171 Old Iron Trees Bloom
Guan Yuehe bought a new car. When she needed to go to meetings at other units in the city, she couldn't get an official car, so she rode her own bike.
It saves me at least ten minutes of time going to work every day, and sometimes I ride a motorcycle home with Li Xuelian after get off work.
The car was too noisy; if they wanted to chat, they would have to raise their voices.
Guan Yuehe has been riding a motorcycle for over a month, and she still enjoys it every time she rides.
"I should have bought it sooner!"
Zhou Hongqi said the same thing, taking Yuanbao out every day, one to work and the other to school.
When she has free time after get off work, she accompanies Jin Junwei to practice riding motorcycles, as her family plans to buy another one.
Yuanbao stood at the alley entrance, hands on his hips, showing off: "My mom has one, and my dad has one! Our family has two motorcycles!"
One car picks her up for school, and another car picks her up after school.
Some people felt a pang of envy upon hearing this. Zhou Hongqi's salary alone was equivalent to that of two other people, and he only had to cover the expenses of his family of three. Even without the support of his elderly parents, he lived a very comfortable life!
Look how well they've raised Jin Junwei and Yuanbao...
But there's nothing we can do about it. I heard that Zhou Hongqi has already taken the Level 8 worker exam, but the results haven't come out yet.
If this passes, Zhou Hongqi will be one of only two level-eight welders in the factory, and his salary and benefits will be raised to a higher level.
By the time Jin Junwei had learned to ride a motorcycle and was riding a brand new one, it was already July.
It is said that the number of students taking the middle school and college entrance examinations in Yinxing Hutong this year is the highest since 1977.
Guan Yuehe knew that several students were taking the high school entrance exam this year, such as Tingting from Courtyard No. 3, Southwest and Jinhua from Courtyard No. 2, and Jingjing from her eldest brother's family. They were lucky; they missed the three-year junior high school pilot program and could graduate a year earlier.
Luo's daughter, Bao Ning, is taking the college entrance exam this year.
Since mid-June, people in Ginkgo Hutong have been repeatedly reminding residents to refrain from making noise in the evenings and on weekends!
It wasn't until the middle and high school entrance exams were over that Ginkgo Hutong returned to its former bustling state.
Everyone is guessing who will get into the factory's technical school or university this year.
"Teacher Xie's daughter Tingting has already been decided. She won't attend a vocational school or technical secondary school; she'll go to high school and then take the college entrance exam."
"That's perfectly normal. With Teacher Xie's academic background, how could Tingting be any worse? That's right, I think I've figured it out. With the feng shui of our alley, it's easier for girls to get into university."
"Big White Foot, are you cursing my grandson?"
"Do I need to curse your grandson's abilities? It would be more reliable to have your wife retire and give up her position sooner rather than later!"
When Guan Yuehe came home from get off work, she first saw Aunt Bai arguing with several other women, and then she saw Bao Ning and the other girls squatting neatly under the ginkgo tree, saying something and sighing one after another.
Young people at this age have the biggest worries. If they start a family, it's too early; if they don't, they'll have to worry about where to find work.
Guan Yuehe immediately thought of herself at sixteen.
Jingjing and her generation were relatively better off; at least they didn't have to worry about not being able to stay in the city and having to go to the countryside as educated youth.
"Hello, Sister Yuehe." One by one, pitiful heads were raised.
Guan Yuehe couldn't stand their dejected appearance, so she waved her hand and turned the car around, saying, "Come on, I'll treat you to popsicles."
The girls exchanged glances, then excitedly got up and followed, vying to sit on the back of the motorcycle, their earlier worries instantly forgotten.
Hearing the noise, Jiang Guiying, who was in the small room, immediately opened the back window and saw Guan Yuehe leading a group of followers toward the street.
"Your mom is really something, saying she'd treat others to popsicles, but I bet she's the one who wants them the most."
"Ah!" Lin Ting, who had just learned to sit, only lasted half a minute before swaying and falling onto the pillow, laughing to herself.
"Your smile is exactly like your mother's, and you'll love to eat too." Jiang Guiying smiled and helped her sit up, then muttered, "It's good that you love to eat; being able to eat is a blessing... Oh dear! Why is she spitting up milk?"
Also in July, several childhood friends gathered at Guan Yuehe's house. Ding Xuewen had paid off all his debts and started making arrangements to buy big items for his home, asking them to help him exchange tickets.
He also mentioned to them when repaying the money that he had started dating someone.
