Siheyuan: I just want to live

Chen Feng looked at Yan Fugui's receding back, and a trace of doubt arose in his heart: Was he unwilling to apologize to him out of self-esteem, or did he really not understand the meaning of what he had just said?

After all, how could one openly talk about stealing something from a workplace, which is something that can only be understood but not explained? It is no wonder that a man in his 50s, who has been teaching for more than 20 years, is still just a substitute teacher, not even a class teacher.

Perhaps their principal had a very good temper and was extremely tolerant of his employees, so he tolerated Yan Fugui's early departure every day. Not only that, Yan Fugui's excessive words were not expelled. Could it be that Yan Fugui and their principal were truly in love, and the third aunt was just an accident?

Chen Feng shook his head, put aside the unpleasantness that Yan Fugui had just caused, and continued pushing the tricycle towards home.

After entering the backyard, Chen Feng had just stabilized the tricycle when Xu Damao came out from the house next door. Seeing what Chen Feng was carrying on the tricycle, he immediately stepped forward to help.

Chen Feng got off the tricycle and opened the door. After unloading the bicycle with Xu Damao, Chen Feng pushed the tricycle into the room. The two of them then moved the porcelain into the main room.

Finally, Chen Feng locked the tricycle, and the two of them came to the eaves of Chen Feng's house and sat down together.

Chen Feng took out a cigarette and handed it to Xu Damao, then asked, "Why did you come back so early today?"

Xu Damao took the cigarette and put it in his mouth, took out a match, lit it, took a puff, and slowly blew out smoke rings. Then he said in a somewhat tired tone, "I didn't go to the countryside to show the movie today. I was in the factory to maintain the equipment for a day, so I came back a little early."

Chen Feng couldn't help but feel very curious, so he asked, "You just maintained the equipment for a day, why do I feel that you are more exhausted than if you went to the countryside?"

Xu Damao replied as if it was a matter of course, "You don't know how boring it is to be alone in that small, cramped, dark equipment room. It's even more unbearable than being exiled to the deserted countryside! It's not like when you go to the countryside to show movies, you can wander around and play as you please!"

Chen Feng nodded in agreement after hearing this. After all, being trapped in the same place for a long time is no match for being able to run around freely, which makes people feel more happy.

At this moment, Xu Damao seemed to have remembered something and suddenly became very excited. He shouted to Chen Feng with a happy face: "Hey, Chen Feng, let me tell you something. My dad told me today that he thinks my skills in projecting movies are now proficient enough! As long as I wait until the New Year is over, I can be promoted to a regular employee! Then, I can go to the countryside alone to project movies!"

Chen Feng was a little confused about his excitement about being able to show movies in the countryside, so he said, "Isn't your salary paid by your father? Don't you take the benefits you get from showing movies in the countryside home? You don't get any benefits, so why are you so excited?"

After Xu Damao heard what Chen Feng said, the excited expression on his face immediately disappeared, and was replaced by a face that looked like he had eaten bitter melon.

Xu Damao took another long drag on his cigarette and said in a frustrated tone, "You are right, Chen Feng. Even if I become a regular employee, I still have no money! When can I have money?"

Chen Feng patted his shoulder and consoled him, "After you become a regular employee, Uncle Xu will definitely find you a wife. After you get married, you can collect your salary yourself, right? Then you will be rich."

Although Chen Feng's words made Xu Damao feel better, he was still in a bad mood. He said in a melancholy tone, "When can I get married?"

"It shouldn't take too long, just wait. Well, I have to cook too, so I won't accompany you anymore."

After Chen Feng finished speaking, he slowly stood up, turned around and walked towards the house to prepare dinner. Chen Feng did not prepare any sumptuous dinner, but just fried cabbage, cooked a small bowl of meatball soup, and a few steamed buns.

After a quick dinner, Chen Feng took out the porcelain he brought back, rinsed it carefully with clean water, and then wiped it carefully. Then, he carefully put two porcelain jars under the cupboard, one filled with cornmeal and the other half filled with white flour. As for the two bowls and plates, Chen Feng put them into the space and placed them together with the treasure he found last time.

After finishing all this, Chen Feng returned to his bedroom and continued to practice writing. After a whole month of persistent and hard practice, Chen Feng's handwriting has improved significantly. At least now, when he sees these words himself, he will no longer tear them up immediately like before.

At half past eight, Chen Feng felt a little sleepy and went to sleep. The courtyard was very quiet tonight, without any loud noises. Even Liu Haizhong did not hit his son, so Chen Feng slept very comfortably.

The next morning, Chen Feng got up full of energy, washed up and went to work early. Today he did not buy buns at the alley, but went directly to the scrap yard.

