The single phrase "nephew Da Bao" instantly triggered a flood of memories for Wang Da Bao.
Wang Tiangao was five or six years younger than him. When he joined the army, Wang Tiangao was about the same age as Yan Jiekuang, small in stature but with a big head. In the blink of an eye, he had grown into such a strong man.
Wang Dabao could clearly feel that his laughter was a bit awkward. He coughed twice and casually took out a pair of matches from his pocket: "Uncle Tiangao, let your nephew light this for you."
"No need, no need, I have some, I'll order it myself."
Wang Dabao was embarrassed, and Wang Tiangao was even more embarrassed by Wang Dabao calling him "Uncle," so he quickly moved away and lit his own cigarette.
Uncle Li leaned closer to take a look at the motorcycle, and exclaimed in surprise, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
The fact that Wang Dabao rode back on his big motorcycle was already surprising enough, but when he saw the items on the motorcycle, his heart raced even faster than when he first touched his wife's big hand.
He had seen many of the things on a motorcycle before, but this was the first time he had ever seen them stacked together. No wonder his legs were so weak.
"Da...Da Bao, tell your second uncle...tell the truth, did you do anything illegal outside?"
Uncle Li could barely hold his cigarette, but he felt bad about dropping such a good cigarette on the ground, so he quickly took it out of his mouth, wiggled his leg, and sidled up to Wang Dabao on the motorcycle. "What's all this stuff on this motorcycle?!"
Wang Dabao had just gotten ashore from the awkward ocean and was chatting with his uncles when he was stumped by a single sentence from Uncle Li.
Did you do anything illegal outside?
What are you talking about?!
Wang Dabao turned his head and stared at the tall stack of items on the sidecar. He paused for two seconds, then understood!
Upon hearing this, Wang Tiangao and his other uncles rushed over to the sidecar to get a clear look, and they all gasped in shock.
"Moutai liquor and Zhonghua cigarettes are both good things."
Among these uncles and elders, Wang Tiangao was considered worldly-wise. Although he had never smoked Zhonghua cigarettes, what young man his age didn't recognize them?
As for Moutai liquor, I bought two liang (100ml) with a few comrades before I was discharged from the army, and that counts as having tasted it.
"My goodness, Da Bao has struck it rich! Heavens above! How much is a bottle of Moutai?"
"Last year it was less than three yuan, but this year it has risen to sixteen yuan."
"What kind of fortune are you talking about? Fortune isn't so easy to come by." An old man, panting heavily, grabbed his motorcycle after seeing bags of flour, boxes of cigarettes and alcohol, and stacks of pork. It was too damn scary.
Uncle Li was getting anxious when he saw Wang Dabao staring blankly, and he reached out to push him.
"Oh, Uncles, what are you thinking? I bought all of these myself."
Wang Dabao exclaimed "Oh!", pulled his work ID from his shirt pocket, and handed it to the flustered Uncle Li, "You don't believe me? Look at this for yourself."
Uncle Li hesitated before taking it, turning it over and over to look at it for a while, then beckoned Wang Tiangao over: "Read to your second brother what's written on it?"
Wang Dabao slapped his forehead, realizing he'd forgotten that Uncle Li was illiterate. But why were you looking at it so intently if you couldn't understand it? Were you trying to fool me?
As Wang Tiangao took the work permit and opened it, he heard Wang Dabao, who was smoking a cigarette beside him, say, "Uncle Tiangao, just read out your name, department, and position."
"Name: Wang Dabao; Department: Security Section; Position: Deputy Section Chief"
Wang Tiangao was surprised after reading it aloud, "Deputy section chief? That's a pretty high-ranking official, isn't it?"
Wang Dabao leaned against the handlebars of his motorcycle, exhaled a puff of smoke, and fanned himself with his hand: "Not big, only two or three hundred people under my command."
"Is this thing fake?" Uncle Li and the other uncles standing nearby were stunned. When they came to their senses, they rushed forward, grabbed the work ID, and tried to tear open the cover to take a look.
"Second Brother."
Wang Tiangao shouted, calmly took the work permit back into his hand, opened it and pointed to it, saying, "Second Brother, you're so old, why are you still so impulsive? See the official seal and stamp? It can't be faked."
After saying that, Wang Tiangao handed his work ID to Wang Dabao.
"Nephew, you'd better keep this safe, lest these ignorant people mess it up."
"Oh, oh, I'll put it away."
Wang Dabao quickly took the cigarette out of his mouth, took the work ID with both hands, and said, "Uncle Tiangao, you can just call me Dabao."
Once the uncles accepted Wang Dabao's new identity, they stopped questioning the origin of the items on the motorcycle sidecar.
"Okay, you've really made something of yourself, but you bought way too much of this. How much did it cost?!"
Uncle Li's legs stopped shaking, and his back straightened up.
Wang Dabao patted Uncle Li's arm: "Hey, your nephew earns a lot of money a month. Come on, let's go to Uncle Tiangao's house first. My third uncle should be home right now."
"Yes, I'm at home settling accounts."
Wang Tiangao said.
Wang Dabao gently revved the engine, and the group chatted and laughed as they headed towards Wang Tiangao's house.
Wang Tiangao's father, Wang Tiemin, also known as the Third Uncle by Wang Dabao, was the former village chief and Party Secretary of Wangjialou Village.
Before the group even reached Wang Tiemin's house, they saw him standing at the door waiting for them from afar.
There was no way around it; the roar of the motorcycle exhaust pipe was too loud, and half the village could hear it.
Many villagers and children gathered around. Wang Dabao was busy handing out cigarettes to Wang Tiemin and others, and then took out milk candy from his sidecar and distributed it to the children.
Wang Tiemin was quite surprised to learn from Wang Tiangao about Wang Dabao's position at the steel rolling mill and that all the items on the motorcycle were bought by Wang Dabao.
"You little brat, you've only been in the city for a few days, and you're not going to squander your money like this."
"Even if you become a section chief, or even just a deputy one, what kind of official are you? Why are you buying so much stuff!"
Wang Tiemin was wearing a faded gray Zhongshan suit. When Wang Dabao came over to offer him a cigarette, he scolded him.
Wang Dabao didn't take Third Master Wang Tiemin's scolding seriously at all. When he was a teenager, he often ate at Third Master's house. After his parents passed away, Third Master was the one who helped him the most.
He even felt a sense of warmth amidst the insults.
"Third Master, please calm down. I'm not working, so I bought some things to visit everyone."
Wang Dabao stood obediently beside Wang Tiemin and spoke respectfully.
Wang Tiemin sighed, remained silent for a moment, and then called Wang Dabao into the courtyard.
"Dabao, save your earnings for your wedding and work hard in the city. Our village is tough, but no one will starve. Don't waste money on these things."
"Third Master Xing, I'll do whatever you say."
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