Chapter 383: The Great Reunion

"Bingkun, phone."

"Coming."

Early in the morning, just after arriving at the soy sauce factory and before he had even finished tidying up, someone came over to find Zhou Bingkun to take a call.

"Hello, this is Zhou Bingkun."

"Bingkun, it's your sister."

"What's up?"

"About what you said before regarding Yueyue, your brother-in-law and I discussed it, and we'd better wait until we're on summer break and go home to talk about it. We haven't settled our living situation over here yet, and it'll take some time to get settled; your brother-in-law's job hasn't been finalized either. Bringing Yueyue over now would just mean she'd suffer along with us; it's better at home. I'll have to trouble you and Zheng Juan to help look after her a bit longer. Sorry for the trouble, Bingkun."

Zhou Bingkun laughed: "We don't mind at all; we're both quite fond of Yueyue. It's mainly what I told you last time—you and your brother-in-law are both more educated than I am. This is a big deal, so you must take it to heart and not be indifferent. Even though she's young, she's already sensible."

"Fine, I know. Let's leave it at that then; wait until we get home to talk. These phone charges are quite expensive, I'm hanging up now."

"Alright."

Listening to the busy signal on the other end, Zhou Bingkun shook his head and hung up. He didn't know if Zhou Rong had actually taken it to heart; the call was made on the eighth day of the lunar new year, and now, with only a few days left until school started, she was finally replying.

Without thinking too much, he turned back to work, planning to go to the hospital at noon to talk about this matter and, incidentally, mooch a meal. He usually ate quite plainly when out, not as well as the hospital staff canteen.

After hearing Zhou Bingkun's words, Wang Yan nodded: "Fine, I know now, let's talk about it later then."

"Brother, sister-in-law is leaving tomorrow, why don't you two come home for dinner tonight?"

"We only went back yesterday; we have to go to her parents' place tonight."

Zhou Bingkun laughed: "Going to the capital is really great. You don't know, when Jianye said he was going to the capital to play, the whole family was turned upside down."

"I originally thought about taking everyone, but I'm just one person, and I can't keep an eye on four little brats. Why don't you go back and ask for leave? Tickets are easy to buy right now, there aren't many people, why don't we go together?"

"I'd better just keep working; all the heavy and tiring work at home depends on me. Besides, going out for a trip costs a lot of money. With that money, wouldn't it be better to buy meat and ribs to eat? As long as the three little brats at home have something to eat, they won't make a fuss."

"When Jianye comes back, if he starts showing off, that'll be another issue." Wang Yan picked up a piece of food: "You don't need to worry about money; if you're going out with me, would I let you spend your own? As for the work, isn't there still Guangming? He's not young anymore, he can look after things."

"Forget it, no more tossing and turning. Whose money isn't money? Saving a little is still saving. Just to let a bunch of little brats go out and play, spending so much money and not eating well—better to just stay home and eat meat."

"Then let's talk about it later. Actually, if you really want to get rich, in the future, traveling all over the country will be inevitable."

"Brother, why don't you give me a hint first? I keep thinking about it. If I believe you, I feel like you're just fooling me; if I say I don't believe you, everything you've said over these years has basically come true. As time gets closer, I haven't been sleeping well these past two days; every time I close my eyes, I see several ten-thousand-yuan households."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Hey, dear brother, you talk first, so I can be prepared."

Wang Yan leaned forward slightly and whispered: "Actually, it's nothing much—just going to the south to stock up on goods, then coming back to the north to sell them."

"Isn't that..." Zhou Bingkun looked left and right, then stopped himself: "Isn't that speculation and profiteering?"

"You're not wrong to say that, but to put it nicely, this is called trade, you know? You buy, you sell, and you're in the middle—earning a few ten-thousand-yuan households is easy."

"No wonder you said it takes guts; that's really something they catch people for, can you do it without guts? But brother, I remember you told me before to go to the black market to scalp tickets, this isn't much different from that. If it were like this, I would have done it long ago. Seriously, you're just fooling me."

"The situation is different now." Wang Yan shook his head: "The college entrance exam has been restored, educated youth are returning to the cities, those people who were caught before are starting to be rehabilitated, and those involved in speculation and profiteering are being released one after another—the wind has changed. Think about it: with so many people returning to the cities, are there that many job positions to arrange for them?"

