Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 235 West Courtyard Gathering
Yan Jiekuang started to make braised pork and stewed potatoes. This dish was not easy to make. The main reason was that some young man from the west courtyard exchanged two bags of sugar and placed them on the table in the middle room. Yan Jiekuang asked around who it belonged to, but no one admitted it. Well, he decided to make braised pork and stewed potatoes.

After the braised pork and potatoes were ready, I transferred them to another pot and made another dish of crispy chicken and pork ribs stewed with tofu.

Yan Jiekuang moved very quickly, so quickly that everyone around him was stunned. Most importantly, the dish was so delicious that the whole yard was filled with the aroma. Several young men were drooling. Finally, they put a few more steamers on the big pot. Yan Jiekuang had let the dough rise before, so he steamed a few steamers of steamed buns.

While the buns were being steamed, Yan Jiekuang mixed a few side dishes, and that was it. The rest was handed over to the young men, and Wang Qing admired Yan Jiekuang's cooking skills even more. The two of them sat at the long table, and a young man made tea for them. The two of them lit cigarettes and chatted while smoking.

Twenty minutes later, everyone started serving dishes. They used all the big and small bowls to fill the table. Everyone sat down. Wang Qing looked at them and said, "Third brother is treating everyone to dinner today. Don't leave after dinner. Third brother said he'll have a small meeting. He'll talk to you guys later. Now, let's eat."

At this time, I don’t know if everyone was hungry or the food Yan Jiekuang cooked was too delicious. No one spoke and everyone just lowered their heads to eat.

Yan Jiekuang and Wang Qing were also eating. While eating, Yan Jiekuang told him that he would check the accounts later. Wang Qing said that everything was ready and he would definitely give him a surprise.

After a while, Yan Jiekuang and Wang Qing put down their chopsticks and went to the west room in the front yard. This was the three houses that the street office had built for Yan Bugui, and Wang Qing made full use of it. The west room was used as the finance office, where bills were issued and accounts were reported. The middle room was an office and reception room with two desks, one for Wang Qing and one for Yan Jiekuang, but Yan Jiekuang never came. The east room was turned into a cafeteria, where the second child would usually cook some food at noon, and some people who came back at noon would eat here.

Yan Jiekuang looked at the account book and asked Wang Qing. Wang Qing was really a good manager. He managed everything in an orderly manner and the accounts were clear.

Yan Jiekuang was really surprised by Wang Qing. In the past half month, less than a whole month, the net profit reached nearly two thousand yuan. Of course, the bulk of it came from the second-hand bicycles and radios that the street office sold on his behalf.

Two talents have to be mentioned here. One is Lin Song, Wang Qing's classmate, who is responsible for repairing radios. The other is Wang Yicheng, who found Wang Qing on his own initiative and came to the purchasing station. He is responsible for repairing bicycles.

Yan Jiekuang was very satisfied. According to the previous agreement with the street office, half of the profit was to be handed over to the street office, and the other half would be used as the wages and daily expenses of these people.

Wang Qing suggested that half of the money be used for expenses, and the other half be used as a reserve fund and daily expenses. Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "The money previously given to each person for the purchase cannot be touched. It will be used as a fixed purchase fund for each person. The remaining 200 yuan will be kept for daily expenses, and the remaining amount will be distributed to everyone as this month's salary, which will be distributed today."

Wang Qing said, "That's too much, isn't it? Besides, it hasn't even been a month yet."

Yan Jiekuang said, "You all have just returned. Some have been back for several months and have not had any income. We can't be stubborn. So, today is June 10th, so let's make it a settlement day and also a spending day. It's not easy for everyone, so let's make everyone happy. I don't want to make money from this purchasing station, I just want to find a job for everyone."

Wang Qing was touched, nodded heavily, and said, "Then I'll ask Erxiao to come in and collect the expenses."

Wang Qing turned around and tried to leave, but Yan Jiekuang shouted, "Don't forget to pay my dad's rent, or he'll come to block me every day."

Wang Qing laughed and said he understood. After a while, Wang Qing brought Erxiao in. Only then did Yan Jiekuang realize that Erxiao had many positions, including janitor, cook, handyman and accountant.

Yan Jiekuang ignored them and went out to chat with everyone. Half an hour later, Erxiao and Wang Qing came out carrying a bag and an account book.

Everyone didn't know the expenses for today yet. Wang Qing cleared his throat and said, "Alright, be quiet. Today is the first meeting of the purchasing station. Let the third brother say a few words first."

