Chapter 31: with translation of chapter title

Wanting to marry a wife, besides a house, he also needs something proper; He Yuzhu's family already has a radio, so he's going to target a bicycle.

Moreover, now that he's a leader, not having a bicycle is really inconvenient.

At home he found the bicycle coupon he had obtained; He Yuzhu started planning when to go buy it—he really has time on the weekend, but the mall probably won't be empty either.

"Brother, is there anything to eat at home? I'm about to starve." He Yushui pushed the door open and came in, "Any braised pork to eat?"

The last braised pork left her reminiscing for a long time; she's been thinking about it at school already. Nowadays the school isn't like later times—there's all kinds of tasty food.

Usually there's only cabbage soup; a chili‑stirred meat dish is a rare treat, costing two cents per serving. He Yushui had always been eating the worst cabbage soup before.

Director Zhang

Security Section

Hearing that He Yuzhu wanted to buy a bicycle, He Yushui was even more excited than he was, declaring she must go along and help him work out a good plan.

Canteen Director

The autumn sun radiated the last bit of warmth; He Yuzhu walked with Yushui down the bustling street, feeling very happy—this might be what it feels like to be an older brother.

Inside the mall, Yu Shui was like a salesperson, knowing everything about the goods here; there were plenty of places selling bicycles, and they all looked like cadres.

Now the supply of goods is still okay; with money and tickets, it's easy to buy a new bicycle. There are some procedures to handle, but they don't delay his riding.

This isn't over yet; Yu Shui also knows her older brother has become well-off, so at the mall she picked out a big red scarf and also bought some snacks, big and small packages, sitting on the bicycle heading home.

"Brother, today is really wonderful." Yu Shui hopped and jumped in the grocery shop, "Compared to the mall, your grocery shop is really terrible."

She really dares to compare; why not compare those hotels that entertain foreign guests with her own place to live?

Drinking soda and eating snacks, the brother and sister chatted in the grocery shop until four or five in the afternoon before returning to the Courtyard House.

Inside the Courtyard House, a general meeting was being held; the newly reinstated Second Grandfather was full of vigor, constantly scolding Xu Damao there, demanding he honestly confess his mistakes.

Although the First Grandfather said he would let bygones be bygones, his posture looked like he wanted to strike back and retaliate.

Xu Damao defended himself vigorously, saying he was purely doing good deeds, with absolutely no messy trouble; besides, Qin Jingru isn't here now, so who could prove his words are false?

The two sides exchanged sharp words, neither yielding.

At that moment, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle in.

"He Yuzhu, where did you go today? Don't you know we're holding a general meeting?" Second Grandfather slammed the table, "It's utterly lacking organization and discipline."

"What can a morally corrupt person like you manage?" He Yuzhu retorted, "You think Second Grandfather is something great—I went to buy a bicycle."

The appeal of a bicycle far outweighed that of the general meeting; the neighbors of the Courtyard House swarmed over, starting to ask about the bicycle's price.

"Zhuzi sure is promising—first he became the Canteen Director, then he bought a bicycle; Old Wen's eye for talent is really good."

"This is still thanks to the First Grandfather's efforts; we owe it to his money."

"That's Zhuzi's own money!"

The First Grandfather's face darkened frighteningly; He Yuzhu buying a bicycle was like slapping his own face—whoever saw it would have to bring up the matter of him deducting money.

This matter is basically impossible to get over.

"Zhuzi, you little brat just waste money—you just became a leader and you're already spending like this; aren't you afraid people will talk about you?"

"What are you saying about me? Everyone knows what's going on; the factory's criticism bulletin is still up on the notice board."

The First Grandfather felt his face ache.

"How many families in our Courtyard House are still living in hardship? You're not exactly staying close to the masses."

"We... our own money, what's there that we can't spend?"

Yu Shui carried her big and small packages, also took out some popcorn from the Grocery shop, her mouth full from eating, so her speech was a bit unclear.

Seeing Yu Shui's appearance, the First Grandfather became even more indignant—that was money he had painstakingly scraped together, and now they were just spending it like that.

"Yu Shui, look at yourself—how old are you, still eating popcorn? This is for little kids like the little locust flower."

"It's for little kids to eat." Yu Shui swallowed the popcorn, "But I never ate it as a child; the money my father gave me to buy popcorn was all taken away by bastards."

The First Grandfather trembled all over with anger.

"Yu Shui, how can you speak to the First Grandfather like that? He's so old, how could he be an egg."

The neighbors of the Courtyard House burst into laughter; even the criticized Xu Damao was so amused you could see his back teeth.

Second Grandfather grabbed the furious First Grandfather; now is not the time for a verbal spat—their target this time is Xu Damao, not the already uncontrollable He Yuzhu.

"Zhuzi, you're also a leader now—say what you think about this Xu Damao matter."

Now Xu Damao completely denies any involvement with Qin Jingru, and Qin Jingru herself insists that nothing happened between the two. This is the result of the factory's formal investigation.

It's obvious without thinking—they've colluded on their testimony.

Even the factory can't do anything about it, let alone these two old fogies.

All we can do is wait for Xu Damao to fail to meet the conditions he promised, then Qin Jingru will herself blow the whistle.

"I am a leader, that's true, but this matter isn't within my jurisdiction; if you think there's something fishy, you can continue to report to the security department, or go to the street office."

The First Grandfather and Second Grandfather kept silent.

Director Zhang said it quite clearly: just to maintain a stable atmosphere, so they can continue as First and Second Grandfathers; if they go to the street office to complain, he himself would probably fall.

Anything inside the Courtyard House is fine, but nothing can go beyond this scope.

"Tell you two, if you don't apologize today, I'll go to the street office and sue you both." Xu Damao began to press his advantage relentlessly, "I wonder how much longer you can keep going."

Second Grandfather's face turned white in an instant.

He and the First Grandfather blinked their eyes twice, as if saying, "Let's first give in a bit; we must absolutely not let Xu Damao act rashly."

"Besides, it's certain that Xu Damao doesn't return home at night; we should thoroughly check where he sleeps at night, whether there are witnesses, and what time he gets up."

He Yuzhu couldn't stand the First Grandfather and his crowd, and wouldn't help Xu Damao either; this brat, if he doesn't straighten up, really treats himself as a dish to be served.

The First and Second Grandfathers didn't react much, but Lou Xiaoe's eyes suddenly lit up.