Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

The situation is indeed quite difficult.

Don't worry about scarcity, but worry about inequality.

But how to determine what constitutes equality is a major challenge.

How are they defined? Who defines them? How can they be made convincing?

Yang Jianguo was also lost in thought for a moment.

"Dear colleagues and leaders... our family doesn't actually have that many difficulties. Our house collapsed before but it has been repaired. We can get a lot of medical expenses and medicine reimbursement, so we can still manage."

Xiao Wan is an honest man. He noticed that his superiors and mentors were in a difficult position and didn't want them to go through so much trouble for him.

"Xiao Wan, it's all my fault." Han Shouxin turned his back and wiped his eyes.

From the outside, it looks like there's singing and dancing, the market is booming, and the people are wealthy.

But in places unseen, difficulties still exist, and are not much better than before.

In the past, when we had no money, everyone was in the same boat.

Now that we have money, life should be better, right?

But with higher prices and higher wages, the costs of purchasing materials, conducting experiments, transportation, maintenance, and so on have also increased.

You can't just look at the factory's high revenue and ignore the expenses.

Furthermore, this staff housing was originally a good thing.

The current commotion sometimes makes one feel that it would have been better not to have caused any trouble at all.

"This matter may be difficult all over the country. I know that asking everyone to overcome this difficulty is a bit too easy and too much of a matter of course."

"Regarding funding... After I return this time, I will convene the Ministry of Works to come up with a feasible solution to this matter. For example, the enterprises can solve part of the problem, and the Ministry of Works can provide a special fund for the rest."

Of course, regions with more difficult conditions will receive a larger share, while those with slightly better conditions will receive a smaller share.

As a high-ranking leader, Yang Jianguo's words in front of everyone amounted to a public promise, and it would be inappropriate to continue speaking at all.

"As for Comrade Xiao Wan's problem..." Yang Jianguo called him aside, and the two, with their backs to everyone, shoved each other for a while before coming back.

No one knows exactly what happened between the two.

But everyone could see genuine joy and gratitude on Xiao Wan's face.

"Alright, now take me to the workshop. I've been waiting for so long, you can't let me down... Ah!"

Hearing Yang Jianguo's joking remark, everyone laughed along: "Minister Yang, this way please, we must all be getting impatient."

Looking at Han Shouxin standing to the side, Yang Jianguo waved to him: "Comrade Shouxin, are you angry? Huh? Let's go over together. I'll apologize to you personally after we finish touring the workshop."

"How could I dare, sir? Please don't say that." Han Shouxin's expression changed with anxiety.

"Since that's not it, why don't you come over here? Are you going to keep the leaders waiting for you?" the factory manager said, putting his arm around the man's shoulder and laughing.

Just now, he thought that he, as an old comrade, had made a mistake.

Fortunately, it wasn't what he thought.

Otherwise, he would have made the mistake of misjudging people and lost an old friend in one day.

That would be so unfortunate.

Fortunately, nothing happened. Today is a good day. He'll definitely have a couple more drinks after work.

The entire tour process was a bit complicated, and the number of visitors kept decreasing.

From the initial dozen or so people, to less than ten, and finally only two factory managers and project leaders remained to accompany them.

When Yang Jianguo came out from underground, it was already close to midnight.

“Minister Yang, it’s so late, it’s not safe to go back to the guesthouse. Why don’t you stay here? It’s just that the conditions are a bit basic.”

The factory has a special rest room for employees working the night shift. The conditions aren't great, but it's enough to get some sleep.

"What do you mean by rudimentary? If you're tired, just wrap yourself in your clothes and lie down in the workshop to sleep." Yang Jianguo didn't plan to leave today either. Tomorrow, he could walk a few hundred meters north to reach Mount Hua and Mount Kunlun.

He hasn't visited either of those two places yet, so staying here will make it convenient for him to get around tomorrow.

To avoid having to travel back and forth by car and wasting time on the road.

"Factory Director, Deputy Factory Director Han, Leader..." Just as we were walking towards the building, a figure ran out from the corner.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Xiao Wan.

"Why didn't you go back?" Yang Jianguo asked curiously.

"Everyone else left, but I thought someone had to stay and run errands, so I stayed."

Xiao Wan scratched his head with an honest and simple expression, looking sincere and kind.

This child, despite experiencing so much hardship, still has a heart full of light. These people are truly the best people in the world.

Chapter 709 Too Much Sugar, Cry Your Heart Out!

"Alright, you all go ahead, just let Xiao Wan stay with me..."

Yang Jianguo patted him hard on the shoulder and laughed loudly, "Let's stay here together tonight!"

"Ah..." Xiao Wan looked surprised.

Yang Jianguo smiled and said, "What, you don't want to?"

Xiao Wan's face turned red, and he awkwardly waved his hands, too anxious to speak for a long time.

Seeing this, the factory director smiled and said, "Director Yang, don't scare him. This child is honest and timid by nature."

