Chapter 787: Chapter 533: Joy for So, Sorrow for Others
After dinner, when we had seen off my brother-in-law’s apprentice and old colleagues, I was about to give my master’s wife her New Year’s gift, but my school sister said it had already been sent.
Han Yu curiously asked, "When did you send it?"
"The day you were sending off the new recruits," Han Xiangning returned to the dormitory, closed the door, and said with a laugh, "Not only did I send it to the master’s wife, but I also took care of delivering the New Year’s gifts for your grandma and both your uncles on behalf of your dad and mom. I even brought along two big grass carps for Sister-in-law Xiao Hong. Basically, all the gifts that needed to be sent on your side were taken care of."
"What did you send with?"
"The year-end goods distributed by the unit."
"From our unit?"
"Our unit did distribute so, but not that many."
Having worked at multiple units is a plus; you always get more year-end goods than others.
Every ti I think about not having to spend money on New Year’s goods this year, I can’t help but smile," Han Xiangning said contentedly. "The Water Police Station distributed theirs first, and as a mber of the station’s party committee, you get a share. Ma Jintao brought it back for you. I had just used the Water Police Station’s goods as a gift for the master’s wife, then the Changhang Bureau also distributed so, and Political Commissioner Jiang had your sister bring them back.
Every year, our bureau gives out goods and you always have your share, which I brought back for you. Considering your dad and mom have to go to Sansing every year to deliver New Year’s gifts, I asked Uncle Ge to drive there, and we delivered the goods from our bureau, along with those from Changhang Bureau intended for you, to your grandma and your big uncle and second uncle."
The New Year’s gifts Sansing weren’t just sent on her own behalf but also on behalf of her parents.
Over these years, she had taken charge of the household, rarely ever burdened by the task of sending New Year’s gifts or managing social obligations, which made Han Yu both happy and a bit guilty.
As he wondered how to express his thanks, Han Xiangning laughed again and said, "Customs and Binjiang Fishery Station also distributed New Year’s goods yesterday, and as always, you have a share. They even had it delivered to Sanhe, which made
quite embarrassed. Considering your dad and mom don’t know when they will return, and since we don’t know how to cure fish and at and it could go bad if brought to Bailong Port, I went back to the city after work yesterday and delivered both sets of goods to my mom’s place."
"Sending it back to the city is good, I should indeed be giving your parents New Year’s gifts."
"You’re the one who married into the family, what New Year’s gift should you be giving to my dad and mom!"
"Right, marrying in doesn’t require sending gifts."
"Even though you don’t have to give gifts to my dad and mom, those two sets of New Year’s goods are quite useful. My dad is going back to Si Gang tomorrow, and he can take them back for Grandma."
"Saving money for your dad and mom is like saving money for ourselves."
"I thought you didn’t realize that."
Han Xiangning playfully rebuked him, then continued, "Linghai Police Bureau also distributed New Year’s goods, and since your work transfer to the developnt zone hasn’t been settled, you received a share this year as well. Director Shi collected it for you and personally saw to it getting to the dunship. I delivered it to Uncle Li for you, and he was very pleased. He wants us to co over for dinner on the third day of the New Year."
Li Weiguo is the veteran instructor from Yanjiang Police Station, he’s been really good to both
and Xiao Yu, and as the New Year approaches, it is indeed ti to give him a New Year’s gift.
Han Yu nodded, just about to inquire about how Uncle Li was doing, when Han Xiangning changed the topic: "Xiao Yu and Yu Zhen plan to bring their child back for the New Year, with Uncle Qian joining them."
"It’s great that they’re coming back, it’ll be livelier!"
"All you think about is having fun."
Han Xiangning gave him a stern look and got down to business: "With all the bonuses and investnt attraction commissions you’ve received, we’re not as strapped for cash anymore. I’m thinking of repaying them $60,000 once they’re back. Wire transfers have fees, so it’s better to hand over the money directly and save on those charges."
This was a big deal.
Han Yu instinctively asked, "Are we really able to repay $60,000 now?"
"Our unit also distributed bonuses. I have over $10,000 here, and with your lecture fees from the second half of the year plus the savings from my parents, we should have around $60,000."
"Repaying $60,000 now ans we’ll only owe Yu Zhen $40,000."
"We don’t just owe $40,000. People earn interest from keeping their money in the bank. We shouldn’t take advantage of them. When we have enough in the future, we should also pay them interest."
"That’s right, that’s right, I almost forgot about the interest."
After Han Xiangning finished discussing the "family budget," she spoke with a sense of relief, "Once we’ve repaid this $60,000, we’ll be able to breathe easier. Here, my brother-in-law has done quite well this year, and Dongdong’s grandfather’s water transport business has also been booming recently. Even Dongdong’s Grandma has started making money with a store in East Sea. There’s not much to worry about on my brother-in-law’s side now. Currently, the most challenging situation is with our eldest martial brother and Sister Zhang Lan."
People are shaped by their circumstances.
Dongdong’s grandfather has been using Han family’s retired old boat for transport, luckily coinciding with the entire Yangtze River’s Jiangnan section undergoing embanknt repairs, leading to a high demand for sand and gravel. Business has been so good that he’s been earning thousands a month.
Dongdong’s grandmother went to East Sea to accompany Dongdong and had nothing to do after cooking and sending Dongdong off to school. Being alone in East Sea and having nothing to do, she, with the help of Huang Jiangsheng and his wife, rented a small storefront and started a small business selling rice, oil, and eggs.
Linghai and East Sea have similar accents, and although they don’t speak Mandarin, communication is not an issue.
