Siheyuan, don't mess with me

A piece of cloth, thirty kilograms of cotton, six boxes of malted milk, leather cotton shoes for Wang Meihua and Chen Xiaoli, and a pair of cotton shoes for each person in my grandfather's and grandma's families! A total of more than twenty pairs of shoes!

100 jin of flour, 100 jin of rice, 300 jin of flour

As for the other scattered things, there is no need to count them. Anyway, there are so many things in the space! If you don’t sort them out, you won’t know that you have become a millionaire. In this era when the average salary is 20 or 30 yuan, what does a millionaire mean? Chen Zhiguo couldn’t help laughing!

But relying solely on hunting won’t last long. But now that I have so much cash flow, I should be able to hold on for a while!

After the Chinese New Year, Chen Zhiguo thought about talking to his teacher about whether he could graduate early. He has already completed the university courses and now has only three courses to take. If he passes them, he can write his thesis. He just doesn’t know whether the teacher will support his decision. Chen Zhiguo wants to visit his teacher during the Chinese New Year and talk to him privately first!

He Yushui, who was standing by, watched Chen Zhiguo sitting there in a daze after he came back, occasionally laughing foolishly. What was going on? With a puzzled look on her face, He Yushui didn't dare to ask, so she calmed down and continued her study!

In the evening, He Yuzhu knocked on the door excitedly, holding a bottle of Fenjiu in his hand, and said as soon as he opened the door, "How is it? Is this wine good?"

Although Chen Zhiguo had plenty of good wine in his space, he couldn't afford to offend the man who brought the wine to his door with good intentions. "Fenjiu, not bad. Did you buy it?"

"Our canteen director gave it to me. By the way, do you have any more tea?" He Yuzhu felt a little embarrassed!

"You brought the tea to the company to show off?" Chen Zhiguo guessed it immediately. He Yuzhu is just like a little kid. He loves to show off whenever he has something!

"Hehe! Our director saw me drinking tea, but I ignored him at first!" Chen Zhiguo nodded. He Yuzhu's personality was enough to make him do such a thing!

"But he kept asking me for more. He even gave me a bottle of Fenjiu and two packs of Mudan!" He Yuzhu felt a little embarrassed. After all, the tea was given by Chen Zhiguo, but he used it to exchange for cigarettes and alcohol.

"You've been fooled and suffered a loss!" Chen Zhiguo said coldly.

"This bastard, why is he so enthusiastic? He surrounds me and says so many nice things! No, I'm going to find him!" He Yuzhu was angry and turned around to find the canteen director.

"Come back! Can you change your hot temper? You are so old, can you be more steady?" Although He Yuzhu is older than Chen Zhiguo, Chen Zhiguo is not polite at all when scolding He Yuzhu, and He Yuzhu just listens with his head down. This is the saying that there is always someone better!

"Just give it, do you still regret it? Is this what a man should do? Besides, they are giving you something in exchange, don't be so fussy, like a woman! Sometimes, it's a blessing to suffer a loss!" Chen Zhiguo pulled He Yuzhu into the kitchen, and while directing He Yuzhu to cook, he continued, "It's okay, this tea is gone, I'll give you some jasmine, which is also a good tea, you can give some to the canteen director if you have nothing to do. At work, you should control your bad temper, get your rank up as soon as possible, and stop bragging about your salary of 37.5 yuan every day, isn't it embarrassing?"

"What's wrong with my salary? Is it too little?" He Yuzhu was still unconvinced.

"A lot? Don't you know how much a fourth or fifth level worker in the workshop can make? I feel embarrassed for you because you keep talking about that little salary!" After the two of them became familiar with each other, they spoke without restraint and said whatever they wanted to say!

"I want to take the exam, too, but I always fail!" He Yuzhu has also taken the exam, and has taken it for two years in a row, but he just can't get past Level 7. He also suspects that his level is really not good enough and he can't meet the standards?

