Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

When Ye Fan brought the cake home, Dabao and Erbao were playing on the computer in Dabao's bedroom. Yu Wentao wanted to say something when she saw the cake, but Ye Fan said "hush" and put it on the desk in her bedroom. Yu Wentao understood that she wanted to give Dabao a surprise.

Ye Fan asked quietly: "Is Guangming at our house?"

Yu Wentao nodded: "Come as soon as he is free. Invite him to have lunch at our house?"

Ye Fan: "In the evening. I'll call Jingjing and pick her up in the afternoon. You can tell the neighbors on both sides to invite their children to come to our house for dinner."

Yu Wentao was surprised: "A big event?"

"It's not a big deal. It'll be fun with a group of kids." Ye Fan put the gifts in the drawer to prevent anyone from opening them too quickly. "I'll go buy some vegetables and meat. In the afternoon, I'll buy two roast ducks and a few pounds of braised meat." He suddenly remembered that he hadn't given his mother-in-law any money this month, so he grabbed a few dozen yuan from his bag and gave it to her.

Yu Wentao said subconsciously: "I have."

"Keep yours for your daily use." Ye Fan handed it to her and asked, "Is Lai Fu on duty today?"

Yu Wentao knew Sun Laifu's office phone number, so she called him. Sun Laifu's colleague answered the phone, so Yu Wentao asked the colleague to ask Sun Laifu if he could come over for dinner.

Sun Laifu is not in the emergency room now, he is doing surgery with his master. Surgery must be scheduled in advance, and he will come to eat when he can spare time. A colleague went to Sun Laifu's desk to check the schedule and directly told Yu Wentao that he was free.

Yu Wentao asked as soon as she hung up the phone: "Call Xiaoqin? She's on vacation at home. Dabao didn't call her Laifu on his birthday. Laifu thought it was strange and asked her about it. What should we say?"

Ye Fan: "Do you think she is at home or in Chang Guangrong's store?"

Geng Zhiqin and his parents-in-law have nothing in common. Yu Wentao doesn't mediate between them. She won't stare at her parents-in-law at home. Yu Wentao said, "I'll call Xiao Chang to ask."

Chang Guangrong has a phone in his store, which he applied for from the company. Because there is always someone in the store all day long, he will always be on the phone when a customer calls him.

As expected, Geng Zhiqin was in Chang Guangrong's store. The call was answered by Chang Guangrong's wife, who didn't know that Huihui had made Geng Zhiqin cry, so that Geng Zhiqin didn't like to go back to her parents' home. Ye Fan had never complained to Chang Guangrong that Geng Zhiqin was ignorant. Sun Laifu's sister subconsciously thought that she wanted to go back, and agreed on behalf of Geng Zhiqin.

Ye Fan had pointed out bluntly that if Geng Zhiqin had not lived with her brother and sister-in-law, Chang Guangrong would not have liked her. Geng Zhiqin did not dare to let her mother-in-law's family know that she did not want to celebrate Dabao's birthday. So she asked her sister-in-law: "Should I buy a gift?"

Chang Guangrong and his wife visit Yu Wentao every year to wish her a happy new year. Every time they meet Dabao, his wife sees that Dabao is a very particular person: "Buy something nice." Worried that she doesn't know the ways of the world in school every day, she reminds her, "Pick something that Dabao likes."

Geng Zhiqin was puzzled: "I don't know what he likes. He has everything."

"Then choose the expensive one." said her elder sister-in-law.

Sun Laifu's parents were also in the store, each staring at a child. Sun's mother heard this and said, "Doesn't he like brains? Your mother said so."

Chang Guangrong's wife: "That's called a computer. Ye Fan bought one. I heard it cost tens of thousands."

Father Sun exclaimed: "So expensive? Ye Fan really loves his child."

Chang Guangrong's wife instinctively wanted to explain that tens of thousands of dollars were nothing to Ye Fan. She then thought of the fact that Ye Fan and Chang Guangrong had opened a company together, and Ye Fan's wealth equaled Chang Guangrong's wealth.

Chang Guangrong was indeed rich. He gave her a bankbook with hundreds of thousands of yuan a few days ago. His wife didn't sleep well all night. Chang Guangrong asked her what was wrong. She said that he didn't contribute much to Ye Fan's software company, so it was not appropriate for him to take so much dividends.

