Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

Ye Fan pretended not to hear.

But the next day, after Erbao left, Ye Fan drove to the diplomatic department to look at real estate. Ye Fan first looked at second-hand houses, then new real estate, and after he had a good idea, Ye Fan drove to the workplace where Dabao would work in the future, and continued to look at houses.

Ye Fan did not plan to buy cars for his two children. Firstly, they did not need them for the time being, and secondly, Ye Fan was worried that they would travel too much with the cars.

In mid-October, Ye Fan and Wei Jianshe arrived in the Soviet Union. After the deal was done, Ye Fan took out the cigarettes from her bag, two packs for each of her two partners, and told them that she was going to do it two more times.

The two men looked at each other, and one of them confessed to Ye Fan that they were also ready to stop, fearing that their assets would be lost after the turmoil.

Ye Fan asked where they planned to move.

The two of them said without hesitation that it was the strongest country on earth, and persuaded Ye Fan to go with them.

Ye Fan smiled.

The two of them didn't know why.

Ye Fan first asked the two if they knew whose territory was over there, and then suggested that they go to Europe. Wei Jianshe acted as an interpreter. Ye Fan added, "This is just my personal opinion, for reference only."

The two asked Ye Fan if he was not leaving.

Ye Fan: "Actually, I would rather you invest in our country. If you two change your minds, I can introduce you."

After working with Ye Fan for a few years, the two realized that she was a trustworthy partner, so they asked her what they wanted to invest in her country.

Ye Fan: "Our country is most in need of high technology. You two can bring your machines over to process and produce. I can help you apply for factory land. Even if you only produce low-end and mid-range products, you don't have to worry about not having a market, given our vast territory and large population. If you want to continue to engage in trade, just ignore what I said."

Foreigners also understand that you can't put all your eggs in one basket, but they don't trust a country that has only been reforming and opening up for a few years and are worried that its assets will be nationalized, so the two told Ye Fan that they had decided to go to a Western country. If Ye Fan needed the machine she mentioned, they could help make the contact and even buy it in their name.

Ye Fan thanked him with a smile, and took out some special products from the capital, indicating that they were for the employees of your company.

The item doesn’t look expensive, but Ye Fan carried it from afar, so it can be said that “the gift is small but the sentiment is great.”

The two heads of the trading company politely accepted the gifts and asked the driver to take them to the hotel.

Ye Fan and Wei Jianshe showered and washed up in the hotel, and after eating and drinking their fill, they headed to the station to meet up with their neighbors.

The things of those who came with Ye Fan were easy to sell. Because they listened to Ye Fan, they asked for the same price as their compatriots, but if they bought a lot, they would secretly give away some cheap but practical gadgets, such as hairbands, combs, or wind oil, peelers, etc.

The locals didn't say thank you and were indifferent, but when they got home, they informed their relatives and neighbors and told them who to buy from next time. As a result, they and Ye Fan's car went there four times a year and accumulated many regular customers. After getting off the train, they didn't need to shout at all, and they sold most of the goods in just half a day.

At first, some people thought that there was no need to buy a big and get a small one free, but they were afraid that Ye Fan would not listen and leave the train car she rented empty without carrying any things for them, so they decided to give her face and try.

In fact, people at home and abroad are the same when it comes to being greedy for small profits.

When they arrived at the station, Wei Jianshe checked the people and found that everyone was present and everyone had a ticket. Wei Jianshe reminded everyone to take their belongings and get ready to board the train.

Ye Fan was about to get in the car when two people in charge of the foreign trade company caught up with him. Ye Fan handed the suitcase to Wei Jianshe and signaled him to get in first.

As soon as Wei Jianshe got on the train, he sat by the window and stared down. About five minutes later, when the train was about to depart, Ye Fan got on.

Before Ye Fan sat down, an old neighbor asked, "Why did those two guys come to you?"

Ye Fan wanted to laugh when talking about this. The two Russians smoked cigars and looked down on the cigarettes Ye Fan gave them, so they opened two packs and gave one pack to each male employee. The specialties Ye Fan brought were distributed to the female employees.

The local area was short of cigarettes, and the male employee was overjoyed. He smoked two cigarettes to satisfy his craving and asked the boss where he bought them. The two smart men saw this and immediately realized that the cigarette business was profitable, so they chased after Ye Fan to do cigarette business.

Ye Fan told them honestly that she could only bring one or two packs. If they wanted to import in large quantities, she could help contact the tobacco company, but the price might not be very affordable.

The two asked Ye Fan to contact them first.

Ye Fan heard this and said nonsense: "They asked me when I will go there next year."

The neighbor walking with him didn't believe it: "Is that all?"

Ye Fan nodded: "They are busy moving their assets abroad recently. If nothing unexpected happens, I won't be able to see them again this time next year."

