"Sister! You're back!"
Liu Bowen, who was already in high school, came back from outside on his bicycle and saw his sister and grandfather sitting on the sofa in the living room chatting.
He took a bottle of soda from the refrigerator and sat over. "That's great. I want to tell you something."
"Don't always drink something so cold when you get home." Liu Meiyu couldn't help but mutter when she saw it.
The refrigerator and washing machine were purchased by her for the family two months ago. At that time, home appliances were in great demand and could only be purchased with foreign exchange coupons. Her grandfather happened to have these things, so Liu Meiyu bought them all at once. She also replaced the old fans with two new ones and moved the antique ones that squeaked for a long time when they were turned into Dabao's room.
In the end, we bought it back. The refrigerator is convenient for Bowen and Dabao to freeze soda and popsicles.
"Sister, I made it to the finals in the math competition, and the teacher said we have to have intensive training for half a month during the winter vacation." Liu Bowen automatically ignored his sister's nagging, opened the bottle of soda, and drank most of it in two gulps.
"Then I won't go back to Shanghai during the holidays. I'll call my parents and tell them."
Because Liu Bowen's household registration was still in her and Lu Changzheng's household registration book, they were attending high school in Beijing at the time. She thought she could just return to Shanghai for college entrance examination. It would only be two or three years anyway. High school at that time was still a two-year system. Liu Bowen just entered the first year of high school this year. After finishing the second year of high school next year, she could immediately take part in the 1981 college entrance examination.
However, although he is studying in Beijing, he still takes the train back to Shanghai during the winter and summer vacations every year. Last year, Liu Meiyun even brought the three brothers Dabao back with him.
Liu Yongnian has now resumed her job as a mathematics teacher at Shanghai Normal University, and her family has moved back to the original staff dormitory compound. Her father's old friend, Vice President Zhang, is now the president of Shanghai Normal University, and he has also obtained a marriage certificate with the widow Wang who was with her on the farm.
"Sister, I'm going to play basketball now. I also have an appointment with my classmates. Goodbye, Grandpa!" Liu Bowen was even busier than Liu Meiyu. He just sat down and didn't say a few words before he changed his shoes and ran out.
Since entering high school, Liu Bowen has grown rapidly, and with his good genes, he can now attract the attention of young girls when he goes out on the street.
Having such a handsome and smart brother, Liu Meiyu feels relieved and proud.
Every time there was a parent-teacher meeting for Bowen at school, she, Lu Wanjun, and her grandfather would usually rush to attend, because all they had to do was sit there and wait to be asked questions humbly.
It's a headache to hold parent-teacher meetings for the three brothers. Dabao is a little better as he doesn't have to worry about his studies. But there are always parents of female classmates who come to me and complain about how Dabao is so cold to girls, how he ignores them, and how he makes the girls cry, and so on.
Erbao is the complete opposite of his brother. When parents come to talk to him, they always say that it is good for children to play together and that the two families can visit each other more often.
As for Xiaobao, no parents came to look for him, but the teacher did. He said that the child was curious about everything in school, but he didn't pay much attention to studying.
It was not known whether the three brothers had discussed it beforehand or not, but they sat firmly on the three thrones in the middle and lower reaches.
"Mom, you're back!"
Liu Meiyu was having a headache when her three sons came back with their mother. Xiaobao howled loudly, and the teacup in the old man's hand shook, and he was so scared that he stood up.
Looking again, she saw that the three brothers were all carrying vegetables for Mother Wu. Liu Meiyu felt relieved, at least they were sensible.
I just felt relieved when I saw Lu Erbao helping Wu Ma put the dishes in the kitchen. Then he spread his hands and said, "Grandma, 2 cents per person."
"Okay, okay, grandma will give it to you." Mother Wu happily gave each of the three brothers 2 cents from the small purse that Liu Meiyu had sewed for her.
Liu Meiyun: "..."
This is not the end.
Erbao put the money back into his pocket and stared at his grandfather again.
The old man has the habit of taking a nap at noon. He just talked with Liu Meiyu for a long time and now he is sleepy. Although he woke up with Xiaobao's shout, his eyelids were still drooping uncomfortably.