Chang Guangrong replied that his garment factory earned the same amount of money as Ye Fan. His wife said, how much is a computer for others, how much is your clothes, no matter how you calculate it, you are the one who earns.

Chang Guangrong went from being a small hoodlum who knew nothing to now owning a shop, money and a factory, all thanks to Ye Fan. If it weren't for Ye Fan's kind guidance, he wouldn't have been able to take every step so steadily. Perhaps because he couldn't make money, he learned to "go through the back door" and "get a permit", and with the crackdown on "official corruption" in the past two years, he got into trouble.

Chang Guangrong thought for a long time and said, "Ye Fan's company is a piece of fat meat. Someone will definitely want to get a piece of it in the future. Then they can take their share from me."

Only then did his wife feel at ease and no longer felt guilty about taking so much money.

Chang Guangrong's wife had seen too many families fall out over money over the years, and she was also worried that others would know that she was rich and kidnap her child, so she swallowed back any talk of Ye Fan being rich and said, "Dabao needs a computer for school."

Geng Zhiqin heard this and said, "His computer is not connected to the Internet. I heard from my mother that he could make some software and the money from selling it could buy several computers. Dabao might be using the computer to make software."

Grandmother: "Is Dabao so amazing?"

Chang Guangrong's wife: "Except for his lack of language talent, Dabao learns everything quickly." Without waiting for her parents to speak, "Now is not the time to talk about this." Then she asked Geng Zhiqin to go to Wangfujing before the road was icy.

Chang Guangrong's store was not close to Wangfujing, more than 20 miles away, and it was snowing outside. Geng Zhiqin didn't want to go, so he said it was too late in the morning.

After lunch, Chang Guangrong's wife reminded her to go home early and come back early. Geng Zhiqin didn't want her to see anything, so he could only go home to get the money.

The bus was moving slowly due to the snow on the road, and it was almost dark when she returned to the store. Chang Guangrong's wife had already wrapped the child tightly, and without waiting for Geng Zhiqin to sit down and rest for a while, she sent her to the bus.

Geng Huihui turned on the TV and was about to go to the kitchen to help when her aunt came. Geng Huihui called "Erbao" in a low voice and winked at Erbao.

Erbao ran out: "Little aunt?" He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and went to take the child: "Little one, do you recognize your sister?"

Geng Huihui took the opportunity to go to the kitchen and said to her grandmother: "Your daughter still knows how to buy gifts."

No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Yu Wentao said directly: "Lai Fu's sister reminded her to buy it."

Geng Huihui subconsciously looked at her aunt who was unpacking the roast duck. Ye Fan nodded: "If she was at home, she would definitely say that it was snowing so heavily and she was worried that the little one would catch a cold, so she would not come."

Geng Huihui looked at her grandmother again, and Yu Wentao nodded without hesitation. Geng Huihui didn't know what to say for a moment, and after a moment of silence, she asked, "Does my aunt know that you two know her so well?"

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were in the same tacit understanding as before, and said in unison: "I don't know!"

Geng Huihui didn't know whether she should sympathize with her sister-in-law.

Yu Wentao added: "She used to dislike Chen Xiaohui for being too smart. I think she is not as good as Chen Xiaohui. Chen Xiaohui also likes to be smart now, but she listens to advice. She used to be obsessed with buying old furniture. Your aunt said she didn't know and could be cheated. She didn't take it seriously, but later she studied it carefully and didn't buy anything for several years."

Ye Fan nodded: "She used to go to see Yu every day, but I was worried that she would be targeted by someone, so I forbad her to go. She was itching to buy something, so I asked my sister-in-law and my mother to go."

Yu Wentao: "If it were your aunt, she would definitely think your aunt is timid, so she can do whatever she wants."

Geng Huihui suddenly remembered that her aunt had bought antiques in the past: "My aunt has money, will she go to the flea market alone to look at antiques?"

Ye Fan: "No! The antique market hasn't risen much in recent years. The price of a house changes every day. She would save her money to buy a house."

If Ye Fan hadn't said it, Yu Wentao would have forgotten: "Xiao Qin's house price has increased to 500 or 600."

Geng Huihui exclaimed: "Doubled?!"

Yu Wentao nodded: "Her neighbor is not willing to sell it for half the price."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard footsteps and turned around to see Sun Laifu standing at the door. Yu Wentao was startled: "Why don't you say anything when you're here?"

Sun Laifu smiled and said, "I was just about to say something. The house prices over here have increased a bit recently."

