Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

Dabao patted his shoulder and signaled him to stay calm.

"I'm not done yet, five days a week."

Chu Guangming couldn't help swallowing his saliva: "That's 400 a month. Two months, no, even if it's only six weeks, it's 600. It's more than Aunt Ginkgo's salary plus commission."

Dabao: “In theory, that’s right.”

"What do you mean?" Chu Guangming frowned slightly.

Dabao: "You are worth this price if you get into a key university. In an ordinary school, you are only worth the price of accompanying the student, about five yuan a day."

Chu Guangming looked at Dabao as if to ask "Are you kidding me?"

Dabao put his elbow on his shoulder: "The market is so cruel."

Erbao asked: "What about me?"

Dabao: "I'll find you a sister later. You can't handle a naughty child."

Chu Guangming thought, do I look ferocious? Rather than this nonsense, Chu Guangming wanted to know why his schoolmate didn't teach himself, so he asked, "Is his family rich?"

"Both my parents are senior technicians, so they are not poor," said Dabao.

The whole family was in the courtyard. Ye Fan saw clearly that Chu Guangming was hesitant to speak: "Guangming, it's not that the family has a lot of money, but they can't teach and have to find outsiders."

Chu Guangming was puzzled: "Why?"

Ye Fan: "I can't help getting angry when I teach him. You treat him as a client. For the sake of money, you will suppress your temper and teach him patiently step by step."

Dabao nodded: "I have experience. I used to tutor Erbao in math, and I wanted to get angry all the time. I got annoyed when I saw my grandparents, and I wanted to kick any dog ​​that passed by."

Erbao rolled his eyes at him but didn't refute, indirectly admitting that Dabao was like that at the time.

Chu Guangming had an idea when he saw this: "If I become Aunt Ye's apprentice, then I can give more lessons to others, right?"

Dabao nodded: "That's a good idea! If it fails, we will lose everything."

Nowadays, you have to estimate your scores before filling in your application and then get your scores. If you estimate one point wrong, you may be rejected. Before the exam, Chu Guangming didn't think he could get into Peking University. Today, he checked his answers with Erbao after leaving the exam room. The estimated score should not be a big problem for him to get into Dabao's school or a university in Northeast China. Chu Guangming changed his application to Peking University, and he was unsure.

Chu Guangming had his parents' support and dared to give it a try. However, he didn't. He couldn't help but smile bitterly after hearing what Dabao said: "I'd rather go to Aviation University. It's close to home. I'll be back on Saturday afternoon and can go to the store on weekends."

Dabao rolled his eyes speechlessly.

Chu Guangming was puzzled: "I said something wrong again?"

"You are a college student already, why are you still working as a salesperson? Of course you are helping people with their studies while you have not forgotten the knowledge you learned in junior high and high school." Dabao sighed.

Chu Guangming was surprised: "Can you take extra classes on weekends?"

"Of course!" Dabao said, "Although there are many students who are good at studying, there are even more students who are poor at studying."

Ye Fan couldn't help but laugh.

Chu Guangming whispered, "Aunt Ye is laughing at you."

"Your Aunt Ye is relieved that her son knows a lot." Dabao raised his chin towards his mother, "Isn't that right?"

Ye Fan: "Cooking."

Chu Guangming immediately asked if he wanted to wash the vegetables.

Yu Wentao: "We are here. Go play with Dabao."

The next morning, Chu Guangming went to buy rice, flour and rapeseed. After breakfast, he went to Dabao's house. Dabao was speechless: "Junior high school hasn't had a holiday yet."

Chu Guangming was stunned for a moment, then realized that he would have the final exam for junior high school tomorrow.

"Should I wait another week?"

Dabao nodded: "Of course. You can use this time to tidy up your room, prepare to fill in your application form, and find your junior high school textbooks and notes."

Chu Guangming thought of another thing, what should he do if the naughty child doesn’t listen in class.

However, no one expected that this problem did not exist.

The naughty kid was Chu Guangming's junior in the same school. He had heard about him and guessed that he had no parents and could only rely on himself to make money by tutoring. The naughty kid was not a bad person by nature, so he naturally felt embarrassed to make things difficult for the poor guy.

