115 Big Red Envelope (Bug Catching)
This New Year, which marks the beginning of the 1980s, seems to be more lively than in previous years.
Song Xibei's return home to visit relatives served as a catalyst; subsequently, many other educated youth who had settled down in the countryside returned to the alley with their families for the New Year.
Some families wept with joy, while others were furious; almost every courtyard had one particularly lively household.
Guan Yuehe received a reminder from the mailman that she had two packages that she hadn't picked up yet.
When I got to the post office, I found that the two packages came from Northeast China and Sichuan Province respectively, and they were full of local specialties.
The local specialties sent from Northeast China were probably obtained by Ding Xuewen through fellow villagers. The one from Sichuan Province, on the other hand, was sent by Lin Yiku's comrade-in-arms from his time at military academy.
When she was carrying the package home, she ran into Aunt Ding at the entrance of the alley. Aunt Ding stared at the package on the back of her bicycle, seemingly guessing that it might be sent by Ding Xuewen, and snorted irritably.
There are no secrets in this alley. Last year, when Guan Yuehe went to the post office to pick up a package, some gossipy person passed it on to Aunt Ding, saying that the package came from Northeast China and must have been sent by Ding Xuewen.
Aunt Ding had been giving her the cold shoulder since last year because of this, but Guan Yuehe was busy with school and had no idea that she was sulking.
Although she was holding her breath, Aunt Ding was certain of one thing: Ding Xuewen had not been admitted to university and was still living in the countryside in Northeast China.
Thinking about this, Aunt Ding felt that she hadn't been wrong to favor her youngest son.
Guan Yuehe rolled her eyes at her and snorted even louder.
Aunt Ding got angry and was about to raise her finger to scold her when Guan Yuehe opened her mouth and shouted at the top of her lungs towards the No. 3 courtyard: "Mom!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Aunt Ding turned and quickly walked away. She couldn't possibly argue with two people on her own.
Guan Yuehe was delighted and rang the bicycle bell.
The day before Lunar New Year's Eve, everyone received the New Year's gifts from their workplaces. Neighbors compared the gifts from different companies and finally concluded that Wuxing Automobile Factory had done well this year and received the most gifts.
But no matter how much money they gave out, it couldn't compare to the New Year's goods that Ding Laowu bought with his own money. He even got a TV set!
The neighbors in the alley weren't curious about the television; they were only curious about how much money Ding Laowu made from collecting and selling old items.
"No wonder he goes to Lu Chang's house to keep watch every day, he must be making a lot of money!"
"He can afford a TV now, so he probably bought a house outside too, right?"
"Look! Aunt Ding is wearing new clothes again. I really misjudged her before; Ding Laowu is actually quite capable."
"Look at Aunt Ding, she gives him everything good. Before, everyone said that Ding Lao Si was the most promising, but Aunt Ding was blind. Now look, he really is living a good life thanks to Ding Lao Wu."
Guan Yuehe listened for a few moments at the gate, somewhat puzzled, "They're living a good life now, why are they still making trouble?"
It's been noisy since morning, and she can hear it even though she lives in Courtyard No. 1.
Aunt Hu turned around and saw it was her, then said, "Ding Xianguang has returned to the city. He wants his family to pay for a job for him, or at least buy him a house to live in. He said that he missed getting married because of his family's work in the countryside, and he needs to make up for it."
Guan Yuehe clicked her tongue. That family was really good at causing trouble, one after another, they just kept coming up with problems and never stopped.
"Yuehe, do you still have any brown sugar at home? Hongmei, who just moved in, knows how to make brown sugar glutinous rice cakes. Let's go and learn how to make some."
What is brown sugar glutinous rice cake?
Guan Yuehe didn't have time to watch the commotion. She put the melon seeds in her pocket and said, "We're out, Mom. Wait for me, I'll go out and buy some!"
There's excitement every day, but fresh, delicious food is a rare treat.
Upon hearing this, the other neighbors dispersed and chased after Aunt Fang to ask if they could also go and learn.
That evening, Guan Yuehe brought home a plate of hot brown sugar glutinous rice cakes. Lin Yiku was urged by her to pick up a piece, examine it for a long time, and tentatively took a bite.
"Is it delicious?"
"It's delicious." Lin Yi asked with a hint of trepidation, "Did you make it?"
"No, I traded it with Hongmei." Guan Yuehe also picked up a piece and took a bite. "Delicious!"
She didn't want to learn, but she wanted to eat. Between eating food cooked by her two mothers and exchanging it with Hongmei, she chose the latter.