After arriving at the scrapyard, he added coal briquettes to the stove. Chen Feng took out a teacup and made a cup of tea. Then he took out a lunch box and opened it to find it was full of meatballs.

Chen Feng sat in front of the table, took out a book and started reading slowly. From time to time, he would put a pill in his mouth, and drink some tea from the teacup when he was thirsty. He looked very comfortable, and the employees of the scrap yard who came to work envied Chen Feng again.

Happy times are always short. At around ten o'clock, Chen Feng was pulled out of the world of words by the sound of knocking on the glass.

Chen Feng looked up and saw a smiling face outside the window. It was Section Chief Hou from the steel mill. Chen Feng hurried out and welcomed him into the communication room.

He gave the chair to him and Chen Feng took the bench in the corner that the security guards had not moved away last time and sat on it himself.

After they sat down, Chen Feng was the first to speak, smiling and joking, "Chief Hou, why are you here in such a cold weather instead of enjoying yourself at the steel mill?"

Hou Debang also pointed at the books and teacup on the table and said with a smile, "What kind of blessing do I have? I am busy all day long, how can I clean up like you? This cup of tea and a book is a day's life. I envy you very much!"

Chen Feng heard him joking, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised. He did not take it seriously, but just responded jokingly: "Brother Hou, you came all the way here, you didn't come just to make me happy, did you?"

Seeing this, Hou Debang immediately pretended to be as terrified as a three-year-old child who had been caught in a lie, and waved his hands repeatedly to explain: "How can it be! I dare not joke with you! This time I came here specially to bring you New Year's goods. The employee benefits prepared by our steel rolling mill this year are too generous, so there are some extras, so I quickly brought some to you, brother."

After saying that, he bent down, picked up the package from the ground, and gently placed it on the table. It was only then that Chen Feng noticed that Hou Debang was carrying a package. He stared at the package and said in surprise: "I am not an employee of your factory, how can I accept your factory's New Year benefits?"

Hou Debang immediately retorted, "You helped our steel mill get so many supplies this year. I have long regarded you as one of our steel mill employees. Although you don't work in our factory, you still have to get a share of the benefits, so just take it with confidence!"

Chen Feng sighed in his heart, he is indeed a leader of a large company! His speaking level is different, making people feel comfortable listening to him.

Chen Feng saw that he couldn't refuse, so he said with a smile, "Then I will accept it with all my heart!"

Chen Feng changed the subject and asked, "Brother, you came all the way here, it's impossible that you came here just to give me New Year's benefits, right? Just tell me what you want, and I will definitely do it for you if I can."

Seeing that Chen Feng had made his point clear, Hou Debang stopped being polite and said, "We have prepared the New Year benefits for the employees of our steel mill, but the benefits for the leaders are still a little short. I came here just to ask you if you have any stock, brother? For example, wild boar meat!"

Chen Feng heard Hou Debang's words and once again sighed that he was well-informed. He had just sent wild boar meat to the street office and the scrap yard the day before yesterday, and he came to find it today.

Chen Feng raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a hint of a smile, and said in a relaxed tone: "Brother, you are so well-informed! What a pity, the wild boar meat is gone, and there are only more than 30 kilograms left for me to enjoy. This little meat is not enough for you to share."

Changing the subject, Chen Feng continued, "However, I still have more than 40 large fish weighing more than 10 kilograms, each of which is plump and delicious. In addition, there are a full 100 bottles of tiger bone wine! Look, do these things suit your taste?"

When Section Chief Hou heard that there was no wild boar meat, his face instantly turned gloomy, but when he heard that there were big fish and tiger bone wine, his eyes immediately lit up and his smile became even brighter. After all, such a huge fish is rare nowadays, and tiger bone wine is an even rarer treasure.

As soon as Chen Feng finished speaking, Hou Debang immediately said, "I want all of these. How much are you willing to sell them for?"

Chen Feng lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then looked up at Section Chief Hou and said, "Tiger bone wine is 3.5 yuan, the same price as Tong Ren Tang. This batch of wine is also made by Tong Ren Tang. Fish is 3 yuan per catty. We bought it at this price two days ago. Brother, do you think it's okay?"

After thinking about it for a while, Hou Debang felt that the price was quite reasonable, so he asked, "When can you deliver the goods to me?"

Chen Feng responded with a relaxed look: "If you are in a hurry, I can send it to you at noon today."

Hou Debang nodded and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you at the factory at noon. Brother, you better hurry up!"

Chen Feng smiled and nodded, indicating that it would be delivered on time.

After the two men finished their discussion, Hou Debang sat for a while, then stood up and said goodbye and left.