Chapter 30 030 Who is using whom? Two pairs of shoes? Yang Zheng...
Shu Jinyue was shocked by the speed at which Xu Wenli and Shu Wenming resolved their misunderstanding - it was too slow!
Jin Yue didn't find a chance to ask Xu Wenli quietly, but she observed her second brother. He used to lie on the kang as soon as he got home, but suddenly he started to wash his hair, take a bath, and do clothes. He kept himself clean every day and secretly used Teacher Shu's razor blade. Then one day, Aunt Zhao came to the door.
"Teacher Shu, why did I hear that your Wenming and Wang Xiaohong have no chance?"
Mr. Shu's chess piece fell to the table with a "bang". "When did it happen?"
He just said that his second son looked like someone who was looking for a date recently, but how come it suddenly ended again? What a troublesome son!
"Yesterday, Lao Zhao and I went back to the countryside, and Wang Xiaohong's mother said that we are not civilized... not... oh, anyway, it was pretty unpleasant."
The curse was quite dirty.
Teacher Shu almost vomited blood. How many lesbians does his good-for-nothing son want to date? When will he get married?
But he was open-minded and didn't beat his son to death. "I'll ask him about this. Don't get angry."
"Well, I'm not angry. I don't like that girl that much anyway." Well, it really is up to the matchmaker to decide whether to do good or bad.
At night, Shu Wenming was whistling. As soon as he entered the room, Teacher Shu grabbed his ear and said, "Oh, Dad, it hurts. Your son is a flesh and blood. Don't twist it."
"You still feel pain, why don't you just piss me off to death!" Teacher Shu stopped him from running and grabbed his sleeve, "Tell me quickly what happened between you and Comrade Wang Xiaohong."
Shu Wenming looked nonchalant, "What else can it be? It's just not suitable."
"We've been together for so long and now you're saying it's not right for you, have you ever considered your reputation, which is getting worse and worse, as a young lesbian? How can you hurt someone's feelings so easily?"
Shu Wenming's mouth twitched. "How can she be sad because of me? Forget it."
"Shu Wenming, what do you mean? What's going on between you and that lesbian?"
"Anyway, it's not what you think. I didn't hurt anyone. Don't put the blame on me."
Watching his son walk away in such a carefree manner, Teacher Shu was so angry that he was speechless. Even a cultured person couldn't find any swear words to curse him. He could only say two words - "rebellious son!"
When Shu Jinyue returned home, he was still cursing, "Okay, Dad, my second brother is an adult, let him decide on his own about his relationship."
"If I don't care, he will be single for the rest of his life. If he doesn't get married, you and your sister won't be able to get ahead of him. It will delay you." Teacher Shu changed the subject and said, "But you and your sister don't have to stick to this. As long as the relationship is successful, you can get married if you want."
"Okay, okay, Dad, then you should hurry up and urge my sister. I'm still young, there's no need to rush."
Jin Yue made jokes and managed to suppress her old father's anger. It wasn't that she felt sorry for her second brother. That guy's mouth stinks worse than a toilet and he deserves to be single all his life. She just didn't want Teacher Shu to get hurt.
"By the way, Dad. Tomorrow is Sunday. Let's go to the mountains to see if the chestnuts and walnuts are ripe. Then... hehe." Both the father and daughter were happy immediately. Being able to get something to eat was a happy thing.
Everyone was there in the evening, and they all became excited when they heard about Jin Yue's proposal. Zhao Wanqiu went to several familiar households to borrow a few baskets to load the "harvest" tomorrow. Shu Wenming was tinkering with the tools he brought back last time. Seeing that he was interested in hunting in the wild, Xu Duan gave him a set of things, and he had been itching to get his hands on them for a long time.
"We'll have steamed buns for breakfast tomorrow. Take a few into the mountains, along with some pickles. If anyone asks, just say we're visiting relatives."
Zhao Wanqiu's mother married from the suburbs. Her uncles and aunts are all in the suburbs, but they seldom visit each other, so it's not bad to borrow them as a shield temporarily.
The more I think about the crispy and juicy walnuts and the sweet and chewy chestnuts, the more I drool in my dreams. I wish I could wait until dawn as soon as I open my eyes.
"Hey, Jin Yue, what are you doing up so early?"
"Where are you going, steaming buns and wrapping clothes so early in the morning?"
"My mother took us to visit relatives in the suburbs."
Some curious people asked who the relative was and which county he was from, but Jin Yue lied with open eyes, making up stories that were one-tenth true and nine-tenths false.