"Ah? They're going to stop too?"

Ye Fan nodded: "The wind has been blowing in the wrong direction recently, and we don't know what will happen in the future. We can't lose the big picture for the small."

"Will you come again next year?" the neighbor asked hurriedly.

Ye Fan: "Let's do it one or two more times. The time will be the same as this year. If they run away in June or July, we can do it again. If they plan to leave in July or August, we can do it again in June. It depends on how they plan."

The neighbor asked: "No one should care about or investigate a minor incident like mine, right?"

Wei Jianshe couldn't help but say: "You have made a lot of money in the past few years. I advise you to open a store and do some small business."

Ye Fan nodded: "I'm not trying to scare you, but given the current situation, it's possible that you may earn money but not spend it."

The neighbors sitting in front of and behind Ye Fan and on the other side looked at each other. Some of them agreed with him, while others didn't take it seriously. But the few who didn't take it seriously suddenly remembered that last year, a few of them didn't go with Ye Fan, Wei Jianshe and the others, and ended up encountering local people who were collecting protection money. Because there were only a few of them in a car, they sneaked in without being noticed by a few bag carriers, and half of their money was stolen halfway through the journey.

Unlike now, half of the carriage was filled with their people. When a few strangers came, everyone immediately realized that something was wrong. The bag carrier saw that they were together and had more people, so he naturally did not dare to attack them.

Later, Ye Fan's business partners passed away and died here. Their families asked Ye Fan for help, but Ye Fan didn't know who to ask.

As for the embassy, ​​they didn't recommend them to sell goods here. Besides, there were only a few people in the embassy, ​​and they wouldn't find any clues even if they all went to investigate.

The embassy could ask the local police for help, but the locals would definitely protect their own people, so there was only one outcome: they were fooled.

Besides, no one would go against money. Ye Fan could earn five or six times the money for each trip, and the local trading company could earn three or four times the money for each trip. If the situation was not so serious, Ye Fan would not stop, and the locals would not prepare to move their assets abroad.

Although it would be a pity to stop working, they are not so poor that they will starve to death if they stop working. Why risk their lives for one or two trips of cargo?

The people who were with Ye Fan got off the train, returned to their warm homes, saw the smiling faces of their children, and unanimously decided to retire with Ye Fan.

The profits from Ye Fan's company can cover research and development and wages, so Ye Fan saved the bulk of the money he earned from this trip and put the remaining money in the safe in his study at home.

Ye Fan gave Zhang Xiaoming's share to him, and Zhang Xiaoming also gave the third quarter dividends of Xiushui Store to Ye Fan and Wei Jianshe. Ye Fan got the money, added a little more, and bought a second-hand house for each of his children.

In mid-November, on a weekend, Ye Fan gave each of them a key: "Decorate it yourself."

Erbao was stunned for a moment, then he reacted and jumped up to hug Ye Fan: "Mom!"

Ye Fan grabbed her arm and said, "Do you think you are three or four years old? Get out of here!"

Erbao let go and saw that her mother's ears were red from being pinched by him. She smiled apologetically and said, "I was too excited."

"You'd better not get too excited." Ye Fan touched his neck and glared at his fierce daughter.

Erbao stuffed the keys into his pocket, moved behind her, and massaged her shoulders and back: "Mom, when did you buy it? It's okay for my brother and I not to go."

Ye Fan: "My name is on the property certificate. Is that not okay?"

"It has to be possible. Because mom's future belongs to me and my brother."

Ye Fan raised his hand and hit her on the forehead.

Erbao instinctively wanted to hide, but was a little too slow, and his forehead turned red. Erbao didn't care: "Mom, the higher-ups are criticizing the high housing prices in newspapers and on TV. Aren't you afraid that the housing prices will plummet if you buy now?"

Ye Fan: "It won't plummet."

Dabao asked: "Why? Many state-owned enterprises are laying off employees. The economy is bad."

Ye Fan: "The overall environment is actually quite good. Employees of state-owned enterprises may starve if they lose their jobs and income, but there are many wealthy people in the capital. They run small businesses, run factories, work in trading companies, etc. These people are not state-owned enterprise employees and do not have houses. They made money a few years ago and are preparing to buy houses in the next two years. If there is demand, commodity housing prices will not fall, because businessmen aim to make profits."

"Isn't this just committing a crime in defiance of the law?" Erbao asked.

Ye Fan shook his head slightly and explained to the two children that the price could remain unchanged, but if they wanted to buy the house, they would have to pay more. For example, someone asked why it was 1,500 yuan when it was not 1,100 yuan per square meter. The salesperson could answer that each room had a different price, and the first and second floors with balconies facing north were 1,100 yuan per square meter. From the third floor up, the rooms with north-south ventilation were more expensive. Also, places with convenient transportation and complete infrastructure were more expensive. If you think it's too expensive, go to a remote area to buy. You can get a house for 20,000 or 30,000 yuan. If a real estate company has houses in both prosperous and remote areas, the average price is less than 1,100 yuan per square meter. Who can say that they are facing the same as above?

