Siheyuan: I am the seventh uncle of Banggen

"Da Biao also asked his aunt to find a job for me. I'm old and illiterate, so let your cousin's wife go to work. She can work in the neighborhood committee. She will be able to get a permanent job in three months. Then her and the child's household registration can be transferred in, and our lives will be a little better." Zhang Cuihua sighed deeply.

Song Juan was so shocked by what Zhang Cuihua said that she opened her mouth wide and couldn't utter a word. In her impression, her uncle was still the one with a limp, a fierce face, and the one who hit her with a crutch. How could he be so powerful?

In the evening, Zhang Dabao did not use the bacon brought by Jia Dongxu. He had a full set of offal in his own space. What was the point of eating bacon? Besides, he had a greasy meal at noon, so something light would be fine in the evening. At least he would not eat meat tonight.

Zhang Dabao stir-fried a pig's face with chili peppers, cut some pork liver, mixed some pig ears, and then stir-fried a few vegetarian dishes, such as shredded potatoes and cabbage, and boiled rice porridge.

After not drinking or eating, Zhang Dabiao called Zhang Shoucheng and his wife and said, "Shoucheng, what's the matter with you coming into the city?"

"I want to borrow some money from my eldest aunt. The house at home is not big enough. Xiaojuan and my mother have different tempers, so it's not suitable for us to live together. My two younger brothers are grown up, and the second one should get married. There's not enough room for him at home," Zhang Shoucheng said with his head down.

"Your aunt's family may not be rich. In a few months, her family will be a little better off, but now it's not better than yours. I've taken a look at the house in my hometown. Your father should have spent some money on it over the years. The roof and walls are well maintained. I'll give you a hundred yuan, and we'll be even," said Zhang Dabao as he took out a hundred yuan.

"Uncle, this is not appropriate. We have lived here for more than a year," Zhang Shoucheng pushed back.

"Shoucheng, you are better than your father. If he had taken the money long ago, he would have been scheming since he was young. He has not only offended everyone, but also has not lived a good life. There are seven brothers in our family and more than twenty other brothers, but only your father has a bad life. He is the eldest and you have grown up. Why is this?" Zhang Dabao said to his nephew.

Zhang Shoucheng shook his head.

"Your father is too smart. He thinks he is smarter than others. Sometimes people feel that being smart is not a good thing, especially when getting along with their relatives. You are the eldest grandson in our family. You should not learn from him. He has nothing for you to learn. Go back and divide the family and live your own life well." Zhang Dabao stuffed the money into his nephew's hand.

"Thank you, uncle," Zhang Shoucheng was a little touched.

"You're welcome. Your grandpa is Zhang Zhifeng, my uncle. Just go to the room where you rest today with your wife tonight. Have breakfast tomorrow morning before leaving. Your aunt has to leave at 7:30, so you should get up early too." Zhang Dabao instructed his nephew and asked them to go back to their room to rest.

After Zhang Shoucheng and Zhang Songjuan finished their noodles in the morning, Zhang Lianhua brought two dried fish as gifts for her nephew and niece-in-law, and five steamed buns as dry food for the two of them at noon. The two of them left No. 95 Yard together with Zhang Lianhua and the others.

On the way home, Zhang Shoucheng didn't say anything. He kept thinking about what Zhang Dabao had said to him. He began to wonder whether his father Zhang Dasong had really done something wrong. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that his father had more problems.

Song Juan did not speak either. She had been thinking about the three meals she had at Zhang Dabiao's house, a banquet with ten dishes. She had lived for more than 20 years and had never heard of it, not to mention that there was fish and meat for lunch and meat and vegetables for dinner. It was either white flour buns or rice. In the morning, they had noodles. Her sister-in-law also gave each of them an egg. This was the life that people should live. What kind of life did she live before? This situation must be changed. Only Zhang Dabiao had the ability to change the fate of herself and Zhang Shoucheng. Her father-in-law Zhang Dasong did not have that ability. However, she heard from her family members talking about the past and from her uncle Zhang Dabiao's words that they all had a big opinion of her father-in-law and mother-in-law. He and her family had a meeting to break off the relationship and might not be able to help. Song Juan thought about it for a long time, but could not think of a breakthrough.

At noon, the two returned to Zhangjia Village.

"Shoucheng, now that we have built the house, let's separate from our parents," Song Juan said to Zhang Shoucheng at the entrance of the village.

"Let's divide it. The second brother is grown up now. This time, I estimate that each of us two brothers will have three rooms. If there are more, there will not be enough materials." Zhang Shoucheng is very familiar with the situation at home.