Unfortunately, just when they had eaten and drunk their fill, packed up, and made all the preparations to leave, a group of people suddenly rushed in at the door, "Is this Shu Wenming's house?"
There were about ten men and women, all the men looked ferocious, and the women looked fierce too. Jin Yue looked closely and found that she had seen some of the men before, in People's Park years ago... Oh no, they were Wang Xiaohong's family members!
She quickly asked Shu Wenyun to go to Aunt Zhao's house to call for help, and she went ahead, "Shu Wenming is my brother, who are you?"
"Tell your brother to get out here!" The leading man was Wang Da, who was in his forties, with thick black eyebrows and a pair of eyes as big as copper bells.
"I'm right here, just tell me what you want to say." Shu Wenming was also confused, but his memory was not as good as Jin Yue's. He really couldn't remember someone he had just met by chance half a year ago.
"You're the pretty boy?"
"I don't think she's white, and she's not that good looking either. She's not as good as the players on our team..."
"Ahem, don't talk about irrelevant things. Let's just ask you, Shu Wenming, what are you going to do about your problem with my sister?"
Shu Wenming finally understood, "Are you Wang Xiaohong's family? What could possibly happen between her and me? You've got the wrong person."
"You f*cking dare to say that. My sister has been... you still look nonchalant. You still refuse to admit it. You are such a jerk..." Wang Laowu was so angry that he couldn't even finish his words. The more serious Shu Wenming looked, the angrier he got. "How can there be such a shameless and irresponsible man like you in the world!"
"Wow!" The whole compound was in an uproar. The emotional dispute had escalated to an unspeakable level. What was irresponsible? What was shameless? Everyone pricked up their ears, expecting them to reveal some more explosive news.
Teacher Shu was so anxious that his face turned red and his neck became thick. "Please speak properly. I know my son. He is not a morally corrupt person. Please don't falsely accuse him."
"False accusation? My sister already has a child, and we are accusing him?"
This sentence was like a drop of water dropped into a boiling oil pan, exploding with crackling sounds. Everyone knew that Shu Wenming was dating someone, but he actually got the girl pregnant... This didn't seem like it.
It's like this, in everyone's eyes, although Shu Wenming appears to be difficult to mess with, he is actually a useless coward. If you say that such a person picked up five dollars on the street and kept it for himself, that is definitely true, but it is impossible to say that he bullied female comrades - he doesn't have the courage.
Someone stood up and spoke fairly: "Don't rush this. The civilized man in our compound is not a person with corrupt morals. He is a little naughty, but he would not do such a thing. Is there any misunderstanding?"
"That's right, if you want to be angry, you should explain things clearly first."
"Can we use my sister's reputation to talk nonsense? My sister had a checkup at the hospital yesterday. It clearly says she's pregnant. Shu Wenming, you're not a man. You dare to do it but you don't take responsibility for it."
Jin Yue didn't say anything. She was quietly observing everyone's expressions. The anger on the Wang family's faces was real, and they didn't seem like they were trying to blackmail anyone. The astonishment and realization on her second brother's face were also real.
The morals of that era were conservative, and my second brother went home every day and never stayed out overnight, so it was impossible for anything to really happen between him and Wang Xiaohong. After all, even if you were staying in a guesthouse, you needed a letter of introduction. If you were a man and a woman, they had to show their marriage certificate, for fear of an affair.
My second brother doesn't have either the motivation or the time.
If both parties are genuinely angry and shocked, then it is very likely that one of them is lying or concealing part of the truth, such as Wang Xiaohong.
Jin Yue was about to speak, but Aunt Zhao had already thought of it before her and said loudly, "Since you treat us as relatives, you have repeatedly asked me to introduce a date to Xiaohong. Now that there is a conflict, it is not too much for me, the matchmaker, to say a few words, right?"
The Queen Mother quickly said a few polite words, saying that she was still a relative after all, and she might need Aunt Zhao's help with other things in the future. "Yes, yes, sister-in-law, we were so mad at this bastard that we forgot to come to you first to talk it over."
"Don't say that. Even if the police come to arrest someone, they still require both personal and material evidence. You come here and say that Wenming is a hooligan. That doesn't make sense."
Everyone nodded, thinking that Aunt Zhao was worthy of being the head of the women in the entire compound.
"Secondly, as an introducer, I definitely didn't introduce him to you randomly. I think he has a civilized character. You have to have evidence to prove how he treated Xiaohong, right?"
