Chapter 559: The Upright Taozi

"Yo, isn't this Wang Ye? Haven't seen you for more than three years, right?"

Just as Wang Yan was strolling with his hands behind his back, a man wearing a white shirt, military pants, and a parted hairstyle came toward him, greeting him with a face full of surprise.

Wang Yan greeted the person with a smile and shook hands: "Yang Huajian, it's been more than three years. Haven't seen you since you went to be sent down. It's rare that you, a cadre's child, still remember me after so long."

"Don't say that, it's really because I couldn't help myself. Otherwise, I would have gone to your courtyard to find you long ago." Yang Huajian shook his head: "It's just that there are too many people returning to the city, and good jobs are hard to find. My old man can't help much either, and I've been worrying about work. You say there are four brothers and three sisters in our family, and I'm the fourth. I have a younger sister and two younger brothers below me. I feel embarrassed just staying at home eating free food. I can't eat well or sleep well. Wang Ye, please be generous and don't hold it against me."

"Then why don't you study finding a job, and run to Shichahai for what? This is taking a side path, starting to flip coupons?"

Seeing Wang Yan staring at the stack of coupons leaking from his pants pocket, Yang Huajian was a bit embarrassed; he hadn't hidden them well. His dad was an official, and arranging a job for him wasn't as difficult as imagined. It was easy to enter a factory, but it was hard to go to a government unit. Doing this kind of thing now was actually a bit shameful.

He said: "I can't just sit and eat until the sky falls. There are many people in our family. Even though my parents are both cadres, they only receive a fixed salary. How could I be embarrassed to ask them for money? So I just relied on myself. I heard from my friends that it's safer here, so I came with them to earn some pocket money. How about you, Wang Ye? Haven't had any news for a few years, what are you doing now?"

"Logistics equipment repair at Yili Food Factory, twenty-six yuan a month, a proper worker."

"Good, workers are good. Our country is led by the working class, properly the masters of the country."

"Raising to the level of the line."

Yang Huajian laughed: "How about this, are you here to exchange coupons? I have meat coupons, grain coupons, industrial coupons, all of them. Just say what you need, I'll give them to you at cost price, guaranteed not to let you spend unjust money."

"That's not necessary, I'm just here to stroll around. You go ahead, don't delay your earning money. When you have time, call Chunming, let's drink together and chat about how these years have been."

"Alright, then you stroll, see you later." Yang Huajian nodded readily and turned to leave.

Cadre children weren't all that prestigious. At this time, all monsters and demons had to nest honestly. Moreover, Yang Huajian's dad didn't have a very high position. He definitely had ability, but not as big as imagined. People didn't care about face, and going out to flip coupons was indeed relying on themselves. Later, he could be considered to have some achievements, perhaps it was the foundation laid at this time.

After all, buying and selling is very simple to say, but it's not easy to do. For many people, just opening their mouths is a very difficult hurdle. Not to mention having to understand what coupons and what market conditions, and having to deal with the relationships between competitors—none of this is easy.

However, although everyone was miserable now, when the spring breeze blew across the land later, these cadre children would also rise with the wind. Their fathers mastered certain energy, and they used this energy. Using some loopholes in management systems, just approving two slips of paper was making a lot of money.

Sighing, Wang Yan continued to sway with his hands behind his back. During this period, he bought a green jade thumb ring from the Qing Jiaqing period, and a snuff bottle with enamel colors. Because the Qing Dynasty was the last feudal dynasty and the capital was the imperial capital, there were countless dignitaries, so there were many things from the Qing Dynasty, followed by the Ming Dynasty. The further back in time, the fewer things could be passed down. All were damaged by war, or decayed by time.

So even in such a great period now, wanting to get some items from the Ming and before is not an easy thing, mainly depending on luck. If you meet it, you pick it up; if you don't meet it, you can't force it.

After strolling around, under the watchful eyes of Yang Huajian, Wang Yan waved over a somewhat fat person and left.

Yang Huajian was a smart person. Seeing this situation, how could he not know that this kid was also flipping coupons? After all, they were all classmates, and if Wang Yan wanted to exchange coupons, there was no reason not to exchange them with him. Since that was the case, Wang Yan still looked for others, and that person was very respectful to Wang Yan—wasn't that his younger brother?

Good, his cadre family background, he personally went into battle and lost face to flip coupons, but people had younger brothers. And based on his past understanding of Wang Yan, it was definitely not just in this area; there must be others in other places. After all, when they were in school, Wang Yan never walked alone when he went out, and quite a few little brothers played behind his butt.

