145 storefronts
A few days later, Chen Lizhong returned from his business trip, and Lin Sitian went back to her new home.
But afterwards, whenever they both left work on time, they would either go to Chen Lizhong's house or have dinner in Ginkgo Hutong.
At first, Aunt Fang was happy, saying that her daughter still came home even after getting married, just like before. But today she couldn't help but complain, "You two coming back every day is really a hassle."
Lin Sitian chuckled, "Did I interrupt your and Dad's trip to the movies tonight?"
"Get up, get up, I'll go cook for you." She was just looking disgusted, but then she turned around and went to the cupboard to see if there was any meat left in the house.
"Mom, I'll help you." Chen Lizhong followed behind Aunt Fang with a smile.
Guan Yuehe brought over some fruit and saw them again. She said, "You only come back five days a week. Why don't you just stay at home? It'll save you the trouble of traveling back and forth."
I have to ride my bike home at night, and then I can take the bus from the car factory to work in the morning.
Lin Sitian shook her head, leaned closer and whispered to her, "It's inconvenient to do things at home."
Guan Yuehe: "......"
I understand.
However, the food at home tasted better than the factory canteen. Lin Sitian and Chen Lizhong's cooking skills were just so-so. After cooking at home a few times, they finally decided to give up practicing their cooking skills. They figured they might as well spend that time visiting home more often.
Guan Yuehe delivered half of the fruit to this house and took the other half to her parents' house next door.
Jiang Guiying ordered Guan Aiguo to deliver fish and meat to the neighbor next door, and said to her, "Don't be fooled by Lao Fang's complaints that Sitian is always coming home and it's annoying. In the first half month after Sitian got married, she sighed a lot at home."
After her son and daughter got married, neither of them lived at home. At least her son lived nearby, just a few steps away, but her daughter lived far away, and Aunt Fang couldn't adjust to it for a while.
Now things are much better. Lin Sitian and Chen Lizhong come home for dinner every few days, and the sighing has stopped.
"After a few years, Old Lin will retire, and things will probably be fine then."
Grandpa Lin is not yet of retirement age; he still has several years to go.
But Guan Yuehe didn't forget about her family.
"My dad's barbershop still hasn't found a suitable location?"
Jiang Guiying told her to keep her voice down, "There's a large storefront that was returned to someone who had been exonerated and returned to the city. Your father and your Uncle Ming are discussing taking it over together and splitting the storefront. They're still negotiating the price, so we can't let the people in the alley know about it."
I'm afraid someone might also want to take over a storefront and start a small business.
Many people outside look down on street vendors and small business owners, but it's different in Ginkgo Hutong. Everyone has watched Sunflower Seed King gradually become the biggest business in the hutong. Face isn't valuable; what matters is the large appliances you can get in return.
"What about you and Fang's mom? You've been saying for a while that you wanted to find something to do, but now you're not thinking about it anymore?"
Jiang Guiying smiled meaningfully, "I've already thought it through. Once your second brother has discussed it with the family, we'll be his salespeople in the city."
"ah?"
“The storefront your dad and the others are looking at is big enough. You and your Uncle Ming can each take half. Your dad’s barbershop doesn’t need to be too big. I’ll partition off a small room to sell some agricultural products.”
They also thought that if Yuehe and Sitian had children in the next two years, they would definitely need to help them.
With a storefront there, they can do some work to pass the time, and the children won't have to worry about being exposed to the elements while staying in the shop.
Guan Yuehe was unaware of their deep thoughts and simply reminded her not to forget to get the necessary permits from the Industry and Commerce Bureau.
Suddenly, Aunt Xie came running back excitedly from outside, shouting "Oh my!" When she saw Jiang Guiying and the others coming out to see what was going on, she called them to hurry to the alley entrance.
"The Wang couple, who own melon seeds, are back from Guangzhou. They brought back a lot of clothes, toys, and stationery. You should go check them out; you can get a discount if you buy them now!"
After saying that, Aunt Xie excitedly ran home to get the money.
A moment later, Tingting was the first to grab the money and rush out.
Jiang Guiying called out to Aunt Fang, and Lin Sitian also called out to Guan Yuehe, "Let's go, let's go see the excitement!"
—
Half of the big gossip in Ginkgo Hutong this May was created by the Guaziwang family.
The couple, known as "Guazi Wang" (a nickname for a famous melon seed seller), made a long trip to Guangzhou and brought back a truckload of goods. Of course, they didn't transport them to Ginkgo Hutong.
But the people in the alley were well-informed and knew that the couple, along with their youngest son who hadn't been assigned jobs, had split up into three groups: setting up a clothes stall in the morning, selling stationery and toys near the school in the afternoon, and selling melon seeds outside the movie theater in the evening...
Everyone in the alley was staring at their house, eager to know how much money their business could make.
Some people have already taken action, going to the local street office to get letters of introduction, determined to make a trip to Guangzhou to bring back goods and make a big splash.
