Chapter 138: A Bit Tight

5:30 AM, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Jiang Xiao crawled out of the quilt lightly, climbed from the upper bunk to the ground, and reached out to push Hu Man, who was still sleeping in the lower bunk.

The two were very lucky to be admitted to the same university and assigned to the same dormitory, truly as close as sisters.

"Hu Man, Hu Man, get up."

"Hmm, is it time?"

"Hmm."

Hu Man, who hadn't slept enough, struggled to get up after three seconds of bed-hogging, and went to the public washroom to wash up in a daze.

At 6:00 sharp, the two were already waiting at the gate of the Aeronautics Academy.

Hu Man yawned and said, "We agreed on 6:30, why did you get up so early?"

Jiang Xiao said, "Li Ye said 6:30, so he will definitely arrive early. Do you want to make people wait for us? Do you want people to know we sleep in?"

"Who's sleeping in," Hu Man blushed slightly, "They have to pick up Wen Wen Leyu first, then Li Li Dayong and Han Xia, we are the last stop..."

As Hu Man was speaking, she saw a blue "big-headed car" drive over with a buzzing sound.

While still far away, Li Li Dayong stretched half his body out of the back window and waved vigorously at Hu Man and Jiang Xiao.

"It's a car like this! I seem to have seen it in Qingshui County. Only township cadres are qualified to sit in it!"

Jiang Xiao looked at the double-row Beijing 130 parked in front of her and was very envious. Given the conditions in Qingshui County, there were only a few such cars.

Li Ye parked the car, and Li Li Dayong in the back row enthusiastically said to Fu Fu Yingjie and Yan Yan Jinbu beside him: "You two, get in the back."

"Valuing sex over friends."

Fu Fu Yingjie curled his lips, muttered, got out of the car, and got into the cargo box behind.

This car can seat two rows in the front, with a verified capacity of 6 passengers. The eight-person group couldn't fit,

but in this era of insufficient transport capacity, it was allowed to carry six passengers in the cargo box behind the truck. Only if there were more than six passengers would they need to open a procedure at the relevant unit.

After Hu Man and Jiang Xiao got in the car, Li Li Dayong suddenly became "diligent."

He pulled open a large cardboard box at his feet, which contained seven or eight pairs of brand-new sports shoes.

"Come, come, come, two classmates, take a look. These are defective goods Li Ye entrusted someone to get. Two yuan a pair. See what size you need..."

"Two yuan a pair? So cheap?"

Jiang Xiao and Hu Man immediately became interested and each took out a pair of shoes to look at.

These shoes were similar in style to Warrior shoes, but it was a brand they hadn't heard of. Rubbing them hard, the feel was quite good.

Jiang Xiao said happily, "I want a size 36."

"Let me try, let me try, I'm a 37..."

Hu Man also took a size 37. Both girls had a kind of joy of "picking up a bargain while shopping."

Li Ye saw the happy smiles of the two in the rearview mirror and also smiled faintly.

Actually, "defective goods" definitely existed. In many factories built with the support of the Warrior Shoe Factory, internal sales of slightly defective Warrior shoes were common. They were cheap and didn't feel much different when worn.

Recently, the wholesale business of the Yangcheng Wholesale Department was doing better and better, and shoes had become one of the main goods of Li Ye's "Yangcheng Branch," so he asked Jin Peng to get some shoes and clothes over.

However, two yuan was definitely impossible. Li Ye had pasted a little bit of money into it himself.

Because if he sold them at the cost price of four or five yuan, he was afraid Jiang Xiao would be reluctant.

Just now, Li Ye saw it—among the eight-person group, Jiang Xiao was the only one wearing cloth shoes made by her mother.

Sure enough, it was as he expected. Even if this girl was admitted to the capital, she couldn't change her frugal nature.

Today, the eight of them went to climb the Great Wall together. Even if this girl couldn't see it on the surface, you say she wouldn't have feelings in her heart?

How many friends who were originally very good gradually lost contact because of the gap in material wealth, and then gradually broke contact.

