Chapter 13: Rural to Urban Household Registration

Mother Li saw that after her eldest and second sons had each taken a bowl, the noodles in the large basin were almost gone.

She picked up the large basin and said, “Don’t say anything yet. Wait until I’ve cooked the noodles, then we’ll talk.”

She was also very curious. If she didn’t hear the details with her own ears, her heart would be itching.

By the time Mother Li returned to the room with another basin of noodles, Father Li had also finished the noodles in his bowl. He wiped his mouth and took out a letter of introduction from his pocket.

Li Xiangdong took the letter of introduction. Seeing his wife’s head leaning over, he opened it and moved it in front of her.

Zhou Yuqin asked, “What kind of job is a water supplier?”

Li Xiangdong was also at a loss. He felt a little disappointed at this moment. He had thought he would be assigned as a train attendant. He wanted to work in the railway system because he wanted to be on a train.

Father Li replied while serving himself noodles, “It seems to be adding water to the trains. Deputy Director Zhang didn’t explain the specifics, but anyway, it’s a good job. Deputy Director Zhang specifically called his classmate who works in the railway system to ask for it.”

“Before I left, Deputy Director Zhang also specifically told me to remind Dongzi to be careful when he follows the train to other places in the future.”

Li Xiangdong didn’t hear anything else, only the last sentence his father said. “Dad, did you say that Deputy Director Zhang specifically told you to remind me to be careful when I follow the train to other places?”

Father Li looked at his startled son and nodded, “Yes, that’s what he said. What’s wrong?”

Li Xiangdong’s mood was like a roller coaster, up and down, almost making him faint.

He said excitedly, “I’m fine. It’s just that the noodles my mom made today are too delicious. I have to have another bowl!”

“You’re something else. When have you ever eaten less?”

Mother Li rolled her eyes at her third son, but the smile on her face couldn’t be suppressed.

This was great. Her third son now had a proper job, and a very good one at that, much better than working at the coal shop. How could she, as a mother, not be happy?

“No wonder he can be a leader. He’s really generous in his work! Your dad just went to inquire about some news, and he directly arranged Dongzi’s job!”

Old Man Li nodded, “Daughter-in-law is right. That little favor of mine from back then was able to get Dongzi such a good job. In reality, our family owes him one.”

Mother Li suggested, “Dad, what do you think about us buying some good cigarettes and wine for Dongzi to take to thank him in person?”

Old Man Li shook his head, “No. We just finished the business. If we go to his house with gifts now, he will definitely be wary of it.”

“How about this, when Dongzi gets his salary, we’ll pick a good day. We don’t need to buy anything expensive, just some eggs and fruits. It will show our sincerity without making him feel awkward. No matter what, we’ll treat him like a relative and visit him during holidays.”

“We’ll listen to you.”

Father Li thought his father’s words made a lot of sense.

Whether they could become relatives or not was another matter. It was rare for the family to have a connection with a leader, so they definitely had to interact with him more.

The large family finished lunch amidst the noise and chatter. After clearing the dishes, they all went back to their rooms to rest.

Father Li and his brothers had to take a nap, as they had to go back to work in the afternoon.

The children in the family also knew not to be noisy at this time, otherwise they would really get a beating.

Li Xiangdong paced back and forth in his room, unable to calm down. He was still extremely excited!

He wanted to live a good life with his wife and children, and he also wanted to be filial to his parents and grandparents. But the prerequisite for all of this was that he had to make money.

If it were someone else who had been reborn, they might have gone all out, blazing a trail and making a lot of money.

But he didn’t dare. It had only been a year since the reform and opening-up. The policies were sometimes left, sometimes right, sometimes left and right, and sometimes either left or right.

If he dared to act recklessly, he might be struck by lightning one day!

Besides, adding up his two lifetimes, he had at best just overcome the hurdle of being illiterate. He didn’t know how to do business either!

In his previous life, he didn’t believe in fate and ended up ruining his family. In this life, he didn’t want to be a stepping stone for others again.

Besides, if he had money, he could just buy a house, right? Why do business!

After the lunch break, before going to work, Father Li woke up, washed his face, and then knocked on the door of the west wing room.

“Dongzi, third daughter-in-law, come out for a moment.”

“What is it, Dad?”

Li Xiangdong and Zhou Yuqin immediately came out of the room upon hearing the voice. The two of them hadn’t rested at all. Their daughter had slept enough in the morning and was full of energy, pestering them to play with her. On top of that, their eldest son was also making a fuss, so the couple couldn’t even get a moment’s rest.

Seeing his third son and his wife come out, Father Li rubbed his sleepy face.

“When we were talking about your job during the meal, I was so happy that I forgot something else. Deputy Director Zhang knows that your wife and children’s household registrations are still in the countryside. He wants you to find some time to go back with your wife to get a household registration certificate. When you come back, he’ll help you with the rural-to-urban household registration transfer.”

Hearing her father-in-law’s words, Zhou Yuqin was so excited she was speechless!

To transfer her household registration, become a city dweller, and eat commercially supplied grain was not only her dream but also the aspiration of all rural people in this era.

The household registration management policy was a natural chasm, and the quota for rural-to-urban household registration transfer was not something everyone could get, especially the commercial grain household registration in Beijing, which was even more difficult!

She had never thought that such a good thing would fall into her lap. When she followed her husband back to the city, her household registration couldn’t be transferred, which meant that she and her children had been eating grain bought at a negotiated price.

“Dad, is this matter not urgent?”

Li Xiangdong wanted to delay it. The land was about to be distributed. He could transfer the household registration after the land was distributed. This way, the land under his wife and children’s names could be transferred to his father-in-law’s name after some maneuvering.

But he couldn’t say such things about the future.

Father Li looked at him suspiciously and asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Li Xiangdong’s mind raced, and he came up with an excuse.

“I have to report for duty the day after tomorrow, and I’m not sure when I’ll have time. How about we talk about it in a while?”

Zhou Yuqin, who was beside him, suddenly said, “I can go back by myself.”

“Huh?”

Li Xiangdong was stunned for a moment. He looked at Zhou Yuqin, who was still in a state of excitement, and suddenly felt that no matter how much land was distributed in the future, it was not as important as his wife’s happiness.

Father Li noticed that his expression was a little strange and shouted, “What are you ‘huh’-ing about? What are you thinking, you little bastard?!”

His shout brought everyone who was resting in their rooms out.

Mother Li, who learned that her youngest son was hesitating about such a good thing, didn’t give Li Xiangdong a chance to speak. She came up and pointed at his nose, scolding.

“Li Laosan, are you missing a brain?! Why are you delaying such a pie-in-the-sky matter!”

The second brother, who had walked up to Li Xiangdong, patted his shoulder and asked, “Dongzi, did you get into trouble in the countryside? Is that why you don’t dare to see your father-in-law?”