Erbao: "Grandpa, it's time for you to take a nap! I'll fan you!"
"Fan it~" The old man raised his eyelids and lay down on the sofa cooperatively, apparently he was used to it.
"Erbao, isn't there a fan?" Liu Meiyu frowned, not knowing what her second son was up to again.
"Mom, it's not good to use the fan too much." Lu Erbao blinked, turned around and unplugged the fan, then "thoughtfully" created human-powered wind for his grandfather.
"Auntie Wu, what are Erbao and the others doing now?" Liu Meiyu went to the kitchen to help Auntie Wu prepare dinner, and glanced towards the living room out of concern.
The three brothers gathered around the old man and took turns fanning him, like a wall. All the natural wind was blocked, and it was obviously not as comfortable as using an electric fan.
"Erbao takes care of Dabao and Xiaobao to earn money. Every day he finds work to do at home, such as fanning, rubbing the old man's back and legs. That costs money, 0.1 cent a day, and running errands is charged separately. If you subscribe to a monthly subscription, you will get three free errands."
The old man was so generous that he directly offered a year-round service!
“…”
After hearing this, Liu Meiyu's mouth twitched.
I feel that I have only been away from home for a few days, and these three boys are doing whatever they want.
I have to start charging money for doing some work for the elders at home. In order to earn that little money, I don't even let the old man use the fan, and I sweat all over when I sleep.
Seeing that Liu Meiyun seemed a little angry, Wu's mother hurriedly spoke well of Erbao and the others, "Don't underestimate Erbao because he is young. He has many ideas. Grandpa said he is even smarter than Changzheng when he was a child. Didn't you forbid the family to give him extra pocket money? He has found ways to make money. Not only does he help with housework, but he also takes Dabao and Xiaobao to the compound to collect junk and sell them at the scrap collection station. He can make a few cents at a time. He is quite resourceful."
Whenever talking about Dabao, Mother Wu always has endless things to say and the smile on her face never fades.
Dabao and his brothers are truly the most lovable children she has ever met. They are full of energy every day and are not satisfied with playing outside all day, and they cannot stay idle when they get home. Sometimes, when they are used to the hustle and bustle, the house becomes quiet once the three brothers go to school, and she and her grandfather still find it a little difficult to adjust.
“…”
Well, Aunt Wu and Grandpa are the ones who are most accustomed to triplets in the family. Liu Meiyu doesn't expect to be corrected by them, so she just waits until night when she returns to the room.
After taking a shower, the three brothers couldn't wait to lie on the bed in their shorts. They turned on the creaking electric fan, showing their bulging bellies, and urged Liu Meiyun: "Mom, hurry up, we can tell stories in a few days."
The three brothers have loved listening to Liu Meiyun's storytelling since they were young, and this habit has not changed over the years.
But now I have fewer opportunities to listen to it. I can only listen to it when Liu Meiyu goes home for vacation.
Moreover, the stories told by Cyndi Lau are not one-off ones, but very long ones that can whet people's appetite, such as the story of a prince from the dwarf kingdom who gets forest magic, puts on clothes made of tree bark and turns into a giant, and then goes to the giant kingdom to look for the treasure key.
Of course, this was Liu Meiyun's fabrication, but the three brothers were fascinated by it. They had just heard the key points last time, and now they were anxiously waiting for the half-hour evening story.
However, Liu Meiyun had no intention of telling them any stories today. She just turned down the fan a little, reminded them not to blow it towards their heads and stomachs, and prepared to leave.
"Mom, why don't you tell me a story today?" When Dabao saw that his mother was about to leave, he immediately jumped out of bed and blocked the door.
Erbao and Xiaobao also refused to give in.
"Hmm..." Liu Meiyu pretended to think for a few seconds and said, "From now on, you will have to pay to listen to stories."
"Ah?" Xiaobao didn't understand.
Liu Meiyun patiently explained to them: "If you want to listen to stories in the future, you have to pay. If you don't pay, mom won't tell you."
"Why?" Xiaobao still didn't understand.
Erbao was also anxious: "Mom, why do you charge a fee? Haven't you been telling us this all along?"
