Chapter 4: The Wise Man of the Time

The last class in the afternoon was a self-study class. With ten minutes left before the end of the get out of class, Li Ye packed his schoolbag and ran away.

Class monitor Hu Man hurriedly asked, "Li Ye, where are you going? School isn't over yet!"

Li Ye said without turning his head: "Squad leader, I have something to do, please ask for leave for me."

Hu Man shouted angrily: "It's only a moment. Why are you asking for leave? I..."

But Li Ye had already left the classroom and met up with Li Dayong, with whom he had made an appointment long ago, and disappeared in a flash.

Hu Man was very angry, his chest heaved up and down, showing that he was quite capable.

But in the end, she still took out a piece of paper and wrote a note for Li Ye so that he would have no explanation when the teacher asked about it.

After Li Dayong and Li Ye left school, they rode in a 28-inch truck together and headed for the No. 1 Middle School in the north of the county town.

County No. 1 Middle School and County No. 2 Middle School are not far away, and can be reached in less than ten minutes.

Li Dayong stopped his bicycle, took out a cigarette and lit it, then asked Li Ye in a deep voice: "Brother, have you really decided?"

Li Ye nodded slightly and said, "Well, it's decided."

Today, Li Ye came to the gate of No. 1 Middle School in the county to collect a debt.

When he and Lu Jingyao got engaged, he gave her a Type 26 Phoenix bicycle.

In the 1980s, a Phoenix bicycle cost more than 180 yuan with a ticket. If you didn't have a ticket, you couldn't buy one for even 300 yuan. The 26-type bicycle was even rarer than the 28-type bicycle, so a 26-type Phoenix bicycle was more eye-catching than a later sedan.

At that time, Li Ye's grandfather and father had just resumed work for more than a year. After buying two bicycles with the accumulated industrial coupons, they planned to buy Li Ye a 28 Fei Ge bicycle.

But Li Ye insisted on giving Lu Jingyao a car, so Li Ye's grandfather asked someone to buy this 26 Phoenix suitable for ladies and gave it to Lu Jingyao as an engagement gift.

When the two families got engaged, the sensation it caused was no less than giving a BMW to a granddaughter-in-law in later generations.

Therefore, no matter how reluctant the Lu family is, they should return the car when they cancel the engagement.

But when Lu's father came to Li's house to cancel the engagement, Li Ye's father threw the fish and meat out of the door and cursed, "The bride price was just fed to the dog."

Although Lu Jingyao's father did not pick up the fish, he did not leave the Phoenix bicycle behind.

Li Ye's steady grandfather and frugal grandmother did not stop Lu's father from riding away.

Li Ye might not have understood it at that time, but now he knows very well that his grandparents were suppressing their anger and leaving a way out for their grandson.

If Li Ye is admitted to university this year, the Li family will use both kindness and force to try to win back their grandson's favor.

The Lu family may not have the same idea.

This unreturned Phoenix bicycle is the bond that connects the two families.

After Lu Jingyao went to Beijing to study, the Phoenix was given to her younger brother Lu Zixue, who was a freshman in the county's No. 1 Middle School.

In the past, Li Ye fantasized that Lu Jingyao would change her mind, and would rather take bus No. 11 than take the bicycle back.

But at this moment, how could Li Ye have such a broad mind?

It would be fine if they just parted ways with the past, but Lu Jingyao sent money to the school with great fanfare and let Li Ye take on Huang Shiren's name. Did she really think of Li Ye as a grudge?

You can't take advantage of me and loudly boast about "freedom", right?

The most important thing is... Li Ye himself doesn't even have a car to ride! If it's inconvenient for him to go anywhere, how can I make it convenient for you?

Li Dayong took a deep puff of cigarette and said hesitantly: "Brother, if you get that Phoenix back, you two will really..."

Li Ye glanced at Li Dayong and said, "Is Lu Jingyao so good? Do I have to hang myself on her tree? I, your brother, am capable of owning the entire forest."

“.”

Li Dayong was stunned for a long while, blinking his eyes, and could not fully understand what Li Ye said.

[So it was you, brother, who was willing to die for Lu Jingyao before? ]

Li Ye looked at Li Dayong and didn't explain much. He just patted him on the shoulder to reassure him.

Although this childhood best friend looks as big and strong as a bear, he is actually a thoughtful person.

For example, when he was cursing in front of Lu Jingyao's house, and when he proposed at noon today to "go to the capital and curse Chen Shimei", both of them had a clear purpose.

That is to force Lu Jingyao and Li Ye to reconcile.

[If you don't come out and explain things to my brother, I will make your shit public so that everyone in the street will know about it. If you dare to be a traitor, I will make the whole school know about it.]

It can be said that Li Ye was wrongly called "Huang Shiren" with the help of Li Dayong, the "Mu Renzhi".

"Brother, school is almost over, let's stay away from the door!"

As school was about to end, Li Dayong suddenly felt a little nervous.

"Hmm? What are you afraid of?"

"The teachers at No. 1 Middle School are quite powerful. I'm afraid they will meddle in other people's business."

“.”

The No. 1 Middle School in the county is different from the No. 2 Middle School in the county. Not only is its attitude towards academic research extremely strict, but it is also extremely tough in dealing with idle people in society outside the school.

