Assistant Architect

Chapter 12: Help

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When Zhang Siyi arrived at home, he heard the rhythmic music in the living room before entering the door. Upon entering, the delicious aroma of tomato beef sauce assaulted his senses.

Zhang Siyi stepped on the back of his shoes to quickly take them off. His looked around for the source of the fragrance: “Aha! You are cooking!”

“Why are you back so early?” When he heard the door, Fu Xinhui turned his head to see who I was. He was standing in the kitchen wearing an old, worn blue plaid apron that looked like it was from a different era, with chopsticks in hand, dipping them into the sauce and tasting it. At first glance, his tall figure looked particularly funny, but the whole scene in general seemed so comfortable, he wanted to shout, “I’m home!”.

Zhang Siyi put on his slippers and went over to look what Fu Xinhui was cooking: ” Wow, homemade pasta? Did you make me some?”

Fu Xinhui took the plate and turned to hide: “No touching” I thought you were working late!”

Zhang Siyi followed and turned, “Don’t be so mean, let me eat too. You haven’t put the pasta in yet. Just add some more to the pot.”

With the pot in hand, Fu Xinhui moved around to try to avoid Zhang Siyi following like a master teasing a dog, only to give up and make more. At this moment, Jiang Hai also came back. Seeing Fu Xinhui’s cooking, he reacted the same as Zhang Siyi and asked for his share.

“Fuck you. It’s my food! Even if I’m at home, I’m not your babysitter,” Fu Xinhui, muttered.

Zhang Siyi slurped up a mouthful of red sauce.: “So good! You don’t have to look for work, just stay home to cook for us.”

Jiang Hai is also chiming in: “You cook so well that you can stay at home to cook for us while we bring home the money to support you!”

Fu Xinhui laughed: “Fuck off, both of your salaries is not even more than my pocket money!”

They all laughed together then sat down to eat. Lately, the trio rarely had time for a common meal. Jiang Hai went downstairs to the restaurant to pick up some additional seafood for them to eat.

Fu Xinhui had gone to the supermarket in the afternoon to buy ingredients for his dinner. Besides the Pasta and sauce, he also bought a few side dishes and drinks. He placed them all on the coffee table, so they could gather around to chat and eat together.

“Why do you suddenly want to cook? “Asked Jiang Hai.

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Fu Xinhui replied, “I’m tired of takeout and It’s nice to have a change”

While studying abroad they were exposed to many different cuisine flavors. Thinking they would have to cook when they returned in order experience those flavors, they were surprised upon their return to find the domestic restaurant industry so developed and thus took the lazy way out and ordered takeout on a regular business.

Zhang Siyi collapsed on the sofa and burped, touching his belly, said: “I used to think convenience store food was pretty good, but now, this dinner has reminded me how inadequate they are. I won’t be able to use the microwave anymore.”

Fu Xinhui changed the subject and asked Zhang Siyi: “how was work today?”

“Exhausted. I was so busy all day.” Although busy and tired, Zhang Siyi felt very fulfilled. When he thought about all the work he sorted through today, he was full of accomplishment.

Zhang Siyi spoke of his three hours of work in the morning. Jiang Hai listened and commented: “It seems that your boss is quite good. The head of the design department I work for is unreliable. There is no practical experience at all.”

Zhang Siyi was curious: “What do you real estate companies usually do?”

In the industry, the real estate company is commonly known as “Party A” where Jiang Hai is located: “The real estate company buys land everywhere. For example, if the government has a commercial property, the company buys it and then asks different design departments to bid for the contract according to the rules. To put it bluntly, we are the ones who choose which departments can develop the property. The people calling the shots also have a professional background. Then whoever has the highest score will be chosen to use the design but if the people in the design department of Party A are not reliable, even with superb designs, they won’t win the contract and will lose money.”

Fu Xinhui, who was listening on the side, laughed ha-ha, and said to Jiang Hai: “Doesn’t that mean Zhang Siyi is there for you to abuse?”

