The train driver in the courtyard

Chapter 589: The efficacy of the warm baby, Monday's ideal

In the early morning, a faint golden light spread across the capital.

Chen Xueru crawled out of the warm bed early in the morning.

After the meal is ready, serve it to the table.

He fetched another basin of clean water, poured some boiling water into it, reached his hand in to test the water temperature, then went into the inner room and nudged Li Aiguo who was sleeping soundly.

The rough guy has been busy researching the hot packs these past two days, and it's really hard work.

As a woman, you should be a man's solid support.

Chen Xueru is a virtuous daughter-in-law.

Li Aiguo woke up from his sleep and put on his clothes and shoes with the help of Miss Chen.

After breakfast, I continued my research and development of the hot pack.

At this time, the liquid in the porcelain jar placed under the eaves has solidified into a blocky white paste.

Li Aiguo took a spoon, scooped out the paste, and dried it on a wooden board.

This stuff is jelly.

After being squeezed into strips and dried, it can become gelatin.

"Brother Aiguo, I heard that gelatin is also added to candy. Can this be eaten as candy?"

Looking at the jelly-like gelatin, Miss Chen couldn't help swallowing her saliva: "It seems that before liberation, some people made gelatin to make candy in this way."

While busy working, Li Aiguo explained: "The gelatin in the candy needs to be extracted in the next step. The gelatin made in small workshops often contains a lot of harmful substances."

"Gelatin can only be made from pig skin. This is too extravagant."

Miss Chen was taking a break today, so she moved a stool and sat next to him to watch him work.

"Bones and the like are also fine. In fact, most industrial gelatin is extracted from petroleum."

"That's so shameful!" Chen Xueru's face changed drastically.

Li Aiguo smiled bitterly in his heart.

Industrial gelatin extracted from petroleum is nothing.

In later generations, some lawless people, who were greedy for profit and had no conscience, extracted industrial gelatin from old leather shoes, belts and waste tires.

It’s even made into capsules.

That's called tael.

People today can never predict how dark the hearts of those black-hearted people are.

After placing the gelatin on the chopping board to dry, Li Aiguo carried the ceramic jar and walked to the sink.

First, the sulfuric acid was neutralized with soda ash to prevent environmental pollution, and then the porcelain jar was cleaned from inside to outside.

It took half an hour to clean the porcelain jar, and the inside of the jar was scrubbed clean.

Last year, Aunt Chen next door went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy soybean oil in a can filled with kerosene.

After eating, the whole family was exhausted.

I stayed in the hospital for half a month before being discharged.

It has been publicized in every neighborhood that soybean oil cannot be stored in cans containing kerosene.

I, Li Aiguo, am a particular person and I don’t plan to use this jar to store soybean oil anymore.

No matter what era, food safety should be put first.

Products like soybean oil should be used in separate containers to avoid ingesting harmful substances.

He walked home carrying the jar.

After walking only two steps, I saw Yi Zhonghai walking out with the support of an old lady.

Yi Zhonghai's forehead was wrapped in thick gauze, and from a distance he looked like a mummy.

Seeing Li Aiguo, Yi Zhonghai subconsciously shrank back.

Li Aiguo stepped forward and asked curiously, "Uncle, were you hit with bricks last night while stealing from someone?"

"."Yi Zhonghai.

The aunt quickly explained, "Last night, when your uncle went to the toilet, it was too dark and he forgot to turn on the flashlight. He accidentally fell and hit his head on the flower bed."

"Really? Uncle? Then you better be careful when you walk next time." Li Aiguo turned around and left.

Yi Zhonghai looked at his back, his eyes darkened, and he almost fainted from anger.

If Li Aiguo had not suddenly changed his attitude and forgiven Jia Zhang.

Jia Zhang had been locked up yesterday, so he didn't have to be hit by a brick.

Now, there is a crack on my forehead and I have to lie and say that I fell down.

So depressed.
"This damn Li Aiguo"

Yi Zhonghai was about to curse when Jia Zhang came out of the house depressedly, carrying a broom, ready to report to the cleaning team.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhang became jealous.

He picked up the broom and rushed over.

Yi Zhonghai was startled and quickly hid behind an old lady.

"Sister-in-law, I've already explained it, why don't you believe it?"

"Yi Zhonghai, you are kidding me, do you think I am a fool?"

When Jia Zhang thought about what happened yesterday, she became furious.

