Courtyard House: A Prosperous and Joyful Life

"You brat, you're talking nonsense!" Jia Zhangshi glared, her pipe nearly poking Huaihua's forehead. "What do you know, you worthless brat! If you spout any more nonsense, I'll sell you to that old bachelor in the east of the village tomorrow for wine!"

Huaihua shrank her neck and stared at her grandmother's venomous eyes. Her legs trembled, she tucked the vegetable basket under her arm, and ran home as fast as she could, her skirt brushing against the bluestone pavement, leaving a trail of light footsteps.

On the other side, Yi Zhonghai squatted at the entrance of the gatehouse, rubbing his hands, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his lips, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. He used to boss Wang Jun around, thinking the guy was a rootless drifter. But now, first he brought home an imported Taiwanese color TV, attracting everyone in the compound to stare in amazement; and just a few days later, he'd bought the two street-facing rooms from the Luo family, reportedly for a hefty sum. Wang Jun was living a more prosperous life than Yi Zhonghai, the "advanced worker of the neighborhood," and jealousy gnawed at his heart like ants.

The curious folks in the courtyard had already gathered at Wang Jun's door, chattering like they were conducting a census: "Junzi, did you really buy Uncle Luo's house?" "How much did it cost? Is it enough for you to marry two wives?" "Do you have the house next door too?"

Wang Jun was cleaning his newly bought bicycle when he got annoyed by the questions. He slung the rag over his shoulder and said, "Uncles and aunts, I've bought the house, but I can't say how much it cost. You can all go home now; I still need to take measurements."

Despite saying that, several elderly women, leaning on their canes, refused to leave. Aunt Zhang slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Junzi, what are you doing living in such a big house all by yourself? Feng shui masters all say 'a large house is bad luck,' easily attracting misfortune!" Aunt Li chimed in, "That's right! A big house needs two people to keep it quiet, otherwise the yin energy will be too heavy. I'll introduce you to a girl tomorrow; she's pretty, but she doesn't have a city residency permit. She'll know how to manage a household!" Aunt Zhao squeezed in, her voice even louder, "If we're talking about good conditions, it has to be my workshop foreman's daughter! That figure, all the right curves, she looks like she'll have a lot of children!"

These women had previously tried to arrange marriages for Wang Jun, but back then he lived in a small, dilapidated house without even a decent table, and the women's families would always kick the matchmakers out when they came. Now that Wang Jun has a large color TV and a bright, spacious house, he's practically a "diamond bachelor" in their eyes, so they can't resist him anymore.

Wang Jun was both amused and exasperated. He leaned his bicycle against the wall and said, "Aunties, my house is still like a pigsty. The floor isn't even paved with cement. If the girls you introduce come here, won't they turn around and leave because they think it's too shabby?"

The older women thought about it and realized it made sense. Aunt Zhang patted her chest and said, "Once you're all dressed up, I'll pick out the best one for you!" Aunt Li chimed in, "It'll be finished by the New Year, and then I'll bring ten or eight girls to look at!"

After everyone had left, Wang Jun breathed a sigh of relief and took out a measuring tape from his toolbox. The new house was 95 square meters, plus his own 25-square-meter little room, making a total of 120 square meters. He sketched on paper, and the layout of two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen gradually became clear. The master bedroom had to have a large window, the second bedroom was to be filled with miscellaneous items, the living room was to be furnished with the newly bought sofa, and most importantly, the toilet: no more getting out of bed in the dead of winter to fumble in the dark to run to the outhouse in the corner of the yard, the wind blowing into his trouser legs and making him shiver.

The measuring tape slid "creak" along the wall, and sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the three characters for "toilet" on his drawing.

Wang Jun held a pencil, the tip gliding across the paper. Before long, a simple design sketch appeared. In his idea, the two rooms would be combined into a suite, with only one main entrance. This would be common decades later, with the advantage of high privacy, allowing people to feel comfortable even walking around naked at home.

