Chapter 14
My third sister-in-law hasn't published a book yet, and I'm about to publish one?
This was Ye Manzhi's first reaction after hearing Zhou Min's question.
In her mind, Wong Tai Sin was a great man. He consumed so much energy delivering letters during the day, but he still had the energy to write at night.
Although he didn't know what she wrote specifically, Ye Manzhi could occasionally see her putting stamps on bulging envelopes, as if she was submitting an article to a newspaper.
People who write serious articles haven’t published books, but someone like me who draws simple sketches is going to publish a book!
Looking at Zhou Min in front of her, she said embarrassedly, "Director Zhou, although I drew these pictures, I didn't design the clothing styles. Can you still publish them like this?"
"Of course," Zhou Min pointed to a collection of editorials on her desk. "The editorials in here aren't written by publishing editors, but they can still be compiled and published!"
She saw the fashion album at the home of the resident group leader.
The cover looks plain, but it's full of secrets when you open it.
In addition to the common cheongsams and shirts, there are also spring coats, two-piece shirts, vests, skirts, pants, dresses, etc.
Although the examples are drawn in pencil, the patterns are marked with detailed information on the type and color of fabric, and the approximate number of feet of cloth needed for a woman of standard body shape. Some also have the price of the finished garment and the manufacturer.
Just in the album in her hand, one can see famous clothing brands such as Shanghai Zaocun, Hongxia, Beijing Hongdu, and Tianjin Baimeigui.
Without true passion, it would be difficult for ordinary people to record it in such detail.
Zhou Min has been working in book publishing for half his life. After just flipping through a few pages, he felt that this picture album was very worth publishing.
Earlier this year, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the All-China Women’s Federation held a symposium on women’s clothing, advocating that women dress more beautifully and wear more attractive clothes. [1]
After half a year, it was found that many female comrades in the city had indeed responded to the call, but due to lack of information, many people still made new clothes in the loose and baggy styles of the past, which generally lacked aesthetic appeal.
Zhou Min feels that this picture album is worth publishing both in terms of political significance and practical value.
Ye Manzhi was not sure about the value of her album, but that did not stop her from taking the opportunity to tell tales.
"Director Zhou, I'm really happy to have the opportunity to publish these picture albums, but I'm afraid it won't work..."
"Why not?" Mulan took over and advised, "Xiaoye, don't be stupid! Publishing the fashion album and letting more female comrades see it will be a good thing for our fellow women! It will also be an honor for our neighborhood!"
Ye Manzhi turned sideways and explained to her in a low voice: "Deputy Director Zhang criticized me a few days ago and forbade me to lend out the fashion album."
"What's going on? What does this have to do with Lao Zhang?"
"Don't you know?" Ye Manzhi showed a look of surprise. "Deputy Director Zhang said that my albums promote hedonism and that wearing beautiful clothes is a pursuit of luxury and enjoyment. He doesn't allow such content to be circulated among the neighborhood. I was just about to return all the albums I borrowed."
"Nonsense! How can dressing normally be considered a luxury? The Provincial Fine Arts Publishing House is directly under the Provincial Party Committee and serves as the Party's propaganda mouthpiece. They know better than us what books can and cannot be published!" Mulan said decisively, "I'll go explain to Lao Zhang. The book's publication can't be delayed. Xiaoye, please discuss the specific details with Director Zhou."
Mulan has worked with Lao Zhang for three years, and she is aware of his ulterior motives.
The street office is small, so she just turned a blind eye to some things.
But the Fine Arts Publishing House is a provincial-level unit. If their own cadres can publish books through a provincial-level unit, it will also have a positive publicity effect on their small street office.
After all, the author’s name can be preceded by the name of his or her unit!
…
After some discussion, the name of Ye Manzhi's new book was tentatively named "Collection of Clothing Style Illustrations: XX Examples of Women's Clothing".
The exact number of examples depends on how many styles can be selected from Ye Manzhi's album.
Some repeated and similar examples will be deleted, and whether some Soviet braid styles can be included in the book will have to wait for a meeting and discussion at the publishing house.
In addition, most of the pictures in Ye Manzhi's album are spring, autumn and summer clothes, with fewer winter clothes. It would be better to add some example pictures of winter clothes.
The three of them discussed in the office for an entire afternoon. When they broke up, the wind and rain outside the window had stopped, and the leaden clouds had dissipated.
The air was filled with the damp heat after the rain and the fragrance of flowers. Ye Manyzhi said goodbye to the two of them and ran to the military industrial compound impatiently.
There were several groups of people playing chess under a tree in the courtyard. The sound of pieces dropping came one after another, and the old men watching the game surrounded them in three layers.
