Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

The state-run restaurant of Beishan Forestry Bureau is located in a very conspicuous position on the central street.

The red brick exterior walls are painted with the eight large characters "Hard work and self-reliance".

However, due to years of smoke and fire damage and wind and rain, it has become somewhat mottled and blurred.

Above the main entrance hangs a huge red wooden signboard with the four characters "State-run Hotel" written on it.

The restaurant's main entrance is a double-leaf glass door. At this time of year, to withstand the sub-zero temperatures, not only are the door handles wrapped in thick strips of rags, but there are also thick cotton curtains inside for insulation.

When Xu Bei walked up, he opened one of the doors and lifted the heavy cotton curtain. A wave of heat mixed with the strong aroma of meat, smoke, and alcohol, along with laughter and conversation, rushed out.

Unlike the last time they argued, fought, and moved out, when I came over for dinner, the table was full right at mealtime.

It's not even 11 o'clock yet, so apart from the waiters and kitchen staff, it's just the people they've invited.

Today, my mother wasn't disheveled or confused at all; instead, she was radiant and full of spirit, chatting with someone at a square table that had been put together.

Upon seeing Xu Bei arrive, Zhao Fengying raised her arm and waved, "Son, come over quickly, we've been waiting for you."

"Oh dear, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Xu Bei walked over with a smile.

Big Black's mother immediately laughed and said, "What are you waiting for? Don't listen to your mother's exaggeration. We just had some tea and some melon seeds."

Xu Li's mother-in-law chimed in, "Yes, I haven't finished my cup of tea yet."

Dahei and Song Guodong patted the empty seats next to them, saying, "We've got to have a good drink with you today." "Yeah, let's drink until we drop!"

"No problem, as long as you don't get me so drunk I black out and I can still get on the train later." Xu Bei said with a smile, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Everyone else was taken aback upon hearing this.

Mr. Zhu put down his teacup. "What, going out to buy more goods?"

Zhu Wenliang said with a smile, "We really have to go and put them on the shelves; there aren't enough to go around."

Zhao Fengying, the boss, had only just found out. "Son, can't we get on the bus tomorrow?"

"No way. I'm getting on the train this afternoon, and the earliest I can get back is the day after tomorrow morning. A day's delay means a lot of things will be delayed, and it will also delay the sale before the New Year."

As soon as Xu Bei finished speaking, everyone chimed in with their agreement.

"That's true. There are only ten days left until the Chinese New Year, and we're counting on this time to sell some good products."

"That's right, once you miss this opportunity, it's gone forever."

"If we don't sell them before the New Year, who will we sell them to after the New Year?"

Since it was confirmed that Xu Bei would be going out again, the drinking was destined to be less intense.

Song Guomei, who was sitting next to Song's mother, took the opportunity to sidle up to Xu Bei and whispered, "Brother Bei, that guy who came to buy jeans with the bespectacled man earlier looks kind of familiar... He looks like my female classmate's cousin. We ran into him when we went to the movies together the other day..."

Xu Bei had already noticed that his friend's sister had been staring at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. He guessed that she probably wanted to ask this question. He smiled and nodded, "She is indeed your female classmate's cousin. He also bought a pair of jeans."

"Really? That's good."

Although Song Guomei received confirmation, her heart sank lower and lower.

There was a particular feeling that the more she tried to avoid any interaction between Xu Bei and Zhou Qingwan, the more things went against her wishes...

Meanwhile, Liang Shengjun, whom the two were talking about, also rode his bicycle home early after get off work.

However, after he entered the yard and parked his car, he didn't go inside immediately. Instead, he squeezed the rear tire, which felt a little flat, and then went to the storage room to find an air hose.

Seeing that Liang Shengjun was wearing flared jeans, not the black pants he wore that morning, Liang Huihui, who was listening to a cassette tape of decadent music in the living room at a low volume, immediately turned off the tape and ran to the small room to share with Zhou Qingwan, who was reading at her desk.

"Wanwan, look in the yard! Big brother's actually caught up with the trend and got a pair of jeans to wear too!"

Zhou Qingwan immediately looked out the window into the courtyard, smiled, and asked curiously, "Where did you buy this, big brother? I don't remember the department store selling them."

"It's probably someone from his workplace who brought it back from out of town. Let's ask him when he comes in."

After Liang Huihui finished speaking, she gave a light hum and laughed, "Also, I'm going to tease him a bit later. Before, when I brought back a pair of jeans from Haicheng, he criticized me for wearing weird clothes. Now look at him, he's wearing them himself!"

Zhou Qingwan also remembered the scene from that time and laughed along, "I guess my older brother would say that times have changed."

As a result, Liang Shengjun, who entered the room later, said the same thing after being teased by his sister.

This made the two cousins ​​laugh even louder.

"Big brother, Wanwan understands you best; she knows you almost perfectly."

"I was just guessing."

Zhou Qingwan didn't want her older cousin to feel too awkward or uncomfortable, so she quickly changed the subject, "Big brother, how much did these jeans cost? Did a friend bring them back from out of town, or where did you buy them?"

Liang Shengjun had wanted to speak as soon as he entered, but he didn't have a chance. Now he finally got the chance to speak, "It cost eighteen yuan, and they even gave me a pair of gloves as a gift. I bought them at the shop of Xu Bei's mother, the one you know. It just opened today."

Liang Huihui was shocked. "Huh? Xu Bei's mother? The aunt who helped Wanwan find her pendant at the staff bathhouse has opened a shop?"

After all, in her memory, the last time she saw the other person was a housewife without a job, and it was really unbelievable that she had transformed into a self-employed shop owner in such a short time.

Zhou Qingwan felt extremely grateful to Xu Bei and his mother.

Just as he was wondering how to repay the favor, he hurriedly asked, "Where is it located, brother?"

"It's in the alley next to the forestry store, next to a few tailor shops." Liang Shengjun looked at his two younger sisters, whose expressions and reactions were somewhat different. "What, you want to go shopping too?"

Zhou Qingwan replied without hesitation, "Of course I have to go shopping. Brother Xu's mother helped me, so I should at least buy something to show my support."

As for Xu Bei helping her drive away the two robbers, in order to avoid being lectured by her old-fashioned and strict aunt, and to avoid losing her freedom due to stricter management, only the two of them know about it for the time being, and she hasn't told anyone else yet.

Liang Huihui nodded. "Yes, we should repay even the smallest kindness with the greatest gratitude. Besides, that jade pendant was left to Wanwan by her aunt and it has extraordinary significance. It's only right that we go and patronize the business."

My parents went to a meeting in the city and weren't home. If they were, they would definitely support what we did.

Liang Shengjun also felt that this was the right thing to do, but he didn't plan to go again.

So, after the three of them had lunch, taking advantage of the slightly warmer midday temperature, Zhou Qingwan and Liang Huihui rode their bicycles away from home together...