Chapter 264: Boys, It

Ergou's real name is Chen Donggou. His family lives on Ding Zijie in the north of the city. His ancestors were paper-hangers in Qingshui County, so they could be considered locals of the small county.

Ding Zijie had long been an old, impoverished area of Qingshui County. The houses were low and dilapidated, and employment conditions were average, so there was a vague saying: "Good women don't marry into Ding Zijie."

Therefore, whenever a male on Ding Zijie took a wife, the whole street would come to join in the excitement, happy and joyful as if it were the New Year.

And as a Crown sedan drove into the cross-street, the entire area was stirred into a frenzy.

"Good heavens, it's even prettier than the county leader's small car. What kind of smoke is rising from the Chen family's ancestral grave? How did they get rich in the blink of an eye?"

"What are you talking about? Didn't Old Man Chen say it? This car was borrowed by Ergou from his workplace; you can't lump them together."

"Lump what together? You borrow one and let me see. If you had the ability to borrow a small car, would your three boys at home be unable to find a wife?"

"Aren't you making a joke of me? I don't even have a workplace; where would I go to borrow one?"

"Let me tell you, old brother, take advantage of the drinking table tomorrow and agree to the matter between your Xiaoling and Dagou! This needs to be done quickly..."

"Stop talking. I mentioned it to Old Man Chen a few days ago, but he didn't give me an answer. Being too eager isn't a good deal."

"Fine, the deal is off. You thought the Chen family was poor back then—well, that village is gone, and that shop is closed!"

Ergou was also very happy to see Li Ye and Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng arrive with the Crown car.

Although Hao Jian had promised him long ago that he would bring a car home to support the scene at his wedding, the distance of over two thousand kilometers meant that even shipping it by rail would be several days later than scheduled.

Ergou had long since bragged to his relatives and friends, but he had been waiting and waiting without seeing the car. Tomorrow morning was the day to welcome the bride; if the car didn't arrive, wouldn't that be humiliating?

So, seeing the Crown car arrive now, the brag he had made finally landed on solid ground.

"Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng is here! Quick, quick, quick, come inside and sit."

Ergou's parents hurried out, smiling and ushering Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng into the house. Ergou had gone out following Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the whole family owed Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng a great debt of gratitude.

Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng smiled and said, "With so many friends here to help, Uncle, Aunt, don't just focus on greeting me. We're so familiar, where is the need for courtesy?"

Ergou's parents didn't react, but Ergou, using the red light from the lantern at the doorway, saw Li Ye and Hao Jian behind him.

He hurriedly rushed out the door to greet Li Ye into the house, not even having time to greet his direct superior, Hao Jian.

Old Man Chen and his wife were both a bit puzzled.

You have to know that just in these past few days, Ergou had been interacting with some "figures" in the county, talking and laughing with ease and being incredibly smooth. Why was a mere greenhorn making his own son so nervous?

Little did they know, it was true that Ergou had gone out following Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, and his direct superior was Hao Jian, but his true boss was this young "ruthless person."

Li Ye entered Ergou's home and saw that the main house and side rooms were all rebuilt with large tiled roofs, and the furniture was complete, already having the air of a "wealthy family."

Seeing Ergou nervous, Li Ye smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about me. Isn't it time to be busy borrowing stools and gathering bowls and chopsticks? You should be able to open quite a few tables tomorrow, right?"

Getting married in '83, there was no such thing as going to a restaurant; everything was done by cooking and setting tables at one's own door. Tables, chairs, benches, pots, bowls, and ladles all had to be borrowed from neighbors.

Ergou hurriedly said, "No need, no need. My mother was just nagging about going to borrow pots and bowls! Borrowing back and forth is troublesome, and they are of different sizes and have chips. I bought new ones."

After hearing this, Li Ye shook his head and said, "That's where you're wrong. Aunt understands better than you."

"The old saying goes well: a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. In fact, this affection is accumulated by you borrowing from me and me borrowing from you."

"..."

