◎Two in One◎
Xu Shengya took Liang Baoling's arm and ran back to the west room together.
The two of them were living next to each other now. Xu Shengya took a look at the room where Liang Baoling lived. It was decorated very cozily. She said to her, "Has sister-in-law made the bed for you?"
"Yes, the sheets are beautiful."
"Really? It's really beautiful!" Xu Shengya opened the drawer and took out the iron box that had been with her for many years. She opened the lid of the iron box and saw that there were indeed a lot more candy wrappers inside. She has kept this habit over the years and likes to collect candy wrappers.
The colorful candy wrappers look rich and colorful, especially now there are some new packaging that are more exquisite and beautiful.
"Wow, you have collected so much?" Liang Baoling is no longer as obsessed with candies as she was when she was a child. After all, living conditions are much better now. Her third sister Liang Baozhen often brings candy coupons and candies home. It's different from when she was a child, when she could be happy for half a candy after eating half a candy.
"Yes, when I collect a hundred different candy wrappers, I will seal them all up and hang them on the wall." Xu Shengya was a little excited when she talked about this idea.
Liang Baoling listened quietly, occasionally saying something, and the two of them pulled out chairs and sat down together at the desk, looking at each candy wrapper one by one, their heads getting closer and closer.
Liang Baozhen passed by the door of the west wing and heard laughter coming from the house from time to time, which made her feel relieved.
It was late at night, and Xu Shengya and Liang Baoling, who finally met again and felt familiar with each other, seemed to have opened up and chattered non-stop.
Xu Shengya told Liang Baoling about her college life and promised to take her around the campus. Liang Baoling told Xu Shengya about her breeding business and how to feed pigs and chickens. Xu Shengya was stunned and clamored to eat the pork she fed herself.
"Will the pigs you feed taste better when fried?"
“It’s possible!”
“Hahahahahahahaha.”
When Liang Baozhen came over to remind the two of them that it was time to go to bed, she saw two young girls in the room, looking bright and carefree with sweet smiles.
Xu Shengya immediately took Liang Baoling's arm and said to her sister-in-law, "Sister-in-law, Baoling and I will sleep together tonight!"
Liang Baozhen looked at her younger sister, "Xiaoya wants to sleep with you, where are you going to sleep?"
Liang Baoling naturally accepted Xu Shengya's invitation and said, "Then I'll sleep here."
"Okay, I'll make the bed for you for free this afternoon, but you have to pay attention to the time and not chat too late. There's still plenty of time tomorrow."
"Got it, sis."
"Got it, sister-in-law."
Leaving the west room, Liang Baozhen looked at the two young girls and could only sigh how great it was. Seeing that Baoling already had a friend and didn't want a sister anymore, she had originally thought of asking Baoling if she wanted to sleep with her, but it turned out that the person had already been arranged.
"What's wrong?" A familiar voice suddenly appeared at the gate of the yard.
The moon was already high in the sky when Xu Shengjie finally returned home.
"Are you hungry?" Liang Baozhen knew that he and Qin Huai Hong San'er were busy with the opening of the store. They always came home late recently. After being busy until this late, they were hungry after dinner in the evening.
It would have been better if he hadn't asked. As soon as his wife asked, Xu Shengjie felt hungry.
"Is there anything to eat?"
"I'll cook you a bowl of noodles."
The stove was not turned off. Liang Baozhen boiled a pot of water and asked Xu Shengjie to go to the field to pick some green onions. The green onions planted in the small field in the yard grew the best. The emerald green onions were particularly fragrant when sprinkled on the noodles.
After the long noodles are cooked, they are picked up, poured with ready-made fried sauce at home, and finally sprinkled with chopped green onions. The steaming noodles with fried sauce become a tempting late-night delicacy.
Xu Shengjie brought the bowl of noodles to the table and picked up the chopsticks with an appetite, but he didn't move yet, "Eat something."
Liang Baozhen was not actually hungry, but when she saw a bowl of delicious noodles in front of her late at night, no one could resist it. She took the first bite, mainly to satisfy her craving.
After handing over the noodle bowl and chopsticks, Xu Shengjie started eating.
"Where's Shanshan? Is she asleep?"
The moonlight was just right, Liang Baozhen accompanied Xu Shengjie for dinner, and the two started chatting casually.
"Well, I let her sleep with grandma tonight. She was very sleepy and fell asleep in a short while."
