Courtyard House: A Prosperous and Joyful Life

Several police officers bluntly stated that they suspected Jia Zhangshi hadn't actually lost any money and was merely putting on an act, so they didn't plan to investigate further.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi let out another earth-shattering scream, snot and tears streaming down her face, frightening the neighbors so much that they dared not approach her. She cried out, tears and snot streaming down her face, "Comrade, I really lost money! More than two hundred yuan in total, money I've saved for so long!"

The police officer didn't believe him at all: "No one else has been in your room except you, so it's impossible for anything to have been stolen. We suspect you didn't lose any money, so let's leave it at that." He then turned and left.

Jia Zhangshi tried to pull someone's leg to ask for the investigation to continue, but was held back by three old men, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui.

Upon hearing what the police said, the neighbors immediately began to discuss it:

"The police said that Jia Zhangshi didn't lose any money at all?"

"Yeah, no one went into her room, how could it be stolen?"

"Why are you crying so bitterly if you didn't lose any money?"

Ugly people often cause trouble!

"I guess he was in a bad mood because he didn't get to eat fish, so he came out to perform."

Wang Jun chimed in, "Everyone, I think Jia Zhangshi has mental problems. The books say that mentally ill people like to cause trouble, and her situation is exactly like that!"

Upon hearing this, the neighbors all chimed in:

"Really? Mentally ill people are just crazy, right?"

"The military is educated; they certainly wouldn't lie!"

"Jun is really sharp; he could tell she had a mental illness at a glance!"

"Mental illness, mental illness!"

Jia Zhangshi was dumbfounded. She had clearly lost money, more than two hundred yuan, so why didn't anyone believe her? That damned Wang Jun even cursed her with a mental illness! That's too much!

"Aaaaah! This is outrageous! I clearly lost money, and you still won't believe me! I might as well just die!" she wailed again.

The three old men looked at Jia Zhangshi rolling on the ground, their heads buzzing, their hearts filled with dissatisfaction. She hadn't lost any money, yet she had caused such a disturbance in the entire courtyard, even alarming the police. It was too much!

Yi Zhonghai frowned: "Jia Zhangshi, stop making trouble. If you keep going, it won't look good for anyone."

Liu Haizhong: "That's enough! Get up and wash up! You've made the whole hospital lose face."

Yan Bugui: "If you keep causing trouble, you'll really become mentally ill, and we'll send you to a mental hospital!"

The neighbors also chimed in:

"Jia Zhangshi, stop acting! The police have seen through your act!"

"You didn't lose any money, yet you're making such a fuss? You're just asking for trouble! If you keep this up, I'll go work as a coal shovel!"

"If he keeps causing trouble, he's definitely mentally ill!"

Wang Jun added, "Mental illness is a big problem. But I have a folk remedy: just pour aged boy's urine down his throat."

Jia Zhangshi was so frustrated she felt like she was going to vomit blood. She had clearly lost money, but no one believed her and she was even accused of being mentally ill. Who could she turn to for justice? But when she heard "mental hospital" and "child's urine," she got scared and quickly got up and slipped back into the house.

The neighbors all laughed when they saw this:

"See? No money was lost!"

Ugly people often cause trouble!

"If she acts up again, I'll make her pee!"

"right!"

Jia Zhangshi slipped back into the inner room and listened to the discussions outside. The more she thought about it, the more depressed and heartbroken she became. More than two hundred yuan had been stolen today, which was her "coffin money"!

"No way!" she slapped her thigh. "We have to get it back!"

Suddenly, an idea popped into her head: Qin Huairu has been working for so long and still getting paid by Sha Zhu, she must have saved a lot of money! This time, she'd ask her for three hundred yuan, not a penny less, since she was asking for it herself, Qin Huairu wouldn't dare refuse!

Just as Jia Zhangshi finished her plan, the farce came to an end, and everyone went home.

Wang Jun was quite satisfied with the result: Jia Zhangshi clearly lost money, but she had no way to complain, and she was probably so depressed she was about to vomit blood. This is how you should treat someone with such a vicious tongue. If she causes trouble again, everyone will suspect she has a mental illness, and she might even have to be forced to drink children's urine or be sent to a mental hospital!