Zhang Siyi: “...”

Jiang Hai: “You can say this as a joke, but under normal circumstances, we are also very reliable.

After all, no one wants to lose out repeatedly. Its very labor intensive and costly. When small companies can’t figure out the problem, then the big designs companies are contacted. At that time, I can’t say who abused who.”

After talking with his roommates for an hour, Zhang Siyi return to his room and its almost nine o’clock.

He reached for the drawings he brought back with him from work, along with the “Architect’s Handbook” given to him by Zhu Hongzhen. Just after two pages his mind is not with the task.

It’s so hard. It’s so boring. I don’t want to draw.......

Stomach full of food and drink, Zhang Siyi is lazy at the moment. Although he is thinking about the homework, he can’t muster up the strength to do it.

He suddenly thought about the message he sent to his friends this morning. Wanting to check the comments his friends wrote, he got his phone out. There are more than 30 postings and one private message from his mother asking about the job details.

Mom: “Son, did you find a job?”

Zhang Siyi smiled and typed back: “Yes, mom, I am going to work now!”

He returned the news of other people one by one, and then carefully scanned through all the messages again. He didn’t see anything from his ex-girlfriend. Zhang Siyi was hoping she would respond when hearing about his new job.

After thinking about it, he couldn’t resist telling her, so he sent a note to the other party, but instead, a screen popped up. “XXX. You are not his (her) friend. Please send a friend verification request first...”

Fuck! She already deleted me? Not even a chance to be a friend?

Zhang Siyi was so angry that he immediately deleted her information and decided not to have any contacts with his ex-girlfriend. Not long ago, when he returned to China, he saved his living expenses to buy a Fendi bag for her. This is too embarrassing.

Shortly after dealing with his ex-girlfriend, his mother returned his message: “My son is awesome! How much is the salary? What department do you work in?”

Zhang Siyi didn’t like dealing with his father, but his relationship with his mother was very good. He told his mother the details of the company and the current situation.

He is excited to report to his mom about his job but felt wronged by the initial salary. He mentioned it to his mom: “The probationary salary is only four thousand and five. [Cry]”

His mother offered some additional funds as congratulations on finding a job. If it’s not enough Mom will go to the bank tomorrow.”

Zhang Siyi received the red envelope, but righteously refused: “I told Dad that I would work and make money on my own. If you give me money without dad knowing, he will get mad at me.”

Mom: “My son grew up and I’m very happy, but mom is also distressed that you don’t have enough money to spend. Rest assured, I secretly called, so your father won’t know. I’ll send you some and you can pay me back later.”

Having the support of his mom made Zhang Siyi feel really happy. He sent a few hugs and kisses to his mother and smiled. He continued looking at his phone to read the messages about his friends and classmates. In the blink of an eye, it was already eleven o’clock.

Zhang Siyi yawned and looked at the drawings, but he could not see it. Because of his mother’s support, he didn’t feel as pressured to work on the assignment. It was easy to make excuses. It’s not due until tomorrow night, so go to sleep today.......

However, he did not expect that this incident was discovered the next morning. But I didn’t think it would be the same the next morning. But I didn’t expect it to happen early the next morning.

However, he didn’t expect his house of cards to fall so suddenly. The next day Zhang Siyi woke up and saw the three messages his mother had sent him early in the morning-

Mom: “Dad is very happy about your new job.”

Mom: “But your father saw the money I sent you. He seriously warned me. I can’t give you any money, otherwise he will confiscate my silver|bank|card.”

Mom: “I’m sorry, but you have to take care of yourself. Although, Mom is free to come to Haicheng to see you.”

Zhang Siyi: “...”

These three messages once again ignited Zhang Siyi’s determination. “I will make a lot of money, just wait and see. Then my family will have nothing to complain about.” Zhang Siyi comforted his mother with a few words then bounced up from the bed to quickly brush he teeth.