Lin Yiku turned the glutinous rice cake in her hand so that she could take a bite, and then ate the rest herself in one bite.
Guan Yuehe immediately understood, "If it doesn't taste good, just say it doesn't taste good, don't pretend with me."
He grinned and cleared the plate off the table, saying, "If you don't like it, the rest is all mine."
"Then you'd better hide it well. If Gu Yu comes over, she'll eat it and then want to take it with her." Gu Yu has a dog's nose, just like Yue He. She likes sweets and isn't picky about food. She even wants to lick a bit of other people's Chinese medicine to taste it.
"She didn't have time to come; she went to her grandma's house with my sister."
The following day, New Year's Eve, several families went to Courtyard No. 3 to ask Xu Hongmei to make brown sugar glutinous rice cakes.
Guan Yuehe carried meat, pastries, and canned goods from home to Courtyard No. 3, where she would be having dinner at the Lin family's place that evening.
But the two houses are next to each other, and they would send each other vegetables, so it didn't matter where they ate.
Guan Yuehe poked her head in through the open door and said jokingly, "Mom, I'll come to give you a gift on the second day of the Lunar New Year."
Jiang Guiying was busy, so she waved her hand dismissively to indicate that she knew, and only instructed, "Don't bring any pork or fish. We'll just be eating them together anyway, so I'm too lazy to give you any return gifts. Your sister and I said the same thing."
"Okay, I'll bring something else."
At nine o'clock, each family began to prepare their New Year's Eve dinner.
Some people still take paper money out to burn incense. Nowadays, people don't care about burning incense and worshipping Buddha. As long as it doesn't affect others, no one will care if you engage in feudal superstition at home. If you are reported, at most you will only receive a reprimand and education.
Mr. Lin and Mrs. Fang haven't been back to their hometown for many years. They would secretly burn paper money for their parents and ancestors in their own kitchen.
“Recalling past hardships is for soldiers, you are a state cadre, we can just quietly prepare something at home.”
Guan Yuehe helped hand over the paper money, and whispered to Aunt Fang, "Then remember to tell the ancestors to bless me so that I can buy a small courtyard in the future."
Aunt Fang: "......"
Lin Sitian laughed heartily, and after laughing, she followed suit and whispered, "Mom, I want one too, preferably a small courtyard next to Yuehe's house."
Grandpa Lin, standing nearby, smiled so much that the wrinkles around his eyes deepened, and with a wave of his hand, he agreed on behalf of his ancestors.
After quietly burning the paper money, they heard more footsteps coming and going in the courtyard. Guan Jianguo and Lin Yufeng had also brought their children back for the New Year.
"Alright, get to work."
Grandpa Lin was killing and plucking chickens outside the door, while Grandma Fang was boiling water and making bone broth in the kitchen. Guan Yuehe and Lin Sitian were in charge of making dumplings.
"My brother is the best; he won't be back until the afternoon, so he avoids the chores at home."
"I'll have him give you a big red envelope this year."
"Hehe, this is great!" Lin Sitian said happily, "It's all thanks to Yuehe for taking a liking to my brother."
If you get a different sister-in-law, she might be looked down upon at her age living at home, and what kind of big red envelope would she receive?
"If you say my brother is handsome again, I won't laugh at you."
Guan Yuehe was also happy, "You don't need to worry about sending me eye drops anymore."
The living room and kitchen weren't soundproof, and while Aunt Fang was busy inside, she couldn't help but laugh as she listened to the conversation between the two young women outside.
Although everyone is busy preparing chicken, duck, fish and meat now, most people are just eating something casual for lunch, saving room for dinner.
The children ran in and out, asking for money or food. With a few firecrackers in their pockets, they swaggered around.
"Hey! Niu Niu!" Guan Yuehe was about to turn around and catch the little brat poking her back when she turned around and saw that it was Xu Cheng Cai's daughter. "Where are your parents?"
"At my grandma's house."
Children aren't stupid; they know which adults like them and which dislike them. Niu Niu knew long ago that her grandma didn't like her, and every time she went back to Ginkgo Alley, she would run to another house.
Yuanbao, who lived across from Grandma's house, moved away. She followed Sister Tingting to the backyard and was surprised to see Aunt Yuehe and Aunt Sitian at home.
Niu Niu scratched her head and said, "My aunt is also at Grandma's house."
Although her aunt would bring her clothes and toys, she was a little afraid of her aunt because her aunt and her parents would argue whenever they met.
