Chapter 88 Women's Day

International Women's Day is just three days away. After work, Li Shengli always hears people talking about the female workers in a certain workshop rehearsing a program.

"Yao Qin, don't you have any programs prepared?" Li Shengli asked Yao Qin curiously after cleaning up the kitchen.

"What are you preparing for? Are you going on stage to show how to cut vegetables or how to clean the house?" Yao Qin rolled her eyes at Li Shengli. She could only recognize a few characters, let alone sing and dance.

"I've seen the notice. You guys are going to have a party on the 8th." The other people in the kitchen had also finished their work and came over to say.

"Yes, in the auditorium, all the female workers in the factory will be there." Yao Qin said with some excitement.
"Don't forget that they still have half a day off on the 8th."

"Yes, when it's number 8, you can work on your own." Yao Qin and several older sisters criticized the men in the kitchen in unison.

"Attention, those of you who have girls at home, don't embarrass the boys when that day comes." Wang Tiezhu also came to join in the fun.

Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye. On March 8th, a banner "Celebrating International Women's Day" was hung on the gate of the steel mill. The female workers in the factory were also in high spirits. They did not have to go to work today. In the morning they had their own small party and symposium, and in the afternoon they had a holiday.

In the auditorium, the chairman of the factory's Women's Federation was sitting in her seat with a microphone in front of her.

"Dear female compatriots, today is International Women's Day, a festival for us women." After the opening remarks, the chairperson of the Women's Federation said a lot of words of thanks.

The last sentence is that if you find any behavior of bullying women, you can ask her for help, especially the widows in the factory. Some men like to take advantage of widows.

"Did you hear that, Qin Huairu? If you have any problems, go find the chairman." Chen Hong sat next to Qin Huairu and whispered to her.

At this moment, some people in the workshop have begun to test the waters. For example, Guo Dapiezi has already started teasing Qin Huairu with words.

"It's okay, just a small thing." Qin Huairu nodded. She had no intention of going to the chairman of the Women's Federation. Sometimes she could give those stinky men some sweet treats in exchange for some food.

There is really not enough food at home. Banggeng is growing now, and Jia Zhang needs three yuan of pension every month. In addition, Xiao Huaihua also needs food now. How can my salary be enough for a family of five? I also want Banggeng to eat better.

There were people performing singing and dancing on the stage, some performing dramas, some telling crosstalk, and some reciting poetry. After all the shows were over and it was time to end, every female worker in the factory received a toothbrush, a box of tooth powder and a bar of soap.

In fact, even if these female workers have a day off today, a large number of them still have to go home and do housework.

In the courtyard, Qin Huairu returned home carrying a lunch box, while Banggeng took Xiaodang to play in the yard.

"Mom, you're back." Banggeng saw Qin Huairu pulling Xiaodang to greet them.

"Well, I'm back. Have you eaten?" Qin Huairu was quite pleased to see Banggeng being so obedient and playing with his sister.

"I've eaten." Xiaodang said after sniffing his nose.

"Okay, let's go play after dinner." Qin Huairu wiped Xiaodang's nose.

Banggeng nodded and took Xiaodang out to play.

"Huai Ru, you're back." Jia Zhang was teasing Xiao Huaihua in the house.

"Well, the factory has a half-day holiday today." Qin Huairu said as she hung the bag she was carrying on the hook on the wall.

After putting the bag away, Qin Huairu came to Huaihua and looked at the lively Huaihua with a gratified smile on her face. When it was time to get off work, the group of men in the kitchen finally cleaned up the kitchen, and Li Shengli rode his bike with a lunch box hanging on the handlebars back to the courtyard.

"Hey, Damao, you're back too." When they were almost at the courtyard, Li Shengli ran into Xu Damao.

"You guys in the Propaganda Department also get off work so early?" Li Shengli asked curiously.

"Today's party was a great success. The section chief let us leave work early." Xu Damao said proudly.

"That's great. Damao, you can go home and celebrate the holiday with Lou Xiao'e." Li Shengli nodded in agreement.

"That's right, this is the benefit of having a wife." Xu Damao said proudly with raised eyebrows.

"But, Damao, don't you have any gifts prepared?" Li Shengli asked teasingly while looking at Xu Damao's empty handlebars.

"Gift? Oh no, I didn't buy it." Xu Damao cried out in dismay. Although it didn't matter if he didn't give a gift, Xu Damao still wanted to ask Lou Xiao'e to talk to Lou's father and ask Lou's father to find him a position in the steel mill.

"Thank you, Shengli." Xu Damao quickly turned the car around and headed towards the supply and marketing cooperative. Now he was going to Xidan Shopping Mall.

Li Shengli smiled but said nothing.

After returning home, Li Shengli had nothing to do, so he sat by the stove and read a book. After reading for a while, Li Shengli remembered that he had not washed his dirty clothes yet, so he went to the sink with a basin and a kettle. Today is Women's Day. Some men in the family feel sorry for their children and asked them to do the housework today, while others put it off until tomorrow.

While washing clothes, Li Shengli saw Banggeng walking out of Shazhu's house with a lunch box in his hand.

Hey, this Sha Zhu seems to feel sorry for Widow Qin. Not only Li Shengli saw it, but others saw it too. This made everyone start to wonder about the relationship between Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu again.

While washing clothes, Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e came out from the backyard pushing their bicycles.

"Xu Damao, Lou Xiao'e, are you going out?" At this time, Qin Huairu happened to go to Sha Zhu's house to thank Sha Zhu for the lunch box. She went out with Sha Zhu and saw the looks of Xu Damao and Qin Huairu. She couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, I'm taking Ezi to Donglaishun for a meal today." Xu Damao looked at the people around him and said loudly with pride.

"Just eat it. It's a waste anyway." Sha Zhu complained after hearing what Xu Damao said.

"Do you know how to speak, Sha Zhu?" Lou Xiao'e was a little angry. Originally, Xu Damao had given them a gift and they didn't want to cook. Today happened to be Women's Day and they had planned to go to Donglaishun for a meal. Now they met Sha Zhu, who couldn't speak.

"Some people won't have anyone to accompany them even if they want to eat," Xu Damao said sarcastically.

"Come on, you two, Xu Damao, you haven't laid an egg yet." Sha Zhu never suffered any loss with words, and when Xu Damao poked him in the sore spot, he stabbed him back with a knife.

Li Shengli and everyone else in the yard watched the two people bickering.

"Forget it, Damao, let's go. We still have to go eat, don't let there be no seats when the time comes." Lou Xiao'e saw the two people arguing and hurried forward to pull Xu Damao

"Just wait for me, Shazhu." Xu Damao glared at Shazhu hatefully and left in shame.

(End of this chapter)