So Li Ye felt that if he only pasted a few small coins to maintain the pure friendship among the eight-person group, it was worth it.

Anyway, he, Li the big boss, now had a big family and a big business. Dozens of yuan, it was just a drizzle.

Wen Wen Leyu, sitting in the front passenger seat, saw the smile on Li Ye's face

The root cause of why Li Ye walked into the little girl's heart was this "kindness."

Kindness is not stupidity; it is simply the side of human nature that stands in opposition to "evil."

Of course, there was another reason for the little girl's smile.

【He really only knows my shoe size, not Hu Man's or the others'.】

In 1982, the Badaling Great Wall basically didn't see "tourists like weaving fabric," especially outside of holidays.

If tourists appeared occasionally, they were either foreigners or people from out of town.

Li Li Dayong, carrying a large iron pot on his back and holding two 10kg plastic water buckets, was climbing the steps of the Great Wall in despair.

In the distance, Hu Man, Jiang Jiang Xiaoning, and Han Xia had long since flown away like nimble swallows; Li Li Dayong could only look at their blurry backs and sigh in vain.

Beside him, Fu Fu Yingjie chuckled and said, "Li Dayong, you calculated everything, but you didn't calculate this, did you? Go on, chase them now!"

Fu Fu Yingjie had always had a good relationship with Li Li Dayong, and they had both been admitted to the Capital Institute of Industry together; he had already guessed seven or eight-tenths of his best friend's thoughts.

Li Li Dayong had feelings for Hu Man, but Hu Man was indifferent; Li Li Dayong had gone to find Hu Man many times over the past few weeks, but the result was zero progress.

Today, he had originally thought that by climbing the Great Wall together, he could try to get close to her, but Li Ye had actually organized a picnic.

The large pot, cooking utensils, meat, vegetables, bowls, and dishes were all piled onto the miserable Li Li Dayong, Fu Fu Yingjie, and Yan Yan Jinbu.

Carrying forty or fifty jin of weight, how could they catch up to the girls who were as light as swallows?

The more Li Li Dayong thought about it, the angrier he got, and he couldn't help but look back and shout at Li Ye, who was dozens of meters behind: "Brother, I'm tired!"

Li Ye was lingering behind, whispering sweet nothings with Wen Wen Leyu, and immediately retorted unhappily: "I'm tired too! Why don't you carry me up?"

Li Li Dayong: "."

Ten seconds later, a bear let out a roar, carrying the large pot and holding the water buckets, opened up his long legs, and ran toward the Great Wall above with a thumping sound.

Wen Wen Leyu asked curiously, "What's wrong with Li Dayong?"

Li Ye snorted: "Hmph, spring has arrived."

Picnics in 1982 were more convenient than in later generations; at least there was no need to bring firewood or gas. You could pick up tree branches all over the mountains and fields, and with a little effort, you'd have authentic firewood-cooked rice.

A picnic is all about the atmosphere. Eight people were busy around two large pots, chatting happily about the past, and their moods were better than ever.

"By the way, I received a letter from Jin Jin Shengli a few days ago. He actually apologized to me."

"I received one too. I really didn't expect him to be able to lower his head and apologize to us."

"I even received a letter from Zhuang Zhuang Hongxing! He said that if we have the chance to go to Chang'an, he'll treat us to mutton paomo."

"So, did you reply to Jin Jin Shengli? Anyway, I'm not replying. I'd rather reply to Zhuang Zhuang Hongxing."

Zhuang Zhuang Hongxing and Jin Jin Shengli had both been admitted to junior colleges this year; one went to Chang'an, and the other went to the provincial capital, which could be considered escaping the sea of bitterness and successfully reaching the shore.

After reaching the shore, their horizons and minds were different, and they began to try to repair their relationships with the classmates who had been admitted to the capital.

"Sigh."

Hu Man suddenly sighed and said, "Do you know? Xia Xia Yue didn't continue her studies at the county's No. 2 Middle School, but entrusted someone to help her go to a neighboring county. I don't know if she'll adapt to being there alone."