In mid-May, the city newspaper suggested that some "mom-and-pop shops" could be set up to sell daily necessities, snacks, and provide services such as cleaning and mending, in order to solve the problem of difficulty in buying clothes, food, and other necessities and make life more convenient for the masses. The neighbors who were already setting up stalls had even more ideas.
The Guazi Wang couple acted the fastest, quickly renting a storefront in Changhu Street and opening the first private grocery store in the area, named Guazi Wang Grocery Store.
The general store sells a variety of small items, but the most popular items are the stationery and toys they bring back from Guangzhou, making it a favorite spot for children in the area.
Even the Xinhua Bookstore, Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and Department Store on Changhu Street are ranked behind it.
When Guan Yuehe and Li Xuelian were leaving get off work together, Li Xuelian specifically mentioned the melon seed king general store.
"The stationery and toys from their family are all the rage at the coal mine workers' children's school now. My kids have been pestering me for days to take them to buy some. I'm off tomorrow, so I'm going to go and see just how appealing they are!"
Guan Yuehe recalled the stationery and toys she brought back from Guangzhou, "They were indeed very attractive."
She's an adult, yet she still kept a set of stationery for herself at home. If she had such nice stationery when she was little, wouldn't she have loved math class?
When I returned to the entrance of the alley, I saw elderly people and a group of children gathered in a circle.
I wonder what new things will happen this time.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the group of people were looking at a brand-new motorcycle.
"Who bought this car? It's not the Wang family from Guazi again, is it?"
Even if the Wang family bought a car now, Guan Yuehe wouldn't find it strange.
Two days ago, Gu Mannian bought a toy for Gu Yu from a general store, which cost three yuan. She remembered that when she picked out toys in Guangzhou, the retail price of those toys was only one yuan. If you bought a lot, the price would definitely be lowered.
With this back-and-forth, the price difference can multiply several times, so it's only a matter of time before they buy a car.
But Guan Yuehe guessed wrong this time.
“Song Gong’an rode it back; the police station provided him with the bike.”
This car looks pretty impressive.
Police Officer Song hurriedly ran out, looking helpless as his neighbors asked to borrow his car. "This is an official vehicle! It can't be used for personal purposes. I was running errands nearby and just stopped by to pick up some things. Even if this car were mine, I can't lend it out. Have you taken your driving test? You can't drive without a license. Okay, everyone."
Seeing that Guan Yuehe was still staring intently at the car, Officer Song added, "Vehicle purchase receipts are all assigned to work units. Even if a private individual wants to buy a car, it has to be registered with their work unit; otherwise, it can't be registered. Gasoline receipts also have to be issued by the work unit..."
Guan Yuehe realized he was talking to her, so she quickly waved her hand and said, "I was just looking around."
The company has official vehicles, and we can apply for a car to go to meetings in places further away from the city or in the surrounding urban areas.
Should I buy one myself? Not necessary for now. The bike is just enough for her to get some exercise when she goes out in the morning.
But this car, while it certainly looks impressive, is so noisy!
The elderly men and women in the alley said happily, "Just wait, in a few years we'll definitely be able to buy one too."
Guan Yuehe thought so too.
Twenty years ago, bicycles were still a rare and expensive item. Around the 1970s, even working-class families in the city could afford one if they gritted their teeth. Now, bicycles are no longer a rarity.
Motorcycles today are like bicycles from twenty years ago.
With industrial levels rising steadily over the past two years, it shouldn't take more than twenty years for motorcycles to become commonplace in ordinary workers' homes.
As soon as Guan Yuehe entered Courtyard No. 1, she heard Gu Yu's voice from the house across the street.
Ever since the Wang family opened a general store on Changhu Street, Guyu would go to her grandmother every noon to beg her to pick her up in the afternoon and take her back to Yinxing Hutong. Then, on her way home from school, she would take a detour to the general store to look at it for a while.
After returning from the visit, Guyu went straight to play with the older children.
Guan Yuehe was envious of their lifestyle.
After putting away her briefcase, Guan Yuehe invited Gu Yu to come back to Courtyard No. 3 for dinner.
There's a happy occasion in my family today.
Before even stepping into the house, I could smell a wonderful aroma.
Lin Yiku, who was resting at home today, was already at No. 3 Courtyard. When they arrived, he was just putting the last dish on the table.
Not only did Grandpa Lin and Grandma Fang come, but Grandpa Ming and his family were also there. Grandpa Ming was the chef today.
As they greeted each other and sat down, Gu Mannian brought back half a case of soda to share with everyone.
After haggling for half a month, Guan Canghai and Grandpa Ming finally managed to buy the large storefront they had their eye on.
After that, I went to [redacted] to repaint and rebuild the walls. The property rights were divided in two, but there were actually three storefronts. After working for half a month, I finally got everything ready before June. Tomorrow, Sunday, all three storefronts will open together.
Nobody intended to make a big fuss; a few families getting together for a meal was enough to celebrate.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"Business is booming, and customers are coming in droves!" Grandpa Ming didn't like any fancy talk, so he picked up his chopsticks first. "Eat! This is my specialty. I've never made it even when I was the head chef at the small canteen. You're in for a treat today."