"Baoling is here, right? I haven't even come back for dinner yet. Can we ask her to check on the store these days?"
Liang Baozhen actually had an idea. She discussed it with Xu Shengjie and thought it was feasible, so she asked her younger sister Liang Baoling to come to the city.
Xu Shengjie and his colleagues' clothing store currently employ female salespeople. After all, women are more capable in selling clothes. Liang Baozhen thought that she might as well let Baoling give it a try. If she does well in the future, she can run a store on her own. If she can seize the opportunity earlier, perhaps she can become a female boss in the future.
Xu Shengjie naturally had no objection. It was indeed better to hire family members than to hire outsiders, so it would be more reassuring.
"Xiao Ya has said that she wants to take Bao Ling out to play tomorrow. Let's go to your store in the afternoon and let Bao Ling learn from you. If she thinks she is capable, you can let her sell clothes in your new store after you take over."
"Okay." Xu Shengjie finished his bowl of noodles and then spoke again, "But I have to go to Guangdong City early tomorrow morning and won't be back for a week. I've already told Hong Saner about this and asked him to help look after it."
"You're going again?" Liang Baozhen suddenly felt reluctant to leave. "Are you busy with transportation?"
"Yes, I don't know if I can get a license, otherwise the truck can't go on the road and can't reach Guangdong City. I'll go and take a look. I have to go there in person for this matter."
"Okay." Liang Baozhen moved the girl out, "Then come back early after you finish your work. Shanshan will miss you."
"Shanshan misses me, but you don't miss me?" Xu Shengjie quickly rinsed the noodle bowl and pot, then looked at his wife with raised eyebrows.
"I don't want to!" She looked at the man with a smile in her eyes and a playful expression.
Xu Shengjie leaned over and kissed his wife's rosy lips, then immediately moved away, "You can't say one thing and mean another, Comrade Liang Baozhen."
After having supper, Xu Shengjie quickly took a combat shower and felt that all his fatigue was washed away. His train was leaving for Guangdong City at seven in the morning, so he had to get up at five o'clock. When he returned to the house, Shanshan was sleeping in her grandmother's room today, so only his wife was in his room.
He climbed onto the bed, holding Baozhen in his arms, and soon fell asleep.
The next day, Xu Shengjie woke up before dawn. Liang Baozhen was sleeping soundly and only felt that the man next to her got up. Not long after, he turned around and kissed her on the face, and then there was no movement.
It was only when the Xu family was having breakfast that they heard from Liang Baozhen that Xu Shengjie had left Beijing.
Zhou Yun listened to his grandson leaving again, muttering to himself that he didn't know whether he had taken his things with him. Liang Baozhen said that Zhou Yun felt relieved only after she supervised him to pack two pieces of clothes.
Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya have become accustomed to their elder brother going away from time to time, so they are very calm.
Shanshan reacted the most. With millet porridge in her mouth, she said incoherently, "Why didn't Baba tell me?"
Liang Baozhen wiped her daughter's mouth and said, "Dad knows you slept soundly, so he didn't come to see you. Dad will be back in a few days."
"Okay."
Today is a rare Sunday and everyone is resting, except Xu Shengwei. He is estimated to be training 360 days out of 365 days a year. When he first started practicing table tennis, he was considered older among his teammates, so he had to work harder.
"Grandma, sister-in-law, I'm leaving." Xu Shengwei stood up and was already a tall man. His age of twenty and years of sports training have made him strong and muscular. "Xiaoya and Baoling are going to have some fun."
"Got it. Go ahead, brother. Don't delay your training."
"Okay, goodbye Shanshan." Xu Shengwei said hello to Shanshan for the last time. Shanshan also gave face to her uncle, waved at him, and continued to drink her millet porridge.
The bowl of millet porridge was finished, and the family had breakfast before getting ready to leave.
The family took a leisurely walk, mainly taking Liang Baoling for a stroll. Zhou Yun also walked slowly with the family. The sun was not so scorching in the morning, so she did not go out with them in the afternoon.
After an afternoon of conversation and a night of sleeping in the same bed, Xu Shengya and Liang Baoling no longer felt the strangeness that had plagued them for two years. They were as close as they were when they were children, walking arm in arm and often whispering to each other.
Shanshan especially loves to introduce places to her aunt. She keeps talking and telling her aunt where most people go fishing and where most people practice Tai Chi.
We had lunch at a state-owned restaurant. As our family had no shortage of food coupons, Xu Shengjie had obtained a lot of food coupons and meat coupons, and our family's living standard was rising sharply.