He also planned to install his own water pipe. The Dongzhimen Waterworks in Beijing had been in operation for over eighty years, and over the decades, almost every household in the courtyards within the Third Ring Road had running water. Wang Jun estimated that in another four or five years, running water would be even more widespread, eliminating the need to fetch water from public pools for washing vegetables. But he was impatient and didn't want to wait, so he simply paid for his own connection. With running water, life would be much more convenient, and he could even install a large bathtub in the bathroom for a relaxing soak in his spare time.

He had considered gas, but in the early 1980s, piped gas was only available to a few households, and the source was either coking coal gas from coking plants or blast furnace gas from Shijingshan Iron and Steel Plant. No matter how much money he had, he couldn't use it, so he had to honestly stock up on bottled liquefied gas.

Huaihua, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed at the blueprints: "Brother Jun, is this a bathroom? You're going to build one yourself?"

Wang Jun nodded: "It's getting cold. With this, we won't have to freeze when we go to the toilet anymore."

Huaihua's heart itched with envy. In winter, squatting in a public toilet was not only bone-chillingly cold, but you'd also come out smelling terrible—the thought alone made her wince. Who wouldn't long for a warm and clean bathroom at home?

Seeing her enthusiasm, Wang Jun explained in detail: "I've set up the tap, so there's water right in the bathroom. There's a big bathtub here; when you take a shower, fill it with hot water and soak in it..."

Huaihua listened with growing longing. In Beijing, bathing in winter was a rare treat, only once every ten days or so. To have a bathtub at home and soak in hot water every day—that would be such a luxurious life, just like the rich people on TV. She thought it would be even more beautiful to sprinkle some flower petals while bathing. So she leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Jun, can I come to your house for a bath sometime?"

Wang Jun was taken aback. This girl was quite bold; a young lady running around taking a bath in his house. What would happen if the neighbors heard and gossiped? He didn't want any trouble, especially if that old hag Jia Zhangshi came knocking on his door. He'd be in deep trouble no matter what. But once he moved out, he wouldn't be afraid. He smiled and said, "Not now. Once I move out, I'll make sure you soak to your heart's content."

After saying that, he put the blueprints aside and started assembling the radio.

After finishing work, Guo Hongbing and the others dispersed, and Wang Jun tallied up the day's earnings. The house transfer process had taken some time; he had only installed forty radios, but the number of TV antennas had increased significantly. Guo Hongbing, Li Xiangdong, Luo Xuenong, and Tang Xiaoshan had practiced all day and were now very skilled; the four of them worked together to install two hundred and fifteen.

In total, the forty radios brought in two thousand yuan, and the antennas sold for nine thousand six hundred and seventy-five yuan, for a total of eleven thousand six hundred and seventy-five yuan. After deducting the cost of over one thousand yuan, the net profit was a little over ten thousand yuan.

"Having more people makes all the difference," Wang Jun clicked his tongue. "You can't get anything done by yourself; you have to build a team." A while ago, he assembled radios by himself and made ten thousand yuan in five days; now, with helpers, he broke ten thousand in a single day—that's fast! At this rate, he'll have saved hundreds of thousands in less than a month, and then he can start his next business.

In the evening, Wang Jun, as usual, huddled at his small table tinkering with the signal amplifier.

He lived his life like a wound-up spring, assembling radios during the day and tinkering with amplifiers at night, never having a moment's rest.

Having just finished applying the last layer of solder, Wang Jun casually pulled out his fishing rod and sat down by the river to treat himself. A moment later, the rod tip dipped, and he pulled up two large bags of White Rabbit milk candy, weighing a good two pounds.

Peel one and pop it into your mouth, the sweet aroma spreading. This candy is no ordinary candy; it was given as a gift for the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1959, so its quality is exceptionally high.

Just as I was about to wash up and go to bed, I heard footsteps outside the courtyard. Xu Damao and Yan Bugui had arrived, probably to collect the antenna.

"Have you sold all the antennas you collected yesterday?" Wang Jun asked, looking up.

Xu Damao rubbed his hands together, his face crinkling with laughter: "They're all gone! These days, more and more people own TVs, this little bit of stock isn't enough to fill a gap in their teeth!" His face was glowing, as if he were walking on clouds. These days, he'd been dealing in radios and antennas, making a fortune with every transaction, living a very comfortable life.