In 1981, there were already hooligans on the streets who asked children for money, but none of them dared to cause trouble at the gate of the county's No. 1 Middle School. People like Li Dayong, with his appearance and physique that made him look like a bad guy, would naturally arouse the teachers' vigilance.

"What are you afraid of? A teacher's power is only within the school. How can he control things outside the school?" Li Ye said nonchalantly.

"That's right. No matter how long the teacher's arms are, they can't reach outside the school." Someone next to him echoed.

Li Ye and Li Dayong turned their heads and saw a man in his thirties looking at them with a smile.

This man just came over. Li Ye and Li Dayong thought he was here to pick up the child, but now it seems not.

Li Dayong frowned and asked sternly, "What do you do? What are you doing in front of the school?"

Boys these days have been watching patriotic movies since childhood, and they want to take care of anyone who looks like a spy, gangster, or evildoer. The man in front of him has a foreign accent, so he might be a bad guy.

The man was not angry, and still said with a smile: "I sell hemp candy, would you two young masters like some?"

"What? Young Master, do you think this is the old society? Aren't you afraid that the anti-vote office will arrest you for selling hemp candy?"

Li Dayong's face was full of justice, but his mouth was not restrained and he swallowed his saliva.

The Anti-Speculation Office was an office dedicated to combating speculation and profiteering. It was very powerful over the past decade and played a huge role in strangling the buds of imperialist capitalism.

"Don't make random accusations, my friend. It's said above that the individual economy is a necessary supplement to the state-owned economy and the collective economy."

As the man spoke, he actually took out a newspaper with an article marked on it in red pen. The title was "Several Policy Provisions on Non-agricultural Individual Economy in Cities and Towns."

Li Ye was a little surprised. There were so many smart people in the world, and one should not underestimate the heroes of the world.

The above regulations were issued just a few months ago, and many departments probably haven’t grasped their spirit yet, but some people have already seized the opportunity to “seek wealth and honor in danger.”

This business acumen and adventurous spirit can easily create big ripples in this stagnant pool that has not yet become active.

Of course, there must have been many people who drowned. After all, the crime of speculation and profiteering was not abolished until 1997, so miscarriages of justice were inevitable.

"How much are your hemp candies?"

Li Ye walked up to the man and motioned him to take out the goods for a look.

The man untied the bag he was carrying, revealing a small ceramic basin inside, which was half filled with yellowish-brown sesame candy.

Matang is a traditional snack with a long history. It is most famous in Tangshan in the north and E Province in the south. It is made of natural ingredients such as glutinous rice, sesame, and maltose. It is fragrant, sweet, thin, crispy, and has a unique flavor.

Li Dayong's saliva became more and more, and a slurping sound was made.

In this age where you need receipts to buy everything, the temptation of this sweet treat is too great.

I guess this guy was waiting at the school gate, ready to seduce those students.

The man smiled and quoted: "One yuan per pound, how much do you want, little brother?"

Li Dayong almost jumped up: "One dollar a pound, White Rabbit is only one dollar and fifty cents, I think you are..."

"Hey, hey, hey, you got it wrong."

The man quickly explained: "I mean kilograms. White Rabbit is 1.5 yuan per catty, and you need a sugar ticket."

Wonima is also a profiteer.

Li Ye smiled and didn't expose the guy. He just took out two dollars and threw it over.

The man quickly put two one-yuan bills into his pocket, then picked up the beam scale to weigh the sugar for Li Ye.

I had long seen that this young man was a wealthy man, but I didn't expect him to be a big customer.

He would stand at the school gate and sell things all day, making only 1, 2, or even 5 or 6 cents. It would take him several days to collect enough money to make two dollars!

Li Ye didn't care about a few dollars. He was the only male in the family. His grandfather, grandmother, father, and sister all gave him pocket money. He was not a millionaire, but at least he was a small rich man.

However, when he saw the man selling hemp candy pressing his right little finger on the scale, he couldn't help feeling angry.

You're playing tricks on me without even looking at who you are. Are you taking advantage of my young age to fool me?

"Ahem~"

A slight cough scared the man selling sesame candy so much that he immediately stopped selling it. He grabbed a large piece of sesame candy from the ceramic basin and added it to the scale pan, pressing the scale bar so hard that it broke into the air.

"I'll charge you two yuan for two kilograms and four ounces. Can I pack it into two portions for you?"

“Pack it into three portions!”

The man took out the cut white paper from his bag, deftly wrapped the sesame candy into three portions, and handed them to Li Ye.

Li Ye and Li Dayong ate one portion each and put the other portion in their schoolbags.

The man selling hemp candy squatted, looking at the school gate, waiting for the next customer.

He has sold most of the sesame candies in the basin, so he is expected to have a good harvest today.

Li Ye ate sesame candy while chatting with the man.

"You cut in line? Didn't you go back to the city?"

"Once you marry a woman here, you can't go back."

"Leave me your contact address, I'll find you if I need you later."

"I just wander around the city, either in front of the No. 1 Middle School or in front of Yuhong Middle School."

Well, he is still very vigilant and is a lackey worth recruiting.

(End of this chapter)