Era: A college student came to the courtyard house

The two brothers finished their temporary labor work at the grain store yesterday.

Now they can only return to the ranks of unemployed youth.

I heard from the people in the courtyard that Uncle Er is planning to get Liu Guangtian a temporary job at the steel rolling mill. With his many years of experience, it shouldn't be a big problem.

Liu Guangfu was young and didn't understand anything, but he had sharp eyes and spotted Fang Yuan's figure from afar. He immediately turned around and said a few words to his brother Liu Guangtian.

Liu Guangtian turned around and looked at Fang Yuan with envy, jealousy and hatred in his eyes.

He envied Fang Yuan for being a college student, he was jealous that Fang Yuan received cadre treatment as soon as he entered the steel factory, and he hated Fang Yuan for making him get beaten by his father for no reason.

Liu Guangfu pointed at Fang Yuan and said, "Brother, look, it's Brother Fang from our courtyard."

Liu Guangtian said resentfully, "Don't talk nonsense. You only have me as your brother. If you call him later, he might not even care about you."

Fang Yuan propped up his bicycle and parked it. He walked up to the two of them without any formality.

He tossed a cigarette to Liu Guangtian, then looked at Liu Guangfu, whose face was full of hope, and handed him one as he said, "Take this and exchange it for candy."

The cigarette, of course, is still Daqianmen.

Fang Yuan would never do something like carrying two packs of cigarettes in his pocket and offering expensive cigarettes to a distinguished guest.

That's why Liu Guangfu stared at the cigarette in his hand with hopeful eyes. In those days, a cigarette could't buy you much, but a Daqianmen cigarette could.

"Okay, Brother Fang, I won't smoke. I'll go get a popsicle later." Liu Guangfu nodded repeatedly, completely forgetting his brother's earlier instructions.

"Brother Fang... Brother Fang."

Liu Guangtian craned his neck, originally intending to call Fang Yuan by name. He was only one year younger than Fang Yuan, and that was how he always called him.

But now, looking at Fang Yuan, who was full of vigor and had a generous demeanor, and Sun Daxing, who was silent and had sharp eyes, his momentum suddenly diminished.

Especially the Daqianmen cigarettes that Fang Yuan gave him, they only smoked a few times a year.

Fang Yuan nodded, said nothing more, and followed Sun Daxing to the bicycle shop.

Liu Guangfu, looking quite surprised, smoothed out the cigarette before carefully putting it in his pocket, while jokingly saying, "Brother, didn't you just say you weren't allowed to call him brother? How come you're calling him brother yourself now?"

Feeling he had lost face, Liu Guangtian could only come up with an excuse and stubbornly said, "You don't know anything. I was just being polite. Didn't you see they offered me cigarettes?"

After saying that, in order to save face, he put on his elder brother's authority again: "Alright, give me yours now, it's a waste for you to smoke it, I'll trade you one."

"No way! Do you think I'm stupid? Yours costs eight cents a box, it's incomparable."

After saying that, Liu Guangfu ran towards the supply and marketing cooperative without looking back.

Sun Daxing walked up to the bicycle shop and called out, "Master Gong, you're busy."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Gong, who was repairing bicycle wheels, looked up and said familiarly and naturally, "Old Jiang is here. I haven't seen you for quite a while."

Sun Daxing replied, "I wasn't feeling well a while ago, but I'm much better now."

After catching up for a while, Fang Yuan walked up to the two of them. Sun Daxing then explained his purpose: "This is Fang Yuan, the new comrade in our factory office and the head of the second inspection section. Get him a bicycle."

Fang Yuan glanced at Sun Daxing suspiciously.

This way of speaking sounds more like an introduction between colleagues.

Seeing that Master Gong had stood up, Fang Yuan offered him a cigarette.

Sun Daxing is currently being cut off from his family's food supply, so he naturally has to handle these small matters.

Master Gong took the cigarette but didn't smoke it. Instead, he tucked it behind his ear. His greasy face stared blankly at Fang Yuan, as if trying to memorize his appearance.

After about ten seconds, Master Gong asked Fang Yuan, "What kind of car do you want?"

Fang Yuan replied, "28 big bars, I guess."

