Chapter 154: The Car Owners (Guaranteed Second Update)

With several days left until Wei Ming's work started, he had planned to spend those days with his family, but his grandmother felt the cost of living in the big city was too high—every outing cost a fortune. Though her grandson earned well, spending his money made her uneasy.

So after seeing the doctor and spending another day sightseeing, including visiting the great leader, the satisfied old woman insisted on returning to Gouzitun, where she could help raise chickens, feed pigs, and mend clothes.

Plus, Xiao Hong was about to return to school, so Wei Ming didn't oppose it. On their last day, he exchanged over three hundred yuan in overseas remittance vouchers and took his grandmother and the others to the Overseas Chinese Store for the first time, buying food, toys, and daily items they'd never seen before.

Although those Hong Kong dollars would have fetched more yuan on the black market than exchanging for remittance vouchers, Wei Ming had more than enough yuan—he'd donated a thousand, made another trip to Sichuan and Yunnan, and still had over five thousand left.

So he preferred exchanging for remittance vouchers to enjoy the rich variety of goods.

That day, Xiao Hong, Yunyun, and the others encountered chocolate for the first time, tasted cola, and saw bras—though they didn't buy any, it was still an eye-opening experience.

Old Wei stared at the color TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines, feeling that no amount of money was ever enough. He told his wife, "Once the village gets electricity, we'll buy a full set too!"

Xu Shufen: "How much would that cost? We can't keep spending our son's money."

Old Wei: "I can spend my father's money—who doesn't have overseas connections?"

The next day, Old Wei and his group loaded up their bags and boarded the bus to the train station. Old Wei told them to drop him off at the South Gate bus stop.

Their final conversation was still about the old man in Hong Kong.

"If he writes back, remember to copy a letter and mail it to me… No, better not—I'm afraid someone in the village might see it." As he spoke, Old Wei waved his hand dismissively.

Wei Ming: "I'll make sure he knows how much you care!"

Watching the bus carry his family away, Wei Ming felt a hollow emptiness—he didn't know when he'd return home again.

Mei Wenhua also waved vigorously at the bus; just past the South Gate, he'd insisted on helping carry luggage, his eyes constantly stealing glances at Yunyun.

Fortunately, he still remembered the guy under 160 cm—he didn't say a word to Xu Yunyun, only admired her in silence.

As both were reluctant to part, someone across the road suddenly called out to them.

"Brother Feng, Sister-in-law! You're back from your hometown?" It was Bei Qiao Feng and Nan Mu Rong.

"When did you get back?" Qiao Feng chatted warmly with Wei Ming.

As they walked and talked, Wei Ming sensed something different about Sister Mu Rong, but couldn't tell what.

She followed them back to the dorm, where Biaozi was resting in bed. Feng Ge then announced: "From now on, your sister-in-law will be working at the school clinic!"

"Ah, that's wonderful! You two won't have to live apart anymore!" The three younger brothers genuinely rejoiced for their elder brother.

Qiao Feng added: "So we'll need your help moving later—the school has assigned us a room in a dormitory building."

Biaozi exclaimed excitedly: "They've already assigned housing? That's great!"

Feng Ge waved his hand: "It's not official housing. They're just being considerate—given my long service and your sister-in-law's pregnancy—they let us move in early. We'll wait for proper housing later."

Wei Ming suddenly understood what was different about Sister Mu Rong—she seemed much more composed. Becoming a mother truly changed a woman, unlike Lin Jie, who, though not young, still radiated a girlish charm.

Without letting Mu Rong lift a finger, the four young men moved Qiao Feng's belongings. During the holiday, both he and Biaozi had nearly fully recovered.

After Qiao Feng left, his empty bed remained unused. He told Wei Ming to leave his letters on the bed or in the cabinet—this eased Wei Ming's urgent problem.

The apartment assigned to Qiao Feng and his wife was in Building 16, not far from the main dining hall and Triangle Ground. It had three floors, no kitchen, and no private bathroom—each floor had one bathroom at either end.

The corridor served as the kitchen, and they still burned honeycomb coal.

Their room was probably less than ten square meters—just a bed and a desk, leaving barely enough space to move.

The conditions were harsh, but it was their own private space, no longer sharing a dormitory. The couple were very satisfied.

In another month, Mu Rong planned to lift the ban on Qiao Feng.

For lunch, Qiao Feng insisted on treating the three brothers. Wei Ming agreed but suggested the staff canteen—once the baby came, this couple would have many expenses.

The staff canteen was cheap—five people could eat well for just two yuan.

That evening, Wei Ming also planned to treat the guards at the South Gate, and would invite Qiao Feng and Biaozi along.

Hearing Wei Ming was treating so many people, Mei Wenhua calculated the cost and sighed: "How come making money is so easy for you?"

Biaozi: "Brother Ming isn't just a writer—he's a musician too. His talent is unmatched. My mom now hums 'On the Field of Hope' all the time."