Chang Yue'e sat among the group of women, picking beans and chatting with everyone.
Ye Manzhi ran over excitedly, greeted the neighbors, and then waved to Chang Yue'e.
"Mom, I want to tell you something!"
"Comrade Xiaoye, what can't you say in front of everyone?"
Ye Manzhi sternly corrected him: "Aunt Luo, please don't call me cadre Xiao Ye. I'm still on probation, not a formal cadre."
"Isn't it just a matter of time?"
"No, no, our Deputy Director Zhang said we can't bribe by using different names!" Ye Manzhi laughed. "We were criticized for calling him Director Zhang. We have to call him Deputy Director Zhang now."
Women: “…”
Hypocritical!
Ye Manzhi waved goodbye to everyone and hurriedly pulled her mother upstairs.
Then, in front of the whole family, he officially announced the great news that he was about to publish a book!
The air in the room fell silent.
After waiting for a while, the fourth brother looked around and decided to be the first to ask on behalf of everyone: "Did you meet a scammer?"
Ye Laiya's painting is okay, but it's definitely not good enough to publish a book. If the youngest can publish a book, then he can do it too!
"No, the comrades from the publishing house were brought here by our Director Mu himself, so it can't be fake! Hehehe~"
Ye Shouxin slapped his thigh and said, "My daughter can actually publish a book! If this succeeds, our family will be considered a family of scholars!"
He was originally worried about his youngest daughter's marriage, fearing that she would not be able to find a son-in-law that suits her because she had broken off an engagement before.
If what his daughter said was true, then he would even dare to take the new book to the mayor's house to propose marriage!
Chang Yue'e also echoed excitedly: "Yes! There is no other girl in the whole compound who can publish a book!"
Ye Manzhi's vanity, which had been inflated all afternoon, was immediately satisfied by her parents. She took her mother's hand and said, "Director Zhou from the publishing house asked me to add some illustrations for autumn and winter clothing, but I work during the day and organize activities at night, so I don't have time to run to the store. Mom, can you please take some time to help me check it out?"
She learned the skills of painting and making clothes from her mother and second sister.
Chang Yue'e's former husband's family ran a silk shop. She knew hundreds of kinds of fabrics, and her tailoring and sewing skills were much better than her daughter's.
Old Ye was afraid that her daughter would hurt her eyes by doing needlework all the time, so she let the children make their own clothes.
Chang Yue'e naturally wouldn't refuse her daughter's request. She patted her chest and promised, "I'll take a bus to the Women's and Children's Store tomorrow. Autumn and winter clothes are available there early. I'll definitely help you get everything done."
"Hey, I'll go to the butcher's stall tomorrow morning and order two pig's trotters to nourish you." Ye Manzhi put his arm around his mother's shoulders and said, "When the publishing house's royalties arrive, we'll split them in half!"
The mother and daughter sang the same tune, and Huang Li and Shen Liangmei, the sisters-in-law, very rarely had the same idea -
This leaf-filled branch really has a clever mouth.
Apart from washing his own clothes, he does nothing at home all day long. He fools his parents with just his mouth!
However, the fact that Ye Manzhi could publish a book still shocked the Ye family, especially Huang Li. After returning to their room, he was in shock for a long time.
As her bedmate, Ye Mantang certainly knew what she did in her spare time. Seeing this, he comforted her, "The fact that the youngest was able to publish a book is a combination of luck and the accumulation of experience over the years. You just came to our house, so you don't know what happened in the past."
"She's loved tinkering with these things since she was little. I don't know how much money she's spent collecting fabric, lace, buttons, and needles and thread. Fortunately, you have to use cloth coupons to buy fabric now, otherwise she would have to spend all her meager salary on dressing up. You're just starting out, so you should take it slow. What's that saying?"
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
"Hehe, after all, he is a great writer who has published articles, so he is more cultured than me." Ye Mantang boasted without thinking.
Huang Li scooped some vanishing cream and smeared it on his hands, saying with envy: "Nothing else matters, the royalties from book publishing should be quite high. I'm mainly envious of my younger sister for being able to make extra money!"
Being a postman was just a temporary solution to get out of school. After traveling through time, she couldn't possibly be a postman for the rest of her life, right?
If you want to move to a clerical position within the system, you have to show off your writing skills from time to time.
Huang Li used to study sports journalism. After graduation, he worked as a reporter for a sports channel. He could write scripts and speeches independently, and was considered to have relatively strong writing skills among reporters of the same period.
But the language usage habits of the two time and space are completely different. After she came here, she read newspapers for half a year and only tried to write a few essays about workers and grassroots work.
