Siheyuan: Survival Guide for Courtyard No. 95

Zhao Shanhe listened obediently and thought that Uncle Yao asked him to get some more fish as welfare for the factory. However, the steel rolling mill was a large factory with tens of thousands of employees. Even if he had a small world, he couldn't get so many.

Besides, this doesn't fit his personality. In this era, he just wants to live a good life.

"Uncle Yao, you think too highly of me. If I try hard, I might be able to catch a few dozen kilograms of fish. But with so many people in our factory, even if we drain all the water from Shichahai, we still can't catch tens of thousands of fish. You should think of another way."

"I didn't ask you to get tens of thousands of fish. You can get as many as you can. Even if you can only get a few dozen kilograms, we can have a dinner party at the end of the year and drink some fish soup. After the party, the factory leaders can do some ideological work for everyone and explain the current difficulties of the country. This way, the employees won't be too upset, and our purchasing department won't have to bear the blame for not being able to procure anything."

Zhao Shanhe only knew that China would enter a three-year period of natural disasters starting next year, but he did not expect that it would be so difficult by the end of 58. He scratched his head, thought for a while and said.

"Okay, I'll take the job. It's only you, Uncle Yao, who asked. I won't care about anyone else. But I have a condition. Don't tell anyone that I got the fish. Otherwise, even if no one in the factory asks me for the fish, the people in my yard won't let me off easily."

Yao Decai was relieved when he saw Zhao Shanhe agreed. As long as the other party could get dozens of kilograms of fish, he would be able to escape danger. As for what name he could use to get these fish into the factory, there were many ways to do that.

“Let’s do this. The Purchasing Department has a small warehouse next to the courtyard of No. 104 Ande Road. It is used to store some supplies in the summer and is always idle in the winter.

When you catch fish, just pull them there directly. Don’t send them to the factory. The fish won’t be frozen in this winter. Come and tell me when you have enough.

I'll ask the driver team to send someone to secretly bring it back. If anyone asks me, I'll say that I bought it from the pigeon market or the black market for the party. I don't believe anyone would dare to ask. Besides, there are several black markets in this city. If I don't tell them, who would know which black market I bought it from?"

After listening to what Yao Decai said, Zhao Shanhe also felt that this was a good idea. It seemed that the other party had done this kind of thing many times before, and even the process had become a routine.

"Just do as you say, Uncle Yao. I'll get it done for you as soon as possible, and try not to delay the year-end dinner."

Only when Yao De saw that he had finally dealt with this mess did he pick up the teacup and take a sip to moisten his throat.

"Then I'll wait for your news. Once this is done, I promise that your work won't be in vain when we upgrade next year."

Seeing the other party serving tea to see him off, Zhao Shanhe stood up and said goodbye. He had to go to Yard 104 first to see the situation there. He couldn't fight a battle without preparation.

I originally wanted to have a lunch at the factory, but it seems that’s impossible. Damn this life of hard work.

10 a.m., office of the director of logistics department of the steel rolling mill.

Li Huaide felt that nothing had gone well in the past two days. The purchasing department reported last weekend that it was very difficult to purchase meat now, and the employees in the factory had not seen any benefits for a long time. He had planned to visit his father-in-law on Sunday and ask him to write a note for him, but when he went there, there was no note and he was scolded.

There are difficulties everywhere now. When you encounter difficulties, don't always think about help from above, but try to solve them by yourself.

Li Huaide couldn't help but laugh at himself when he thought of this. If I could solve it, would I marry your daughter? She's so fat that she's about to crush me to death.

He didn't dare to say these words in his heart. If he wanted to make further progress in the future, he would need the help of his father-in-law. After thinking about it at home all night, he finally came up with some ideas.

After work today, I called Deputy Director Ye of the meat processing plant and invited him to come and taste Sha Zhu's cooking. After the invitation was sent out, the canteen director and the small kitchen manager told him that there was not enough meat. I asked them if Chen Lijuan had just delivered 30 kilograms of pork last week, so how come it was gone?

As a result, the two men also complained to him. Last Tuesday, Director Yang invited his superiors to come for investigation. On Wednesday, Deputy Director Nie invited engineers from other factories to exchange experiences. Although no one from other factories came on Thursday and Friday, the leaders in the factory also had to eat and drink. When they got off work on Saturday, they counted and found that less than 30 kilograms of pork were left out of 2 kilograms.

This bad news made Li Huaide feel dizzy. The guests were arriving at noon, and there was no meat. You asked the leaders of the meat processing plant to eat cabbage, potatoes and radishes? Do you believe that they can reduce the meat portion of the steel mill for several months next year?

In the end, it was the warehouse manager in Xiaozao who was quick-witted.

"Director Li, if we don't have that much meat, how about fish? Yesterday, Comrade Zhao Shanhe from the purchasing team sent over several dozen kilograms of fish, including a grass carp weighing more than 8 kilograms. This is a rare large item. I don't think even Deputy Director Ye has seen such a large one."

When Li Huaide heard that the grass carp weighed more than 8 kilograms, he immediately became energetic and his complexion became much better.

"Are you sure it's a grass carp weighing more than 8 jin?"

"Yes, Director. Although I was not on duty yesterday, when I took over in the morning, I heard that such a large fish had been put into the warehouse. I went to weigh it specially and I can guarantee that it is correct."

"You, lead the way. I'm going to go take a look at the fish. To be honest, I've never seen a fish this big."

Upon hearing the good news, Li Huaide's tone of voice changed with joy.

When the three people arrived at the small kitchen warehouse, Li Huaide couldn't help but smile when he saw the big grass carp that was more than 60 centimeters long.

"This fish is good, really good."

He turned to the cafeteria director and said.

"Go ask Sha Zhu if he knows how to cook this big fish. If he can, we can eat it for lunch. But don't cut it yet. Wait for Deputy Director Ye and his team to come and let them open their eyes. This will show the sincerity of our steel mill."

More than an hour later, Deputy Director Ye brought his two confidants from the Meat Processing Plant to the steel rolling mill. Li Huaide went to the door to greet them as he had a request for help. They did not go to the cafeteria, but were pulled by Li Huaide to the warehouse to admire the big fish. Sure enough, the three people who came were very excited.

"Lao Li, there are talented people in your factory. I have only eaten such a big fish once in Baiyangdian. After I was transferred to work in Sijiucheng, I have never seen such a big one again.

It seems that we are able to enjoy a good meal today thanks to you."

"Haha, Old Ye, you are always so polite. Let's go to my office to have some tea first. We'll go to the restaurant after the food is ready. You won't blame me for letting you starve for a while, right?"

"How could that be? I've heard that you, Old Li, have great tea. I must try it today."

Several leaders left the warehouse chatting and laughing. The canteen director hurriedly asked people to carry the fish to the third canteen and asked Sha Zhu to start the operation.

When the fish arrived at the cafeteria, it also caused a lot of exclamations, and even the chefs in the kitchen were stunned.

Nowadays, it is considered a luxury for ordinary people to get a two-pound fish during the Chinese New Year. Fish weighing more than eight pounds are unheard of, let alone seen.

Fortunately, Sha Zhu was born in Emei Hotel and had seen the world. He had figured out the method of cooking the fish and started chopping it with a knife.