"Xiao Lin, are you going out to buy groceries?"

"Well, Uncle Zhou, have you eaten yet?"

"Just ate."

On the outer walls of old residential areas, you can still vaguely see slogans such as "Work hard for 100 days and strive to..."

It is similar to this factory which was built in the 1950s, with rusty and dilapidated production lines and a bunch of old employees who are dying and have no vitality.

What never changes is the pitifully low salary, which doesn’t starve you to death but makes you numb a little bit at the same time.

Terrible habits are like boiling a frog in warm water, which makes people lose the courage to change.

Xiao Lin, no, Old Lin who is in his 40s, was carrying a basket of vegetables and greeting the gatekeeper at the security booth in a familiar manner, just like when he came to the factory years ago.

The moment he walked out of the family quarters, Lao Lin felt a little dazed. He couldn't tell east, west, south, or north, and didn't know where he was.

It was not until he turned around and saw the familiar security booth that he remembered that he was a worker at an agricultural machinery processing factory in Yangzhou.

Time flies, and thirty years have passed in a flash.

There is a clear distinction between inside and outside the wall.

With the security booth as the boundary, earth-shaking changes have taken place outside. Modern high-rise buildings are rising from the ground, and the wide roads are no longer driven by rumbling trucks and tractors.

There is almost no change inside the security booth. The only change that can be mentioned seems to be that the original communication room was renamed as the security booth.

Oh, there have been changes. After Grandpa Zhou passed away, Uncle Zhou inherited his original position and was responsible for receiving and sending newspapers, registering information of outsiders and so on.

Now, he doesn't have to do all these anymore. The reason he's still staying in the security booth is because he doesn't know what to do. There are no extra positions in the factory, and he can't even squeeze out one.

He could only get a half-time salary of 600 yuan and stayed in the security booth all day doing nothing. He occasionally chatted with people and played chess. He was reluctant to leave, as if there was something worth remembering there.

As he walked out of the alley, he saw a number of very beautiful-looking cars passing by, as well as the electric scooter that Lao Lin had always wanted to buy but had to give up due to financial constraints.

More than half of the original machinery manufacturing plant has been relocated to more remote suburbs. Although production is still going on, there are no longer many orders.

I started working as a shift worker in a factory at the age of 16, and now it has been exactly years. I went from being a full-time employee in a state-owned factory that everyone envied, to now being able to barely earn yuan a month.

There is no guarantee that it will be paid on time, but in recent months, that seems to have changed. Can full wages and bonuses be paid on time and in full?
OK.

This little money has to support two people. After paying my own portion, I have one thousand left. I transfer 650 yuan to my daughter every month without fail. The rest is enough for us to get by.

For example, he would go to the vegetable market only after other families had finished dinner, because the prices of vegetables at closing time were cheaper.

Fortunately, he is alone and does not have to support his wife like others do. This is a blessing in disguise...

"Have you heard? Xiao Zhou is back."

After dinner, the security booth is the most lively area in the family quarters. It is covered by two towering trees, providing natural shelter. Everyone likes to gather under the trees and chat whether they have something to do or not.

It's nothing more than talking about some trivial family matters and who is right and who is wrong.

However, today's topic is a bit explosive and it attracts everyone's attention right from the start.

"Who?"

Someone looked at Lao Zhou who was drinking tea, and the latter spat out a mouthful of tea leaves, "Don't look at me, if it was my daughter, I would beat her to death on the spot!"

Those who knew about it laughed and said, "Come on, he's a wealthy man now. The car he drives is a BMW that even the factory director can't afford. It costs millions."

Lao Zhou pouted, "I don't want dirty money even if it's given to me."

"You're just being stubborn. If Xiao Zhou were your daughter, and she gave you several thousand yuan every month for your retirement, would you still be stubborn?"

Before the insider finished speaking, someone refuted, "You are wrong, the factory director can't afford it, but his son can afford it. Just a few days ago, his son was driving that car.

I forgot the brand, but it was an imported car, and I heard it cost more than two million yuan.”

Everyone was collectively angry for a rare moment, "Where did he get the money?"

Someone working in the factory office sneered, "Where else can it come from? My father is a factory director, and he tried his best to get money out. Now he even wants to sell the land in the family quarters.

But who can blame him? His son is getting married, and I heard he wants to buy a villa in the city. Where’s the benefit in not selling the family’s house and land?
Anyway, no one listens to us, so let’s sell it, it would be best if we sell the factory as well, split the money and then go our separate ways.”

An older man sighed and said, "You still want to share the money? You're dreaming. This is a collective household registration, and the land belongs to the government. According to the above, we have to move back to the factory obediently."

