This is the SARS epidemic.

It had appeared as early as the end of 2002, but it had not yet spread on a large scale, and the public did not know about it.

By mid-February 2003, rumors of a strange disease and a rush to buy white vinegar and banyan root attracted public attention, and the media began to report it widely.

In particular, Guangzhou is one of the most serious areas for the disease and spread, and various rumors, especially that the virus can be transmitted through the air, are the most frightening.

At the beginning of March, two people in a hardware factory in the industrial zone were infected, dozens of people in the factory were all isolated and observed, and the factory and dormitory had to be disinfected, and people in the industrial zone were panicked.

Later, I learned that the two were a couple and died not long after being admitted to the hospital, although no one in the same factory was infected, and the factory was reopened, but because it happened around me, everyone in the industrial zone was in danger. Many people dare not dare not go out on the streets, almost everyone in the factory wears masks, and anyone who coughs once or twice is afraid to suspect that he is sick.

Everyone doesn't even go to the commissary to watch TV, Zhao Wencheng doesn't dare to go to the skating rink anymore, and everyone's eating habits have changed.

Zekuan didn't dare to go to Yueqing, the two just called, he was also worried about his mother and grandfather, calling back to his hometown more often than before, and his mother tirelessly told him not to go outside.

People are also more concerned about radio and newspaper news than before, and almost every day there are touching stories of medical staff who unfortunately get sick or treat patients without regard for their own safety. Some media and enterprises jointly held the activity of "sending warmth and writing a letter of thanks to medical staff", Zekuan wrote a sincere thank you letter to submit, and then was selected and received a gift from the company's express, which became the first "manuscript fee" in his life.

Originally, everyone envied the errand of delivering goods with the car, but now it seems that going out has become a high-risk errand, but almost all of them were sent by Wu Yi before, and they are also familiar with Hu Jian, and they are not easy to push, but Zhao Wencheng resolutely refuses to go.

In this regard, Wu Yi despised Zhao Wencheng very much, saying to him: "People who are afraid of death are more likely to die, do you think it is safe to hide in the factory like a turtle with a shrunken head?" ”

Zhao Wencheng said confidently: "I'm not afraid of death, I just think that Lao Tzu's life is very precious, like a turtle is not bad, long life." ”

The epidemic has affected the economy, and the orders of the factory have decreased, at first there was less overtime, then there was no overtime, and then even the normal work was insufficient, sometimes there was nothing to do and the work was left early, sometimes it was only half a day, and then it was necessary to wait for the order to start work.

The boss couldn't bear it, and decided to reduce the wages of all employees by 50 yuan from April, and the old employees suspended the salary increase, which happened to be the time when Zekuan should raise wages.

Originally, the resignation was to be half a month in advance, but now I can resign at any time to settle my salary and leave, but there are not many people who leave, and it is even more difficult to find a job outside, and it is also a problem to return to my hometown.

The pitiful thing is that the new employee and Zekuan are unlucky, 350 yuan a month, and they don't have to eat.

There is no way, Zekuan and Wu Dangui began to go to Chaotian Noodle Restaurant to eat vegetarian noodles frequently, although they will not be unable to eat, but they will have to save more when their income is less.

The business of the noodle restaurant is also booming a lot, and Wu Yi and Zhao Wencheng actually came together.

Zhao Wencheng took off the mask and shouted with a big grin: "Boss, bring me a good somen noodles and a good poached egg." ”

Wu Dangui said: "I didn't expect you to come here to eat." ”

Zhao Wencheng said angrily: "Can't we come!" We only have a monthly salary of 400 yuan now, and you still have 500 yuan! Grandma's dead boss, it's enough to choke without overtime, and even the salary has been lowered for Lao Tzu, so he didn't just close the factory. ”

Wu Yi said of him: "You don't have to complain, the boss is under a lot of pressure now, and if the business is not good, you have to support dozens of people, plus the rent and water bills, it is not easy to support."

”

Zhao Wencheng soured him: "Brother Yi is really the material to be the boss, he speaks for the boss, he has an easy life and it is not easy to care about me, Lao Tzu only cares about my salary." Wu Yi said to him: "Then you can find another job with a high salary, and the boss is eager for the workers to go as much as possible." ”

Zhao Wencheng was silent.

Wu Yi also said: "Some of my classmates quit their jobs last year and went home, and they plan to come out to look for jobs again this year, but they are still at home and don't even have money to smoke. ”

"The news says that the epidemic has been brought under control, and the government is actively studying prevention and treatment options, and experts also say that the virus is not tolerant to high temperatures, and it is estimated that the epidemic will weaken significantly when the weather is hot," Zekuan said. ”

Zhao Wencheng asked him disdainfully: "Then did your expert tell you when our wages will be raised?" ”

Wu Yi grabbed his mask and threw it at him, saying, "We're talking about people, don't intervene, brute, cover me." ”

Zhao Wencheng threw the mask at him and said, "What do you say about human beings?" ”

With less work, and I don't dare to go out to play, my days have become boring and unbearable, lying in the dormitory all day long, Zhao Wencheng calls this a "paralyzed corpse". He used to be lazy when he went to work, but now he seems happy when he has a job.

Sometimes the goods are finished in less than half a day, and some people are too lazy to go back to the dormitory, so they play cards in the workshop or listen to the radio and read the newspaper to chat to pass the time, after all, the workshop is larger than the dormitory, and it is also cool.

The boss occasionally came to play a few games with everyone, and when the boss left, Zhao Wencheng proposed to gamble.

Wu Yi said to him: "Now you can't even afford to eat, and you still want to gamble." ”

Zhao Wencheng said: "It's really boring to play fasting, it's okay to bet a little smaller, just one dollar a plate, or 5 cents, 1 cent is always okay!" Big gambling hurts people, small gambling is pleasant! ”

Wu Yi said: "The most harmful thing is these crooked theories, gambling is ruined is the beginning of small gambling, I think you have a lot of potential, you want to gamble on slot machines, no one stops you, don't teach everyone here." ”

Wu Dangui said: "If you don't pay money, you can also play something else, find some clips, and if you lose, you can clip your ears and nose, and it will be interesting." ”

Zhao Wencheng said: "Then you use the money to buy clips." ”

Wu Yi picked up a finished transformer from the box and said, "You don't need a clamp, if you lose, you will put a cow on your hand." "Toroidal transformer is also called ring cow, these finished products have been done early, but the customer told not to send them first, because now the order is not needed, and the goods have to be paid.

Everyone agreed with Wu Yi's proposal, whoever loses will put a transformer on his wrist.

The boss's niece Ruan Min rarely played with them, but when she saw their Qiba gameplay, she also came to see the excitement, and then played with them, but she lost but was unwilling to put a transformer on her hand and put it on Wu Yi's hand, and Wu Yi was honored to accept it.

Playing and playing, Wu Dangui poked Zekuan's waist with his fingers, and then pointed to the bottom of the table.

Zekuan was curious, and deliberately dropped the card on the ground, and when he picked it up, he saw that Ruan Min took off his shoes with both feet and put them on Wu Yi's feet.