"Don't be afraid. Come on, let's go watch the fun." Lin Sitian wanted to carry Niu Niu out, but after taking a couple of steps, she put Niu Niu down and let her walk on her own. She didn't forget to turn back and call Guan Yuehe to follow.
Aunt Fang suddenly stopped hearing any noise from the living room. When she went out to check, she found that only a small portion of the package had been wrapped, and the person had disappeared.
Xu Xiaomei and Cheng Peng returned to Ginkgo Hutong to deliver New Year's gifts to their family. They had other things to do on the second day of the Lunar New Year and couldn't come back.
They're currently arguing about the size of the red envelopes given to the children.
Qin Zilan took her youngest son out for a walk and whispered to them, "My little sister is angry because her older brother and sister-in-law are stingy and gave her too little New Year's money. She insists on taking back the money they gave out."
Sure enough, Xu Xiaomei never wanted to suffer any loss.
They arrived late, and Xu Xiaomei had already asked for the New Year's money she had given out. She returned the portion that was in her son's pocket and told Cheng Peng, who was standing next to her, feeling awkward and at a loss, to take his things home.
As soon as she stepped out of the house, she ran into Guan Yuehe and Lin Sitian. She paused for a few seconds, snorted at them, and quickened her pace, pulling her son along.
Lin Sitian chuckled to herself, "She's probably afraid you'll chase her all over the alley with a stick again."
Sigh! That happened so many years ago, she wouldn't bother chasing after it now.
Niu Niu thought for a while, took out a red envelope from her pocket, looked up and asked her mother, "My aunt gave me a red envelope, but she forgot to accept it."
"It's alright, just keep what your aunt gave you."
Qin Zilan didn't know what to say. Her sister-in-law and mother-in-law were always arguing, and she never had a good time with her and Xu Cheng. But every time she saw Niu Niu, she would give her red envelopes, clothes, and snacks.
Although the niece resembles her aunt, Niu Niu and her sister-in-law really don't look alike at all.
Xu Chengcai came out carrying a frozen fish and said to Qin Zilan, "Why don't you go sit at Aunt Lin's house for a while? I'll call you when the food is ready. We can talk about it tomorrow."
Oh right, we're all going to Ding Xuewen's house together tomorrow.
It was 5 p.m. when Lin Yiku returned with a net bag of fruit. Her family was just starting to cook, and almost everyone else was preparing dinner around the same time.
"You're back? Here, have a steamed bun to tide you over."
Lin Yiku had just taken off her coat and hadn't even hung it up properly when a steamed bun was stuffed into her mouth.
This time he could tell that it was a vegetarian bun made by Yuehe, with wood ear mushrooms inside.
Before he could even offer a compliment, Guan Yuehe busied herself delivering vegetables, asking, "Mom, which dish was it again for Sister Hongqi's family?"
The aroma of meat from each household wafted in waves on the cold wind.
It was cold, so we ate quickly. After we finished eating, we turned on the TV to watch the news. The remaining beer and Arctic Ocean soda on the table were shared, and everyone held an enamel cup, taking small sips while watching the black and white TV in front of them.
A short while later, the Guan family members arrived with small stools.
"I heard that the man who used to collect night soil in the alley bought a new TV set, and it's different from everyone else's." Jiang Guiying suddenly remembered this.
"What's different? What brand is their product?"
"No, I heard it's in color. The people on TV wear colorful clothes, and they're bigger, unlike our TV which only has black, white, and gray."
Mr. Lin, who knew more, explained: "His relatives went abroad years ago. Now that the country is opening up to the outside world, his relatives returned to China under the guise of investment and brought back a lot of imported goods for his family. In addition to color TVs, there are refrigerators and washing machines. They also returned the house they had before, and they no longer live here."
Otherwise, with so many rare things, the neighbors in the alley would have gone to check them out early in the morning.
"Imported? No wonder." Jiang Guiying laughed. "This thing must be worth a lot of money."
Guan Yuehe: "Our Beijing TV factory has a cooperative project with the Japanese to assemble color TVs. I heard that the Tianjin TV factory also has a color TV production line. Sooner or later we will be able to buy them."
The others were surprised, "Really?"
"Yes, it is. My friend Xie Dongxue did an interview in Jinshi, it's definitely true." Xie Dongxue mentioned this casually when she went to the newspaper office last time, and said that she was glad that she found out she was pregnant after returning from the interview, otherwise she would have missed a good opportunity.