"Uncle Liao, you are wrong."

Another auntie from the factory office smiled and said, "Does the old master Zhao Guorong know that his son Zhao Chengye graduated from Tsinghua University more than ten years ago and was assigned to the Machinery Department, and he is in charge of our factory.

You all know Lao Zhao's temper. He can't tolerate any sand in his eyes. Ever since the rumor spread in the factory that the land of the family building was going to be sold, he was not prepared to pay a penny.

Old Zhao rushed directly to the factory director’s office and slammed the table, saying that if collective compensation was not given, he would sue the factory director even if he had to go to Yanjing.

I heard that the factory director was scared to death and no matter how much he tried to persuade him, he failed. Even though he was told to give him a little more, Lao Zhao was still not happy and insisted on treating everyone equally.

Fortunately, he has a good son. He is now in Yanjing, working as a secretary for a big boss. He can get rid of the factory director with just one sentence, haha.

We are having a meeting these days to discuss the compensation issue. Maybe every household will be able to get a new house."

"Old Zhao is a very capable person. He was a technical backbone in the factory during those years. His skills are impeccable, and his character is even better."

"Master Zhao is a good man. He is the only one who can speak a few fair words for us!"

"What's the point of being a good person? He was promoted to the position of technical section chief in the factory, but it was not because of the anonymous letter you wrote that he was removed."

"Who knows who wrote it? Maybe it was someone appointed by the old factory manager."

Everyone spoke at once, and the heavy weight on their hearts was finally lifted.

The demolition news has been circulating for more than half a year. At first, everyone was able to make some noise, but as the factory said, this piece of land was lent to the machinery factory by the city at that time.

This is subsidized industrial land for the resettlement of people who moved back from Yuqing. The ownership is in the Yangzhou government, and the machinery factory only has collective use rights, otherwise everyone still does not have a property certificate.

As they were talking, the person who spoke first suddenly said, "That makes sense. Xiao Zhou will only come back if there is money to make up for it.

I thought I was seeing things before, but now I am not seeing things anymore."

Everyone else was confused. "Hasn't Xiao Zhou been on the run for more than a decade? Does she still have anything to do with the demolition subsidy?"

Grandpa Zhou, the gatekeeper, sighed, "The household is still there even though the person has left. The factory came to register two days ago, and I saw clearly that Zhou Miao's name was still on the list."

"How surprising! After more than ten years of divorce, she still has a share of the house?"

"You don't understand. When the housing was allocated here, the factory had strict regulations. Only advanced individuals, model workers, or deputy section chiefs or above were eligible.

Lao Lin's situation belongs to the last category. Both husband and wife are working, and Zhou Miao has a share of the house."

After all, she is an old lady from the factory office, she is well-informed and she also said some more confidential things, "I'm telling you, but don't tell anyone else.

It is said that the city has some kind of renovation task this time, which happens to fall within our family quarters. As long as we are within the renovation scope, we can be compensated with a commercial house of about 100 square meters on the spot.

For the area exceeding the limit, you only need to pay the internal price of 800 yuan.”

"real or fake?"

Everyone was stunned, as if they couldn't believe it.

Because the surrounding areas are 3,000 to 4,000 yuan per square meter, if the compensation is paid according to the actual area, the house will only cost tens of thousands of yuan, and it will cost at least 300,000 or 400,000 yuan if it is resold?

Who among those who can live here didn’t work hard all their lives?

That's it. After working for thirty or forty years, the salary you get is less than three or four hundred thousand yuan. By demolishing a house when you are old, you can earn more money than you could earn in your entire life?
This scene that overturned everyone's worldview made everyone silent for a moment...

"Uncle, please be careful and watch the road."

The salesperson was so angry that he wanted to curse, but he didn't say anything in the end.

Just now he came out from the main road in front of the community, and his speed was not fast, but the old man in front of him was rushing forward with his head down, and he almost fell down in order to avoid him.

If it weren't for the fact that he had a miserable face, somewhat similar to his father, and was holding a basket full of cabbage and rotten radishes, he would have started cursing long ago.

Lao Lin raised his head and grinned at him kindly. He was thinking about something just now and didn't pay attention for a moment. He just looked at the electric scooter that the other person was riding and was suddenly stunned.

The delivery guy was stunned, thinking that the man was going to blackmail him. He looked at him warily and put his hands on the frame of the bike, ready to run away at any time.

"Young man, can I ask you something?"

The delivery guy breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he wasn't extorting money, "You tell me."

"Can I ask, others say your salary is three thousand?"

"Three thousand?"

Question sentence.

