Chapter 361: The Eighties

So Zhang Ping'an used an evening to draw the car models he remembered from his past life that were very popular onto paper, one by one: Land Rover, BMW, Trident, the "dung fork" (Maserati), "Bao-Shi-Tai" (Zotye), the "Emperor of Bathing" (Cadillac)...

Sedans, SUVs, off-roaders, pickups—the only thing missing was sports cars. In Zhang Ping'an's eyes, a car was just a means of transportation, but a sports car represented extreme speed, which meant danger, so he had always advised Jia Youwei against making sports cars.

"Hahaha, good! Ping'an, sometimes I really want to crack open your brain—how do you get so much inspiration overnight?"

"It's simple: read more books, read more newspapers, eat fewer snacks, sleep more, and then just let your imagination run wild."

"You're amazing. I feel like with what you've provided, we won't need to update our car models for the next thirty or fifty years."

After Jia Youwei had looked through everything, he picked out two sheets to keep and carefully locked the rest in a safe.

"In two months, when my new works are finished, I'll send a few to Sijiucheng. Remember to receive them."

"Hahaha, good."

Zhang Ping'an naturally wouldn't refuse. Whether it was research into engines or chassis tuning, Jia Youwei was currently world-class. Since road conditions were poor right now, having a beast of a car was still quite nice.

It was just like the chassis tuning of some luxury cars in later generations; you could run someone over and they'd think they were just going over a speed bump.

Zhang Ping'an stayed there for a few more days and exchanged medical knowledge with his master before leaving Xiangjiang, while Guan Xiaoguan stayed behind to spend the New Year there.

Upon returning to Sijiucheng, Zhang Ping'an found He Daqing.

"Brother He, Xiaoguan and Weidong will return from Xiangjiang after the New Year. I'm afraid Uncle Guan will be lonely at home alone. If I invite him to spend the New Year, he likely won't agree, so..."

"Done, I understand. I'll bring Uncle Guan back to spend the New Year."

"Mm, good." Zhang Ping'an flicked his finger, and a drop of Space Water dissolved into He Daqing's Tea Mug.

A few days later, He Daqing returned, but he hadn't picked up Guan Daye.

"Ping'an, Uncle Guan has a place to go for the New Year."

"Oh? With Brother Cai?"

"No, a kid named Han Chunming who lives in a hutong not far from my uncle's house. They are already master and apprentice now."

"Oh?"

It seemed this was truly a fated pair of master and apprentice. Previously, with the help of Lou Bancheng, the Han Family had already walked out of their predicament. He had thought the relationship between the two families had faded, but he hadn't expected that Han Chunming, having returned from the countryside less than two years ago, would already have entanglements with Guan Daye.

This kid Han Chunming had a good head for business, but unfortunately, he was a "lickspittle." Zhang Ping'an also wanted to try and see if he could straighten him out and, incidentally, pull him over to do some work.

"That's fine too, as long as Uncle Guan has a place to go."

"Mm, I think so too. By the way, Ping'an, take a look at me—do I have some kind of ailment? Recently, when I take a dump, it's all like a giant black python, and the amount is also huge," He Daqing said awkwardly.

"..."

He was indeed a bit scared. For several mornings in a row, he had passed three or five catties of it. Although his body didn't feel uncomfortable—on the contrary, it felt quite comfortable—he was still spooked in his heart.

"..."

"Ahem, let me see." Zhang Ping'an took his pulse; it was strong and vigorous, not at all like that of a man over sixty.

"It's nothing. Your body is perfectly fine. It's probably your body detoxifying. You shouldn't be feeling any discomfort, right?"

"No, on the contrary, it's very comfortable. My little belly has shrunk, and I can even see 'Little Daqing' again."

In the two years since his retirement, He Daqing's body had blown up like a balloon; even if he wasn't two hundred catties, he had to be one hundred and eighty. However, it was winter now, so it wasn't obvious from his big round face that he had lost weight.

"Brother He, you still need a balance of work and rest. It's good that you've lost weight; there are no fat people among those who live long lives."