Two articles have been successfully published so far. After receiving the royalties, I spent most of it on taking Ye Mantang out for a Russian meal.
The royalties paid by a newspaper cannot be compared with those from book publishing.
As far as she knows, the minimum standard for manuscripts is 4 yuan per thousand words, and a book of 100,000 words can get at least 400 yuan in royalties.
Some great writers can even earn 15 yuan per thousand words, and publishing one book is enough to buy a yard in Beijing.
Ye Manzhi's book mainly consists of pictures with relatively few texts. I wonder how it will be priced.
However, Huang Li thought absentmindedly that his sister-in-law's publication of a clothing book could actually provide him with some new ideas.
*
On the street office side, with the endorsement of the provincial publishing house, Ye Manzhi and Chen Caixia became motivated again.
Tailoring classes continue as usual and picture albums continue to be loaned out and circulated.
However, through this incident, the two also realized that Deputy Director Zhang seemed to have some opinions about them.
The specific cause is unknown.
In order not to touch Zhang Qinjian's sensitive nerves, the two of them stayed quiet in the office for a while.
That evening, Ye Manzhi had seen off the last neighbor who came to do business and was about to leave work with her lunch box when Lei Tao from the police station next door suddenly rushed in.
After deciding between Ye Manzhi, Aunt Feng, and Mulan for a while, he said to Mulan, "Director Mu, we have an emergency over there and need your help. Are you free now?"
"What's up?"
"A woman ran to the door of our police station and threatened to hang herself!"
“…”
Mulan stood up from his seat and said, "Then why don't you save him quickly? What are you doing here?"
"Ms. Meng has taken a day off today," Lei Tao said, scratching his head. "It's not convenient for us men to hold her in our arms! You can go and take a look, and help mediate."
Ye Manzhi put down her lunch box and volunteered, "How about I go with you? I'm strong."
Unexpectedly, Lei Tao was so picky when asking for help. He blushed and said, "You can't do it. You are not married yet. You are not suitable to participate in this case!"
"Our street office cadres, regardless of gender or whether they are married or not, are determined to face challenges head-on!"
Mulan didn't ask any more questions, pulled Xiaoye and walked out.
As for Comrade Feng Chaoyang who stayed in the office, he was ignored by everyone.
Aunt Feng follows a typical nine-to-five schedule, arriving at nine in the morning and leaving at five in the evening. She only does her assigned work, never works overtime after five, and never participates in any activities. It's hard to reason with her, and it's impossible to quit. She has no desires, and her bosses can't do anything about it.
Ye Manzhi felt a little envious of Aunt Feng in her heart, but she was anxious to go to the police station to see what was happening, and followed Director Mu out step by step.
In front of the police station gate, just as Lei Tao said, there was a middle-aged woman tying a rope to a tree branch at the door.
Prepare to hang yourself.
Several policemen were standing nearby, and before she could put the rope on, someone quickly pulled it off.
The woman wanted to grab it, but Chief Liu came out of the police station and said with a gloomy face, "Ge Hong! If you have something to say, just say it. If you keep making trouble like this, we won't be polite!"
"How can you be so rude? I've reported the case three times, and you've shirked responsibility each time! I want everyone to see how you drive people to death!"
"Catch the thief, seize the stolen goods; catch the adulterer, catch the couple. When have you ever reported a crime with evidence? I'm telling you, Ge Hong, you won't get away with making unreasonable demands here! Even hanging yourself won't solve anything!"
Hearing this, Ge Hong stopped trying to grab the rope and sat down on the ground, slapping her thighs and crying out in a familiar tune: "Oh, why am I so miserable~ Ahhh~ The big hat is protecting the bad guys~ Ahhh~~~"
Ye Manzhi stood in the back row of the crowd, looking at her in amazement as she talked thunder without delivering action and used an operatic tone to taunt the local police.
You know, people nowadays are very respectful of the police, and few people who enter the police station are as arrogant as her.
Seeing that Chief Liu's big, square face had turned ashen, Ye Manzhi, who was called to help, hurried out and pulled the woman up from the ground.
Chief Liu said with a headache, "Director Mu, let's hand this person over to your subdistrict office. We can't file a case for what she said. We have to rely on mediation."
"What's going on?" Mulan asked.
"Her husband was a pedicab driver, and the money he brought home had been decreasing over the past two months. She felt something was wrong, so she went to the cooperative to inquire about it. She discovered that his wages were half of what everyone else was making. She insisted that he had given the money to Xue Qiao'er..."
