Chapter 38: I Don’t F*cking Smoke

Li Xiangdong thought about it and realized it was actually a good thing that Hou San had come to him. He no longer had to worry about how to maintain his connection with Hou Jianshe.

This little upturned, triangular-eyed…

Oh no, this Hou San would be his non-blood-related sworn brother from now on!

The title of the Li family being coal men for three generations sounded unlucky. He was determined to start with himself and make their old Li family, like the Hou family, railway men for three generations!

Li Xiangdong glanced at Ah Zhe, “How could you possibly know all of my relatives?”

After saying that, he ignored the muddle-headed Ah Zhe and walked to Sister Sun’s workstation.

“Sister Sun, this is my physical examination report.”

“Sister Sun, this is mine.”

Ah Zhe quickly came over and placed his physical examination report on the table.

“Mmm, there are no problems with the physical examination reports.”

After looking them over, Sister Sun handed the two of them their newly made work IDs.

“Don’t lose your work IDs. Although you can get them reissued if you lose them, there’s a fee for reissuing.”

“Got it, Sister Sun.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll both be careful.”

Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe took their work IDs, looked at them, and put them in their pockets.

Sister Sun stood up and said, “It’s good that you know to be careful. With these work IDs, you two are now part of our section. Let me tell you about your future salary and benefits.”

“We issue the current month’s salary and benefits at the beginning of the month. Since you two just reported for duty today, remember to go to the finance department later to collect this month’s salary.”

“Today is the 11th, so you can receive a full month’s salary. If you were a few days later, after the 15th, you would only get half a month’s salary.”

When Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe heard they could collect their salary right after arriving, and a full month’s worth at that, they couldn’t hold back their smiles.

This was especially true for Li Xiangdong. He was in desperate need of money right now, and this was like timely rain for him!

Sister Sun interrupted, “Don’t get too happy too soon. You two are still in your apprenticeship period, so the salary isn’t much.”

“During the apprenticeship, the first-year salary is 18 yuan per month, the second year is 23 yuan, and the third year is 27 yuan. There will be a regularization assessment at the end of the period. After becoming a regular employee, you’ll be a Grade 1 worker, with a monthly salary of 33 yuan. If you want to increase your salary after that, you’ll have to work hard to raise your worker grade.”

“However, you will receive all the benefits you’re entitled to, such as position allowances, conservation bonuses, production bonuses, and trip bonuses. In addition, our station will issue some labor protection supplies and work uniforms. Hou San will take you to the logistics warehouse to collect them later, so I won’t go into detail.”

Sister Sun picked up her water cup, moistened her throat, and continued, “Hou San is a kid who grew up in our section. You can ask him if there’s anything you don’t understand. Oh, why am I even telling you this.”

“Dongzi, you and Hou San are relatives. He will definitely tell you anything you need to pay attention to. You two can go now. Dongzi, remember to come and chat with your big sister when you’re free.”

Li Xiangdong smiled, “Alright, I got it, Sister Sun. You get back to your work.”

“Take care, Brother Li.”

“Goodbye, Comrade Xiao Wang.”

Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe came out of the office and saw Hou San squatting at the top of the corridor stairs. He had a cigarette between his fingers and was flicking ash into an empty cigarette pack.

Hou San looked up and saw Li Xiangdong and the other man come out of the office. He threw the cigarette butt in his hand into the pack, squeezed it tightly into a ball, and stuffed it into his pocket.

“What are you two looking at? You can’t just throw cigarette butts on the floor in the corridor. Also, Comrade, you wait here for a moment. I need to have a private word with Li Xiangdong.”

At the corner of the stairs.

Hou San spoke first, “My name is Hou Quan. I’m the third oldest at home, so everyone calls me Hou San. You should have guessed who my dad is, right?”

Li Xiangdong nodded and asked in return, “Is there something you wanted to talk to me about alone?”

“Not really. I just wanted to ask you, how did you manage to fool all those people? They actually believe you’re a relative of our family. It’s really interesting. Quick, tell me about it.”

Hou San had a curious look on his face, which, combined with his upturned, triangular eyes…

Oh my god, Li Xiangdong almost broke character and burst out laughing!

He shook his head repeatedly, distancing himself from the matter, “Hou San, you can’t slander me. I never told them that. I don’t know why they would think that, but it has absolutely nothing to do with me.”

“You’re no fun. Forget it, I won’t tease you anymore.”

Hou San looked around. Seeing no one, he leaned closer to Li Xiangdong, “Lower your head, I have something to tell you!”

Li Xiangdong asked doubtfully, “What do you want to say? Can’t you just say it directly?”

“I’m worried someone will hear. Hurry up and lower your head. I’ll whisper it to you.”

Li Xiangdong lowered his head very cautiously, worried that Hou San might play a trick on him.

But Hou San was well-behaved. He just leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I know all about your situation. Deputy Director Zhang from the subdistrict office is an old classmate of my dad’s. You went through that connection, right?”

Seeing his noncommittal expression, Hou San continued, “Don’t deny it. My dad told me all this. Otherwise, what do you think I’m here for? It was my dad who called me just now, saying you were coming to report for duty today and that I should show you around.”

After hearing Hou San’s words, Li Xiangdong finally sorted out the cause and effect and understood why Hou San hadn’t exposed him directly earlier.

Both Hou Jianshe and his son regarded him as one of their own. If they were to be divided into factions, then he belonged to the Hou family’s faction.

No wonder Hou Jianshe’s attitude had changed immediately this morning upon seeing his introduction letter. So that was the reason!

Now that Hou San had spelled things out, he certainly wouldn’t hide anything either. He told him the truth, “I did indeed go through Deputy Director Zhang’s connection. If we go by what you just said, then we’re on the same side.”

Hou San shrugged, “If we weren’t on the same side, would I let you impersonate a relative of our family? And I certainly wouldn’t have come over specially. You think I have nothing better to do?”

Seeing Hou San still harping on this topic, he said in exasperation, “I never told anyone I was a relative of your family!”

Impersonating someone’s relative, especially a leader’s relative, was not a good thing to be known for. Li Xiangdong would never admit to it, no matter what.

It was purely a misunderstanding!

“Alright, I believe you, okay?”

Hou San rubbed his nose and said with some embarrassment, “Do you have any cigarettes?”

Another one asking for cigarettes…

Li Xiangdong said, utterly speechless, “I don’t f*cking smoke!”