The facts were just as Yang Huajian thought. Wang Yan followed that person out of this alley, walked north, and stopped in front of a house not far from Deshengmen.

Arriving at the place, this kid took out a key from his pocket and opened the door.

This was one of his younger brothers who made money together, named Li Dahai, who could be considered the second-in-command. The people who made money in other places were all dispatched by him and another person. It was mainly to exchange coupons and exchange resources. Everyone worked together and shared the money. As for where Wang Yan's leadership and control ability were reflected, to say it was personality charm was too empty; the only real things were two points. When he started, he provided the capital and led these younger brothers to start. The other point, of course, was his deterrent power, making them afraid to do anything out of line.

As for the rest, like helping to handle things, taking money to see a doctor when family members were sick, etc., these were all small favors under personality charm. Of course, that was how it seemed to him, but in the eyes of those helped, they were all solving urgent matters and saving lives. Only with this, plus deterrence, could he be considered to have the foundation to stably lead these people.

To put it bluntly, it was still a sweet date in one hand and a big stick in the other. The sweet date was very sweet, and the big stick was fatal; it was just that simple.

Because this kid was chubby, Wang Yan said while crossing the threshold: "Fatty, I haven't been here for a while, how is it, okay?"

"Wang Ye, can you not be at ease with the brothers doing things? Not a single problem. According to your instructions, we divided the brothers' share last month, and collected the old items you wanted. The remaining fifty yuan is all here with me."

While speaking, Fatty started to dig into his pocket and counted out five ten-yuan bills to Wang Yan. At this time, they were all the third set of Chinese currency, and there were no hundred-yuan bills. Of course, according to the current situation of the country, when the monthly salary was only twenty or thirty, there was no use for hundred-yuan bills.

"You guys have been collecting for so long. When you encounter old items, see if the price is appropriate. Don't be like before, buying one when you see one."

Taking the money and stuffing it directly into his pocket, Wang Yan pushed open a room door, pointing to the various things tightly placed on the wooden shelf, and the messy things piled on the ground: "Look, such a big house has no place to put them. You guys be careful when collecting. Recently, ask around to see if there are any other big houses like this for sale. When the time comes, I'll go contact them, and then we'll study it. Also, be careful when you come over, don't let people follow you and raid the house. My hard work of so many years is all here."

In this era, of course, buying and selling houses is not allowed, but you can sign contracts and write agreements. Although there might be situations where the original owner doesn't recognize the account in the future, he also has the ability to make them regret being human. On the other hand, as long as you have friends who know some people, you can change the owner of the property, which is not very difficult. It's not that there is no room for operation.

Fatty responded: "Don't worry, Wang Ye, it's been so many years, the brothers all have numbers, guaranteed no problem."

Wang Yan nodded, took the cigarette handed by Fatty, lit it, and then started to look around in the courtyard.

This was a two-entry courtyard. Each room had shelves, displaying various cultural relics. The most, of course, were still from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Besides some small things, there were quite a few pieces of furniture. So although his things looked like a lot, they were mainly furniture taking up space.

He didn't have any feelings for these things, and didn't say like Han Chunming, who liked what he saw. If he had to say, what he valued more, besides the ink, paper, and inkstone for drinking, tea, writing, and painting, were those calligraphy and paintings, because there were many he hadn't seen, and he could still look at them, appreciate them, take their essence, and improve his already high-level calligraphy and painting skills.

Roughly looking at various things, Wang Yan instructed Fatty a few words, and then slowly returned to the alley before with Fatty. His bicycle was parked outside, otherwise, he would have left directly.

As expected, he ran into Yang Huajian again when he came back. He said unhappily: "I say Wang Ye, you are not particular. Before I said I was flipping coupons here, I was still a bit embarrassed. Who would have thought that one of the most powerful people in this alley is your brother, Wang Ye?"

"You are embarrassed, that's because your family's threshold is high, and your status is not the same as my commoner. Besides, I'm not particular. I told you I was repairing equipment at the food factory, but I didn't tell you I had friends doing this here. How can I come up and tell people I'm flipping coupons? You, Young Master Yang, didn't you also hide the things in your pocket, just afraid I'd see them?"

Yang Huajian smiled and waved his hand: "Fine, it's my sin, don't mention it, turn the page. Wang Ye, tell me the truth, how long have you been doing this job?"

【Stable running for many years novel app, comparable to the old version of the source-changing app that everyone uses, huanyuanapp.】

"That's been years. I was doing it before you guys went to be sent down. There's no way, it's all to live well. You also know that my parents left early. If I don't think of some way, can I still eat meat?" Wang Yan smiled and patted his shoulder: "Fine, you go ahead, we'll drink when we have time, it's getting late, I'll go back first."