Master Gong nodded in agreement and said, "A man this big is definitely capable of riding in a 28-inch motorcycle, whether it's carrying passengers or hauling goods."

Fang Yuan strongly agrees that the carrying capacity of 28 large bars has been verified by our international friend, Odebiao, who can transport bananas with ease.

After finishing his sentence, Master Gong turned and walked into a small storage room next to the bicycle shop. In no time, he brought out a bicycle that was said to be second-hand but was actually almost brand new.

Fang Yuan glanced at the bicycle in astonishment, then turned to look at Sun Daxing.

Although bicycles are not exactly rare, after all, my country has been a major bicycle-producing country in the world since the 60s, and quickly began exporting bicycles.

In Kyoto, the capital city, bicycles were hardly a rarity.

But what's going on with this bicycle that's almost brand new?

Sun Daxing glanced at Fang Yuan with a hint of smugness, as if to say, "There are things you don't know, kid."

Master Gong silently oiled all the ball bearings one by one, loosening the spokes and chains where necessary and tightening them where needed.

Sun Daxing felt he had subtly outmaneuvered Fang Yuan, so he smiled and explained succinctly, "The year before last, the country produced too much, so they issued a purchase quota to our steel mill."

I see. So it seems this bicycle shop is also registered under the name of Hongxing Steel Plant.

Master Gong then looked up and asked, "Would you like an electric light?"

Fang Yuan nodded. Since they were already here, they should naturally go for the full set.

Upon hearing this, Master Gong fiddled with the equipment again.

Finally, a short while passed.

Fang Yuan patted the pigskin seat cushion with satisfaction, then glanced at the small electric motor.

Now I don't have to worry about encountering female ghosts when walking at night anymore.

Master Gong stood up and reminded him, "Guy, try riding it."

Fang Yuan nodded without hesitation, immediately gripped the handlebars with both hands, stepped on the pedal with his left foot, took two steps with his right foot, and with a graceful kick... off.

Master Gong, watching from behind, clicked his tongue twice and couldn't help but say, "It's such a waste that those long legs aren't used to being a clerk."

Fang Yuan circled around once, and feeling that the bike was pretty good, he patted the bicycle seat, indicating that he didn't have any money on him today and would come back with money tomorrow morning.

Master Gong waved his hand, knowing that Fang Yuan worked in the Supervision Department and was personally brought over by Sun Daxing, so he was not afraid that Fang Yuan would deny it and told him to ride away later.

Fang Yuan was quite satisfied to be able to buy such a bicycle for 100 yuan. Not only was the quality excellent, but he also saved a bicycle ticket. It was truly a case of having a powerful backer to enjoy the benefits.

After he looked around, he found that Sun Daxing was no longer at the car shop.

Master Gong gave Fang Yuan a wink, signaling him to go inside.

Seeing that Fang Yuan was still standing there, Master Gong reminded him, "Take advantage of the fact that no one is around now and go inside quickly."

"Section Chief Fang, did you bring your work ID?"

Just as Fang Yuan was about to leave, Master Gong called him back.

Fang Yuan nodded and said, "I brought it."

Master Gong immediately took off his gloves and said, "Give them to me, I'll go to the police station and get the official stamp stamped for you."

These days, bicycle management is very strict. Not only do you have to get a stamp at the police station, but you also have to pay a road fee every year. Of course, you can choose not to get a stamp, but that just makes your bicycle more likely to be targeted by thieves.

Fang Yuan, ever the pundit, asked, "Will it work?"

Master Gong was clearly not doing this for the first time, and replied confidently, "We're all from the same steel mill, what's wrong with that?"

Fang Yuan realized what was happening, but instead of handing over his work ID, he said, "Please wait a moment."

After saying that, he hurriedly ran a few steps to the supply and marketing cooperative next door and bought two packs of cigarettes.

When they got back to the car shop, he stuffed his work ID and cigarettes into Master Gong's pocket.

Master Gong quickly said that it wasn't necessary.

Fang Yuan's attitude was very firm. He didn't even give him a chance to speak before walking into the carriage shop.

Although Sun Daxing had given him a heads-up and he had guessed Gong's identity to some extent, he still felt he had troubled Gong and should reciprocate.