When the naughty child's parents saw that their naughty little son was very obedient, they took into account that it was hot and he might get heatstroke and he had classes in the afternoon, so the naughty child's grandmother invited Chu Guangming to stay for dinner.

In the afternoon, the naughty kid’s grandmother gave Chu Guangming tuition fees. Chu Guangming was embarrassed to take twenty yuan, so the naughty kid’s grandmother stuffed it into his hand and said with gratitude, “Don’t worry, you know, we don’t expect him to learn. Just stay at home and don’t cause trouble, and I will pray for you.”

The naughty kid wanted to save face, so he pushed Chu Guangming out and said, "Go home quickly!" Then he yelled at his grandmother, "Stop talking nonsense!"

Chu Guangming was quite envious of the naughty kid, who had his parents’ love, his brother’s concern, and his grandmother’s care. However, he was only envious for a few minutes before his money was robbed.

Chu Guangming was stunned.

The old man who was waiting for the bus with him couldn't bear it any longer: "Child, child, it's better to lose money than to suffer a disaster, as long as the person is okay."

The old man stepped forward when the money was stolen, but he was too old to catch up and was even called an old fool.

Tears gushed out involuntarily, so much so that Chu Guangming couldn't help choking up as soon as he opened his mouth: "Uncle, I——"

"The bus is here. Where are you going? I'll buy you a ticket." The old man was worried that the little gangster would come back, so he pulled him onto the bus.

Chu Guangming got off at the familiar stop and saw the stall not far away. He couldn't help but walk over. There were many people leaving get off work at this time, so Han Dawei didn't care about him. He asked "What's wrong?" and continued to work. Chu Guangming shook his head and said he was fine and prepared to go home.

Han Dawei was worried, so he ran to the entrance of the alley and saw Dabao and Erbao playing badminton, "Dabao, come here!"

"Uncle Han, I'm fine." After saying that, Chu Guangming headed south, intending to go back home through the alley in front.

Erbao shouted: "Chu Guangming! Stop!"

Dabao chased after him, twisted his shoulders and saw that his eyes were red and swollen: "Is your biological father or your aunt?"

Chu Guangming is a few months older than Dabao. Maybe Dabao is mature, steady and responsible, so Chu Guangming subconsciously regards him as his brother. He couldn't help crying when he heard this.

Dabao frowned: "Don't let me look down on you."

"My tuition fees were stolen." Chu Guangming felt heartbroken when he said it.

Dabao understood but didn't quite understand: "Robbed? In broad daylight?"

Chu Guangming now seemed to be in a dream and nodded absentmindedly.

Dabao frowned and asked, "No, how did the little gangster know that you had money?"

"Me?" Chu Guangming thought carefully, "I saw the bus coming from a distance, took out my money to make change, and then someone came out of nowhere, snatched the money and ran away. I—" He hated himself for saying it, "I didn't react until the person ran away."

Dabao: “Alone?”

"I only saw one."

Dabao asked: "Is there no one else at the bus stop?"

"There was an old man who almost got beaten for helping me."

Dabao couldn't help but put his hands on his hips and said, "This is simply lawless! Not only do you not learn well, but you also hinder others from making progress. How can this be justified!"

Erbao asked: "Chu Guangming, you didn't call the police?"

Chu Guangming was stunned. He obviously didn't expect to call the police. "Then I should go now?"

Dabao: "Why go? The capital is so big, and finding a small gangster is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The police force of the Public Security Bureau is so limited that they can't find him even if they work themselves to death."

Chu Guangming couldn't help but ask: "But my money——"

"Don't worry, let me think of a solution." Dabao held his chin and pondered for a long time. Erbao couldn't help asking, "Have you thought of it? I didn't expect that I would go to find mom." Dabao looked at his sister and his eyes lit up: "Erbao, does the transverse flute class that mom signed you up for only last until 4 pm?"

Erbao nodded: "Don't you know?"

Her brother took her to the first day of class today. Before leaving, he asked the teacher what time the get out of class would end. Why did he ask? Erbao was puzzled.