Lao Lin sighed and said, how could it be such a good thing? Just delivering meals to others and earning three thousand a month?
Psychologically, it is difficult for him to accept this. He has worked hard in the machinery factory workshop all his life and only earns twelve thousand yuan a month.

Unfortunately, the young man's next words shattered his fantasy.

"I just got here. I worked for two weeks last month and got 1700. I don't get a car, no talk, and no full attendance. This month should be more than 3000."

Lao Lin was stunned, but asked again without giving up.

The delivery guy was in a hurry to deliver the orders, but seeing him like this, I couldn't bear it, "It's really more than 120. I deliver orders a day and get at least . With the base salary, I definitely have ."

Lao Lin was struggling. "Then, are you still hiring people? Will you provide cars?"

When the guy heard this, he became interested, because if he recommended someone to work for three months, the company would give him an extra reward of 300, so he shouldn't miss it.

"If you need someone, even if Yangzhou is not suitable, you can still transfer to other cities. If you don't want to eat, you can go to other companies in the group. Uncle, is your son looking for a job?

Our group has high salaries and good benefits... Uncle, I forgot to ask, how old is your son?"

Lao Lin struggled for a long time, and finally said, "Do you think I can do it?"

The young man almost choked himself to death, "Uncle, don't be ridiculous, our company only recruits people under 55 years old."

Lao Lin has been worried about the price difference of the house these days. Today, he encountered something else. He finally made up his mind and even brought his ID card with him. "I'm 46. Look, I even brought my ID card with me. It was dated 1964."

"No, are you really 46?"

The young man was stunned. The person in front of him would believe you if you said he was 66.

Finally, unable to resist the uncle's pleading, he had no choice but to take out his newly bought Honor P9 and call the website, "Webmaster, I have a 66-year-old uncle who looks like 46 and wants to join the company. Does the store want him?"

Lao Lin was still asking, "Will you provide us with a car?"

The guy added, "His name is Lin Guochang. Oh, and he also asked if he wanted a car."

The stationmaster was very confused. What did it mean that 66-year-old Lin Guochang, who looked like 46, wanted to join the company and also be provided with a car?

However, there is a huge staff shortage recently, especially on the Hummingbird crowdsourcing side, which has set a target of 10 part-time people.

There was no other way. Even if it was past six in the evening, he had to stay at his post. The branch companies and subsidiaries were unable to keep up with the recruitment progress, so as the webmaster, he had no choice but to work overtime.

But it was not until he saw Lin Guochang that he realized how wrong he was, "Uncle, this ID card of yours is not real?"

No matter how Lin Guochang tried to persuade him, he just refused to agree.

I'm just kidding. Looking at his face, he doesn't look sick, just a little old. If you look closely, you can vaguely tell that he was quite handsome before, but this is work.

He was worried that the other person might ride an electric scooter and fall while delivering food upstairs.

Lao Lin was helpless. He really needed this high-paying job, not only for himself but also for his daughter. Today's phone call really hurt his heart deeply.

But what can an ordinary technical worker in a machinery factory do?

"How about this, didn't you say you work in a machinery factory? You can repair things, right?"

The webmaster really wanted to kick them out, but it was not easy for them at such an old age. They all came from the poorest rural areas, so he couldn't bear it.

In the end, I could only find a workaround and recommended him to try the Pinxixi suburban experience store, where there was a shortage of skilled after-sales repairmen for home appliances and electronic products.

It is barely in line with the profession of a mechanical processing plant.

Lin Guochang was also helpless, but there was nothing he could do since people didn’t want his delivery job!

Fortunately, he got a specific promise that he would be here again tomorrow. The webmaster agreed to take him there when he delivered the food, and also left the phone number of the Pinxixi store manager.

Then they sent him away.

The promoter who had just returned from the station witnessed the whole process. After the people left, he said disdainfully: "Stationmaster, you can just send this guy away. Why waste your breath with him?"

"Shut up, you forgot your last name after two days of eating."

The stationmaster said coldly: "Did you see the vegetable basket he has been holding? It is full of leftover vegetables and rotten leaves that others don't want. Hasn't he eaten anything? This is a high-paying job, but your father can't even afford to eat at home!
Damn, you just got a high salary for a few days, and you're showing off your money. You smoke better cigarettes than me, and you play cards with others in the dormitory, winning or losing thousands. How much money did you send home last month?"

Faced with a series of soul-searching questions from the webmaster, the promoter was stunned...

When Lin Guochang returned home, it was completely dark.

But his eyes were still bright, and he could walk back to the home he had lived in for more than 30 years with his eyes closed.

But today, things are different.

Because there were more cars and a few more uninvited guests in the alley.