"You! Who told you to stay in the cafeteria every day? You're not satisfied with this and you're not happy with that. The cafeteria director must have been scolded by you a lot!"

"He doesn't know anything and is just giving orders blindly!" He Yuzhu said disdainfully while cutting vegetables.

"You are the only one who understands. You know how to fail the exam! You should be humble. It's almost the New Year. I'll give you some tea and some wine. Go visit him and let him give you some advice!"

"Him? Can he do it? He knows nothing, what can he teach me?" He Yuzhu asked in confusion.

"He can teach you how to get promoted, he can teach you how to be the monitor of the cafeteria!" Chen Zhiguo said angrily, "If your salary goes up and you become the monitor, you can find a matchmaker next year and start a family. You are so old and still naked, isn't it shameful!"

If you were to talk about anything else, He Yuzhu might not care, but when it comes to getting married, he is absolutely concerned, "Really?" His eyes began to light up!

"Really! As long as you control your bad temper and stop saying weird things, I guarantee you'll get married next year! But if you still want to be like before, fighting or even attacking anyone who doesn't accept you, you'll be single no matter what!"

"Okay, I promise to change it. Zhiguo, what about the tea leaves?"

"Get lost! Make the meal first. I told you I'd give it to you, so why would I give you less?"

Chapter 51: Busy Years Ago

On the morning of the twenty-ninth day of the lunar year, just after breakfast, Chen Dayong came back with a scruffy beard, carrying a package, and limping back! Chen Xiaoli couldn't recognize Chen Dayong when she saw him like this. He was dark and thin, and it seemed that he had suffered a lot on this business trip!

Chen Zhiguo hurried to the kitchen and made dumplings on the cart and noodles on the cart. He didn't know how to roll the noodles, but he knew how to knead the dough. The noodles were hand-rolled with pure white flour, and the soup base was made from big bones. There was a thick layer of braised meat on the noodles. Even Chen Dayong was surprised. When had our family ever been so extravagant?

"Dad, eat quickly, the dough will clump together soon!" The time was too short and the dough was not kneaded enough!

"Yes, Dad, come and eat, the meat my brother made is so delicious!" Chen Xiaoli, who was hugging Chen Dayong's waist, also said,

Delicious! Really delicious! Chen Dayong devoured the whole bowl of noodles in no time. Chen Zhiguo brought a bowl of noodle soup over, and Chen Dayong sipped it mouthful by mouthful.

After eating, Chen Dayong contentedly lit up a hand-rolled cigarette, the kind that one buys tobacco leaves, cuts them into pieces, and wraps them in paper before smoking. Suddenly, the pungent smell of old tobacco leaves filled the whole room!

Chen Zhiguo turned around and went back to the room, "Dad, just smoke this from now on, and don't smoke old tobacco leaves! Besides, the smell of your tobacco is not good for my sister's health, it makes her cough easily! Next time we smoke, let's go outside, it will be good for mom and sister's health!" Chen Zhiguo didn't give his father any face at all. Besides, this was also for everyone's health!

"Okay, okay! I won't smoke!" Chen Dayong obeyed his son's words. After putting out the cigarette in his hand, he was reluctant to throw it away and put it away again!

Then he took the cigarettes given by Chen Zhiguo, "Daqianmen, Zhiguo, where did you get these? Such expensive cigarettes?" Chen Dayong was a little worried. Have the conditions at home become so good while he is away from home?

"I'll tell you about this later," Chen Dayong understood that Chen Zhiguo didn't want Wang Meihua and Chen Xiaoli to know, so he stopped asking! He turned around and opened the package he brought!

There was a frozen lamb leg and two sheepskin vests inside, and the rest were some dried fruits like raisins. There weren’t many of them, and when Chen Dayong left, he didn’t take much money with him. “Come and try, yours and your brother’s!”