Dabao: "In the future, Brother Sen Sen and I will pick you up after class, and then we will go find Guangming. When Guangming finishes class, you go to the bus stop, Brother Sen Sen and I will wait at the intersection, and Guangming will be opposite the bus stop. We will attack from all sides, I don't believe we can't catch him!"

Erbao asked, "You want to go fishing? No! What if he has a knife in his pocket?"

"We brought our flutes. Besides, did you learn Tai Chi for nothing?"

Erbao is still worried.

Dabao: "If you are injured, I will take care of you. If I am injured, Chu Guangming, you take care of me!"

Chu Guangming thought that the gangsters were capable of anything. "Forget it. It's only twenty yuan, not much. I'll put it in another pocket tomorrow and keep the change separately."

"You are condoning crime!" Dabao glared at him, "Who was robbed?"

Chu Guangming said hesitantly: "It was me. But you were injured because of me, I--"

"Is he a man?" Dabao asked.

Chu Guangming was not as thick-skinned as him, and was too embarrassed to say "no", "Erbao, look?"

Erbao was irritated by the words "condoning crime": "It's no big deal to try. Maybe you're worrying for nothing - the little hooligans are roaming around, they may not still be there."

Chu Guangming opened his mouth, and Dabao said, "It's settled. Don't tell my mom, she's very busy lately!"

Ye Fan is not busy, not at all.

There is no need to worry about his son, his daughter has been sent to learn the flute, his mother-in-law is at home, the clothing store does not need to take in goods for the time being, and the company's matters cannot be rushed. It can be said that this summer vacation is the most free for Ye Fan.

Ye Fan had nothing to do so she called Gangcheng. She didn't care about the high phone bill and asked them to help her contact the business. Ye Fan planned to make a few silly games and sell them to pay the employees.

Erbao didn't know the truth. Seeing his mother typing away on the computer after dinner, he mistakenly thought she was busy: "It's okay if you don't tell mom. Go buy a flute."

Dabao nodded: "Just buy it! It's just a flute."

Chu Guangming wanted to say something, but Dabao slapped him on the shoulder and said, "You should go home and cook."

Chu Guangming was too weak to cook after his money was stolen. He went to the entrance of the alley where the compound was located and saw a watermelon seller, selling it for a few cents a pound. Chu Guangming went back to his room and bought a small watermelon with a few cents.

As for Han Dawei, when he saw Chu Guangming leaving, he asked Dabao what happened to him.

Dabao said his money was robbed, Han Dawei couldn't help cursing, and asked Dabao to persuade him not to take it seriously. Dabao readily said that he would take care of it.

Erbao rolled his eyes at his brother. Dabao saw this and went home with his sister by the neck. From the back, the two siblings looked very close, but in fact, Dabao threatened his sister in a low voice not to tell his parents about the "fishing" incident.

The next morning, Dabao went to buy three flutes.

At four o'clock, Erbao finished class, and Dabao dragged his cousin to meet Erbao, and then took the bus to his schoolmate's house. Dabao was too lazy to walk because of the heat, so he didn't go in, and stayed under the tree by the road, asking Erbao to wait for Chu Guangming under the bus stop.

There were no hooligans on the first day, nor on the second day. On the third day, Erbao was tired and didn't want to go, so Dabao promised her one last time.

Chu Guangming didn't run into any gangsters that day. On the way back, he asked Dabao, almost crying, "What kind of luck do I have?"

Erbao is soft-hearted and said, "Try again tomorrow. We'll be there at five o'clock."

Dabao shook his head. "Some units get off work at five o'clock, and there are too many people at the bus stop. The hooligans dare not approach. I forgot before that the hooligans will definitely eat and drink after getting the money. A few bottles of soda and beer a day, and some cold dishes and braised meat. Twenty yuan can only last for three days."

Chu Guangming's eyes lit up: "Will he definitely show up tomorrow?"

Dabao: "Nine times out of ten. Someone robbed twenty dollars over there. If it were me, I would definitely think that place is a blessed place. Even if you call the police, they would withdraw if they haven't caught anyone in three days." The implication is that if there is no danger, the gangster will definitely go there.

Erbao also felt that there might be hope tomorrow, so he decided to give it a try tomorrow.

In order to catch the gangster, Erbao took all his pocket money for this month.