"Haha, okay, I was wrong." Yang Jianguo grabbed his wrist and said, "Then, let's go now."

With his hand in his grasp, Xiao Wan became even more excited.

All I could do was nod and agree, my tongue was so clumsy it was both pitiful and funny.

He led her into the guesthouse, and Yang Jianguo looked her up and down, saying, "Hey, you're the landlord, you don't need me to lead the way, do you?"

"I, I'll go, this way, boss." Xiao Wan hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way, taking him to the reserved room.

Actually, the staff at the guesthouse were all there with him, so there was no need for him.

Yang Jianguo just saw that he was too nervous and wanted to find something to help him relax.

The room was built to 'leader' standards, with an inner and outer bedroom. Inside, there were two beds against the wall, a bedside table and a lamp in the middle, and a landline telephone.

Judging by its brand-new appearance, you can tell it will definitely work...

The outside is the living room, used for receiving guests and entertaining people. It has a three-piece sofa set, a coffee table, and a television.

A round table and two single chairs were placed in the corner; the arrangement was very thoughtful!

There is also a separate bathroom near the door.

Yang Jianguo picked up the basin, preparing to fetch water: "Xiao Wan, make yourself at home, don't feel awkward just because I'm here."

"Boss, let me do it." Xiao Wan came over and tried to take the basin from his hand. Yang Jianguo tried to stop him several times but couldn't, so he could only smile wryly and let him have his way.

After filling the water tank, Yang Jianguo wiped his face and then rinsed his feet under the showerhead.

He always brings his own towels, taking them with him wherever he goes.

"Sir, your wife prepared all this; it's quite a complete set."

Once Xiao Wan relaxed, she was able to chat with him about everyday things.

Razors, face towels, and foot towels—each one has its own unique function; small scissors for trimming hair; scarves, hats, and thick socks to protect against the changing weather.

Looking at the things on the table, Yang Jianguo felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "Yes, without her, I don't know how I would survive."

Shaking the towel in his hand, Yang Jianguo smiled and carefully put the items into the bag.

"Boss, you two must have a really good relationship!"

"Yeah, it's pretty good. We bicker occasionally, which is quite fun, but the argument only lasts a couple of sentences before it's over."

This means the children aren't here. If Zhiyuan or Zhiyi were here, they would definitely run to the toilet and gag.

quarrel?!

quarrel?!?

What a joke! That's clearly them showing off their love and showering each other with affection.

High in sugar, it's so sweet it can be sickening.

Anyone who can stand watching them bicker without feeling nauseous...

In Zhiyi's own words: Inhuman, inhuman!

"It's so enviable."

"Stop talking about me, go wash up!"

As Yang Jianguo tidied up, he said, "You must be exhausted after a long day!"

"Not tired at all, not tired at all."

Seeing that he was getting nervous again, Yang Jianguo chuckled and said, "What do you mean you're not tired? I wasn't born a leader, and I've never been a worker before."

Xiao Wan rubbed his nose awkwardly, about to say something, when his expression changed.

The wet touch on his fingers made him freeze in place.

I put my finger down, and the blood from my nose dripped down like a leaky pipe.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Yang Jianguo quickly put down what he was holding and went over to help him walk to the toilet.

"Quickly splash some cool water on your forehead."

"It's nothing, boss, it's just a nosebleed, I'm used to it."

Xiao Wan smiled broadly and comforted him instead.

After splashing cold water on his forehead and stuffing his nose with tissues, Xiao Wan said with a relaxed expression, "It's alright, boss, you should rest now!"

"No rush..." Sitting down on the sofa, Yang Jianguo asked curiously, "Xiao Wan, is it common for you to have nosebleeds?"

"It doesn't happen often, just once in a while."

"How long is 'occasionally'?"

"Uh... I think it happens once every one or two months!"

"Haven't you had any tests done?"

"Inspection?" Xiao Wan was taken aback.

"It's just going to the hospital for some checkups."

"No, what kind of tests are needed for a nosebleed?"

This is the prevailing opinion among most people: nosebleeds are such a minor thing, nothing to make a fuss about.

It would also waste money to go to the hospital for a checkup.

This is practically handing ourselves over to the hospital to be ripped off!

Have you seen a traditional Chinese medicine doctor?

Seeing his serious expression, Xiao Wan said awkwardly, "Boss, it's really nothing. Look at me, I'm strong and healthy, how could anything be wrong? It's normal to have a nosebleed."

It's quite normal, but for someone like him to have a miscarriage every one or two months is unusual.

No, telling myself that would definitely be an understatement.

So, to be precise, it should be that it occurs every month, right?

Thinking of this, Yang Jianguo decided that he must urge him to get checked out tomorrow morning.

No, we need to send someone to keep him under control.

Otherwise, this kid definitely wouldn't take it seriously.

They'd just brush it off and call it a day; they'd never actually go to the hospital.

By the way, doesn't the factory conduct physical examinations?

Lying in bed, Yang Jianguo asked him about the details of his family situation.