Liu Meiyun asked back: "You can charge for doing housework at home, so why can't mom charge for telling stories? I didn't charge before because you were still young. Now you can earn money, so of course I have to charge."
"Mom, it's not good for you to do this." Dabao pulled his mother's sleeve, feeling a little disappointed.
The three brothers had almost the same expression at this time.
"Why is it bad?" Liu Meiyu pretended not to understand, "Isn't this the same as you charging your grandfather for a leg massage?"
This question stumped the three brothers.
What's wrong with it? They can't really put their finger on it, they just feel that talking about money hurts feelings.
"Mom, I know I was wrong! I shouldn't have asked Grandpa for money." Dabao thought about it for a while and quickly realized that Mom was teaching them a lesson!
"Why not?" Liu Meiyu sat on the bed with no expression on her face.
The three brothers were wearing shorts and standing in a row obediently. They all looked timid, especially Lu Erbao, who was too guilty to even look his mother in the eye. After all, it was he who instigated his older and younger brothers to do this idea of making money, and he was afraid that his mother would be angry.
Dabao was not afraid of his mother getting angry. He straightened his chest and answered his mother's question: "Grandpa loves us. We massage his legs and charge him. Grandpa must be sad. Mom, you just made us sad too."
Liu Meiyun: "Then mom will say sorry to you."
Dabao: "Then I will apologize to Grandpa and Grandma Wu tomorrow, return the money to Grandpa, and I won't charge for my work in the future."
Liu Meiyu nodded with satisfaction and turned her gaze to Erbao and Xiaobao.
Xiaobao immediately raised his hand and said, "Mom, I know I was wrong. I will take the initiative to run errands for the family in the future, absolutely for free."
"Then I will definitely not charge you for telling you stories in the future."
Only Lu Erbao was left. Seeing his mother's eyes sweeping over him, he pursed his lips and said, "Mom, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong."
"Why is it wrong?"
"It was my idea. I shouldn't have brought my brothers to earn money for the family. It's my duty to massage the legs of grandpa and his friends." Erbao admitted his mistake with a sincere attitude.
The three brothers were very positive in their attitude of correcting their mistakes. It all depended on their actual actions. Liu Meiyun didn't hold on to any of them. No matter how much verbal education they gave, it would not be as impressive as the actual practice. If that didn't work, there was still stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots waiting for them.
"Erbao, tell me why you want to make money this time?"
The pocket money that Liu Meiyun gave to the three brothers was not small, and it would increase a little every year. Liu Meiyun never cared how they used the money, at most she asked them to keep a record.
She would occasionally look through the account books of the three brothers. The eldest brother basically bought picture books and toys, the second brother bought soda and candy for his classmates, and the youngest brother bought only snacks.
"Zhuzhu's birthday is coming up soon. I want to earn some money to buy her a birthday present, like those butterfly hairpins you buy in stores."
"Who is Zhuzhu?" Liu Meiyun's temples were throbbing with pain. "Isn't Xiaoli your best friend?"
Before, you were flying kites together and buying soda for people, and now you have changed to another one?
"Mom, Xiaoli had a fight with second brother. She asked second brother to copy her homework, but second brother refused to let her. Now they are not friends anymore. Zhuzhu is the friend now." Lu Xiaobao always likes to make a fuss at critical moments and sell out Erbao.
“…”
Dabao was still talking confidently, saying that he could understand his younger brother very well: "It's wrong to copy homework. She can't even do such a simple question. How stupid!"
“…”
After a noisy night, the three brothers still didn't listen to Liu Meiyu's story in the end. They all rushed to tell Liu Meiyu about school things. The more they talked, the more excited they became. In the end, they even started to sabotage each other. The brothers' boat was overturned at any time.
Dabao thinks Xiaobao is stupid. He always takes a long time to understand a topic and forgets it as soon as he starts talking about it. Sometimes it makes people so angry that they want to die.
Xiaobao was jealous because his second brother always took others to play after class, and even gave the last piece of biscuit to Zhuzhu instead of himself, which made him feel awkward.