"Definitely not; we already have quite a few people here without jobs, and those coming back from outside aren't much better."

"Since jobs can't be arranged, isn't it a problem that so many people are idle at home?"

"Definitely."

"Then doesn't the country have to think of ways to solve the employment problem for these people? To avoid these people being idle and causing trouble, disrupting social stability and unity?" Without waiting for Zhou Bingkun to answer, Wang Yan continued: "This is the key issue the country will have to consider in the coming period. So, some doors will definitely be opened slightly, and considering the different industrial layouts in various places, as well as the differences between domestic and foreign markets, moving goods between north and south, and between domestic and foreign markets, is the opportunity to make money."

"But what if I get caught?"

"Speculation and profiteering."

Looking at his smiling good brother, Zhou Bingkun let out a long sigh: "Isn't that still the same thing? What's the difference?"

"Think about it carefully yourself; I'm not lying to you. Two or three trips back and forth is one ten-thousand-yuan household. There's definitely risk, but it's not as big as you imagine. And even if a problem arises, I can help you; it's not a big deal." Wang Yan said: "Bingkun, if you want to gain, you have to pay. If you're always looking ahead and behind, fearing this and that, and just content with the status quo, then you'll only ever be a salesman at a soy sauce factory for the rest of your life. Only by taking this step and overcoming the fear in your heart will your life be different."

"In the past, people wanted to change but had no opportunity because various reasons didn't allow it; now you've caught up with it, don't you want to do something? Or do you just want to live like this for the rest of your life? When the time comes, think carefully about what you want and what kind of life you want to live. I've finished eating, you eat slowly, I'm off."

After finishing, Wang Yan turned and left, carrying several bowls.

Actually, he could have waited until the full opening up to let Zhou Bingkun go out and do things, but Zhou Bingkun was still a bit too honest and lacked two parts of boldness; he wasn't a person full of adventurous spirit. Now is a good time—on one hand, there is some risk, but on the other hand, it is indeed a huge profit, which can, to a certain extent, stimulate Zhou Bingkun's ambition and motivation. After all, people are greedy and never satisfied. Once there is a start and the sweetness is felt, naturally, he will keep doing it in the future...

The next day, early in the morning, Wang Yan carried bags of things, took Chen Jing and Wang Jianye, and caught the morning train. After half a day of clattering, they arrived in the capital, Beijing, in the afternoon.

They found a hotel near Peking University, rested for a while, went out to eat Beijing specialties, walked the streets, and felt the atmosphere of the capital. Because they were tired from the journey, the family of three returned to the hotel and went to sleep early.

The next day, Wang Yan and Chen Jing held their son's hands, one on each side, and bounced their way to Peking University. Although it wasn't time for enrollment registration yet—it was a few days early—if they registered, there were people in the school who could help handle it. They all knew that with the restoration of the college entrance exam this time, many people were excited, and there would definitely be many who came early.

And in fact, when the family of three finished breakfast and arrived at the place, many people were already handling registration matters. Because it was the first exam after the restoration of the college entrance exam, the composition of the crowd was visibly complex—there were young men in their teens, and also men in their thirties who had experienced the hardships of life; the age span was nearly twenty years.

Chen Jing, who had spent so many years squatting in the library reading books, was a literary young woman, and naturally, she applied for Peking University's ace Chinese Department. Wang Yan hadn't been to Peking University for a long time either, not to mention the Chinese Department where he was the leader. He didn't have any special feelings; he had been to many places and seen many people in his life. If he were to feel sad about the past every time he arrived at a scene where he had once lived, his emotions might not be enough—he couldn't be sad enough. So he just looked at it purely, and incidentally acted as a tour guide for his wife and son, popularizing the history of some scenery on campus.

Leading them to handle enrollment, the second-year student who had come to the school early to help was full of surprise, because he had been here for a year and had never understood the history of Peking University in such detail. Yet the young husband of this good-looking woman said he had never been to the capital before, but knew everything here like the back of his hand. He couldn't help but ask the reason, and the answer was: read more books.

After being busy for a while, by the time they finished handling registration and enrollment, it was already noon. The family of three had a meal at the top institution's canteen and happily wandered around the campus.

As the saying goes, where in life do we not meet? Just as the family of three was wandering by Weiming Lake, a loud shout came from behind: "Wang Yan?"