Ge Hong angrily interrupted, "Leader, Xue Qiao'er came from Liushao Hutong. Everyone on the street knows her. What good could Old Li be doing by giving her the money? That prostitute is simply back to her old ways!"
Liushao Hutong was a famous place of entertainment before liberation, or in layman's terms, a brothel.
Ye Manzhi was puzzled and asked, "Although his salary was cut in half, he took home whatever the cooperative paid him. What does this have to do with Xue Qiaoer?"
"How could a young cadre like you have imagined their filthy ways? The wages for this work are piece-rate. After they did it, Old Li could record his own work on Xue Qiaoer's work schedule. It's legitimate and aboveboard, no one can find fault with it!"
Ge Hong said with a wretched heart, "Back when her husband was paralyzed in bed, I felt sorry for her and asked Lao Li to send 3,000 yuan (old currency, equivalent to 30 cents in new currency) to her family! Later, when she wanted to join the cooperative, everyone was reluctant to accept her because of her reputation, and I also spoke in her favor. How could this person be so ungrateful and make money from anything?"
"Okay, okay, the matter hasn't been clarified yet, why are you crying?" Director Mu wiped her tears with the back of his hand.
I also felt a little regretful for letting Xiaoye come over.
"How could I not figure it out?! I've seen them several times on the street, riding their bikes together and doing some work! And when I was doing Lao Li's laundry, I found long hair and a scented handkerchief in his pocket. We never have anything like that at home!" Ge Hong, who had short hair, said logically. "I wasn't sure at first, but Xue Qiaoer just put up a awning for the tricycle yesterday. With the little money she earns, she can barely afford food and drink at home. How could she afford an awning?"
Chief Liu looked at Director Mu and said helplessly, "Did you hear that? It's all her subjective inference. There's not a single decent piece of evidence. How can we arrest him?"
If it's a petty theft, they can ambush and catch the thief in the act.
But when it comes to relationships between men and women, it's really difficult to resolve.
The current customs of the people can be described as simple and honest, and at the same time, as open.
When it comes to matters between men and women, they can just find a secluded corner to do it.
When the police went to search, the man had already disappeared.
The police station has limited police force, how can they keep an eye on this kind of bullshit all day long?
Mulan pulled Ye Manzhi and said, "I remember you went to Xue Qiaoer's house. What's the situation there now?"
"I went there twice, but didn't see her. However," Ye Manzhi leaned over and whispered to her, "I later went to the transport cooperative to look for her. Although I still didn't see her, I saw her name on the honor wall at the office entrance. The ranking is calculated based on the number of work sessions and monthly income. Xue Qiaoer is tenth."
There are dozens of workers in the transport team. As the only female master, Xue Qiaoer is ranked tenth, which is quite impressive.
After listening to Ye Manzhi's description, Mulan, who had remained neutral, frowned.
She thought for a moment and said to Ge Hong, "If you can't produce evidence, the police station won't be able to help you arrest anyone. Let's transfer this matter to our neighborhood office."
Ge Hong asked suspiciously, "What happens after we turn around?"
"Prostitution is strictly prohibited by the state. If there are prostitutes on Guangming Street again, we will definitely crack down on them. If it is proven that Xue Qiao'er was wrongly accused, your man will not be a client, which will be a good thing for you. Am I right?"
"Um."
"Then go back and wait for news. We'll organize some personnel to investigate and will give you an answer as soon as possible."
Ge Hong persisted: "The public security comrades said the same thing."
"If you're not satisfied," Mulan took the rope from the police officer and put it into Ge Hong's hand, "take this rope and come to the door of our street office and hang yourself!"
Everyone: “…”
It has to be Director Mu! Domineering!
Director Mu successfully persuaded Ge Hong to leave, and the people watching the excitement gradually dispersed.
Ye Manzhi caught up with Ge Hong and whispered, "Don't go out and spread the news about Xue Qiao'er and your man before the truth is revealed. It's bad for both of their reputations."
Especially since Xue Qiaoer's identity is sensitive, once she is involved in such a topic, even if she is really wronged, the stigma will be difficult to clear.
Ge Hong glanced at her sideways and snorted angrily, "Let them enjoy themselves for a few days. If they find out, I won't be afraid of losing face. I will make Li Sanpao and Xue Qiao'er's reputations tarnished!"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
*
It was still early, so Mulan decided to go to Xue Qiaoer's house after get off work to check on the situation.
I bought two sesame cakes on the roadside for dinner and ate them while walking with Ye Manzhi.
"Xiao Ye, what do you think about Xue Qiao'er's situation?"
"What do you mean? I haven't met her in person yet, so it's hard to say for now."
"Just tell me she's ranked tenth on the honor roll. What do you think?"
