Master, That's My Wife and My House! - Chapter 23

Why is working overtime also called “撇勾” (piě gōu)?

The reason is actually quite simple. Workers go down into and out of the well using a cage that hangs on a hook. It looks like a metal cat carrier, with open sides and solid sides. So when workers go up and down the well, they tell the winch operators, “Hook it on, or the processing won’t come up.” They mean they’ve left the hook to one side, hence the name “hook-off.”

Coal mine production units have a heavy workload on a normal day. When production is ramped up, they work day and night. In addition, the underground environment is harsh, and many people suffer from various diseases, such as pneumoconiosis, which is common underground and is basically equivalent to a terminal illness. They die with their buttocks sticking out because this position can make their lungs feel a little more comfortable.

There’s a saying that goes, “Where there’s no road, there’s no coal.” You can imagine how hard coal miners work. When production targets are being met, coal mines use these reward coupons to incentivize workers.

The denominations were small, mostly 50 cents or one dollar. These were awarded to workers as a reward each time the mine’s fishing boats caught a catch. They could take the money to the canteen for a good meal or to the mine’s supply and marketing cooperative to buy something for their wives and children.

Of course, besides these, there are also larger rewards, such as the five-yuan note that Wu Wenhua has placed on the table now. These are rewards that can only be obtained if one makes meritorious contributions during the production process. There are also even larger rewards, such as the ten-yuan note, which are generally very difficult to obtain and are only awarded for special contributions.

The five-yuan coupon is not only valuable for its five-yuan price, but also for its ability to allow you to buy things directly without needing a receipt, making it even more scarce.

This kind of thing is only available in coal mines. In ordinary state-owned enterprises, they wouldn’t be able to get it even if they wanted to, because they don’t have that many resources. Even if they were issued it, it wouldn’t be of any use and they couldn’t exchange it.

Chen Feng hesitated for a moment. Seeing this, Wu Wenhua stuffed the stuff into Chen Feng’s pocket and patted him, saying, “Don’t mind. I was thinking if you’re willing, you can mention it to your factory later. If it doesn’t work out, you can transfer to our coal mine. Of course, the premise is that you’re willing to go down the mine and don’t mind what we do here.”

Chen Feng’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t rush to agree. Instead, he said, “We’ll see! If I can get what you need, Section Chief Wu, then I’ll come. If I can’t… even if you want me, I don’t have the face to do so.”

Wu Wenhua laughed heartily, feeling even more that Chen Feng was a reliable person.

After Chen Feng finished eating, someone came looking for Wu Wenhua. He was a key cadre in the mine, always busy with various matters. Since he had something to attend to, he could only inform Chen Feng and then go about his own business.

Chen Feng held the coupon and glanced at the mine’s canteen. This canteen was much better than the one at the Wanhuai Machinery Factory. It had a variety of dishes and was cheaper. You could only find such things at the coal mines in the entire Wanhuai region.

However, people only envy such things, no one is jealous. After all, going down into the mine is not easy. Not to mention the heavy work and poor environment, there are all kinds of dangers that are hard to guard against. You might be sitting there when a large rock falls from above and smashes you through.

However, Chen Feng did not use the coupon in the canteen, but went to the mine supply and marketing cooperative next door.

The mine’s supply and marketing cooperative only serves the miners. The goods inside are basically the same as those outside, and some are even more abundant. For example, there are more brands of cigarettes available here than in other supply and marketing cooperatives, and some are even from other places.

Coal miners don’t have many hobbies; they smoke and drink, so the mine naturally provides them with plenty.

Chen Feng held five yuan in his hand, which wasn’t a lot, but it wasn’t a little either. However, when his gaze fell on the counter, he was attracted by a piece of cloth on it.

“Comrade, may I ask what kind of material that cloth is made of?” Chen Feng asked.

“You mean this? This is Dacron.” The sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative glanced at it and said casually.

What is Dacron? It’s actually just polyester material.

Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. Decades later, Dacron was a material that nobody would wear. If you were to buy clothes, you would definitely choose cotton. But in the 1970s, Dacron was a hot commodity, and you couldn’t buy it at the supply and marketing cooperatives.

However, at the mine’s supply and marketing cooperative, it was just sitting there, seemingly unwanted. But then Chen Feng realized that it wasn’t that nobody wanted it, but rather that the welfare of coal miners was much better than that of people outside.

Due to the nature of their work, coal miners receive labor protection supplies twice a year. Each time, they are provided with a full range of work clothes, rubber boots, safety shoes, and gloves. They use these supplies sparingly, as they have enough for themselves and their families as well. Therefore, the demand for such fabrics is not that high for coal miners.

Chen Feng didn’t hesitate and handed over the coupon directly, then said, “Please cut it for me according to this amount.”

In the 1970s, one meter of Dacron cost one yuan, but you also needed a cloth ration coupon for one meter. Fortunately, the “piegou” coupon didn’t require a cloth ration coupon, so five yuan of “piegou” coupons could be used to cut just five meters.

Five meters of polyester fabric is just the right size to make a dress for Lin Youwei. There’s probably even some left over, which can be used to sew a small bag or something for my teacher’s wife. It would be absolutely perfect.

After taking the cloth, Chen Feng was satisfied and then left the mine to go home.

By the time Chen Feng got home, Lin Youwei was almost off work. Chen Feng wasn’t the kind of man who would just lie around waiting to be fed, so he busied himself in the kitchen. There were some steamed buns at home, so all he had to do was cook some porridge and stir-fry a dish.

But Chen Feng searched around and found that all he had left in the house were some green peppers. There was really nothing else. He couldn’t just stir-fry the green peppers, could he?

“Got it!” Chen Feng got some flour, added water and green peppers, mixed them together, then heated the pan, added a little rapeseed oil and some salt, and started frying.

When the green peppers are done cooking, the flour has turned slightly yellow, giving it a crispy and crunchy texture. The saltiness from the salt and the spiciness from the green peppers combine to make it an exceptionally delicious dish to eat with rice.

“I’m back.” Lin Youwei walked in just then, and as soon as she smelled the aroma of food, she quickly said, “Xiaofeng, why did you cook for yourself? Are you hungry?”

“I’m back now, and I’ve already made it. Master’s wife, come here and see what I brought you,” Chen Feng said, as if presenting a treasure.