Han Xia, who had a fiery temper, immediately said, "Why are you pitying her? If she had been admitted this year and we hadn't, would she pity us?"

"That's true," Hu Man laughed in realization: "On the single-plank bridge, who is more pitiful than whom?"

"Dinner is served, dinner is served."

Jiang Jiang Xiaoning, waving a spatula, shouted, which immediately dispelled the girls' saintly hearts.

A pot of pork stew with mixed vegetables, plus a pot of white rice, allowed the eight young people to find that familiar taste from the Second Grain Store again.

"Burp~"

Han Xia let out a full burp without regard for her image and muttered: "I've been in the capital for so long, I thought I'd never return to the happy life of the past! The food in the cafeteria, sigh..."

The cafeteria food at the Chemical Industry Academy was definitely better than that at the Qingshui No. 2 Middle School, but it certainly couldn't compare to this private cooking.

Everyone had eaten this private cooking at the Second Grain Store for more than half a year; they might never forget this familiar taste in their entire lives.

Li Ye was also eating quite happily. After finishing, he said: "I've set up a courtyard in Zaojunmiao. Tonight, I'll take everyone to get familiar with the place.

In the future, on weekends, I'll have someone prepare meat and vegetables in advance, and everyone can go there to have a feast."

Hu Man smiled and said, "Li Ye, you're planning to take care of us for a lifetime!"

Li Ye said in astonishment: "Who said that? You have to pay money, one mao per meal, not a single fen less. I, this little socialist landlord, have a very, very dark heart."

"Hahahaha~"

Han Xia and Hu Man laughed until they were leaning back and forth, and Jiang Jiang Xiaoning also pursed her lips, no longer as reserved as before.

Now, she had money in her pocket too!

So, when they returned to Zaojunmiao that night and had another sumptuous dinner, everyone took out one mao to give to Li Ye, but what Jiang Jiang Xiaoning handed to Li Ye was five yuan.

Li Ye knew exactly what the little girl meant, but he still pretended to be surprised and asked: "Jiang Xiaoning, are you trying to exchange for small change with me? I, a dignified little landlord, only have large bills on me; I don't have that much small change."

Jiang Jiang Xiaoning smiled sheepishly and said: "This is the meal money I'm making up. In the past six months, I've gained fifteen jin; this is what I owe..."

"What are you saying?"

"Come, come, everyone come over for a moment."

Li Ye put on a straight face, clapped his hands, and called the classmates over.

Jiang Jiang Xiaoning was suddenly a bit embarrassed; she had wanted to quietly make up the five yuan first and then slowly pay off the owed meal money later, not wanting others to know.

Li Ye said very seriously: "Jiang Xiaoning just mentioned something that makes me feel very self-reproachful. I should have made it clear to everyone sooner; then Jiang Xiaoning probably wouldn't have misunderstood for so long."

Han Xia asked: "What is it? Why is it so serious?"

Li Ye said: "Does everyone remember when we first went to the Second Grain Store?

At that time, I was originally prepared to hire someone to cook, two meals a day, providing food plus eight yuan a month,"

Li Ye made an "eight" gesture and said: "Eight yuan a month is very low; a temporary worker gets eighteen yuan and five mao a month!"

"But later, because we needed to keep things secret, we let Jiang Xiaoning cook, with no wages, just not charging her for meals."

"You all know arithmetic; now help Jiang Xiaoning calculate, how much of a loss did she suffer?"

"."

Hu Man, Yan Yan Jinbu, and the others remained silent. Everyone wasn't a child; one mao per meal didn't even cover the cost, so how could there be any talk of suffering a loss?

Besides, compared to being admitted to university, what was a little meal money?

Without Li Ye's tutoring, could they have been admitted to university? And a key university at that.

Believe it or not, if Li Ye went back to the Second Grain Store now and shouted, "I want to tutor ten students,"

the students from the entire county's No. 1 and No. 2 Middle Schools could surround the Second Grain Store and fight each other to the death.

With this kindness, how could you have the nerve to say you suffered a loss?

Did the dogs eat your conscience?