After lunch, the family strolled back slowly. Everyone went home to take a nap. Except for Zhou Yun, everyone else went to Xu Shengjie's store.
The clothing store opened by Xu Shengjie and his partners is large, covering an area of more than 70 square meters. It was bought at one time and connected to three storefronts.
At first, the three of them rented the place, but as the business grew, they decided to buy the storefront, which was more convenient.
There are a wide variety of clothes hanging in the store. When we first started the business, we didn't know how to choose the goods. We bought everything, both good and average fabrics, and in a variety of colors. Now, after a few years of running the business, the three of us have decided that this store mainly sells clothes with fine fabrics. Coincidentally, there is a cadre building nearby, so many people are willing to spend money to buy clothes.
By then, the newly opened stores will mainly focus on high volume, small profits but quick turnover.
This was the first time Liang Baoling went to her brother-in-law's store. She had never seen such a large clothing store before. The clothes inside were of many styles and bright colors, which was really eye-catching.
"Sister, there are too many clothes."
"Is that so?" Liang Baozhen came here occasionally and was also surprised by the changes in the store, but she also made a lot of suggestions, especially about differentiation and positioning.
This store has to sell high-end clothes.
"Sister-in-law is here." Hong Saner was greeted by Xu Shengjie. He knew that Liang Baozhen would bring her sister to the store today to have a look and learn something. Naturally, he had to serve them well.
He has learned a lot in the past two years and has gained successful business experience.
Hong Saner's father originally disagreed with his son quitting his job at the state-owned cotton mill, but now he has gradually accepted it.
"Our store has a business license from the Industry and Commerce Bureau, so it's legal." Hong Saner kept introducing the store to the others. Since they were all family members, he let them look around and take any clothes they liked. Anyway, "It's on Mr. Xu's account."
In summer, Dacron shirts and short-sleeved skirts are the most popular. They are cool and comfortable, and most importantly, they don’t wrinkle easily and look good when worn. Liang Baozhen picked a plaid skirt for herself and asked Xiaoya and Baoling to pick out clothes respectively.
Only Shanshan had nothing, because the store didn't sell children's clothes, only adult clothes. Every time Xu Shengjie bought clothes for his daughter, he would go to Yue City to choose them. Nowadays, there are not many children's clothes.
However, Liang Baozhen mentioned it to Xu Shengjie. This is also a market, but they are still in the exploratory development stage. They have this idea but do not have enough energy to do it.
Liang Baoling was dazzled and felt that the city looked very different. Many traders could sell such beautiful clothes now. Wasn’t it really too backward for her to just help feed pigs and chickens at home?
The three of them took the little one home. Liang Baozhen bought red bean popsicles for everyone, which comforted Shanshan's hurt heart as she didn't buy new clothes.
After dinner, Liang Baoling talked to her third sister about the future. Her attitude had changed a little, and she said she would think about whether to go to the city.
"We still have to stay for a week anyway, so let's have some fun in the city first."
Liang Baozhen was not in a hurry either. Baoling was younger, so it was normal for her to think more about it.
The next day, Liang Baozhen returned to Taiwan to work, and Xu Shengya took on the task of taking Liang Baoling around the city, fulfilling her promise and bringing her into school.
"This is our school's student badge. Just wear it on your chest and walk in with your back straight." She had borrowed her roommate's badge from Liang Baoling in advance, and the two of them walked in through the main entrance without being stopped by the school's security department.
"Your school is very strict." Liang Baoling thought of her previous school, where the management was quite lax. There was no need to check whether a student was a local student.
"It's okay. There are always more solutions than problems." Xu Shengya now turned into a little host, taking Liang Baoling around the Peking University campus and introducing the "attractions" one by one.
He also used his meal card to treat Baoling to meals in the cafeteria, and then went to the snack street at the back door of the school for a meal. The two girls each held two snacks in their hands, ate while walking, chatting and laughing, and it was very lively.
——
Liang Baozhen was also busy at the TV station, carrying out her broadcasting work at the radio station step by step, and she still drank brewed honeysuckle tea to moisten her throat.
During the breaks in the broadcast, we had to recite the family planning slogan, "Fewer births, better quality, a happy life..."
Family planning is now being enforced more strictly, and some places have even begun to use coercive measures. All major television stations and radio stations must also cooperate in publicity. It can be said that even illiterate people can recite these slogans by heart. If they are drummed into your ears every day, how can you not remember them?