"Dad, I don't want it. Mom made me a new cotton-padded jacket!" Chen Xiaoli waved her hands, "I don't want it either. You and mom can wear it! At grandpa's house, grandma also made you a pair of wolfskin pants. You can wear them when you go home for the New Year!" Chen Zhiguo added. Chen Dayong was a little disappointed and even wanted to show off. Fortunately, Chen Xiaoli liked the dried fruits he brought very much, which made him feel better!

After having a full meal, Chen Dayong saw that it was still early, only ten o'clock, so he took his whole family to the bathhouse. He had been on a business trip for so many days and his body was already smelly!

Chen Zhiguo took a bath in his space every day, and had long forgotten about taking a bath before the New Year! Every New Year, Chen Dayong would take his family to the bathhouse to take a bath, wash clean and welcome the New Year! And Chen Xiaoli did not forget her good sister, and ran to the middle courtyard to call He Yushui over!

Although it was morning, the bathhouse was packed with people. Chinese New Year was only two days away, and everyone wanted to take the opportunity to take a bath and spend the new year comfortably!

Chen Zhiguo looked at the crowded pool and had no desire to go in! He just washed in the shower room, then went to the rest area, got a haircut and a pedicure, went back to take a shower, and then sat on the rest bed waiting for Chen Dayong!

I took out some tea leaves, but didn't dare to take the good ones, so I just took jasmine tea. I asked the waiter to help me make a pot of tea. I drank the tea slowly and waited for Chen Dayong to come out!

"I said I couldn't find you, and I wanted to rub your back!" Chen Dayong was curious when he saw his son's muscles. How did he grow so much muscle?

"Dad, have a cup of tea first, and then you can go find a back scrubber yourself!" Chen Zhiguo poured a cup of tea for Chen Dayong, but Chen Dayong didn't rush to drink it, but lit a cigarette for himself first! The whole bathhouse was filled with mist from the hot water and the smoke, and it was all foggy above one meter!

"Good tea! You have so many good things in your hands now!" Just now the cigarette, now the tea, Chen Dayong is becoming more and more confused about his son, but fortunately, he doesn't say much. Just like when Chen Zhiguo transferred to another school, he was just a tool panel, used to support Chen Zhiguo in the past, and it was Chen Zhiguo who communicated with the principal!

After forming this habit, he always supported Chen Zhiguo's affairs and didn't ask questions! He was a rough man. He could barely recognize a few words. His son was now a college student. It was obvious who was stronger and who was weaker. After all, Chen Dayong had been in the army and his thoughts were relatively open-minded. He didn't have the idea that I was your father, and no matter right or wrong, you must listen to me!

Taking a bath doesn't cost much, but it takes a long time. You have to queue up for a back scrub, and you also have to queue up for a haircut and shave. Fortunately, Chen Dayong didn't hire a pedicure master!

After two hours, the father and son finally walked out of the bathhouse! You know what, they felt different after coming out, and they felt much more refreshed!

Wang Meihua, Chen Xiaoli and the other two hadn't come back yet. They were probably going to be even slower. Chen Dayong didn't wait for them and took Chen Zhiguo home to cook. In the kitchen, he asked, "Son, where did you get all these things?"

"I got it by hunting in the mountains!" Chen Zhiguo's light words scared Chen Dayong. Chen Dayong had seen how ferocious hungry animals could be in winter!

"Don't worry, I'm fine. If my family wasn't really in trouble, do you think I would want to?"

"What's going on at home? Everything was arranged well when I left!" Chen Dayong asked in confusion.

So Chen Zhiguo told Chen Dayong all the recent events, and Chen Dayong was so angry that he picked up a kitchen knife and was about to chop Jia Zhangshi, "Okay, everything is settled. If you leave, how can we still celebrate this year? Besides, we didn't suffer any loss!"

Chen Dayong then threw the kitchen knife on the table angrily.

"I thought you were going to cook!" Chen Zhiguo picked up a kitchen knife and started cutting potatoes. "Do grandpa and grandma know that you went up the mountain? They know, but not everything. Just pretend you don't know. Don't let it slip!" Chen Zhiguo absolutely believed in Chen Dayong on this point. He was really tight-lipped!

