Qi Siling calculated the cost in his mind. They couldn't transport it with an empty truck. It would just be a side job, and there would also be the risk of overloading.
If I make a trip like this, carrying 500 kilograms, I can make 60 yuan after deducting the cost of the grain. Excluding the cost of the oil, can I split 25 yuan between two people? About right. It's a sure-win business. Overloading isn't that risky. Just go slower and safer, and the trip will be worth it.
After exchanging a glance with Xiao Hai, both of them had made up their minds and nodded in agreement to the cooperation.
"Okay. Well, we happen to be going on a trip the day after tomorrow. Why don't we meet up at your temporary house?"
Cao An nodded and said, "Please call me one morning before you come. I will report to the bureau first in the morning before going to the fields."
That's the deal. Xia Youyou was bored watching them talk, but she had nothing to do. Now that the cooperation was finally discussed, she stood up.
"Okay, let's go look at the house."
She couldn't wait any longer. She had slept soundly last night, and now that she was feeling refreshed, she wanted to rush out.
The bicycles that Qi Siling and Xiao Hai rode came in handy. Cao An carried Xia Youyou, and Qi Siling carried Xiao Hai, and they set off for Shichahai together.
Xia Youyou sat in the back seat, her whole body blocked by Cao An. The wind blew past his side, perfectly avoiding Xia Youyou, which made her hum a little tune happily, her two short legs still dangling on the back seat.
Cao An steadied the front of the car and said, "Don't shake it. The road is unstable. You might fall down."
"Is it the road that's unstable or your riding skills that are bad? Don't blame the road for your unstable riding!"
Cao An's back teeth were about to break because this girl was always so out of tune.
Qi Siling was leading the way in front and couldn't see the two of them, but when she heard Xia Youyou being so naughty, she curled her lips and smiled.
"Sister Youyou, your brother is so big, how can you question him!" He envied Cao An's physique so much, he was so strong and fierce. How long would it take him to be half as strong as him?
"Brother Cao, how did you get such a good figure? Teach me!" Xiao Hai asked shamelessly.
"It's my genetics. My dad was a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple. He made me practice boxing when I was little, so it just came naturally. I didn't practice it on purpose." Cao An saw that he was about 1.85 meters tall, just a little thin. "Eat more beef, chicken, and fish; they build muscle. You can also lift rocks to increase muscle strength."
Cao An glanced at Qi Siling who was riding a bicycle in front of him. This guy had nice muscles. Although he was not as strong as he looked, he would not look bad if he took off his clothes. At least he was much stronger than Xiao Hai.
Xia Youyou listened to them talking with her head shaking, and then interrupted, "What do you need such big muscles for? You can't eat them." They were so hard that he was afraid of hurting his teeth if he bit them!
Her body suddenly rushed forward because Cao An braked suddenly. Xia Youyou was caught off guard and bumped into his back.
"Ah! Brother~ What are you doing! Do you know how hard your muscles are!"
"Isn't this going to come in handy?" He put his feet back on the pedals and the bike rushed out again.
Xia Youyou calmed herself down before remembering what he meant. She punched him hard on the back, then shook him off in frustration!
So muscles are used to bully people! Especially to bully her!
Xiao Hai saw it all clearly in the back seat and laughed so hard he couldn't breathe, "Hahaha! Youyou, you're so funny!"
Qi Siling also smiled with her lips pursed and her shoulders were shaking.
"Hmph! Just wait! I'll tell Mom when we get back! Don't worry, I definitely won't help you hold the spatula this time!"
Cao An raised his eyebrows and said, we can talk about it when we get back. Now we have to bully him to his heart's content first!
After arriving at Shichahai, they pushed the cart and walked. Xia Youyou looked at the lake-like surface and asked a question.
"Why is it called Shichahai? Isn't this a lake?"
Qi Siling lived here when he was a child. His grandfather told him about this, so he took the initiative to explain it.
"Shichahai comprises the Front Sea, Back Sea, and West Sea. Surrounding it are ten Buddhist temples. Ten is called Shi, and Buddhist temples are called Cha. Since there's no sea in the capital, it's called Shichahai. It's behind Zijing City and was once a popular destination for royalty and nobles. In winter, the lake freezes over, and many people come here to play on the ice."
"Ice playing? What is this?" A little curiosity from the future.
Xiao Hai answered quickly. "It's ice skating. I'll bring you here when I have the chance!"
Xia Youyou really wanted to ask what ice skating was, but she knew she'd talk too much and make mistakes, so she kept her mouth shut. She'd find out what ice skating was all about later!
"This was the former Prince Gong's Mansion."
After Qi Siling's introduction, Xia Youyou saw the two majestic stone lions in front of the door, and the door was still mottled. I guess the stone lions couldn't have expected such a prosperous place to have such a depressed side.
After walking a bit, he said, "The house in front is my old house. It's been abandoned for so many years." He pointed to a door across the street that was just as dilapidated as his old house. "This is the house mentioned on the deed."
Only then did Xia Youyou understand what he meant by the place not far from his home.
Not far indeed!
"Go southeast, and you'll find Qianhai over there. It's quite a beautiful view."
After listening to his introduction, Xia Youyou couldn't help but want to go in and take a look.
"Can I come in?"
Qi Siling looked at her confused eyes, and curled the corners of his lips. "I can take you to our old house to have a look. I don't have the key."
"Want to go?"
Xia Youyou lowered her head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Cao An, "Let's go and take a look." She had something else to ask him.
Qi Siling took the key chain from her waist, walked to the door of the old house and opened the worn copper lock.
The dilapidated wooden door creaked, as if a box that had been sealed for many years was opened, waiting for people to explore.
After they entered the courtyard, Cao An and Xia Youyou looked around.
"Come and sit here." Qi Siling led a few people into the main room, took out a handkerchief and began to wipe the chairs.
Xia Youyou looked at him curiously. Didn't they say that during the past sports, all these good woods were smashed and used as firewood? Why didn't their house have any wood smashed?
Qi Siling knew she was curious. "My grandfather donated his belongings before the movement, so this place is where he lives. But he didn't dare live here anymore, so he locked the door and moved with me to a farm in the suburbs of Beijing."
"What about the one across the street? Do you know what's going on?"
"I had dealings with that family when I was little. He was a kind old man, but his family was implicated because of their son, and the whole family was sent down to the countryside. They must have been confiscated!" They were implicated because of my grandmother's family. It was my grandfather who made the decision and donated the things as soon as he found something wrong, thus avoiding a disaster.
"Then did you hear that his family had a baby that was sent abroad?"
"No, I was young at that time. You should ask my grandfather about this."
Xia Youyou fell silent after asking this question.
Cao An placed his hand on her head for support. "Do you know if we take the deed to the Housing Authority now, will we be able to live in this house? Not necessarily now, but later, when the situation improves."
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