Chapter 427: Hot and Chilling
Chapter 427: Hot and Chilling
Time flies, and it's only a few days away from the Chinese New Year.
As soon as we got to work today, everyone was absent-minded and kept looking up at the radio from time to time.
Today is the day to decide who will be the outstanding workers, and it is also the day to decide who will receive the year-end bonus.
Everyone has worked hard these past few months just for today's bicycle ticket.
Those who have won prizes before cannot participate in today's rewards, which gives everyone great hope of winning.
"Why is it so slow today? We're already halfway through the morning, and there's still no broadcast." A worker complained.
"Why are you in such a hurry? What's the use of being in a hurry?"
"How can I not be anxious? Didn't I come to work today just to wait for this broadcast?" he retorted, putting down the tools in his hands.
"It doesn't matter if you won it before, but I didn't. I'm just waiting for this big prize so that I can have a good year."
This scene appeared everywhere in the steel mill, and everyone was looking forward to the broadcast.
"Hoohoo~" I don't know how long I waited, but suddenly a sound appeared on the radio.
"It's made a sound, it's made a sound." The workers told the people around them one by one.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the broadcast.
"The Red Star Steel Rolling Mill Radio Station is now announcing the outstanding workers of the month."
"Workers Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu from the first workshop."
"Workers Zhao Liu and Sun Qi from the second workshop."
"Workers in the foundry workshop: Zhou Ba, Wu Jiu, Jiang Tao, and Zheng Shi."
"The above workers are the outstanding workers of the month. Let us give them a round of applause to encourage them."
“I hope other workers can learn from them, keep up the good work and achieve even better results.”
“Now, let us welcome the workers who have won the first prize this month as announced by the Director of the Publicity Department.”
After hearing this last sentence, everyone in the steel mill was concentrating and listening to the broadcast with their ears pricked up, for fear of missing a single word.
"Gudong~" Someone swallowed nervously.
"It's me, it's me~" Someone whispered his own name.
"Workshop 7, Workshop 7."
The slogans that everyone silently recites in their hearts are different, but in the final analysis, it is still themselves.
"Ahem~" The Director of the Propaganda Department coughed twice, "I announce that the winner of the first prize for outstanding workers this month is..."
“It’s a foundry workshop”
"Ah~" When they heard that it was not the name of their workshop, they were instantly distraught, dejected and extremely disappointed.
Except for the workers in the foundry workshop who were staring at the broadcast intently and sweating from nervousness.
"It's me, it's me, it must be me." Someone clenched his fists and said to himself.
"Let us congratulate Comrade Jiang Tao!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the workers in the foundry workshop all turned to look at Jiang Tao, who had won the prize.
At this time, Jiang Tao pointed at himself in disbelief, with a look of astonishment on his face, obviously in disbelief.
But soon, Jiang Tao cheered: "It's me! It's me! I won the prize!"
Shouting loudly, he ran happily in the foundry workshop.
"Oh, what a pity." Everyone was disappointed, but they did not feel envious or jealous. After all, getting the first prize was not a matter of luck.
"Congratulations!" Everyone congratulated.
The broadcast continued: "Workers who did not win awards should not lose heart. Let's keep working hard and strive for excellence in the new year."
"This is the end of the selection process for outstanding workers. Next, please go to the logistics department in an orderly manner to collect your year-end benefits."
"Wuhu~" Upon hearing this, everyone's frustrated mood instantly became excited.
According to convention, wages, food, meat, daily necessities, etc. can be received at the end of each year.
Logistics Office.
"Hey, what can you say we can get this year? Last year we could get pork, rice, flour, soap, towels, and so on. There are so many things."
"Yeah, although this year is not very good, it can't be too bad, right?"
"That's right. We work hard for a year. If the pay is too bad, then why do we work?"
Everyone at the steel mill was hoping for a bigger year-end bonus, but the reality was disappointing.
"What did you say? This is all we have today. There is nothing else. This is too little!" A worker glared at the logistics staff.
The staff member said coldly: "That's it, that's all."
"Impossible, how could there be only one? Did you embezzle money?" the workers said excitedly.
The staff member angrily responded: "Hey, I'm the police, stop talking nonsense, or I'll ask the security guards to arrest you."
"This was all arranged by the leadership, not decided by me. I only took a few pieces of meat tickets, so what did I embezzle?"
Seeing the staff's angry look, the workers in the queue looked at each other.
"It's not that bad. If it's half off last year, we can still accept it. But you've already been cut in half, how can it be just this low?"
The staff member retorted: "So what? You can talk to your boss. It's not my decision."