So everyone owed Li Ye a debt of gratitude; it was just that Jiang Jiang Xiaoning had gotten stuck in a dead end, feeling that she owed more than everyone else.

There was no need; one or two mao, don't calculate it.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Li Ye had no choice but to turn his head to look at his "wise assistant."

Wen Wen Leyu understood and said in a measured tone: "Jiang Jiang Xiaoning cooked for us for seven months, eight yuan a month, seven times eight is fifty-six..."

"Look, actually I should owe you fifty!"

"."

Jiang Jiang Xiaoning bit her lip, so moved that she almost shed tears.

She could only wipe her nose with her hand, smile, and nod in agreement.

"I won't give you this five yuan either; I need to make a deal with you."

Li Ye put the five yuan back into his pocket and said to Jin Peng: "Brother Peng, move all those defective goods out and let these fat sheep take a look.

Today, if anyone doesn't spend three or five yuan here, they are not allowed to leave the front gate!"

Jin Peng, with a cigarette in his mouth, suppressed his laughter and signaled Ma Qianshan to move things out from the side room—clothes, shoes, socks, and coats, totaling more than a dozen styles.

"These are all goods with minor flaws. Maybe the distance of the stitches is off by a millimeter, or the two cuffs are off by a millimeter.

Shoes are two yuan, clothes are all one yuan each. Hurry up and choose; once you're done, I'll send you on your way."

Han Xia and Hu Man were immediately unable to stay calm. Being unable to move when seeing discounted clothes is a woman's nature, not much different from a man's reaction when seeing a beautiful woman.

Even Yan Yan Jinbu and Fu Fu Yingjie couldn't resist the temptation of these "one-yuan goods"!

Thus, inside the small courtyard, it was suddenly as lively as a clothing market.

Wen Wen Leyu, a young lady from a good family, also had eyes that lit up and wanted to go over to pick through them.

But Li Ye pulled her back and said: "You're tall; you're not the same size as them. Look, the two boxes in the west side room are yours. Go in, close the door, and try them on yourself."

"Oh, oh~"

The little girl immediately went into the west side room excitedly to try on her "custom-made" clothes.

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Xiaoning quietly approached Li Ye and whispered: "Li Ye, I don't lack clothes to wear. Can I just buy three pieces?"

Li Ye was truly surprised and asked: "Jiang Xiaoning, I remember when you were admitted to university, didn't the township and the village provide you with financial aid? Why are you reluctant to spend even a few yuan?"

Jiang Jiang Xiaoning said like a mosquito humming: "I'm saving that money! I want to buy my mother a bicycle. She currently carries a shoulder pole and walks when going to the market. I've saved enough for the bike now, but I haven't saved enough for the ticket."

Li Ye couldn't help but sigh long and hard, saying: "If you don't have a bicycle ticket, go find Brother Peng. He has connections and can get a bicycle ticket."

Jiang Jiang Xiaoning looked at Li Ye with suspicion and only said after a long while: "Then I... I'm going to find Brother Peng!"

"Go, go, hurry up. Just give him the money directly and let him handle it for you."

Watching Jiang Jiang Xiaoning walk away with a light step, Li Ye was also quite happy.

Doing one good deed a day, how good, how good.

"engengeng~"

Behind Li Ye came Wen Wen Leyu's clear nasal sound.

Li Ye turned back and found the little girl frowning, her face slightly red and somewhat uncomfortable.

He asked in confusion: "What's wrong, Xiao Yu?"

Wen Wen Leyu whispered: "The size isn't right; it's a bit tight."

"A bit tight? How can that be?"

Li Ye didn't quite believe it, because with his eye for detail and having spent so much time with Wen Wen Leyu, how could he have misjudged her size?

But when he looked closely, he had indeed made a mistake.

In just over a month, the little girl hadn't changed in other places, but her little bottom and little headlights had grown by half a circle.

"How can that be? Growing so fast? Hiss..."

Thanks to book friend "Gao Qiao Mu Yu" for the tip, thanks to book friend "Ren Er Wu Yi Bu Si He Wei," for the tip, thank you both brothers.

(End of chapter)