mijobooks Chapter 2: The Era
Chapter 2: The Era
Tang Zhenghong walked into Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office, thinking to himself that by 1960, the subdistrict office should also learn from Beixinqiao and merge to form an urban people's commune.
It was the same familiar face from my memory, Director Wang.
"Comrade Tang Zhenghong, congratulations on your recovery. You need the keys, right?"
"Director Wang, could you please transfer the grain responsibilities to me as well?"
Director Wang was very enthusiastic at the moment, pouring Tang Zhenghong a glass of water. After all, Tang was a meritorious contributor who had brought honor to their subdistrict office: "Okay, have some water and rest for a bit. Have you eaten yet?"
"Thank you, I only ate after I got off the train."
"Oh, you've finished all the paperwork? Did you get the letter of introduction from your new employer? Which employer?"
"The train police detachment of the No. 49 Railway Public Security Bureau of the Tenth Bureau."
Director Wang put down his pen, looked up, and his face became even more enthusiastic: "Good, I wish you all the best in your new position. If you have any difficulties, you can come to our subdistrict office. By the way, Comrade Tang Deyuan's historical achievements have been verified. This is the martyr's certificate posthumously awarded by the higher authorities. After you went to join the army, our subdistrict office collected it on your behalf, and now we are handing it over to you."
The old man's given name was Deyuan. One early morning in 1953, while he was out making a living, he encountered a group of enemy agents being captured. He took the initiative to help intercept them, but an elderly man was dragged by the enemy agents for about ten meters, with blood gushing out of his body as if it were free. He never woke up again.
Later, when the comrades of the Military Control Commission applied to their superiors for the old man's merits, they discovered that this seemingly ordinary old man was actually a righteous man who served on the transportation line for our comrades who were infiltrating the city during the fall of Beijing.
There are countless ordinary people like Grandpa Tang who dedicate themselves quietly and never seek credit from the organization in this new era.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Tang Zhenghong was able to return smoothly, after all, he is now also a "martyr's orphan".
"Thank you to the organization."
"If you encounter any difficulties in the future, please let us know. The money in this box was what you deposited with our neighborhood office when you left. The rest is a donation from your old man's comrades on the transportation line. There are mailing addresses and names inside. We have already exchanged the money for new currency for you. Please count it."
Holding the box in his hands, Tang Zhenghong felt a heavy weight in his heart. The old man didn't have much money saved up, less than three hundred yuan, which he earned by sweating and breaking into eight pieces. In addition, there were more than four hundred yuan in donations and more than three hundred yuan in railway soldier allowances, so his savings were close to one thousand yuan.
In the military, officers are paid salaries, but people like Tang Zhenghong are on a supply system. Their allowances are paid in installments of 6 yuan per month in the first year, 7 yuan in the second year, and 8 yuan in the third year. Border guards receive an additional island allowance.
Although having over a thousand in savings is considered a modest fortune in this day and age, this money must be spent on essential matters. Apart from the savings Tang Zhenghong himself had made, he couldn't feel at ease indulging in luxuries with the rest of his money.
Moreover, it's only the beginning of the month, so I can start receiving my salary as soon as I report to my new workplace.
These days, you get paid before you start working. If you start before the 12th, you get paid for the whole month; if you start after the 12th, you get paid for half a month.
Although Tang Zhenghong hadn't reported to his new unit yet, he could roughly guess his salary. Beijing was a Class 6 region, and the salary was based on Class 1. For each higher-level region, the salary would increase by 3%. So his salary should be at level 13, which was 34.5 yuan per month, not including hidden benefits such as shift allowances. After all, according to the system, he was a future "railway boss".
1956年工资改革后，同年又调整过，取消了1-4类工资区，实际上只有5-11这7个工资类区。
Last year, a proposal for a police rank system was rejected because "if people have too many badges on their shoulders, how can they carry water and food for the people?" This year, the national public security system has implemented a thirteen-level assessment and grading system, which includes local public security, economic, railway, and fire departments.
Of course, bureaus, divisions, sections, and units are not included in this list, as they are issued according to the administrative rank of state employees.
Back in the courtyard.
Tang Zhenghong noticed that there wasn't much dust in the house, suggesting that the neighborhood committee had arranged for someone to come and clean and maintain the property regularly.
Four years later, I returned to my familiar home, only to find everything changed.
Grandpa Tang lived frugally. Apart from a square table and a few stools, the only valuable thing in his house was the tricycle covered with an oilcloth.
Tang Zhenghong didn't plan to buy anything for the time being, so he put down his package, rolled up his sleeves, and started cleaning.
Intermediate People's Court.
Laundry expert Qin Huairu is quite talented now. These days, it's hard to find another person as diligent in washing clothes as her. In this age of mending and patching, clothes get old quickly with frequent washing.
Jia Dongxu held the future master thief close to his wife, and said something lewd that made Qin Huairu giggle and then blush.
Sha Zhu squatted at his own door, stealing glances every now and then. When he saw the big, wavy butt, he lowered his head like a thief, looking every bit the pervert.
"Zhenghong's back! The comrades from the neighborhood office have come over quite a bit to help clean your house. You'd better thank them properly later. By the way, do you need any help? Zhuzi and I are both free today."
It's hard to judge Jia Dongxu. He has a good reputation and is enthusiastic, but he speaks a lot like Yi Zhonghai.