Seeing that not only Ergou was puzzled, but even Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng didn't quite understand, Li Ye explained: "When the economy is underdeveloped and everyone is not wealthy,"

"neighbors must help each other to handle various major events, such as fighting fires, marrying off daughters, building houses, and so on."

"So don't think it's troublesome that you borrow a scallion from me and I borrow a clove of garlic from you. In fact, these aren't just scallions and garlic; they are borrowed sentiments. The affection between neighbors is formed from these bits and pieces of small things."

"Now that you stop your mother from borrowing bowls and chopsticks, she must be uncomfortable in her heart, because if you don't borrow things from others, they will be embarrassed to come and borrow from you in the future."

"In the future, when the economy develops and everyone's life gets better, and no one needs anyone else, then this kind of affection between neighbors might slowly fade away, and the elderly will be very unaccustomed to it."

"..."

After Li Ye finished speaking, he realized that many people around were pricking up their ears to listen.

Hao Jian couldn't help but say, "I can understand this matter, but I can't explain this principle. You, the top scholar, really have great learning."

Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng smiled and said to Ergou, "Did you hear that? This is the learning of economics. You need to study more in the future."

"Mm-hmm, study more. I heard Ma Qianshan say that he studies economics every day now."

Hearing Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng's "showing off," Ergou nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would also be a good student in the future.

And Hao Jian was also pondering on the side whether he should find a tutor who understood economics; he couldn't let Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng and Ma Qianshan look down on him.

Li Ye walked around Ergou's house and then went out, preparing to return.

Ergou saw him out, and Li Ye whispered, "Has anyone come to look for you from Sanshui's family recently?"

Ergou immediately whispered, "A few days ago, his younger brother, Sishui, came to look for my parents and said some nonsense, but he probably can't spare the time these two days. Sanshui is very seriously injured."

Li Ye nodded silently and said, "My uncle-in-law will come to drink tomorrow. You arrange it."

Ergou was stunned, then immediately overjoyed, saying, "That—that would be great. Thank you so much. Tomorrow, I hope you..."

"What 'you' or 'not you'? Just call me Li Ye."

"Ah? Haha," Ergou laughed and said, "Tomorrow, I hope you can come over for a drink."

"I will definitely come tomorrow."

Li Ye got into the car, and Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng drove him back.

After the Crown car drove away, Ergou's parents came over and asked, "Is this the Li Ye who was blessed by Old Huaiye? He is indeed different, refined and polite. He used to be like a greenhorn..."

"Dad, what nonsense are you talking about! Don't talk blindly in the future..."

Ergou hurriedly persuaded his father to stop.

Sanshui is still lying in the hospital, neither dead nor alive! Where did you see him being refined and polite? This greenhorn used to just kick dead dogs, but now... you can't talk nonsense.

Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng sent Li Ye home and saw that an electric light had been strung up at the door, and the Volga had also been wiped until it shone.

Looking through the car window, he found that the two younger sisters, Li Juan and Li Ying, were sitting in the car, their four eyes looking left and right, vigilant like long-necked sentries.

"Xiaojuan, Xiaoying, why are you two sitting in the car?"

"Brother, Dad said that tonight he assigned us to stand guard in the car to prevent the enemy from sabotaging it."

Li Ye smiled and said, "No need to be so careful. How tiring it is to sleep in the car! Go home and sleep!"

Li Juan and Li Ying shook their heads in unison, saying, "It's not tiring at all. These seats are so soft."

"..."

"Alright then! If you're tired, go back to the room and sleep."

Li Ye understood that chasing the two little girls back to the room now was actually depriving them of their fun.

After Li Ye left, Li Juan and Li Ying moved at the same time, scrambling for the driver's seat.

"I'm sitting here. Dad said if a bad guy comes, I should honk the horn. You don't even know how to honk."

"Who says I don't know? Just press hard on that circle."

"You just don't understand. You can't even calculate basic arithmetic; how could you understand this high-end thing?"

"I—I... I just understand!"