Ye Manzhi is actually quite contradictory.
On the one hand, I think Xue Qiaoer is really amazing for being able to outperform so many male comrades.
On the other hand, she felt that Ge Hong's words made some sense.
Riding a tricycle requires a lot of physical strength. She has seen a driver eat seven steamed buns in one meal.
The reason why the fifth brother changed his tricycle to a horse-drawn carriage was because he was not as strong as other drivers and could not compete for their business.
How strong does Xue Qiaoer have to be to make it into the top ten!
Mulan laughed after hearing this and said, "Women in Liushao Hutong have to maintain their figures and are not allowed to eat a full meal. Xue Qiao'er is not only not strong, but also very frail. I'm afraid her tenth place is a big problem."
Either the person in charge of ranking gave her a break, or she found a way to make money.
You have to ask Xue Qiaoer herself about the specific situation.
The two of them were lucky today. When they arrived at Yueya Hutong, not only was Xue Qiaoer at home, but her tricycle, which had just been equipped with a awning, was also parked in the yard.
When they entered, four children were playing in the back of the car and were chased away by Zheng Dongmei with a broom.
Director Mu smiled heartily when he saw this and said, "Have you installed awnings on your tricycles? Seeing that your lives are getting better and better, I'm relieved."
Uncle Zheng came over quickly and spoke in a coherent manner, "My family can get by thanks to the care of the neighborhood leaders."
"Your ability to live a good life depends on your own efforts," Director Mu said with a smile. "Your comrade Xue Qiaoer has made an indelible contribution."
"Of course," Aunt Zheng said, wiping her eyes. "My son is useless. If it weren't for Qiao'er supporting us, our whole family would be starving. I often tell my old man that he must have done good deeds in his past life to be able to marry a good wife like Qiao'er in this life!"
After hearing her mother-in-law's praise, Xue Qiao'er used her calloused fingers to smooth her hair and said shyly, "Mom, don't say that. You and Dad treat me like your own daughters, and Brother Dongzi is also good to me. These are what I should do."
"You're a good kid. It's us useless people who are dragging you down. Sigh..."
The Zheng family loved each other and lived in harmony, but Ye Manzhi, who was watching, thought coldly that their daughter didn't need to ride a tricycle.
Perhaps it was because she accidentally heard Aunt Zheng's "selling smiles" and allusive criticism when she first visited the family. She always felt that the Zheng family's parents-in-law were hypocritical and looked awkward.
Xue Qiaoer invited the guests to rest in the courtyard and asked nervously, "Director Mu, what brings you here today?"
"Haha, I'm here on business, and I'd like to invite you to the free tailoring class organized by our neighborhood. If you want to go, I'll help you sign up."
When Xue Qiaoer heard that she could attend classes without paying any money, her eyes lit up and she really wanted to agree.
Unexpectedly, Aunt Zheng said with a look of heartache, "Leader, you know Qiao'er's situation very well. She has been the subject of a lot of gossip over the years. The tailoring class is full of women, and Qiao'er will definitely be gossiped about if she goes there. After all, outside is not home, and I can't bear to see her suffer."
Uncle Zheng also said, "We still have enough clothes to wear. My family can't even make one piece a year. So don't let Qiao'er suffer the cold shoulder."
After hearing what her parents-in-law said, the light in Xue Qiaoer's eyes gradually faded, and she sat there without saying a word.
The good thing of letting people learn skills for free, when spoken by these two people, turns out to be an injustice.
Mulan was about to get up and leave. "Okay, class is voluntary. We won't force you."
"Hey, boss," Aunt Zheng asked, "didn't we agree last time that my family would be included in the relief program? When will the relief money be distributed?"
When street cadres come out to do mass work, they usually have to assign a good cop and a bad cop.
Director Mu has already played the villain, so Ye Manzhi naturally has to play the villain.
She said seriously, "Auntie Zheng, the country is currently accumulating funds. We must budget carefully for the country and strictly review the recipients of aid. With your family's living standards, why do you need aid?"
Aunt Zheng was anxious. "Why don't you need help? We have eight people in our family, and Qiao'er is the only able-bodied laborer!"
"But your family's one laborer is worth two or three from other families," Ye Manzhi pointed at the tricycle after receiving a look of approval from his leader. "It even has a awning installed. I also heard that Xue Qiaoer is doing an excellent job in the transport team and is even on the honor roll!"
Xue Qiaoer moved her lips, wanting to explain something, but her mother-in-law grabbed her wrist.
"Leader, women's physical strength can't be compared to men's. Qiao'er has already fought hard just to be on the Honor Roll..."