Wang Jun returned to the house, took a large bowl, and scooped it full of stewed fish pieces and tofu. It was steaming hot, and the aroma filled his nostrils. He took a bite of the fish, and his mouth was filled with the fresh and delicious flavor.

These days, being able to eat meat in large bowls is the greatest happiness.

At this moment, Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng were eating porridge. Smelling the aroma of fish, Yan Jiecheng's mouth watered: "That kid Wang Jun, eating fish and meat in the middle of the day, he lives more comfortably than an emperor!"

In those days, meat was scarce, and everyone ate meat at night. Wang Jun ate it at noon, which made Yan Jiecheng extremely envious. He wished he could run over and scoop out a bowl right away.

Yu Li rolled her eyes at him: "Stop drooling! If you're so capable, make more money, and we'll eat fish and meat every day!"

"Make money?" Yan Jiecheng lacked confidence. "I just want to eat fish right now!"

Yu Li got angry: "Should I go ask Wang Jun for it?!"

Yan Jiecheng panicked as soon as he heard this. Wang Jun was so handsome after changing his clothes that he could charm any young woman. He dared not let his wife go over. He would rather be shameless himself than let Yu Li lose face.

Yu Li looked down on him even more: "Wanting to eat but not daring to? No manly spirit at all!"

These words struck a nerve with Yan Jiecheng. He had health problems, had been married for over a decade without children, and dared not refute the mockery. He raised his hand as if to slap Yu Li, but Yu Li was not afraid: "Go ahead and hit me! Divorce me! I'll divorce you once I've made some money. Let the neighbors talk behind your back!"

Yan Jiecheng's face darkened, and he lowered his hand. He really didn't dare to hit her, afraid that Yu Li would really divorce him and he would lose face.

After eating and resting for a while, Wang Jun began assembling a radio. The process was tedious, but he didn't want to teach this skill to others for the time being; he could only do it himself. He planned to earn tens of thousands of yuan in capital before starting other businesses.

From noon to night, he assembled 53 radios, all of which he sold to Yan Bugui, earning 2650 yuan. The next day, from morning to night, he assembled another 55 radios, which he sold to Xu Damao and Yan Bugui, earning 2750 yuan.

Earning 5400 yuan in two days, plus his previous income, Wang Jun's savings exceeded 10,000 yuan, making him a proud "ten-thousand-yuan household"!

Wang Jun held the newly acquired "ten-thousand-yuan household" savings book, unable to suppress the smile on his face. In just five days, he had earned 12,000 yuan by assembling radios. In Beijing in 1980, that was enough for an ordinary worker to make for 20 years.

Looking at himself in the mirror wearing a Dacron shirt, he pondered: assembling a radio is a "quick and easy" task, but the electronic components must be bought "openly and honestly." The system space can store goods, but it cannot hide the "profit-making logic." He can't go out empty-handed, come home and conjure up a room full of radios, only to be reported as a "spy," can he?

"Next business, Yagi antennas!" he decided. In the 80s, televisions were not yet widespread, and telescopic antennas had poor reception. Yagi antennas could receive three or four channels, making it a "blank market."

I had just pushed my bicycle out the door when I bumped into Huaihua chatting with a few older women. Her new shoes were making a "clack-clack" sound as she walked, and her red scarf was fluttering in the wind like a ball of fire.

"Auntie, look! These shoes have eight layers of cloth sewn into the soles, they won't hurt your feet even after walking ten miles!" Huaihua held up the heels to show everyone. "The scarf is a 're-imported' item from the department store, a perfect red, it goes well with my blue jacket, I won't even change my new clothes for the New Year!"

Wang Jun was delighted. This girl had refurbished 20 radio casings in three days, earned 12 yuan, and immediately upgraded her spending, showing off like a peacock displaying its tail feathers.

"Brother Jun!" Huaihua's eyes lit up like light bulbs when she saw him. "Are you going to the department store? Take me with you! I'll help you carry the components, and you can give me a dollar and treat me to braised pork and baked buns!"