However, the plan could not keep up with the changes.

The bus came quickly, and Erbao hadn't taken out the money yet when someone with bad intentions appeared. Erbao was in a hurry and accidentally pulled the flute out. The little hooligan ran past her, and Erbao heard him exclaiming: "My money!"

Erbao turned his head and saw that there was an old lady beside him. Erbao had practiced at home and instinctively chased after her: "Brother!"

The careless Dabao stood up straight subconsciously. Seeing someone running towards him, Dabao was stunned for a moment. After all, he was not familiar with the business. By the time he reacted, the gangster was only one step away from him, and it was too late for him to use the flute. He raised his foot to kick, but missed. The gangster was tripped and staggered. Dabao seized the opportunity and hit him on the arm with the flute.

Erbao ran over, followed closely by Geng Sensen, and the three siblings held the man down.

The aunt thanked him profusely after getting the money back.

Chu Guangming dodged the bus and came from the opposite direction, very disappointed: "It's not this."

The aunt asked, "Young man, was your money also robbed?"

Chu Guangming nodded.

The aunt said, "He must have accomplices. Hand him over to the police and let them investigate."

Dabao smiled and said, "We came here to hang out with our classmates. We are not familiar with this place. Auntie, please call the police and we will keep an eye on him."

There was a public telephone booth not far away, so the auntie went over immediately. Dabao waited until the auntie was far away, grabbed the little hooligan's hair, raised his knee and hit him in the abdomen: "You have hands and feet but you don't learn! Will you dare to do it again in the future?"

Erbao was startled: "Brother——"

Dabao glared at her, and Erbao shut up. Dabao punched the little gangster again: "Can you move bricks at the construction site?" After asking, he hit him again, "Do you want to eat and drink after robbing the money? Can't you do something else? Can you beg for food if you are lazy?!"

Every time he said something, Dabao hit him. Geng Sensen also panicked when he saw this: "Dabao, stop hitting him. If the police come soon and see him like this, you will have to go in too."

Dabao grabbed the little gangster's hair and made him look up: "Who beat me harder or the police harder?"

The little gangster shuddered, not daring to say the latter, let alone the former, fearing that Dabao would get angry and hit him again. The little gangster wanted to run away, but at this moment the aunt came over and said with a smile: "The police will be here soon." Then she pointed at the little gangster and scolded him.

The police said "a while" was half an hour, and the aunt kept repeating it for half an hour. When the police arrested the little gangster, the little gangster felt like he had escaped death, just like the people waiting for liberation met the People's Liberation Army.

Dabao was amused when he saw this, "Auntie, he still seems unconvinced, would you like to talk to him again?"

The aunt shook her head: "I have to go home."

Dabao: "You don't need to take notes?"

The aunt thought that she still had to urge the police to thoroughly interrogate the little gangster and get Chu Guangming's money back, so she immediately squeezed into the car when she heard the words.

Dabao didn't want to go to the police station, so he pulled his brother and sister and told Chu Guangming to leave quickly.

Chu Guangming wanted to go to the Public Security Bureau, but he thought it would be a wasted trip so he followed Dabao: "Are you coming tomorrow?"

Dabao asked his sister: "Are you coming?"

Erbao felt a sense of accomplishment after catching the little gangster himself: "Come on!"

From then until July 29th, they caught several big and old gangsters, but they didn't encounter the one who robbed Chu Guangming's money.

On the 31st, the weekend, Chu Guangming didn't have to go to class, so he came to Ye Fan's house. Yu Wentao brought her granddaughter over, and there were people at Ye Fan's house every day. Chu Guangming filled in Ye Fan's address when filling out his application, and he came to wait for the admission letter.

During the dog days of summer, Dabao didn't want to go out and stayed at home. Chu Guangming couldn't help asking, "Dabao, do you think I am a jinx?"

Dabao: "The unlucky star harms others, but you are the one who brings bad luck."

"So that means I have a bad fate?"

Dabao raised his eyebrows. The twenty yuan thing hasn't happened yet? Dabao has never been short of money, so he can't empathize with Chu Guangming, but he doesn't want Chu Guangming to doubt him: "How could you be so unlucky to meet me?"

(End of this chapter)