After reading the propaganda slogan and concluding today's broadcast, Liang Baozhen packed up and walked down the broadcasting platform. As soon as she returned to her workstation, she saw several reporters from the station's press department walking out in a hurry.
After Feng Xiuxiu finished her work, she came over and explained her doubts to her.
"Baozhen, you have to be careful recently!" Feng Xiuxiu was always optimistic and cheerful, with a smile on her face, but this time she looked serious and solemn, which was unusual for her, and gave Liang Baozhen many instructions.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't you know? Some people have been behaving like hooligans recently!" Feng Xiuxiu pointed at the reporters who were rushing out, "I heard that a few hooligans dragged a girl into the alley last night! Many reporters in Taiwan are out reporting news today."
"Is this true?" Liang Baozhen was surprised. She had a regular routine every day and had not encountered such things very often. "Is he okay?"
"I don't know. There are a lot of rumors out there. Some say the girl ran away, some say she was bullied." Feng Xiuxiu sighed, "And things have been particularly chaotic lately. There are not just one or two scoundrels, but many people who want to cause trouble. The Taiwan authorities said today that if anyone gets off work late, they must have their family pick them up, and be careful."
"Why is it so scary?" Liang Baozhen knew that there was a team of knifemen in the neighboring province, and their battles were particularly scary. Even the police were not afraid of them. How come even Beijing is like this now? "We should pay more attention. I will also ask my sister and sister-in-law to be careful when I go back."
"Yeah, it's not just us female compatriots, but male compatriots are also suffering, being robbed on the street. Anyway, try to go to crowded places. It's hard to find a job now. Too many people are idle. It's too chaotic."
"Okay." Liang Baozhen got off work around five in the afternoon. She was still a little scared on the road while riding her bike. She looked around all the time. It was a place with a lot of people passing by, so the road was safe. But she also noticed that there were obviously more hooligans on the street, and they were still forming gangs and gathering in groups of three or five. When she passed the intersection of West Street, she was originally going to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a pound of jujube flower crisps and go home. As a result, she happened to see two groups of hooligans dressed in shabby clothes at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative, who seemed to be ready to fight. She immediately turned her bike around and went home without stopping for a moment.
When I got home, Xu Shengya and Liang Baoling had already gone home. Starting tomorrow, Xu Shengya would go back to school to take the final exams. Three days later, after the exams were over, she would officially welcome the last summer vacation of her college career. She had already made plans and must enjoy it!
"Then you should study hard. If you do well, you will get a reward."
Rewarding for good performance in exams and good performance in competitions has become a tradition of the Xu family.
Xu Shengya naturally agreed happily. She had always been one of the best students in her grade and had learned the knowledge well before, so she didn't rush to cram for the exam two or three days before.
After dinner, Liang Baozhen informed everyone about the current poor public security situation and asked them to be careful when traveling. "You must be careful and not take it lightly. It's quite chaotic outside now."
Zhou Yun was very worried when she heard this. She didn't move around very much, just nearby. She heard someone was still abusing her. She immediately looked at the kids and said, "Listen to Baozhen and be careful. Don't run around during this time. Stay at home."
Liang Baozhen knew that she had probably frightened her grandmother, so she tried to comfort her, "You can't just stop studying and work, and go to crowded places when you go out. It's best to go in groups. After all, we are the capital, so the security is better than other places."
"That's right." However, Zhou Yun still asked them to go home early and not hang around outside too long.
Xu Shengya thought of the second-rate guy she met at the alley entrance that day and felt the same way. He was indeed quite scary. She nodded obediently and promised to be careful!
The next day, Liang Baozhen rode her bicycle to work at the TV station. As soon as she arrived at the station, she heard about what happened yesterday.
Today, all major newspapers, television programs and radio programs are reporting on heinous crimes and hooliganism.
The night before last, a few hooligans targeted a young girl and dragged her into an alley to bully her. Fortunately, the police passed by and the girl was not bullied. However, she was still scared this time and the hooligans fled in all directions and have not been caught yet.
A case has occurred, and coupled with the recent incidents of some people molesting women and stealing things, many people's bicycle wheels have been stolen. Everyone can't help but worry. Now those people are getting more and more rampant, looking for trouble everywhere, and now they dare to act like hooligans so blatantly. All major police stations have to strengthen patrols.
