Chapter 124: Three Joys and Trouble
"High brain oil?"

Wang Mengde asked with some surprise.

He had never heard of this name before.

"Haha, Meng De, this is a new term. It means that for high-level mental workers, each person will be given a subsidy of 1.5 kilograms of cooking oil in addition to the ration of cooking oil per month. It is referred to as high-level brain oil.

At that time, we were still supporting in the south, and we were not among the recipients, so it was normal not to know. I only asked about this after hearing my teacher talk about it this morning. "

Qian Dayong explained with a smile.

In December 1957, the Beijing Municipal Grain Bureau issued the "Notice on the Subsidized Supply of Edible Vegetable Oil to Senior Intellectual Workers."

The notice stipulates that the proportion of subsidized oil supply is temporarily half a catty of sesame oil and one catty of peanut oil or soybean oil. Those who do not want to buy sesame oil can buy peanut oil or soybean oil.

The scope of distribution is deputy commissioners and cadres at or above administrative level 13, university lecturers, research assistants and above in research institutions, and technical personnel at or above deputy engineers in economic institutions.

Medical personnel in the health sector who are deputy directors of departments and above in district, municipal and above hospitals, and deputy medical directors and above in county hospitals; and famous actors, writers, painters, and artistes in the literary and art circles.

"An extra pound and a half of oil coupons per month means that Brother Meng De will have the same supply as one more person."

Zhu Tao said with envy on the side.

"It's not just one person's supply. Add in the one and a half kilograms of oil coupons awarded last year, Meng De alone is equivalent to three people's supply." Qian Dayong corrected enviously.

It’s no wonder they are envious. Most people now have the same amount of cooking oil, and they have to mix it with lard to barely make ends meet.

Pork supply has been limited again at the beginning of this year, and there will be less and less oil and water in our home in the future.

There is not enough oil and water in everyone's stomach. The less oil they eat, the bigger their appetite will be, and they will get hungry quickly, and there will not be enough food.

"Hey, this is all unreliable, and I already have an extra copy, so it's too early to say anything now."

Wang Mengde said in a low voice.

But he was very happy in his heart. According to relevant regulations, his father Wang Hao would also have a portion of high-brain oil.

In this way, on the surface, his family would not be short of money. From time to time, he could take out some good things from the space to quietly subsidize the family members, and neither his family members nor outsiders would find out.

After chatting for a while, several people finished their meal and walked out. Wang Mengde asked curiously: "Brother Dayong, Taozi, how many levels have you been promoted since you came back this time?"

"Hehehe, because I participated in the research on Isatis Root Granules last year, plus this time, I was promoted four levels directly, and will be level 17 soon. Taozi was promoted three levels, but his previous rank was low, so he will be level after the promotion."

Qian Dayong said happily.

"We are all blessed by you. Just because we passed by the Guanyin Temple with you that night and picked up Guaiguai, we can be considered to have done a good deed. Otherwise, after this trip, we would have at most been promoted to a higher level."

"Yes, Brother Mengde, it's all thanks to you. You don't know that many people in the research institute are very envious of Brother Dayong and me, saying that we are so successful."

Zhu Tao also said with a smile.

Although he was called a chicken and dog by others, he was not angry. He thought it was normal for people to be jealous of him after getting such a big advantage.

"Don't pay attention to those rumors. They are just sour grapes because they can't eat them." Wang Mengde advised.

"Well, we don't care. Ever since I worked with you to develop the Isatis Root Granules last year, some people have said that I was lucky and that I got the upper hand because I followed you."

At the end of last year, although they were not in Beijing, the national and municipal advanced and model titles were given to Wang Mengde, while Qian Dayong won the city's advanced and model titles.

Not only that, because the prescription for schistosomiasis had been verified at that time, Wang Mengde also won various other awards, such as National Model.

"Oh, there is one more thing, you will be happy to hear it." Qian Dayong said mysteriously: "Xia Yiqing, deputy director of your internal medicine department, did not get a promotion this time.

I heard from his students that after Deputy Director Xia went to the mountainous area, he wanted to show off at first, but was tripped up by the locals and accidentally infected with schistosomiasis.

He was terribly frightened at the time and kept applying to return to Beijing or go to Shanghai for treatment."

"What happened in the end?" Wang Mengde asked curiously.

