Chapter 90 Human Joys and Sorrows Zhao Yangyang was overjoyed. ...
"That Gou family brat fell into the cesspool!"
"What what?"
"Didn't he just say he was going to take a walk in the yard with his girlfriend?"
"He said he was going to gather pig feed to feed the pigs, but Gou Qiang ended up falling into pig manure."
Gou Qiang's face turned green. He had originally planned to throw himself into the pig trough to at least get a taste of pigs, but who knew there was fresh pig manure and... ugh— under the straw...
"Gou Qiang—Wow, this tastes amazing."
Passersby quickly made way for them. Gao Rong covered her nose, and the two of them couldn't go back, so they could only rinse their noses at the tap near the vegetable garden.
Zhuang Xiaoman kept laughing as she looked at Gou Qiang, "Good water, really good water, 'shit' is just around the corner!"
Having grown accustomed to rural life, Zhuang Xiaoman didn't mind the yellowish pig manure; it was all natural fertilizer, valuable stuff.
Zhuang Xiaoman: "Qiangzi, go take a bath in your vegetable garden. Your mom's vegetables are growing really well."
Gou Qiang agreed with Zhuang Xiaoman's assessment. He took the hose to his own vegetable garden to take a bath, proving that good things should not go to outsiders.
"Xiao Qin, you're really in deep trouble! You're in deep trouble! I'm dying of laughter." Zhuang Xiaoman ran to Qin Xiangxiang to gossip about the funny thing she had seen. "You have no idea, I saw it with my own eyes. His blind date kicked him into the pigsty, and he ended up falling into the cesspool!"
"This is the first time I've ever seen people go on blind dates and find a partner like this."
Qin Xiangxiang was stunned: "Wow!"
What kind of people are the Gou family?!
Zhuang Xiaoman, always eager for a good laugh, said, "His family had a feast of vegetables, so they're probably going to have a good harvest this year. I saw that a few of their plants were almost dead before, but now that they're facing disaster, they've miraculously come back to life!"
Qin Xiangxiang thought to herself, "Our Xilou is full of fun."
After saying goodbye to Zhuang Xiaoman, Qin Xiangxiang returned to the second floor. Zhong Li saw her and pulled her into the house again. "Little Qin, it's a good thing you didn't agree to lend the watch to the Gou family. I heard he was showing off the watch to his girlfriend when he fell into pig manure and the watch got all dirty."
Qin Xiangxiang: "I heard from Sister-in-law Xiaoman that his girlfriend kicked him and made him fall!"
Zhong Li: "Huh??!!"
Zhong Li exclaimed in surprise, "This really is a case of 'spare the rod and spoil the child,' the marriage is settled!"
When Chen Ruifeng returned to the family compound, he heard a lot of talking about how Gou Qiang had fallen into the pig manure pit with his precious watch. Chen Ruifeng was stunned. His precious watch, which he had treasured for so long, was gone!
However, human joys and sorrows are not shared, and Zhao Yangyang was overjoyed at that moment.
"Chen Ruifeng, the Gou family said they'd buy from us at the original price. You've worn it for a year or two, and you can still sell it at the original price. It's not a loss!"
It wasn't just a loss for Zhao Yangyang; it was an absolute windfall! It was like a pie falling from the sky.
Originally, the watch was just something she wore on her husband's wrist, something she could show off for no reason. But when it was replaced with money, she suddenly had a few hundred yuan more in savings. She was really struck gold!
Chen Ruifeng's vision went black: "Doesn't it take me any effort to exchange foreign exchange certificates?"
“But you’ve worn it for so long, so our family has actually made a profit. I already promised them.” Zhao Yangyang realized that she had been very lucky since she got married and moved to the military family compound. She had been blessed with good fortune all the way, as if she had been favored by the heavens.
She was guaranteed a job at the epidemic prevention station as soon as she joined. The publicity work at the epidemic prevention station was relatively easy compared to other jobs, and her salary increased to 33 this year after she became a permanent employee, so she was quite satisfied.
In their second year of marriage, the husband suddenly "exploded" in gold coins, and the couple's savings immediately exceeded a thousand. It was truly an overnight fortune.
Chen Ruifeng had worn it for so long, and it was the first watch he had ever bought in his life. He was heartbroken. That bastard Gou Qiang!
Zhao Yangyang: "You're not happy? Then tell Gou Qiang you want more."
Chen Ruifeng's face turned black. He had already fallen into the cesspool in front of everyone, what more could he want?
"Yangyang, is the Gou family really planning to pay? To buy it at the original price?"
Zhao Yangyang: "Yeah, they said they'll give the money to our family tomorrow. Although the Gou family's surname is Gou, their character is impeccable, they're very kind."
Chen Ruifeng: "...Yangyang, we happen to have enough money now, I want to buy a new imported watch."