Wang Jun raised an eyebrow. He was worried about the heavy electronic components. For one dollar plus a bowl of braised pork belly (5 cents a bowl), he could buy locust flowers as "free labor"—it was a good deal. He nodded: "Okay, but you have to stack things neatly and don't drop the components."

"Alright!" Huaihua tightened her scarf around her neck and followed Wang Jun's car in a flash. She didn't care that her new shoes were rubbing her ankles until they were red. One yuan could buy half a pound of pork, and with braised pork and three large intestines, it was worth it!

At the entrance of the Intermediate People's Court, Bang Geng had just changed into his work uniform when he saw this scene. His face turned as black as the bottom of a pot: "Huaihua! You little brat, running errands here? Aren't you ashamed?!"

Huaihua rolled her eyes. This guy, he lazes around doing nothing and relies on Sha Zhu to find him a job, and he has the nerve to tell her what to do? She put her hands on her hips: "Brother, I'm twenty years old, I can earn my own money! It's only one yuan a month, and your monthly salary is only 38 yuan. Don't you understand 'economic independence'?"

"You..." Bang Geng stomped his feet in anger, reaching out to grab her. "I'll break your legs tonight!"

"You dare!" Huaihua suddenly pulled out her "protective charm," "This job was found for me by my silly dad. If you touch me even slightly, I'll say you're bullying me! I'll make sure you lose your job and starve!"

Banggeng's hand froze in mid-air. His job at the steel mill had indeed been given to him through someone connected to Shazhu. He gritted his teeth: "Wang Jun, you're despicable! You treat Huaihua like a servant girl!"

Wang Jun pushed the cart and said slowly, "Uncle San, Huaihua did it voluntarily. Besides, there are plenty of people vying to do the work of moving things for just one yuan at the entrance of the department store. Your Huaihua is lucky."

Taking advantage of the moment, Huaihua jumped onto the back of the bicycle and waved to Banggeng: "Brother, make the braised pork and wheat cake extra spicy, I'll bring you a bowl when I get back!"

"You...you just wait!" Bang Geng pounded the wall in anger, watching the two figures disappear into the distance. "Damn it! She's so happy doing errands, that brat!"

At the electronics component counter in the department store, Wang Jun picked out resistors, capacitors, and enameled wires. Huaihua tiptoed to help hand him the boxes, her fingertips glistening with the tin foil, and she grinned from ear to ear.

"Brother Jun, this copper wire is so heavy!" She wiped her sweat, but still neatly stacked the boxes. "When I make some money, I'll buy a multimeter and assemble my own radio!"

Wang Jun glanced at her quick wit and chuckled inwardly: This girl has been "enlightened by money." But he didn't say it out loud. The "money worship" of the 80s was just the simple wish of the lower classes to "have enough to eat and wear," which was better than the kind of "scheming against others" like Jia Zhangshi.

When they returned to the courtyard house, the aroma of braised pork and baked flatbread wafted in first. Banggeng pinched his nose and hid inside, while Huaihua waved her bowl at him, saying, "Brother, I saved you a big piece of pork intestine!"

Wang Jun led the locust flowers out of the alley and headed towards the bus stop.

He was over 1.75 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a straight back, exuding an imposing presence. His crisp military overcoat made him stand out in the crowd. Walking beside him, Huaihua unconsciously appeared a head shorter, her own demeanor softening in comparison. As they walked side-by-side, passersby couldn't help but cast curious glances. Huaihua couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Wang Jun, you look just like a nobleman from ancient times, and I'm just your little maid."

Wang Jun almost burst out laughing. This girl could be quite amusing sometimes. Overjoyed, he waved his hand and said, "Come on, I'll treat you to something delicious!"

"Really? You're treating?" Huaihua's eyes lit up.

"certainly."

"That's great!" she exclaimed excitedly.

In Beijing during the 1980s, there was an abundance of authentic snacks: braised pork buns, tripe, wontons, stuffed pancakes, he luo noodles, cat's ear noodles... There were also time-honored brands such as Fushunzhai braised beef, Ruibinlou dalian huoshao, Dexingzhai braised mutton soup with offal, and Junwangye sesame seed cakes, offering a wide variety of flavors.

