Chapter Forty-Nine: Xiao Liuzi’s Family

The fourth day of the first lunar month was deemed auspicious for assuming office, traveling, seeking fortune, and similar endeavors, but inauspicious for marriage or moving into a new residence.

After breakfast, Chen Liang, who usually accompanied his beloved Xiaoyu to work, made an exception and hurried to the home of his neighbor, Xiao Liuzi.

Xiao Liuzi, having finished his own breakfast, prepared to leave for work under the indifferent gaze of his family. As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw Chen Liang standing by the moon gate in the courtyard, smoking.

“Liang, what brings you here? Is something the matter?” Xiao Liuzi asked, quickly approaching him.

To keep his job, Xiao Liuzi had completely fallen out with his older siblings. As mentioned before, in this era, when a family had a job allocation, it went to the eldest child first. Xiao Liuzi, judging by his name, was the sixth in line, with five siblings above him.

Moreover, because he had inherited his wife Xiaoyu’s job quota, he was assigned to a kindergarten, a highly coveted position, making him the target of everyone’s envy at home.

Those without jobs wanted his quota, while his eldest sister, already employed, coveted his position. Originally, Xiao Liuzi thought swapping jobs with his sister would be no trouble, but at the last moment, he discovered she had already arranged for her quota to go to their second brother, disregarding him entirely.

Unable to accept this, Xiao Liuzi quarreled fiercely with his family, and except for his parents, fell out with all his siblings.

“Of course I’m here for you. Why else would I come? Let’s walk and talk,” Chen Liang said, unwilling to linger. In the neighborhood, every household had its secrets exposed, and Xiao Liuzi’s family drama over the job had long been the talk of the town.

Chen Liang held little respect for Xiao Liuzi’s siblings. Lacking ability, they tried to seize their brother’s opportunity—such behavior was beneath contempt.

If they couldn't secure a quota, they could always work as temporary laborers in the factory, endure a few years, and eventually earn a permanent position. But they lacked both skill and the willingness to work hard—how could they expect fortune to fall into their laps?

“How is it at the kindergarten?” Chen Liang asked.

“Oh, Liang, don’t even mention it! I spend every day guarding the reception with Grandpa Qin. If you hadn’t come, I’d have grown moldy!” Xiao Liuzi complained.

Clearly not suited for childcare, Xiao Liuzi had been assigned by the principal to work alongside the gatekeeper, Grandpa Qin, passing his days idly, bored out of his mind.

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Indeed, Grandpa Qin was the gatekeeper—another formidable figure!

“All right, I start work today. Go fetch your introduction letter, and we’ll take care of your matter together,” Chen Liang said, pulling an envelope from his satchel and waving it before Xiao Liuzi.

“That’s wonderful, Liang! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day!” Xiao Liuzi was ecstatic.

“Go to the kindergarten for your introduction letter, then wait for me at the north gate of the Red Star Steel Mill. Got it?” After giving instructions, Chen Liang parted ways with him.

Both traveled on foot. By the time Chen Liang reached the north gate and was sharing a cigarette with his uncle, Lu Youwei, Xiao Liuzi arrived, drenched in sweat from his run.

Seeing Xiao Liuzi had run all the way, Chen Liang ended his conversation, tossed him a Hongtashan cigarette, and told him to rest before proceeding.

While they sat in the security office smoking, Chen Liang checked that no one was nearby and then asked, “Xiao Liuzi, let me ask—do you want to work in the workshop or join me in the security department?”

In those days, workers were top dogs. Someone like Xiao Liuzi, with a job quota, would start as a first-level worker in the workshop, earning twenty-one yuan and fifty cents a month—three yuan and fifty cents more than a new hire in security.

Don’t underestimate those three yuan and fifty cents; it was enough to feed an adult for a week.

That’s why Chen Liang asked—he didn’t want his good intentions to go awry. He wasn’t short on those three yuan and fifty cents, but who could say what Xiao Liuzi wanted?

Such matters must never be assumed; otherwise, one risks offending both sides.

Without hesitation, Xiao Liuzi replied, “Liang, I want to join you in the security department! With my build, how could I handle those heavy steel cakes?”

Back then, without hydraulic presses, newcomers in the workshop spent their first year hammering freshly cast steel ingots into molds—the so-called ‘hammering steel cakes.’

It was real hard labor, and with Xiao Liuzi’s slight frame, he truly wasn’t cut out for it.

“Understood. When the time comes, don’t say a word—just follow my lead,” Chen Liang nodded knowingly.

Once they’d rested enough, Chen Liang gave his uncle a pack of Huazi cigarettes, then left the security office with Xiao Liuzi.

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When Chen Liang and Xiao Liuzi arrived at the Red Star Steel Mill’s administration building and found the personnel office, nothing dramatic occurred—no face-slapping or grand gestures.

After all, Chen Liang was a second-generation at the mill; his father, Chen Dashan, had some influence.

The personnel director, a stout man surnamed Wang, will be referred to as Director Wang.

Chen Liang and Xiao Liuzi placed their introduction letters on the desk. Chen Liang signaled Xiao Liuzi to wait outside—too many people around for private dealings.

“Director Wang, hello! I’m Chen Liang. My uncle is Lu Youwei, and my father is Chen Dashan.”

For a private transaction, one must first prove their worth. Otherwise, as a penniless youth fresh from the countryside, no one would pay attention.

Hearing this, Director Wang, who had been ignoring them, looked up and sized them up carefully.

Chen Liang, unfazed by his silence, continued, “Director Wang, my uncle has already spoken to the security department. I’d like to bring another person along—could you help us by stamping an extra letter?”

If it were only Chen Liang, there’d be no need to engage the personnel office; a stamp would suffice. But bringing Xiao Liuzi was different—he was transferring posts, and the personnel office could easily refuse, sending him back where he came from.

“Rest assured, Director Wang, we understand the rules. You won’t be helping us for nothing,” Chen Liang said, pulling out two cartons of Hongtashan cigarettes from his satchel and handing them over.

At seventy-five cents a pack, two cartons cost fifteen yuan—more than half the monthly wage of an ordinary worker. It was a generous gift.

Sure enough, gifts open doors. Director Wang accepted the cigarettes without a word, stamped the letters with two crisp thuds.

The hardest step was behind them. As for the security department, with his uncle Lu Youwei’s connections, everything would be smooth sailing—nothing to worry about.