While he expressed deep sympathy for Deputy Director Xia's unfortunate news, he was also very happy to hear it.

"In the end, it happened that you developed a prescription for treating schistosomiasis, and he was out of danger. You can be considered his savior." Qian Dayong joked.

"If it weren't for the fact that he had been infected before, the institute would have wanted to fire him for his desertion. But even so, his reputation has been ruined.

Several of his students are now very regretful. Tell me, can such a person still be a role model for others, and can heal the wounded and the dying?"

He also knew about the unpleasantness between Master Wang Mengde and his apprentice, so he did not have a good opinion of Deputy Director Xia.

In the evening, when he returned home, he asked at the dinner table:
"Dad, do you have a distribution of high-brain oil at work?"

"Hey, how did you know?" Wang Hao took a bite of the steamed bun and asked curiously.

"Hehe, Dad, maybe I will have a share of Gaonaoyou in the future." Wang Mengde said with a grin.

At home, when talking with his family, he doesn't have to hide anything, nor does he have to be as humble as he is with his colleagues.

"What?" Wang Hao was stunned for a moment, then he reacted immediately and said in surprise: "So, you have also become the deputy director of the department?"

"But you are right. You solved such a big problem for the country during your trip to the south. Becoming a deputy director of a department is nothing. If you were not so young, you could have been the deputy dean, not to mention the director of a department."

"Ah, Meng De has also become the deputy director?" Ran Xiaomei was feeding her child. When she heard that her son had also become the deputy director, she asked in surprise.

He Shengnan did not show any surprise because Wang Mengde told her about it on the way.

"Mom and Dad, our dean had a talk with me today. Because of my outstanding contribution, I will be promoted to deputy director of the Department of Internal Medicine. My rank is level 104, the same as my dad's, and my salary is yuan, but it will be announced in a few days."

Wang Mengde said with a smile.

"Okay, great."

As Ran Xiaomei spoke, she began to wipe away her tears and cried with joy.

After a while, after calming down, she began to think about how to divide the oil.

"Meng De, and Sheng Nan, we will need three more servings of cooking oil later. I think we should divide it this way. Keep one and a half kilograms at home, and give one to your grandparents in the countryside who are old.

There is one copy left for my in-laws, Meng De. Now that you are back, you can deliver it to them every month."

"Well, I think this division is fine." Wang Hao also said with approval.

Giving a portion from the in-laws is considered to be helping them. Besides, Zhou Xiaoyan comes over every now and then to help take care of the children, so it is only right that she gives them some support.

"Okay, when the oil coupons are issued, I will buy them and send them over." Wang Mengde also said.

Now that he has the conditions, he is willing to give it to his grandparents and father-in-law's family.

If it were anyone else, he would definitely not agree.

"Mom, give my parents one and a half kilograms. That's a bit too much. I think one kilogram is enough. Also, they have to pay for the oil. The price of this high-brain oil is calculated at twice the normal price."

He Shengnan said with a distressed look on her face. She was very happy that her husband's family thought about her family, but at the same time she would be careful about the degree.

Ran Xiaomei and Wang Hao looked at each other, both of them were pleased. This daughter-in-law was really good, well-educated and well-mannered.

"Haha, Shengnan, don't feel bad. Lao Wang and Meng De only make more than 200 yuan a month, so our family doesn't have much financial pressure.

Besides, your mother often comes to help me take care of the kids and do the housework. She works so hard, so it’s only natural for Meng De to send some things over.”

a few days later.

Wang Mengde's rank and position as deputy director of the department have been determined.

Not only these rewards, but also material rewards, he finally chose a women's bicycle.

When he returned home and saw a new bicycle in the living room, before he could say anything, He Shengnan said with an unhappy look on her face: "Meng De, why did you buy a women's bicycle?

We already have two bikes at home, so there’s no need to buy another one. I don’t ride them very often, and it would be a waste to keep one at home.”

She knew that the bicycle was definitely bought for her because her mother-in-law, Ran Xiaomei, didn't know how to ride it and wasn't willing to learn.

"Haha, Shengnan, I didn't buy this bike. It was a reward from the country and the research institute. There were other prizes, but I took the initiative and chose this one. How about it? Do you like it?"

Wang Mengde explained with a smile.

"I like it." When He Shengnan heard that it was a reward and not bought with money, she happily walked forward, touched the bicycle seat, and said happily.