"My sister is already pregnant, what evidence do you need? Do you have to wait until she gives birth before you admit it?"
"When did Xiaohong get pregnant? How many months has she been pregnant now?"
"I went to the hospital yesterday and the doctor said it was less than two months. Wasn't that the right time for her to date Shu Wenming? My sister often went to the city during that time to be with Shu Wenming."
"Okay, Wenming, tell me, when did you and Xiaohong start dating? When she came to see you, what did you do?"
Shu Wenming hesitated and said solemnly, "You'd better let Wang Xiaohong come and talk to me in person about this matter."
"Bullshit, you've already harmed my sister, and I even come to you in person. You're dreaming. Do you still have any shame? Do you still have any law?" Boss Wang was a man with a bad temper. He rushed forward in anger and punched Shu Wenming directly in the chest.
He was a farmer, and was very strong. His fist was as big as a casserole. When he punched Shu Wenming, who had been malnourished for a long time, took two steps back, grimacing in pain.
"You are really bullying people. Even if you do something wrong, the police will take care of it. How can you just hit people?" The other young people in the compound were not happy. Although there were constant frictions and quarrels in normal times, that was within the compound. Once outsiders bullied the compound, no one would sit idly by.
If you don't help others when they are in trouble now, they will still stand idly by when you encounter difficulties in the future.
Not to mention, Zhao Wanqiu had given intravenous drips to many families, and Shu Jinyue had treated their illnesses, but he never charged them a penny or took an egg from them. Even if they were not neighbors, they would still help them out of such a kindness.
"You want to fight, right? Do you really think that we in Courtyard No. 16 are vegetarians?" Aunt Zhao's son shouted, and a dozen young men immediately surrounded the Wang family.
Even Brother Li came, "I know civilized people, you are making false accusations, if you have the guts, call all the parties involved to confront them."
Men understand men better. He saw that there was no panic or fear in Shu Wenming's expression, and he was sure that this so-called child was definitely not his.
"Who are you? If you call me sister, then I will come. You are so capable!" Wang Laowu relied on his tall stature and deliberately bumped into Brother Li's shoulder.
Brother Li staggered two steps, stood firm and kicked him back. The situation immediately got out of control and both sides started fighting.
At the beginning, it was a battlefield among the young and strong men. You punch me and I kick you, and the number of people on both sides was basically equal, but there were generally no strong people from the Wang family on the compound side. But no one else said anything. But Wang's mother was afraid that her sons would suffer, so she scratched the face of one of the young men in the compound with her claws.
When Aunt Liu in the backyard saw this, she realized that it was her own son who was being tickled, so she immediately became annoyed and rushed forward to grab the Queen Mother's hair and started tickling her.
The daughters-in-law of the Wang family could not bear to watch their mother-in-law being beaten, otherwise they would be laughed at when they returned home, so they immediately came to help. The other aunts and young wives in the compound could not bear to see Aunt Liu suffer, so they rolled up their sleeves to help...so, it soon turned into a melee between the two sides.
Even Aunt Zhao and Zhao Wanqiu joined the battle, leaving Shu Jinyue alone to dodge.
In the end, the noise was so loud that someone went to call the neighborhood committee, and the neighborhood committee called in a few militiamen and armed specialists to separate the two groups.
Secretary Liu tried his best to persuade both sides, saying that since something had happened, they should call both parties and let Wang Xiaohong explain clearly. If Shu Wenming was really acting like a hooligan, they could do whatever they wanted to do with him... Of course, he was now determined to cling to Shu Jinyue's thigh, so he would speak more or less in favor of the Shu family and did not mention calling the police.
Once this matter is reported to the police, it will not be the same anymore. Shu Wenming might get involved.
The Shu family and the compound faction insisted that Wang Xiaohong must be confronted, otherwise they would be making false accusations and demanded that they pay compensation and make a public apology.
The Wang family is also very wronged. A good girl suddenly becomes pregnant. Who else can they look for a partner except her? They also feel that they are not wrong.
Seeing this, Shu Wenming suddenly said leisurely: "Brothers of the Wang family, I hope you can go back and ask her opinion on this matter first, and then come back after you have clarified it."
His attitude from beginning to end was very calm. He didn't even rush to deny it, nor did he say a word against Wang Xiaohong. Even if the Wang family was impulsive, they knew that there might be another hidden story behind this matter. Shu Wenming didn't say it directly, which was to protect Wang Xiaohong's reputation and give her face.
