Back to 80: My Literary Life

November 27: Firewood, rice, oil and salt

The interview with Li Dazhou was conducted on the ground of his home.

It was very cold today and it was snowing heavily. Fang Minghua was wearing a military coat and a locomotive hat. Naturally, he couldn't ride a motorcycle in this weather, so he took a taxi. Finally, he followed Fang Mingjun and bravely entered an employee's house. There were no sofas or chairs. . The only folding stool was pushed around by everyone, and no one wanted to sit on it.

In the 15-square-meter room, there is no furniture except a bed made of scrap wood. Used to hold clothes and daily necessities are two old cardboard boxes in the corner.

What's even more frightening is that there is no heating in the house in such cold weather!

"I'm sorry, Chairman Fang. I haven't paid the heating bill this year, so I've stopped it. I'll heat up the electric stove for you." The owner of the house who spoke is called Li Dazhou, who is 51 years old this year.

Fang Mingjun quietly introduced that this factory was the first to close down in this area. According to the policy, laid-off workers could only receive two years of basic living allowance, but now they can't get a penny.

Fang Minghua quickly said that he was not cold after walking for a long time. He took out a pen and paper from his schoolbag, took a breath of heat, and prepared to record.

Li Dazhou followed Fang Minghua's question and slowly told the story.

The "living security allowance" for laid-off workers in the city is 30 yuan per month, and the unit is responsible for disbursing it for 24 months. However, if the factory has financial difficulties, it cannot be received on time.

"I haven't gotten it for two months." Li Changjiang said with a smile.

"According to the policy, if you have difficulty living, can you apply for the minimum living deposit from the Civil Affairs Bureau? You didn't apply?" Fang Mingjun couldn't help but ask.

"I applied, but they said no." Li Changjiang pointed to a 14-inch TV in the corner.

"This was given to me by a relative. I haven't turned it on for a long time to save electricity, but they said that as long as there are electrical appliances at home, it is not qualified for special poverty."

There was a moment of silence in the room.

"Then Master Li, how do you make a living?" Fang Minghua asked.

"My wife still has a pension, which is 30 yuan a month." Li Changjiang laughed: "When our family of three receives this money at the beginning of each month, we have to plan carefully. We must buy necessities such as rice, flour, and oil, and the remaining money can buy some cheap vegetables. I haven’t eaten pork in a month.”

November 28 Women’s Strength

At 8 o'clock in the morning, the door of the workers' village farmer's market opened, and the owners of more than 400 stalls poured in one after another.

More than 80% of them are laid-off workers.

"When winter comes, I always suffer." stall owner Zhang Yimei said to Fang Minghua. This summer, after she was laid off from XX Chemical Plant, she has been running aquatic products here.

The lowest temperature in Fengtian at this time was minus 15 degrees, with Category 4 wind blowing. A considerable number of stall owners rush to the nearby wholesale market at three o'clock in the morning to purchase goods.

Their meager income makes them reluctant to take a taxi. One can imagine the feeling of riding in the cold and dark.

Zhang Yimei had a bad cold today and was sitting in the farmer's trade hall shivering. There is no heating here and the temperature is the same as outside. But she insisted not to light the electric stove, saying it consumed too much power.

Mou Yimei put her hands into her big sleeves, where she held a "local heater" - a hot water bottle.

She usually wears size 37 shoes, but now she is size 40 because she wears three pairs of socks.

After sitting in front of the cold cement table for two hours, Zhang Yimei received her first buyer. The other party's fierce bargaining was hard for her to accept, but she refused to give up the business. Finally, a pound of shrimp was sold for 18 yuan. The buyer grabbed another one in the basket before leaving, and the two quarreled again. "If you don't give it to me, I won't want it!"

The buyer's words forced her to give in. She put her head on the cold concrete platform and said to Fang Minghua, "I will lose money this way."

As companies continue to merge and go bankrupt, more and more laid-off workers are flocking to small businesses. Fierce competition began among people. The newly opened morning market at the entrance of the workers' village market has taken away a lot of people's business.

"Now, I can earn up to 150 yuan a month." Zhang Yimei's income represents the level of stall owners at the farmers' market in Workers' Village.

But people are still popping up who have lost their jobs. As a result, the only government-run employment agency is always overcrowded.

"We have to receive more than 100 laid-off workers every day, and we are simply too busy," said Yan Xiaomin, director of the employment agency. It was already 12 noon when she was interviewed by reporters, but the job search hall was still crowded.

At some intersections near workers' villages, several self-organized labor markets have appeared. The job seekers hanging there had signs on their chests that said they were good at jobs such as "plumber" and "electrician". Around two o'clock in the afternoon, when the temperature rises, this is when they gather most together and are most active.

When reporters pass by them, they will look at you and ask you: "Do you want people, do you want people, do anything!"

In the evening, Fang Minghua happened to meet Li Dazhou, a laid-off employee of the mechanical and electrical factory, in the workers' village. "My car was lost. I bought it with more than 100 yuan collected by everyone." His tone was full of sadness and resentment, "I really want to chop up that thief!"

November 29th Hope and Love

At 8:00 in the morning, Zhang Yimei set up a seafood stall as usual. Although she still has to deal with the cold and pain, she is in good spirits. "It's the weekend. Shrimps and fish can be sold at good prices." She said with a smile on her face.

Li Dazhou rushed to a friend's house, and the friend promised to support him with 200 yuan. Soon, he could ride the new three-wheeler to work again.

In the labor market on Jiuma Road in the workers' village, those job seekers with badges on their chests are still stubbornly waiting for employers in the cold wind. Some people come, some people come! They rush forward.

And the cadres of the Municipal Labor Bureau are still busy with the "integration task" of completing 100,000 people by the end of the year.

"I don't have the energy to think too far ahead, but I have to live. At least, for my children." The words of a laid-off mother are inspiring.

And in Li Dazhou's bare house, several pots of Euphorbia tricolor - a plant similar to cactus - are flourishing.

"This flower is alive well." Li Changjiang said with a smile, "There is no heating this year, and it didn't freeze to death."

Indeed, hope did not die because of losing a job.

And the struggle itself is a kind of hope.

Three days later, Fang Minghua and his father went to the cemetery to burn incense for his uncle. The cemetery did not allow burning paper, so everyone offered white flowers to express condolences.

After completing the grave for his uncle, Fang Minghua did not leave Fengtian, but bought a plane ticket for his father to send him to the airport.

He wanted to stay.

There were too many things to know.

He stayed in Fengtian for another week, visiting factories and government departments to understand the overall situation. The title of vice chairman of the Qin Province Writers Association and a nationally famous writer brought him great convenience, allowing him to understand the basic situation of laid-off workers in this city and the many problems they faced.

Tomorrow he will leave Fengtian, and Fang Minghua will certainly not forget to say goodbye to his aunt's house, and in the evening he will go to Fang Mingjun's house to express his gratitude.

"You are leaving tomorrow? Okay, let's go for a drink later." Fang Mingjun said.