Wang Jun teased him, "Old Xu, you look exactly like a successful boss."

Xu Damao's eyes lit up even more. Being a boss was a dream he'd always harbored! Those rich guys in the south all ate their fill, some even keeping mistresses, living like gods. He'd long been envious, thinking about imitating them, partly for his own amusement, and partly… he was still determined to try his luck with a few women, to see if he could have an heir.

No matter how much money he made, he would still be talked about behind his back after the 1980s. Sha Zhu often accused him of having no children, which made him furious, but there was nothing he could do, as he really didn't have any children.

Yan Bugui, standing nearby, shook his head and chimed in, "Mine's sold out too. The country is getting better and better, and every family can afford a TV. Installing an antenna is a necessity."

Wang Jun nodded. He had seen the data: by the end of 1983, television penetration in major cities had reached 86%, and in smaller cities, it was 83%. Although most were small, black-and-white televisions, there were at least 80 televisions per 100 households in the city. In Beijing, it was even more widespread; nine out of ten households had televisions. Who wouldn't want a clear picture?

"Junzi, how many radios and antennas did you install today?" Yan Bugui asked, leaning forward.

"Forty radios, two hundred and fifteen antennas."

Their eyes lit up instantly; this amount meant another big windfall!

Xu Damao gave Wang Jun a thumbs up: "Wang Jun, I admire no one but you! Your output is increasing every day; you'll be a big boss sooner or later!"

Yan Bugui nodded in agreement: "Junzi is capable, he can't be wrong."

The two men were flattering him when Wang Jun waved his hand to interrupt, "Stop with the formalities. Same old deal, half for each of us?"

Xu Damao chuckled. He had long wanted to take it all for himself, but Yan Bugui was a tough guy; if he really wanted to buy it all, Yan would fight him to the death. So they could only split it in half.

"Alright, cash on delivery." Wang Jun waved his hand.

The two men quickly paid and carried the goods away. Watching their retreating figures, Wang Jun felt at ease. With these two running errands, he could relax a lot. Although self-production and self-sales brought in more money, it was also exhausting. It was perfect to leave the sales business to them so he could focus on production.

……

The next day, Wang Jun had just finished collecting a batch of radio casings and was rushing to the street office with his certificate. In those days, without a certificate from the street office, the waterworks wouldn't even bother with you when you were installing tap water.

After receiving the certificate stamped with the red seal, he made another trip to the waterworks and finally completed the formalities. The installer said he would come back in three days to install it. Wang Jun smiled, clutching the certificate; now getting water would be much more convenient.

After completing the water supply procedures, Wang Jun strolled back with the receipt in his hand. As he passed the alley entrance, he saw an old man selling candied hawthorns. The red hawthorns, coated in sugar, were dazzlingly bright. He bought two skewers and crunched as he bit into the sugar coating. He continued his stroll to the edge of the park.

Just then, I spotted two familiar faces, Tang Yanling and Bang Geng, sitting at a stone table. In the 70s and 80s, there was hardly any free love. Most couples were arranged through matchmaking. The two of them sat stiffly, clearly "meeting."

Wang Jun, munching on a hawthorn, squinted and thought: Tang Yanling is such a good girl, pretty and with a stable job. I can't let her fall into Bang Geng's hands. Alright, I'll go over and stir things up.

He always stood out; he was handsome, well-dressed, and stood out like a crane among chickens in a crowd. Tang Yanling had noticed him long ago. Lately, she'd been incredibly impressed with Wang Jun: not only was he handsome, but he was also very capable, and he even helped his younger brother earn money—a veritable "perfect man." Even if they didn't become lovers, being friends would be worthwhile. So, upon seeing Wang Jun, her face immediately lit up with a smile, and she waved and called out from afar, "Comrade Wang Jun, shopping?"

Wang Jun smiled, a candied hawthorn in his mouth, "Just went to the water company to take care of some paperwork, so I took a stroll." He walked over and handed him a string of candied hawthorns, "Just bought these, want to try some?"

