In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

While his younger sister and brother were pasting matchboxes, Wang Xingguo said to them, "I need to help your brother Zhengang with something tonight. I need to catch up on some sleep. Wake me up at six o'clock tonight; I need to pick up your future sister-in-law from work."

Wang Xingning nodded in agreement, but couldn't resist asking, "Second Brother, we haven't met our future sister-in-law yet. When are you going to bring her home for us to see?"

Wang Xingguo paused for a moment, then thought for a moment and replied, "Alright, let's skip tonight. She'll have a day off on Sunday in a few days, so I'll take her home for lunch and let you two meet."

Wang Xingning nodded repeatedly, and then, as if reciting a menu, recounted how many meat coupons his family had lent to which neighbor, and what coupons were left at home.

Wang Xingguo waved his hand and said, "I'll prepare the ingredients then, you don't need to worry about it."

Since she didn't have to worry about it, Wang Xingning was naturally even happier. After all, the family had very few receipts, and if the food was too bad when his future sister-in-law came to eat at home for the first time, it might affect her relationship with his second brother.

Wang Xingguo returned to his room. The weather was incredibly hot, but he still needed to get some sleep. The black market he went to that night didn't open until 10 p.m. If he didn't catch up on some sleep now, he wouldn't be back until the early hours of the morning, and he wouldn't have the energy to do anything the next day.

The hospital needs 26 crucian carp, 3 black carp, 2 common carp, and 1 grass carp.

The fish was to be delivered at 8 o'clock sharp, so he couldn't get up too late, or he would break his promise.

Actually, it's not that there aren't crucian carp in the capital, it's just that there aren't any live crucian carp for sale.

It's not that frozen crucian carp can't be used to make crucian carp soup, but in this era, and especially since it was mostly for sick people, live fish was the first choice. Frozen crucian carp was only eaten as a last resort.

There has always been a price difference between live and frozen fish. Since Wang Xingguo's fish are all live, they are naturally more expensive, which is something everyone agrees on.

Often he doesn't even set a price; he doesn't care how much or how little he's offered, since he doesn't incur any costs—he just collects fish from the river using the available space.

So there's no need to worry about it too much.

Of course, if the customer is satisfied and wants more, he doesn't mind.

Who can complain about having too much money?

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was 6:30. Wang Xingmin went to wake Wang Xingguo up.

Wang Xingguo woke up covered in sweat. He quickly washed up, wiped away the sweat, and then pushed his tricycle out the door.

As they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Wang Xingbang returned from the matchmaker's house. Seeing Wang Xingguo about to leave, he asked in surprise, "Second brother, it's almost dinnertime, what are you going out for?"

Wang Xingguo replied in a low voice, "Brother, I'm going to pick Xiuping up from get off work. This is the only chance we'll have to see each other all day, so I have to go and take her."

Wang Xingbang nodded and smiled, "Is that so? Okay, go ahead, I'll talk to you about something when you get back."

Wang Xingguo waved and rode off on his tricycle.

After Li Xiuping finished get off work, she immediately saw Wang Xingguo, smiled and waved goodbye to her colleagues, and then quickly walked towards Wang Xingguo's tricycle.

"Xingguo, my dad wants you to come over for a meal sometime. He has something to discuss with you."

"What a coincidence! My sister and brother also want to meet you, their future sister-in-law. Didn't you say this Sunday is your day off? I was thinking of taking you home for dinner this Sunday. How about that?"

Hearing Wang Xingguo's words, Li Xiuping smiled and nodded, "Okay, then Sunday it is. But when are you coming to my house for dinner? I don't know what my dad wants to talk to you about, but he said he has something to discuss with you."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xingguo explained, "I've already cooked my own meal at home today, so how about I come to your place tomorrow night?"

Li Xiuping said noncommittally, "Whatever you want, I don't care. Ask my dad if he has anything to discuss with you, but he won't tell me."

Wang Xingguo rode his bicycle towards Mao'er Hutong, smiling as he said to Li Xiuping, "Honey, what do you want to eat on Sunday? I'll buy it for you, and you can cook it, okay?"

Li Xiuping laughed and said, "You, Wang Xingguo, I haven't even married you yet, and you're already ordering me around."

Wang Xingguo, shameless as ever, said, "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Shouldn't you show off your cooking skills to my younger siblings?"

Li Xiuping said reproachfully, "You're so annoying. I'll cook, but you have to help me out, or I won't do it."

Wang Xingguo quickly said, "Oh dear, don't my younger brother and sister help out? I'll give you a chance to get to know them better, I won't get involved."

Li Xiuping curled her lip and said, "Hmph, Wang Xingguo, you bastard, you just want to slack off. It's not what you're saying at all."

"Haha, my parents gave me life, but my wife understands me best!"

"Shameless bastard..."

Before they even reached the courtyard gate, Wang Xingguo stopped the tricycle. Seeing that there was no one in the alley, he went over and hugged Li Xiuping and kissed her.

Li Xiuping obediently closed her eyes; she also missed Wang Xingguo.

It's a pity there wasn't a suitable place or time, otherwise the young couple would have been sleeping in the same bed long ago, since it's not like they've never slept together before.

After a passionate kiss, Wang Xingguo said softly, "It'll be soon. Give me another month, and I'll have the house sorted out. Then we can have a wedding banquet."

Li Xiuping nestled in his arms and softly hummed in agreement.

After a brief moment of tenderness, Wang Xingguo escorted Li Xiuping back to her courtyard, waving as she entered the central courtyard before riding his tricycle home.

When he got home, his family was already waiting for him to have dinner.

Wang Xingguo quickly parked his tricycle, ran to the tap to wash his hands, returned to the house and sat down. The four siblings then began to eat dinner.

Wang Xingguo remembered what his elder brother had said when he left, so he asked, "Brother, when I left, you said there was something we needed to discuss?"

Wang Xingbang was a little embarrassed and hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Um... Matchmaker Wang said he'd bring a girl over this Sunday for a meeting. What do you think... how should we arrange the hospitality?"

Sunday?

Wang Xingguo smiled and said, "I originally planned to bring Xiuping home for lunch on Sunday, but since you're looking for a girl here, we'll have to postpone it. I'll arrange the hospitality—braised pork, braised fish, and chicken soup. How does that sound?"

Wang Anbang nodded, and once he said it, he wasn't so embarrassed anymore.

Wang Xingning laughed and said, "Alright then, Second Brother, you'll be in charge of buying the meat and chicken. We also have half a jin of tofu coupons at home, how about buying half a jin of dried tofu and stir-frying it?"

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Sure, how about we just stir-fry the chicken? Don't make the dried tofu, get some soft tofu instead, and I'll get two crucian carp to make soup with the tofu."

Wang Xingmin nodded repeatedly and said, "I think crucian carp and tofu soup is better. Everyone knows that it is more nutritious. Chicken soup doesn't taste as good."