Wei Ming waved his hand: "Musicians don't make much money. I'll stick to writing my novels."

Five lyrics and four compositions earned him ninety yuan and one cassette tape—there were no independent musicians; everyone was employed by state institutions.

It wasn't that writing songs didn't pay—it was just that in mainland China, it paid poorly. In Hong Kong, it was entirely different.

He didn't know the exact rates there, but surely a song with both lyrics and melody couldn't be worth less than a thousand Hong Kong dollars—and he remembered Hong Kong lyricists and composers received royalties from record sales.

Originally intending only to write to his grandfather, Wei Ming now thought again of the little girl named A Min—the letter hadn't been thrown away yet.

As he pondered, someone approached carrying a food bowl.

"Master!" Wei Ming greeted Master Liu Wenjie.

Liu Wenjie smiled and sat with them: "You're finally back—I've got good news." Wei Ming guessed immediately: "About the motorcycle?"

"Yes, you're lucky—someone actually wants to sell. If you've got time and money, we can go take a look."

"I've got time!" Biaozi answered for him.

Hearing Wei Ming planned to buy a motorcycle, the men grew excited, especially Qiao Feng and Biaozi, who felt such strong men matched perfectly with powerful motorcycles.

Wei Ming thought differently—he simply wanted to cut down his commute time.

Even if he bought a house in the city later, spending three or four hours commuting daily wouldn't be a home—it would destroy any sense of happiness.

He couldn't afford a car, nor did he have the right to buy one—so a motorcycle was the only practical option.

"Remember the two communes I told you about that sent people abroad for exchange?"

"The China-Japan Friendship Commune and Sijiqing Commune."

"Sijiqing Commune supplies vegetables to our school—without them, we couldn't eat leafy greens in winter."

Wei Ming nodded. Sijiqing Commune had started greenhouse farming over twenty years ago, ending Beijing's winter diet of only cabbage and radishes.

!

Recently, their exchange program brought in Japan's latest greenhouse technology, making them a vital source of vegetables for the capital, especially precious in winter.

Master Liu said: "I learned from the canteen staff that one old farmer from Sijiqing had gone on the exchange. When he returned, both communes brought back many cheap motorcycles—but those were commune property. This old farmer was different—he somehow had money to buy a motorcycle privately in Japan, and its quality was better than the commune's."

Wei Ming: "Master, did you ask how much he wanted?"

Master Liu held up three fingers.

"Three thousand!"

Mei Wenhua, Zhao Debiao, and Qiao Feng and Mu Rong all gasped in shock, making Wei Ming feel a warm surge of reassurance.

In this era, that sum was an astronomical fortune—equivalent to two years' salary for a leader like Wei Anping!

Mei Wenhua said: "We saw Japanese motorcycles in Guangzhou—they said they cost only two thousand."

Wei Ming: "Those were probably smuggled, and motorcycles vary greatly in price."

Master Liu: "Right. His was a Suzuki GS400—a branded bike, and well-maintained."

Japan had four major motorcycle brands: Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha. The Suzuki GS400 was a twin-cylinder mid-range model—this price was fair.

Wei Ming didn't hesitate: "When can we go see the bike?"

Master Liu: "If you've got time now, let's go—Sijiqing isn't far."

"Great! Who's coming?" Wei Ming looked at the men.

Qiao Feng asked his wife: "Want to go?" Mu Rong replied: "Go if you want—we're not working today."

Wei Ming quickly finished his meal: "Master, lead the way!"

"Don't rush—I haven't eaten yet."

An hour later, five men rode four bikes to a village under Sijiqing Commune. On the way, Wei Ming asked again why the old farmer was selling.

"His son is outstanding—a top student in Tsinghua's biology department. He's going to study in America this year. Though it's a government scholarship, the old man fears his son will suffer abroad, so he wants to save some U. . dollars—he's selling the bike to exchange for foreign currency on the black market."

On the black market, it'd fetch four or five hundred U. . dollars—enough for a student, but a fortune for a farmer. What a heart-wrenching act of parental love.

Master Liu: "We're here!"

Outside the courtyard stood greenhouses. For the first time in this era, Wei Ming saw a greenhouse—they all crowded close, curious what was growing inside.

"Stop staring—this batch isn't ripe yet." A bearded old man appeared behind them like a ghost.

Master Liu turned and smiled: "Big Chun, we're here to see the bike."

The farmer's name was Bu Dachun, around forty or fifty years old.

Bu Dachun had sharp eyes—he instantly recognized the buyer. He said to Wei Ming: "You're the one buying?"

Wei Ming nodded. Apparently, his rich-man aura couldn't be hidden.

"Come in."

Inside Bu Dachun's courtyard, the motorcycle wasn't immediately visible. Only after entering the house did they see a silver-white motorcycle.

The bike had lived with Bu Dachun—no wonder it was so well-maintained.

Bu Dachun declined Wei Ming's Daqianmen cigarette and smoked his pipe instead.

"Three thousand. No bargaining."

…

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(End of chapter)