had just finished eating when they managed to gather a lot of information.

The morning assessment was conducted in the regular workshops; five were randomly selected without any discrepancy.

However, someone overheard Director Yang talking to the assessment team, saying that they would first go to the special workshop in the afternoon.

Moreover, the expert leading the team also mentioned Yang Jianguo's name.

Could it be an acquaintance?

Remembering the expert who was supposed to be taken away by him last time, Yang Jianguo guessed that he might be here again.

According to convention, it should be a newcomer who comes this time.

Unable to figure it out, Yang Jianguo simply stopped thinking about it.

Anyway, the person should be here soon, and it will be clear whether it is true or not at a glance.

Why bother here and making things difficult for yourself?

As everyone gradually returned, the work bell rang.

Outside the workshop, Factory Director Yang's enthusiastic voice could be heard, "This is it, please come in, everyone."

As the assessment team entered the workshop, Factory Director Yang immediately spotted Yang Jianguo: "Jianguo, come here for a moment."

Yang Jianguo stepped forward to greet them, but did not see the familiar face he expected.

The expert leading the team is much younger than the expert who came last time.

Judging from their appearance alone, the two must be grandfather and granddaughter.

"Jianguo, this is the leader of the assessment team, Expert Liu." Director Yang didn't introduce him much, just gave him a greeting.

It's as if there was no introduction at all.

"Hello, Expert Liu." Yang Jianguo took the initiative to extend his hand to greet the other party.

Expert Liu grasped his hand and said with a smile, "Comrade Jianguo, you can just call me Comrade Liu."

"I've heard of the name Yang Jianguo before."