Yesterday afternoon she knocked Yi Zhonghai down with bricks.

He stepped on Yi Zhonghai's chest and asked him why he betrayed him.

Seeing that his life was in danger, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly explained that he was retreating to advance, and took the initiative to let Jia Zhang admit her mistake to avoid letting Jia Zhang receive more severe punishment.

How could Jia Zhang believe Yi Zhonghai's lies? She picked up a brick and launched a second attack.

Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu were afraid that someone might get killed, so they hurriedly stopped her. Finally, Yi Zhonghai was rescued by an old lady.

"Sister-in-law, please listen to my defense. No, listen to my explanation." Yi Zhonghai wanted to explain, but Jia Zhang left with a cold face.

Before leaving, he left a message: "Yi Zhonghai, be careful when you walk at night!"

Yi Zhonghai stood in the cold wind, his head buzzing.

In his original plan.

First of all, it can give Li Aiguo a bad reputation as a black-hearted person.

Secondly, it can send Jia Zhang into prison.

Thirdly, I was able to have a biological son.

It could have been a win-win situation for all three parties, but it was ruined by Li Aiguo.

He has now completely fallen out with Jia Zhang.

"This damn Li Aiguo is the troublemaker in our compound"

Yi Zhonghai sighed depressedly.

The cleaning team is required to start work on time at 8 o'clock every morning, and being late will be considered as absenteeism.

Jia Zhang jogged all the way and finally arrived at the sanitation station before eight o'clock.

Feeling that she was not late, Jia Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, straightened her collar, and pushed open the office door.

"Director Min, I'm here to report in."

Min Liuyou, director of the Environmental Sanitation Bureau, was arranging the cleaners' work for the day. When he looked up and saw that it was Jia Zhang, he was immediately happy.

"Hey, Jia Zhang, it's you again. How come you're back in the palace so soon?"

"I made a small mistake. Leader, my stomach is injured. Can you give me a suggestion? Please arrange some easy work for me, such as sweeping the streets." Jia Zhang said with a smile.

Min Liuyou frowned and said, "I'm sorry, I don't accept your suggestion. There are twelve toilets in our neighborhood waiting to be cleaned. You should take your tools and go there immediately."

Jia Zhang sighed helplessly and muttered something under her breath.

"Didn't I just spit in your face when I left the assault team last time? Is it necessary to be so serious about it?"

Min Liuyou: “.”

Although Jia Zhang was unwilling, she was also aware of Min Liu's methods.

He could only follow a few residents who had made the same mistake, carrying dung shovels and buckets, and start working in the dirty pit toilet.

Nowadays, there are more than a hundred people in a compound sharing one toilet. You can imagine the environment inside.

The clothes were sticky to her body, the air was filled with a foul smell, and the ground was covered with filth. Jia Zhang felt a little regretful.

She should have been arrested yesterday.

She was old and had a stomach injury, so it was impossible for her to be sent to the Northwest.
She felt that she had fallen into Li Aiguo's trap.

"Ah!"

“Who is praising me again?”

Li Aiguo rubbed his nose and carefully applied the prepared gelatin on the vinyl silk.

This piece of black silk was selected by former tailor expert Comrade Chen Xueru from among more than a dozen kinds of fabrics in the tailor shop.

It is not only extremely strong, but also breathable, making it a perfect replacement for non-woven fabrics.

It’s just that the price is a bit high, and before liberation only rich landlords could afford it.

After the black vinyl silk is wrapped with gelatin, the iron powder, carbon powder and other materials prepared in advance are put in, and then wrapped with a layer of waterproof oil paper on the outside.

A hot pack from the fifties is ready.

Chen Xueru's eyes lit up as she watched from the side.

"Brother Aiguo, is this the warm baby?"

"you try."

Li Aiguo handed the hot pack to Chen Xueru and explained how to use it.

Chen Xueru carefully tore open the waterproof oil paper package and held the black plastic bag in both hands. After a moment, her eyes widened in surprise.

"It's hot. This bag is hot! Just like a hot water bottle."

It was the first time that Chen Xueru had seen such a magical thing. She held it in her hands and was reluctant to let go.

Li Aiguo smiled and said, "You have had your period these past two days, why don't you try putting it on your stomach?"

Hearing this, Chen Xueru went into the inner room and put the hot pack on her belly.

My stomach felt warm at that time, and the pain in my lower abdomen disappeared without a trace.