Erbao felt that Dabao was always losing his temper and yelling at him and Erbao, which made him very unhappy.
The three brothers were dissatisfied with each other, but when Liu Meiyu pretended to let them sleep separately, the three brothers refused. Don't be awkward. Even if they want to fight, they have to squeeze into the same room to fight!
The next day, after waking up from a nap, Liu Meiyun had to rush back to school for class without having breakfast.
The triplets ate their breakfast but, for once, they did not run away right after finishing it. Instead, they took their own dishes to the sink and washed them with great effort. The rest of the people at the table were so shocked that their eyes almost popped out.
He used to be a naughty boy who refused to move unless called and even asked for money. How come he has become so sensible in the blink of an eye?
The old man couldn't help but tease: "Erbao, how much money do you want this time?"
"Grandpa, no money, we will wash the dishes ourselves from now on." Erbao wiped his hands, ran to Grandpa, and apologized sincerely: "Grandpa, I'm sorry, I will massage your legs every day from now on, no money."
Erbao and Xiaobao also followed.
Not only did the three brothers hand over the few dollars they had earned from their family during this period, they also sincerely apologized and reflected on their mistakes, which made their grandfather and mother Wu's eyes red.
"You guys keep this money, it's okay. Doesn't Erbao have to buy gifts for his classmates?" The old man is old now and doesn't want to do anything or take care of anything. He just wants to love and pamper his great-grandchildren. He doesn't know how many more years he can do this, so he can't be strict with the triplets.
This attitude is completely different from the one we used to educate our sons and grandsons.
"Grandpa, we don't want money!" Lu Xiaobao squeezed in front of the grandfather and said, "My second brother wants to take us to pick up rags to make money. Mom said this is okay. When we make money in the future, we will give you pocket money!"
"..." The old man's mouth twitched.
It would be better for them to make money at home.
Some time ago, when the triplets were knocking on doors in the compound, asking people for scraps and broken items, he was too embarrassed to go out for several days, for fear of the sudden concern of those old friends.
Even the soldiers on duty at the gate were curious, why did the triplets from the old leader's family come out to pick up scraps?
As long as they get rich through hard work, Liu Meiyun will definitely support them. This is a good opportunity for them to experience the torture of life.
The three brothers' plan to make money by picking up junk in the late 1970s was bound to fail. It was not like they would be able to sell piles of scrap copper and iron for money 20 years later.
But in life, it’s always good to try more.
The three brothers took a bag of junk that they had collected with great difficulty over the past few days to a scrap collection station, but were only given 3 cents to buy them.
With only 3 cents in his hand, Lu Erbao definitely couldn't buy a beautiful little butterfly hairpin for his good friend. In the end, he pestered his grandfather to hand-carve a little wooden butterfly for him as a birthday present.
After Liu Meiyu returned to school, she continued to study as usual every day.
As for Yao Shunliu, ever since Liu Meiyu said she wanted to open her own clothing store, he has been going to Guangzhou more frequently. Every time he comes back with goods, he sells them directly to others with at least 20 pieces. Soon, he has increased the funds in his hands to more than 40,000 yuan.
What does 40,000 yuan mean at this time? Yao Shunliu didn't dare to publicize it. After all, the recent newspaper reports of a household with a net worth of 10,000 yuan have already caused people to discuss for a long time.
Yao Shunliu never thought that one day he would be worried because he had too much money.
So before the New Year, he followed Liu Meiyu's instructions and looked for houses within the Second Ring Road of Beijing, hoping to quickly exchange his spare money.
After looking around for about a month, she finally found a place that met Liu Meiyu's requirements: the shop was in a good location, the area was large enough, and there were no disputes about the property. However, the price was a bit high, and the buyer asked for $42,000 right away, and wouldn't pay a penny less.
Yao Shunliu was undecided, so he had to let Liu Meiyu come over and take a look. After all, the final decision had to be made by Liu Meiyu herself.
Yao Shunliu thought 42,000 yuan was expensive to buy a shop of considerable size in the second ring road of Beijing, but Liu Meiyun thought it was a bargain.
If we wait 30 years, a shop like this within the Second Ring Road will have to have at least three more zeros at the end, and it may not even be available for purchase.
