Chen Jianye returned home, tidied up briefly, and sat at the entrance with a chair to pick vegetables.
"Jianye, I heard the transfer list for the Rolling Mill is out. Did you pass?"
Liu Haizhong passed by the Middle Courtyard and specifically asked.
"I passed."
Chen Jianye sat at the entrance and said calmly.
"You're good, kid, really impressive."
Liu Haizhong had only asked casually, not expecting Chen Jianye to have actually passed.
"It's all thanks to the excellent training from the Leader."
Chen Jianye smiled, his tone very flat.
In the Courtyard, he didn't want to talk much about work.
"Work hard. Once you transfer again in the second half of the year, you can start looking for a partner."
"As a Second-Level Fitter, you can find a good girl from the city; you'll have room to choose."
Liu Haizhong encouraged him, leaving with a hint of shock.
He was stating a fact.
An Intern Fitter might have gotten an entry ticket to blind dates, but city girls were very picky and wouldn't even consider an Intern Fitter.
Because of the Four Nine City's special household registration system, children followed their mother's household registration, giving city girls a very high starting point.
Simply put, if a city man married a city girl, their future children would all have urban household registration and enjoy 'rationed' grain supply.
If a city man married a country girl, their children would all have rural household registration and no 'rationed' grain.
Raising a child was not easy.
So city girls were very picky, and they indeed had the confidence to be so.
A First-Level Fitter might make a city girl look a few more times, but that was it; they would still need to look at others.
If it was a Second-Level Fitter, with a monthly salary of 37.5, it would be enough to make a city girl's heart flutter.
They would have some initiative in the blind date market.
If it was a Second-Level Fitter in his early twenties, he would definitely be a hot commodity in the blind date market.
However, Chen Jianye wasn't particularly keen on just finding a woman to make do.
He currently had no thoughts of finding a partner.
Liu Haizhong learned that Chen Jianye had passed as a First-Level Fitter.
Soon, this news spread throughout the Courtyard.
This was the downside of living in a Siheyuan (Courtyard); even a small matter would quickly spread.
Meanwhile, Chen Jianye, the subject of the discussions, had already gone home to cook.
"If my son hadn't had that accident, he would be a Second-Level Fitter by now."
"What's so great about being a First-Level Fitter to brag about?"
Jia Zhangshi sat at the entrance, muttering.
After thinking for a moment, she ran to Yi Zhonghai's house.
"What do you want, Jia Family Sister-in-law?"
Yi Zhonghai said irritably.
He found Jia Zhangshi annoying, a shameless person.
"Let me tell you, the factory Leader wants someone from our Jia to take over a position at the Rolling Mill, promising us regularization in half a year."
"I remember Dongxu was a Second-Level Fitter, right? Don't you think the factory Leader should make us a Second-Level Fitter?"
Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around.
She felt she was losing out.
A Second-Level Fitter earned five yuan more per month than a First-Level Fitter.
That's sixty yuan a year.
"When was Dongxu a Second-Level Fitter? Are you dreaming?"
Jia Zhangshi had a 'subway elder looking at phone' expression.
"Why isn't he a Second-Level Fitter? He took the Carpentry exam with Chen Jianye, and Chen Jianye passed, so how could my Dongxu not pass?"
Jia Zhangshi said anxiously.
"Dongxu really didn't pass. He's been stuck at Second-Level Fitter for several years and just can't get past it."
"Alright, you should go back quickly, and don't think about such things."
"You can't take advantage of every opportunity in the world."
Yi Zhonghai waved his hand.
"You need to arrange Dongxu's funeral for our Jia. Quickly call the Second Master and Third Master over, and get it done tomorrow."
Jia Zhangshi was a bit unwilling and changed the subject.
"Let's talk about it later; I haven't eaten yet."
Yi Zhonghai said unhappily.
"You need to take this seriously and do it quickly, or I'll put Dongxu at your doorstep."
Jia Zhangshi also said unhappily.
"Alright, alright, go to the front and back Courtyards and call the Second Master and Third Master over."
Yi Zhonghai said helplessly.
Jia Zhangshi swung her arms and ran to the front and back Courtyards to call people.
The Three Great Masters gathered.