"Alright, Wang Ye, I'll treat you and Chunming to a drink when I have a job."

Wang Yan waved his hand, then strolled out of the alley, riding his bike leisurely to the ethnic restaurant located in the Dong'an Market of Wang Fujing, not far from home. This name is, of course, very unfamiliar, but if you say its other name, many people should know it—that is Donglaishun, the one that shabu-shabu mutton. This was renamed because of the special period, and it wasn't until 1979 that the old brand was restored.

He was too lazy to cook, and he just got fifty yuan, planning to eat a comfortable meal.

Speaking of coincidence, he had just arrived at the place when a light rain fell from the clear and hot sky all day, washing away the dryness of midsummer and soothing people's restless hearts. In such weather, comfortably eating shabu-shabu mutton, drinking Erguotou, and looking at the rain scene of Beijing in the 1970s outside the window, the feeling was excellent.

But this leisurely and comfortable feeling didn't last long, because when he drank a jin of wine and ate several plates of meat, the rain not only didn't get smaller, but got bigger.

Standing at the door of the restaurant, Wang Yan decided to give God a chance. So he took out a cigarette and lit it, hugged his arms and leaned against the wall, comfortably swallowing clouds and exhaling mist.

Obviously, he was a mortal with some adventures, and didn't have such a big face to let God give him three points of thin face. After one cigarette was finished, the raindrops were still pattering toward the ground.

Shaking his head and smiling, he pinched the cigarette butt with his thumb and middle finger, flicked it away casually, and walked into the rain, unlocked the bike, and still rode slowly to rush home.

Of course, he wasn't the only unlucky one. Every time it rained, there were always people getting drenched. They were different from Wang Yan; they had no umbrellas and no big heads. Those riding bikes pedaled hard, and those without bikes ran wildly. They naturally saw Wang Yan slowly like a fool, but they just cursed, not knowing whose fool wasn't watched, and ran on their own.

Regarding this, Wang Yan naturally had different reasons. To put it pretentiously, since he was already wet, then pedaling hard or running wildly wouldn't change the fact that the time he was drenched was different. Then since that was the case, why not have a good rain?

Of course, there was a premise for this: he was a big animal and wouldn't catch a cold at all. If it weren't for this, he would definitely be the one running the fastest. After all, children without umbrellas can only run hard. This saying is not bad; after all, being drenched for less time is less time, and big raindrops hitting the head are not comfortable...

Monday morning, Wang Yan followed the agreement, greeted Han Chunming when he went to work, and let Han Chunming pedal the bike to carry him, who weighed more than two hundred jin. In the sweat of pedaling hard, Han Chunming finally started working.

This matter had no influence on Wang Yan, so where Han Chunming should go, he still went, and he also met Li Chengtao, who had a bad tongue and was a loyal younger brother.

Of course, the relationship wasn't too good at the beginning, and they always had to contact each other, so he just went to work like this, and Han Chunming got familiar with those colleagues.

Every day, Han Chunming had to carry the two-hundred-jin Wang Yan to and from work...

And over at Su Meng's, although the relationship with Wang Yan was much closer, it wasn't that intimate. It was just breaking the strangeness, changing from nodding when meeting to chatting occasionally when meeting, laughing and laughing, very familiar. Compared to Han Chunming, who had always been very enthusiastic and had never hidden his liking, it was still a bit worse.

It was also like this, the event of Su Meng and Han Chunming rowing in Beihai Park still happened. That was on the Sunday rest a week after Han Chunming started working, when Su Meng said she wanted to go to the Children's Palace to take a look.

In fact, Su Meng also looked for Wang Yan, but that day Wang Yan went out early to hold a big meeting for his younger brothers, and very unfortunately missed it. It wasn't until he came back to cook at night that she told him, and also talked about Han Chunming's heroic deeds during the day. She actually hadn't discovered the seriousness of the problem; she just simply thought that talking to Wang Yan was very interesting and very relaxed.

So even if such a thing happened, the problem wasn't big, it was just dragged back a lot. With Su Meng and Han Chunming tossing like that, as long as the bond wasn't too deep in the later stages and the sunk time cost wasn't too large, he had plenty of opportunities to intervene.

After all, he couldn't stay in the courtyard all day watching the movements of these two; that was Cheng Army Supervisor, not his, Wang Mouren's, style. And the 38-episode TV series, which lasted more than thirty years, only explained the general occurrence time, and the specific time period couldn't be grasped. It could be performed on TV, and a small word could be added, and it would be a few years later. He was in it, but it wouldn't work; it was all lived day by day.