There is also a lot of discussion within the TV station, and those who work in the news can usually get the fastest and most accurate news.
In the cafeteria, Liang Baozhen and Feng Xiuxiu listened to the reporter next to them saying, "I heard that the higher-ups are still taking this very seriously and are asking us to arrest people as soon as possible to ensure public security. We must not panic, and we must all unite!"
"Aren't there people holding knives? My goodness, I heard that some people even used kitchen knives to chop people."
"Yes, my second uncle is in the next province, he said he saw it with his own eyes, he used a kitchen knife to hack people, blood was all over the ground."
"So I say, everyone, be careful and don't run into these people. If you see those scoundrels, it's better to stay away from them."
While the discussion on TV was in full swing, people in the city were also busy. Many people were a little worried and would avoid people who were dressed sloppily on the street.
Xu Shengya finished her last exam today and walked back in the bright sunshine with a relaxed look. She and Liang Baoling had agreed to meet at the entrance of Xinhua Bookstore. Both of them were quite alert, especially Xu Shengya, who chose to walk in crowded places all the way.
In the bookstore, the two picked up a poetry collection and sat in the corner to read. Liang Baoling's academic performance was not very good, but she also loved to read and recite poetry. The poetry collection was much more interesting than the boring knowledge in the textbooks. It seemed that there was infinite imagination and a rich and colorful world in it, which made people yearn for it.
Seeing that Baoling also liked it, Xu Shengya picked out two poetry collections and paid for them. Seeing that the sun was about to set, Xu Shengya raised her hand to look at her watch. It was already half past five. She remembered her grandmother's advice not to stay outside for too long, so she rode her bicycle and took Baoling home.
Along the way, the two girls were still discussing the poems they had just read. Liang Baoling was sitting in the back seat holding two poetry collections. When they passed the supply and marketing cooperative, Xu Shengya stopped her bike and turned to look at Baoling. "Baoling, wait for me for a while. I'm going to buy some snacks. I'll be back soon."
"Okay." Liang Baoling knew that there were many bicycle thefts recently, so she guarded the bicycle. After a while, there were many people coming in and out of the supply and marketing cooperative, so she pushed the bicycle to the corner of the wall and waited. In a blink of an eye, she saw Xiaoya squeeze into the crowd to buy something, and then she looked around.
The fabrics of the clothes worn by city dwellers are of very good quality, much better than those in the villages, and the colors are also beautiful. In addition to the gray and blue work clothes of the major state-owned factories, many people are wearing red, yellow, and floral clothes.
There were many people selling things around, including some selling large bowls of tea on the roadside. Many people were so hot that they were willing to spend two cents to have a bowl of tea.
Not far from the supply and marketing cooperative, a conflict broke out. In the middle of summer, a worker suspected a young man of stealing his money. The two sides started arguing, and many people gathered around to join in the fun. Liang Baoling also became interested, so she pushed her bicycle over to take a look. Everyone started talking at once, giving advice, and for a while no one could make sense of the situation.
After watching the excitement for a while, Liang Baoling looked towards the supply and marketing cooperative again. Xu Shengya was no longer among the group of people in front of the counter. People were coming and going inside, but there was no girl in a white shirt.
Where are the people?
"Auntie, did you see the young girl who was with me just now? She was wearing a white shirt and a red floral skirt, and had two braids in her hair. She was a very pretty girl."
There was an old lady selling watermelons near the supply and marketing cooperative. After hearing Liang Baoling's description, I had a recollection of her. "It seemed like she was dragged away by her brother."
Just now a man grabbed his sister and they seemed to be arguing.
Brother? Could it be Liang Baojun is here? That shouldn't be the case. This morning, she heard Liang Baojun say that he would train for a day before he left the house. She always felt that something was wrong.
And why would two of them quarrel in the street!
"Where did you go?" Liang Baoling felt more and more that something was wrong. She then remembered what her sister had said about the recent unrest and the many scoundrels. She became a little worried about Xiaoya.
“It should be over there.”
Liang Baoling pushed her bicycle in the direction pointed by the soda-selling lady and came to an alley. With her back to her was the silhouette of a tall man in a wrinkled green military uniform. However, his steps seemed unsteady and a little shaky.
Through his swaying figure, Liang Baoling saw Xu Shengya who was struggling hard as he was being dragged by her.
The author has something to say:
See you tomorrow night at 21:00~
Thanks to the cutie who irrigated the nutrient solution: PrayforMercy 10 bottles;
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