"Three rooms are three rooms. We have to separate them. We have also stayed in the city for a day. Look at the life of my uncle's family and then look at how we live at home. I think my uncle is right," said Song Juan.

"Yes, our family has been surpassed by our uncles, and now we are the poorest family in the village. If we move out and suffer for two years, we will definitely be able to live a good life," said Zhang Shoucheng.

"Shoucheng, if you go to find your uncle, can he find a job for you?" Song Juan asked her husband again.

"No, it's already very good that my uncle can give us money. My younger aunt and he have been close since childhood, and it seems that my eldest aunt is taking care of him as a side job, because they live in the same compound. It's not easy for a widow to raise a son, and the family life is difficult, so my uncle helps out wherever he can. Among the brothers in the family, my uncle has the best relationship with my sixth uncle, and he has the worst relationship with our family." Zhang Shoucheng has a very thorough understanding of the problem.

"Okay, if my uncle has the ability, don't tell anyone. Let's wait a few years to ease our relationship with him, and then go and beg him." Song Juan also has her own cleverness.

"Yes, just say that the money was borrowed from my eldest aunt. My eldest aunt didn't have it, so she got it from my young uncle. So we just need to return it directly to my young uncle," Zhang Shoucheng further elaborated on his wife's statement.

After discussing it, the two returned home.

Chapter 63 Zhang Dabiao has a motorcycle tricycle

"Shoucheng, did your aunt lend us money?" Zhang Dasong asked when he saw his son and daughter-in-law coming back.

"My aunt's family lives an average life. My cousin is the lowest-level worker in the factory. My aunt, her wife and their two children all have rural household registration. They have no quota in the city and have to eat expensive grain. Their family is not much better off than ours," said Zhang Shoucheng.

"I knew that the Jia family is a bunch of ungrateful people. They ate and drank at our house for several days before the New Year. Now they want to borrow money and give a lot of reasons. I think Zhang Cuihua just doesn't want to lend us money." Zhang Dasong's wife started to get angry.

"Are you staying at your eldest aunt's house?" Zhang Dasong knew the situation of his sister's house. There was no room for them to stay. When his son went there, he only brought money for the bus fare. The two of them stayed there for a whole day and night, and the weather was so cold. It would be impossible without a place to stay.

"There is only one room in my aunt's house, how can we live here? We live in my uncle's house. The house he got is also in the same compound as my aunt's. His house has five rooms, and we also eat at his house," Zhang Shoucheng said to his father.

"Da Biao's house? Five rooms?" Zhang Dasong was a little surprised.

"My uncle is a retired company commander. He was given three rooms and he bought two more. My aunt's family had no money, so she interceded with my uncle and took 100 yuan from his family. We will just return it to him when the time comes," said Zhang Shoucheng as he took out the yuan given by Zhang Dabao.

"Zhang Dabao's money should be paid back?" Zhang Dasong's wife said reluctantly.

"Mom, what are you talking about? You just don't have to pay back the money you borrowed from my aunt. She is a widow and her family is not much better off than ours. How can you have such an idea?" Zhang Shoucheng became angry when he heard his mother's words.

"Didn't I say I wouldn't pay it back? How dare I not pay back Zhang Dabao's money?" The mother's voice was louder than Zhang Shoucheng's.

"Dad, Mom, I borrowed the money and I will pay it back. Let's take this opportunity to build a house for the second son together. We brothers will each have three rooms. After the houses are built, we will separate. Whether we will live a good or bad life in the future depends entirely on our own efforts," Zhang Shoucheng expressed his thoughts.

"What kind of family is Shoucheng? Shouping is only twelve," said Zhang Dasong.

"You and my mother are forty-five, and Shouping can still be raised. The second brother and I will also help with his marriage. You two don't need us brothers to support you for the time being. After you are fifty-five, the three of us brothers will take care of you in your old age, and we will give you everything we deserve. Shouping is the youngest, and you like him, so we can leave all the old houses in the family to him, and you can live with him. What do you think, second brother?" Zhang Shoucheng asked his younger brother Zhang Shouan.

"I agree." The second son, Zhang Shouan, was very honest. He was neither old nor young in the family and was the least valued one. He did not expect that as soon as his eldest brother came to the city, he would fight for three rooms for himself.

"When a tree grows big, it will branch out. We should divide the family business. I agree. Shoucheng just brought two fish. Shouan, go call Uncle Zhiling, your second uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle, and we'll divide the family business tonight." Zhang Dasong saw the determination in Zhang Shoucheng's eyes and knew that if he continued to pressure his son, he would be even more dissatisfied with him.

