An extraordinary life journey through old Beijing courtyard houses

Chapter 221 People with Ambition Deserve Sympathy

"It's Miss Gao. Is there something you need?"

Gao Yueyuan smiled wryly: "Why call me Miss Gao? Mr. Jiang, please just call me Yueyuan."

Jiang Baobin laughed: "Look at you, you won't let me call you that, but you're being so polite yourself."

"From now on, please call me Xiao Jiang, or Officer Jiang."

Gao Yueyuan trembled, perhaps because it had stirred up bad memories, her face turned even paler: "Officer Jiang, Officer Jiang."

Jiang Baobin asked with concern, "Are you cold?"

"I'm fine."

"Let's talk at your place then. It's not okay here. I don't have a fire going, so it's better to go outside."

"Okay, please go ahead."

After entering the room, Jiang Baobin glanced around.

The room was very tidy; it looked like it had been specially cleaned.

The previous luxurious furnishings have disappeared, and the house has been transformed into the appearance of an ordinary home.

Back on her home turf, Gao Yueyuan relaxed considerably: "When I first came back, I was shocked to hear that you had gone to the battlefield."

"Hey, I've heard about it too. The rumors that I'm crippled or even dead are just bad people spreading them."

"Actually, I just went to do interviews, not to fight on the front lines. I don't have that kind of ability."

"That's good, that's good. You don't need to go again this time, right?"

Jiang Baobin took the tea she had brewed: "It's hard to say. We'll have a meeting when we get back, and we'll have to follow orders."

Gao Yueyuan sat with her legs together and her hands on her knees, behaving very properly.

"You are a very capable person, unlike us weak women—" Gao Yueyuan said with a soft sigh.

"You flatter me." Jiang Baobin then followed up by asking, "How have you been while you were away?"

"It's alright. They just explain things to us and teach us sewing, knitting, cooking, and things like that. It's pretty good."

"Didn't they arrange a job for you?" Jiang Baobin picked up his cup and took a sip; he was really thirsty.

He has no discernment when it comes to tea, but his tongue is extremely sensitive.

The tea is good, but it must be from last year.

That makes sense, though. Besides drinking herself, who else would Gao Yuanyuan entertain?

In this new society, people who knew her before are probably avoiding her like the plague.

Upon hearing Jiang Baobin's question, Gao Yueyuan's expression darkened: "A few of the sisters were lucky enough to be taken by the art troupe."

"There are plenty of people being recruited to work in factories, but I—can't."

As Gao Yueyuan spoke, her feet involuntarily shrank back.

Jiang Baobin has sharp eyes; he immediately noticed her movements.

So he asked, "Is it because of your foot?"

Gao Yueyuan pursed her lips: "They originally chose me too, but then—"

"They said my feet were too small, and that performing on stage—even my colleagues at the factory said they weren't suitable for manual labor."

Gao Yueyuan's eyes were already red, and she slowly lowered her head.

Jiang Baobin understands; what era are we living in now?

How could it be that the person who walked onto the stage so openly was a woman with bound feet?

At the same time, it was a pity for her; missing this opportunity meant she would have to say goodbye to performing.

However, he was also curious about how human feet could be made so small.

Judging from her petite and delicate appearance, she would normally have size 34 or 35 feet.

If it's deliberately sabotaged, it would be strange if it could grow big.

Jiang Baobin couldn't help but shake his head. This kind of bad habit is harmful!

This person walks with a graceful, swaying gait, like a willow swaying in the breeze.

If I were a factory hiring, I wouldn't dare hire someone like that. They're the kind of person who'd slip and fall even after walking a few steps. Who would be responsible if they got injured on the job?

In his past life, he accidentally saw online that people were still doing this in 2023, which was simply insane!

However, Jiang Baobin still rubbed salt into Gao Yueyuan's wound. He couldn't help it; he was just too curious: "Can't you let go now?"

Gao Yueyuan didn't answer, she just shook her head.

This is Jiang Baobin, a medical novice. After growing up, his bones are completely deformed, so what's the point of letting go?

Jiang Baobin asked sympathetically, "So what are your plans?"

Gao Yueyuan shook her head.

"I heard from Huairu that you're making paper boxes."