Tang Zhenghong watched with some confusion as Qin Huairu ran back into the house with a washbasin in her arms. If he hadn't noticed the underwear in the basin, he would have thought the original owner had done something to offend her.
Looking at Jia Dongxu's somewhat sallow complexion, he'll be drained of his energy sooner or later.
"Thanks, Brother Dongxu. What's wrong with your wife? She ran away as soon as she saw me. I'm not scary-looking at all. I'm a well-known handsome young man in our alley."
Disappointed that Sister Qin had gone back inside, Sha Zhu heard Tang Zheng Hong's shameless words and shouted, "Zheng Hong, how come you're just as glib and shameless as Xu Damao in the backyard? Is this what the army taught you?"
However, deep down, Sha Zhu was indeed quite jealous of Tang Zheng Hong. He was tall and big, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and even as a man, he found his smile handsome.
"Silly Zhu, watch your mouth. Some honors cannot be slandered. I am an individual, don't involve the whole group."
Jia Dongxu glared at the embarrassed Sha Zhu: "Zheng Hong, you know how sharp-tongued Zhu is. How about this, since you're back today, I'll treat you. Let Zhu show off his skills, and we younger generation can get together?"
Jia Dongxu was the leader among the younger generation in the compound. Back when they were kids, if any child in the compound was bullied, he would lead the group to get revenge. The younger generation all respected him.
He only talked about hosting the event; after the quota was set, his mother couldn't get registered in the city, and his wife, Qin Huairu, also had a rural household registration, so they didn't have a good life.
"I'll find some time later. You know I've been busy since I got back, and I have to go back to Hongxing Manor tomorrow. I'll definitely have to trouble Chef He then. I wonder how his cooking skills are doing now?"
Tang Zhenghong didn't dwell on his earlier mistake and even gave him a way out. Sha Zhu's expression improved, and he proudly puffed out his neck, his voice suddenly becoming louder, as if afraid that someone in the room wouldn't hear him.
"Ask Brother Dongxu who we are. How could our skills be bad? In the past two years, all the greenhouse jobs outside have come to me."
Where there is a Crouching Dragon, how can there be no Phoenix Chick?
At this moment, Xu Damao, dressed like a translator leading the way into the village, came out.
"Silly Zhu, you're just a lousy cook who serves others, and now you're making communal dishes. What are you so smug about?"
There's a hierarchy of contempt even among chefs. Chefs from reputable restaurants generally don't compete with those from informal culinary establishments for their livelihood. It's one thing for someone to be ignorant of the rules and book a table at an informal establishment, but to actually steal their jobs is another. It's only because others see how hard it is for him to support his sister.
So now Sha Zhu can't even go back to his sect, and he can no longer use the sect's name outside.
Xu Damao looked down on him, and he played a good hand terribly.
"Are you asking for a beating again? If you want to get punched, just say so. Dressed like that, which girl are you going to seduce this time?"
Xu Damao jumped aside to get away from Sha Zhu. Seeing that the other party did not chase after him, he smugly struck a pose.
"Hey Shazhu, how's my new outfit? You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Zheng Hong, I'm busy today, let's have a drink when I get back. Don't worry, your brother Mao is a projectionist now, it's on me, unlike some people who just talk the talk."
Xu Damao originally trusted Jia Dongxu just like Sha Zhu and the others, but because of Yi Zhonghai, he now makes sarcastic remarks whenever he encounters Jia Dongxu.
Tang Zhenghong's registered birth date is July 7, 1938, a special day, as he has never celebrated his birthday since childhood.
Xu Damao was born in March, making him one year older than Tang Zhenghong, so it's not wrong for Xu Damao to call himself "older brother".
"Alright, Brother Da Mao, I'll be waiting. Brother Dong Xu is married now and has to support his family, it's not easy for him, as his younger brother, I understand. Brother Da Mao, you're dressed like that, is there something good going on? Go get busy."
Tang Zhenghong gave Jia Dongxu, who was in an awkward position, a way out.
Having lost face, Jia Dongxu could no longer stay outside.
When Sha Zhu saw that Tang Zheng Hong had agreed to drink with Xu Damao, his expression darkened even more. He muttered that drinking with Xu Damao could make him a bad person. He glanced longingly at Sister Qin, who was no longer going out, and then went back inside.
After fetching water, I passed by the front yard but didn't run into Nan Yi and Liang Ladi. Instead, I saw several children playing happily at the gate.
After a busy day, the West Corner Courtyard has been completely transformed.
They found some nails and nailed the sign to the door frame.
Suddenly, with a loud "boom," a series of shocks reverberated through my mind.
Tang Zhenghong shook his head, returned to the house, and hurriedly entered the space cheat, which was his family's small farmhouse with a plot of land in his previous life.
There were also some fruits and vegetables hanging on the branches in the yard, which smelled delicious.
There were also some food and other daily necessities piled up inside the house.
Upon closer inspection, one could see something resembling an energy ball floating in the air in the courtyard.
Tang Zhenghong clicked on it and was immediately disappointed.
【Hidden Hands: The signature skill of a top thief.】
I'm about to become a glorious railway policeman. Isn't this encouraging me to become a pickpocket? I, Tang Zhenghong, am a man of integrity. How could I be that kind of person?
On second thought, with this knowledge, I can be more observant while on duty and reduce the loss of property for the people.