Tang Yanling took it, her fingertips touching the candy shell as she smiled, "Thank you! I'm free today, shall I accompany you shopping for a while?"

"Sure," Wang Jun readily agreed.

The two walked side by side. Bang Geng sat on the stone bench, his eyes wide like saucers. What was going on? His blind date had just left after seeing Wang Jun? He had been quite satisfied with Tang Yanling: she was pretty, had a good job, and seemed to have a gentle personality. He was planning to put all his effort into pursuing her, but then Wang Jun showed up and left with him like a shot!

Banggeng stared at the two people's backs, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth: "Wang Jun, you scoundrel! You stole my girlfriend, I'll never forgive you!"

Everyone around him stared at him with pity in their eyes, and they started chattering amongst themselves:

"This young man is in a bad situation; his blind date ran off with someone else."

"you do not say!"

"Hey, what can I say? The young man eating the candied hawthorn was so handsome, what girl wouldn't fall for him?"

"If I had a daughter, I'd want to introduce her to him!"

"Like a big star, all the girls are staring at me!"

Several kind-hearted older women gathered around to comfort Bang Geng:

"Young man, don't be sad. You're not exactly handsome... well, you're not exactly attractive. It's normal that the girl isn't interested."

"Exactly, I can't compare to others in terms of looks, there's nothing I can do."

"How about I introduce you to someone? My daughter is smart and cute, but... she's a bit heavy, 180 pounds."

"Don't date pretty girls anymore, they have high standards!"

Bang Geng's face turned bright red, and he almost fainted. He yelled, "Get out! All of you, get out!"

That shout stirred up a hornet's nest; all the older women swarmed around, their mouths beating like machine guns:

"Young man, you have no manners! No wonder the girl doesn't like you!"

"The nation calls for people to be well-rounded individuals with good morals, discipline, and a sense of responsibility; yet you resort to swearing and lack of morality! You'll never get married!"

"Take this old man's advice: If you lack manners, nobody will love you!"

"Didn't even finish elementary school? No wonder your boyfriend ran off with someone else!"

Every word was a stab to the heart. Bang Geng couldn't take it at all, covered his face and ran away, just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"You brat, you're talking nonsense!" Jia Zhangshi glared, her pipe nearly poking Huaihua's forehead. "What do you know, you worthless brat! If you spout any more nonsense, I'll sell you to that old bachelor in the east of the village tomorrow for wine!"

Huaihua shrank her neck and stared at her grandmother's venomous eyes. Her legs trembled, she tucked the vegetable basket under her arm, and ran home as fast as she could, her skirt brushing against the bluestone pavement, leaving a trail of light footsteps.

On the other side, Yi Zhonghai squatted at the entrance of the gatehouse, rubbing his hands, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his lips, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. He used to boss Wang Jun around, thinking the guy was a rootless drifter. But now, first he brought home an imported Taiwanese color TV, attracting everyone in the compound to stare in amazement; and just a few days later, he'd bought the two street-facing rooms from the Luo family, reportedly for a hefty sum. Wang Jun was living a more prosperous life than Yi Zhonghai, the "advanced worker of the neighborhood," and jealousy gnawed at his heart like ants.

The curious folks in the courtyard had already gathered at Wang Jun's door, chattering like they were conducting a census: "Junzi, did you really buy Uncle Luo's house?" "How much did it cost? Is it enough for you to marry two wives?" "Do you have the house next door too?"

Wang Jun was cleaning his newly bought bicycle when he got annoyed by the questions. He slung the rag over his shoulder and said, "Uncles and aunts, I've bought the house, but I can't say how much it cost. You can all go home now; I still need to take measurements."

Despite saying that, several elderly women, leaning on their canes, refused to leave. Aunt Zhang slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Junzi, what are you doing living in such a big house all by yourself? Feng shui masters all say 'a large house is bad luck,' easily attracting misfortune!" Aunt Li chimed in, "That's right! A big house needs two people to keep it quiet, otherwise the yin energy will be too heavy. I'll introduce you to a girl tomorrow; she's pretty, but she doesn't have a city residency permit. She'll know how to manage a household!" Aunt Zhao squeezed in, her voice even louder, "If we're talking about good conditions, it has to be my workshop foreman's daughter! That figure, all the right curves, she looks like she'll have a lot of children!"

