1958, early winter.
South Luogu Lane, Sijiu City.
In the evening, Yan Jiecheng hurried into a courtyard.
He entered the gate, bypassed the screen wall and entered the wing room on the left.
Mom
Yan Jiecheng shouted to the woman who was cooking in the room, then took out his hands from his sleeves and leaned against the coal stove to warm them.
Mother Yan was only in her 30s, with short hair. The upper body was dressed in a grey cotton jacket, the lower side was a pair of wide pants with the same cloth color, and there were several patches in different shapes.
"Boss, I'm off work. Is today the last day?" Mother Yan asked casually without lifting her head.
Without waiting for Yan Jiecheng to answer, he said, "Have you finished your wages? Remember the living expenses at home."
Yan Jiecheng said badly, "You and your father are really good at accounting, and your own son needs living expenses."
"Can't you make a plan to support you guys? You've started to earn money by yourself, and you don't pay for your family's living expenses."
Yan Jiecheng argued, "I'm doing odd jobs. The railways over there have been completely demolished. No one will be needed after the street notice. If you really want living expenses, you and my father will find me a decent job. I promise to pay ten yuan a month."
"It's so beautiful. It's good to leave you five yuan a month, and pay ten yuan."
The mother and son teased each other for a few words, and Yan Jiecheng went to an inverted seat room next to the wing room.
The room is not big, about ten square meters. There is a high and low bed and some sundries in it, which makes it very cramped.
Yan Jiecheng took out a wooden box under the bed, took out the money in it, put it in his pocket, and counted it.
"93 yuan and 40 cents, three months, this year is not less." Yan Jiecheng said to himself, thinking of his three months.
I was a track engineer in my later life, and I fell down in an emergency. I woke up and arrived here, the 49th City in 1958.
The key is not the serious historical time and space, but the world of film and television drama "Love Full Siheyuan". Yan Jiecheng, the leader of the Three Elders' family, became the person in the play.
Yan Jiecheng graduated from junior high school this year and did not enter senior high school, let alone technical secondary school. He did not have a serious job and had to do odd jobs.
Fortunately, during this period of time, the railway bureau dismantled the ring railway and recruited a large number of workers, which was a stable job for three months. Because the construction period is very tight, the wages are generous. It costs 30 yuan to work 26 days a month.
Although the salary is higher than that of Yan Bugui, I will give you two meals.
But it's really hard work to dismantle the old railway. These days, there is no mechanical operation, and it's all manpower. Picking up ballast, resisting sleepers and lifting rails will not only kill you, but also kill you if you are not careful.
As a railway engineering professional, Yan Jiecheng had to go to the construction site and do maintenance for more than ten years.
In the days when there was no construction machinery, working was really awesome!
Fortunately, he also earned nearly one hundred yuan.
In the evening, the family ate around the table.
The corn paste is served with pickles. At first, Yan Jiecheng thought it was delicious. After the novelty, it was the belly protest. Now, seeing the corn paste, Erhemian Wowotou, I just feel sick.
Other people's Erhe noodles are a mixture of corn flour and wheat flour. His house is a mixture of corn flour and sorghum or bean flour, and the ground is not fine, so it is really loud.
Shih, Shih, Yan Bugui sucked the corn paste and asked Yan Jiecheng, "Boss, your work is over? It's a pity that there is no bread for Erhe noodles. Go to the street tomorrow to ask if there is any other work."
It is worthy of being the third uncle, still thinking about Yan Jiecheng's steamed bread on the construction site.
"It's not interesting to do odd jobs. Why don't you find me a job?" Yan Jiecheng said.
Just seeing Yan Bugui's face, it was obvious that he wanted to talk about the cost of living.
"Well, well, there are so many people in the family who want to eat that they can't afford to find a job. You should start paying living expenses for the family this month. Ten yuan a month is a must." The third uncle is not vague, and he will never let go of anything that can be calculated.
Yan Jiecheng felt bad: "Dad, you can calculate very well. Ten yuan is enough for two people to eat for a month, so it's better to have a meal of noodles and steamed buns." Then pointing to the corn paste in the bowl, he said, "Only three yuan is enough for heaven."
"Why did you talk to your father? What happened to corn paste? If I hadn't planned with your father, your corn paste would have eaten?" The three aunts pointed to the direction of the backyard and said, "You were born in 42 years, and the food would have a price every day. If you didn't plan to live? Your four brothers and sisters, your father and I were all in a tug of war. Look at how many people in the courtyard used to be... Alas..."
The third aunt sighed and said nothing.
The third uncle then said, "Those years were chaotic. In the troubled times, you sold your children and sold them. He changed his family for food. So, what do I plan to do? What do I calculate to live?"
Hearing this, Yan Jiecheng also understood the Third Uncle. Although life is much better now. But the calculating character can't be changed.
Yan Jiecheng finally gave in to the third uncle and handed in ten yuan a month for living expenses. Of course, the premise is to find a job.
There was nothing to say overnight.
Early the next morning, Yan Jiecheng wrapped himself in cotton padded clothes and headed for the street office.
After a while, we arrived at the 6 quadrangles of the street office. At first glance, there was a courtyard with two entrances. The staff came in and went out, which seemed very busy.
There were also some office workers pushing bicycles, which made Yan Jiecheng envious.
Stamp your feet and hurry to the front while Director Wang is free.
"Good morning, director." Yan Jiecheng said hello quickly.
Director Wang saw him and said with a smile, "It's your boy. What's the matter with Aunt Wang this morning?"
"Well, I haven't found a job since I graduated from junior high school. I've been doing odd jobs. Recently, I haven't had any odd jobs. Come to the street to see if you have any jobs." Yan Jiecheng quickly explained his intention.
Director Wang took out a notebook from the drawer and opened it carefully for a while. Close the book and say, "I have some here."
After a pause, he went on: "There is a cotton mill that recruits apprentices, and there is a third rolling mill that recruits electricians and circuit workers. Electricians need electrician certificates."
Yan Jiecheng was delighted to hear that.
Electrician, lineman, he is all right!
You should know that although he was an engineer in later generations, he started out as a lineman.
From intermediate workers to senior workers and then to technicians, they passed the exam all the way. Later, he was responsible for the training and grade examination of line workers. So the job of a lineman is to hold a grip.
Electricians are not incompetent.
Not to mention having studied construction electricity and other courses, but also to subsidize, they have taken the senior certificates of high and low voltage electricians respectively.
It must be very suitable to be an electrician in an age when the average person is illiterate.
After a few thoughts flashed through his mind, Yan Jiecheng said to Director Wang, "Aunt Wang, is there any electrician exam this year?"
