Other departments also came to the finance office to handle reimbursement matters at this time, so they became aware of Zhang Yu’s request.
Before lunchtime, everyone in the office knew about the job Zhang Hao had left behind, and the Zhang Family had already named their price.
They weren’t asking for money, but rather to renovate their house, and the amount needed for that was uncertain.
Still, more people were tempted because what they would be getting in exchange was the driver’s job; even if the cost was high, everyone had an idea of what the rewards would be.
Yi Zhonghai had gone to see Zhang Yu early this morning, wanting to talk to her about the job.
He had already made contact with the technical department chief, hoping to establish a connection through Zhang Hao’s job.
He had thought, as the First Elder of the courtyard and as Zhang Yu’s elder, that it would be a piece of cake to deal with her.
To his surprise, he didn’t run into her in the morning and later found out that she had gone to report to the steel factory that day, which made him very anxious.
He knew that many people in the factory were covetously eyeing the position and that as soon as this girl reported to the factory, someone would definitely approach her. What should he do?
Yi Zhonghai spent the entire morning anxious and desperately wanted to wait at the factory gate, but he had no choice; he had an important task at hand and couldn’t leave his post.
By the time he finished his work, it was time for lunch. On the way to the canteen with his meal container, he contemplates whether to find Zhang Yu after lunch.
However, as he walks there, he overhears many people mentioning Zhang Hao and pricks up his ears, curious about the situation.
When he hears them talking about how valuable Zhang Hao’s job is, it startles Yi Zhonghai.
What’s going on, why would they suddenly be talking about this? And the discussion was growing more heated by the minute.
It was then he saw Li Haizhong, who was also discussing something, "Old Liu, what are you guys talking about?"
Li Haizhong, unaware of Yi Zhonghai’s designs on the Zhang Family, briefly mentioned what everyone was discussing.
Yi Zhonghai never expected Zhang Yu to make such a demand; even the most basic renovation would cost over 500.
"Ridiculous, it’s really ridiculous," Yi Zhonghai burst out in anger, having originally thought he could settle the matter for 400.
Once the girl got the money, with the Jia Family’s current hard times, Jia Dongxu’s single salary had to support three adults and two children, which was quite a struggle.
With a large sum of money in her hands, couldn’t Zhang Yu offer a bit of support?
But now the situation had completely deviated from his expectations, and this frustrated Yi Zhonghai, who was accustomed to being in charge at the courtyard.
Yi Zhonghai’s sudden outburst stunned everyone, "That’s right, it’s just a job after all."
Yi Zhonghai hurriedly finished his meal, informed the workshop director that he had some family matters to attend to and would be a bit late in the afternoon; the workshop director, of course, agreed.
After all, he was a Seventh-Level Fitter in the factory, soon to be promoted to the eighth level; even the workshop director had to coddle him.
Yi Zhonghai rushed home, and upon entering the courtyard, called out, "Zhang Yu."
Zhang Yu knew that whether it was noon or evening, Yi Zhonghai would definitely come looking for her, ready to blame her for something.
She hadn’t expected the old man to show up at noon.
"First Elder, what’s wrong?" Zhang Yu approached the Moon Gate.
"I heard you’re going to let someone else have your dad’s job," Yi Zhonghai said angrily. "And you even named such a high price, isn’t this nonsense?"
"Nonsense? I don’t think what I’m doing is nonsense."
"If someone thinks the price is too high, they can choose not to buy it,"
"I’m not forcing anyone to buy it," Zhang Yu smiled.
"Besides, Director Wang and Chief Deng of the Labor and Capital Department didn’t call it nonsense, so why are you so agitated, First Elder?"
"First Elder, this is ultimately a matter for my family," Zhang Yu said coldly, facing Yi Zhonghai.
"You, you..." Yi Zhonghai had thought up reasons all the way here, but Zhang Yu’s words had left him speechless.
Suddenly he remembered Zhang Yu mentioning Director Wang, "Which Director Wang are you talking about?"
"The street’s Director Wang, after all, I need to renovate my house, so I have to discuss it with Director Wang."
"When my parents had their accident, it was the factory and Director Wang who stepped in." Zhang Yu certainly remembered that right after the accident involving Zhang Hao and his wife, the so-called Uncle Stewards, including Old Liu, did not step in at first.
It was only later, after seeing the street office and the factory get involved, that Yi Zhonghai and the other two masters took action.
"If you don’t have other matters, First Elder, I need to clean up the house."
Is the asking price too high? Zhang Yu really didn’t think so, "First Elder, no one in your family is looking for a job, so you wouldn’t care about the hiring ads outside."
"Now many factories are not hiring; even the eldest son of Third Master’s family doesn’t have a job and is just doing odd jobs."
"What my father left was an official position at the steel rolling mill and it was a driver’s job, do you think this demand is too high?"
Zhang Yu turned to leave, "Oh, by the way, First Elder, about the house renovation, I have already filed an application, and Director Wang has agreed."
After finishing her reporting and arriving home, she mulled it over and decided to write up an application, just to prevent Yi Zhonghai and the others from causing a fuss again.
Yi Zhonghai wanted to say that Zhang Yu couldn’t renovate, "This renovation, it hasn’t been decided by a meeting of everyone."
Even if an application had been submitted, First Elder indicated that there was still a missing procedure.
A meeting to decide? Zhang Yule found it amusing; to block everyone’s mouths in the quadrangle, she had already said that she had filed an application and that Director Wang had agreed.
Yet, they were still bringing this up, "Comrade Yi Zhonghai, my house is private property, and we have the property deeds."
What First Elder, really flattering himself, hmph, if someone is shameless, why should they be given face?
Yi Zhonghai was infuriated by Zhang Yu’s address, but what angered him even more was yet to come.
Zhang Yu gently patted the Moon Gate, "From this gate forward, it belongs to my family."
"There used to be a gate here; do I need to explain why it isn’t here anymore?"
"Initially, my grandfather thought you were younger and didn’t hold it against you; did you really think it was no big deal?"
"You broke the gate of my family’s yard, and until now, there hasn’t been a new gate installed."
"I am now going to install a gate, and you’re actually talking about holding a courtyard meeting."
"Master Yi Zhonghai, you may be Uncle Steward, but you are still under the jurisdiction of the street office, conveying their directives."
"Not to interfere and make judgments about the household affairs of the courtyard residents."
"If we disagree on this point, I think we can invite Director Wang to come to the quadrangle and give everyone a good primer."
Zhang Yu stared at Yi Zhonghai; if this old man didn’t let her be, sorry, but she wouldn’t let him off either.
Completely dragging down the faces of these three Uncle Stewards of the courtyard.