I Have a Lake as I Walk Through the Courtyard

As usual, when Chen Liansheng arrived at work, he found that Old Master Zhao was not in the guard room, which was a rare occurrence.

Station Master Chen didn't pay any attention and pushed his bicycle inside a bit, when suddenly a strong fragrance made him stop in his tracks!

When did the breakfast in the cafeteria smell so good? It smells like fish! Chen Liansheng quickened his pace as he pushed his bicycle. "It can't be that kid, can it? Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Chen Liansheng shook his head with a smile. Does he really think Shichahai is his private business?

Station Master Chen first went to his office to put down his bag, took out his washed lunchbox from the drawer, and when Congcong arrived at the canteen, it was almost full of people, all of whom were slurping their soup.

"They really do have fish soup! Did you buy the fish?"

"I caught it yesterday! Grandpa Zhao went with me, it weighs over 100 jin (50 kg)."

"Ahem!" Station Master Chen turned to look at Old Man Zhao in disbelief. "What he said is all true!"

"Yes, we caught a big fish, weighing over fifty pounds! I weighed it myself yesterday and recorded the weight!"

"What?! Over 50 pounds! Where's the fish?"

"It's in the pot!"

"I..." Chen Liansheng looked at the large iron pot with heartache. "Such a big fish, how could you just stew it like that?"

"Young Chen, don't think I don't know what you're up to. What, we workers don't deserve to eat? You're trying to use it as a gift?"

"Hehe! Uncle Zhao, how could that be? What are you saying! Of course you deserve to eat it!"

"Don't blame the kid. He brought the fish back yesterday, and there was no one at the purchasing station. If it wasn't dealt with promptly, it might have gone bad!"

"You're right!" Station Master Chen nodded with a smile. This old man was really not someone to mess with. Looking at the lunchbox full of fish head tofu soup, Station Master Chen trembled with heartache.

In the dead of winter, a sip of spicy soup is so satisfying that it's irresistible. The whole pot of soup was devoured by 10 people, and only when the pot was almost empty did everyone slowly return to their work stations.

After Lin Feng finished packing, he took the receipt to the stationmaster's office. "112 jin of fish, where's my bicycle ticket?"

Station Chief Chen glanced outside and closed the door. "You idiot, how could you handle such a big fish like that? You chopped it into tiny pieces! Do you know how much of a benefit this fish could bring us if we gave it as a gift?"

"Station manager, this really isn't my fault. You weren't here yesterday either!"

Station Master Chen looked at Lin Feng and sighed helplessly. "You're only fit to be a cook! I keep my word, here's your bicycle ticket! Next time you catch a big fish, remember to tell me. If I'm not at the station, come to my house! I guarantee you won't be shortchanged!"

"Alright, stationmaster! There's one more thing. I wanted to ask if all that fish was stewed or divided up?"

"Let's split it up, consider it a New Year's bonus! With your cooking skills, you might as well let them make it themselves..."

These words were too hurtful, but Lin Feng didn't dare to refute them. After all, he was a self-taught individual! Fortunately, he got the bicycle ticket and happily left the office.

After collecting the money for the fish from the finance office, Lin Feng received an additional income of over 80 yuan, which finally filled his meager savings account a little.

"Over 100 pounds of fish, barely enough to buy a bicycle! That's fucking expensive!"

When there was no fish or meat at lunchtime, Sister Wang started complaining. "Little cook, where's all that fish and meat? Why didn't you cook a single piece?"

"Yeah, I just had some meat this morning, I haven't had enough yet."

Lin Feng looked at the noisy group of men and women. "The station manager said all the fish has been distributed!"

"Really? That's great!" Several women jumped up, completely abandoning any pretense of decorum. "I was worried you'd ruin the fish, but now I'm relieved..."

Lin Feng sighed. Those words stung. He silently served himself his food, unable to muster any emotion. He knew he had to work on his cooking skills.

The purchasing station was like it was New Year's Day today. Lin Feng, who left work first, received his bonus: five catties of fish chunks. Old Master Zhao, on the other hand, got a full seven catties of fish heads! The difference made Lin Feng sigh!

After tossing the fish pieces into his spatial storage, Lin Feng hurriedly arrived at the department store! He was incredibly excited to finally have his own bicycle.

With the Spring Festival approaching, the department store was packed with people even during working hours! Lin Feng struggled to squeeze up to the second floor, his whole body covered in sweat.

"I never expected to experience the feeling of squeezing onto the subway again! It's unbelievable!"

Unlike the crowded first floor, the second floor was much less crowded, especially the bicycle sales area!

"Comrade, how much is this bicycle?"

A girl in a navy blue work uniform stopped talking to the girl next door when she heard Lin Feng's question.

Did you bring your work ID when you bought the bicycle?

Lin Feng was taken aback. Luckily, he had a spatial ability and carried all these things with him. Using his pocket as cover, he pulled out his work ID. "Take a look!"

The girl took the work ID, examined it carefully, and her face immediately lit up with a smile. "So you're from the recycling station. What a great company!"

Hearing the girl say that, Lin Feng smugly replied, "Hehe, it's all about serving the people!"

"Do you have a bicycle ticket? Do you have a certificate from your employer?"

"Yes, yes, I have them all!" The girl quickly pulled out her bicycle ticket and work certificate, and checked them for a long time.

"Okay, all your documents are ready. Take the ticket and go to the counter to pay." The girl quickly printed out the ticket, placed it on a clip above her head, and with a tug along the wire, the clip slid quickly to the other side.

Lin Feng stared at the clip and hurried over, quickly arriving at the counter.

"These are cadre tickets! A permanent 28-inch laptop for 168!" The woman behind the counter said the number expressionlessly. Lin Feng painfully took a handful of bills out of his pocket, thinking that he had the space to buy a 28-inch laptop, which was really cumbersome.

"Comrade, could you perhaps exchange it for a 26-inch bicycle?"

"No, that won't work. There are regulations! The model number written on the ticket is the only valid model number! If we mess it up, it'll create chaos. How can the factory produce anything?"

"Fine!" Knowing this would happen, Lin Feng reluctantly paid the money, watching the woman stamp the receipt with a few quick stamps.

After all the fuss, Lin Feng watched as the mechanic installed the bike and lights on it, then pushed it out of the department store through the back door. "Remember to get the permit, or you'll get a fine!"

"Buying a bicycle is more troublesome than buying a car!" Lin Feng complained as he pushed his bicycle out. After leaving the department store, there was a place to get a license less than 200 meters away. The license process was quick and only cost 2 yuan. The moment the stamp was put on the bicycle, he was officially a car owner!

Riding his bicycle, Lin Feng felt both exhilarated and distressed. He now had only a little over 200 yuan left of all his possessions, including last month's salary. He had been spending money like water lately, and he really couldn't have made ends meet if he hadn't occasionally sold fish!

However, with a bicycle, Lin Feng's activity radius increased significantly. The wood in his space had long been depleted, and seeing that it was still early, Lin Feng rode his bicycle out of the city.