"Another increase?" Yu Wentao took a breath, "Seven hundred?"

Sun Laifu nodded: "My colleague said that if this trend continues, it will exceed 1,000!"

"Oh my dear ancestors!" Yu Wentao exclaimed, "How much is the salary?"

Sun Laifu: "It's a bit outrageous. My colleague thought the environment there was good, but he thought it was far from the hospital, so he hesitated and didn't buy it. Now he wants to buy it but can't afford it."

Ye Fan: "Buy a courtyard house."

"Those who can afford it can't decorate it. Those who don't need decoration can't afford it."

Ye Fan: "Borrow money."

"Isn't it bad to borrow money to buy a house?" Sun Laifu believes that no matter what you do, you should do it within your means.

Ye Fan: "If you don't borrow money, no one can afford it except the well-educated families who don't have the burden. Big brother, that's your brother-in-law, he borrowed several thousand yuan from Aunt Yu to buy the house."

This was the first time Sun Laifu had heard of this: "Brother, do you still need to borrow money?"

Ye Fan nodded: "Because we bought two. My sister-in-law didn't think it was necessary at the beginning. If we buy now, she can only buy one house with all her family's money." Sun Laifu: "The price of Siheyuan has also increased so much?"

Ye Fan: "They are all going up. In the past, you could get a house if you had enough years of service, but now it's getting harder and harder. Those who can't wait can only buy. One day, except for doctors, teachers, and policemen, no one will get a house, and the housing prices will be even higher."

Sun Laifu pondered for a moment and said, "A colleague of mine said that if the government intervenes to lower housing prices, it may reduce them a little. From what you mean, even if the government intervenes, it will be useless?"

Ye Fan: "If there is a famine this year, and rice costs 10 yuan per pound, and the government calls for a price of 1 yuan per pound, do you think it will work?"

Geng Huihui: "Unless the government opens its warehouses to release grain."

Ye Fan nodded: "The problem is that many companies don't have houses now. If all employees of state-owned enterprises have houses, the government's call for price increases will only result in a price increase."

Yu Wentao didn't understand: "What do you mean?"

Ye Fan: "For example, a house costs 50,000 yuan, and the government calls for a price increase. The seller asks for 70,000 yuan, but when the transaction is actually completed, the price is 30% off, so it is 49,000 yuan."

Yu Wentao suddenly realized: "So the house price could possibly exceed a thousand?"

Ye Fan had never paid attention to the housing prices during this period in his previous life, so he didn’t dare to say too strongly: “Maybe.”

Sun Laifu: "Then I want to remind the master. His son's grades are average. He will take the college entrance examination next year. Even if he is lucky enough to pass and get a good job, he may not be able to get a house."

Ye Fan smiled and shook his head: "It depends on which unit. Your master has been a doctor for so many years. He must have treated leaders of the tobacco or power departments. Ask your master to ask them which major can be assigned to these two units, and then apply for that major."

Sun Laifu asked: "Are these two companies good?"

Ye Fan: "There are many hidden benefits. Ask your colleagues how many people get into trouble every year because of smoking, and you will know how profitable the tobacco company is."

Seeing her confident expression, Sun Laifu said, "I'll ask her when I get back."

Ye Fan remembered something: "Does your master's son need extra lessons?"

Sun Laifu thought about it and said, "Maybe. My master has been sighing recently when he thinks of his son's grades."

Chu Guangming was so dedicated that he helped the kid go from the bottom to the middle in one summer vacation. In the past half month, he helped the kid understand all the knowledge points he didn't understand, so that after the New Year, he was no longer needed and could only go to Ye Fan's store to help.

Ye Fan: "You have met Guangming, right? Do you want him to help your junior brother with his studies? You can also lend him your high school notes. But the tuition fee is a bit high."

Sun Laifu heard his mother-in-law mention that Chu Guangming once gave tutoring to someone for dozens of yuan a day. The person was willing to pay him, and he must be worth the money: "I'll ask him later."

Ye Fan handed him two plates of roast duck, and Sun Laifu took them subconsciously: "Eat?"

"Yes, tell them to wash their hands." Ye Fan poured out the chicken stewed in the pressure cooker.

There were many people at home, so they needed to be divided into two tables. Ye Fan poured two pots. Geng Huihui brought it over and asked Erbao and Sensen to serve the dishes. Dabao ran in, and Ye Fan asked, "Isn't the birthday boy waiting to eat in the main hall?"