Zhao Yangyang: "?????? What do you mean?"
"Add some money, and I'll try to exchange some foreign exchange certificates with someone. I also want to buy a Rolex watch." After a moment's thought, Chen Ruifeng realized that this was indeed an opportunity. The Gou family had lost money, but with a little more money, his family could buy a new imported watch. This time, they could buy a Rolex!
Zhao Yangyang said incredulously, "We've only saved up this little bit of money, and it's all gone after we bought it."
Chen Ruifeng persuaded him, "What's the use of saving money? Look at this imported watch, it holds its value. I've worn it for so long, and I can still sell it for the original price. Don't you think it's worth it?"
Zhao Yangyang was stunned for a moment, then thought to herself, "It really is true."
"You bought the same watch as Li Jianzhi. His watch is really nice!"
Chen Ruifeng gritted his teeth: "No, I want to buy another one."
He was furious. He wanted Li Jianzhi's watch too—a transparent case back that revealed the gold movement inside! Gold! Who in an ordinary household has gold these days? Only imported watches have gold in their parts! And it's transparent, so he can show it off and brag everywhere! Damn it! Li Jianzhi!
Why didn't that guy surnamed Gou come to borrow the watch sooner?
If he were to buy the same watch as Li Jianzhi right now, he would definitely be called a tagalong. So he had to settle for another Rolex watch. Fortunately, every Rolex watch is exceptionally well-made and has its own advantages.
Li Jianzhi's is a bit too thin, hmph!
Zhao Yangyang agreed: "Okay then, you can buy it."
Chen Ruifeng said that the word "preservation of value" impressed Zhao Yangyang. Indeed, savings are not very useful, but a genuine imported watch is really valuable. Not only can you show off and make a good impression, but it is also worth the money. You won't lose money if you buy it.
So the couple happily decided to buy a new imported watch.
Chen Ruifeng beamed with joy: "Then I'll go exchange some more foreign exchange certificates with someone!"
After deciding to get a new watch, Chen Ruifeng immediately threw away the old one. His family had really hit the jackpot!
"Once this person gets lucky, there's no stopping them!"
Zhao Yangyang said happily, "That's right, this is like a windfall."
"After I buy the watch, I'm going to show it off to Li Jianzhi! I got this purely by luck!"
Chen Ruifeng and his wife on the third floor were happy, but Gou Zhengwei and his wife on the first floor couldn't smile. However, the money they had saved was for their son's wedding, and now they were forced to buy an imported watch, so it couldn't be considered a loss.
But I just felt uneasy about spending so much money all at once.
Unable to resist their son's insistence, Commissar Gou and his wife took out their money. He comforted his wife, saying, "Imported watches hold their value well and are well-made. They can last for ten or twenty years, so we won't lose out. Originally, we would have to buy these with foreign exchange certificates, so this is a way to save trouble and make a little money."
His wife had nothing to say.
Grandma Gou was furious. First, she felt that Chen Ruifeng's family had taken advantage of her by buying an old watch. Second, she resented not borrowing the watch from Li Jianzhi's family on the second floor. That way, it would have been worth losing money at the original price, since their watch was at least new! With the original price compensation, she could have even earned some foreign exchange certificates.
"I should have borrowed the Li family's watch. That stubborn Zhong Li, she never bothered with anything!"
Qin wanted to know about her faking her lameness—Old Mrs. Gou fell silent.
Gou Qiang was satisfied with the imported watch he wanted, and he didn't spend a penny of his own money.
He felt that his blind date, Gao Rong, was really smart.
Gao Rong was also very satisfied with Gou Qiang, thinking he was stupid enough and easy to manipulate. He was also the only son in the family. If she could control him, she could control his whole family.
"It's good that he's a little stupid." In Gao Rong's opinion, Gou Qiang's conditions are really good. Although his current salary is seventeen or eighteen yuan, he is an apprentice driver in the transportation team, and his future salary will not be low. Moreover, his father is an officer, and the family has a lot of savings. Both of his sisters are married, and all of his family's resources are on Gou Qiang.
As long as we can get control of Gou Qiang, we can extract all the money from his family.
Chen Ruifeng quickly managed to scrape together enough foreign currency and bought a brand-new Rolex watch. As soon as he arrived at the family compound, he knocked on Li Jianzhi's door and said, "I also got a new watch. We have the same brand. Want to compare the craftsmanship?"
Li Jianzhi: "Congratulations, you got a new watch."
"Li Jianzhi, your watch is thinner than mine. You must have skimped on the materials. Don't you feel cheated?"
"Men should wear watches that are thick and heavy, the heavier the better, it makes them look more masculine."
Li Jianzhi genuinely admired Chen Ruifeng's stubbornness; his competitive spirit was just too strong.