"Brother Aiguo, this thing is a friend of women!"

The title of Friend of Women is quite good.

Li Aiguo felt that he had developed a new use for the hot pack.

After realizing the benefits of the hot packs, Chen Xueru urged Li Aiguo to make a few more hot packs. She then rode her bicycle towards the tailor shop holding the hot packs.

It was already noon, the temperature in the capital was gradually rising, and there were more pedestrians on the streets.

People come and go in Chen's Tailor Shop.

Today, Chen's Tailor Shop is famous for being one of the first tailor shops to use electric sewing machines.

In addition, Chen Fangxuan is warm and sincere to others and has excellent craftsmanship, so it has become one of the most popular tailor shops in Beijing.

Many customers come from several streets.

Tailor Master Zhang helped an old lady measure her clothes, tore the cloth skillfully, and was about to hand it to Chen Fangxuan.

But he saw that Chen Fangxuan's face was ashen and beads of sweat were appearing on his forehead.

"Manager Chen, are you sick?"

"It's okay, the old problem has come back again." Chen Fangxuan stood up with difficulty, holding on to the table. His joints felt like they were rusted, and it was extremely painful every time he moved.

But now there are more than twenty sets of clothes waiting to be sewn, and he can't rest.

Master Zhang said with some concern: "Manager Chen, how about I help you sew these clothes?"

“No, I can still hold on.”

Chen Fangxuan took the cloth from Master Zhang, spread it on the electric sewing machine, turned on the power button, and started working.

Many customers came to the tailor shop because of his reputation.

If the sewing work is handed over to others, wouldn't it ruin his reputation? As a traditional old tailor, Chen Fangxuan can accept new things like electric sewing machines, but he has his own principles and persistence.

How long can I hold on if the pain in my joints keeps getting worse?
At this time, a pretty figure broke into the tailor shop.

Seeing Chen Xueru coming over, Chen Fangxuan frowned: "Xueru, Aiguo is taking a break. Why don't you stay at home and do something good in the shop?"

"Dad, your good son-in-law wants to give you a good gift."

Chen Xueru took out four hot packs from the bag and placed them on the sewing machine.

"What is this? A medicine bag?" Chen Fangxuan frowned as he looked at the strange cloth bag.

Chen Xueru deftly tore open the paper package, revealing a vinyl bag.

"This is made of vinyl silk. What a pity, such good fabric is wasted."

Before he finished speaking, Chen Fangxuan's eyes widened as he held the cloth bag in his hands.

When Chen Xueru saw that Chen Fangxuan’s expression was exactly the same as hers, she was immediately happy and asked Chen Fangxuan to put the hot pack on the lumbar vertebrae.

The continuous soothing release of heat instantly dispelled the pain in the joints, and Chen Fangxuan felt a lot more relaxed.

"Isn't this too amazing?!"

"It's amazing, isn't it? This is called a warming pad. It can be used at any time. Dad, if you feel pain anywhere, just put the warming pad there."

Chen Xueru saw Chen Fangxuan's brows relaxed and said with a happy smile.

Rheumatism is an old disease. Chen Fangxuan has tried many methods over the years, but none of them can alleviate it.

Now when I saw a small cloth bag, I was determined and couldn’t help but give a thumbs up.

"My son-in-law is really amazing!"

Chen Xueru raised her head with a somewhat proud look on her face.

Which woman doesn’t like to be praised by her husband?
At this time, in the office of Section Chief Xing of Qianmen Locomotive Depot.

Section Chief Xing and all the section leaders have verified the magic of the warm baby.

The production of warm packs was immediately put on the agenda.

But Director Xing frowned.

“It will take at least two to three months to submit an application to the ministry and go through the formalities.

The weather is getting colder day by day. The radio reported that there will be a heavy snow next week. By the time the hot packs are produced, the cucumbers will be cold. "

Li Aiguo is also aware of this situation.

Even an independent little kingdom like the railway department has to follow certain procedures.

When instant noodles were first being produced, the biscuit factory was on the verge of bankruptcy, so the locomotive depot took advantage of the biscuit factory's production of a kind of noodle-like biscuit and played a trick to produce instant noodles in a short period of time.

Later I completed the formalities again.

The production of umbrellas is entrusted to the umbrella factory, which is equivalent to the locomotive depot purchasing goods.

The situation with warm baby is a little different.

The head of the logistics department said: "If we don't have the approval from the ministry, there is no reason to write off the purchase of machines and raw materials."

