Chapter 124: 55, Shazhu bought two bicycles

55 year.

It can be considered a watershed moment for everyone in the siheyuan.

Yi Zhonghai staged a grand drama of a desperate counterattack this year.

The hypocrite was promoted to fifth-grade worker in the autumn of 53.

Summer of 55.

That is, last month.

After passing the sixth-grade worker assessment, he became one of the few technical experts at the steel mill, receiving an audience and commendation award from the mill's top two leaders.

The Yi family still displays Yi Zhonghai's medal for technical expertise.

Most residents of the siheyuan are either workers at the steel mill or family members of such workers; some even work in the same workshop as Yi Zhonghai and rely on him for their work.

The hypocrite seized this opportunity to transform into the head steward of the siheyuan.

As for the former head steward Liu Haizhong, he reverted to his original position as second steward.

He's a bit like mud that can't support a wall.

Within the compound, the grand spectacle of Yi Zhonghai's desperate counterattack unfolded, and at the steel mill Yi Zhonghai left everyone far behind; on the day Yi Zhonghai was promoted to sixth-grade worker, Liu Haizhong barely managed to advance from third-grade to fourth-grade worker, with no sense of celebration—anyway, the neighbors in the siheyuan all heard the cries of Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu being beaten that day.

Whoever becomes head steward, whoever becomes second steward, as one of the siheyuan's residents, Shazhu cannot stay out of it; he merely heightens his vigilance and carefully deals with the schemes of the hypocrite and the Jia family.

When soldiers come, we block them.

When water comes, we dam it with earth.

If we don't associate with Yi Zhonghai, he can only resort to petty tricks.

……

In 55, besides coupons, it was also the era of exchanging old and new currency.

Ten thousand of the old notes exchanged for one of the new.

Shazhu doesn't care about these; from joining the workforce in 51 until now, it's basically three and a half years, earning about forty thousand a month, basically spending it all each month—some went to feeding Yushui, some turned into goods.

As someone who has lived a second life, Shazhu may be the only one who knows the concrete direction of future developments.

In his previous life, there was a fellow named Han Chunming under Zhengyang Gate who became a well-known wealthy person by buying and selling those items.

Shazhu never met Han Chunming, but that doesn't mean he hasn't heard his name; moreover, his identity as a scrap station purchaser assists in this.

In gathering things, Shazhu has an innate advantage; most of his wages go to collecting items, leaving him with little spare cash.

But he still had enough money to buy two bicycles.

Think about the future when everything will require coupons.

Shazhu specially made time, went to the supply and marketing cooperative, and bought two bicycles: a Phoenix-brand men's bike and a Flying Pigeon-brand women's bike.

The two large handlebars large Flying Pigeon is Shazhu's.

The Phoenix-brand small curved crossbar belongs to Yushui.

This year the little girl is going up to junior high; earlier Shazhu said that if Yushui gets into their district's junior high, he will reward her with a bicycle.

Well, he's a man.

A spit, a nail.

Leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Shazhu became the most handsome kid on the street, holding the two large handlebars large Flying Pigeon in one hand and grasping Yushui's Phoenix-brand small curved crossbar in the other, speeding toward the police station.

The bicycles need to be registered.

Only after registration can you ride them.

Leaving the police station, Shazhu repeated his old trick, holding each bicycle with both hands as he returned to the siheyuan just as he had come.

It just happened to be Sunday.

The neighbors were all there.

In an era when owning a bicycle made you a big shot, Shazhu bought two at once, a solid two-plus-one effect; the already extraordinarily lively siheyuan instantly became even more bustling, with a clamor, everyone gathered around Shazhu's bicycles, touching them, looking at them.

Some people genuinely felt happy for Shazhu, such as Xu Daming and Yan Fugui, etc.

Others, however, remained aloof, thinking it had nothing to do with them; they eyed the bicycles with envy but felt no jealousy, only scheming how to get a share from Shazhu.

This year's Shazhu.

Twenty years old.

He has reached the age to marry and take a wife.

For men, twenty.

For women, eighteen.