"..."

Hearing Zhang Ping'an say that, it really was true. No matter where they were practicing, the Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors all seemed to be lean and thin, and with their goat beards, they even had a kind of immortal, transcendent air.

He then thought of Zhang Ping'an's grandfather, who was over a hundred years old and was indeed a scrawny little old man.

He Daqing also realized that he had indeed gotten too fat over the past two years, almost surpassing Liu Haizhong's "general's belly."

"Mm, I will try to pay attention in the future."

Other professions might be fine, but He Daqing happened to be a Chef. He had to taste the saltiness of almost every dish he cooked, so it was indeed very difficult to lose weight; he could only try his best to control it.

Time quickly arrived at the end of the year. Although he wasn't short of those few pennies, Zhang Ping'an still maintained tradition and sent two pigs and a pile of Big Bone to each of the two Sub-bureaus.

Then came the families of Li Huaide, the Xu Family, the Wang Family, the Zhong Family, and his father-in-law's family, one by one. The last stop was Guan Daye's house.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Who is it?" A young voice came from Guan Daye's residence.

"Are you Zhang Shu?"

Han Chunming was somewhat incredulous. The Zhang Ping'an of today was almost exactly the same as in his memories from over a decade ago.

"Hehe, the little guy still remembers me?"

"How could I not? You saved my whole family's lives back then."

"Is that Ping'an? You two come in and talk."

"Ah, yes, yes, Zhang Shu, come in quickly."

"Hehe, good."

"Uncle Guan, I've come to see you."

"You brat, your son kidnapped my granddaughter and you still dare to come?" Guan Daye glared directly at Zhang Ping'an.

"Hahaha, Uncle Guan, I'm not afraid you'll be lonely, so I came to invite you to my house for the New Year."

"I'm not going. Besides, you're late; Chunming and I have already agreed to go to his house for the New Year."

"Oh, that's good too. I heard Brother He mention it; I haven't congratulated you on taking on a fine apprentice yet."

"Hahaha, this kid doesn't have your freakish memory, but he can be considered to have some talent."

In fact, what Guan Daye valued more was Han Chunming's kindness and filial character; talent was actually not that important.

"Hehe, Chunming, what work are you doing now?"

"Zhang Shu, I'm collecting scrap."

"Oh? That's actually a good way to get practical experience."

Although Zhang Ping'an had collected many antiques during the ten-year period, even more had been destroyed or hidden underground. Collecting scrap was indeed a way to see old objects firsthand.

Zhang Ping'an thought for a moment and decided not to interfere with Han Chunming's path for the time being, handing Han Chunming a business card.

"If you have anything in the future, you can call me directly."

"Alright, thank you, Zhang Shu."

"Mm, work hard; I believe you can carve out a future for yourself."

"Um, that... Zhang Shu..." Han Chunming hesitated for a moment.

"What is it?"

"That, back then there was always someone secretly sending food to my family; was that person you?" Han Chunming still couldn't help but ask.

"It wasn't me, but I have a rough guess as to who it was."

"Who is it?" Han Chunming asked hurriedly.

"Mm... very well, so many years have passed, it wouldn't hurt to tell you. It was most likely the Na Family of Lou Bancheng. His daughter looks very much like your second sister; your family and his might have some blood relation."

"What? Lou Bancheng?"

Han Chunming looked incredulous; his family was so poor they couldn't even afford to eat, so how could they possibly be related to Lou Bancheng?

"Mm, I don't know the specific nature of your relationship. Perhaps your parents know. Lou Bancheng's third wife's surname is Tan."

"My mother's surname is also Tan."

Han Chunming froze as he said this; perhaps they really were related after all.

"Master, Zhang Shu, I'm going home first." Han Chunming couldn't care about anything else; he was intent on knowing the truth.

"Mm, it's good to go back and ask clearly."

"So it was Lou Zhenhua who supported Chunming's family back then. I knew it; he was so generous, sending a hundred or eighty catties of grain every month."