In the end, the Wang family left in disgrace.
Both sides were injured, and they were only slightly injured, so there was no need to go to the hospital. If they went, the Wang and Shu families would have to pay for each other's medical expenses, so no one mentioned it tacitly.
Zhao Wanqiu found some alcohol cotton balls at home and treated everyone's wounds without forgetting to thank them. If there weren't so many people involved, the Wang family would probably have wanted to report the case to the police station. This is the "benefit" of a gang fight. As long as nothing serious happens, everyone will be considered to have participated voluntarily. "Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by God."
Although she also felt that Shu Wenming did not do it, she was just an ordinary citizen and would rather avoid going to the police station if possible.
Shu Jinyue pulled Shu Wenming aside and said, "Tell me the truth, you and Wang Xiaohong are not dating at all? The date in the park and the restaurant are all fake, right?"
Shu Wenming shrugged, "I've already told you everything, what else do you want me to say?"
"Then what have you been doing all this time? You go out early and come back late every day."
Shu Wenming whistled, "Brother is getting you a bicycle."
It turned out that he had only used Wang Xiaohong as a cover during this period and went to the ghost market himself to help Zhang Liangwei trade in small things. He was quick-witted, quick at calculating, and alert enough, and was trusted by Zhang Liangwei. In just two months, he actually sold a bicycle.
No wonder Jin Yue thought that after so much time, he had forgotten about buying a bicycle.
It turns out that people do things in silence!
"Will Wang Xiaohong be willing to help you cover up?"
Shu Wenming snorted, "It wasn't me who suggested it. She took the initiative to ask me for help."
Shu Jinyue's eyes rolled. "You mean, Wang Xiaohong took the initiative to ask to go to the city to have a blind date with you because she was forced by her family. In fact, she came to date her real partner, and then asked you to help cover it up, and you took the opportunity to go to the ghost market to trade bicycles?"
These two people really have great acting skills, they fooled everyone.
"Who is her partner? Have you seen him?"
Shu Wenming curled his lips in disdain.
What kind of man is this who makes a girl pregnant before marriage?
"I met him once. He was an educated youth who went to work in the countryside in their village. We dated for more than two years. This year, he returned to the city and was arranged to work in a paper mill. We were separated for a short period of time. Later, Wang Xiaohong came to the city under my name and was with him every day."
Shu Jinyue really didn't know what to say. These two were so dramatic.
"What do we do now?"
"What else can we do? The ones who should be worried are the Wang family. I don't think that educated youth is someone who would marry Wang Xiaohong."
Poor girl, this was probably the reason why he refused to tell the truth even if he was beaten to death. Everyone could guess that it would be different from what he said in person. Even if Wang Xiaohong's reputation was ruined, the scope of the ruin was very small. If the unfaithful man really didn't want to take responsibility, she still had a chance to turn things around.
I never knew that my second brother could be so likable sometimes.
"Then why didn't you persuade her at that time?"
"It's hard to persuade a damned ghost with good words."
Jin Yue snorted and stopped worrying about Wang Xiaohong. Even pitiful people can have hateful aspects.
"Because of you, we can't even enter the mountain. If someone picks it next week, I will never forgive you."
"It's just some walnuts and chestnuts. If you want to eat them, I'll take some time to go and have a look some other day." He straightened his chest and said, "Anyway, I have a bicycle now, so it's quick."
In fact, he had got the bicycle three days ago, but he didn't dare to take it out suddenly. He planned to hide it first and slowly reveal his intention to buy a bicycle in the compound. Then he pretended to be looking for a ticket everywhere, and then pushed the bicycle back after a few days. This way, he would not arouse suspicion.
"Second brother, it's a shame for you not to go into business with your stupid brain."
"Can I make money by doing business? If so, I'll consider it later." Working at the vegetable station all the time is not a long-term solution. Temporary workers can be replaced at any time. As long as the leader's family has relatives who can't find a job, his position is just a temporary stop.
He was just holding a spot for someone else.
Shu Wenming is very clear about his position, so he has never had the illusion of being able to become a regular employee like Teacher Shu. He just hopes that he will not be removed too soon.
"Don't worry, second brother. As long as you keep your strengths, you will definitely become a big boss and make a lot of money in the future. Don't forget me when the time comes. Just buy me a big house. I don't ask for much."
"What's a house? I'll buy you a car!" These days cars are much more expensive than houses, the two are not of the same weight, but in the future, ordinary cars will be far inferior to houses.