They didn’t have to pay up-front for the goods; they could sell the rice, oil, and eggs first and then pay Huang Jiangsheng. The storefront’s rent in the Pudong residential area was not too high, and the old lady was able to make a thousand or two a month, even more than what so salaried workers earn.
It’s worth noting that the sister didn’t want to put too much pressure on Dongdong and never told him about the family’s financial struggles.
Later, when they were sure about transferring Dongdong’s school, they had a family eting with Han Yu and Han Xiangning present. By appealing to emotions and reasoning, they tearfully made Dongdong realize how hard things were at ho.
Since then, Dongdong seed to have grown up suddenly, becoming very diligent in his studies. Coupled with Linghai’s strict educational foundation, after transferring to a middle school in Pudong, he quickly caught up with his grades and even improved greatly. According to Shao Lei, Dongdong had been ranking within the top fifteen in his class during exams recently.
Now high schools are more popular than secondary vocational schools since the latter no longer assign jobs. If I can maintain my current grades, after the New Year, I can apply for high school and then aim for university.
Studying mariti operations, it would be more promising if I could get into East Sea Mariti College than Shanghai Shipping School.
In short, as my senior said, it’s joy for so and worries for others.
Han Yu felt sympathy for his big senior brother and casually ntioned, "I inquired this morning, the Managent Committee hasn’t forgotten big senior brother. He worked in the developnt zone for more than a year. Even though he has been transferred back to the bureau, his bonuses and subsidies are the sa as the officials in the developnt zone."
"The Managent Committee also gave him a bonus?"
"Yes, they did. He’s on the third tier for bonuses and subsidies, totaling five thousand three hundred. However, there definitely won’t be more next year since he no longer works in the developnt zone."
It has to be admitted that the leaders of the developnt zone still have a lot of humanity.
Han Xiangning thought for a mont and then asked, "What about Xie Xingbao?"
"Old Xie got so too, but he ca later so he only got three months’ worth, about seventeen hundred."
"That’s still better than what he got at Lingbei Police Station."
"Of course, our developnt zone offers high wages and generous benefits. Mayor Shen said that many are envious and told us to keep it low-key."
...
Han Han is staying in the city center, not having to take care of children and thus can enjoy a life as a couple.
Han Xiangning chatted and gradually felt sleepy, ready to tell her junior brother to hurry and wash up for bed, when suddenly a series of footsteps ca from outside.
Following that, a familiar voice that couldn’t be more familiar was heard.
"President Wu, what brings you here so late?"
"Just stopping by to check on you."
Boss Wu from the shipyard smiled as he walked into the dorm, casually placing down two black plastic bags.
Han Yu did not expect him to co, let alone bring sothing. Anxiously, he asked, "President Wu, what’re you doing?"
"The New Year’s almost here, it’s just a small gesture."
"What small gesture?"
"It’s really just a small gesture. You all go rest. I need to go find Manager Zhang to discuss the big repairs for the towing tugs for the shipping company."
"Wait."
Han Yu suddenly grabbed hold of him while Han Xiangning quickly looked into the plastic bags, curious about the contents.
What they saw took them by surprise.
One plastic bag contained four bottles of Wuliangye, while the other contained four packs of Zhonghua cigarettes and a thick envelope.
Just from the feel, it was clear that there was money inside, and not less than twenty thousand!
All these years, taking more than one’s share, receiving New Year’s gifts from several units—thinking about it does seem excessive, but the superiors are aware of it, and it’s also true that we’ve often done work for those units.
Boss Wu is a private business owner—how could we accept sothing from a private business, let alone money?
Although Han Xiangning is short on cash, she doesn’t want to violate discipline or the law. Before Han Yu could speak, she anxiously said, "President Wu, what are you doing? These cigarettes and liquor are too valuable; we cannot accept them. And we definitely can’t take this money. Please take it back; don’t put us in a difficult position."
Han Yu ca to his senses and spoke very seriously and firmly, "President Wu, we’ve grown up under your watch, we see you as a neighbor and elder, please don’t lead us to make a mistake."
"If it’s family, then there’s no question of making mistakes!"
Boss Wu shut the door, grasping Han Yu’s hand tightly, "If you hadn’t helped, I would have been locked up in detention by now. Without your help, how could Old Wang and I have repaired foreign ships? Speaking of the towage fees for entering and exiting the dock, we charged the shipowners thirty thousand but only gave you two thousand—it’s just not justifiable."
"One thing at a ti."
Han Yu patted his hand lightly, explaining, "Regarding the issue of falsifying VAT invoices, I didn’t help much, really. Asking officials not to take you away can be said to be a city-level requirent. As for the subsequent handling, it was just about making you pay the owed taxes and fining you, without pursuing criminal liability.
As far as I know, the main consideration from the superiors is that previous advocacy and supervision were insufficient, many enterprises involved were also nurous, and most were first-ti offenders. Pursuing criminal liability for everyone would affect economic construction, so they decided to be lenient."
Han Xiangning, who equally does not dare to take the money, added, "As for towage fees, how much the pilot unit and the ship-repairing enterprises charge from the shipowners is different from how much they hand out to pilots."
Earlier, Han Xiangning joked with the Master’s wife that her brother-in-law contracted the ship-repairing project at a loss.
Han Yu, not understanding, used pilot fees as a taphor.
To her surprise, Boss Wu also brought up towage and fees. After thinking, she said, "The Pilot Center assigns a pilot for a voyage, including transport costs it can be tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands each ti, but how much can the pilot’s salary possibly be? San’er only guided ships for a few kiloters and was responsible for cargo ships entering and leaving the dock. Receiving two thousand in towage fees is already a lot."
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