“Stop talking nonsense.” Zhang Guoping laughed and scolded him.
“The steel rolling mill is a subordinate unit of the Ministry of Industry.
You’re a child of our Ministry of Industry.
If I don’t back you up, who will?” “Uncle Zhang, thank you.” Leon quickly finished his breakfast, then handed the house keys to Zhang Guoping.
Zhang Guoping did not inspect the apartment.
He simply locked the door carefully, then rode his old bicycle with Leon toward the steel mill.
An hour later.
Steel Rolling Mill, factory director’s office.
“Lao Zhang, why didn’t you let me know before you came?” Yang Weiguo reached out to greet him from a distance.
“My nephew is here to report for duty at your factory,” Zhang Guoping said with a smile, pointing at Leon.
“He’s an outstanding graduate of medical school, so you’d better take good care of him.” “He really came?” Yang Weiguo stared at Leon in shock.
Although the steel rolling mill was a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, it truly could not retain medical personnel.
Doctors were not like factory workers, who only needed strength and stamina.
Doctors were professionals.
There had once been a few medical school graduates in the factory, but after less than two years, they had all used connections to leave.
In this era, promotions in every profession required assessments, and doctors were no exception.
Graduating as a doctor was only the beginning.
Many medical skills required good teachers and extensive practice to develop.
Factory doctors had almost no future; they simply prescribed medicine for minor illnesses and dabbed iodine on injuries.
Red Star Hospital was less than twenty minutes away from the steel rolling mill.
If a worker suffered a serious injury, he would be sent straight to the hospital.
That was why everyone tried every possible way to escape.
In a steel rolling mill with tens of thousands of workers, only one elderly doctor, long past his prime, had remained.
This year, the old man had suffered a stroke and been hospitalized, leaving the factory without a doctor at all.
Yang Weiguo had no choice but to send out invitations everywhere, merely trying his luck.
Unexpectedly, he had actually caught one—and an outstanding medical university graduate at that!
“Hello, Director Yang.
I’m Cole Leon,” Leon introduced himself calmly.
“Hello, Dr.
Cole.” Yang Weiguo sized him up and smiled.
“Dr.
Cole, why did you choose the steel rolling mill?
Peking Union Medical College Hospital would have been the better choice, wouldn’t it?” “My father was a worker,” Leon said in a deep voice.
“Ahem, cough, cough.
Lao Cole was a senior engineer,” Zhang Guoping said, coughing twice.
“A senior engineer?” Yang Weiguo looked shocked.
This kid came from a privileged family.
How could he be foolish enough to come to the steel mill?
“This boy said, ‘Peking Union Medical College Hospital has no shortage of good doctors, but the steel mill lacks a good doctor.’ It seems Lao Cole really raised his son well,” Zhang Guoping sighed.
“Well said!” Yang Weiguo applauded.
“Don’t just join in the excitement.” Zhang Guoping waved his hand and said, “Lao Yang, how will my nephew’s rank be set?” Yang Weiguo pondered for a moment before saying, “Dr.
Cole is a university graduate, so his salary will be set at level four: 56.87 yuan a month.
In addition, since he’s a specially introduced talent, the factory will subsidize him with another ten yuan per month.” The highest rank for doctors was level eight, with a salary of 112.5 yuan.
A junior college graduate received a level-three salary of forty-eight yuan, while a university graduate could receive a level-four salary of 56.87 yuan.
In this day and age, that was already a very high salary—not to mention the additional subsidy.
“Hm.
At least you still have some conscience.” Zhang Guoping nodded in satisfaction, then continued, “There’s another matter.
Your unit needs to solve Leon’s housing problem…” “Housing problem?” Yang Weiguo looked troubled.
“Old Zhang, I can satisfy you on anything else, but this matter… I really can’t do anything about it.
There are still many people in the factory who can’t get apartment housing.” “This is the ministry’s decision,” Zhang Guoping said solemnly, taking out a document.
Yang Weiguo accepted it, and his frown deepened.
The ministry’s order was to solve Leon’s housing issue, and it specifically requested an apartment building.
After all, Leon had exchanged an apartment for this new residence.
Giving him a simple room would be going too far.
“Minister Zhang, there really aren’t any new apartment units in the factory right now… How about I move out and make room for Dr.
Cole?” Yang Weiguo said with a bitter expression.
Zhang Guoping frowned and was just about to say something.
But Leon, who had not spoken much until now, opened his mouth first.
“Director Yang, I came here to work, not to enjoy myself.
As long as the housing problem is solved, that’s enough.
Where I live isn’t important.” Those words sounded very noble, but in truth, he was simply helpless.
Yang Weiguo was not refusing to follow the ministry’s order.
It seemed the steel mill really had no apartment units left.
Continuing to make things difficult for him would not accomplish anything.
It was better to appear magnanimous.
“Leon,” Zhang Guoping called out, frowning.
“Uncle Zhang, I know you mean well, but you also have to consider the factory’s actual difficulties,” Leon said sincerely.
“Dr.
Cole, you’ve got a fine attitude.” Yang Weiguo praised him, then opened a drawer, took out a stack of vouchers, and handed them to Leon.
“I’ll find you a large house.
As for these… consider them compensation from the factory.” (Note: In 1960s China, “vouchers” generally referred to ration coupons.
Because many everyday necessities were scarce, the government used these coupons to limit how much each person could buy.
As part of the planned economy, they helped distribute limited goods more evenly while also discouraging hoarding, resale, and speculation.) Leon reached out to stop him.
“Director Yang, I can’t accept a reward without merit.” “Take them,” Factory Director Yang said sternly.
Leon glanced at Zhang Guoping.
Only after seeing him nod did he reach out and accept them.
“Thank you, Factory Director.” “That’s more like it.
Come on, I’ll take you to see the house.” Yang Weiguo happily put his arm around Leon’s shoulder and walked out, with Zhang Guoping following behind.
Whether for public or private reasons, Leon’s housing problem had to be solved.
Nanluoguxiang(*South Luogu Lane).
It was less than a twenty-minute walk from the steel rolling mill, but Yang Weiguo did not take Leon directly inside.
Instead, he first went to the street office.
“Director Yang, what brings you here?” The person who spoke was a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her early forties.
She had short, neat hair and a decisive, capable manner.
“Director Wang, this is Dr.
Cole from our factory,” Yang Weiguo introduced.
“He just started work today, and we need to arrange housing for him.
I remember there are still a few rooms left in that courtyard house, right?” “You mean Yi Zhonghai’s courtyard?” Director Wang asked.
“Yes, yes, Yi Zhonghai’s courtyard.” Yang Weiguo smiled.
“Dr.
Cole just graduated from university, and that courtyard is full of people from our steel rolling mill.
It’ll be good for him to have someone to look after him.” “..?” Leon froze when he heard this.
What was that?
South Luogu Lane?
A traditional courtyard house?
Yi Zhonghai?
When those keywords came together, he felt dizzy.
Was this world “Full House of Love?” “There are rooms there.
I’ll take you over now.” Without another word, Director Wang stood up and headed out.
“No, I think…” Leon was about to refuse, but Yang Weiguo put an arm around his shoulder.
“Let’s go take a look.” “Factory Director, please listen to me…” “We’ll talk when we get there.” … Leon looked at the courtyard house in front of him and could not bring himself to move forward.
Who would willingly be neighbors with these people?
If someone had never watched that TV series, then fine.
But if they had, it was enough to make their blood pressure rise.
This courtyard house was practically filled with villains!