Aunt Zheng racked her brains to find a reason to get relief money for her family. However, Zheng Dongmei's angry roar suddenly came from the other end of the courtyard.
"Who is so wicked as to cut down my hawthorn tree?"
As a branch fell heavily to the ground, the shouts of men immediately rang out in the alley across the wall.
Zheng Dongmei's eyes were wide open as she climbed down the ladder, picked up a shovel by the wall and rushed out.
There were seven or eight tall and strong men standing in the alley, some in their twenties, some in their forties and fifties, with strong tendon muscles on their arms and thighs.
Surrounded by so many strong men, Zheng Dongmei seemed a little scared, so she picked up a shovel and directly chose to confront the man who looked the fairest and weakest.
"Why is it you again! Ye Manlin! You haven't gotten enough from the beating you received last time, have you?"
"Can you please be reasonable?" Ye Manlin grabbed the wooden handle before the shovel could hit him. "We paid for this tree. We can chop it down whenever we want."
Zheng Dongmei pouted, "Who charged you any money? You're right to come to my house and cut down trees!"
Seeing that the person cutting down the tree was his fifth brother, Ye Manzhi suppressed his surprise and ran forward to hug Zheng Dongmei around the waist.
"Dongmei, let's talk it over nicely. If you hurt someone, you have to pay for their medical expenses!"
Zheng Dongmei refused to listen, and after her weapon was confiscated, she kicked the man. "My brother is useless, but I'm still here! You want to bully my family? No way!"
The alley was bustling with activity. People returning home from get off work were stuck at both ends of the road, so they had to stand on tiptoe to watch the excitement.
Mulan stepped forward to mediate: "Don't do anything. Old Hu, tell me, why are you guys chopping down other people's hawthorn trees?"
Old Hu returned to his yard and led the mule out. "Director Mu, this tree has become a nuisance to our alley! Look how my mule has been scratched by the branches!"
The Zheng family's courtyard wall is low, and the branches of the hawthorn tree have extended outside the courtyard, often scratching pedestrians and vehicles.
The courtyards in this alley are large and the rent is cheap, and it is home to seven or eight families who drive horse-drawn carriages, donkey-drawn carts, and mule-drawn carts.
All the livestock that passed by the Zheng family's gate were not spared and were scratched by the branches.
Ye Manlin echoed, "Brother Hu's mule lost its fur, and my red dates got their eyes scratched. We really can't keep this tree! We'll only cut the branches outside the wall, leaving the part in the yard alone."
He spent all his savings to buy this horse, and also borrowed some money from his grandfather and stepfather.
It was more painful for him to see the horse injured than for himself to be injured.
Ye Manzhi expressed the thoughts of the onlookers: "You should discuss cutting down a tree with the owner. How can you just do it right away?"
"Why didn't we discuss it? We all came to discuss it peacefully before, but Old Zheng from his family said the tree was worth eight yuan and wouldn't let us cut it down. So we each contributed one yuan, and together we had eight yuan, we gave it to him and told him to cut the tree down himself. But they took the money and didn't do anything for over half a month, resulting in two more horses being injured. We had no choice but to cut it down ourselves!"
Zheng Dongmei angrily said, "Bullshit! Who took your money?"
"It was your father who collected the money, a full eight dollars! The resident group leader was present when he collected the money!"
Everyone then remembered the old man from the Zheng family who collected the money. There was a big commotion at the door of the house, but he, the head of the family, was nowhere to be seen.
Zheng Dongmei held her head high and refused to admit it: "This hawthorn tree is the Feng Shui tree of my family. My father will never take your money!"
Hawthorn has many seeds, which, like pomegranates, symbolizes many children and good fortune. Many families plant hawthorn trees in their yards just to bring good luck.
However, at this point, it is no longer just a matter of one tree.
Zheng Dongmei felt that these people in the alley looked down on her family from the bottom of their hearts.
Her brother is paralyzed, her parents are old, and her sister-in-law is a reformed prostitute. Anyone who passes by her house will spit on them.
Isn't this just bullying her because there is no one at home?
The whispering, contempt and sneers of the onlookers made her feel unprecedented embarrassment and humiliation.
Xue Qiao'er took her hand and said, "Dongmei, we all live in the same alley. This tree is an eyesore. Even if we don't cut it down now, they might secretly cut it down in the middle of the night. It will be chopped down sooner or later. They are so many and powerful that we can't afford to offend them. Let's just forget it!"
The sister-in-law's words were like a spoonful of boiling hot oil, pouring onto Zheng Dongmei's burning anger.
"What do you mean by that?! This is our Feng Shui tree, no one is allowed to touch it!"
