Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Mu Hongyan wasn't really angry. She smiled at Li Jianguo and said, "Uncle Li, my grandfather keeps talking about you. You've been back in Beijing for a while now, haven't you gone to see him?"

Li Jianguo nodded: "I just got back to Beijing. I've just finished up some work these past few days and was planning to visit my old commander. Yan Yan, how is your grandfather doing?"

After the group sat down in the living room, Mu Hongyan said, "My grandfather is in very good health. He spends his days fishing or walking his birds and seems to be living a happy life. He just often thinks about you old subordinates."

"That's good."

Li Jianguo smiled, and the days of war flashed through his mind.

Back then, the old commander led them to kill countless Japanese soldiers and lose many comrades-in-arms who had shared hardships with him on the battlefield. He still vividly remembers those scenes.

Aunt Li poured a cup of tea for each of them, and Li Jianguo asked in confusion, "Yan Yan, why did you come with Banxia? How do you know Banxia?"

Mu Hongyan smiled slightly: "Uncle Li, you don't know yet, do you? Banxia works in the publicity department of the steel rolling mill, and I happen to be in the publicity department too. That's how we met."

"Oh?"

Li Jianguo was somewhat surprised, then looked at Lu Banxia and said, "Banxia, ​​Yan Yan is a few years older than you. From now on, you must listen to Yan Yan in the factory, understand?"

Lu Banxia smiled sweetly: "Yes, Uncle Li, I know."

Aunt Li grinned: "Old Li, you keep Yan Yan company and chat with Ban Xia. I'm going to cook now. Yan Yan, I'll make your favorite braised pork for lunch."

"Yes, I love Aunt Li's braised pork the most. Aunt Li, please make more. I'm going to eat two big bowls of rice for lunch today."

"Hehe, don't worry, I'll make sure you eat your fill."

Aunt Li greeted them with a smile and went to the kitchen to cook.

Lu Banxia placed the two bottles of Moutai on the table and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Uncle Li, I don't have anything good to offer you right now. I bought these two bottles at the supply and marketing cooperative, so please make do with them."

Li Jianguo laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively: "Banxia, ​​your thoughtfulness makes Uncle Li and Aunt Li very happy."

Seeing this, Mu Hongyan also took out two boxes of tea and said with a smile, "Uncle Li, these two boxes of tea are tea that I stole from my grandfather. He usually treasures them very much and is reluctant to let us drink them. I heard they are some kind of top-grade Longjing tea."

Li Jianguo opened the tea boxes and looked at them. The two boxes of tea together weighed about six ounces, and he immediately burst into laughter.

"Haha, Yan Yan, this is the top-grade West Lake Longjing tea. Your grandfather doesn't get much of it each year. You stole the old chief's tea. Be careful, he'll deal with you when you get back."

Mu Hongyan smiled indifferently: "Uncle Li, just drink it without worry. If my grandfather finds out, I'll just push the blame onto my brother. Anyway, my brother is tough and can take a few lashes without any problem."

"Haha, alright then, at worst I'll go to the old commander's place next time, and we'll both get scolded together," Li Jianguo laughed loudly.

Mu Hongyan and Li Jianguo chatted very congenially, leaving Lu Banxia unable to get a word in edgewise. She just sat there drinking tea, but Wang Feng was on her mind again.

From yesterday morning until today, Wang Feng's door has been locked. Nobody knows where Wang Feng and Qin Jingru went.

The group chatted and laughed, and time flew by. Soon it was noon, and Aunt Li had finished cooking the dishes.

Lu Banxia originally wanted to help, but her cooking was not good, so Aunt Li pushed her out.

At noon, Aunt Li made a braised pork, a chicken stew with mushrooms, a stir-fried green pepper with cured pork, and a stir-fried cabbage.

"Banxia, ​​hurry up and go to the kitchen to bring out the dishes. Dinner is ready."

"OK."

Lu Banxia agreed and brought all the dishes from the kitchen to the table.

At noon, Lu Banxia and Mu Hongyan both had a drink with Li Jianguo, leaving him to drink alone. However, after eating Qin Jingru's dishes, both Lu Banxia and Mu Hongyan felt that Aunt Li's braised pork didn't smell as good as before.

The meal went fairly well, and after it was over, Mu Hongyan and Lu Banxia said their goodbyes and left.

Li Jianguo and Aunt Li originally wanted to invite them to stay for dinner, but Mu Hongyan had things to do in the afternoon, so they didn't insist. Li Jianguo and Mu Hongyan made an appointment to visit the old chief next Sunday.

On the way back, Mu Hongyan parted ways with Lu Banxia. Mu Hongyan lived in Dongzhimen, which was not on the same route as Lu Banxia.

Lu Banxia returned to Nanluoguxiang, went to the police station to have the police stamp broken, bought some vegetables at the market, and then returned to No. 95 Courtyard.

As soon as they entered courtyard number 95, the third auntie saw that Lu Banxia had actually bought a bicycle and immediately fawned over her.

"Oh my, Banxia, ​​is this bicycle new? It's so beautiful."

The three women touched the handlebars of the bicycle as if they were caressing their most beloved toy, reluctant to let go.

Lu Banxia smiled and said, "I just bought it."

After saying that, Lu Banxia pushed her bicycle and headed towards the backyard.

Seeing Lu Banxia's new bicycle, the three aunties' eyes turned red with envy.

If it weren't for that damned bastard who stole all her family's money, as well as the big and small yellow croakers, her family could have afforded bicycles. Unfortunately, now she can only envy him.

Lu Banxia pushed her bicycle from the front yard to the middle yard. When she saw that Wang Feng's gate was still locked, she frowned.

She gave her virginity to Wang Feng, and now Wang Feng won't even come back to the hospital. Could it be that he's trying to take advantage of her and then deny everything?

However, thinking about Wang Feng's past actions, she felt relieved. Wang Feng wasn't that kind of person; there must be something that prevented him from returning to the courtyard.

Lu Banxia pushed her bicycle towards the backyard. Most of the people in the yard saw her and looked at her with envy. It was Sunday, and most of the people were in the yard.

Qin Huairu, in particular, was almost driven mad with envy.

First Wang Feng bought a bicycle, then Jing Ru bought a bicycle, and now Lu Banxia is buying a bicycle. When will she be able to ride a bicycle?

If only she had a bicycle, she could ride it back to Qin Family Village. That way, she could enjoy the envy of everyone in Qin Family Village.

Wait a minute, this bicycle isn't hers, but can't she borrow it? She can go to Lu Banxia to borrow the bicycle, and she can still ride it back to Qin Family Village, right? That way, she can save face and also save on travel expenses.

It's been so long, the chickens her parents raise should have grown up by now. Go get two chickens to help Bang Geng recover.

Thinking of this, she quickly caught up with Lu Banxia and said with a smile, "Banxia, ​​wait, Sister Qin needs to talk to you about something."