"First Master, what happened to your face?"
Yan Fugui curiously raised his eyebrows, then looked at Liu Haizhong: "Oh, Lao Liu, you have it on your face too. What did you two do?"
"Caught by an unreasonable old woman."
Yi Zhonghai said irritably.
"Me too."
Liu Haizhong glared at Jia Zhangshi.
Yan Fugui seemed to realize something, glanced at Jia Zhangshi, and cleverly didn't continue to tease.
"Let's get to the point."
Jia Zhangshi, as the person involved, urged.
"Tomorrow, the Jia will host a banquet in the Courtyard for Jia Dongxu's funeral. We need to arrange the manpower."
Yi Zhonghai began to talk about the main business.
A funeral was a big deal, and if it was to be held, there had to be a proper procedure.
"I can come back at noon to record the gift register."
Yan Fugui volunteered.
The gift register keeper was considered a relatively leisurely yet profitable job during a banquet.
Just record accounts and collect money.
Generally, the host would give the gift register keeper two packs of cigarettes.
And they could also pack some leftover food.
"The Yan Family also needs to provide one person to help Sha Zhu with the cooking."
"The Liu Family also needs to provide one person to help."
Yi Zhonghai said.
"No problem for me."
Liu Haizhong agreed.
"Well, that's fine too."
Yan Fugui hesitated slightly, then also expressed agreement.
Seeing someone off was considered accumulating good karma for the Yan Family.
"Jia Family Sister-in-law, you go notify door-to-door. Your Jia is hosting the banquet to send Dongxu off for the last time, so someone from your Jia needs to go and tell them."
Yi Zhonghai instructed.
"Okay, I'll go now."
Jia Zhangshi rubbed her hands together.
"Oh, right, if you're hosting a banquet, you need to clearly tell Sha Zhu what needs to be bought, what will be used, and make sure everything is clear."
"If anything is missing, you can then ask everyone to chip in."
Yi Zhonghai further instructed.
"Don't worry, do I need you to teach me?"
Jia Zhangshi said unhappily.
Yi Zhonghai was choked for a moment, too lazy to bicker with Jia Zhangshi, and turned to leave.
Jia Zhangshi immediately started from the front Courtyard, going door-to-door to invite guests.
The Courtyard residents naturally all agreed.
Jia Zhangshi's journey was very smooth.
When she arrived at the Chen Family's door, Jia Zhangshi hesitated slightly, but still knocked on the Chen Family's door.
Although the Chen Family and the Jia Family had a feud, if the Chen Family came to the banquet, the one-yuan gift would be unavoidable.
The Chen Family only had Chen Jianye, unlike other families who brought their whole family, so no matter how much they ate, they wouldn't break even.
Who would turn down money?
"Who is it?"
Chen Jianye asked from inside the house.
"It's me, your Jia Family's old aunt."
Jia Zhangshi responded loudly.
"What's up?"
Chen Jianye was sitting at the dining table eating, too lazy to get up and open the door.
"Chen Jianye, tomorrow my Jia is seeing Dongxu off. Come for lunch, okay?"
Jia Zhangshi shouted.
"No."
Chen Jianye replied directly.
"Alright, alright, then lend me your Eight Immortals table for the event, that's fine, right!"
Jia Zhangshi was furious.
I came to invite you in person, and you won't even give me an inch of face.
You're really out of line!
"No borrowing!"
Chen Jianye replied.
"Chen Jianye, when your father passed away, my Jia ran around for your Jia, how much effort did we put in?"
"You! You are simply ungrateful, cold-hearted, and... you're truly a thousand-cut scoundrel!"
Jia Zhangshi stomped her foot in anger.
Not letting her take even a small advantage, it was truly infuriating!
Click!
The Chen Family's door opened.
Chen Jianye stood in front of Jia Zhangshi with a grim face.
"What do you want to do?"
"Let me tell you, I'm not afraid of you. If you dare hit me, I'll report you to the street office, and to the Rolling Mill!"
"I'm very familiar with several Leaders in the Security Section!"
Jia Zhangshi retreated a few steps, hands on her hips, shouting loudly.
Though she was intimidated, her imposing manner was not weak at all.
