Chapter 27 Explanation
Song Yuanchao ate the long-lost "mixed stew" at Li Daqi's house. This dish is not rare in later generations, and you can find it in any Liaodong restaurant on the street. But in this era, this method is still quite new in Shanghai. Li Daqi's cooking skills are also good, and Aunt Dong is also in charge.
After not seeing each other for many years, and with Li Daqi finding a job, everyone was very happy and enjoyed the meal very much.
After lunch, they sat down to drink a cup of tea and chatted for a while before Song Yuanchao stood up to say goodbye. Aunt Dong and the others wanted to take Song Yuanchao to have dinner before leaving, but Song Yuanchao said that he had to go back early to prepare and go to school to discuss something tomorrow, so Aunt Dong did not force him to stay.
When leaving, Li Daqi specially sent Song Yuanchao out, and Li Xiaoyun secretly winked at Song Yuanchao, as if to remind him not to forget what he promised her. Song Yuanchao quietly made an OK gesture. Although Li Xiaoyun didn't understand what this gesture was for, she was smart enough to know that Song Yuanchao was telling her that there was no problem, so she playfully returned the same gesture.
After leaving Li Daqi's house, the two walked towards the outside of the village in the city. When they reached the path outside, Li Daqi took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Song Yuanchao, and lit one for himself.
After taking a puff of cigarette, Li Daqi stood there with his head tilted and looked at Song Yuanchao, as if waiting for Song Yuanchao's explanation.
"I told you this today without asking for your consent." Song Yuanchao apologized first, then explained: "Your parents are very worried about your job. I can see that Aunt Dong has this in her mind. In fact, I have been thinking about the school-run factory a few days ago."
At this point, Song Yuanchao continued, "We have made some money from selling hangers these days, and we can continue this business for a while. But no matter what, in the eyes of my parents, doing business by myself is not a legitimate business. It is far better than having a formal job, even if I can make more money from business."
Seeing that Li Daqi didn't say anything, Song Yuanchao continued, "Today, Xiaoyun secretly asked me what you were doing these days, going out early and coming back late. I couldn't hide the matter of selling clothes hangers from her, and I didn't want her to have wild guesses, so I told Xiaoyun in private, but she promised me that she wouldn't tell Uncle Li and Aunt Dong. I think this can't go on for a long time without a legitimate reason. It's okay in the short term, but Uncle Li and Aunt Dong will definitely be worried over time, and it won't be good if some problems arise at that time."
"Instead of making them worry in vain, why not get a temporary job first? That way you'll have a legitimate reason to be busy outside in the future. What do you think?"
Li Daqi took a puff of his cigarette and looked up at Song Yuanchao: "Yuanchao, besides these, do you have any other reasons that you haven't told me?"
"Hahaha, I really can't hide it from you." Song Yuanchao laughed, "Do you remember what I mentioned to you before? I told you not to go to Yangcheng for the time being."
"Does going to Guangzhou have anything to do with this?" Li Daqi was a little surprised.
"Of course it does matter." Song Yuanchao said solemnly, "As I said before, we are brothers. I won't cheat you. Everything I do now is for the future. In fact, you should have thought about it yourself. Since we can make money by doing business, why did I specially find a job in a school-run factory?"
Li Daqi was also confused about this, but he didn't have time to ask.
"I joined the school-run factory for a reason." Song Yuanchao dusted off his cigarette, but stopped smoking. He looked into the distance and said, "The policy is not yet completely clear. To put it bluntly, our business is skirting the rules and there are certain risks, so it is necessary to find a unit. In addition, the school-run factory is not an ordinary enterprise and is relatively flexible, which is very beneficial for our future planning."
"Besides, you can work as a temporary worker there and take care of the clothes hanger business at the same time, so it won't affect anything. More importantly, you need to have a long-term vision, think deeply, and take one step and look three steps ahead. Only in this way can you move forward more smoothly."