Since that's the case, Guan Yuehe didn't stand on ceremony. She quickly picked up a piece for herself and then picked up a piece for Lin Yiku.
They were so engrossed in eating that they nodded in agreement, not having time to praise Grandpa Ming's culinary skills as unparalleled.
"Let's have a little drink today." Guan Canghai happily took out a bottle of good wine, which he had traded with his old friends who went fishing together. He usually couldn't bear to drink it.
Jiang Guiying was in a good mood today, and there were many outsiders in the house, so she didn't stop him.
Guan Canghai didn't ask Guan Aiguo for help, and personally poured wine for each person. When he got close to Guan Yuehe, he said, "This wine is good, you should try it."
Guan Yuehe covered her cup with her hand, refusing. This surprised Guan Canghai greatly; this little drunkard actually had a time when she refused to drink good wine?
"Oh dear, I've been so busy lately, drinking might cause problems. I'll drink with you next time." Guan Yuehe used work as a shield; she couldn't very well say in front of everyone, "I'm planning to have a baby, so I can't drink..." That would be too embarrassing.
Lin Yiku also refused, saying that the army had heavy tasks recently.
The elders didn't think anything of it, after all, their work really couldn't be delayed at all, so no one continued to try to persuade them.
Gu Mannian smiled knowingly and glanced at the little radish head Gu Yu next to him.
Oh dear, their Guyu is about to become a big sister.
"Dad, give me a piece of meat."
Jiang Guiying picked up a piece for her and said, "Eat more so you can grow faster."
Guan Yuehe suddenly realized that she had eaten a bit too much today, and immediately started praising Grandpa Ming's cooking skills.
—
After the meal, Gu Mannian took the opportunity to ask Guan Yuehe, "Did Mom and Dad have enough money to buy that half of the storefront?"
Even if the location of that storefront isn't great, the price can't be that low.
Besides buying half a storefront, he also bought a used hair perming machine, which he helped him find. Even though it had been used for more than three years, it still cost him two hundred yuan to buy it back.
Guan Yuehe raised her chin at Guan Aiguo, "I don't know how much it cost in total. He paid part of the money, and my parents paid the majority."
Since the family started to "divide the household" and each managed their own salary, Guan Canghai and Jiang Guiying have been able to save more money. Over the years, they have definitely saved up at least three thousand yuan.
Guan Aiguo, despite his short tenure, works at a barbershop where perming is particularly lucrative, earning him substantial monthly bonuses. With a little effort, he should be able to scrape together a few hundred yuan.
Although Guan Aiguo contributed some money, it was agreed beforehand that he would live at home, and the house would be a bargain for him. The money he contributed would be considered as compensation to his family. As for how the shop would be divided in the future, that would be entirely up to his parents.
Guan Yuehe had no particular opinion; whether her parents or children had something, it was not as good as having it herself.
She only cares about what she has. If she wanted a storefront, she could save up and buy one.
"Why are you looking at me?" Guan Aiguo was watching TV and grinning foolishly when he suddenly noticed that his brother-in-law and second sister were staring at him, which was rather creepy.
He racked his brains but couldn't recall doing anything wrong recently.
"I don't like you at all," Guan Yuehe said disdainfully. "Sit up straight and talk to me."
He's hunched over and looks like he deserves a beating.
Guan Aiguo stood up straight, exclaiming, "This is the most fashionable outfit I'm wearing right now!"
After saying that, he muttered to himself, "You public officials can't dress up however you want, but you can't control how I dress either, can you? Our factory leaders don't care."
The next second, Jiang Guiying came out of the room, baring her teeth and letting out a long, loud snort, "You're such a sleazy person! Look at any office worker, who acts like you?"
A flashy shirt, baggy pants that drag on the ground, shiny leather shoes, and that messy, permed hair.
That's all I'll leave out.
Most importantly, he wears sunglasses when watching TV at home.
Jiang Guiying felt a pain in her eyes just looking at him, and reached out to rip his glasses off. "Only fortune tellers under the overpass wear these things. I think you've damaged your head by perming your hair!"
"Everyone who gets their hair permed at the hair salon does it this way. It's fashionable. You wouldn't understand."
Guan Aiguo was very satisfied with his outfit and said to Gu Mannian, "Brother-in-law, I learned this from my eldest sister. When she was young, she loved fashion even more than I did."
Now at least we can buy clothes without ration coupons, and our wages are higher than before. Back then, his older sister would spend her first paycheck on new clothes and shoes. She was the prettiest girl in the whole Ginkgo Alley, but also the biggest spender who couldn't save any money.
What do you mean by "when his older sister was young"? Is his older sister old now?
Gu Mannian had initially supported him, thinking that it was normal for young people to care about their appearance. But after he said that, Gu Mannian also joined forces with his mother-in-law.
"Exactly! He looks like a sleazy bum! He doesn't look respectable at all!"
Gu Yu had already secretly taken the black glasses from her grandmother's hand and put them on herself, feeling that she had become a fashionable person like her uncle.
Guan Yuehe clicked her tongue. Gu Yu had inherited her vanity perfectly.
Author's Note: [Cat's paw]
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