Guan Yuehe had never seen what a color television set looked like and couldn't imagine it at all. But she was thinking that if she joined the Ministry of Foreign Trade in the future, she wondered if she could go to the Canton Fair with them. She really wanted to see domestically produced color televisions on display in the exhibition hall.
But she thought that she would have a chance sooner or later.
The next day, Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku got up early to pay New Year's visits at No. 3 Courtyard, distributed red envelopes to their nephews and nieces, and received two red envelopes from their parents. After that, they waited at home for the children to come over.
"Sister Yuehe, do I get one too?" The tall and strong Song Xibei also reached out his hand. Song Xinan thought that his own brother was such a big man and still wanted to ask for a red envelope. He was really shameless. He tried to pull him out, but he couldn't.
Guan Yuehe also gave him a penny, and said with a smile, "Give my child a bigger one later."
"No need to say anything!" Song Xibei pulled his younger sister to sit down, saying he wanted to ask Lin Yiku for advice.
"I think you're asking for a beating." Lin Yiku said this, but still called him outside to talk, it seemed she really wanted to impart her experience.
Song Xinan stayed behind and whispered to Guan Yuehe, "My mom told my brother to find a girlfriend in the army when he's old enough. My brother said that Yi Ku didn't find a girlfriend until he was almost thirty, and he wants to follow his example and not let his family pressure him."
Guan Yuehe corrected, "Who spread this rumor? When we were dating, Lin Yiku was only twenty-six, not thirty."
Song Xinan's eyes lit up. "I'll go back and tell my parents that I'll marry my brother off when he turns twenty-six."
Watching Song Xinan run out the door, Guan Yuehe smiled. It seemed she had taken Si Tian as her role model.
After 10 o'clock, Lin Sitian came to call for people, and the three of them went out together.
When neighbors asked them, "Going to the clothing factory's small auditorium to watch a movie so early?"
“Yes, going early will get you a good spot,” Lin Sitian blurted out, then asked the other person why they weren’t going.
The neighbor only realized something was wrong after walking away. Who goes out to the movies carrying two thermos flasks and two enamel basins? It's obvious they're going to a wedding to give gifts.
I thought to myself, "These three people are really generous, giving such expensive gifts..."
But they went directly to the bus stop and waited for Xu Chengcai and his family of four before taking the bus together.
It's quite a distance from Yinxing Hutong to the vicinity of the Normal University. After getting off the bus, they still had to walk a bit, asking for directions along the way, before finally finding the courtyard where Ding Xuewen's family lived.
The 15-square-meter room isn't particularly big, but it's not small either. A cloth separates the sleeping area from the rest of the room, and the rest consists of a desk and a few stools.
When their group arrived, the house, which had appeared spacious due to its neatness, instantly became crowded.
"Old Xu, come with me to move the table." Ding Xuewen called Xu Cheng to go out. He had already told the neighbors that some friends were coming over today and needed to borrow some tables and chairs.
Lin Yiku got up and followed without a word.
"Your neighbors seem quite easy to talk to." After moving the tables and chairs back, Guan Yuehe went back inside.
When they first arrived, many neighbors in the courtyard peeked out to watch the commotion. When they saw that they were looking for Ding Xuewen, they all smiled without saying hello, which made them seem very friendly.
Ding Xuewen busied himself pouring them water, and said with a smile, "When Chen Lizhong came over last time, he chatted a lot with the neighbors and praised me to the skies. The neighbor's kids would come to my place at night to ask me questions they didn't understand."
He was the only college student in the compound, which the neighbors found unusual. In addition, Chen Lizhong was good at handling things, so when he wasn't busy, he would tutor the children in the compound. Gradually, he got along well with the neighbors in the compound.
Lin Sitian then asked, "Isn't the money-making expert here today?"
Everyone else cooperated with her, each knowing the truth but refraining from revealing it, treating it as just a casual question.
"He has many relatives, so he said he would arrive later."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Lizhong came over carrying a half-new electric fan. As soon as he entered the door, he said, "There are so many more relatives in my family this year. I don't even know where all these relatives came from. I've never seen any of them before."
The words were full of sarcasm.
Lin Sitian joked, "A few years ago, if someone worked at a farm, their relatives would visit them so they could buy bones to supplement their diet."
"That's true. It's a pity I didn't work at a farm in Beijing before, otherwise I probably would have had quite a few relatives."
The others couldn't help but laugh.
"Send me a new electric fan? You're so generous when you're making money," Ding Xuewen teased him.
"I'm not that generous. I assembled it myself, using materials I found at the junkyard, and some parts I got through connections. The cost is at most twenty yuan."