The drivers didn't care what she thought and said confidently, "Either cut down the tree or pay back the money. If the animals are scratched by the branches again, your family will also pay for it!"
They came with tools, intending to completely get rid of this harmful tree. They had only sawed off half of the protruding branches, and they would definitely have to saw off the other half as well.
Old Hu asked everyone to work faster because they had to go home for dinner after sawing down the trees!
The drivers responded in unison, and Ye Manlin also rolled up his sleeves, ready to contribute.
Huang Li saw people gathered here from afar, and he had a bad feeling. He rode his bike closer and saw Ye Laowu climbing up the ladder to cut down the tree!
She threw down her bicycle and squeezed into the crowd, trying to pull Ye Laowu down from the ladder, but she couldn't get to the front at all.
Huang Li pulled Ye Manzhi, who was closest to him, over and said, "We can't let your fifth brother bully others. Hurry and call him down! Why are you cutting down other people's trees for no reason?"
She couldn't help but curse in her heart.
The two families were separated by half an alley, yet a neighborhood dispute still arose!
"Sister-in-law, my brother and his family have paid! Uncle Zheng has also accepted the payment and agreed to cut down the trees."
"That won't work either. They don't agree to cut down the tree now. If so many people come together, isn't that bullying?"
"If your brother dares to chop down someone else's tree, Zheng Dongmei will kill him! She's a reckless lunatic! Not only will she kill your brother in revenge, but few of the people present will survive!"
[The whole street will be reduced to ashes, and hundreds of people will die in the flames. Even her own father, mother, and brother will be burned to death! Why are you arguing with such a lunatic?]
【……】
【……】
Even if she paid with her life in the end and was shot, was it worth it for a tree?
【……】
【……】
Looking at the lines of subtitles flashing quickly in front of him, Ye Manyi felt a stinging pain in his eyes, as if something was about to burst out.
These small words shone with golden light, and their color was obviously warmer than the sunlight, but they made her feel cold all over.
She moved her lips, trying to say something, but her throat felt like it was clogged with cotton and no sound came out.
Huang Li didn't know what she was thinking about. He patted her on the shoulder and said anxiously, "Don't just stand there. Come over here and help persuade these people to come down!"
Ye Manzhi followed Huang Li with a dizzy head.
Seeing that she tried every means to persuade the fifth brother to come down, the fifth brother waved his hand and refused nonchalantly.
I couldn't imagine what kind of misfortune would be brought upon myself by cutting down this inconspicuous hawthorn tree.
Because of what had happened before, Ye Manzhi did not dare to take the information revealed by Wong Tai Sin lightly.
She clenched her palms, held her breath, and shouted: "Fifth Brother——"
The voice was sharp, almost breaking.
The drivers who were busy preparing to saw trees were all startled by her.
The fifth brother rubbed his ears and asked, "What's wrong? What are you shouting about?"
"Brother, my stomach hurts!" Ye Manzhi's voice was still a little hoarse. He cleared his throat and said, "Take me home quickly!"
The fifth brother climbed down the ladder, frowned, and asked, "Why do you suddenly have a stomachache?"
Director Mu was afraid that the driver's sawing of trees would cause a conflict, so he continued, "On the way here, she ate a sesame pancake. She might have caught a cold while walking. Her stomachache can be serious or minor. Take her home and observe her. If she doesn't feel well, take her to the hospital!"
Seeing her lips pale and beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, Ye Manlin believed it and said, "Then let's go and lie down at my place."
"I'm not going to your place. Those two old sows are giving me a headache. Take me back to the military industrial compound!"
Ye Manzhi didn't dare let her fifth brother stay here any longer, so she got on her third sister-in-law's bicycle and forcefully asked her fifth brother to push her back.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to say to Director Mu, "Director, I think it's too bad that so many people came to the Zheng family to cut down trees. Isn't this just bullying the minority? We can't be sure whether the eight yuan was really given to the Zheng family. Don't let them cut down the trees for now! Let's report it to the police!"
Mulan didn't expect that Xiao Ye was so upright.
You know, her fifth brother was also one of the drivers who participated in cutting down trees. Isn't this considered sacrificing one's own family for the sake of justice?
"I'll take care of this, you go back and recuperate."
*
Ye Manzhi was really sick this time and developed a high fever when she returned home that night.
When I was at my most confused due to the fever, I was still mumbling and crying.
If what Wong Tai Sin "said" was true, then her fifth brother's life must have been extremely miserable.
He was born with a disability and was considered unlucky by his grandfather and father. In order to save his life, his mother broke up with her husband's family and returned to her own family.
