Chapter 105: The Reward in Hand

Page 1/3

After leaving Shiguanglin’s office, Xiao Weiguo returned to the main office and approached Chang Ling, intending to collect the procurement forms and go to the finance department to receive the purchase funds.

At that moment, Chang Ling said to Xiao Weiguo, “Weiguo, here are your three forms. You can handle all of them today.

The first one is the refund for the previous procurement surplus, mainly the payment for two hind legs.

The second is your regularization notice. With this, you can transfer your household registration to the city, and there’s also a reward for you: a bicycle ticket and 100 yuan in cash. Congratulations!

The third is this week’s procurement task list. Bring this to receive the corresponding funds and tickets. Any discrepancies should be settled next Monday.”

Hearing this, Xiao Weiguo’s gloomy mood, dampened earlier by Shao Jiefang’s attitude, brightened somewhat.

Regarding the first form, most of the money for the wild boar that had died violently last time had already been collected. This refund mainly concerned the two hind legs needed earlier for Li Daniu’s wedding.

Because of some meddling by Li Daniu’s parents, those two hind legs were not used and were returned to the factory, counted as part of Xiao Weiguo’s procurement quota.

The second form signified his official regularization, something Xiao Weiguo had long hoped for and finally received.

Grinning, Xiao Weiguo took the three forms and dashed to the finance office. Having collected funds and tickets there last week, he was fairly familiar with the route.

The finance department did not delay. The middle-aged lady in charge quickly handed over the various sums and tickets upon receiving the forms.

The two pig hind legs weighed a total of 60 jin, fetching 48 yuan. Adding the 100 yuan reward, it totaled 148 yuan plus a bicycle ticket.

Since the procurement funds were public money, Xiao Weiguo carefully stored them in a separate space to avoid confusion.

He asked his colleagues in the personnel department about how to handle his household registration.

They explained that since he had already been registered under the factory’s collective household as a temporary worker, this time, with the factory’s notice, he only needed to go to his residential street office and police station to complete the formalities.

To prevent loss, Xiao Weiguo put the money, tickets, and forms into his space for safekeeping. In this day and age, nowhere was truly safe.

Glancing at the time, it was already past 11 a.m. He still needed to join Hou Xiaoshuang and the others for lunch at the third canteen. He wondered if Liu Yicheng’s mood had improved after the morning’s commotion.

As for the volume of procurement tasks, Xiao Weiguo was indifferent. The items in his space could cover a hundred years’ worth of procurement. He could simply take what he needed—simple and convenient.

Page 2/3

It was just Shao Jiefang’s attitude that Xiao Weiguo truly disliked. If he exceeded the quota, it would only be Shao’s credit. Why should that be?

So this week, Xiao Weiguo planned to complete just a little of the task, refusing to earn unnecessary money, choosing instead to be willful.

If Shao continued to target him, Xiao Weiguo wouldn’t hesitate to show him that even the Horse King had three eyes.

Leisurely, Xiao Weiguo returned to the office where Group Three worked. He saw Liu Yicheng still hadn’t collected his procurement funds and was chatting animatedly with Yi Xiaohe. Sister Ling worked diligently nearby, ignoring the two.

Upon seeing Xiao Weiguo return, Liu Yicheng invited him to join the conversation, showing no concern for the week’s tasks. It seemed he intended to tough it out.

“Yicheng, are we still going to the third canteen for lunch?” Xiao Weiguo pulled over a chair and sat down, then asked.

Liu Yicheng perked up and said, “Of course! Xiaohe is looking forward to it too. The three of us can go together—it’s perfect.”

A youthful longing appeared on Yi Xiaohe’s face as well.

Liu Yicheng checked the time again and said, “Let’s go now. We’ll wait for the others at the third canteen entrance.”

With that, he hurriedly got up, asked Sister Ling for meal tickets, grabbed his lunch box, and led the two outside.

Chang Ling smiled and shook her head at Liu Yicheng’s antics before continuing her work.

The three stood at the entrance to the third canteen like greeters. Many female workers stole glances at the trio, whispering and laughing before playfully teasing one another.

Xiao Weiguo felt very uneasy standing there, as if he had become an animal at the zoo he’d visited last week.

He said to the two beside him, “I’ll go in and wait. Yicheng, you can stay here; Hou Xiaoshuang and the others know you.”

Liu Yicheng’s face was full of excitement, completely at ease. Still glancing around, hoping for a chance to meet more attractive female workers, he said, “Sure, Weiguo, you go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

Yi Xiaohe, perhaps overwhelmed by the attention, followed Xiao Weiguo into the canteen. They found an empty table and sat down to chat.

During their conversation, Xiao Weiguo learned that Yi Xiaohe was about sixteen or seventeen, the youngest son in his family. His family lived in the city’s 49th district. He was currently an apprentice, filling a family quota at the factory. His mother had been Sister Ling’s mentor. After three years as an apprentice, he would be regularized.

Soon, Liu Yicheng returned with Hou Xiaoshuang, Cui Juan, and Liu Yanran, quickly beckoning Xiao Weiguo and Yi Xiaohe over.

Page 3/3

The six of them queued together to get their meals. From the moment Hou Xiaoshuang and Cui Juan saw Liu Yicheng, they clung to him and wouldn’t let go. Yi Xiaohe followed the three ahead.

Only Liu Yanran and Xiao Weiguo remained behind.

Xiao Weiguo noticed Liu Yanran’s forehead was sweaty and curiously asked, “Liu Yanran, why are the three of you sweating so much? The weather isn’t that hot today.”

Liu Yanran responded softly, her voice like pearls dropping onto a jade platter, “The workshop temperature is very high—above 35 degrees during the day. We sweat almost every day.”

So that was it. The textile factory’s spinning section was indeed tough, especially for these teenage girls.

He had heard there was even a risk of hearing loss.

Xiao Weiguo let Liu Yanran move ahead of him in line and walked forward with the crowd.

He chatted sporadically with Liu Yanran, who seemed to be a sensitive, introverted girl, responding passively to his words.

Today’s staple was a mix of rice and millet. The dishes were stir-fried cabbage with oil residue and boiled potato slices.

The six found an empty table and sat down. Liu Yanran, as before, chose the seat farthest away.

Throughout the meal, Liu Yicheng, Hou Xiaoshuang, and Cui Juan chatted animatedly.

During this time, they introduced Yi Xiaohe to the group. However, after learning Yi Xiaohe was only an administrative apprentice and not a procurement officer, Hou Xiaoshuang and Cui Juan basically ignored him, focusing their conversation around Liu Yicheng.

Xiao Weiguo tasted the two dishes and found them quite tasty. Although the potatoes were simply boiled with salt and soy sauce, the flavor was decent.

Ignoring the others, he finished his meal quickly, waiting for the gathering to end.