Of course, I'm talking about ordinary cars.
"When the time comes, I will buy one for you and Wenyun, and the best radio for Dad and Aunt Zhao. Oh no, I will buy them a TV, a color one. I heard that the manager of our unit has a color TV, and you can tell the color of the clothes the person is wearing." The look and the tone of his voice made him sound as if he had become the big boss.
Shu Jinyue was amused to death and was just about to ask what kind of sweet dream he was having when she suddenly heard someone calling her name outside.
"Now, now, something's happened to Brother Li!"
Aunt Zhao's son helped the pale-faced Xiao Li to the back room. "I just went to the toilet and saw him in great pain on the way. Please help and take a look. I wonder if he was beaten by the Wang family. If there is a problem, we will split up into two groups. You go to the hospital and we will chase them. We must hold them responsible."
As soon as they heard that a fight had broken out, all the neighbors came, and those who were injured always felt a dull pain in their wounds.
Zhao Wanqiu knew what was going on. She had assessed the wound when treating it and it was not particularly serious, otherwise she would have sent the patient to the hospital no matter what.
"Everyone, don't panic. What happened to Xiao Li?"
Xiao Li held his waist and groaned. He took a few breaths before he could finish his sentence: "When I was...going to the toilet, my waist suddenly hurt...it hurt so badly."
As soon as Jin Yue saw his appearance, he knew what was going on without even feeling his pulse, and he wasn't panicked at all. "Did it hurt when you urinated just now, Brother Li?"
"right."
“Did any rocks fall out?”
When Xiao Li thought about it, he nodded quickly with a red face. Indeed, two stones as big as green beans came out, and his urine was light red. On the one hand, he was in great pain, and on the other hand, he was very scared, so his legs went weak.
"That's okay, it's just the stones that have been expelled." Jin Yue reminded quietly, "Keep drinking, it should not be completely expelled yet, jogging will have a better effect."
Xiao Li now believed her words without a doubt and finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that it was just a false alarm.
Everyone also relaxed. Knowing that it was Shu Jinyue who treated the disease, they all praised her for being so good that she could even cure kidney stones. Fortunately, Aunt Li was not present today, and everyone tacitly agreed not to mention this to her.
Sure enough, at noon the next day, Xiao Li's wife said that he had passed several small stones again, but the pain was not as severe as at the beginning. Based on the size they described and the size on the examination report at that time, Jin Yue estimated that the stones were almost expelled and did not let him take any more medicine.
"However, such stones usually recur. After you recover this time, remember to drink more warm water, exercise properly, and don't sit all day."
***
After the Wang family fled, no news was heard from them for several days. Even Aunt Zhao was too lazy to go back and ask. She knew that Wang Xiaohong's mother was not an unreasonable person. If she got married to such a family in the future, it would be fine if she lived a good life, but if she didn't, she would still be blamed.
"What kind of relative is this, Lao Zhao? Why is she such a traitor? She has ruined my reputation in the compound for so many years. Who will dare to marry me in the future?"
Old Zhao didn't dare say a word. He was away that day, and when he came back everyone looked at him with a half-smile, and he felt ashamed.
"I now suspect that they did it on purpose." Aunt Zhao put her hands on her hips and looked at the old man with squinted eyes.
Old Zhao quickly raised his hands in surrender, "I don't know, I don't know what they want, I'm not their accomplice."
"Maybe they just want to make this happen to force a marriage. If Wenming really has something going on with Wang Xiaohong, he will have no choice but to marry her. He won't have anywhere to complain in the future." He took the blame with good reason and became a father.
Aunt Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, fortunately, Wenming is a well-behaved person and did not fall for their trap."
Old Zhao was embarrassed and said, "Alright, alright, this marriage is over now, and we won't go anymore."
Aunt Zhao then let him go, thinking that after the storm had passed, she would go back and ask. It was not because she cared about Wang Xiaohong, but because she was curious about whose child it was, how to deal with it, and whether it would cause trouble for civilization in the future.
Of course, she didn't know that Shu Jinyue already knew who the father of the child was.
***
Shu Wenming's bicycle was pushed back on the second Saturday. It was a big, shiny silver Forever bicycle, tall and big, with ringing bells. There seemed to be a smell of industrial machinery on the steel frame. Teacher Shu touched it lovingly.
That’s great! This is the first big item for the Shu family. Even though he has never been ostentatious, he wants to set off a string of firecrackers to celebrate.