"It's up to you whether you want it or not. It's just right if you don't want it. This amount of meat coupons is not enough for me."
As he said this, he was about to pick up the three taels of meat on the table.
"No!" The worker worked quickly and snatched the meat away in the blink of an eye.
"Forget it. At least I have meat coupons. I can buy some meat dumplings. It's better than nothing."
After receiving the meat tickets and their wages, the workers left in despair once again.
The workers didn't say anything more. They took their meat coupons and wages and left in silence.
"This year's year-end bonus is so hot. There's only this much. How can I explain it when I go back?" someone said helplessly.
"If I had known I would not have accepted the award so early. Look at those who accepted the awards this month. At least they got something else. They can have a good New Year. Look at us. Alas~"
Everyone couldn't help but regret accepting the award so early.
"Okay, let's go back. After work, we'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative, or at worst, the black market. After all, it's the New Year, so we have to buy something good."
The workers returned to the workshop one after another.
Transport team.
Li Kailang, Zhang Fen and Lu Wenjiang received their year-end bonuses together.
"I was thinking of having something good at the end of the year, but this is all I can get. How can I eat?" Zhang Fen couldn't help but sigh.
"I have a housewarming party to hold, this little bit of meat is not enough!"
Zhang Fen and Yu Xuewei's new home, a family of seven including Zhang Jinwu and his wife, Zhang Ya, Yu's father and mother plan to live together.
In addition, he had originally planned to invite Li Kailang and Lu Wenjiang and his wife to spend the night together, but now he decided to give up the plan in order to avoid being inadequate in his hospitality and neglecting them.
If you want to have a good meal during the Chinese New Year now, you have to combine the meat coupons of three families, and even then you can’t eat much.
"Yeah." Lu Wenjiang nodded in agreement. "I was thinking of giving my wife some nourishment during the Chinese New Year, but now it seems I'd better forget it."
"Brother Lu, why don't you take mine? Even though it's not much, you can give it to your sister-in-law first." Li Kailang handed over his meat ticket.
"Sister-in-law is about to give birth, so she needs to eat something good to replenish her body."
Luo Ruiyun's due date is very close. She got pregnant on May Day last year and was due to give birth in February this year. It is only one week away from February now.
Although the exact due date is unclear, we still need to prepare in advance.
After all, pregnancy and childbirth do not necessarily take 10 months, and some people may give birth a few days earlier.
Lu Wenjiang hurriedly pushed Li Kailang's hand back: "No, no, you only have this much, how can I have the nerve to take yours again."
Seeing Lu Wenjiang's determined look, Li Kailang no longer insisted, "Okay, I think while we still have time, let's think of a way to go to the black market and have a look."
"We can only look at the black market." Zhang Fen and Lu Wenjiang said in unison.
"It would be great if I could drive to the countryside. It always makes sense to give it a try. But I don't know if they will allow me to drive the car?" Zhang Fen sighed.
Without a mission, they would have no way to drive the car out, unless it was Zhang Jinwu, the captain of the transport team, who could drive the car out without a mission and just send a note.
However, Zhang Jinwu abides by the rules and rarely uses this method to make things easier for himself. Lu Wenjiang suggested: "Why don't we ask the master to think of a solution? Drive the car to the countryside. Rural areas also celebrate the New Year. They must have something to exchange."
"How about giving it a try?" Li Kailang asked tentatively.
Zhang Fen nodded: "I think it's okay."
The three of them went to talk to Zhang Jinwu.
The result was not satisfactory, and Zhang Jinwu did not agree to the three people's proposal.
"During the meeting this morning, Director Yang said that all materials in the factory will be checked in the next few days. Nothing can be moved. You should just give up on this idea."
"Master, even you are not able to do this?" Lu Wenjiang said unwillingly.
Zhang Jinwu shook his head helplessly: "Me too, this time it was Director Yang who personally ordered it and will personally be in charge of the inspection. I will also be present at the time, so there is nothing I can do."
After hearing this, the three of them completely gave up and left the office.
"Why would Director Yang check the supplies in the factory when there is nothing wrong? This never happens normally." Lu Wenjiang was puzzled.
"I don't know. It didn't happen last year or the year before last." Li Kailang was also puzzled.
"Then we can only try our luck at the black market. We can only hope that the black market can sell food, pork, etc. We must buy them no matter how expensive they are." Zhang Fen said helplessly.
Several people were in the transport team, waiting for the announcement that they were off work.
"Jingle Bell--"
“Get off work and get off work!”
The steel mill was filled with cheers as people went home after get off work.
There are still 6 days from now until we go back to work on the fourth day of the New Year.
"Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative."
