novelslam Chapter 118 Happy Event
Chapter 118 Happy Event
"Look everyone, what's this?"
"Oh, you passed the exam! Haha!"
Yan Fugui let out a hearty laugh.
In 1960, not only Jia Dongjin and He Yushui grew up, but Yan Jiecheng from the front yard also achieved success.
The front yard is Yan Fugui's house.
As usual, Yan Fugui distributed the cornbread and pickled vegetables at dinner. Just as everyone was about to start eating, Yan Jiecheng said he had something to say. He proudly took out a certificate and placed it on the Yan family's dining table.
"Electrician's license!"
Upon hearing Yan Jiefang's exclamation, Yan Jiecheng laughed and said, "I took the exam later than usual this year, and I finally got my electrician's certificate! Haha, hahaha!"
"Ha ha!"
Yan Fugui couldn't help but burst into laughter. He pointed with his chopsticks towards the direction of the back room and sighed, "He really is a trustworthy man. Jia Dongjin didn't lie to me!"
"This is so tough for me, I owe Dong Jin a huge favor this time!"
Life is like a journey of self-cultivation. If you have a master to guide you through the door, you can reach Rome directly, saving a lot of time and energy.
Therefore, Zhang Moufeng said that what young people at the bottom of society lack is not money, but a mentor, a benefactor who can help them. Don't underestimate an electrician's license; with an electrician's license comes a formal job, with a formal job comes income, with income comes a wife, and with income comes a future.
Each link is closely connected to the next. Even though Jia Dongjin is a time traveler and doesn't have an electrician's license, he still honestly goes to the train station to carry heavy bags. When he's hungry, he has to eat. Life will teach young people how to be good people and won't spoil him.
Thinking about the hardships he endured during his studies, Yan Jiecheng was filled with emotion. Following Jia Dongjin's guidance, he spent a long time in the library and received some practical instruction from Jia, which allowed him to barely pass the electrician's certificate exam.
Upon learning that Yan Jiecheng had been introduced to work at the Sijiucheng Agricultural Machinery Factory, and that it would take some time before he could officially start work, Yan Fugui quickly comforted him, saying, "The agricultural machinery factory is not bad either. Although the benefits are not as good as the steel rolling mill, it is still a top-notch company. As long as you work hard, finding a partner will not be a problem."
Thinking of his target, Yan Jiecheng felt even happier. He patted his younger brother Yan Jiefang beside him and instructed, "Don't hold a grudge against Jia Dongjin anymore. Besides, our Yan family is no match for him. Even if Dad and the two of us were tied together, we wouldn't be a match for him. Look at the Liu family, they were treated so badly, and they still had to obediently pay money and apologize. Where can they complain about this?"
After Liu Haizhong was discharged from the hospital, he not only paid compensation and apologized as agreed, but also specially bought expensive pastries for Jia Zhangshi.
According to information revealed by Banggeng, there were a full two jin of steamed rice cakes and two jin of walnut shortbread.
The crumbs of pastry on Yan Jiedi's lips proved that the news was absolutely reliable.
"Jiedi, lick the crumbs clean with your tongue, it's such a waste to drop them."
Yan Fugui glanced at his daughter's lips, and suddenly gasped, realizing the reason behind it all.
In the current climate, four pounds of pastries are of great significance. They might cost more than fifteen yuan because they are very hard to find, making them an extremely valuable gift.
Thus, the Yan family realized that Liu Haizhong was afraid of the Jia family, and secretly yielded to them.
"Jie Cheng's words make sense. Jiefang, listen to your father and Jie Cheng. From now on, the Yan family and the Jia family will be neighbors. We must not cause any trouble. You must keep it a secret that Jia Dongjin helped Jie Cheng, so as not to arouse suspicion from the Liu family and the Yi family."
In his excitement, Yan Fugui almost revealed the truth: when he paid New Year's visits, he and Jia Dongjin had secretly signed a friendly alliance; otherwise, Yan Fugui would not have stopped Liu Haizhong's apprentice during the fight.
True gold is tested by fire, and true grass is revealed by a strong wind. In critical moments, there is no such thing as casual help.
During the Liu-Jia War, the Yi and He families adopted a different stance from the Yan family, leading to different fates that were completely different from those in the original drama.
Before the Lunar New Year, Yan Fugui visited Jia Dongjin to express his goodwill and asked for his help in considering improving their strategic approach by making more friends. Jia Dongjin was compiling electrical operation regulations and safe electricity use guidelines, so he readily agreed and developed the Yan family as friendly neighbors and informants.
In this major battle between the Jia and Liu families, Yan Fugui came to the rescue. He kept his promise and stepped forward in the critical moment. Although he did not stop Liu Haizhong's apprentice, he gave Jia Dongjin valuable time to react. Sometimes the outcome is decided by a hair's breadth; otherwise, the result would have been hard to say.
The Yan family acknowledged Jia Dongjin's favor, and in return, Jia Dongjin had to reciprocate. His efforts towards the Yan family had begun to be rewarded.
You need to have many friends. In order to improve the Jia family's battlefield disadvantage, Jia Dongjin did some good deeds and won over some people, whether out of his own conscience or for his own benefit.
The benefits may not be immediately apparent, but at crucial moments, a single straw can break the camel's back. Those who are virtuous receive much help, and victory or defeat is sometimes not so mysterious.
You may not get anything in return for your efforts, but you will definitely get nothing if you don't put in any effort.