These women had previously tried to arrange marriages for Wang Jun, but back then he lived in a small, dilapidated house without even a decent table, and the women's families would always kick the matchmakers out when they came. Now that Wang Jun has a large color TV and a bright, spacious house, he's practically a "diamond bachelor" in their eyes, so they can't resist him anymore.

Wang Jun was both amused and exasperated. He leaned his bicycle against the wall and said, "Aunties, my house is still like a pigsty. The floor isn't even paved with cement. If the girls you introduce come here, won't they turn around and leave because they think it's too shabby?"

The older women thought about it and realized it made sense. Aunt Zhang patted her chest and said, "Once you're all dressed up, I'll pick out the best one for you!" Aunt Li chimed in, "It'll be finished by the New Year, and then I'll bring ten or eight girls to look at!"

After everyone had left, Wang Jun breathed a sigh of relief and took out a measuring tape from his toolbox. The new house was 95 square meters, plus his own 25-square-meter little room, making a total of 120 square meters. He sketched on paper, and the layout of two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen gradually became clear. The master bedroom had to have a large window, the second bedroom was to be filled with miscellaneous items, the living room was to be furnished with the newly bought sofa, and most importantly, the toilet: no more getting out of bed in the dead of winter to fumble in the dark to run to the outhouse in the corner of the yard, the wind blowing into his trouser legs and making him shiver.

The measuring tape slid "creak" along the wall, and sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the three characters for "toilet" on his drawing.

Wang Jun held a pencil, the tip gliding across the paper. Before long, a simple design sketch appeared. In his idea, the two rooms would be combined into a suite, with only one main entrance. This would be common decades later, with the advantage of high privacy, allowing people to feel comfortable even walking around naked at home.

He also planned to install his own water pipe. The Dongzhimen Waterworks in Beijing had been in operation for over eighty years, and over the decades, almost every household in the courtyards within the Third Ring Road had running water. Wang Jun estimated that in another four or five years, running water would be even more widespread, eliminating the need to fetch water from public pools for washing vegetables. But he was impatient and didn't want to wait, so he simply paid for his own connection. With running water, life would be much more convenient, and he could even install a large bathtub in the bathroom for a relaxing soak in his spare time.

He had considered gas, but in the early 1980s, piped gas was only available to a few households, and the source was either coking coal gas from coking plants or blast furnace gas from Shijingshan Iron and Steel Plant. No matter how much money he had, he couldn't use it, so he had to honestly stock up on bottled liquefied gas.

Huaihua, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed at the blueprints: "Brother Jun, is this a bathroom? You're going to build one yourself?"

Wang Jun nodded: "It's getting cold. With this, we won't have to freeze when we go to the toilet anymore."

Huaihua's heart itched with envy. In winter, squatting in a public toilet was not only bone-chillingly cold, but you'd also come out smelling terrible—the thought alone made her wince. Who wouldn't long for a warm and clean bathroom at home?

Seeing her enthusiasm, Wang Jun explained in detail: "I've set up the tap, so there's water right in the bathroom. There's a big bathtub here; when you take a shower, fill it with hot water and soak in it..."

Huaihua listened with growing longing. In Beijing, bathing in winter was a rare treat, only once every ten days or so. To have a bathtub at home and soak in hot water every day—that would be such a luxurious life, just like the rich people on TV. She thought it would be even more beautiful to sprinkle some flower petals while bathing. So she leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Jun, can I come to your house for a bath sometime?"

Wang Jun was taken aback. This girl was quite bold; a young lady running around taking a bath in his house. What would happen if the neighbors heard and gossiped? He didn't want any trouble, especially if that old hag Jia Zhangshi came knocking on his door. He'd be in deep trouble no matter what. But once he moved out, he wouldn't be afraid. He smiled and said, "Not now. Once I move out, I'll make sure you soak to your heart's content."

After saying that, he put the blueprints aside and started assembling the radio.

