Chapter 7: The Ministry of Railways—The Legendary “Iron Boss”!
After awakening memories of his past life, Chen Shi cherished his family in this lifetime even more. Even Chen Maihua, the little tattletale, though they fought like cats and dogs at home, would rush to defend him if anyone outside the family dared to speak ill of him!
As for Tian Xiulan, she poured all her love into Chen Shi.
Being reborn in this era and having parents and a sister —life was truly fulfilling!
Humming a tune, Chen Shi followed Old Chen into the room. Inside, the ailing and simple-minded facade faded from Old Chen’s face, his eyes sharp and alert. “Did anyone in the courtyard give you trouble?”
Chen Shi slapped his thigh. “They did! Dad, your precious son got bullied! Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong teamed up, insinuating that you and Mom are nothing but sickly burdens!”
Old Chen snorted. “Expected. So, what’s your take? If you really want Qin Huairu, I can make arrangements. Our family’s reputation won’t suffer a single stain. But that girl’s weak—don’t marry her just to spite someone and then mistreat her.”
Chen Shi shook his head. “No, Dad. I don’t want Qin Huairu. She’s clearly trouble…”
“Good. You’ve been a reckless brat for twenty years. Time to settle down. Once you’re married, I’ll find you a job better than Jia Dongxu’s!”
Old Chen smirked coldly. “Old Jia? I’ll make sure he dies with his eyes wide open!”
Chen Shi was speechless. Why was his shrewd father comparing himself to that deadbeat Jia family? They were nothing but a bunch of has-beens!
Though the Chen family seemed like poor nobodies in the courtyard, no one knew Old Chen had been an underground operative before liberation. He had infiltrated the Postal and Telecommunications Factory, replacing all the Nationalist loyalists with undercover agents of the new regime. After the founding of the nation, he handed the factory over intact to the state.
Old Chen’s chronic illnesses stemmed from those undercover years. After liberation, the state assigned him to the Ministry of Railways as a worker, but restless as ever, he chose to become a stoker instead.
Though Old Chen was a “medicine jar,” the state covered all his medical expenses. Tian Xiulan’s poor health was due to complications from giving birth to Maihua, but as a worker’s dependent, half her medical costs were reimbursed.
So, the Chen family’s expenses weren’t actually high. Plus, Old Chen belonged to the Ministry of Railways—what did that mean?
The “Iron Boss” wasn’t just a nickname. The railway system operated as its own empire: it had its own military, courts, and public security—completely self-sufficient. Every other institution had to beg the railways for freight cars. They were untouchable.
Not only that, but they also had their own police, procuratorate, courts, and prisons—offering a full “arrest, trial, and imprisonment” service!
The Iron Boss, Electricity Second, and Oil Third—these three giants of the era functioned as independent fiefdoms, arrogant and unassailable.
By rights, Old Chen should’ve lived in Ministry housing, but he couldn’t bear to leave the west courtyard he’d scrimped and saved his whole life to buy. Besides, housing in the newly established capital was tight, so he chose to stay in his private home.
This mindset stemmed from the old society, where pensions didn’t exist. Those like Old Chen, without family wealth, pinched pennies to buy property young, planning to live off rent in old age.
But then the new China emerged, and the working class became the elite. So, the house became their home.
Of course, secrecy was still paramount. The organization conducted regular reviews, so the neighbors only knew Old Chen as a train stoker—just a coal-shoveler, no different from a factory boiler worker.
They assumed he was average in status and income.
In reality, Old Chen earned just as much as Yi Zhonghai.
Chen Shi rolled his eyes. “Come on, Dad. Since liberation, you’ve been pulling strings for two years trying to get me into the Ministry. But it’s not that easy! Most have to take exams, enroll in railway college, and then start as stokers—the lowest rung. And the better positions? Swarmed by army dependents, martyrs’ families, and veterans. How could our family compete?”
Old Chen huffed. “If we can’t get you in, you’re moving back to Qin Village to farm with your grandfather and uncles!”
Chen Shi shut up. Farming? No thanks.
It was 1952, the last golden year for peasants—they could still keep or sell their grain as they pleased. But once unified purchase and sales kicked in, land would be collectivized. People would break their backs for work points, only to owe the production team at year’s end.
This wasn’t an exception—it’d soon be the norm across rural China.
So no, farming was out of the question. Never in this lifetime.
Meanwhile, Tian Xiulan asked Shen Youchu about her family and felt a pang of sympathy. “Child, once you marry into our family, we’ll take care of you. We’ll help with your mother’s medical bills.”
Shen Youchu’s eyes welled up, and she moved to kneel. “Auntie, I can never repay your kindness…”
Tian Xiulan pulled her up, heart aching. “But my boy… well, you’ve seen him. He’s hopeless. You’ll have your work cut out for you.”
Shen Youchu nodded firmly. “I can handle it.”
After discussing her situation, Old Chen and Tian Xiulan decided Chen Shi and Shen Youchu should register their marriage that very afternoon.
After all, they hoped marriage would straighten him out.
With the match settled, the next step was gathering documents, getting approval letters, and heading to the civil affairs office.
When Tian Xiulan told matchmaker Auntie Wang, the woman beamed. She’d arranged two meetings today and expected only one to succeed—yet both couples hit it off.
Her red envelope was guaranteed.
“Xiulan, don’t worry. With our families’ ties, I’d never cheat Little Shi. Youchu’s a gem—her family’s the only drawback. I’ll have her and Qin Huairu return to Qin Village for the paperwork. Once that’s done, the girls can move straight into the courtyard. Today’s an auspicious day!”
Tian Xiulan agreed, relieved everything was settled. Then she called out, “Maihua! Come help me clean your brother’s room! And get Granny Shui from the backyard to cut some red double-happiness characters!”
Maihua blinked. “Mom, is Brother really getting married? Just like that?”
Tian Xiulan laughed. “What do you mean ‘just like that’? He’s twenty! At his age, your dad had already been married to me for five years!”