Chapter 51: Taking the Initiative Too Far
"Then why don't you move out? Didn't your grandpa leave you a yard?"

Chen Xueru suddenly asked again: "Where do you live? When I first met you, you said you came from Dongzhimen."

“It’s in the alley near Dongzhimen, near Beixinqiao.

My grandfather left me a yard, but I am a working class person and cannot live there."

Li Zhiguo scratched his head, thinking that as soon as the signs of public-private partnership appeared, he would persuade Chen Xueru to sell the store in advance.

Anyway, the store will eventually belong to the collective, and there will be a chance to get it back in the future.

"You keep talking about the working class. I won't mention you as a street official. Is it so bad to be a merchant? Isn't it good to make more money?"

Chen Xueru asked the key question again.

"No, what can I say?"

Li Zhiguo was overwhelmed. Could it be that what belongs to you is not yours either? Someone like Chen Xueru is already considered a big capitalist.

"Tell me, I'll listen."

Chen Xueru moved her seat and got closer.

Cai Quanwu took a glance and quickly turned away. Look less and drink more!

"Okay, leave some space in your life."

Li Zhiguo was anxious. Seeing the wine glass right in front of him, he lowered his head and drank the wine in Chen Xueru's glass.

"You, why did you drink secretly? There's nothing in your cup!"

Chen Xueru blushed immediately and even the strong woman couldn't stand it.

Li Zhiguo thought, there will always be a time when a rich girl like you lose, he can't keep going backwards.

"Didn't you buy me a drink?"

Li Zhiguo looked at the rich young woman, shook his head and said, "Okay, today, just drink, fill my glass."

"If it's full, it's full."

Chen Xueru muttered as she poured the wine.

Li Zhiguo took a bite of the pickles and found them to be delicious.

By the time regular customers of the tavern arrived, he had almost finished drinking.

"Where do you live? I'll ask Lao Cai to take you home first, and I'll go back to the compound."

"I live not far from here."

Chen Xueru pinched the ring on her finger and suddenly said, "Did I say something wrong today?"

"It's okay. You're the one who invited me to drink."

Li Zhiguo knew the character of the rich young woman. She was completely different from the people in the Siheyuan. She had a business mind but was not good at using tricks.

"Then I'll give you a gift next time."

Chen Xueru smiled and pulled Li Zhiguo out of the store.

"Lao Cai!"

"coming."

Cai Quanwu heard the call and hurried to follow.

The tricycle started quickly and first arrived downstairs of Chen Xueru's house, and then headed to the courtyard.

"Lao Cai!"

Li Zhiguo drank four taels of wine and became more sober.

"I'm listening, Brother Li, please tell me."

Cai Quanwu knew that he would talk to him.

"What to say and what not to say, you decide for yourself. I'll give you a piece of advice: don't do business even if you have the capital."

Li Zhiguo originally wanted to give him some special instructions, but then he thought it was unnecessary because Old Cai was a clear-headed person.

"Well, I'll listen to you."

Cai Quanwu didn't ask the reason. This person was the descendant of Xin Yuanzhai. If he didn't do business, there must be a big reason.

"I'll buy you a drink next time."

"Hey, I'll treat you."

Cai Quan stared at the tricycle with all his might. When he arrived at the courtyard, it was already completely dark.

"Hey, why did you come back in Lao Cai's car?"

Yan Bugui also followed suit and called others Lao Cai. Although they were not very old, they were of the same generation as him, and he always felt it was an insult to call them Xiao Cai.

"It just happened on the way. My bicycle was parked at the tailor shop, and something delayed me while others were closed."

Li Zhiguo made up an excuse.

Tsai Quan did not respond, as he said too much and would make mistakes.

Then he went back to the backyard, only to find out that the pencil sharpener was on the market and the steel mill could also benefit from it. Wouldn't that mean he had lost a hundred yuan in reward?

"Brother, the boss lady invited you to drink, but didn't she invite you to rest at her house?"

Qin Huairu tried to ask, but her experience was too shallow and the words were too obvious.

"She wants to, but I don't like it. Stop imagining, are you going to the infirmary today?"

Li Zhiguo sat down and drank a sip of tea. "Make me a bowl of noodles later. I just drank and didn't eat anything."

"Okay! I'm going to the infirmary..."

Qin Huairu told the results of the examination.

"That's good. We can go to the hospital early this weekend and come back in time for Damao's banquet. You can also avoid helping."

Li Zhiguo reached out and touched his wife's belly, which was soft.

Qin Huairu gave him a look and then went to cook noodles.

Not long after, after he ate the noodles, he washed up and went to bed.

Central Courtyard, He family!
The bed that Shazhu had been dreaming of was finally bought.

Furniture is really expensive nowadays. The starting price of a large wardrobe is fifty yuan.

So, when it comes to getting married, the expensive part is not really the gift money.