Wang Jun bought two large portions of crispy fried buns, and specially asked the vendor to fill them with eggs. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a fragrant aroma that wafted straight to his nose. He also bought two portions of meat pies, with thick meat fillings and the oil from the two large pieces of meat seeping into the crust. Huaihua picked them up and buried her head in them, eating with such gusto that she seemed oblivious to the fact that she had been sold into the mountains.

The two ate as they squeezed onto the bus, standing for half an hour before finally arriving at the department store.

The moment Wang Jun appeared, the eyes of several female sales clerks were instantly drawn to him, forgetting all about their work. Men love to look at pretty girls, and women can't help but steal glances at handsome young men. Wang Jun nodded to them; after all, he had received a note before, so he couldn't be impolite, and it never hurts to get to know more people.

When he greeted them, the saleswomen blushed and their hearts pounded. These days, young women are so naive; a simple nod from him is enough to excite them for days.

On the third floor, Tang Yanling was knitting a sweater. When she saw Wang Jun come in, her eyes lit up and she immediately became warm and friendly: "Comrade Wang Jun, you've come!"

"Yes, we've run out of the last batch of electronic components, so we'll buy another one."

Tang Yanling was somewhat incredulous. So many components, used up in just two days—how many radios must have been assembled? She asked curiously, "Comrade Wang Jun, how many have you assembled in these two days?"

"A few dozen units, I suppose," Wang Jun said casually.

Tang Yanling was still wide-eyed with astonishment. Assembling radios was no easy feat; assembling two or three a day was already considered an expert. Wang Jun was assembling dozens a day—it was outrageous! Each radio sold for tens of yuan, so dozens of radios would be two or three thousand yuan. Earning so much in just two days was faster than robbing a bank!

The more she thought about it, the more impressed she became. A thought popped into her mind: her younger brother was unemployed; working for Wang Jun might be better than him working in a state-owned store. With that in mind, she said somewhat shyly, "Comrade Wang Jun, do you need anyone else? My brother is unemployed, and I'd like him to work for you."

Without much thought, Wang Jun readily agreed: "Sure, I need someone to install antennas in a few days, so he can come if he's willing."

Tang Yanling met Wang Jun and he agreed.

In my heart,

He breathed a sigh of relief.

A smile appeared on his face.

Finding a job has been extremely difficult these past few years. My younger brother is working with Wang Jun, which means he has a job, much better than being a lazy street urchin.

We chatted for a few minutes.

Wang Jun took out a piece of paper from his pocket and said, "Comrade Tang, these are the things I need to buy. Could you please carry them for me?"

Tang Yanling took it and said, "Okay!"

this time,

Wang Jun needs more.

A full twenty minutes,

Only after finding everything did

Various electronic components and materials filled one large cardboard box and one small cardboard box.

The total is 326 yuan.

Wang Jun paid the money.

They carried away the large boxes.

As for the small cardboard boxes

Of course, it should be given to Huaihua.

This little errand boy came to us of his own accord.

Why not take advantage of it?

Huaihua is a bit small, but carrying a cardboard box weighing several tens of kilograms is no problem for her. Women in this era are not so delicate.

Both of them were carrying a cardboard box, which made shopping very inconvenient, so Wang Jun left the department store and took a bus back directly.

Back in the courtyard house,

Wang Jun gave Huaihua one and a half yuan.

The extra 50 cents,

Consider this a reward for her.

Huaihua was very happy today, having both food and money, and said, "Brother Jun, you must look for me next time you go out to buy something!"

Wang Jun smiled and said, "No problem!"

After the locust flowers left,

Wang Jun took out various tools.

Electronic components

And screws,

Preparing to assemble the Yagi antenna.

in fact,

TV antenna,

In the early 1980s,

Some manufacturers are already producing them.

In the 1980s, Hong Kong was experiencing a period of rapid development, and its television programming was incredibly diverse. Channels like TVB Jade and TVB Pearl frequently broadcast martial arts films, which were very popular with people from the south.