The entire No. 16 Courtyard came to see the novelty, and gathered around, saying “tsk tsk tsk”, with the screen full of envy.
Of course, it is 1974 now, and people's lives are not as difficult as in previous years. There are already three bicycles in the compound, and this is the fourth one for the Shu family. It shouldn't be so novel.
But other families can buy it, for example, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Li, because they have many workers (helping out), have savings, and live a good life. It is a bit unbelievable that the Shu family can also buy it.
Some people even quietly asked Zhao Wanqiu whether Shu Wenming had become rich.
"Well, it's not that easy to make money. Three brothers and sisters pooled their money to buy it, saying it would be more convenient for commuting to get off work in the future. Lao Shu and I also chipped in. Nowadays, young people have to spend money to watch a movie or buy a bottle of soda. How much money can you save?"
"Your family's Lao Shu has also gone out, and if you go out too, then you and Jin Yue will suffer." That's how it is in the compound. When you are in trouble, everyone is willing to help you. If you are having an easier time, that's not okay. Everyone will be jealous, and those with bad intentions will even say a few words to stir up trouble.
Anyway, they are afraid that you will suffer, and they are also afraid that you will drive a Land Rover.
Zhao Wanqiu was not stupid either. "We won't suffer any loss. After all, the three siblings bought it together. Jinyue can ride it, too. She is young and likes to play. Maybe she will ride it more often."
Some people were tempted to buy a bicycle. They thought that if families like the Shu family could afford one, why couldn't they? When they told their parents about it when they got home, they were scolded.
The next morning, Shu Wenming rode his bicycle and took Shu Wenyun to work, as if the birds and flowers on the road were singing to them.
The third day was Sunday. This time it was Jin Yue's turn to sit. Shu Wenming drove her, and the others took the bus. The whole family went into the mountains to hunt again!
I haven't been here for a while, and the grass is almost as tall as my waist. Everyone put down their things and quickly found the chestnut and walnut trees we discovered last time. They are not fully ripe yet, but they are still edible.
"Pick them, they won't be ours when they're ripe." Jin Yue was greedy, she wanted to dig up the tree and take it back with her. "It would be great if we had a big yard and planted a lot of fruit trees in it, so we could have food to eat without going out."
"Come on, do you know how much a courtyard house costs now?" Shu Wenming climbed up the tree swiftly and squatted on the branch like a monkey. "I went to Zhang Liangwei to get a car. He also helps people buy and sell houses. Even a small courtyard like the one in Huaishu Hutong across the street costs more than a thousand yuan."
At the rate at which an average family saves, they won’t be able to buy a house in ten years.
"What about the one in Goldfish Alley?"
Shu Wenming's eyes almost fell to the ground. "You dare to dream of Goldfish Alley? That's even more expensive, at least two thousand yuan, and it depends on the size. For a place like the Xu family's, guess how much it would cost?"
"At least three thousand yuan." Jin Yue was a little depressed. Novels said that houses were cheap at that time, but that was measured by time travelers (reborn people) using the perspective of later generations and the value of currency. If converted into current prices and income levels, it would still be out of reach.
"Others may be able to afford it, but the one owned by the Xu family is probably worth at least 4,000 yuan."
Four thousand dollars...
Shu Jinyue held his chin with both hands and began to calculate with his own salary. That would require saving for eight years and one month without eating or drinking and not daring to spend a penny. And he also had to ensure that the house price did not increase at all in these eight years. Is that possible?
"Alas, when can we live in a big house? By the way, second brother, when you were collecting bicycles, did you find any business opportunities that would not be too risky, and you wouldn't have to go to jail if caught, but you could make a lot of money at the same time?"
"Are you dreaming?" Shu Wenming threw a furry chestnut onto her shoulder. "Hurry up and pick some. If you can't finish them, we can fry them and take them to the ghost market to see if we can exchange them for something else."
He was not brave enough to sell the goods directly, so he followed Zhang Liangwei and did not dare to show his face. Exchanging things was a little safer.
"Yes, we don't have to take them to the ghost market. We can go to the entrance of the cinema and sell them to the young people who are about to go in to watch a movie." With so many people going in to watch movies every day, even if only three people buy their stuff at each movie, they can still sell a lot in a day.
The key is that this is a no-cost business. They have enough chestnuts to sell for a long time. By taking care of this chestnut tree, their family can easily make a lot of money... Thinking of that scene, I feel more beautiful now.