After finishing work, Guo Hongbing and the others dispersed, and Wang Jun tallied up the day's earnings. The house transfer process had taken some time; he had only installed forty radios, but the number of TV antennas had increased significantly. Guo Hongbing, Li Xiangdong, Luo Xuenong, and Tang Xiaoshan had practiced all day and were now very skilled; the four of them worked together to install two hundred and fifteen.

In total, the forty radios brought in two thousand yuan, and the antennas sold for nine thousand six hundred and seventy-five yuan, for a total of eleven thousand six hundred and seventy-five yuan. After deducting the cost of over one thousand yuan, the net profit was a little over ten thousand yuan.

"Having more people makes all the difference," Wang Jun clicked his tongue. "You can't get anything done by yourself; you have to build a team." A while ago, he assembled radios by himself and made ten thousand yuan in five days; now, with helpers, he broke ten thousand in a single day—that's fast! At this rate, he'll have saved hundreds of thousands in less than a month, and then he can start his next business.

In the evening, Wang Jun, as usual, huddled at his small table tinkering with the signal amplifier.

He lived his life like a wound-up spring, assembling radios during the day and tinkering with amplifiers at night, never having a moment's rest.

Having just finished applying the last layer of solder, Wang Jun casually pulled out his fishing rod and sat down by the river to treat himself. A moment later, the rod tip dipped, and he pulled up two large bags of White Rabbit milk candy, weighing a good two pounds.

Peel one and pop it into your mouth, the sweet aroma spreading. This candy is no ordinary candy; it was given as a gift for the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1959, so its quality is exceptionally high.

Just as I was about to wash up and go to bed, I heard footsteps outside the courtyard. Xu Damao and Yan Bugui had arrived, probably to collect the antenna.

"Have you sold all the antennas you collected yesterday?" Wang Jun asked, looking up.

Xu Damao rubbed his hands together, his face crinkling with laughter: "They're all gone! These days, more and more people own TVs, this little bit of stock isn't enough to fill a gap in their teeth!" His face was glowing, as if he were walking on clouds. These days, he'd been dealing in radios and antennas, making a fortune with every transaction, living a very comfortable life.

Wang Jun teased him, "Old Xu, you look exactly like a successful boss."

Xu Damao's eyes lit up even more. Being a boss was a dream he'd always harbored! Those rich guys in the south all ate their fill, some even keeping mistresses, living like gods. He'd long been envious, thinking about imitating them, partly for his own amusement, and partly… he was still determined to try his luck with a few women, to see if he could have an heir.

No matter how much money he made, he would still be talked about behind his back after the 1980s. Sha Zhu often accused him of having no children, which made him furious, but there was nothing he could do, as he really didn't have any children.

Yan Bugui, standing nearby, shook his head and chimed in, "Mine's sold out too. The country is getting better and better, and every family can afford a TV. Installing an antenna is a necessity."

Wang Jun nodded. He had seen the data: by the end of 1983, television penetration in major cities had reached 86%, and in smaller cities, it was 83%. Although most were small, black-and-white televisions, there were at least 80 televisions per 100 households in the city. In Beijing, it was even more widespread; nine out of ten households had televisions. Who wouldn't want a clear picture?

"Junzi, how many radios and antennas did you install today?" Yan Bugui asked, leaning forward.

"Forty radios, two hundred and fifteen antennas."

Their eyes lit up instantly; this amount meant another big windfall!

Xu Damao gave Wang Jun a thumbs up: "Wang Jun, I admire no one but you! Your output is increasing every day; you'll be a big boss sooner or later!"

Yan Bugui nodded in agreement: "Junzi is capable, he can't be wrong."

The two men were flattering him when Wang Jun waved his hand to interrupt, "Stop with the formalities. Same old deal, half for each of us?"

Xu Damao chuckled. He had long wanted to take it all for himself, but Yan Bugui was a tough guy; if he really wanted to buy it all, Yan would fight him to the death. So they could only split it in half.

"Alright, cash on delivery." Wang Jun waved his hand.

The two men quickly paid and carried the goods away. Watching their retreating figures, Wang Jun felt at ease. With these two running errands, he could relax a lot. Although self-production and self-sales brought in more money, it was also exhausting. It was perfect to leave the sales business to them so he could focus on production.