What's really expensive is buying big items and the furniture in the house. It can cost two hundred dollars to replace all the furniture in a room.

If you add the washbasin, sheets, cotton wool, and clothes, buying a room would really empty the family's savings.

Sha Zhu spent more than twenty dollars on this bed, which is more than his current monthly salary.

I freed up the space in the study where I used to keep my things so that I can sleep alone.

"Brother, I just heard from Old Yan that you brought Li Zhiguo back with you. How come you are together with him again?"

He Daqing didn't believe that his silly brother's brain could stop Li Zhiguo, so it was better to have less contact with him.

"Nothing, I just happened to meet him halfway. Brother Li is a good man. Brother, this is the money I earned today, please save it for me."

Cai Quanwu handed over the money. He had originally earned $1.20, but thinking that he came back late and the account might not be right, he handed over $1.40 instead.

He had a dozen or so yuan in change, which made it convenient for him to give change to customers.

"Okay, I'll help you save money to get married."

He Daqing grinned. Three people were doing the work, but he was the only one in charge of the money.

Sha Zhu made the bed and walked over cheerfully, "Dad, Xu Damao is having a wedding banquet this Sunday, when are you going to get married?"

Sha Zhu has figured out his father's plan to find him a stepmother.

“It depends on whether you can find the right one.”

At He Daqing's age, he wants to find a widow, at least someone no worse than Bai Hehua!
"Did the Xu family ask you to host a banquet?"

Sha Zhu doesn't get along with Xu Damao and doesn't want to take this job.

"Yes, we negotiated five dollars, the same as last time when Li Zhiguo did. I also negotiated two dollars for you. I'll save the money for you."

Fortunately, He Daqing had foresight. Last time, he offered it for free and told others that it was only five yuan.

Sha Zhu was speechless, thinking to himself that he should bring two more lunch boxes and pack some good food back. …

"Li Zhiguo, are you awake? Get up quickly, it's almost time..."

He was hazy and suddenly the old face of Jia Zhang appeared in front of him, which scared him and woke him up.

Only then did I realize that it was Jia Zhang who was shouting outside the window.

"coming!"

After a while, Li Zhiguo came out of the house with a washcloth on his shoulder and a kettle and a basin in his hand.

"Jia Zhang, it's too early!"

I saw Jia Zhang waiting at the door. "Hey, it's already mid-morning, other families are almost ready to make lunch, did you promise to teach my daughter Bihua how to operate the sewing machine?"

"I can't forget it. I'll rinse my mouth first. Please help me get the water to wash my face. Don't make it too hot."

Li Zhiguo said this and handed the basin to Jia Zhang.

"You are really lazy!"

Jia Zhang muttered something and took the washbasin.

Several middle-aged women in the backyard saw it and couldn't help pointing and talking. Even the deaf old lady went out to take a look for a while, and she couldn't believe it.

Li Zhiguo was seen standing by the washing table rinsing his mouth, while Jia Zhang was waiting beside him with a large red porcelain basin.

After a while, Li Zhiguo slowly washed his face.

Jia Zhang was anxious, so she quickly put away the basin, cup and other things, and also helped to hang up the washcloth.

"You can go now, the morning is almost over."

"Let's go! Jia Zhang, I'm not exaggerating, I went to the tailor shop yesterday and spent a day learning a few new styles, which are the new styles for spring in Beijing this year.

When your wife learns how to do it, she will make you a new dress. When you wear it out, the aunties will be jealous of you.

There are only two families in our courtyard that have sewing machines. We have to help each other to have a good life. "

Li Zhiguo also muttered that he used to think that Jia Zhangshi was incapable of doing any work, but after careful observation, he found that she could still be influenced and helped him with work.

"Yes, you are right. My Jia family has always been an upper-class family. If the old Jia family had not passed away, we would be living no worse than your uncle's family."

Jia Zhang has always wanted to carry on the honor of the Jia family, but she didn't take action herself and relied entirely on her son and daughter-in-law.

"I know this. Our Uncle Jia was also a capable man in his time. If he were still alive, he might be a great master."

The two of them walked through the central courtyard, talking and laughing, leaving Chen Dasao, Sun Erniang, and even Yima dumbfounded.

But soon he realized that even Jia Zhang had fallen into the trap?

"Bihua, come quickly, Li Zhiguo is here, didn't you bring some yellow grass from home? Make him a cup."

Jia Zhang is good at ordering people around, and she starts to take care of her health when she gets home.

"coming!"

Chen Bihua was delighted to see Li Zhiguo coming and quickly came over with a cup of tea.

"Brother Li, this yellow grass can protect the liver and remove dampness. You drink alcohol frequently, so it's good for you to drink some of this."

Li Zhiguo recollected it and remembered what it was. He had it in his market, priced at twenty-five yuan per pound.