"You, don't be so idealistic. Do you think the people who sell tickets and things in the cinema are blind? You are clearly stealing the business of other companies. Who else should I report if not you?" Shu Wenyun couldn't stand her wild thoughts. "You should keep your feet on the ground in the next few years. But let's all start reading books and reviewing first, just in case the college entrance examination is resumed one day?"
Shu Jinyue turned around and saw that she was concentrating on using a stone to smash the burrs on the outside of the chestnuts, as if she was just saying it casually.
"Come on, Shu Jinyue and I are not good at studying. You have to bear the pain of studying alone. We just want to make money." Shu Wenming knew his own capabilities very well, but he underestimated Jinyue's determination.
"Who says they don't want to go to college? I want to go, and I have to go to medical school."
"Okay, okay, go ahead and dream as much as you want. It doesn't cost any money anyway."
Shu Jinyue was not talking nonsense, she was really working hard. In addition to memorizing English words, she was also preparing to learn mathematics, physics and chemistry. She had basically never learned these subjects back then, so it must be very difficult for her to learn them now, and she would need to spend more time than others.
This is also the reason why she doesn't want to have a relationship. She is barely 20 years old now, and she will only be 23 when the college entrance examination is resumed. It is completely too late to talk after entering university. At that time, all the men she dates will be older than her. Isn't it better than just finding a worker now and being thankful?
Shu Jinyue is very realistic. She likes two types of men: either wise and mature ones who she is willing to admire, or young and lively ones!
Of course, Qin Haiyang is also an older boy, but the gap between their families is too big, so she doesn’t think it is a good choice.
By sunset, all the baskets they brought were filled with chestnuts. Walnuts would be picked next time as it would be difficult to dry them at home if they picked too many.
The chestnut shells have been peeled off, leaving only the brown inner shells and kernels. I peeled a pot of them and stewed them with meat that night when I got home. The tender yellow kernels are fragrant and sweet. They have a crisp texture when eaten raw, and are soft and sweet when cooked. They can be used as a staple food.
The meat was wild boar meat. Put a small piece into the pot and cook it with chestnuts until it is soft. Then take it out and cut it into small pieces. Even the soup has a meaty aroma.
Zhao Wanqiu picked up some meat and chestnuts, put them in a lunch box, and asked Jin Yue to deliver it to Grandma Hu. Her health is getting worse and worse. She can no longer go out alone, and the food she eats is brought to her by the children of the Shu family.
The street office also took it very seriously. After all, she was the oldest known person in Xinqiao Street. If she could live over 100 years old, it would be a good reputation. So they sent people to check on her every now and then, wash her bedding and clean the house.
The remaining chestnuts were spread out on the kang to dry. The next day, Jin Yue packed them into two bags and sent them to Yao Qingqing and the Xu family respectively. Yao Qingqing was very happy because her favorite thing was fried chestnuts.
When I arrived at Xu's house, I found out that Xu Duan had gone on a business trip to Beijing and had not returned yet.
Jin Yue then put down her things and left. No wonder she hadn't met Xu Duan recently. She always felt that if he was in the bookstore, they would definitely meet.
"Hey, wait a minute, little girl." Sister Bao called her at the door.
Jin Yue turned around. She knew that Sister Bao didn't like her, so she wouldn't come unless it was necessary. "What's the matter?"
"Before he left, Leader Xu told Siqi to deliver the package to you, but Siqi was busy and asked me to do it. You never came, so I forgot about it."
Shu Jinyue breathed a sigh of relief. She had said that Xu Duan clearly knew that she didn't like Sister Bao, but he still gave the things given to her to Sister Bao. She would be angry.
When I took the bundle, I saw that there were two pairs of leather shoes inside that were exactly the same as last time, even the size was the same.
Jin Yue suddenly remembered the last time he sent her home to get clothes. He didn't say anything at the time, and didn't even show any abnormality. Then he turned around and bought her two new pairs of shoes without saying a word.
How can you give away exactly the same things? All together they make three pairs.
However, the more she recalled that every time she met him, she was wearing that pair of leather shoes, which really gave people the illusion that she couldn't let go of that pair of shoes.
Seeing her so happy, Sister Bao became unhappy, "Little girl, let me take advantage of my age to say something. I taught my children not to always ask for things from others, especially such expensive things. We country people have never worn leather shoes until we were old enough. These are not a few fruits or candies, these are leather shoes..."