Liu Meiyu went to see the house. It was located at the junction of two streets. Not far across the street, there was a supply and marketing cooperative that attracted customers. What made her most nervous was that all the houses in this area would be demolished in the future and converted into a famous commercial center.
What's there to hesitate about? Of course I'll buy it!
"42,000. I won't give you a penny less. If you want, you can go and handle the procedure today." The man was skinny and spoke in a hoarse voice. It was obvious that he had not had a good life in the past few years.
"Brother, I'll pay a deposit of 2,000 yuan first, and then I have to go home to get my household registration booklet. Can I trouble you to go with me to complete the formalities?" Liu Meiyu came directly from school, and her household registration booklet was still in the drawer of her room in the military compound.
"Do you really want to buy it?" The man was stunned. He obviously didn't expect Liu Meiyu to be so straightforward.
"Yes, as long as you are sincere in selling it, I will go home to raise money." Liu Meiyu said nonsense.
The man frowned and confirmed with Liu Meiyu again: "42,000, not a cent less."
Liu Meiyu pretended to hesitate for a while, gritted her teeth and nodded, "Okay."
When the man saw Liu Meiyu nod, his expression relaxed and he and Yao Shunliu waited in the store.
Liu Meiyu rode her bicycle home and quickly found her household registration book, then rushed back without stopping.
Liu Meiyu had no choice but to be anxious as she had bought the shop floor for the future commercial center at a very low price.
She was active in paying the money, and the man was also active in cooperating with the procedures.
In just two hours, Liu Meiyun owned her first shop.
With a warm piece of paper in her pocket, Liu Meiyu couldn't contain her excitement, but she didn't show it on her face.
The man had a bag of cash in his pocket and was very calm. He just stood in front of the shop for a long time without saying a word. Occasionally, he could hear bursts of unbearable coughing. His thin and frail figure was a bit unbearable to see.
Yao Shunliu wanted to step forward and express his concern, but Liu Meiyu stopped him and shook her head gently.
People always have to move forward, and life will get better and better in the future. As bystanders, they cannot really provide any help. Sometimes a few words of concern and greetings may not bring warmth, but tear the past open again, making people indulge in it again.
"Does this shop need to be renovated?" Yao Shunliu was still a little dazed as he looked at the shop that he had bought with almost all of his liquid funds.
It feels like a dream.
He now has only a few thousand dollars left in his pocket. A year ago, he would have thought it was a lot, but now he feels it is so little that he feels a little uneasy.
"Well, we need to redo the installation, and we need to find two better bricklayers." Liu Meiyu took out a pen and paper from her pocket, and together with Yao Shunliu, they measured the area of the pavement and wrote down all the important data in a small notebook, intending to make a simple design themselves when they had time.
"Then I'll go to the countryside during this time. The prices there are cheaper."
"As long as the craftsmanship is good, it doesn't matter if it's a little expensive. Don't cut corners."
With the little liquid capital left in hand, in the late 1970s, it was enough to renovate ten shops, let alone one. Bricklayers were also easy to find, as many people in rural areas relied on this for a living. The hardest things to get were actually decoration materials.
Liu Meiyu wanted to get it done in one go and didn't want to go through the hassle again in the future, so she had to put some effort into the decoration.
Floors, chandeliers, doors, windows, glass, many things are not available for purchase whenever you want. Some may even require approval. Liu Meiyu couldn't think of where to get the materials she needed for the time being, so she simply left them alone and went back to ask Lu Changzheng.
After buying the shop, Liu Meiyu had to start preparing to apply for a self-employed business license.
At the beginning of the second half of 1979, individual businesses in Beijing began to emerge like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Liu Meiyu even saw the first private restaurant openly opening in a small alley. There were even more breakfast shops, all of which were set up directly at the doorsteps of their homes. Individual vendors could be seen everywhere, including bus stations and train stations.
In the past, people sold bell-bottom pants secretly, but now many of them have set up stalls in fixed and conspicuous places with heavy traffic. Of course, sometimes people will come and drive them away, so they will take a break for two days and continue in another place.
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