Dabao said with a smile: "Happy birthday, Mr. Birthday!"

Yu Wentao waited for him to leave and said, "He is really happy today. Just now when I went to the main room to get some shrimp, I saw him talking to Xiaoqin. In the past, he would have ignored her because he was bored and went to sleep."

Ye Fan was afraid that Sun Lai Fu would suddenly come in, so he just smiled and didn't respond.

Considering that children also want to drink beverages in winter, Ye Fan bought a lot of milk drinks, cola, juice, and a box of Jianlibao.

Sun Laifu had to be on duty at night, so he didn't dare drink cold drinks. Ye Fan and Yu Wentao didn't want to drink, and Geng Sensen thought that he was too old to be as greedy as a child, so he put the drinks on the children's table.

Geng Huihui didn't like her sister-in-law, so she sat at the children's table with Dabao and Erbao, and asked Chu Guangming to sit at the table with the adults. Geng Huihui opened a bottle of Jianlibao, gave each of them a bottle, and said, "Happy birthday to Dabao."

A group of older and younger kids were clinking glasses, it was so lively, just the opposite of Ye Fan's side.

Seeing his children happy, Ye Fan couldn't help but smile.

After dinner, the table was cleared and Ye Fan took out the big cake she had bought.

Dabao exclaimed: "There's also cake?"

Ye Fan: "Are you happy?"

Dabao hugged her and shouted, "Mom is the best in the world!"

"Is Daddy not okay?"

Dabao wanted to say something, but suddenly realized that the voice was wrong, so he looked in the direction of the voice: "Dad?!"

Geng Zhiye handed over the gift and took off his military coat. Ye Fan took the coat and said, "Didn't you say you didn't have time?"

"It was snowing when you called. I don't know when it will stop snowing. How can I guarantee I will come back?" Geng Zhiye grabbed his son's ear and said, "What if the journey is difficult and he can't come back? He will get angry with me again! Is there only one good mother in the world?"

Dabao opened the wrapping paper and saw a small tank made of shells. His eyes lit up: "Dad and mom are just as good!"

Geng Zhiye sneered and let go: "Cut the cake."

Ye Fan asked Dabao to make a wish. Dabao was a little sorry that his father could not come back. Now that his father is back, Dabao said loudly: "I hope everyone will be healthy, happy and rich next year!"

Ye Fan laughed: "Is this a wish?"

Dabao: "What if the gods in heaven don't hear me when I make a wish?"

Ye Fan believed that her superstitious little girl was really afraid that the gods didn't hear her, so she didn't mind his poor mouth: "Cut the cake."

The neighbor's youngest son touched his stomach and said with regret, "I can't eat any more."

Ye Fan: "Take it home for mom to eat."

Upon hearing this, Dabao cut a large piece for him and asked Erbao to go to the kitchen to get a plate.

Erbao brought all the clean plates over and asked her brother to cut a big piece for Dad. Geng Zhiye just wanted to eat something hot at the moment, so he took a bite and gave it to Ye Fan.

Ye Fan was not hungry, so he asked Dabao to keep two pieces and shared the rest.

Chu Guangming took a large piece of food home, while Sun Laifu packed a lunch box and took it to work.

Seeing that everyone got a lot, Dabao became even happier: "Mom, invite everyone to Erbao's birthday next year."

Ye Fan nodded: "Okay." Considering that Erbao didn't like the crowds as much as Dabao, "Erbao, how about that?"

“Is it hard for mom to cook so many dishes?” asked Erbao.

Ye Fan: "Your birthday is in the summer, so we can buy some cold dishes, roast duck and braised chicken."

Erbao suddenly realized: "Yes, you don't need to heat it up after buying it."

Ye Fan: "Please clear the table."

The dishes and soup on the children's table were all eaten up, but there was still a lot left on Ye Fan's table. Ye Fan poured the leftovers together and heated them up, and cooked a bowl of egg noodles for Geng Zhiye.

Geng Zhiye ate directly in the kitchen.

Ye Fan sat next to him and asked: "Will you be able to come back after the New Year this time?"

Geng Zhiye: "You can spend the day before New Year's Eve at home. But it's snowing heavily today. If some places are severely affected, we may need to come out to shovel snow and provide disaster relief. So don't worry if no one answers your call these days."

(End of this chapter)