Erbao thought about it and decided not to. He also contributed to the development of the suburbs.

Dabao said: "From what I understand, there aren't that many rich people to support the capital's real estate market."

Ye Fan nodded: "But it's not just the rich who need houses. In the past, only a few factories allowed their employees to buy welfare houses, and most factories distributed houses. Now it's the opposite."

Erbao doesn't understand: "What is the relationship between welfare housing and commercial housing?"

Ye Fan: "There are also regulations for welfare housing. Factory workers can buy one. If a family has two or three children, they could wait for a share of housing and a successor in the past. But now many factories cannot be succeeded. Even if you make do for half your life, you still can't get a share of housing. So you have to buy commercial housing for other children. You think it's too expensive, but some people don't. Besides, it's better for real estate companies to use the money they earn to do charity when they cut prices. At least they can put it on paper and promote their own companies at the same time."

Erbao asked: "What if the government orders real estate developers to lower prices?"

Ye Fan: "Unless all real estate companies are nationalized. The current situation is that many state-owned units are laying off employees. Under the impact of private and foreign companies, many factories have closed down. The state cannot even relocate laid-off workers, so how can it afford to buy commercial housing?" Dabao asked: "Will the price skyrocket?"

"No. The older generation has houses, and families with few children can make do with them. There are also some people who hope that the government will intervene and then lower the housing prices before buying. The number of people buying houses is not too few, but it is not too many either. The housing prices may remain the same, or increase a little." Ye Fan thought of something, "As the old saying goes, the first bird to stick its head out gets shot. Although businessmen want to make money, they dare not be the first bird to stick its head out - they can make money but not spend it."

Dabao nodded: "The higher-ups are really brave enough to kill one to warn the rest."

Ye Fan: "Yes! Besides, the profits from real estate right now are not worth risking their lives for."

Erbao winked at her brother.

Dabao glared at her.

Seeing this, Ye Fan looked up at his daughter, then at his speechless son: "What are you doing?"

"Your little baby reminded me to not forget what I promised her."

Ye Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Mom bought it for you, but you still want your brother to buy one for you?"

"What mom bought is what mom bought, and what brother bought is what brother bought, they are different!"

Ye Fan raised his hand: "Stay away from me. I'm afraid I'll become the mother of Pixiu."

"You are." Erbao asked, "Mom, do you want some tea?"

Ye Fan looked at the sky and it was not yet twelve o'clock: "I'll make two cups of coffee from one bag, one for you and one for me."

“Then the coffee tastes weak.”

Ye Fan nodded: "Just in time for my sleep. Hey, Erbao, why don't you practice the flute?"

"My schoolmate said that playing the flute alone is not festive at all."

Ye Fan: "We are different from the West. We should be happy when celebrating a festival. It's not good for you to be alone on the stage. By the way, don't we need to rehearse the group performance?"

"We rehearse during our spare time. But I feel it's not enough." Erbao said.

Dabao asked, "What program? I have experience."

"We originally wanted to stage a play, but compared to others, we were just playing house. Later, we planned to prepare a chorus, but a junior brother's voice was so loud that it could overwhelm all of us. How could we compete with others?" Erbao said, "I wanted to give up."

Ye Fan: "You care so much, is there a leader going to see it?"

Erbao nodded repeatedly: "They said the department will send someone over. Mom, do you have any experience?"

"When I was there, people didn't dare to organize any activities. The party was pretty standard. Your classmates must think it's too tacky." Ye Fan said, "Ask your brother."

Dabao: "There is someone in our family who holds a party every year. Erbao, go find her."

Erbao wanted to ask who to find, but suddenly thought of his cousin. Geng Huihui is a university teacher. She has to accompany her students to evening parties every year. Even if she doesn't go on stage, she has to pay attention to her students' rehearsals.

Erbao sighed: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Geng Huihui ran away after breakfast. This time it was not a date, but a commercial shoot. She took an advertisement for a national brand of skin care products.

The shooting location was dozens of kilometers away from Ye Fan's home, and Yan Weining drove his father's car to take Geng Huihui there.

As soon as the two of them left in the morning, Dabao complained to his mother: "Sister Huihui is not a fairy, does Yan Weining have to come to see her every week?"

Yu Wentao replied: "Yan Weining doesn't look that good."

Dabao: "A bald and pregnant man like the Yan family can also marry a female actress from the art troupe, or a female star from the film and television industry."

