Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

Chapter 158 Rejection

"Knock knock," "Knock knock."

While Sha Zhu and Uncle Ge were talking in the living room, there was another knock on the door.

Sha Zhu scanned the area with his mind and saw that outside was Aunt Dong, a neighbor from the neighborhood, with an unfamiliar woman standing in front of her house.

"Uncle Ge, have some tea and a cigarette. I'll go out and see who's knocking on the door."

Sha Zhu transferred a pack of cigarettes from his spatial storage into his pocket, took it out and handed it to Uncle Ge before walking outside.

"Knock knock," "Coming, coming," Sha Zhu opened the courtyard gate.

Looking at Aunt Dong and the people behind her, she asked, "Aunt Dong, weren't you sunbathing and taking care of your child at the alley entrance? Is something wrong?"

"Yes, I have something to say. I like visiting your house; it's quiet and comfortable, without all the petty squabbles we have in our yard."

"It's either a scallion stolen today, or someone's cabbage heart ruined by some kid in the cellar tomorrow. What's wrong, Zhu Zi? Aren't you going to invite this old lady in for a chat?"

After listening to what Aunt Dong told me about what happened in their yard, I realized that stealing the hearts of cabbages wasn't just a privilege of unborn calves.

Sha Zhu quickly invited the two older women into the living room.

"Hey, Lao Ge, I saw you coming this way at the alley entrance. Why aren't you at your little restaurant trying to attract customers? What are you doing here at Zhuzi's place?"

Aunt Dong entered the living room and saw Uncle Ge sitting at the table. She greeted him.

"Nothing much, just wanted to chat with Zhu Zi," Uncle Ge replied casually.

"Let's chat. You bosses don't do anything without a profit. If you don't want to talk, then don't. Why 'chat'?"

After Aunt Dong's incisive sarcasm towards Uncle Ge, she turned to Sha Zhu, who had followed her in, and said...

"Zhu Zi, let me introduce you," said Aunt Dong, pulling down another woman, whom Zhu Zi didn't recognize, to sit down.

"This lady is Aunt Chen from Shajing Hutong in Nanluoguxiang."

Her son is getting married soon, and they heard you can do carpentry, so they asked you to make some tables and chairs.

Aunt Chen, who was standing nearby, spoke up, "I know Zhu Zi. Zhu Zi's old home was in the courtyard at No. 95."

My house is across the street. I used to run into Zhuzi at the entrance of the alley on that street when he went to work at Fengzeyuan.

Perhaps Zhu Zi was too young at the time and didn't notice the old ladies chatting at the entrance of the alley.

"Zhu Zi, isn't this my son getting married? We're looking to buy some furniture for the house, so I came to ask you about the prices of things like beds, wardrobes, tables, and chairs."

With great power comes many tasks and problems. Sha Zhu, clinging to his lazy idea, said, "I only know how to make tables and chairs, not beds, cabinets, or other large items."

Aunt Dong retorted from the side, "Zhu Zi, didn't you make the cart for the neighborhood committee yourself? You can make anything with wheels, so making a bed is no simpler than making a cart."

"Aunt Dong, look at that cart, it's so poorly made, the surface isn't even smooth."

They simply found two wheels at the junkyard and installed them.

That bed is the one we use to sleep and rest every day. It's too big and difficult to assemble. I can't do such a big project.

Look at the tables, chairs, benches, and even this recliner in my house; they were all bought secondhand.

Besides the items confiscated by the neighborhood committee and the tables, chairs, and benches from small restaurants...

I don't have any custom-made furniture in my house. I can make tables and chairs, but I really don't know how to do anything else.

"So, Zhuzi, how much would it cost to make tables, chairs, and benches?"

Aunt Chen stopped Aunt Dong from speaking and hurriedly asked.

Sha Zhu thought to himself, "I don't even know myself. I've been talking nonsense to you guys."