Shu Jinyue smiled and said, "Yes, I didn't even ask for it, but Uncle Xu bought it for me."
Sister Bao was furious, "Don't talk nonsense, you are ruining the reputation of our leader Xu."
Jin Yue was too lazy to pay attention to her and left Xu's house in a heroic manner. However, when he walked to a place where Sister Bao couldn't see him, his shoulders slumped - this gift was really too expensive.
To be precise, everything Xu Duan gave her, though seemingly ordinary, was actually very expensive and of good quality. Even the snacks, she only found out later, were produced by a time-honored brand in the city, specially supplied to the Shilan Hotel to entertain leaders and VIPs.
Maybe for him, eating good snacks and wearing good shoes are as natural as drinking water and sleeping, because he has lived this kind of life since he was a child, but for Jin Yue, this is the highest level of enjoyment in her twenty years of life.
She was like a greedy thief. On the one hand, she coveted the comfort and enjoyment brought by these delicious food and fancy clothes, but on the other hand, she felt that she was too spineless and unworldly.
The person on the phone said that a girl who has never seen the world can be easily bribed by small favors and can easily go astray. If she goes astray in the future, Uncle Xu will be the culprit.
Jin Yue returned home and hid the things given by the culprit. She didn't want to open them. She thought she would return them to him the next time they met. She wanted to be a famous doctor in the future and couldn't indulge in such small favors.
The next day was Monday, and Jin Yue brought some roasted chestnuts from home to the office. In the past, Liu Jinbu always brought some roasted soybeans, broad beans, and peanuts to the office, and she ate a lot of them.
"Wow, where did Jinyue get these chestnuts? They're quite sweet, fried well, and they're open."
"It was given to me by a relative in the countryside. My mom chopped it with a kitchen knife and it's easy to cut."
Liu Jinbu really likes to eat these snacks. Of course, his family is well-off and can afford the money. "My wife likes to eat chestnuts. It would be nice if we add some honey when frying them."
Jin Yue thought to himself, how could he bear to do this.
"I have some at home. How about this, Jinyue? Do you have a lot of chestnuts at home? Why don't you sell me a few pounds? How about 20 cents per pound?"
"Brother Liu, you're welcome. We still have some at home. I'll give you whatever you want. It's too formal to talk about money."
Liu Jinbu was a foodie, but he wouldn't take advantage of others, so he immediately stuffed two dollars into the bag and asked for ten kilograms.
Jin Yue really couldn't refuse, so he went home at noon and told Zhao Wanqiu about it. Zhao Wanqiu filled a bag with food, weighing a full 15 kilograms.
Just as he delivered the chestnuts to Liu Jinbu, a black car stopped at the gate of the street compound. When the security guard saw the license plate, he exclaimed in his heart and hurried upstairs to call Director Niu.
"Director Niu, something bad has happened. Deputy Director Yang from the city is here!"
Director Niu was reading a newspaper. When he heard Deputy Director Yang's name, his calves trembled. He quickly stuffed the newspaper into the drawer, emptied the teacup, straightened his clothes, and trotted downstairs to greet him.
"Deputy Director Yang came to inspect. I am sorry for not welcoming you."
Yang Zhengkang just nodded, shook his hand politely, asked a few questions about the work progress, and then quickly got straight to the point: "I remember that Comrade Shu Jinyue works here, right?"
Director Niu looked at him and didn't think he was doing anything bad, so he said carefully, "Yes, yes, yes, Comrade Xiao Shu is an excellent comrade, he is conscientious and responsible in his work, and now he is working hard."
Shu Jinyue, who was trying hard to eat chestnuts: "..."
Liu Jinbu had rich experience in slacking off. He quickly put away all the miscellaneous items on the table, including Jin Yue's. Then he stuffed a pen into her hand, unscrewed a bottle of ink, put a half-paged notebook on the table, and finally pushed her to sit down.
The set of movements is smooth and seamless.
Yang Zhengkang just happened to come in. "Comrade Xiaoshu, we meet again. The old lady was wondering why you didn't come to her house to play. She asked me to invite you to her house this time."
The way he said this made it sound as if they had a very good relationship. As soon as Shu Jinyue heard it, he knew there was something else behind his words.
Sure enough, when Director Niu had the foresight to call everyone away, Yang Zhengkang showed a hint of anxiety on his face: "Xiao Shu, I came here this time to ask you to see a patient."
"This patient's condition is special, so it's not easy for me to come here in person. I hope you can come with me."
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