……

The next day, Wang Jun had just finished collecting a batch of radio casings and was rushing to the street office with his certificate. In those days, without a certificate from the street office, the waterworks wouldn't even bother with you when you were installing tap water.

After receiving the certificate stamped with the red seal, he made another trip to the waterworks and finally completed the formalities. The installer said he would come back in three days to install it. Wang Jun smiled, clutching the certificate; now getting water would be much more convenient.

After completing the water supply procedures, Wang Jun strolled back with the receipt in his hand. As he passed the alley entrance, he saw an old man selling candied hawthorns. The red hawthorns, coated in sugar, were dazzlingly bright. He bought two skewers and crunched as he bit into the sugar coating. He continued his stroll to the edge of the park.

Just then, I spotted two familiar faces, Tang Yanling and Bang Geng, sitting at a stone table. In the 70s and 80s, there was hardly any free love. Most couples were arranged through matchmaking. The two of them sat stiffly, clearly "meeting."

Wang Jun, munching on a hawthorn, squinted and thought: Tang Yanling is such a good girl, pretty and with a stable job. I can't let her fall into Bang Geng's hands. Alright, I'll go over and stir things up.

He always stood out; he was handsome, well-dressed, and stood out like a crane among chickens in a crowd. Tang Yanling had noticed him long ago. Lately, she'd been incredibly impressed with Wang Jun: not only was he handsome, but he was also very capable, and he even helped his younger brother earn money—a veritable "perfect man." Even if they didn't become lovers, being friends would be worthwhile. So, upon seeing Wang Jun, her face immediately lit up with a smile, and she waved and called out from afar, "Comrade Wang Jun, shopping?"

Wang Jun smiled, a candied hawthorn in his mouth, "Just went to the water company to take care of some paperwork, so I took a stroll." He walked over and handed him a string of candied hawthorns, "Just bought these, want to try some?"

Tang Yanling took it, her fingertips touching the candy shell as she smiled, "Thank you! I'm free today, shall I accompany you shopping for a while?"

"Sure," Wang Jun readily agreed.

The two walked side by side. Bang Geng sat on the stone bench, his eyes wide like saucers. What was going on? His blind date had just left after seeing Wang Jun? He had been quite satisfied with Tang Yanling: she was pretty, had a good job, and seemed to have a gentle personality. He was planning to put all his effort into pursuing her, but then Wang Jun showed up and left with him like a shot!

Banggeng stared at the two people's backs, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth: "Wang Jun, you scoundrel! You stole my girlfriend, I'll never forgive you!"

Everyone around him stared at him with pity in their eyes, and they started chattering amongst themselves:

"This young man is in a bad situation; his blind date ran off with someone else."

"you do not say!"

"Hey, what can I say? The young man eating the candied hawthorn was so handsome, what girl wouldn't fall for him?"

"If I had a daughter, I'd want to introduce her to him!"

"Like a big star, all the girls are staring at me!"

Several kind-hearted older women gathered around to comfort Bang Geng:

"Young man, don't be sad. You're not exactly handsome... well, you're not exactly attractive. It's normal that the girl isn't interested."

"Exactly, I can't compare to others in terms of looks, there's nothing I can do."

"How about I introduce you to someone? My daughter is smart and cute, but... she's a bit heavy, 180 pounds."

"Don't date pretty girls anymore, they have high standards!"

Bang Geng's face turned bright red, and he almost fainted. He yelled, "Get out! All of you, get out!"

That shout stirred up a hornet's nest; all the older women swarmed around, their mouths beating like machine guns:

"Young man, you have no manners! No wonder the girl doesn't like you!"

"The nation calls for people to be well-rounded individuals with good morals, discipline, and a sense of responsibility; yet you resort to swearing and lack of morality! You'll never get married!"

"Take this old man's advice: If you lack manners, nobody will love you!"

"Didn't even finish elementary school? No wonder your boyfriend ran off with someone else!"

Every word was a stab to the heart. Bang Geng couldn't take it at all, covered his face and ran away, just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.