"I told my mom that I was helping the machinery factory repair the machine and they gave it to me as a gift. I told my grandparents the same thing! Otherwise, I would have no excuse to give out the things I got in exchange!"

Chen Dayong knew Chen Zhiguo's feelings. In this era of traveling around with tickets, you couldn't move without tickets. The source of tickets was either issued by the unit or you traded them yourself! If you had more than the amount you wanted and it didn't match the number, and someone reported you, you would be in a lot of trouble, speculating! This was a big enough label in the society at that time, and most people would be scared when they heard it!

Therefore, Chen Zhiguo was very careful, and he always found sufficient reasons. Otherwise, even if you took out a lot of things, would your family dare to use them? They would still worry about whether you were doing something crooked outside! This is Chen Zhiguo's biggest problem at present, how to make life at home better to the greatest extent possible while convincing his family!

As they were talking, the courtyard door was pushed open. "Brother, I'm hungry!" Chen Xiaoli appeared in the kitchen with a face as red as an apple. "It will be ready soon. You and mom go to the room to drink some water. Wait!" Chen Zhiguo answered while stir-frying the vegetables in the pan.

Chen Zhiguo knew that they were slow in taking a shower and had to wait until their hair was dry before going out, so after cutting the side dishes, he waited until they came back before putting them in the pot!

Because He Yuzhu would have a day off tomorrow, He Yushui did not come over to read or study today. Instead, she cleaned the house. After eating a lunch that was no longer lunch, she hurried home again. She had to take her food book to queue up to buy New Year's goods, such as peanuts and melon seeds. When Chen Zhiguo heard He Yushui's complaints, he saw a long queue at the supply and marketing cooperative on his way back. He wondered if he could buy anything there now!

"Go home and give me your grocery store book. I'll buy some this afternoon. It's a good time to go!"

"Brother, I'll go with you!" Chen Xiaoli became excited when she heard that there was a chance to go out.

"Okay, come with me later!" Chen Zhiguo had nothing to do, so he took his sister out for a walk to relax. As for Chen Dayong, because he was on a business trip, the steel rolling mill gave him a day off. He just had to go to the company in the afternoon to pick up the New Year's goods that were distributed to him!

"I'll give you the bicycle!" Chen Zhiguo was worried that his sister would be cold, so he threw the bicycle to Chen Dayong and chose to take Chen Xiaoli out on foot. Although she didn't ride the bicycle, Chen Xiaoli was still very happy to go out with her brother. As for Wang Meihua, she was still at home preparing new cotton-padded jackets for Chen Zhiguo and Chen Xiaoli. Everyone wants to give their children a new set of clothes for the New Year. If you don't have the conditions, forget it, but if you have the conditions, why not hurry up?

As soon as he went out, he met Grandma Hu who was also queuing up to buy New Year's goods. Chen Zhiguo directly took over Grandma Hu's food book and added two more children to his team. Grandma Hu went home to clean the house!

"Why are you here?" Gu Cheng saw Chen Zhiguo suddenly coming to his house.

"Now, I can't get in line to buy New Year's goods, so I'm going to ask Uncle Gu for help!" Chen Zhiguo said with a smile.

"You really know how to find time. You are so busy now!" Gu Cheng said unhappily. It is not an exaggeration to say that the supply and marketing cooperative is crowded with people. The line at the door alone is more than a hundred meters long. All employees of the supply and marketing cooperative are at work. There is no break at noon and they take turns to eat!

Having said that, Gu Cheng still arranged for someone to go to the warehouse to help Chen Zhiguo pick up the goods directly. Fortunately, the three companies' shares were not large, only one pound of melon seeds, half a pound of peanuts, one pound of fruit candies, and one pound of pastries each!

"Uncle Gu, I have something else to trouble you with,"

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Gu Cheng was so busy that he didn't even raise his head. "Aren't we going to make wine? But the people in the village have no experience and are afraid that it will go bad. How about you ask for a recipe?"