Li Ye entered the courtyard and heard the voice of his grandmother, Wu Juying, coming from his sister Li Yue's room.

"I said today that you weren't truly complaining about you wearing a few pieces of clothing to show off; I was intentionally saying it for Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng and that Hao Jian to hear."

"Don't look at them riding in sedans and being factory directors as being very glorious now. That's something they fought for from nothing. How many risks did they take? How much hardship did they suffer?"

"If you follow Xiao Ye over now, people will think you are there to pick up ready-made gains and pluck peaches."

"Back then, when your grandfather joined the guerrilla team, it wasn't that there weren't locals squeezing him out, but your grandfather had ability and brought four guns in. In the end, those local relatives who formed cliques were all cleaned up by your grandfather. If you don't have eyes, they will clean you up too..."

Li Yue defended herself aggrievedly: "Grandma, I know these things. I rely on my own ability..."

Wu Juying raised her tone: "I know how much ability you have. I haven't finished speaking yet! Don't interrupt, just listen. After arriving in the capital, you must speak less and look more, brag less and do more..."

The admiration in Li Ye's heart was as endless as the water of the Qingshui River.

Grandmother Wu Juying was not a housewife who only revolved around the kitchen stove her whole life. From the war years, she had accompanied Li Zhongfa through thick and thin. She might not know everything in the world, but she definitely lived with clarity.

Early the next morning, Li Ye chased Li Juan and Li Ying, who had guarded the car all night, back to their room to sleep, and drove the Volga himself to help Ergou welcome the bride.

However, before that, he first went to pick up Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang.

They were all people in the same team; such things couldn't be left out.

Li Dayong sat on the soft seat and said excitedly, "Brother, is this car yours from now on? I heard Brother Peng say yesterday that Hao Jian got him a Crown."

Li Ye said, "This can't be considered mine; it's for our public use. Any of you who have a need can drive it. If the Seventh Factory has a need, it must also be used."

Wang Jianqiang, who didn't grab the front passenger seat, said, "Brother, you're wrong to say that. Logically speaking, you should occupy a Crown. I heard people say that if there is no distinction between top and bottom, majesty is not displayed..."

"Can you see top and bottom from a car?"

Li Ye smiled and said, "When you get to Hong Kong, you will understand. The Crown isn't a good car either; they are all things that don't matter."

As soon as Li Ye said this, Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang immediately perked up.

"Brother, when are we leaving! I haven't been able to sleep for several days. If you don't believe me, look at the bloodshot eyes in my eyes."

"Yeah! I've also been looking forward to it! When we were in the capital, Brother Peng kept showing off to me, saying things like the buildings in Central and the horses of the tycoons. I asked him what kind of horses they were, but he wouldn't say..."

"..."

"When we arrive, you can see for yourselves!"

Li Ye also found it a bit funny.

This time he went to Hong Kong, he decided to take Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang to see the world.

They were all five major shareholders; Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng and Hao Jian had gone, so he couldn't favor one over the other.

Although Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng and Hao Jian were indeed the backbone, if an organization had no reserve savings, then the structure was unhealthy.

In addition, seeing the world was also beneficial for increasing the self-confidence of the two.

Especially Li Dayong.

After Li Dayong broke up with Lin Qiuyan, he seemed to recover quickly on the surface, but Li Ye watched him lose more than ten jin, so how could he not know what he needed now?

Raising boys poorly is to let them taste hardship and exercise an indomitable will.

But if there are conditions, of course, one must also let them see the vast sky, so they don't get their souls hooked by a rotten apricot in front of them, only to fail to see the baskets of fairy peaches ahead that only sell for eight yuan a jin.

In his previous life, Li Ye knew one thing: 63 socialites in Shanghai pooled money to buy a 1,800-yuan Balenciaga, causing more than half of them to get athlete's foot.

Although this metaphor isn't very appropriate for '83, if one really went blind and married such a rotten apricot home, there would be plenty of smells for you to sniff for a lifetime.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 265 =====