1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

"Xiulan, where are you rushing off to?"

Ma Mei called out from behind.

"I'm going to the store to buy some things. Do you still have pork knuckle and pork belly?"

"Yes, how much do you need? What's wrong? Are you coming over?"

"Wei Dong and his wife are back. Weigh this whole thing for me, and I'll take these two pork knuckles too."

Chen's mother had used up all the meat coupons in the house for tonight's dinner.

"Oh dear! They probably aren't leaving this time, are they?"

"I'm not leaving."

"That's great! You can rest assured now. I'll have to go see my new bride in a bit."

"Haha, remember to come over after you get off work. I'm going back to cook now."

Chen's mother returned home with a smile on her face and began to get busy.

Wow wow~

Perhaps feeling that no one was paying attention to him, Chen Xiaoan burst into tears.

"What's wrong? Are you hungry?"

Grandma Chen then put down the precious Chen Xiaosui and looked at the kang (a heated brick bed).

"I think so. I'll go to the kitchen and see what we have to eat."

Chen Weidong touched the diaper; it wasn't wet or smelly, so it must be hungry.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, they saw Chen's mother roasting pig's trotters, while Chen's sister-in-law was busy cutting pork.

"Mom, do you have any goat milk, corn porridge, or millet porridge at home? Your grandson is hungry."

"He's hungry! I'll make him some corn porridge now, but we don't have any goat milk at home."

Just as Chen's mother was about to stand up, Chen Weidong stopped her.

"Just tell me where the stuff is, and I'll cook some for him."

"You can even make corn porridge? Why don't I do it?"

Chen's mother was somewhat incredulous. She knew her son's character all too well. He wouldn't even bother to pick up a fallen soy sauce bottle, let alone cook. The only times he had ever entered the kitchen since he was a child were when he was hungry and needed to get something to eat.

Sister-in-law Chen, who was standing nearby, was so shocked that she almost cut her hand. She glanced at her brother-in-law out of the corner of her eye.

Cook?

These are words that my brother-in-law would say.

"See, you're underestimating me again. After all these years in the countryside, if I didn't even know how to make corn porridge, I'd probably have starved to death long ago."

Chen Weidong skillfully picked up firewood and lit it, then poured some water into the pot and took half a bowl of cornmeal.

When Chen's mother and sister-in-law saw how skillfully Chen Weidong cooked, they were speechless with astonishment. After her initial surprise, Chen's mother was filled with relief; knowing how to cook meant they wouldn't go hungry anymore.

The summer heat in Yanjing was quite stifling, much hotter than in Yangjiatun. Chen Weidong was soon covered in sweat.

"Grandma, Mom, I'm hungry. What are we having for dinner?"

Chen Xiaoteng and Chen Xiaoting walked into the courtyard together, and the latter took off his schoolbag and started shouting.

"We have corn porridge, do you want some?"

Chen Weidong poked his head out and looked at the two of them with a smile.

"Second Uncle! When did you get back?"

Chen Xiaoteng ran over excitedly, followed closely by Chen Xiaoting.

"I just got back this afternoon. Where did you go? Why are you covered in dust?"

"Second Uncle, please keep your voice down."

Chen Xiaoting said in a low voice, then glanced at the kitchen, "I accidentally fell on the way here."

Seeing the scratches on Chen Xiaoting's arm, Chen Weidong, as someone who had been through similar experiences, knew perfectly well that Chen Xiaoting had been in a fight.

"You're not telling me the truth? Did you win the fight or not?"

"Hehe, of course, I beat Zhao Heidan into submission, and he's already acknowledged me as his elder brother."

Chen Xiaoting said with pride.

"You call me 'Big Brother'? I'll teach you to fight, I'll teach you to acknowledge someone as your 'Big Brother'!"

Sister-in-law Chen kicked Chen Xiaoting in the buttocks, and the latter immediately scurried away.

Chen Xiaoteng shut his mouth again and glanced at Chen Weidong. He had seen everything. Just as Chen Weidong was asking the question, Chen's sister-in-law walked over and heard everything Chen Xiaoteng said.

Chen Weidong watched with a smile as Chen Xiaoting was beaten, without making any attempt to stop it.

Fighting, calling someone "big brother"—this is too young for him to be learning good habits. He needs to be taught a lesson, or he'll be causing trouble in a few years.

Thinking back to how Chen Xiaoting was when he grew up in his previous life, he was arrogant and domineering, with no filial piety whatsoever. Not only did he not show much affection for him, but he also treated his elder brother and sister-in-law Chen in a mediocre way.

He was a scoundrel enough in his past life; the Chen family can't afford to have another scoundrel now.

Now that he's still young, I, as his uncle, must correct him.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Weidong noticed Chen Xiaoteng looking at him strangely and casually asked a question.

"There's no second uncle."

Chen Xiaoteng immediately shook his head, afraid of following in Chen Xiaoting's footsteps.

"Who is that Zhao Heidan?"

Chen Weidong didn't think much of it, but he was a little curious about Zhao Heidan, the name Chen Xiaoting mentioned. It was a name that no ordinary person could come up with.

"He's the son of Uncle Zhao from our alley. Zhao Heidan is his nickname; his real name is Zhao Ling. He and Xiaoting both attend kindergarten in our alley."

Chen Xiaoteng is now in first grade and has become much more sensible. He also has some knowledge of the different families in the alley.

"Uncle Zhao? Does he work at the coal mine?"

"right."

Chen Weidong immediately realized who it was. It must be Zhao Wuyi, his childhood friend, who worked at the local coal mine. Zhao Wuyi was a second-generation coal miner; his father worked at the coal mine. Later, Zhao Wuyi dropped out of school and joined the coal mine, which saved him from having to go to the countryside.

Don't think that working in a coal mine is dirty and tiring. In Beijing today, it's a secure job and an irreplaceable profession.

In summer, you might not feel it, but in winter, the entire heating of Yanjing depends on these coal mine workers. If there is a shortage of coal in winter, the coal mine workers will even brave the snow to deliver coal to the residents. Without them, people could freeze to death in the cold winter.

Therefore, each district in Yanjing had a coal plant, which was managed by the street or district coal construction management office. The plant was planned and allocated according to the principle of "production based on sales, slightly exceeding sales", and was responsible for processing raw coal into honeycomb briquettes and coal balls to supply residents.

In the early days, coal briquettes were mostly made by hand, but later mechanical production of honeycomb briquettes gradually became available. However, most street coal yards still use hand-made coal briquettes, with only a small number starting to use honeycomb briquette machines for production.

Moreover, at that time, purchasing coal required a ration coupon. The entire Yanjing area implemented a system of designated areas and locations, issuing coupons to households, and rationing supplies. Residents had to hold a "coal certificate," or "coal purchase coupon," to purchase coal from designated coal shops.

However, this Zhao Wuyi really has no culture at all. What kind of good person would name their child Zhao Heidan (meaning "black egg")? Although a lowly name is easier to raise, this is too casual.

Look at the names he gave his two children, Chen Xiaosui and Chen Xiaoan, they sound cultured.

Chen Weidong was somewhat pleased with himself; in this respect, he was much better than Zhao Wuyi.

……