After Chen Ruifeng left, he ran to his wife's side and said, "That Chen guy is really competitive, and the thinner the product, the more valuable it is, and the more he pays attention to the level of craftsmanship."
"I've seen that watch before, but it's not as nice as yours." Qin Xiangxiang and Li Jianzhi had gone to pick out watches, so they naturally knew which model Chen Ruifeng had bought.
The watch Li Jianzhi was wearing was personally chosen by Qin Xiangxiang. It was thinner than other watches and had a beautiful design!
Qin Xiangxiang: "Li Jianzhi, I didn't know you'd been working overtime for several days and hadn't come home. I really have a lot to say to you."
Li Jianzhi knew that even gossiping was sometimes delayed: "Tell me quickly."
Li Jianzhi was busy as a spinning top right now, and as soon as he got back, Chen Ruifeng bought a new watch.
"Gou Qiang borrowed Chen Ruifeng's watch and fell into the cesspool. So the Gou family used the money to buy Chen Ruifeng's imported watch."
Li Jianzhi's lips twitched: "This..."
"Isn't that bizarre? There's something even more bizarre. I heard that his blind date kicked him into a pigsty, which is how he fell into the cesspool."
Li Jianzhi was speechless and choked with emotion: "..." The matter was too complicated for ordinary people to understand.
Qin Xiangxiang: "The funniest one is Zhuang Xiaoman. He kept saying that he was about to die, and even told Gou Qiang, who had fallen into the latrine, to go water his own vegetable garden, saying that fertilizer should not go to outsiders."
"It's hilarious, even funnier than that old lady Gou pretending to be lame."
Qin Xiangxiang pressed herself against Li Jianzhi's chest, thinking that living in this top-notch West Building was truly a lot of fun, with countless opportunities for entertainment.
She whispered in Li Jianzhi's ear, "I suspect Gou Qiang deliberately fell."
Li Jianzhi: "I guessed so too."
"That's hilarious, Li Jianzhi. How come you're always so unlucky? You're never there for these kinds of things."
Li Jianzhi: "..."
He felt that his wife was like a badger in a melon patch.
Zhao Yangyang was in a good mood after her husband Chen Ruifeng bought a new Rolex watch. It was indeed very respectable and made her look radiant. Moreover, the new watch didn't cost much. When she and her husband returned to Shanghai, her own brother would be green with envy.
Wearing a watch that costs nearly a thousand yuan on your wrist is something you can brag about for days, not just in remote rural areas, but even in Shanghai.
Having Chen Ruifeng wear a Rolex watch and accompany her back to Shanghai was a triumphant moment for her.
This imported watch was also part of her savings. Even if Chen Ruifeng couldn't stay in the military and retired, he could still return to her hometown of Shanghai, where he would be assigned a job and given priority in housing. Overall, Zhao Yangyang was quite satisfied with this marriage.
"This is like a windfall, Lin Xiuqin. Let me tell you, I think my luck has really been pretty good since I got married," Zhao Yangyang said to the pretty woman in front of her. Lin Xiuqin was a friend she had recently met. Lin Xiuqin said she worked at a community health clinic. When they first met, she mistook Zhao Yangyang for someone from her hometown and spoke a few words in her local dialect, which is why Zhao Yangyang didn't understand.
Later, Zhao Yangyang met Lin Xiuqin a few times while doing promotions, and the two would chat occasionally when they bumped into each other.
“I was forced to go to the countryside as an educated youth before, and I always felt that my life was miserable. Now that I’m married, I’ve had a lot of good luck. It’s really amazing. As soon as I arrived, a relative of mine cheated me out of 300 yuan, but the money came back immediately, and they even arranged a job for me.”
"This time was the same. Someone borrowed my watch and got it dirty, but they immediately gave me money and bought me a new one. It's an imported Rolex! I'd be so proud if my husband wore one of these watches when he came back to Shanghai with me."
"I feel like there's something protecting me from the unseen world."
Lin Xiuqin's defenses crumbled after hearing Zhao Yangyang's self-satisfied words.
She approached Zhao Yangyang to find out about her situation in the family compound and how she was doing after marrying Chen Ruifeng. But now Zhao Yangyang was saying that she was always inexplicably lucky, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Navy salaries were high and benefits were good at that time. Frequent sea voyages also made it easier for them to come into contact with foreign gadgets. Chen Ruifeng was even wearing a Rolex watch! Keep in mind that fifty years later, many people might not be able to afford a Rolex watch, but he was able to wear one in the 1970s!
According to Zhao Yangyang, this money came out of nowhere, like a bolt from the blue. Did Chen Ruifeng have some kind of male lead aura, while Zhao Yangyang absorbed the female lead aura that originally belonged to her?
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