Besides his mature appearance, Shazhu has no other flaws; he pondered whether his relatives had any women his age, hoping to make Shazhu into their relative.

Some people, seeing Shazhu buy two bicycles at once, couldn't have the grapes, despised them as sour, and mocked Shazhu with sarcastic remarks.

The most typical example is the Jia family.

The Jia family, represented by Jia Zhangshi, genuinely cannot bear to see Shazhu doing well.

Whenever Shazhu has good fortune—whether eating meat or gaining something—the Jia family feels compared unfavorably, treating Shazhu with all kinds of sarcastic remarks, either saying he'll never marry or accusing him of extravagance and waste.

Jia Zhangshi originally still wanted to keep some face.

But as Qin Huairu gave birth to a second child, a daughter.

Just a moment ago, Jia Zhangshi was a good mother-in-law; in the blink of an eye she turned into a wicked mother-in-law, giving Qin Huairu all kinds of cold looks.

Laoqianpo didn't know what she was thinking, saying that Qin Huairu's second child not giving her a grandson was Shazhu's fault; she pointed at Shazhu's nose and scolded him several times, ending up being slapped by Shazhu's big palm.

Jia Dongxu joined forces with Jia Zhangshi to fiercely battle Shazhu.

Moreover, Xu Daming intervened.

The Jia family mother and son were beaten black and blue by the siheyuan's two fools.

Accordingly.

The conflict between the Jia family, Shazhu's family, and Xu Damao's family grew ever more intense.

Shazhu bought two bicycles at once, and the least pleased were the mother and son of the Jia family.

As the crowd gathered around Shazhu's new bicycle, Jia Zhangshi's nagging voice rang out.

"Damn Shazhu, I, this old woman, curse you to be childless for life—what are you showing off? It's just a bicycle; what's there to show off?"

The voice was very low.

Only Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu inside the house could barely hear it.

This is a lesson Jia Zhangshi summed up from her painful experience of being slapped countless times.

Among the residents of the siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi could be rude to anyone—except Long Laotaitai, Yi Zhonghai, Shazhu, and Xu Damao.

Behind Long Laotaitai stood Yi Zhonghai; Long Laotaitai herself was a tough nut to crack, unafraid of Jia Zhangshi, old in age, and backed by her occupation as a shoemaker.

Yi Zhonghai was Jia Dongxu's master, had become a top technician at the Yagangchang steel plant, and the Jia family relied on him.

Shazhu and Xu Damao took no nonsense from Jia Zhangshi; when she hurled insults, they often repaid her with punches and kicks, and even if Jia Dongxu helped, the result was still being beaten up by the two fools of the siheyuan.

Usually, when cursing Shazhu and damning Xu Damao, Jia Zhangshi would mutter quietly inside the house.

Just to satisfy her mouth.

Relying on the fact that Shazhu and Xu Damao couldn't hear, she would blurt out any foul language.

Little bastard.

Childless.

May you die a bad death, etc.

Qin Huairu had grown accustomed to it, feeling weary and numb; Jia Zhangshi despised her for not bearing a son, gave her cold looks, and even her husband Jia Dongxu didn't take her to heart, neglecting his duties and marital rights.

On the contrary, Xu Damao, who was at odds with the Jia family, would sometimes seize moments when they weren't looking to kindly comfort Qin Huairu.

Good medicine tastes bitter but helps the illness.

Loyal advice grates on the ear but aids action.

In comparison.

When Qin Huairu lay awake at night, she would unconsciously compare—comparing Xu Damao, Shazhu, and Jia Dongxu. Imagining her husband replaced by Xu Damao, she wondered what her life would be like; since Xu Damao had once gone to the countryside and intercepted her, she should have accepted his advance.

As for Shazhu, Qin Huairu had thought: in the siheyuan, marrying the man everyone agreed had a good life—Shazhu—would bring a bicycle, a sewing machine, a radio, a camera; every New Year the Shazhu family would take photos. Though lacking parents is a fact, being parentless also has its advantages—no nasty mother‑in‑law!