Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 238 Street Praise
When Yan Jiekuang returned to Yu'er Hutong, the two apprentices who lived not far away had already left, but several plates were filled with cut ingredients. This was their homework. Wei Xiaobao was sitting in the yard memorizing the recipe.

Yan Jiekuang arranged for the children to go to the backyard to wash up. Wei Xiaobao put down his book and busied himself with making hot water. Yan Jiekuang took the children to wash up, and then let them go to bed. After the children fell asleep, Yan Jiekuang went to the kitchen to take a look at the homework of the three apprentices. It was not bad, but it was obvious that Wei Xiaobao was more talented than Yin Liguo and Yang Qingwei, and he also worked very hard.

Yan Jiekuang asked Wei Xiaobao to go to bed early, saying that he had to go out the next day and asked him to take care of the children. Wei Xiaobao agreed verbally, but when he went back to the room, he still had a book in his hand. Yan Jiekuang did not stop him. He was still very pleased with this Xiaobao.

Yan Jiekuang went to the backyard and returned to the study. He made himself some tea and picked up a notebook to read. He didn't know when the big cat came into the study. It didn't call out and just lay down on the armchair by the window. At this time, Yan Jiekuang looked at the moonlight shining on the big cat and felt an indescribable tranquility in his heart.

After reading for a while, Yan Jiekuang said goodbye to the big cat and went back to the house to sleep. After all, he had a lot of things to do tomorrow.

The next day, Yan Jiekuang got up early and started to make breakfast. Soon, the children also got up. Yan Jiekuang went to see that Shi Lei had already gotten up and was busy helping his brothers and sisters get dressed. Yan Jiekuang shouted for them to wash up, and he took Wei Xiaobao to the restaurant to serve dishes and porridge.

After Yan Jiekuang finished taking care of his own little ones, he was about to go out. Just as he pushed his bicycle to the door, he saw Aunt Wang coming. Yan Jiekuang asked, "Aunt Wang, why aren't you at home with the children? Why did you come here today?"

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "The children have gone home, and I have nothing to do. I really miss these four little guys."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Thank you Aunt Wang. I really have a lot of things to do today. I'll leave the house to you."

Aunt Wang nodded and went in. Yan Jiekuang also rode a bicycle. He did not go to the street office, but went to the purchasing station in the west wing first.

As soon as I stepped into the yard, I found that the atmosphere of the yard had changed a bit. It seemed that everyone was enthusiastic and busy. Some were repairing bicycles, some were tidying up and sorting, and some were cleaning.

They usually go out around ten o'clock, because there are not many families free to sell waste in the morning. Only after ten o'clock, when the family members are free, do they have time.

Looking at the busy young men, Yan Jiekuang also smiled and walked to the office alone. At this time, Wang Qing had already arrived and was sorting out the regional map. He was going to assign tasks to everyone. Wang Qing was a little surprised to see Yan Jiekuang coming, but was about to stand up. Yan Jiekuang quickly motioned for him to sit down, and he sat down at the desk opposite.

Yan Jiekuang gave Wang Qing a cigarette and lit one for himself before saying, "Come with me to Director Yan's place today. He has something to ask us. I guess he wants to expand the scope of the purchasing station, or he may just want to praise you in person."

Wang Qing felt a little embarrassed when he heard this and said, "I have nothing to brag about. This is all thanks to everyone."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Okay, don't be so modest. Oh, there's one more thing. I'll ask you guys to buy some food for me this afternoon. Mainly meat, eggs are fine too. Mom has given me a task to perform for my second brother in the evening. Here, here's the money and tickets. I really don't have any this month. Let's see what you guys can do."

Yan Jiekuang took out fifty yuan from his pocket and put it on the table. Wang Qing said, "Isn't this a bit too much? Otherwise, we'll pay for it when we get back."

"Okay, refund the excess and make up the shortfall. Come back in the afternoon and tell them. We'll go to the street office when you come back," said Yan Jiekuang.

Wang Qing took the money and went out of the house, and came back after a while. Yan Jiekuang stood up, took Wang Qing out of the west wing, and walked directly to the street office.