Seeing the most familiar stranger again, Lin Guochang found himself unable to say a word.

He just stood there in a daze, subconsciously hiding the basket of vegetables behind him.

The woman in front of him was the same age as him, but she looked to be in her early thirties.

"Hey, isn't this Technician Lin? I remember you were a technical model in the factory. How did you end up like this now?"

Liu Dapeng, the workshop director who once started a new business, has not changed at all. He always likes to expose other people's shortcomings. Just like he was in the workshop, he is not liked by others.

But now, Lin Guochang could only watch as his fat hand hugged the woman in front of him, the woman he once affectionately called wife.

Zhou Miao, long time no see.

Unfortunately, I opened my mouth but no words came out.

Zhou Miao also didn't say anything, but just handed over a piece of paper.

An ultimatum to split the property in half, since she also owned half of the house.

"Okay, it's late at night, stop talking nonsense and sign it quickly. I'm in a hurry to get to the next one."

Bullying people is fun, but if the bullied party doesn't resist at all, Liu Dapeng will lose interest.

Facing the man whom he had stepped on fifteen years ago, Liu Dapeng had no interest in talking nonsense with him.

If the factory director had not said that he had good news, he would have taken advantage of the unclear policy on the demolition work and bought dozens or even hundreds of properties from employees who were unaware of the truth.

Just sit and wait for the demolition, and each set can make a net profit of more than 300,000 yuan. In the end, even if each person gets a share, there will be more than 100,000 yuan. Otherwise, he would not come back.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but spit. The factory director didn't have to pay a penny, but in the end he could get 8 per set from him, and he couldn't refuse.

He was very impatient.

However, Lin Guochang gradually saw the shadow of his daughter Lin Qingyi in Zhou Miao's figure.

Is she like this in Yanjing as well?

When he received the call from the school today, he felt like the sky was falling.

A 21-year-old girl would always call him to complain that 650 yuan for living expenses was not enough and that her classmates were in such and such a situation.

But every time he could only smile bitterly because he had no ability. Yes, how could a poor guy who couldn't even keep his wife give his daughter a better future?

But his daughter's behavior still deeply hurt his heart. No matter what, she couldn't be a mistress to an old man.

Is it possible for a normal person to afford to own a house in Yanjing?
He worked hard all his life, but in the end he had to rely on demolition to get a new house. Now he can't even afford to pay the difference.

But he did not steal or rob, he created wealth with his own hands. No matter how hard or tiring it was, he wanted to leave this house to his daughter.

Yes, as long as my daughter has her own house, she will not covet other people’s houses and she can live happily!

Thinking of this, Lin Guochang suddenly mustered up the courage to say the words he had never dared to say in his life, "This house belongs to my daughter, I can't give it to you."

"What did you say?"

Liu Dapeng wondered if he had heard it wrong. Was this still the loser who chased the car all the way, begging him to show mercy?

"I said, this house is mine, not yours!"

Lin Guochang said this almost with gritted teeth.

Zhou Miao was stunned but didn't say anything.

Liu Dapeng took a step forward, full of pressure, "Not signing?!"

Lin Guochang has never been as brave as he is today, "No sign."

This house belongs to Lin Qingyi!

It is his last hope, and no one can take it away.

Thinking of this, he suddenly reached out and grabbed the housing agreement and tore it to pieces.

By the way, Zhou Miaodai, who was completely unprepared, fell to the ground.

But she has forever lost the man who used to be the first one to come up to her and ask about her well-being.

This scene shocked the neighbors who were secretly looking out. Lin Guochang, who had been a coward all his life, unexpectedly stood up today?
Liu Dapeng was furious. "How dare you hit someone?"

He ignored Zhou Miao who fell to the ground and called the strong man who was traveling with him to come up, while shouting, "You dare to hit my wife? This is rebellious, beat him to death for me."

As he said that, he kicked Lin Guochang, and the big men behind him rushed forward.

"Stop fighting, stop fighting now!"

"It's evil."

"Call Xiaolin quickly, her father was beaten."

"You are stupid, what's the point of looking for Xiaolin, fight the demon spirit!"

While beating him, Liu Dapeng shouted, "No one can do anything today.

Old man, sign the house transfer agreement as soon as possible, or I will kill you."

From the beginning to the end, his goal was the entire house.

Want half?
He couldn't afford to lose that person.

Finally, the neighbors who couldn't stand it anymore helped to persuade them to leave. Someone took advantage of the gap to make a phone call...

"I'm wondering if you're sick. Didn't you say you'd think about it? Why are you calling me all day long to demand my help?"

"Woo woo~" (End of this chapter)