The family of three stopped and turned around in unison. After seeing the person clearly, Wang Yan waved his hand with a smile and called out "Big Brother" along with Chen Jing. The one who could make him call him Big Brother in this world, of course, was only the eldest of the Zhou family, Zhou Bingyi. He didn't expect him to come so early.

"Just now, looking from afar over there, it looked like you. Later, I thought Chen Jing got into Peking University, and you were exactly a family of three, so I hurriedly called out. I didn't expect it really was you." Zhou Bingyi walked up with a smile and looked down at little Wang Jianye: "What, don't you recognize me?"

Chen Jing rubbed her son's little head: "This is your Uncle, he's Uncle Bingkun's own brother. He gave you candy during the New Year before, call him."

Wang Jianye bared his toothless grin: "Hello, Uncle."

"Hello to you too, hello to you too. Oh my, haven't seen you for two years and you've grown so big, time really flies." Zhou Bingyi pinched Wang Jianye's little cheek and looked at Wang Yan: "Did you just arrive today?"

"Came over yesterday, it was already afternoon when we arrived. Plus, sitting on the train was too tiring, so we only came to register today. When did Big Brother arrive? There are still several days until school starts, didn't you stop by home on the way?"

"I arrived this morning, didn't go home. Isn't it waiting until summer break for the family reunion? If I said I went home for two days, tossed around, and then left, Mom would feel quite sad when the time comes. Better to wait until then and we'll all go together."

Zhou Bingyi was in the production and construction corps in the northernmost Heilongjiang province. The train to Beijing went all the way south, passing through Jichun and Shenyang. At this moment, there was still half a month until the final registration date; he was a good son.

If he had gone south with Hao Dongmei, Wang Yan believed he would definitely have stopped in Jichun for two days and incidentally gone home to see his old mother. Now that he was going south by himself, if he went home, of course, he had to go to his father-in-law's place to take a look.

But now their contact wasn't much, they had only met a few times, and usually, it was Hao Dongmei who kept in touch by letter and phone. As someone from an ordinary worker family, marrying Hao Dongmei during a special period, he must feel that Hao Dongmei's parents had some opinions about him. If he went by himself, without Hao Dongmei mediating, facing a dignified high official and regional leader alone, he definitely wouldn't be able to handle it.

If he went home himself and didn't go to his father-in-law's place, that wouldn't make sense either. And maybe Hao Dongmei would find out later, and if she had thoughts or something, that wouldn't be good. So it was better to pass by the door without entering...

Chen Jing also understood the joints, and asked: "Where is Sister-in-law Dongmei? Didn't she get into Jichun Medical College? Didn't you come south together?"

"She's the women's director over there, still has some things to hand over. And their school starts a few days later, plus it's close, so I came over by myself first. Just happened to want to see our capital and adapt in advance."

"Very good, we thought the same." Wang Yan raised his wrist and looked at the time: "Just right, it's four o'clock now, it's about time for dinner. Let's go, Big Brother, let's go out and find a place to have a drink, talk while we eat."

"Alright, just right, after drinking some wine, it'll be good to sleep when we get back. This journey really tired me out. But let's agree first, I'm treating."

"What's there to fight over? If you pay, you pay. If I can save money, I'd be more than happy."

Not far outside the school, there was a state-run restaurant. The four of them walked in laughing, ordered a few dishes, asked for Erguotou, and found a corner seat to sit down and eat and drink.

"Come, Little Yan, I'll toast you. The family has relied on your care these years."

"You drink by yourself." Wang Yan shook his head: "You always say we're family, but then you're so polite with me. You punish yourself with one; if Auntie finds out, she'll scold you to death."

Zhou Bingyi shook his head and smiled: "My fault, my fault, I'll drink by myself, drink by myself."

Watching him tilt his head and drink two taels of wine, Wang Yan waved his hand: "I know you have a good capacity for liquor, but you can't drink like that. We're not competing in drinking, just talking is fine."

"Happy to see family, just want to drink a bit more." Zhou Bingyi picked up a piece of food for Wang Jianye and touched his little head: "Hey, by the way, Wang Yan, you study so well, why didn't you think about taking the college entrance exam this time?"