When the two arrived at the subdistrict office, Director Yan was waiting for them in the office. When he saw them, he smiled widely, stood up, and said, "Come on, the two heroes, please sit down. Xiao Wang, please pour the tea."

Director Yan was busying himself while offering his seat. Yan Jiekuang said quickly, "Director, please don't say that. You're scaring us again." After the three people sat down, Director Yan said, "How could that be? It's your profit this month that solved the big problem of our street. Now we are also a little stretched to take care of the lonely elderly and the families of military martyrs in our jurisdiction, mainly because of insufficient funds. Now it's good. You solved it all at once. The superiors also affirmed our work. First, we solved this problem, and second, we solved the employment problem of young people returning to the city. This is your contribution."

Yan Jiekuang said: "This is a bit too much. We just did the best we could. Thank you for the affirmation from the leader."

Director Yan changed the subject and said, "However, you should be more low-key. The salary setting issue has caused a lot of trouble. For example, your father has come to me many times and asked to go to the purchasing station as well. You should persuade him when you go home. This is not a game. You can go if you want. The station was approved to solve the problem of unemployed young people."

When Yan Jiekuang heard this, he was furious. This old man would only cause trouble, so he hurriedly said, "I know this. I will definitely persuade him when I get home, but regarding the salary, let's follow the regulations of the purchasing station to avoid discouraging everyone's enthusiasm. Wang Qing is now the main person in charge. He has written the financial system and management system. Please take a look at it."

After saying that, he gestured to Wang Qing, who quickly handed the rules and regulations compiled last night to Director Yan. Director Yan sat at his seat and roughly read through them. He felt they were very novel, but the regulations of this management system were also very strict.

Director Yan said, "Okay, leave it here for now. I'll take a closer look when I have time. There is one last thing. The district plans to promote your purchasing station to all the streets. Of course, it is also to solve the problem of unemployed young people. What do you think?"

While Wang Qing was thinking carefully, Yan Jiekuang said, "It's possible, but it's a bit difficult to handle the relationship between the various purchasing stations. Now our purchasers have divided the entire area into sections, and each person is responsible for a section. But if there are too many purchasing stations, it's like there are too many wolves and too little meat, which is prone to disputes and conflicts."

Director Yan listened carefully to Yan Jiekuang's words, thought deeply for a while, and said, "What you said is indeed a problem. I will report it to the district. It seems that we cannot set up too many purchasing stations. We must have unified management. Okay, that's all for today. If you have any difficulties in the future, come to me directly."

Yan Jiekuang and Wang Qing stood up, said goodbye to Director Yan, and left the street office. Wang Qing kept thinking about what Yan Jiekuang said, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Yan Jiekuang was right.

When Yan Jiekuang saw Wang Qing's expression, he knew that he was thinking seriously, so he said, "It's a good thing. If the district insists on setting up a purchasing station in each street, we will make appropriate changes. I think the higher-ups will definitely stick to this decision because there are too many unemployed people."

Wang Qing nodded. Yan Jiekuang did not give him any more advice. He wanted him to think for himself about how to transform. This would also help cultivate Wang Qing's management ability. When they returned to the west wing, it was already noon. The brothers bought all the vegetables for Yan Jiekuang, including silver carp, chicken, pork and some dried goods, mainly mushrooms, black fungus, dried beans and the like.

Yan Jiekuang asked Wang Qing to send him to Yang Ruiping, and then he turned around and rode out on his bicycle. He had to go to Ji Lian and Yan Jiedi's university, and he couldn't be missing anyone from the banquet.

After Yan Jiekuang had been notified, it was already past two o'clock. Yan Jiekuang went straight into Yan Bugui's kitchen and began to prepare food. He did not intend to make complicated dishes, just home cooking, but things like chicken and pork elbows had to be prepared in advance, and Yang Ruiping also got busy.

When everything was ready, Yan Jiekuang slapped his head and said, "Mom, does our dad have any wine left? I remember there was none left last time."

Yang Ruiping was stunned and said, "Really? What should we do then?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "I'll go back to Yu'er Hutong to get it. I have a few bottles of good wine there, and I'll bring the children with me."

Yan Jiekuang said hello to his mother and left on his bicycle.

(End of this chapter)