"By the way, Meng De, I also have good news to tell you. Because of my outstanding work, the factory has specially given me a rank. I am now a second-level worker."

"Shengnan has become a second-level worker, which is great news. I was in the hospital today and was promoted to a level higher because of my outstanding work. I am now a level nine worker, and my monthly salary is 121 yuan."

Wang Hao happened to have just returned home from get off work and told his happy event as well.

Ever since he learned a few days ago that his son's job rank had caught up with his own, he had been feeling a little uncomfortable. He could be said to be half happy and half sad.

Now, he has been promoted to a higher level, so he can still be better than his son.

"Oh, our family has three happy events today. Lao Wang, Meng De, I'll cook two more dishes, and you two can have a drink. Shengnan, I'll fry an egg for you, too."

Ran Xiaomei had already put the food on the table and was ready to eat, but when she heard about the happy events, she quickly stood up and spoke.

At the dinner table, looking at the happy family, Wang Mengde was guessing in his heart.

Probably because of him, the country gave some rewards to his family.

But it’s better this way. He is still young and will have plenty of opportunities in the future. As for his family being able to profit, it makes no difference to him.

Soon, the happy event in Wang Mengde's family was known to the neighbors in the yard.

It’s noon this day.

In the middle courtyard, Aunt Li was washing vegetables by the sink while chatting in a low voice.

"His aunt, have you heard that the Wang family is really going to be prosperous?"

"How come I haven't heard that Lao Wang got a promotion in the company and his salary has reached 121 yuan? And his eldest son, who is only in his twenties, has a salary of 104 yuan, which is higher than Lao Yi's."

Aunt Ma chimed in from the side.

"Yes, not including his daughter-in-law, the salary of the father and son alone is more than 200 yuan a month. How can they spend all this money?"

Mrs. Wang also said with envy.

"How did they spend it? Didn't they buy another bicycle? It's a women's bicycle. It must cost a month's salary for both of them."

Aunt Ma said.

"His aunt, you are wrong. Their new bicycle was not bought with money. It was said to be a reward from his eldest son's unit."

Aunt Li, who was more informed, corrected her.

"Oh my, the eldest son of the Wang family is really promising. I've noticed that he is different from other children since he was young. He reads books every day. It turns out that studying is the best way to go."

On the other side, Aunt Xu in the backyard didn't show it on her face, but secretly she curled her lips and thought to herself.

This little bit of money is nothing. When our Damao and the little girl from the Lou family get married, with the financial strength of the Lou family, a little bit of money will slip through their fingers, and the dowry will be enough for an ordinary person to earn for a lifetime.

Of course, her husband Damao and Lou Xiao'e haven't settled down yet, so she naturally won't say it out loud to avoid anyone interfering.

After lunch, I rested for a while.

Wang Mengde took his two younger brothers and prepared to go out for a walk.

After he returned to the capital, he started working right away and hadn't taken a good look around to see if there had been any major changes in the hutongs in the past six months or so.

It just so happens that I can take advantage of the weekend to go to the grocery store and have a chat with Fatty Guo.

As soon as I walked out of the hospital gate, I ran into Xu Damao, who was pushing his bicycle and preparing to walk into the hospital.

"Brother Mengde, you are going out."

"Yes, let's go out for a walk. Damao, where did you come back from? Have you not had lunch yet?" Wang Mengde asked curiously when he saw how hurried he was.

Wiping the sweat off his head, Xu Damao said with a vague look:

"Haha, Brother Mengde, well, I just came back from my friend's house and I have already eaten outside."

Coming back from a friend's house?

After looking Xu Damao up and down, he found that his eyes were full of peach blossoms, and he understood.

He must have gone on a date with Lou Xiao'e.

So Wang Mengde joked, "Da Mao, you are not in trouble, are you?"

"Ah? I didn't cause any trouble." Xu Damao said curiously.

At the same time, he smiled on the surface, but was secretly complaining in his heart.

"Xu Damao made a mess? Meng De, tell me in detail."

At this time, Sha Zhu walked out of the yard and happened to hear Wang Mengde say that Xu Damao was in trouble.

"Bah, you idiot, you are the one who caused the trouble, and after you caused the trouble, maybe someone would die."

Xu Damao jumped up and down and cursed.

(End of this chapter)