After finishing speaking, Song Yuanchao patted Li Daqi on the shoulder and apologized to him once again for not discussing it with Li Daqi before and directly telling the matter to Uncle Li, Aunt Dong and others.
"Apologize, of course I have to apologize!" Li Daqi raised his head, smiled, and hooked Song Yuanchao's neck and pulled him down, saying, "Where did you learn all these tricks, and you even included me, your brother. There's no doubt about it, you have to apologize. We agreed that if you owe me a meal, you must give me enough braised pork next time!"
"Oh my, you are so strong that you want to commit murder? I am going to twist my head off for you. Okay, okay, I will give you enough braised pork. Isn't that enough? Let go, let go, let go quickly."
The two of them walked further and further away, laughing and joking, just like when they were children, leaving behind a circle of happy laughter at the intersection.
The next day, Song Yuanchao went to No. 2 Middle School early, dressed neatly like last time, and also brought his newly obtained household registration booklet.
Song Yuanchao greeted the security guard, Uncle Liu, and handed him a cigarette.
When Uncle Liu saw Song Yuanchao coming, he smiled and opened the door for him. This time, Song Yuanchao did not need Uncle Liu to accompany him in. After chatting with the guard for a few words and handing him a cigarette, he went to the teaching building and soon arrived at the principal's office.
After knocking on the door, Principal Zhou stood up with a smile when he saw that it was Song Yuanchao who came. Song Yuanchao walked forward, bowed respectfully to the principal and said hello, "Principal."
"Have a seat, please sit first." Principal Zhou poured him a glass of water and asked Song Yuanchao to sit down with a smile. After he sat down, he asked, "Have you got your household registration?"
"Thank you, Principal. I just came down." Song Yuanchao nodded and took out the household registration booklet from his schoolbag and handed it over.
Principal Zhou took it, opened it, took a look, and then put it aside: "It's good that the household registration has been approved, but Yuan Chao, there is something I need to make clear to you in advance."
"Please go ahead, Principal."
Principal Zhou said sternly, "School-run factories are basically not staffed by school workers. Of course, you are an exception, but the treatment for working in a school-run factory is somewhat different from that of the school. Moreover, the nature of school-run factories is special and there is no funding from the higher authorities. Therefore, not only do you have to support yourself, but you also have to hand over profits to the school every year..."
Afraid that Song Yuanchao didn't understand, Principal Zhou carefully explained to him the relationship between the school and the school-run factory. To put it bluntly, a school-run factory is a factory outside the school system. Because the school belongs to the education department, not the business department, the positioning of the school-run factory is rather awkward. Although its superior is the school, it is not in the education department, and it cannot have normal funding like an enterprise. To put it bluntly, it is supported by its mother.
In addition, the school-run factories have independent accounting and need to be responsible for their own profits and losses. The school has the right to manage and guide the school-run factories, but the school-run factories have to find ways to survive on their own. This may sound a bit contradictory, but it is the fact, and it can also be regarded as a feature of the times.
Because Song Yuanchao's situation was special, Principal Zhou was able to arrange a school worker position for Song Yuanchao, but once he worked in the school-run factory, his salary would have to come from the school-run factory, and his income would be slightly different from that of ordinary school workers.
From this point of view, it is somewhat disadvantageous for Song Yuanchao, because compared with the welfare of normal school workers and those in the school-run factory, Song Yuanchao is at a slight disadvantage. So Principal Zhou's implicit meaning is to persuade Song Yuanchao not to go to the school-run factory, and to arrange other jobs for him in the school first, such as library administrator, ordinary teacher in the school office, etc. This job is easy and not tiring, and not only the salary is better than that of the school-run factory, but more importantly, Principal Zhou said that the key is that he still wants Song Yuanchao to have plenty of time to review so that he can take the university entrance examination this year.
Song Yuanchao was very grateful for Principal Zhou's kindness, but he still rejected Principal Zhou's suggestion and insisted on going to the school-run factory.
After receiving Song Yuanchao's firm response, Principal Zhou had no choice but to sigh and agree to Song Yuanchao's request.