Yan Jiekuang originally wanted to hand over the full power to Wang Qing, but he didn't expect that he would let him take the lead. Yan Jiekuang did not refuse, and stood up and said, "Brothers, this is the first time we have gathered together for a meeting. Wang Qing is basically in charge of this matter, and I don't play any role. Today there is something good that needs to be announced by Manager Wang. Come on, Wang Qing, you come up and say it, and I will hand it over to you."

Wang Qing was stunned at first, but then he understood Yan Jiekuang's intention. This was to establish his authority. Wang Qing stood up and said, "Let me first tell you about the accounts as of today. Everyone, please listen."

Then Wang Qing told everyone about the accounts for the past half month. Everyone was surprised. They didn't expect so much money. Wang Qing paused and then said, "Today is June 10th. I discussed with my third brother and decided to use the 10th of every month as the settlement date. Before, we talked about brotherhood. Today, my third brother and I decided on the rules for future expenses."

Everyone was shocked. The surprise came too suddenly and they were not prepared at all. Wang Qing saw the chaos and quickly shouted, "Quiet down, quiet down, there are residents nearby, keep your voice down."

At this time, everyone quieted down. Wang Qing continued, "We are a subordinate unit of the Street Office, so we have a rule that half of the profit is to be handed over as a fee, and also as the cost of the Street Office to comfort the elderly and the families of military martyrs. The remaining half, two hundred yuan a month is for daily expenses, and the rest is your salary. You will get as much as you earn each month. Third brother will get twenty yuan more, and Lin Song, Erxiao, Wang Yicheng and I will get ten yuan more as position allowances. Does anyone have any objections?"

Someone who was good at calculating the accounts below suddenly started to make a fuss again. "Keep your voice down, be quiet." Wang Qing was a little anxious.

Everyone quieted down, and Wang Qing looked down at the account book and said, "This month's total is 2230. Minus the money from the street office, minus 200 for daily expenses, and minus the position allowance, each person should have yuan. Is everyone okay with that?"

The ten people below said in unison, "No problem." Wang Qing didn't waste any more words and shouted, "Second Junior, give us some money."

Then Wang Qing started to receive the money. Everyone was very happy, and each one was happier than the other. They had not expected to earn so much money in a month. Nowadays, regular workers in state-owned factories only earned 20 or 30 yuan.

Seeing that everyone was so happy, Yan Jiekuang felt relieved. He sat by and drank tea. After everyone received their money, Wang Qing said, "Don't spend it recklessly. Buy something for your family."

"Got it." Another unanimous reply.

Yan Jiekuang also received the money from Erxiao at this time. He put it in his pocket and turned to leave. Wang Qing came over and said, "Don't you want to say a few words?"

Yan Jiekuang patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's your business. I just have one thing to do, and that old thing called me." Wang Qing nodded.

Yan Jiekuang strolled to Yard No. 95. He thought his father was still in the hospital, but as soon as he entered the house, he saw Comrade Old Yan sitting in the main room drinking tea, smoking, and chatting with Yan Jiefang.

Yan Jiekuang looked at Yan Bugui, and Yan Bugui looked at Yan Jiekuang. The father and son stared at each other, and Yan Bugui spoke first, "What's going on in the west wing?"

Yan Jiekuang knew that the noise in the west wing was a bit loud, and the people in the quadrangle must have heard it, so he said, "Let's have a meeting and give them a salary. Isn't that exciting?"

Yan Bugui was about to speak when Yan Jiekuang continued, "I estimate that Wang Qing will be able to send the rent to you before getting off work." Yan Bugui suddenly held back what he was about to say.

Yan Jiefang laughed loudly, and Yan Jiekuang said again: "What's wrong with you guys? You just let Xu Damao go like this."

Yan Bugui said with a wry smile: "I don't want to let him go, but Chief Wang and Director Yan are here, and they saw through my pretense right away, and they said they would give me justice tonight, so I can't be too harsh, so I let Xu Damao go."

Yan Jiekuang then asked, "What about Xu Damao? He won't run away tonight, will he?"

Yan Bugui said: "He doesn't dare. He probably went home to get help. He knows this matter is not easy to handle."

Yan Jiefang had been silent the whole time, but at this moment he inexplicably said, "Home is still the best, full of the atmosphere of home."

Yan Jiekuang and Yan Bugui were both silent for a moment. Yes, fighting and playing around are also a kind of life, which is better than gunfire and hail of bullets.

(End of this chapter)