"Jiecheng, now that you have a formal job, our family's life will be better. With the ration being reduced again, my heart is pounding. I'm afraid we won't be able to make ends meet. I'm old and don't care, but I'm afraid you'll starve to death."
When her eldest son finally made something of himself, Yang Ruihua, the former third aunt, could no longer hold back her tears.
"Ruihua, don't be like this. Life is getting better and better, why are you crying?"
Yan Fugui's eyes were red. Ignoring his children watching, he took out a handkerchief to wipe away his wife's tears, and softly comforted her, "Ruihua, believe me, believe in your husband's plans. Our Yan family will definitely prosper in the future."
"Aren't you ashamed? You still have the nerve to talk about scheming! Who was it that schemed against the Yan family a couple of years ago, causing them to lose money and lose face?"
In her hasty remarks, Yang Ruihua inadvertently exposed Yan Fugui's scheming facade.
"Mom is right, Dad even managed to steal my bodyguard fees."
Yan Jiekuang was heartbroken by the loss and joined his mother in kicking him while he was down.
People are in high spirits when they have good news. The youngest, Yan Jiedi, rolled her eyes. She squeezed the fruit candies in her pocket and also stepped on her father's foot. "And there's the teacher's welfare for my dog, the candies and snacks that were promised. Dad insists on saying that good neighbors talk about welfare and that it hurts feelings between neighbors. He insists on helping and supporting each other and asks me to contribute as a friend."
"Jie Kuang and Jie Di, you're both only concerned with petty gains. Jie Cheng's electrician's license is the real deal. Petty gains have to give way to the big picture. You're not quite there yet when it comes to scheming. You'd better learn."
Yan Fugui, however, didn't care at all. He slurped up a mouthful of water and said smugly.
"Old Yan, I admire your scheming this time. You've managed to bring good fortune to the Yan family. You truly are the pillar of the Yan family."
Yang Ruihua looked at her husband with admiration in her eyes, as if she had returned to the time when they were newlyweds. Back then, Yan Fugui was not a shrewd shrew, but a gentle, elegant, and promising young scholar, the kind of cultured person who was just one step away from entering university.
Back then, Yan Fugui applied to a certain university, whose president was a famous scholar; otherwise, Yan Fugui wouldn't have been so obsessed with growing orchids.
Yan Jiecheng got a job as an electrician at the agricultural machinery factory, earning a monthly salary of 30 yuan. He also received an extra 5 jin of grain per month, which completely eliminated the crisis that the reduction in grain rations had brought to the Yan family.
In Yang Ruihua's heart, this is not just a job, but the life of his family!
Unlike other families in the courtyard who were poor but stable and unhurried, the Yan family, with the 47 yuan salary secretly restored by Yan Fugui, quietly rose to become one of the top families in the No. 95 courtyard.
At the dinner table, Yan Jiefang looked on with envy and asked his older brother to teach him how to take the electrician's certificate exam. Yan Jiecheng readily agreed, but he looked apprehensive as he explained the difficulties of the learning process, even though he already had a foundation in the subject.
"Gentlemen, I think you've all been intimidated by Jia Dongjin, but it's really nothing. Think about it carefully. If he had beaten up our family back then, we wouldn't have lost anything. At least we wouldn't have had to pay him 300 yuan, and Dad wouldn't have had his salary reduced. But because this kid is so good at pretending, our Yan family lost 500 yuan, which is a huge loss. Compared to him, I'm not afraid of his fighting ability, but I'm more worried about his insidious and cunning nature."
Feeling hopeful about the future, Yan Jiefang spoke up with great enthusiasm. What he said made a lot of sense and once again refreshed the Yan family's understanding of Jia Dongjin.
"That's absolutely right! Jiefang was right, that brat has really screwed over the Yan family!"
Yan Jiecheng suddenly realized what was going on. He slammed his fist on the table in anger and immediately cursed his benefactor, Jia Dongjin, as a brat.
"Forget it, compared to 500 yuan, which is only a year's salary, it's more important to consider the long-term implications. We have to remember this kid's kindness."
Yan Fugui had already thought of this when the Liu family members were beaten and lying on the ground. He twitched his facial muscles, shook his head and spoke well of his enemy. He still stubbornly held back and did not curse Jia Dongjin as a brat.
"This isn't over. When I grow up, I'll definitely get my revenge."
Unlike the girl Yan Jiedi, Yan Jiekuang had a stern face and said, "Don't underestimate a young man's potential." He uttered the harsh words, "A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years."
"Jie Kuang, Jia Dongjin is only 24 years old now. Even when you grow up, you still can't beat him. There's no need for us to fight to the death. If we can't beat him, we can join him. It's fine as long as there are benefits. Don't be stubborn."
"You need to be quick-witted. Liberation is right, that's a good idea!"
Yan Fugui rolled his eyes and decided to join. He was inwardly pleased that the Yan family had a worthy successor and his opinion of Yan Jiefang improved by 20%. In comparison, the eldest son, Yan Jiecheng, was a bit simple-minded. In terms of future prospects, the Yan family still had to look to the second son, Yan Jiefang.
"Let's have a nice meal tonight. We still have two eggs at home, so I'll make egg drop soup for everyone to drink, to help us recover."
Yang Ruihua's words were met with cheers. Compared to idle chatter, the Yan family preferred tangible benefits.
The Yan family in the front courtyard of the siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) had a happy occasion, and the Xu family in the back courtyard also had a happy occasion.