Traveling back to 1952, starting a comeback from a relief station

On the other side, in the courtyard house.

After quickly finishing her lunch, Jia Zhangshi rushed out of the courtyard, put down her chopsticks, and hurried through an alley to find the courtyard where Aunt Li lived.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Aunt Li chatting with the neighborhood aunties.

Aunt Li, with her sharp eyes, spotted her first and frowned as she spoke:

"Hey, Jia family, what brings you here?"

"Let's talk about Dongxu's blind date later. There aren't that many suitable girls around."

"That Miss Zhao was such a great catch yesterday, and none of you managed to seize the opportunity. I don't even know what to say to you!"

Jia Zhangshi, however, did not care about any of this.

He rushed forward, grabbed Aunt Li's arm, and asked in a low voice:

"Aunt Li, tell me the truth, wasn't Qin Huairu the girl you were going to introduce to Dongxu last time?"

Aunt Li's face changed instantly. She quickly pulled her hand away and waved it off, saying:

"No, don't talk nonsense."

"I don't know any Qin Huairu at all, and she has absolutely no connection with the person I went on a blind date with last time."

She had accepted Wang Anping's money and didn't want to cause any more trouble.

But since Madam Jia had come to our door, she clearly had something to hide. Seeing that she didn't admit it, she immediately raised her voice and deliberately started shouting:

"You're still trying to hide it from me?"

"I already got some information from Qin Huairu!"

"You, the matchmaker, took the money and did nothing! You promised me a blind date, but you turned around and introduced me to someone else! You have absolutely no professional ethics!"

"I'm going to tell everyone about it today, so that all the neighbors can see."

"Let's see if you can keep doing this matchmaking job!"

Aunt Li panicked immediately, her heart pounding with anxiety.

She had no idea whether Jia Zhangshi had really figured out the details.

But what she values ​​most in her matchmaking business is her reputation. If word gets out that she casually changes her arranged dates, who would dare to ask her to arrange a marriage in the future?

This business model is no longer viable.

He quickly spoke up:

"That has nothing to do with me."

"Qin Huairu contacted me herself, saying that she had visited your house and was not satisfied with your Dongxu, and refused to go on a blind date no matter what."

"This isn't my fault at all; blame your family's circumstances for not meeting her expectations!"

"Don't try to make a scene in front of me."

Jia Zhangshi was dumbfounded.

She was just trying to trick Aunt Li, but she didn't expect it to actually be true.

There's no point in arguing with Aunt Li in the courtyard now. She hasn't taken a single penny from her family, and they haven't even had a proper meal. She has no grounds for argument at all.

Jia Zhangshi could only glare at Aunt Li, muttering curses as she turned and left.

But she had already made her plans:

I have to have a serious talk about Wang Anping stealing Qin Huairu from me in the courtyard, and I have to get an explanation from Wang Anping!

library.

After lunch.

Wang Anping worked at full speed to make a copy of the completed manuscript for future reference.

Fortunately, the handwriting used for the record wasn't too neat.

One afternoon.

The manuscript has finally been copied.

Wang Anping rubbed his stiff wrists, straightened the manuscript, attached a piece of paper with a self-introduction and manuscript description at the front, and even specially signed it with the pen name "Interceptor," and stuffed it all into an envelope and sealed it.

It was already evening.

Wang Anping found Ran Qiuye, thanked her sincerely for lending him the book, said goodbye, and left the library.

Watching his departing figure, Ran Qiuye stood there, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

After leaving the library, Wang Anping rode his bicycle straight to Dongcheng District and found the People's Publishing House at the address provided.

He glanced inside from the doorway, and the gatekeeper came out of the guardhouse and asked:

"Young man, what are you doing?"

Today is Sunday, and the publishing house is closed.

Wang Anping pulled out a pack of Peony cigarettes from his pocket; these days, it was considered a respectable brand.

Then he took out his submitted manuscript and handed it to the security guard:

"Master, I'm here to submit my work."

"If you have submitted your manuscript to the 'Primary School Teacher' publication, please forward it to us."

"Thank you so much!"

The gatekeeper glanced at the cigarette in his hand, then picked up the envelope and looked at it. Seeing that the handwriting was neat and beautiful, and didn't seem like someone who had come to cause trouble, he nodded.

"Okay, I'll keep it for you."

"However, I can't guarantee whether it will be approved. You'll have to wait for news."

These days, submissions from other places are mainly made by mail, but for submissions from within Beijing, many people are used to delivering them directly in person. The mailroom receives many submissions every day.

It's rare to see someone as sensible as Wang Anping, who even went out of his way to offer him a cigarette.

The old man put the cigarette in his pocket, took the envelope and went into the mailroom, casually putting it into a submission basket labeled "Middle School Teacher".

night.

Outside the Yan family's gate in the front yard.

Liu Haizhong stood at the door of Yan Bugui's house, and the two huddled together, whispering to each other.

They originally thought that capturing He Daqing, this "enemy spy," would be a great achievement.

Unexpectedly, He Daqing was released that very night, clearly having no connection whatsoever with enemy agents, leaving the two men both embarrassed and puzzled.

After all, it's true that He Daqing ran away with his luggage last night.

"Even if Lao He isn't an enemy agent, he definitely didn't do anything good last night. I just don't know what he's up to."

Liu Haizhong smacked his lips, his face full of regret.

Such a great opportunity to make a name for oneself has been wasted!

He glanced in the direction of Wang Anping's house, and felt even more uneasy.

Wang Anping not only received a 50-yuan reward for catching an enemy spy, but also received a banner from the street work team. He was so proud!

Just as he was muttering to himself, Yi Zhonghai returned from outside with his hands behind his back.

Seeing the two of them huddled together whispering, he slowly walked over, frowning, and said:

"Are you two talking about Lao He again?"

"Stop guessing. It's not what you think. He's not an enemy agent."

After a pause, Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice:

"He just met a woman. Old He was planning to go to Shicheng with her last night, but you two ran into him. He has absolutely nothing to do with enemy agents."

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were both stunned.

Old He knows a woman and wants to run away with her?

Liu Haizhong immediately slapped his thigh:

"That's not right either."

"He's clearly having an affair!"

"There are two kids at home, Shazhu and Yushui, and he just abandons them like that? That's so irresponsible!"

"This matter absolutely cannot be left like this!"

"you do not say!"

Yan Bugui echoed,

"Old He is not only irresponsible towards his child, but he's also disgraced our entire neighborhood! If word gets out, what will the neighbors think of us? Will our neighborhood ever be eligible for any awards again?"

"No, we have to call all the neighbors in the courtyard and hold a general meeting to thoroughly criticize Old He. We also need to make him give a public apology!"

Liu Haizhong became more and more excited as he spoke, turning to look at Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui.

"Old Yan, you're the intellectual in the compound; Old Yi, you're the technical backbone of the factory. You two need to get involved too. Let's work together to clean up the atmosphere in the compound!"