Chapter 186: Back Door

Midnight.

He didn't know whether it was a bad stomach from something he ate or the cool night catching him, but Yang Qing was dreaming of going to the bathroom when stomach pain jolted him awake.

In the dream, his belt had come undone.

He believes many people have dreamed of wetting the mattress as children; sometimes real bodily conditions feed back into the dream.

Yang Qing was startled, immensely relieved—if that damn thing had happened on the bed…

Yang Qing didn't even dare to imagine how severe the consequences would be.

"I'm already in my twenties, why am I still having this kind of dream?"

"Having a wet dream a few days ago was understandable, but how could I dream about going to the bathroom?"

Feeling cold sweat on his forehead, Yang Qing threw on an outer garment, clutched his stomach, grabbed a flashlight, and hurried to the bathroom.

When he reached the bathroom, Yang Qing turned on the light and, without checking, squatted right there.

Plop-plop…

Oh…

"Ah!"

Just as he felt relieved, a louder sound came from inside.

Gurgle…

Yang Qing froze—someone?

Why wasn't the light on earlier?

Yang Qing stuck his head out to look, but a partition blocked his view, so he saw nothing.

"Who? Who's inside, why is the light off?"

Silently, no one responded.

Yang Qing confirmed someone was inside; no response, no light—ghosts?

Or maybe a thief?

Yang Qing's heart trembled; if it were a thief, his earlier words might have spooked the snake—dangerous.

Plop-plop…

Another burst erupted; at this stall, he couldn't run, could he?

Continuously spraying?

The thought was unacceptable.

"Oh… nice…"

He tried to pretend he hadn't spoken; if it were a thief, seeing he wasn't taking it seriously, would they keep lurking?

Yang Qing thought they probably would.

It was a psychological battle.

"Pfft…"

Oh dear, my chrysanthemum yo……

"Damn it, I'll never eat chili again, it hurts like hell."

He cursed, trying to act like a hurried guy having diarrhea who wouldn't notice anything else.

After another bout of plopping for a while, Yang Qing's legs went numb; he wiped and prepared to leave.

Now was the most dangerous moment.

It was also the thief's most tense moment; if he dared to look back while leaving, the thief might rush out.

Yang Qing pulled up his pants, leaned on the wall, and stepped outward.

When he reached the doorway, Yang Qing sensed nothing unusual and was about to sigh in relief.

A voice came.

"Yang bro…"

Yang Qing's body trembled; he almost bolted.

But the voice sounded familiar, and he forced himself to stop running.

He turned his head to look.

A boy, leaning on the partition, emerged with a panicked, pleading expression.

"Yang bro, I have diarrhea, it's urgent, so…"

Yang Qing realized, damn it, it was a kid from the back courtyard.

Yang Qing paused, then seemed to recall something.

He said nothing, turned off the light, and left.

Outside, he switched on his flashlight, looked toward the back door, and indeed saw a crack.

He didn't know when he had gotten a key.

Yang Qing didn't bother to care; the vegetables were already mostly collected, and he had nothing else to mind.

A bathroom is just a tool, after all.

After Yang Qing left, the kid slowly exited the bathroom and then cautiously the back door.

Yang Qing waited in his courtyard until he heard the door lock, then went back to sleep.

The next day, Yang Qing acted as if nothing happened and kept working as a laborer at the steel rolling mill.

Having been there long, he got familiar with everyone, and Yang Qing was no longer ostracized.

No one maliciously ordered him around anymore.

Arriving at the workshop, Yang Qing as usual first cleaned the machines of a few masters he was close to, then, according to the work sheet, moved today's required workpieces from the warehouse.

They were then placed beside each master's machine tool.

This workshop mainly processes parts.

Like master Yi Zhonghai, they also handle equipment assembly and debugging, etc.

Scraping technique, for example, is an essential skill for every master.

When the workshop officially opened, others were still cleaning up, and the few masters serving Yang Qing chatted idly.

They won't start work; the current workshop stresses non-competition and non-grabbing.

Hey, I heard there aren't any, but industrial coupons will be issued this month.

Master A said.

Master B continued the conversation.

I also heard that, heard it's twenty yuan per coupon.

What, do you have an idea?

Master A chuckled.

We can't get bicycle tickets, but with these industrial coupons, if we pool ours, couldn't we make up enough for a bicycle ticket?

How about it? Brothers, help me this month?

Master C, who was smoking, exclaimed excitedly.

Really, can these industrial coupons buy a bicycle?

Seeing Master C's excitement, Master A grew a bit anxious.

Old C, you can't ruin my plans.

I'll go first, you get in line behind me.

Master C quickly passed cigarettes to the several masters.

Brothers, isn't this famine about to end?

I've been thinking, I'll arrange a marriage for my child.

You need a bicycle for marriage, right?

Brothers, please help me, I'll be eternally grateful!

Saying this, he put his palms together and bowed.

Master A replied irritably.

Whenever you pass a cigarette, I know it's no good; I was just trying to get a bicycle, and you come here to stir trouble.

Old C, you're not being decent.

Master C laughed along.

How about Quanjude, brothers, give me some face?

Only then did the few people smile.

Alright, this time I'll let you off, you old brat.

Yang Qing listened to the masters' quarrel and figured out what was going on.

Industrial coupons have been issued.

This is because after years of great development, industrial products have become plentiful, and they started promoting their consumption, so they introduced these coupons.

Yang Qing listened, his heart racing.

Not just for himself, he should also get a bicycle for his wife.

But then he thought of something else.

It seems bicycles were openly supplied starting in 1963, but by 1972, after ten years of industrial damage, they resumed coupon-based supply.

That means the coupons are actually not worth much now.

Should we speculate?

If we speculate, this coupon would cost several yuan, just wasting money.

However, the appearance of industrial coupons is actually a great money-making opportunity.

Many old-timers lacking coupons for bicycles, radios and other luxuries will like the industrial coupons.

He can use the opportunity to do odd jobs at the factory to collect these coupons.

Then he can resell them to those old-timers.

He will surely make a considerable amount of money.

He has no chance to get bicycle coupons, but industrial coupons are right before his eyes.

To do or not to do?

Yang Qing drooled.

But in the end he fiercely pinched his own thigh several times.

To let himself regain a bit of reason.

This matter, others can do it, but he cannot, because he is not suited.

Industrial coupons can be said to be the most loosely managed coupons.

Borrowing coupons to buy bicycles, watches, etc., later becomes a very common practice.

This borrowing is the default rule everyone accepts.

This is also why industrial coupons can be boldly resold.