This topic made Gu Cheng look up, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? It's already so late. I don't have time to deal with this. Wait until after the New Year and I'll ask for you!"

"Then I really have to thank Uncle Gu!"

"I'm telling you, if you don't give me enough of the brewed wine, I'll show you how I'll punish you!"

"That's not possible. Am I that kind of person?" Chen Zhiguo said, patting his chest.

Humph, hum! Gu Cheng hummed twice and said nothing!

Chapter 52 The charm of picture books!

After finishing a cup of tea, Chen Zhiguo was just about to get a refill when Xiao Wang, who had gone out to help get the New Year's goods, came back with three cloth bags, each containing something from three different families. This young man was good, promising, and very attentive!

"Uncle Gu, I'm leaving now! I wish you a happy new year in advance! I wish you a new year with a new look, and a healthy body and youth!"

Gu Cheng was almost amused by Chen Zhiguo. He waved his hand and said, "Let's go quickly. If we continue talking, we should say we wish you a baby soon. This brat should stop disturbing my work!"

On a step that was out of the way at one side of the gate of the supply and marketing cooperative, three children were standing obediently, each holding a candied haws in their hands.

"Brother, have some! The candied haws are really sweet!" Chen Xiaoli handed over the candied haws in her hand. This child, when eating candied haws, would first lick the syrup on the outside of the hawthorn, and then eat the hawthorn!

Chen Zhiguo opened his mouth and bit off a hawthorn that Chen Xiaoli had almost licked! "Let's go shopping!"

Don't go into the supply and marketing cooperative. You can't squeeze in! If you don't queue up now, you won't get in!

But where to go now? Park? Too cold! Watch a movie? That's a good choice, so Chen Zhiguo led his three little tails to the cinema!

There were many pedestrians on the road. Although the main colors were blue and black, and only a little red could be seen occasionally, and many pedestrians had patches on their clothes, they did not look ashamed to be seen in shabby clothes. Chen Zhiguo saw that almost everyone had a smile on their face, which was bright, sincere, and confident! They were full of fighting spirit and vigor!

Unfortunately, I was late and didn’t calculate the time well. The movie had already started half an hour ago. The next movie would have to wait until six o’clock, which was too late!

Looking at Chen Xiaoli with her pouting lips, Chen Zhiguo looked at the Xinhua Bookstore not far away and said, "Let's go buy some comic books!" If people who lived through this era recall their childhood, comic books occupied a very important position, as they were the spiritual food of their childhood!

On the first floor of Xinhua Bookstore, one side is children's literature, and one wall is lined with picture books. Not only Chen Xiaoli, Hu Xiaoyong, and Hu Xiaojun were stunned, but Chen Zhiguo was also staring at them. Love it! Love it!

Chen Zhiguo really wants to buy three sets of all the picture books here, one set for himself, one set for collection, and one set for his children!

I bought more than a dozen books for Chen Xiaoli and her friends, such as "Little Soldier Zhang Ga", "Chicken Feather Letter", "Little Hero Yu Lai", etc. Chen Zhiguo chose "Water Margin", "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasties", and "Legend of Yue Fei". I can't buy any more, there are too many. These are all sets. Only "Legend of Yue Fei" has a few copies, more than a dozen, "Water Margin" has more than 30 copies, and "Legend of the Three Kingdoms" has more than 100 copies!

Chen Zhiguo had no choice but to buy so many of them first. When he had time, he would go to another Xinhua Bookstore to buy more! There were more than 200 comic books in total. Actually, they didn’t cost much. The general price is 5 cents, or 8 cents, and 1 cent is rare. So many comic books cost less than 20 yuan!

Now everyone was satisfied. Chen Xiaoli took Chen Zhiguo home to read the picture books. Chen Zhiguo was also very happy. These were all collectible picture books. This way, both adults and children were satisfied, and they could go home faster!