The leaders of the locomotive depot were all frowning.

It is really frustrating to see such a good thing but not be able to go into mass production immediately.

The room was suddenly filled with smoke, and each leader smoked more heavily than the other.

At this time, Li Aiguo stood up, opened the window, and said with a smile: "Duanzhang, I have a way to produce a warm baby immediately."

"Really?!" Xing Duan was overjoyed.

The sun sets in the west.

A clear bell rang from the No. 2 Railway Middle School, which is located not far from the Qianmen Locomotive Depot.

The students who had been stuck in the campus for the whole day rushed out of the gate in droves.

They were talking and laughing in groups of three or four.

Among them, a female student with a student-style haircut squeezed out of the gate in a panic and ran towards the dormitory area not far away.

She was wearing a pair of washed-out railway work clothes, which were obviously one size too big for her, and she had to tie her trouser legs up with rubber bands.

A girl with pigtails stopped her and said, "It's Monday. Some boys from Class 3 asked us to go to the skating rink today. Do you want to go?"

"Su Xiaohong, I have to go back to pick up coal, so I won't go."

I was a little anxious on Monday, but I had to be patient when facing my best friend and neighbor.

"You, we're going to graduate soon, and we're going to have jobs. Then we won't have the chance to play."

"Xiaohong, I have decided to take the high school entrance exam," Zhou Yi said.

Su Xiaohong's eyes widened: "Zhou Yi, does your family's financial situation allow you to go to high school?"

There are eight brothers and sisters in the Zhou family, and only the father, Old Man Fang, has a formal job.

As the eldest child, it was a great achievement for her to be able to attend junior high school.

Zhou Yi pursed his lips and said, "My mother is now working as a temporary worker in an instant noodle factory. Although she is only a temporary worker, she can earn more than 30 yuan a month. With my father's salary, she can make ends meet.

I take my brothers and sisters to pick up coal every day after school, and I can save a lot of money. It shouldn't be a problem for me to go to high school."

When talking about the instant noodle factory, Su Xiaohong suddenly felt a little depressed.

Her mother didn't have a formal job either. When the instant noodle factory was recruiting workers, her mother looked down on the temporary job position and did not sign up.

Later, when I learned that the instant noodle factory gave out bonuses every month, I wanted to work as a temporary worker, but they were no longer hiring.

It’s just that Su Xiaohong feels that her good friend is a little too ambitious.

If you finish high school, you have to go to college. You waste a few years, but you still have to work anyway, right?
"On Monday, as a friend, I want to give you some advice. Look, you wear tattered clothes all day long to save money for school, and you don't even want to eat lunch. Is it worth buying?"

Su Xiaohong patted Zhou Yi's thin shoulders with some pity: "Girls, it's better for you to get a job early and then find a good man to marry."

Zhou Yi understood Su Xiaohong's good intentions and smiled: "I have made an appointment with someone. I want to go to university and become a female scientist in the future."

"Who are you with? Who is so bad as to fool you?"

Seeing that Zhou Yi had become obsessed, Su Xiaohong stomped her feet in anger and gritted her teeth to settle the score with that man.

Zhou Yi hurriedly explained: "Xiao Hong, please don't do that. That person doesn't know. I made a secret agreement with him."

Su Xiaohong: “.”

She was a little confused.

"I'm not going to chat with you any more. The coal truck from Datong should be arriving soon. If you go too late, you won't be able to get a good seat."

Zhou Yi turned around and ran away.

Su Xiaohong smiled bitterly and shook her head.

No matter how capable a girl is, she still has to get married and have children in the future. What's the point of all that?

It’s better to have fun for a few more years while you’re still young.

Su Xiaohong turned around and called a few classmates to quickly run towards the skating rink. She heard that there were many children from wealthy families there.

Monday ran back home and her younger brother and sister were already waiting for her in the house.

On Monday, he first unscrewed the lid of the coal stove, placed the stainless steel pot on the stove, and sprinkled a handful of millet into it.

Now the export of instant noodles is in short supply, and workers in instant noodle factories have to wait until six o'clock every day before they can get off work.

When mother comes back, I can drink hot millet soup.

At this time, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, several younger brothers and sisters were already waiting at the door with baskets.

Zhou Yi picked up his basket and waved his hand: "Let's go."

The steam engines in the locomotive depot need to be driven by coal. It is about to snow, and coal trucks from other places are coming and going every day.