Gao Yueyuan nodded.

Jiang Baobin was a little confused, so he simply asked, "What do you want me to help you with?"

Gao Yueyuan shook her head again.

Jiang Baobin understood; the girl had probably been cooped up indoors for too long and wanted to talk to someone.

But I don't have time either, otherwise I would have chatted with her for ages.

After all, she's a beautiful woman, so it's quite pleasing to the eye.

"Then I'll take my leave. I've been quite busy lately and have to go out again. I don't know if I'll be able to come back before the New Year."

"If you have any difficulties, just ask Huai Ru; she'll help you."

Gao Yueyuan whispered a thank you.

After seeing Jiang Baobin off, Gao Yueyuan stood in the room, feeling lost and dejected.

"Knock knock knock," the knocking sound came again soon.

"Who is it?"

No one answered, so she went to open the door.

Jiang Baobin was carrying a basket of coal briquettes in one hand and grinning at her.

"Mr. Jiang, what's wrong?"

Jiang Baobin gestured for them to go inside and talk.

Gao Yueyuan quickly stepped aside.

"I still have a lot of coal at home. It's almost the coldest time of year, so please heat the house up."

Gao Yueyuan quickly said, "Mr. Jiang, you don't need to help me, I have money."

Jiang Baobin just smiled and said, "Don't mention it. I've eaten your dumplings quite a lot in the past. I'm leaving now."

"Mr. Jiang————"

Jiang Baobin turned around and saw that she seemed to have something on her mind, so he said, "Oh, go ahead."

"Actually—a few days ago, Matchmaker Ma introduced me to someone, a widower in his forties—"

Jiang Baobin understood; this must be the real reason she sought him out.

Since she said it like that, she must have been unwilling.

But what advice could I possibly give her?

He could only vaguely reply, "This is a new society now; people can make their own decisions."

Gao Yueyuan lowered her head thoughtfully, seemingly lost in thought.

Jiang Baobin hesitated for a moment, but still encouraged him, "Don't wrong yourself, everything will be alright."

These words probably gave Gao Yueyuan courage. She raised her head and asked hopefully, "Mr. Gao, can you help me?"

Looking into Gao Yueyuan's eyes, which were as clear and hopeful as a deer's.

Jiang Baobin really couldn't say anything, and I couldn't control him. If I left, he would say, "Then please tell me, I'll listen."

"I just want to sing and play the piano."

"If I keep gluing cardboard boxes like this, my hands will be ruined."

"They don't understand, there are some jobs my hands really can't do!"

"Just like I can't eat salty food because I need to sing, I also need to protect my voice."

As Gao Yueyuan spoke, two lines of tears streamed down her face.

"Mr. Jiang, I just like singing and playing the piano."

"If it weren't for this, I wouldn't be alive today."

"But now, I have no choice but to make paper boxes, but I'm ruining my own hands by doing it myself!"

"Mr. Jiang, I really don't know what to do—"

Gao Yueyuan choked up and couldn't speak.

Jiang Baobin has come to understand her.

Without a doubt, she is a person with hobbies and aspirations.

His passion for performing was even greater than his own life.

Her artistic temperament made her both fragile and sensitive.

A person like her is utterly useless except on stage.

However, precisely because of this, their artistic achievements are often beyond the reach of ordinary people.

If someone can value art above their own life, then they have no reason not to devote themselves to it wholeheartedly.

Therefore, artists who have achieved great mastery in a certain field often appear eccentric.

Because people's energy is limited, they are unwilling to devote even a little energy to so-called emotional intelligence.

After hesitating for a long time, Jiang Baobin finally sighed in his heart: "Miss Gao, to be honest with you, I am not capable enough right now."

"It doesn't really matter to me outside, so I really can't help you right now."

"How about this, I'll go to a meeting and see if I can get to know some people in charge, and they can put in a good word for you then."

"However, this process will likely take a long time. Please be patient and wait, okay?"

"Thank you, thank you Jiang— Waaah—" Gao Yueyuan covered her face and cried.

Jiang Baobin scratched his head vigorously—oh well, he'd gotten himself into trouble again.

When will I ever get rid of this soft-hearted habit of mine? It's so worrying!