"Nothing to take. I'm a doctor, and I want to develop in this aspect in the future, I don't plan to do other trades. You say your brother has such a big name, who would dare to accept me? I know the teachers of those medical school teachers, those experts and professors, and some relationships are even quite good. How can I take the exam like this?"

"Also true, you are a genius who became one through self-study, indeed no way to teach. Then, in that case, you didn't just come to send Chen Jing to school this time, right?"

"The main task is of course to send Chen Jing here to school. Secondly, some of the domestic TCM masters are all here, I'm going to meet them, have a meeting, and discuss the future development of TCM." Wang Yan replied casually, then asked with an 'oh': "How is Sister-in-law Dongmei?"

"Just wanted to talk to you about this." Zhou Bingyi shook his head and smiled bitterly: "These two years, relying on her mother's connections, she's seen quite a few—TCM, Western medicine, charlatans, all seen, no use. This time just right, she'll be in Jichun in the future. When I go back, I'll let her find you, you help take a look."

"Rest assured, I will definitely do my best."

"No need to be too troublesome, if it can be cured, cure it; if not, forget it. After so many years, actually, neither of us holds much hope. If it can be cured, best; if not, nothing. It's just that my parents are always urging us. Every time they write to me, they have to ask why we still don't have children. Saying Dongmei is old, and it'll be dangerous to give birth later."

Zhou Bingyi sighed and raised his wine glass: "Let's not talk about it, come, drink, drink."

Wang Yan talked to him with a smile, listened to him tell interesting things that happened in their corps over the past two years, commented on the current national situation, discussed politics, imagined the future, and so on. Also, Zhou Rong also got into Peking University's Chinese Department, Chen Jing and she were classmates, and the three of them were all one family, so they should gather more in the future, and so on.

Maybe it was because he hadn't talked so happily for a long time, Zhou Bingyi drank a bit too much, and in the end, it was Wang Yan who sent him back to the school dormitory.

The next day, the family of three got up early and ran to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony.

At this time, the flag-raising ceremony was not like what was seen later; there was no complete set of flag-raising standards. It was just a national flag guard squad drawn from the Beijing garrison troops, a flag-raising team composed of a few people, and there was no road closure or isolation, far from the solemnity of later times. But no matter when, when that bright red flag with five stars fluttered high in the blue sky, hot blood that was hard to cool would always rise in the heart.

After watching the flag-raising, the family of three had a simple breakfast and took a car directly to the Great Wall. Since they were already here, they had to see the Great Wall. Because of the distance, the family of three couldn't return that day, stayed at a hotel over there for one night, and only returned to the city the next day.

Because they considered Chen Jing's convenience of life, plus they had the conditions, so after returning to the city, Wang Yan took her near the school and spent some effort to buy a small courtyard. Apartment buildings couldn't be bought; Beijing at this time was the same, apartment buildings were scarce, and everyone wanted to live in small foreign-style buildings. Even buying a courtyard wasn't that easy, because now, house trading was a very troublesome matter, which is why it was said that it took some effort. Of course, there was also a harvest. Because this place was near Zhongguancun, it would all have to be occupied in the future, and they could also become demolition households.

In addition, they also bought a two-entry residence inside the Second Ring Road, which counted as a foothold in Beijing. He had no other thoughts of buying property in Beijing, because he basically didn't come to Beijing much, and this time he was going to be stationed in Jichun. And Chen Jing, after finishing university, would also return to Jichun, so buying too much was useless. As for other demolition things, the number was indeed not small, but he wasn't short of that money, so that was that.

Wandering around for a few more days and seeing other famous historical sites in Beijing, Wang Yan went to the TCM Research Institute to have a two-day meeting with some leaders and other TCM masters there. It was just as he told Zhou Bingyi, researching the future development of TCM, and exchanging some concepts, experiences, and the like.

In early March, Wang Yan finished the things he should handle, and also took his wife and child for a wander around. Peking University's registration time was already approaching. He invited Zhou Bingyi for a mutton hotpot to say goodbye. At the dinner table, Zhou Bingyi said Zhou Rong and Feng Huacheng would arrive the next day, and asked if he would wait one more day so everyone could meet and have a meal before leaving.

Wang Yan of course couldn't change his itinerary because of Zhou Rong's matter. The next day, he said goodbye to the reluctant Chen Jing, took his son, and again carrying bags of gifts he had purchased, sat on the train heading to Jichun...