Chapter 36: Go Big

After Yang Qing left, Chen Xueru and Master Xu entered the inner room.

Master Xu spoke first.

I have news: Yang Rong and his wife didn't die in Bay Province.

Chen Xueru lit a cigarette.

Elder, do you have any ideas?

Master Xu sighed.

Today is timely, a fortunate coincidence; I just happened to want to leave a way out.

The government's attitude toward the capitalists is worrying.

In '66 the fixed-interest term ended, public-private joint ventures officially concluded, and the government's stance toward us…

(In '56 the fixed-interest system was implemented; by '66 private shares were fully turned over to the state, leaving capitalists in an awkward position.)

Chen Xueru's hand holding the cigarette began to tremble.

Elder, you mean the government won't allow a group that doesn't produce yet holds vast wealth to exist?

Master Xu also, with a solemn expression, lit a cigarette.

The smaller the better; less wealth means fewer people envy you.

The larger the worse—for example, like Lou Bancheng…

This is a contradiction: on one side the country is desperately poor, on the other the capitalists are filthy rich.

In this clash, only those who are rich but unable to protect themselves fall.

Now Chen Xueru has no thought of coveting the unknown wealth of the Yang Qing family.

This damn thing is a landmine—whoever touches it dies.

They know this information; can the government possibly not know?

She doesn't think the government overlooked such important information.

Can the government have no opinion?

Just thinking about it is terrifying.

This is a huge pit; who knows how many people it will drag down.

Elder, do you want to go through Yang Qing and take Yang Rong's path?

Her trembling hand could barely hold the cigarette.

That's treason…

Going to the Beautiful Country or Gangdao isn't that serious, but going to Bay Province would be deadly.

Master Xu took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling only after a long while.

Nicotine madly stimulated his lungs, making his mind clearer.

Having something is better than nothing; prepare and you'll have no worries.

But how can we contact Yang Qing? Someone is likely watching him.

Especially the government.

Master Xu exhaled another breath.

Normal association is enough.

After old acquaintances, giving a little help is no problem.

Don't forget, we are capitalists.

Are we still afraid to associate with capitalists?

We've been in contact all along.

Xu Huizhen and you are still like sisters.

Don't spread this anymore—not even tell Xu Huizhen.

Too many people will lead to loss.

Chen Xueru nodded.

I know the weight of things, but Elder, how do you know Yang Rong didn't die?

Master Xu rose and spoke softly: "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

Chen Xueru's heart jumped; she then lowered her head and admitted her mistake.

I was rash.

All right, go out—I still need to make clothes for this child.

After leaving Xu Qingji's door, Chen Xueru only then noticed the cold sweat covering her back; the warm sunshine was no longer warm, revealing a pallid chill.

She is a bit greedy for money, but she absolutely doesn't have the guts to get involved in something this big.

If mishandled, this is a human flesh grinder.

Deep down she still has a voice that hasn't been spoken.

That is, who released this news, and how did Xu Dabo, who usually keeps to himself, obtain it?

If he has connections, why bother getting involved with Yang Qing's path?

This is a path anyone can see is bloody.

There's no way around it—in this world, anything tied to money is bloody.

She decided, forget it—don't provoke Yang Qing, meet change with constancy.

On Xu Dabo's side, he also needs to lie low—ah, I just want to live peacefully as a woman with no worries about food or clothing; why can't I?

Yang Qing also returned home with a heavy heart.

With Xu Liangcai's news, all the information he knows needs to be reorganized.

Wang Dama, Lei Gensheng, and Sun Hao, the people of their courtyard, and also Granny Long.

Is what the Military Control Office sent over meant to target him?

And there's also the relationship between Yi Zhonghai and Granny Long.

Just thinking about it makes my head hurt.

Are there any other reasons for the Siheyuan people targeting him, or is it really just because they want his house?

How does coveting the house lead to tearing it down?

Seeing Yang Qing's tightly furrowed brows, Chen Hong knew why he was worried.

She quickly tidied up the quilt, and only after finishing did she pull him to sit down.

"My mother told me, if you can't figure something out, don't dwell on it; there will be a way when you reach the mountain, don't be frightened just because the mountain is high."

"On life's road there are many obstacles; once you get past them and look back, they're just that."

"Life has no major troubles; it's just petty people worrying themselves."

Yang Qing lay on a bed full of sunshine scent, and also figured it out.

"Damn it, do whatever."

The plan remains unchanged; continue to build connections.

Do everything you can, then leave the rest to fate.

That evening, Yang Qing told the eldest uncle about the plan to repair the house.

"The one invited is Lei Gensheng, Master Lei, and the permission has also been arranged."

Yi Zhonghai nodded.

"This Lei Gensheng has good skills; inviting him was the right choice."

"Do you want to ask the people in the courtyard to help tidy up the house?"

Yang Qing thought for a moment and probed.

"Or else clear out the trash in the courtyard?"

"I mentioned to Director Wang that if there's leftover money after fixing the house, we'll build a toilet in the east side of the courtyard."

"Also dig a fertilizer pit."

"That way young people still use the public toilet, elders use the courtyard toilet, and at night no one has to run back and forth."

Upon hearing he wanted to build a toilet, Yi Zhonghai immediately became energetic.

"Your idea is very good."

"If you're really willing to build a toilet for our courtyard, I'll take charge; if there's a shortfall, the courtyard will chip in."

"Also, don't put the septic tank in the courtyard; how many people can it hold? If you're going to do it, do it well—dig it in the corner, make it big, don't be stingy, and have it lead to the back alley so cleaning the toilet is convenient."

This is preparing for a big project.

"Eldest uncle, if you say that, I'll contribute all that empty land on the east side."

"Add a few more pits."

As soon as the eldest uncle heard that, he exclaimed, 'You're provoking me!'

"If we do it that way, I'll use my connections to see if we can get a few squat toilets from the ceramic factory."

(The Tangshan Ceramic Factory could produce sanitary ceramics as early as 1915.)

Yang Qing also confronted the eldest uncle.

"Eldest uncle, if you're like that, we might as well bring in the water pipe, add a water tank, and turn it into a flush toilet, similar to what the leaders use."

That left the eldest uncle speechless.

"Doing it this way, will we be overstepping bounds?"

"What bounds? Starting in 1965, the entire city needed to renovate to flush toilets; this is the trend."

Nowadays, most office buildings and government units also use flush toilets.

"The key is, it's hard to get the materials."

Yang Qing also nodded.

"This requires the Jiedao Office's help; how far we can go depends on what the Jiedao Office allows."

"Anyway, if we make it small, elders will use it; if we make it big, we'll need a flush toilet, and the whole courtyard will use it."

"As for money, I'll take out whatever is left from fixing the house; I won't keep a single cent."

"If it's not enough, the courtyard will chip in together."

"In my opinion, we should go all out at once, build a big one, and be done for good."

"With this civilized flush toilet, the courtyard's reputation, tarnished by Jia Zhangshi, can be somewhat restored."

"Who wouldn't want to use a clean, odorless flush toilet?"