Yu Wentao: "What else do female stars and actresses have besides themselves? Your sister Huihui looks average, graduated from college, and is worthy of him. But she is a college teacher, a celebrity, tall and beautiful, so she is worthy of Yan Weining's attention."

When Ye Fan saw that a quarrel was about to break out, she asked Dabao to brush shoes and wash socks while she went to the study.

Dabao thought his mother had to work on weekends, so he didn't dare to bother her with his grandmother. Yu Wentao took the babysitter to collect rent, Geng Sensen went back to her room to catch up on some sleep, and only the mother and her three children were left in the main courtyard.

Erbao asked: "Mom, when will Sister Huihui come back?"

Ye Fan: "In the evening. It's always after the sun sets but before it gets dark."

Dabao asked: "Yan Weining has been waiting for Sister Huihui at the door these few times. Doesn't he want to see you?"

Ye Fan nodded: "It's possible. When I went out alone with your dad before, I didn't mention your grandma much, but your grandma complained that I was out for most of the day, and your dad was annoyed."

Dabao asked curiously, "Isn't it true that the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more satisfied she becomes? You are not the mother-in-law, but you are also quite satisfied with Yan Weining. Why is my grandma doing the opposite?"

"I was difficult to raise when I was little, so your grandma probably didn't want me to get married." Ye Fan said, "Maybe your grandma can see the essence through the phenomenon and see that your father is not what he seems."

Dabao suddenly remembered something: "Mom, that brand of watches is going to release a new model in the first half of next year, and they asked me to shoot a print ad for the same series. Do you want to come with me to take a look?"

Ye Fan: "The one you endorse is not worth the money. I'll choose a more expensive one for your dad."

"A gold watch?"

Ye Fan shook his head: "It's vulgar! Your dad doesn't like it, and you can't take it out."

Dabao sighed and suddenly remembered something: "Mom, don't cook for me at noon."

"Why go?"

Dabao: "Go to Chu Guangming's house."

Erbao finished his coffee in one gulp: "Brother, I'm going too!"

Ye Fan shouted helplessly: "Erbao, what about your show?"

"The debate club doesn't belong to me alone. Let them figure it out on their own." Erbao said as he ran out with his scarf and hat.

When they got to the door, the brother and sister almost bumped into Yu Wentao. Yu Wentao came in and asked, "Where are they going?"

"Guangming's family is having a party at noon today." Ye Fan said, "Ever since he rented out his two houses, he often uses the rent to treat his friends to food and drinks. It's like he wants to take back all the food he used to eat with his friends."

Yu Wentao: "If that's the case, then the kid has a conscience. Then what are we going to eat for lunch?"

Ye Fan: "Stew a chicken. The four of us can't finish it even if we cook too much."

Nanny Xiao Wang had never watched TV before. After lunch, she cleaned up the kitchen and went to the living room with Yu Wentao to turn on the TV. When Ye Fan heard the familiar voice, she was not interested and said she would go to the study.

There was a reclining chair in Ye Fan's study. One night, she was busy with work, so Geng Zhiye brought the reclining chair in to accompany her to work overtime. After Ye Fan finished her work, he also fell asleep on the reclining chair.

Ye Fan lay down on the recliner and suddenly thought of what he could ask Erbao to prepare.

In the evening, the family was having dinner in the kitchen. Ye Fan asked Er Bao, "Does your friend know how to play folk instruments?"

Erbao nodded: "Mom, my schoolmates are all talented. Everyone has at least one talent. Fortunately, I listened to you and learned the flute and art, otherwise I would have nothing in common with them."

Ye Fan: "Didn't they say that the party should be lively and not unusual? The group program can play the beginning of Journey to the West. Oh, is there anyone who can do somersaults? A few somersaults at the beginning will make the place lively."

Erbao was stunned.

Ye Fan: "No?"

"No, they all play piano and stuff, we can play folk instruments, is that okay?"

Ye Fan said: "Everyone else is playing foreign music and dance songs, but you are the only one playing folk music. The leaders must remember you right away."

"Yes!" Erbao felt that it was okay, "It can attract attention even if it is not alternative."

Ye Fan: "Alumni from well-off families should have connections in this area. Let her contact the film company and ask what musical instruments are needed. Even if more than a dozen are needed, one person can play two or three roles, and the debate club can complete it even if there are not many people."

"It should be possible. Some people can play the piano and the guzheng. Some people can play the erhu and the suona." Speaking of this, Erbao said, "I didn't believe what my mother said about there being people out there. I thought I was great. My grandma praised me for being gifted and a genius, but when I got to school, I was just an ordinary person." After saying that, he couldn't help but sigh.

The little nanny was having dinner with Ye Fan's family. She opened her eyes wide in shock when she heard this: "You, you, you are normal?"

Erbao nodded weakly: "Yes. My mom is amazing, right? She is also ordinary in the computer department."

(End of this chapter)