An electric fan outside costs at least a hundred yuan, but he only earned a little over two hundred yuan after working as a tour guide for half a month.
Ding Xuewen had an "I knew it" look on his face; those in technical fields are truly impressive.
Xu Cheng and the others were shocked. "If you made your own electric fans and sold them, wouldn't you... make a fortune?"
Chen Lizhong covered his mouth and whispered, "We can't do that now. We've even quit tutoring. If we get caught, all my efforts will have been for nothing. I applied to graduate early, so I'll finish school in a year at most."
Chen Lizhong's last, seemingly random, statement went unnoticed.
Xu Chengcai agreed, saying, "It's better to be on the safe side. When people come to me to make clothes, I only charge a labor fee. I make the clothes myself by finding the fabric and selling them, which is profitable. I'm just afraid that someone will take notice and report me to the factory, which would be a loss."
However, Chen Lizhong and Ding Xuewen then said that they had collaborated with the Peking University Foreign Language Society and brought together students from the Department of Western Languages at Beijing Normal University to work as tour guides for foreigners. After half a month, they had earned quite a bit of money, which allowed them to practice their spoken English and earn money at the same time. They planned to continue doing this on their days off in the future.
Well, these two are so focused on making money that they can't get out.
Chen Lizhong also brought meat and vegetables, and borrowed a pot and stove from the neighbor. Chef Ding then began to prepare for today's housewarming feast.
“If you have the chance in the future, you have to go to Sidaogou. The pork stew is incredibly delicious.” Chen Lizhong helped with the fire and told them about his interesting experiences as an educated youth in Northeast China. “They didn’t want me to cook because I smelled so bad at the farm. Otherwise, I would have definitely developed excellent cooking skills.”
As they talked, Lin Sitian was the only one left to help him tend the fire and act as his straight man. Ding Xuewen pretended that he couldn't hear or see clearly and focused only on cooking.
Guan Yuehe nudged Lin Yiku's arm and chuckled, "Whenever you're around, Chen Lizhong has to glance at your expression every few words he says."
Lin Yiku said helplessly, "If Sitian thinks it's good, then it's fine."
It's as if Sitian would listen to everything he says.
While waiting for the food to be served.
Xu Chengcai and Qin Zilan were talking about how some workers at Zhuoyue Garment Factory made and sold clothes outside, earning a lot of money.
“It hasn’t affected the factory’s production, so the factory doesn’t care. But I’ve seen some people trying to use the factory’s machines for personal work during working hours. If they get caught, they’ll definitely have to be disciplined.”
"Someone approached me about a collaboration. They'd provide the fabric, and I'd make the clothes," Xu Cheng sighed. "I wouldn't dare do it even if you gave me ten lives. Who knows if the materials they get are stolen from the factory warehouse?"
Guan Yuehe said seriously, "Then you must not get involved. If something happens to you, your master and Zilan will be implicated."
"I don't follow their reckless actions." It's just that I sometimes feel envious when I see others making money so easily.
"What's so special about that? I'm envious of Ding Xuewen." Ding Xuewen's spoken English is better than Chen Lizhong's, and he earned much more than Chen Lizhong in just half a month as a tour guide.
"What did I do again?" Ding Xuewen brought in a large bowl of food and told Xu Cheng and Qin Zilan to serve the children their meals first.
"I'm just jealous that you're a rich dog."
Ding Xuewen, who was used to being called "the big dog," just laughed and, unusually, joked with her and Lin Yiku, "I'll give your child a big red envelope in the future."
Niu Niu, standing next to Guan Yuehe, pulled out a large red envelope from Ding Xuewen's pocket and showed it to her: "Uncle gave me such a big red envelope!"
Well, before the mischievous monkey even appears, he's already pre-ordered "big red envelopes" for many people.
"Old Ding, come quick and see what we're making for the next dish!" Chen Lizhong called out from behind the kitchen wall of his neighbor's house.
"They're here."
—
Three dishes and a soup; not many dishes, but the portions are generous.
"Old Ding, aren't you going to say something?" Chen Lizhong opened a beer bottle first and poured drinks for Lin Yiku and Guan Yuehe across half the table.
Guan Yuehe and the others suppressed their laughter as they watched him subtly fawn over them.
Ding Xuewen picked up his chopsticks, glanced at his friends sitting in his house, and said cheerfully, "May this day come every year, and may every year bring this day again. Let's eat!"
This was his family's reunion dinner this year.
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