The issue is that the wedding arrangements can't be finalized anytime soon.
Guan Yuehe and the others thought he would keep them in suspense and surprise them by suddenly bringing the person over for the next meal.
"You've struck a deal? Who introduced you?"
The others looked at each other, none of them had any clue, and they all felt that none of the introductions they had asked their friends to make had worked out.
Unexpectedly, Ding Xuewen confessed very thoroughly.
"She's a junior classmate of Yuehe, named Ye Zhiqiu. We met when we were working on tour guide groups." All in all, we've known each other for several years.
"This matchmaker's money has fallen into Yuehe's pocket."
But Guan Yuehe shook her head, "I didn't introduce you!"
She never intended to introduce Ye Zhi Qiu and Ding Xue Wen as a couple. But then again, it was indeed because of her that they met, and she would readily accept the matchmaker's fee.
"You negotiated it yourself?"
Once they got confirmation, they immediately bombarded him with a barrage of questions: "How did you pursue her? When did it work out? You already know such a suitable woman, why did you ask us to help introduce you?"
"Exactly! So you already had your own goals, and you made us go through all this trouble. Count how many spring outings you've had this year. You're treating us to a meal today."
Guan Yuehe quickly said, "It won't work today. I'll ask you another day."
Everyone assumed she was worried about Lin Ting at home, so they didn't insist on going today.
Realizing he was in the wrong, Ding Xuewen immediately raised his hands in surrender, "My treat. Shall we go to Uncle Ming's small restaurant or the state-run restaurant?"
"Don't change the subject!" Lin Sitian stared at him. Chen Lizhong and Xu Cheng pressed him down onto the chair. Guan Yuehe said, "Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely!"
Ding Xuewen's fingers began to twist and turn.
“We both worked as tour guides on Sundays before. I went on spring outings for the whole month of April. She asked me what I was busy with, and then said that she didn’t have a boyfriend either. I said, ‘Why don’t we give it a try?’... and that’s how we got together.”
Of course, the process is not that simple.
Lin Sitian and the others clicked their tongues in unison, "The old iron tree has blossomed, and it really makes a difference."
But it's a good thing that Ding Xuewen's personal life has been resolved. At least they no longer have to worry about who to ask to introduce them to female comrades.
Just a few minutes into her pleasant conversation, Guan Yuehe suddenly remembered a crucial question: "Are you ten years older than Zhi Qiu, or a few years older?"
When Ding Xuewen asked them to introduce him to potential partners, she thought of introducing him to her classmates or friends.
I looked through all the unmarried men, and none of them were suitable. Either they were already in relationships, or there was too much of an age gap, which wasn't a good match.
Chen Lizhong gasped. He knew Ye Zhiqi, but he thought that there shouldn't be a ten-year age difference, right?
Sure enough, Ding Xuewen blushed with anger and hurriedly explained, "Seven years older, not as much as ten years!"
"She also spent three years in the countryside, and returned to the city in 1976 through a succession program. Later, she went to university."
It turns out that Ye Zhi Qiu had been a sent-down youth in the countryside, which explains why he and Ding Xue Wen could chat so well.
Oh right, these two have both graduated and been assigned jobs. On their days off, they still work as tour guides for foreigners to earn money. They're definitely like-minded when it comes to making money.
"Excellent, excellent! Not only do they have the same level of education, but they also love learning and share common ideals and pursuits. They're a perfect match!" Guan Yuehe gave a thumbs up.
"They're a perfect match!" the others chimed in.
Ding Xuewen's lips curled up repeatedly.
When will you and Comrade Ye Zhi Qiu treat us to a meal?
"I'll ask her about the time." Every time Ding Xuewen mentioned Ye Zhi Qiu, he wanted to laugh, but he always felt a little shy, and the others teased him and made him laugh several times.
"Seven years older... What did Zhi Qiu's family say?"
“She just started dating, and she only told her family this week.” Ding Xuewen finished speaking and looked at Guan Yuehe with a complicated expression. “To be honest, Brother Yiku doesn’t look like he’s only three years older than you.”
The implication is: We're about the same, how dare you laugh at me?
Guan Yuehe snorted, "Now that you have a boyfriend, you think you're all grown up? You even dare to say bad things about Lin Yiku."
"Who can talk as much as you and Sitian?" Xu Chengcai said quietly.
One is Brother Yiku's wife, and the other is Brother Yiku's younger sister from the same parents. They are the two who love to talk badly about Brother Yiku the most.