Thinking about work, he took out the drawings and began to concentrate on the assignment. Zhu Hongzhen’s reference book is very good. Zhang Siyi found a lot of useful data inside to help him with the size of the plans.

However, Gu Yu’s set of pictures is also very abnormal. The strange sized spaces on the plans are giving Zhang Siyi a hard time to have the appropriate functionality of the plan. Some spaces are so narrow, you can’t even put sinks and toilets. People are crazy.

Without any constraints, at the office, Zhang Siyi patience is thinning. The inability to use software is adding to his agitation. Previously, he eagerly wanted to address the assignment, but now, in the early morning, he feels like his whole being is hollowed out.

After lunch, Gu Yu also came over to check on him. He turned over the two pathetic drawings on his desk and said nothing, just gave a long sigh: “hmm...”

Zhang Siyi saw Gu Yu’s reaction and can’t help but feel suffocated. What to do.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, Zhang Siyi only completed three pictures. He realized it will be almost impossible to get all the drawing done before leaving work this evening. Gu Yu fucking dug a huge pit for him!

Zhang Siyi let his negative feelings from yesterday overwhelmed him. He regrets taking so much time chatting online and ignoring his responsibilities. What’s done is done. His deadline is fast approaching. He can only admit defeat and seek care from the director. Yes, Zhang Siyi remembers the sentence that Gu Yu said on the day of the interview — if you don’t understand, ask, don’t make your own assumptions.

He took a deep breath and messaged the director. “Do you have a minute, there is a picture I can’t draw”

Gu Yu: “There is only one?”

Zhang Si Yi looked at the words. Why did it seem like Gu Yu was laughing at him? Shameless!

Gu Yu: “Bring it all over.”

Zhang Siyi stuffed the picture and design manual under his arm and pushed the door open to Gu Yu’s office. When he sat down, he rushed to explain himself: “you can see on this picture there is only this place for the bathroom, but I checked the data in the manual and the minimum size door for a bathroom without a bath is 900*2100, or 1100*1800. It can’t be placed here. Not 100 in the horizontal direction, or 200 in the vertical direction; there is a door in the way...”

The more Zhang Si Yi said, the angrier he got. It made him feel like his design talents were completely worthless. Clearly, Gu Yu gave him this assignment knowing he would have problems!

Gu Yu smiled and laughed at him and flipped through the manual in a pretentious manner. He gently spoke: “This is indeed the smallest size drawn in this booklet, but have you ever thought about a more extreme possibility?”

As he explained, Gu Yu took a pencil from the pen holder: “The reason why the ‘standard chart’ drawn in the book is called ‘standard’ is because it’s based on normal conditions, but what happens when the conditions are abnormal?”

Dumbfounded, Zhang Siyi said “oh.”

Under normal circumstances, only one toilet is placed the long way. Then the most suitable net width is 900.” Gu Yu took a pencil and steadily drew a few lines on the drawing. He drew a one-way door, and marked the size then looked at Zhang Siyi and asked, “Can’t that 800 be used?”

Zhang Siyi’s stared blankly and thought “you’re fucking with me.”

Gu Yu said: “The set of pictures that Du Rui gave you Included bathroom doors’ under normal circumstances. They are all 700 only because that standard, but on this drawing, is 650 and 600 not ok?”

Zhang Siyi was completely stupid.

Gu Yu looked at him and said seriously: “Do you know the biggest difference between the drafter and the designer? The draftsman is only rigidly making plans according to the norms and the standardized drawings summarized by others. Designers think and fix. Don’t forget, you are a designer: you have to question the rules and common sense.”

Last time he sat here, Gu Yu wanted him to use the standards to design bathrooms. Not less than forty-eight hours later, Gu Yu reversed the theory to make Zhang Siyi question the rules.

At the moment, Zhang Siyi just want to loudly yell. Fuck! why does it have to be so complicated?