Zhou Yi grew up in the locomotive depot and is particularly familiar with the environment here. He knows very well that the coal blocks on the coal truck will only fall off when the truck turns.

There is a big turn near a switch station not far from the locomotive depot.

When I brought my younger brother and sister to the big turn on Monday, there were already quite a few children waiting there.

The coal lumps that fall from the coal trucks have not been burned and are much more expensive than coal cores.

A basket could be sold for five cents, so this place became a must-go place for coal pickers.

Several fights broke out over coal, someone's forehead was broken, and the matter was reported to the locomotive depot.

After visiting the place, the security department of the maintenance section called the boys who had fought over and gave them a good beating, and also criticized and educated their parents.

From then on, a tacit rule was formed here that whoever arrived earlier could occupy a good location.

I was delayed a bit on Monday and could only stand beside a flat section of road with my younger brothers and sisters.

They tiptoed in the cold wind and looked into the distance.

Woo hoo hoo. Eat like crazy, eat like crazy, eat like crazy
When a black train with black smoke appeared in the distance, everyone cheered.

Monday rolled up his sleeves and got ready.

The train roared as it passed the bend, and lumps of coal fell from the pointed carriages.

This is not a lump of coal, it is the hope of studying.

Zhou Yi rushed forward hurriedly, ignoring the smoke and dust that filled his eyes, and grabbed the black and cold coal and put it into the basket.

At this moment, the place is filled with the joy of harvest.

Because the road was not good, Zhou Yi and his brothers and sisters didn't even pick up a basket of coal.

"Sister, I guess I can only sell it for 4 cents." Tuesday was a little depressed, "I'll just run faster next time."

Monday brushed off the coal dust on his hands and ruffled her hair: "Remember, when the train is not passing, don't get close to the railroad tracks, okay?"

"understood"

Although I only earned four cents, I still felt very satisfied on Monday.

On the way home, I spent one cent to buy a piece of malt sugar and shared it with my younger brother and sister.

When I got home, I saw that my mother had not come back yet.

On Monday, I washed my hands, picked a bunch of wild vegetables from the vegetable garden, chopped them up, and stir-fried them in an iron pan.

Adults say that wild rapeseed contains oil, so there is no need to add oil, so the families of the maintenance depot like to grow this kind of vegetable.

At this time, a squeaking sound came from the house.

Zhou Yi turned around and saw his mother coming back. He smiled and said, "Mom, wait a moment. The food will be ready soon."

"Stir-fried rapeseed again." Aunt Zhou put down her canvas bag, took Zhou Yi's spatula and said, "Tomorrow I'll go buy some tofu."

"Tofu, mother, that's such a waste. Fried rapeseed is delicious." Zhou Yi turned his head to look at his brother and sister: "Don't you agree?"

"Yes!" Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday couldn't help swallowing their saliva when they heard Tofu, but they still answered in unison.

Sunday hesitated and was about to speak when Tuesday gave him a hard squeeze.

Zhou Ri was smart, raised his hand and said, "Mom, I like eating the rapeseed fried by my sister the most. The dishes cooked by my sister are the most delicious."

Mother Zhou's eyes slid across the children's pale faces, and she couldn't help but wipe her eyes.

"You kids."

She took a deep breath and said, "Mom is not living beyond her means. She came back late today because there was a meeting in the section. She was organizing the families of the maintenance section employees to make hot packs, and she would give two cents for each one."

"Two cents" couldn't help but stare wide-eyed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Two cents could buy two pieces of maltose.

Monday was calmer: "Mom, what is a hot pack? Is it easy to make?"

"I don't know about this either. I heard that there will be a meeting in the section tomorrow and Li Dache will explain it personally to the family members." Zhou's mother said.

"Li Da Che?" Zhou Yi asked.

"He's the train driver who invented the dump trailer. Now your father and everyone in the section calls him Li Dache."

When he heard Li Dache's name, Zhou Yi's breathing became rapid.

She hesitated for a moment and said, "Mom, tomorrow is the weekend, and I want to attend the conference, too. Is that okay?"

"Of course it can be used as a heat-blocking device. If it can really be used as a heat-blocking device, then you'll have enough money to pay for your high school tuition." A gleam of hope shone in Zhou's mother's eyes.

The night fell over the capital city.

It was dark all around.

There was a dim light on in the Zhou family's cottage.

(End of this chapter)