He was holding the cup and saw that Jia Zhang had pulled out a stool and was waiting next to the sewing machine.

Li Zhiguo took a sip of the tea slowly. Fortunately, it tasted good and not too bitter.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, your family was right to buy a sewing machine. It maintains its value and is very convenient for mending things..."

He really taught with all his heart. If Chen Bihua was really willing to learn, even though Jia Zhang was not very old, her life would be better after she learned it.

I can charge 60 cents for making a short-sleeved summer dress for someone, and autumn and winter clothes are even more expensive.

Soon an hour passed and Chen Bihua was able to start the sewing machine, but her hands and feet did not coordinate well.

After observing for a moment, Li Zhiguo realized that Chen Bihua was not as smart as Qin Huairu.

He did not eat at Jia's house at noon and was about to go out for a restaurant when he suddenly remembered something else.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, has the old Xu family invited you?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhang's good mood disappeared immediately, "Why didn't you invite him? His old Xu family has the nerve to come. He didn't come to my house last time, so I won't go to his Xu family either."

"I think it's wrong for you to think this way. You invited the Xu family but they didn't come. It's the Xu family that is immoral, and you are right.

But if you don't go, I think your Jia family is poor. I think you can take a table early. If he really wants to make trouble, you can say that the uncle helped you.

Eat as much as you can and pack up the leftovers.”

Li Zhiguo thought that he should be more cautious that day and not sit at the same table with Jia Zhang.

After hearing this, Jia Zhang's eyes lit up, "Oh, you are the one who has a solution. You are so right. I have to eat it back."

"I didn't say anything. Well, you should ask Bihua to practice well. Dongxu is a really good and capable wife."

After saying this, Li Zhiguo left and went out to eat a bowl of braised pork.

When he was done, he went to get his bicycle.

Chen Xueru is not in the store at the moment, which gives the rich young woman a chance to calm down and not think about him seriously.

"Hey, it's Sister Xu who's back!"

When he returned to the courtyard, he saw Xu's mother. What a coincidence.

"Li Zhiguo, you're back just in time."

Xu's mother looked a little flustered, "Isn't our Damao going to hold a wedding? I went to the grain store to buy grain today, but I couldn't buy any flour after going to several stores.

I finally found one, but the price was two cents higher. I couldn't afford it by myself, so I went back to the hospital to find a few people to help me."

"Is this a food shortage?"

Li Zhiguo was stunned for a moment. He only remembered that the capital city started issuing food coupons from the end of this year, but he was not sure of the specific day.

"Sister Xu, don't worry. Old He's family has a tricycle for him to haul grain, and my bicycle can also carry a few bags.

By the way, why don’t you call a cart, it would be more convenient.”

Xu's mother said hurriedly, "There are no tricycle drivers on the street today. Lao He went out on his tricycle, and Lao Cai will be here to help soon."

"Okay, then find a few more aunties and we can carry it back."

Li Zhiguo didn't cheat anyone this time. The staple food used for the banquet affected the food and drink of the entire hospital. It would be really immoral if he got a piece of it.

"Your second aunt and the others will be here soon. They have all been called. Everyone wants to go out to buy food. They are afraid that they won't be able to buy it later. You have to buy some to store."

Xu's mother usually likes to calculate, and she would buy good things secretly, but she was not vague at this time.

Soon, Lao Cai came out wearing a coat with a collar, which was left over from his previous job as a porter.

The aunts also swarmed out. Everyone had little food left at home, so they had to grab it when they heard the news.

"Sister Xu, you tell me the place. I'll take you there to carry out the food first. No matter how expensive it is, I'll make sure there's enough space for the wedding banquet."

Li Zhiguo felt that the food shortage this time was not a normal situation, because he had just gone to the street to settle the accounts on the 2nd and there was nothing wrong with the supply chain.

"Hey!"

Xu's mother quickly told him the address and got on the back of the bicycle. She knew that Li Zhiguo was not a bad person, but his morals were a little lacking.

But no one has ever cheated her family.

Li Zhiguo rode his bike for a long way before he arrived at the grain store. In addition to the state-owned grain stations, there are thousands of private grain stores in the capital.

Maybe it is the private grain stores that are causing trouble this time. If that is the case, then they are courting death.

As soon as he parked the car, Xu's mother hurried into the grain store. It was an old brand and there were already many people buying grain here.

"Boss Zeng, I ordered 200 kilograms of flour for my son's wedding banquet. It can't be less."

Xu's mother had already given the money, but one person couldn't take it away before.

"Sister, your food is reserved for you. Fortunately, you came early. Now the price has increased by one cent, and there is not much left."

"It's gone up again! Then help me move the flour out. One of my brothers is here to help."

Xu's mother pointed at Li Zhiguo who had parked the car and came in. It was really not easy for him to help at the critical moment.

(End of this chapter)