Zhang Dasong's three sons divided the family's property and food in the presence of Zhang Zhiling, Zhang Dayang, Zhang Dabai and Zhang Dalui. Zhang Shoucheng and Zhang Shouan moved out immediately after building their houses.

We will start building the house tomorrow. When the weather gets warmer, there will be more work to do in the fields and my brothers won’t be able to help.

Zhang Dabao's straddle was dismantled into parts, and the main problem of the car was also discovered. The motor oil in the engine was thicker than mud. It seemed that the car had never had its oil changed since it was produced by the Japanese until it was put into the warehouse. It was completely unusable, and even a god would have a hard time changing the oil.

Zhang Dabao collected a tricycle from the space, dismantled its engine, studied the structure of the body for two days, and bought steel pipes, steel plates and other accessories from the steel rolling mill. A few days later, a three-wheeled motorcycle came out. The cargo box was one meter wide and two meters long, and the baffle of the car body was 40 centimeters high with a slide on it. Six one-meter-high steel pipes were sewn with canvas and could cover the entire car body when pulled open. An iron door was installed at the back that could be locked, and it was safer to put things inside. The tricycle cab was also wrapped with steel pipes and canvas, and a windshield and windows were added to solve the problems of direct cold wind in winter and wind blowing in rain.

The tricycle has an advanced design and a wide range of uses. The entire vehicle is painted military green, making it look more high-end and classy. It took a full five days to complete. On Friday afternoon, Zhang Dabao took a letter of certification issued by the steel rolling mill to the police station to go through the procedures for registering the tricycle.

Zhang Weihua couldn't let go of the car after seeing it, and felt that it was a pity to purchase it. However, when he heard Zhang Dabao talk about the cost, he stopped talking. It cost one hundred to buy an old car, and more than seven hundred for various accessories. It would take seven days to repair the car, and it could not be copied because he didn't have those old cars.

From then on, Zhang Dabao drove his beloved little motorcycle and never got stuck in traffic again. Of course, there will be no traffic jams in Beijing now.

When we arrived at the Red Star Photo Studio, the photos had already been developed. The day after tomorrow is Saturday, so I will send the photos to Teacher Wen Li. If I have time, I will go take some more photos with her.

Zhang Dabao sometimes felt that it was not good to be so close to Wen Li, but when he saw Sister Li, he really thought that the heroism and charm in her were not possessed by ordinary women. What's more, she knew how to dress up, which made her look even more beautiful.

The motorcycle could not be driven into Courtyard 95 as the threshold was too high, so it could only be parked outside the gate. Fortunately, the entire vehicle was tightly wrapped and Zhang Dabao locked it with a padlock.

Jia Dongxu always appears when he should. As soon as Zhang Dabao locked the car, Jia Dongxu ran over. "Seventh Uncle, is this your car?" Jia Dongxu asked while stroking it with his hand and making a clicking sound.

"I modified this car from an old one in the factory. Can you drive it?" Zhang Dabiao was a little proud now. A new car? It was meant to be envied by others.

"I don't know how to drive. I haven't even learned how to ride a bicycle. Uncle Qi, can you please find some time to teach me how to drive your car?" Jia Dongxu said to Zhang Dabao with eager eyes.

"Let's look at the time. This is not a car, but a motorcycle. Do you remember the one in the factory warehouse?" Zhang Dabao didn't want to teach him. It was a new car and he hadn't used it enough. How could he let a novice drive it?

"Kuaizi, the one we captured from the Japanese? I can't see it." Jia Dongxu walked around the car twice more.

"Why did you get off work so early today?" Zhang Dabao suddenly remembered that it was not time to get off work yet, and wondered if Jia Dongxu had left early again.

"Bring some bedding for my master. It's still about the deaf old lady. I don't know who reported it to the factory, insisting that my master and the deaf old lady are in cahoots. The police station has already investigated it, and there is no relationship between the two people, but the factory can't do anything about it. If someone reports it, it has to be dealt with. Section Chief Xing said that let my master spend one night in the factory. If there is nothing wrong, he will be released tomorrow." Jia Dongxu thought of his mission.

"Hurry up and go. It's already late. Let's get down to business first," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu looked back every few steps, reluctant to leave the car.

"I'll teach you how to drive when I have time. Look at you, you look so ugly," Zhang Dabao cursed.

Jia Dongxu didn't know what he was thinking of, he turned around and came back, "Seventh Uncle, why don't you take me to the factory? I'm holding a quilt and walking very slowly, and it's almost time to get off work. Please pick up my aunt, Jingshu, Banggeng and others and let them ride in your new car."

