Siheyuan: Struggle Begins in the 1950s

"Old Yi, what are you looking at?"

Seeing her husband staring out the window, Zhao Guilan couldn't help but ask.

Yi Zhonghai was awakened by Zhao Guilan's voice.

He immediately drank a cup of tea to cover up his embarrassment and said:

"I just happened to see Shazhu and Huairu coming back together. Huairu is really something. She doesn't know how to be discreet. Wouldn't it be misunderstood if Shazhu, a bachelor, went with him?"

"What misunderstanding is there? Shazhu doesn't have a boyfriend, and Huairu doesn't have a boyfriend either. If they both have that intention, there's nothing wrong with them being together."

"Nonsense, how can the two of them be together!"

Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but said angrily.

Zhao Guilan was startled. She looked at Yi Zhonghai in confusion and asked:

"Old Yi, what's wrong with you?"

Yi Zhonghai also realized that he had lost his composure, and he immediately found an excuse for himself and said:

"After all, Huairu has given birth to three children, and she is two years older than Shazhu. These two are not suitable at all, so don't try to match them up."

"That's true. I think Huairu has had a hard time. Dongxu is your apprentice after all, so you should help her more in the factory.

I'll go to the street office someday to see if anyone can introduce her to a partner. This woman still needs a man by her side to rely on."

Hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt unhappy. He could only find an excuse and said:

"How can this be possible? If Huairu remarries, what will happen to her mother-in-law? And who will take care of Huairu's three children?"

Zhao Guilan sighed when she heard Yi Zhonghai say this. As a woman herself, she felt very sympathetic towards Qin Huairu's situation.

But she didn't know that Yi Zhonghai said this only because he regarded Qin Huairu as his own exclusive lover.

The next day, Qin Huairu did as Sha Zhu said and waited until everyone in the factory had finished their meal before going to the cafeteria.

Sha Zhu had been waiting for her here for a long time. The two exchanged glances and Qin Huairu ordered three steamed buns and two dishes.

But he only paid for a steamed bun.

There is still a lot of room for maneuver when serving food in the cafeteria.

If it was just to give Qin Huairu an extra meal, Sha Zhu could still do it.

Qin Huairu was a little nervous because it was her first time taking advantage of the public, but the satisfaction of eating the steamed bread made her feel a lot more at ease.

Nothing is more important than having enough food at this time.

With Sha Zhu's help, Qin Huairu no longer has to go hungry in the factory.

But the problem of eating was solved, but the work issues were difficult to solve.

Apart from being taken advantage of by a group of men with their eyes every day, Qin Huairu's biggest headache is the work of locksmith.

After all, before this, she was just a housewife, and it was really difficult for her to do Jia Dongxu's work.

Her master did not teach her wholeheartedly, so Qin Huairu often made mistakes when processing workpieces in the first few days.

Because he produced too many defective products, he would be scolded by Guo Dapiezi almost every day.

In this state, Qin Huairu felt overwhelmed after working for a few days.

Finally, after working for half a month, Qin Huairu took the opportunity to go find Yi Zhonghai during the lunch break.

"Uncle Yi, I really have no other choice. Can you help me find a way to transfer me to your workshop?"

Qin Huairu felt that the only person who could help her in this factory was Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai was very excited when he saw Qin Huairu finally came to see him.

He adjusted his mood and asked in a puzzled manner:

"What's wrong, Huairu? Aren't you working well in the workshop?"

"Uncle Yi, you don't know that I don't really understand what my master taught me. I wanted to ask him more but he just gave me a few perfunctory questions."

Yi Zhonghai thought to himself, how could I not know that?

The workshop that Qin Huairu went to was the one he got through his connections.

As for the master who taught Qin Huairu, he was his apprentice.

Whether the disciple is willing to teach diligently or not is up to Yi Zhonghai's words.

Yi Zhonghai was proud in his heart, but he had an embarrassed expression on his face and said:

"But Huairu, this matter is a bit difficult for me to handle. Position arrangement is the job of the workshop director. If I ask him rashly, he won't agree."

Qin Huairu understood what Yi Zhonghai meant. Just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

She then pleaded with Yi Zhonghai:

"Uncle Yi, I can only ask you for help in this matter. You are an eighth-level worker in the factory, so I think you still have a say in the factory."

Yi Zhonghai considered it for a while and then gritted his teeth and said:

"Then I'll give it a try, but I can't guarantee whether it will work."

Qin Huairu was very happy to see that Yi Zhonghai was willing to help.

He kept expressing his gratitude to Yi Zhonghai.

But after waiting for a few days, Yi Zhonghai found Qin Huairu again and said that this matter might not be accomplished.

"Huai Ru, this is a bit difficult. The workshop director has a big appetite. He wants 100 yuan before he is willing to transfer you to another position."

Hearing this, Qin Huairu was also dumbfounded.

It actually costs a hundred dollars.

Where would she get so much money?

Although Jia Dongxu's compensation was several hundred yuan, all the money was taken away by Jia Zhang in the name of retirement support.

All her savings added up to less than ten dollars.

Qin Huairu said pitifully:

"Yi...Uncle Yi, but I don't have that much money."

Yi Zhonghai thought to himself, of course I know you have no money.

He said with difficulty:

"Huai Ru, see if you can go back to your mother-in-law and ask for some of the money. Let's finalize the job first."

Qin Huairu hesitated for a while before asking a little embarrassedly:

"Uncle Yi, can you lend me a hundred dollars first? Don't worry, I'll pay you back when I get my salary."

Yi Zhonghai said with some embarrassment:

"Huai Ru, it's not that Uncle Yi doesn't want to help you. But you also know that I lost a lot of money to He Daqing before. Now I don't have much savings. Your Aunt Zhao and I have no children. When we get old, we can only rely on the money I earn for our retirement."

Qin Huairu was a little at a loss when she heard Yi Zhonghai say this.

If Yi Zhonghai can't help me, who else can?

Seeing Qin Huairu panicking, Yi Zhonghai felt secretly proud.

He then pretended to be embarrassed and said to Qin Huairu:

"Huai Ru, actually it's not impossible for Master Yi to help you with this matter..."

When Qin Huairu heard the hint of hope in Yi Zhonghai's words, her eyes lit up.

"Uncle Yi, you said that as long as you are willing to help me, I will definitely repay you in the future."

Yi Zhonghai looked at Qin Huairu's anxious expression and a hint of heat flashed through his heart.

He looked at Qin Huairu's face and said slowly:

"Huai Ru, I need help with something. As long as you are willing to help me, I will help you with your job transfer. And if you have any difficulties in the future, Uncle Yi can help you solve them."