The three of them rode their bicycles to the supply and marketing cooperative to exchange their meat coupons for pork first. If they arrived too late, there would be no pork left.
"Hey, don't be anxious, don't be anxious!"
"Hey, what are you doing? You want to cut in line? Go and queue up! Can't you see that everyone else is queuing up? You're the only one who wants to cut in line? How dare you do that?"
"Get in line! You want to cut in line? You're dreaming!"
At the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, there was a huge crowd of people, and people were everywhere.
"Oh my god, why are there so many people!" Zhang Fen couldn't help but sigh.
"Stop talking, stop the car and get in line!"
"You guys line up, and stop the car!" Li Kailang said hurriedly, handing over his hostage ticket.
"Row."
Zhang Fen and Lu Wenjiang hurried to line up.
I don’t know how long they waited in line, but it was finally their turn. Looking at the only few large pieces of pork on the table, the two of them were obviously relieved.
"Comrade, give me three ounces of pork."
Giving the ticket, paying the money and taking the meat, all in one smooth move.
After buying the pork, the three of them didn't stay in the supply and marketing cooperative for long. After all, they didn't have tickets with them, so it was useless to just look around, which only added to their sadness.
"Hurry up and check the black market."
The three of them rushed to the black market again, and just like the supply and marketing cooperative, there was a huge crowd of people.
But there were no sellers on the black market. Everyone was just staring at each other with nothing in sight.
"Forget it, it seems there is nothing left. Let's go back and come back in the evening." Zhang Fen said.
"Row."
Zhang Fen and Li Kailang went back together.
night.
After agreeing on a time, Zhang Fen and Lu Wenjiang met near Li Kailang's yard.
"Let's go."
Led by Li Kailang, the three of them headed towards the nearest black market.
The streets were brightly lit, and everyone was heading towards the black market with lights on, no need to bring flashlights.
It didn't take long before they arrived at the black market. The person who was originally guarding the door to collect money didn't dare to collect money when he saw so many people coming, for fear that he would be attacked by the crowd.
The door to the black market opened wide and the three of them walked in.
"Oh my god, are there so many people?"
Zhang Fen could not help but stare in amazement at the crowded scene in front of him.
"Am I blind? Why are there so many people?" Zhang Fen rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"This is the first time I see so many people. It's really eye-opening that the black market is so crowded one day." Lu Wenjiang murmured.
"Okay, hurry up and buy it. If you go too late with so many people, it will be sold out." Li Kailang said.
Suddenly, a quarrel was heard.
"Hey, boss, are you kidding me? Why is it so expensive?"
"How is it expensive? It's been this price for so many days. Don't say that with your eyes open. It's very difficult for us to do business."
"This is not expensive. Your whole grains are 4 yuan per pound. This is not expensive. It used to be 1 cent per pound."
"And your pork is 10 yuan per pound, isn't that expensive? It was only 5 yuan per pound a few days ago."
Food prices have increased 10 to 20 times.
The price of pork has increased 10 to 15 times.
At this price, no one can help crying.
The boss said, "What? If you think it's too expensive, then don't buy it. Don't delay my business. The price is this now. It's already good. It's only increased a little."
"Do you want it? Don't walk away so quickly, don't delay the people behind you from buying it!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the people behind him immediately echoed them.
"Yes, do you want it?"
"If you want it, hurry up, don't get in the way!"
One person kindly advised: "Comrade, it's Chinese New Year, you should buy some to make it through, you can't just skip the New Year."
Upon hearing this, he cursed: "Damn it, what kind of New Year is this? Isn't this just robbing money?"
"Comrade, do you want to buy it?"
"Buy!" he said through gritted teeth.
"How much?" the boss asked indifferently.
"Give me one pound, not half a pound."
"Okay." The boss cut off half a pound neatly.
He gritted his teeth and took out 5 dollars.
These 5 yuan are enough for a poor person to eat for a month, and are one sixth of his salary.
"What's the point of celebrating this year!" After taking the pork, he left disappointed.
Everyone felt the same way and was very disappointed with this Spring Festival.
But this Spring Festival will not only be celebrated once, but will be experienced twice more later.
"It's so hard and tiring~" everyone couldn't help but sigh in their hearts.
In order to prepare for the New Year, everyone's heart is as cold as frost in July.
"Let's line up." After hearing the quarrel, the three of them started to line up.
Unlike the general public who are stingy, they earn a lot of money and are naturally willing to spend it.
But no matter how much money you have, you can't help spending it like this.
Li Kailang looked at the huge crowds of people in front of him and thought to himself: "It's time to sell it."
(End of this chapter)