svetikya Chapter 134 Telephone
Chapter 134 Telephone
Xiao Bin called out, and the plumbers and workers who were installing water pipes and building the pavilion all came downstairs. The group of people chatted and laughed as they took off their gloves, patted themselves off, and walked downstairs. Xie Na found a basin, filled it with hot water, and gave them water to wash their hands.
In the kitchen, Sister Shang was boiling water in a large pot to cook dumplings, while Chef Zhai grabbed a large ladle to stir-fry vegetables, making the whole small building lively and quite interesting. Because the decision was made hastily, the seasonings weren't all prepared, and there was no stock. Chef Zhai said it was no problem; they weren't making any fancy dishes, a few simple stir-fries would be enough. The main thing was dumplings, so vinegar, garlic, and soy sauce would suffice.
As everyone was washing their hands, laughing and joking, Xiao Bin's wife arrived, and Sun the driver and Xiao Li, who had gone back to get the radiators, also returned. It was all just good luck; it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. These guys all have silver tongues.
Xiao Bin introduced his wife to Xiao Wei, Xia Maosheng, Master Zhai, and Master Chang. Everyone sat down to prepare to eat. They squeezed into two tables. With so many people, the kitchen got warmer, but the room wasn't cold anymore.
Chef Zhai was quite experienced, so he served the dumplings first, then the main dishes. This made the meal seem more abundant and welcoming. If the main dishes were served first, the workers would finish the food in just a few bites, which would make the scene awkward.
Because they still had work to do, only Master Chang, Xiao Bin, and Master Zhai poured themselves a glass of wine. Xiao Wei declined, saying he couldn't drink, and Xia Maosheng didn't drink either.
The lively meal satisfied everyone. The workers ate heartily and worked even harder. The employees from the different stores also had a chance to properly work together.
After finishing their meal, Xiao Bin said goodbye to his wife and left. The rest of the restaurant staff also left after cleaning up. Xiao Wei found a small basin, filled it with dumplings, wrapped it in several layers of towels, and asked him to take it to the hospital. Master Zhai hesitated a few times but eventually took it and left happily.
Xiao Wei and Xia Maosheng squatted here, warming themselves by the stove, "keeping" Master Chang and the others company as they worked overtime. The installation was quite quick once the pipes were laid out, it was just that wrapping the pipes with PVC strips and applying paint took a bit of time, but there was no other way, these days the only pipe connectors available are these, Teflon tape will have to wait for many more years.
During this period, there were no large or small four-post radiators; they were just cast iron radiators, fixed together piece by piece, with water pipes connected to both ends, and iron hooks were installed on the walls to support the weight.
The hot water in the heating pipes flows from top to bottom, circulating through the system before returning to the boiler for reheating. Therefore, this water is undrinkable, and it's best not to use it even for washing vegetables. Especially in large industrial boilers, rust removers are added periodically; drinking that can be fatal.
In about an hour, the entire installation was completed, and then the hot water pump was connected to begin water filling and testing. Normally, the workers' job would be done once the installation was finished, but they had a smoke and a meal, and since they were already working overtime, Master Chang conveniently helped with the rest. The key was that the connection method at this stage made it difficult to guarantee there wouldn't be any leaks; if there were any leaks during the water test, they could just fix them, saving them a trip the next day.
I tried draining the water, otherwise it would all be frozen solid by the next morning. Some water pipes are so frozen they can burst. Back in Northeast China, we had to drain all the water from cars at night and reheat it the next day before driving off. As for the tap water pipes, they were buried two or three meters underground, and the tap water and heating pipes were in the same trench.
After testing the water, the plumber opened up and reconnected the two leaking sections. The carpenter's pavilion was also finished. Everyone was working overtime, and the three of them felt too embarrassed to leave.
Xiao Wei then pulled the carpenter aside and told him his idea: to add a few wooden beams to the roof to create a simple design. The carpenters discussed it and agreed. After all, the materials belonged to the government, and it was just a matter of doing a few things. They would have to work somewhere else anyway, and their wages wouldn't change. Plus, they got cigarettes and dumplings to eat here.
This job is simple for a skilled carpenter. They use large pieces of wood, so all they have to do is drive in a wedge to hold it in place, and then fix it directly to the wall around the perimeter. The only downside is that it takes a bit of time to climb up and down the stairs. They can finish the job in about an hour, grab a cigarette, and leave happily.
Once everyone had left, Xiaowei and Xia Maosheng locked the front door and ran to the kitchen to talk by the stove. The restaurant's stove wasn't turned off at night; instead, it was sealed with sparse coal. They just had to come early the next morning to loosen it and add coal, so they didn't have to light the stove every day.
Xiao Wei asked, "Why did you suddenly mention my dad just now? It completely confused me."
Xia Maosheng said, "I'm serious. Now that you're out, and your dad is sick, why not just bring your parents here? Although Longcheng isn't big or rich, it's still better than your hometown, right? It'll be easier for your dad to get treatment for his back here, and he won't have to suffer that hardship anymore. We won't let him be idle either; he can work the big boiler in that yard and get paid. Wouldn't that be better for everyone? You can't find someone else to pay you. Do you know how much coal that big boiler burns in a winter? There's a lot of money involved. We'll feel more at ease using one of our own people."
Xiao Wei frowned as he stared at the stove, and after a long pause, asked, "What about my brother going to school?"
Xia Maosheng said, "I told you I'd take care of it. Transferring your brother's household registration here isn't a big deal. Can't we do it? It's not like we're doing it for the whole family. You don't need me to transfer yours, and your parents don't need to either."
Xiao Wei licked his lips and said, "I'm just worried that my parents won't be able to adapt to city life, since they have no relatives or friends here."
Xia Maosheng said, "After your wife graduates, are you planning to go back to the county town? You can't, right? Are you going to bring your parents over? Going directly to Fengtian would be even more troublesome. I think this is a good opportunity. Let's stay in Longcheng for a few years first. Our contract is for nine years, that's ten years! By then we'll be complete city dwellers. Going to Fengtian then is fine, or even going to Beijing probably won't be a problem, right? Besides, is your brother studying here the same as studying in your hometown? Even disregarding the fact that this is a city, can the quality of education be compared?"
After hesitating for a while, Xiaowei said, "I'll call Xiaohong and ask her what she thinks."
Xia Maosheng flashed Xiao Wei a thick middle finger, then turned his head to the oven and ignored him.
Xiao Wei walked ahead, lost in thought. The phone was in the watchman's hut by the door. He went in, sat on the bed frame, thought for a moment, and then picked up the phone to dial.
The call connected quickly, rang a few times, and then the other end answered.
"Hey? Who are you looking for?" Xiao Hong's voice came through. Back then, phones didn't have caller ID, so you had to ask.
"I thought you weren't home. You weren't staying in the dorm?" Xiaowei asked with a smile.
Xiaohong was also pleasantly surprised, and her voice immediately brightened as she said, "No, I come home to stay every day. I'm just afraid I won't be able to answer your call one day. How's it going over there? Is it going to work out? Don't push yourself too hard. If it doesn't work out, just come back."