No, making tables and chairs out of wood would probably require on-site service. If you're not working under their watchful eyes, they're afraid you'll cut corners.

Moreover, according to the teacher's discussion in "Analysis of the Classes in Chinese Society",

The petty bourgeoisie included self-cultivating farmers, artisans, and the lower strata of the intellectual class.

Their economic status is lower than that of the middle class. They generally own a small amount of means of production or possess professional technical knowledge. They work for themselves and do not exploit others.

I'm 17 years old this year, working in a factory with professional skills. If I also take on some carpentry work, would I also be considered a member of the petty bourgeoisie?

In the early 1950s, the government began socialist transformation of the woodworking industry.

Many carpenters were organized and joined handicraft cooperatives or state-owned enterprises, and the practice of individuals taking on private work was gradually restricted.

This process was largely completed by the mid-1950s, marking the formal inclusion of the woodworking industry into the national planned economy management system.

I can't go any further down the path of self-destructive behavior.

"Aunt Chen, you should go find those old carpenters. I don't know the exact price, and we've never built anything for the neighbors before."

Even if I could save a penny or two, it wouldn't be enough trouble.

Uncle Ge came to me to discuss taking on some banquets; I mainly work as a cook.

That way, when your son gets married, go to Uncle Ge, and he'll give you a discount.

I don't plan to take on any carpentry work. For things like tables, chairs, and benches, I'll just buy a simple tool set.

Any man can do research. Do you think it's okay? I'm really sorry to have made you come all this way for nothing.

"Zhu Zi, you're just sitting at home doing nothing anyway. You could earn some extra money by making tables and chairs for the neighbors," Aunt Dong advised Sha Zhu, though she didn't understand.

"I really don't have time, Aunt Dong. I start work tomorrow, and I have to go to work every day."

Most of the time I have to work overtime, and I don't even know what time I get home every day.

Uncle Ge wanted me to help with the banquet over the weekend, but I didn't have time to make tables and chairs.

"You should find someone else." Sha Zhu ruthlessly rejected the two middle-aged women's requests and advice.

Seeing that they couldn't persuade Sha Zhu, the two middle-aged women reluctantly left. They probably would have cursed him behind his back, saying he was stupid for not gaining any advantage.

"Zhu Zi, why don't you take on carpentry work? It's more lucrative than making banquets." Uncle Ge was increasingly convinced that Sha Zhu was being foolish.

"Well, how should I put it? It's mainly carpentry work, and I also have to provide on-site service."

None of the neighbors in the neighborhood were easy to fool.

They tend to nitpick over things that are worthless. This can easily lead to unnecessary trouble for themselves.

Especially for those in the service industry, dealing with unreasonable and argumentative people who already look down on you...

If anything is slightly wrong, she starts nagging and complaining, it's so annoying!

What kind of money are you trying to make? If you feel wronged, you might as well smash up everything you've prepared.

I still think cooking is easier; it's either good or bad, unlike carpentry which is so time-consuming.

Sha Zhu didn't want to waste any more words. It was his day off; he'd only wasted his breath here.

"Uncle Ge, from now on, if there's work on weekends, preferably in the countryside, just let me know. If there's no work, I'll rest. Okay?"

Uncle Ge thought about it for a moment, and it was true. This silly Zhu wasn't like him; he had to go to work.

He couldn't instruct the apprentices he had taken on, and when he tried to arrange an apprenticeship for someone else to learn a skill, the other party wouldn't accept it.

I heard that the three apprentices at that small restaurant run by the neighborhood committee were actually children of martyrs' families, arranged by Director Wang.

It seems I don't have that much influence.

Helpless, Uncle Ge stood up and told Sha Zhu that he would come back to find him if he had plans for the weekend, and then left.

After seeing Uncle Ge off, Sha Zhu checked the time. It was almost noon, and he was all alone at home. He ate a quick lunch and prepared to sleep soundly for the rest of the day.