Zhang Dabiao thought about it and felt that Jia Dongxu's idea was a good one. "Go and get it quickly. I'll be waiting for you here. Day by day, the light will serve you."

Chapter 64: Jia Dongxu Educates His Children

Jia Dongxu ran back to the yard quickly and ran out again holding the bedding.

"Put all the things in the back, and then go home to get a few stools. Your aunt and the others will sit there." Zhang Dabao opened the trunk and was already waiting for Jia Dongxu.

"Okay!" Jia Dongxu ran back.

"Do you want to sit in the back or the front?" After putting the stool away, Zhang Dabao asked Jia Dongxu.

"Of course in the front. Who can see me if I sit in the back?" Jia Dongxu rushed to Zhang Dabao.

The motorcycle made a bit of noise, but it ran much faster than a bicycle and arrived at the steel mill in five minutes.

"Go quickly, put down the quilt first, and go to the daycare center to pick up the child. I'll be waiting for you at the door." Zhang Dabao parked the car on the side of the door. Jia Dongxu was very excited, even more excited than when he drove himself.

"It's too fast, it feels so good," he kept muttering to himself.

The people in the security department knew Zhang Dabao, a hero who could kill nineteen wild boars at a time. He was also a relative of the deputy factory director. It was hard not to know him.

"Da Biao, which bicycle is this?" Xing Baoguo came out and stood in front of Zhang Da Biao's car. He knew that Zhang Da Biao spent a hundred yuan to buy that bicycle.

"Uncle Xing, it's that bike. Fortunately, the engine can still be used after being repaired. Basically everything else has been replaced. It cost me more than 700 yuan," said Zhang Dabao.

"You are really generous. You have almost spent all the money from selling the pigs. People in your courtyard say that Zhang Dabao eats and drinks lavishly every day. However, it seems that you know a lot, and you can even fix your pig." Xing Baoguo praised Zhang Dabao.

"When I have nothing to do, I like to read some books. I read a lot, but I don't learn very well. It was just a coincidence this time," Zhang Dabao said modestly.

"Your skills are better than 99% of the people in our factory. I drove this car when we had a joint venture with the Lou family after liberation. It has been broken down in the factory for many years and could not be repaired. I never thought you could fix it," Xing Baoguo said with emotion.

"What a coincidence. If you need Uncle Xing's car, just give him a call. His own car is convenient to use and can be used to transport some goods," Zhang Dabao said politely.

"Okay," the two started chatting.

After get off work, Jia Dongxu took the lead and rushed out, followed by He Yuzhu. Banggeng and Jingshu, held hands by Zhang Lianhua, also trotted over.

"Dongxu, why are you running so fast? You are running for the two children as well. Look at the sweat on the children's bodies. What if they catch a cold if the wind blows?" Zhang Lianhua caught up with Jia Dongxu and said a few words to him.

"Aunt, look what this is, it's my seventh uncle's car. I've got the stools ready. Come in quickly, or you might catch a cold." Jia Dongxu said boastfully.

"A car with a big logo. When did you buy it?" Zhang Lianhua saw the car, but she didn't expect that it belonged to her brother.

"Let's talk about it later, I'll go to the front," Jia Dongxu said as he opened the front door of the car.

"Damn it, can't you see that your elders are here?" Zhang Dabao saw his nephew walking past him and Xing Baoguo, and without even saying a word, he kicked Jia Dongxu.

"Hello, uncle." After being kicked, Jia Dongxu saw Xing Baoguo standing opposite Zhang Dabao and hurried forward to greet him.

"Dongxu has a very lively personality." Xing Baoguo nodded and replied with a smile when he heard Jia Dongxu calling him.

"You are so old, but you don't have any good sense. Go to the back and let the two children sit in the front while you sit in the back," Zhang Dabao scolded Jia Dongxu again.

"Uncle Xing, I'm going back first. I'll visit your home in a few days," said Zhang Dabao.

"Just come when you have time. Drive carefully as many people are getting off work now," Xing Baoguo said goodbye to Zhang Dabao politely.

Zhang Dabao asked Banggeng and Jingshu to sit down, started the engine, and the car started. In five minutes, they arrived at Yard 95.

"Big logo, it's too fast. I'll buy one when I have money," He Yuzhu said after getting off the car.

"You have money, can you buy it? This was built by my seventh uncle himself. Can you repair it?" Jia Dongxu poured cold water on He Yuzhu.

"You don't know how to repair it, and you're poorer than me." He Yuzhu did not show any weakness and immediately fought back.