When he grew up a little and began to understand things, he had to follow Chang Yue'e to remarry and live with his stepfather to adapt to the new life.
From childhood to adulthood, I have been pitied by countless people because of my good looks and disabled legs.
After finally growing up and saving some money, he bought a carriage and his life started to improve a little, but he was killed in a sea of fire by someone seeking revenge.
Just thinking about what happened to her fifth brother, Ye Manzhi felt so sad that she couldn't control her tears.
Fifth brother has never had a girlfriend, married or had children!
If she really died like this, her mother Chang Yue'e would definitely hate Old Ye to death!
When the two remarried, Chang Yue'e did not ask for a penny of dowry. Her only request to Lao Ye was that he must treat her two children as his own.
Whatever the second sister, third brother and fourth brother have, the eldest sister and fifth brother must also have.
Originally, Lao Ye had been doing a good job.
However, last year, Factory 656 allocated housing to the first batch of employees who joined the factory, and the housing was in the form of a building.
With Lao Ye's position, he could only be allocated one and a half rooms. It was because his third brother gave up the opportunity to get a house in the future that he was able to secure a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment for his family, which could barely accommodate the whole family.
After all, this house actually belongs to Old Ye and the third brother. Even the fourth brother and his wife have to sleep in the living room.
So, when the fifth brother proposed to rent a yard to raise horses, Chang Yue'e did not object and let him move directly from the old bungalow to Yueya Hutong.
However, she had to watch her third brother get married, have children, study in the Soviet Union, and become an engineer, enjoying a glorious life, while her fifth brother lost his life at a young age. How could a mother feel good about this?
Ye Manzhi had almost foreseen the scene of her family falling apart, and cried sadly in her dream.
She had a high fever intermittently and kept talking nonsense. It took her three days in bed before she finally woke up.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Where is my fifth brother?"
"I'm driving the cart to transport the goods," Chang Yue'e changed the towel on her forehead, "Just take care of yourself!"
Ye Manzhi lay back down with peace of mind, thinking about the Zheng family and her fifth brother.
It is unbelievable that someone could be killed because of a tree, but considering the background of the Zheng family, it is not impossible.
Long-term inferiority, humiliation and bullying can indeed easily cause people to become psychologically distorted.
Perhaps this tree felling is the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Ye Manzhi had already begun to fear Zheng Dongmei and believed that she could not change her in the short term.
Then I can only send Fifth Brother away first and keep him away from Yueya Hutong for a while.
Her family helped her apply for four days of sick leave from her company. Before officially leaving, Ye Manzhi planned to go to her fifth brother's place again and persuade him to go home and stay for a few days.
To enter the alley, you must first pass Zheng's house.
The mottled wooden door was half-open, and the sounds of children crying and playing drifted far away.
Against the dazzling sunlight, I looked at the hawthorn tree with its branches full of leaves. Many branches still extended outward, domineeringly occupying the public passage of the alley.
"Mom, Dongmei, I'm going to work!"
As Xue Qiaoer's gentle voice came from the yard, half of the front wheel of the tricycle also popped out.
Ye Manzhi didn't want to meet the Zheng family at this moment, so she took a few quick steps and walked past the Zheng family's gate.
Behind him, he could still hear Aunt Zheng chasing after him and giving gentle instructions to her daughter-in-law.
"Qiao'er, it's hot and you sweat a lot. I put two bottles of boiled water in the IV bottle. Remember to drink it."
"Yeah, thanks, Mom."
"Kid, why are you thanking me? If you can't pedal anymore, just ask the team for a hand. They'll see how hard it is for a woman like you, so they'll definitely help you! Also, if you get hungry, just buy some bread outside. Don't be reluctant to spend money!"
Listening to the conversation behind him, Ye Manzhi sneered in his heart.
It turns out that at Aunt Zheng's place, there is plenty of boiled water, but no dry food.
Riding a tricycle is hard labor and you don’t earn much money per trip. Which driver would be willing to spend money on bread?
If you really care about your wife, why don’t you bring her food?
Aunt Zheng was so amazing that she made Xue Qiaoer willingly support their entire family with just a few words.
Ye Manzhi muttered to himself, and when he heard the sound of the bolt on the wooden door behind him, he subconsciously turned around to look.
Xue Qiaoer was seen standing next to the tricycle, adjusting the newly installed awning. She remembered something and tilted her head to look at the hawthorn tree that had been cut in half, and suddenly smiled.
Ye Manyi turned around and left quickly, repeatedly thinking about the sarcasm on Xue Qiaoer's lips, and a chill suddenly arose in his heart for no reason.
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