On the contrary, he and Ding Xuewen, one was afraid of Brother Yiku and the other had never been punished by Brother Yiku, so they almost never said anything bad about him.
Chen Lizhong laughed heartily, "It's alright, my brother isn't here today."
In the afternoon, just as they were returning to their respective homes, Lin Yiku took a military vehicle home.
"How are you? Are you feeling unwell?"
As they had agreed beforehand, he would take the time to have the tubal ligation surgery when Lin Ting was a little older.
"No." Lin Yiku directly covered her eyes with his hand. She kept looking down at his crotch as she asked the question. It was too strange.
Trapped in the small wooden bed, Lin Ting reached out to hug Lin Yiku as soon as she saw him, tilting her head high so that only two of her three chins remained.
Guan Yuehe casually stuffed the plush toy on the sofa into Lin Ting's arms so she could hold it, saying, "Your dad can't hold you, we'll talk about it in a few days."
Although Lin Ting is only six months old, she moves her arms and legs with surprising strength. What if she kicks Lin Yiku and hurts her...? "I'll hold her."
Lin Ting didn't need anyone to hold her. Now that she was being held, she was so happy that she kicked her legs and stared at the door with her round eyes. Her desire to go out and play was very obvious.
"Don't stand up, go lie down on the kang and rest. Second brother brought over an old hen, we'll make chicken soup tonight, and we'll try to recover during this time."
Lin Yiku reminded her that he wasn't in postpartum confinement and didn't need to go through all this trouble.
How can this be considered a hassle?
“Surgery is no small matter, it needs to be repaired.” Guan Yuehe wouldn’t let him get involved, and she sent him inside to lie down, emphasizing that he was not allowed to do any heavy work for the next few days. Only then did she take the restless Lin Ting out for a walk.
Sitian said that after the surgery, she needs to rest for at least a day or two and can't do any heavy work. The housework won't be affected by a day or two of rest.
—
"Yuehe, I just saw Yiku come back in a car. Did they remove the 'deputy' title and give him a private car?"
This is a huge misunderstanding!
"I came back in the leader's car, it was on the way."
"Shouldn't the phrase 'remembering the bitter past' be removed?" the neighbor persisted, unwilling to give up.
Lin Yi has been back from his difficult transfer for several years now, and everyone is eager to see how high he can climb. It's rumored that if he gets stuck at this position and can't advance further, he'll have to retire when he reaches the required age.
"You should ask his supervisor about this. I'm not his supervisor, so who am I supposed to ask?"
It was clear that Guan Yuehe had run out of patience to talk about this, so no one continued to ask.
Fortunately, there are plenty of gossips in Ginkgo Hutong. Even if we don't talk about Lin Yiku, there are plenty of things to chat about.
Take Luo Guifang's family as an example.
"Oh dear, all the factory leaders want to introduce Baoyu to potential partners. Guifang must be spoiled for choice."
After graduating, Zhou Baoyu went to work at the workers' hospital of the car factory. Zhou Baoan graduated from technical school in July and was assigned to the car factory, working as a welder under Zhou Hongqi. Zhou Baoning, who took the college entrance examination, was widely recognized as the most promising student from Yinxing Hutong to get into university this year.
There's also Zhou Hongqi, who became an eighth-level welder.
"As soon as Zhou Hongqi passed the Level 8 exam, Engineer Zhao applied for retirement from the factory. Now Zhou Hongqi is the only Level 8 welder in the factory."
"What about her housing? Shouldn't the factory allocate her a small villa? Her house needs to be vacated and redistributed."
Guan Yuehe's alarm bells rang loudly. She liked Sister Hongqi as her next-door neighbor, and if she had to find a new neighbor, she would have to worry about getting along with someone difficult.
Aunt Hu scoffed, "Come on, I asked Jin Junwei, and Yuanbao refuses to move. The couple said they'll continue living here in the alley."
"They let a child make the decisions in their family?"
"It's not unusual to have only one child."
Guan Yuehe was satisfied. She carried Lin Ting for a walk to the supply and marketing cooperative, bought a cream ice cream, and specially treated Yuanbao to it.
Yuanbao was even more satisfied: She knew it, living in Ginkgo Hutong was still the best!
Just as she was about to thank him, she looked up and saw Lin Ting staring intently at the ice cream in her hand, drooling.
"You can't finish this. Let's go home and cook. Your dad and I will have big chicken legs tonight."
Author's Note: I'm a newbie, happy National Day everyone!
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