And speaking of Cheng Army Supervisor, this kid was very busy now. She didn't hear anything else from Su Meng's mouth, it was either Han Chunming or Wang Yan, and there was nothing about him at all. So he had been studying how to make himself stand up and suppress Han Chunming and Wang Yan.

This, of course, wasn't said by anyone, but what Wang Yan thought. After all, Cheng Army Supervisor was just that kind of person, and you could think of it with your heels. It was just that it hadn't disgusted him yet, so he was too lazy to pay attention...

Another week of work started, another day of drinking tea. Wang Yan found his bicycle in the parking shed, unlocked it, pushed it to a place that didn't hinder others, set it up, took out a cigarette, and sat on the back seat smoking. After one cigarette, Han Chunming ran over with small steps, consciously pushed the bike next to him: "Sorry, Wang Ye, there was some work that wasn't finished, late for a while."

Wang Yan waved his hand, threw the cigarette butt into the flower bed on the side, stepped on it to extinguish it, and walked out swaying.

Han Chunming was nagging on the side: "I really have to save money to buy a bicycle, always troubling you like this, really sorry."

"It's nothing, we're all in the same courtyard, just on the way. I have nothing to do when I go back, so it doesn't matter if it's early or late. If I had something to do, I would have told you to walk back long ago."

"Then it's tiring for me to pedal the bike to carry you all day, Wang Ye, you who know martial arts are really different. Looking at your body without two liang of meat, you are really solid. I've only adapted to it these two days, my thighs were so sore the first two days."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Free car, forget it if you don't pay, it's not too much to exert some effort. Isn't it said that pie won't fall from the sky, and there's no free lunch in the world?"

Talking and laughing like this, the two left the factory. Just out of the gate, they saw a kid sitting on the back seat of a bicycle waving at them, it was Li Chengtao, who had a bad tongue.

Han Chunming was stunned for a moment, and explained to Wang Yan: "A workmate in our workshop."

"I've been working in this factory for more than three years. Our factory has more than a thousand workers. Even if I can't call their names, I basically have an impression of them."

While speaking, the two had already arrived in front of Li Chengtao. He obviously also knew Wang Yan, was stunned for a moment, and asked: "Wang Ge, you know this Han Chunming?"

"In the same courtyard." Wang Yan nodded: "What's the matter?"

Li Chengtao was stunned, thought for a while, and said stutteringly: "I'm quite compatible with Han Chunming. I've been watching him for several days. Since he entered the factory, he hasn't eaten bread, and hasn't even eaten a raisin. His courage is too small. So I'll take care of him, specially stole two pieces of bread, let him go home and taste the flavor. But since Wang Ge is also here, then everyone has a share, one for each."

While speaking, this kid took out bread from his military green small bag, and in the pushing and shoving, stuffed it into Han Chunming's bag.

"No, are you serious? Take it back, I can't want it."

"Fine, it's already taken out, what's the point of pushing back and forth. I also stole it from the factory. Taking public things to do my favor, you just mix with your brother in the future, I'll cover you in the factory." Li Chengtao pressed Han Chunming's hand tightly, signaled him with his eyes not to let others see, looked at Wang Yan and said: "Wang Ge, you must not think too much, I really didn't know you knew Han Chunming. One for each today, I'll take two more tomorrow to make up for you."

This Li Chengtao is, of course, a good person, and has no faults from beginning to end. It's just that there's no plot relationship, or according to his own words, it's compatible. If he likes it, he thinks he can play together. This person is also quite upright. Stealing two pieces of bread out is both showing his courage and expressing his great kindness. Another point is that it really doesn't cost money.

Now that he has an extra Wang Yan, he feels a bit embarrassed, and plus his uprightness, he stutters and finds a way to make up for it, which can be justified.

Wang Yan shook his head and patted his shoulder: "Fine, although we haven't had much contact before, you call me Wang Ge, so you should know that I'm not short of bread to eat. I've long since eaten enough, do I still need you to steal it for me? Put your heart in your stomach, I won't report you, and I won't pick on you. Fine, don't stand here, let's go, go home quickly, I'm starving long ago."

Han Chunming turned the handlebar, sat on the seat: "Wang Ye, get on."

Wang Yan moved his long legs over and sat on the back seat: "Go!"

Han Chunming started with effort and rode away.

Li Chengtao was confused, and quickly followed on his bike: "I say brother, why do you call Wang Ge 'Wang Ye'?"

"What did you call me?"

"Brother?"

... ===== CHAPTER 560 =====