Wang Gang rushed back to Sijiucheng on the 25th of the first lunar month, returned to the factory, handed over the car, registered it, and rested for a while before going home. He needed a good rest.
Running long distances in this era is not comfortable. Not only is the road difficult to walk, but there is no place to stay or eat. You have to stay in the car for several days, and you have to guard against carjacking.
It can be said that every time you go on a business trip, although you can earn a lot of money, you also suffer a lot. Usually the factory will take care of you and give you a day off after you come back from the business trip.
The next day, Wang Gang rarely slept in. He didn't get up until 8 o'clock, but he didn't forget to exercise. At about noon, he even took a trip to Sesame Hutong.
Zhao Zihao came to ask him more than once if he still had any pears on hand.
In the pigeon market after the New Year, the price of fresh pears dropped somewhat, but the market gap was still large.
However, Wang Gang never dared to sell pears again for fear of getting into trouble.
Zhao Zihao and Niu Meilan rarely had a good year because they were selling pears. When they saw Wang Gang, they were very enthusiastic and insisted on grabbing him and treating him to a meal. Dong Laishun cooked mutton.
Wang Gang did not refuse this time.
People in Siqiu City like to cook mutton in winter, gathering around a pot and having a hot time, which represents a prosperous new year.
Wang Gang also likes hot pot, but compared to mutton, he prefers boiled vegetables.
Especially all kinds of fresh vegetables.
It's a pity that materials are scarce in this era, and the vegetables are only cabbage, radish and potatoes, so Wang Gang can only eat mutton.
"Brother Wang, it's thanks to you that our family can have a prosperous New Year this time. I would like to formally express my gratitude to you. Before, it was me, Niu Meilan, who was too blind to see Taishan, and lard clouded my heart."
"Well, bygones are bygones." Wang Gang glanced at Zhao Zihao's severed finger, picked up the wine glass and clinked a drink with Niu Meilan.
"Brother, you are awesome." Zhao Zihao gave Wang Gang a thumbs up and said.
In fact, Wang Gang really didn't care about what happened in the past. He was not the one who suffered anyway. He had already expected that the pigeon market would be a mixed bag.
Moreover, their relationship is, in the final analysis, a cooperation of interests, not friendship.
After three glasses of wine, Niu Meilan was a little tipsy, but Zhao Zihao remained sober and pushed a small cloth bag to Wang Gang.
"What does this mean?" Wang Gang couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he saw the little cloth bag.
"I know my brother likes these, and I paid special attention to them recently in the pigeon market." Zhao Zihao said with a smile.
Wang Gang opened the cloth bag curiously, and then couldn't help but squint his eyes.
The small cloth bag contained two stamps, which were the two missing from the Dalong stamps he had bought from Niu Meilan.
Wang Gang clasped his right hand on the stamp, looked at Zhao Zihao, and asked, "How did you know I was interested in this thing?"
Zhao Zihao chuckled and said: "My brother liked the stamps passed down from my family's family before, but unfortunately the stamps were a set and two of them were lost.
During this time, I was selling pears, and I still had some respect in Pigeon Market. I asked around specifically, and I actually found it."
A set of three Dalong stamps would fetch tens of millions at auction in later generations, so the value of the set is naturally the highest.
"How much did it cost you?"
Zhao Zihao said seriously: "This thing is worthless, it is just a gift for my brother."
Wang Gang said: "I'll treat you to this meal. You can't argue with me. If you can get something like this again in the future, keep an eye out for me and I'll pay for it."
Zhao Zihao and Niu Meilan looked at each other, with joy on their faces at the same time.
They took great pains to find the stamps just to make good friends and build a good relationship with Wang Gang, hoping to cooperate again in the future.
Now it seems that everything is going well.
"I would like to remind you that if it is not necessary after the new year, do not go to the pigeon market again. Even if you go, you will only do small business. After April, you will stay at home for two months."
Zhao Zihao said anxiously: "Brother Wang, do you have any news?"
Wang Gang glanced at Zhao Zihao and said, "Don't pry if you shouldn't pry. Keep a low profile lately."
Zhao Zihao and Niu Meilan ate their meal dullly, not because they didn't believe Wang Gang, but because they were thinking about what they would eat in the past few months.
None of them have formal jobs, and if they don’t go to Pigeon Market, they will have nothing to eat.
Wang Gang saw the worries of the two of them and said: "I'm not saying that you just sit at home and have nothing to do during this period, but don't be too high-profile, but you must stay at home after April."
"Brother, you are a capable person, we listen to you." Niu Meilan immediately expressed her position.
"I still have a batch of mountain goods on hand. You can help me sell them. I only want three points of profit." Wang Gang thought for a while and said.
Zhao Zihao was overjoyed. Wang Gang completely trusted them and gave them the goods directly, and then settled the bill after the goods were sold.
The advantage of Wang Gang doing this is to avoid risks, and he will never appear in the pigeon market again. The disadvantage is that it is up to Zhao Zihao to decide how much he will sell, and it is not easy to check the accounts.
It may seem like Wang Gang suffered a loss, but in fact if the wind really blows, a strict investigation will begin. The pigeon market is a very dangerous place.
After finishing the mutton-boiled meat, the three of them went their separate ways. Wang Gang left the mountain goods at his usual place and asked Zhao Zihao to pay the bill half a month later.
In the next few days, Wang Gang lived a very stable life. He went to work normally and kept in touch with He Yuyu during the holidays. He went to the park, held hands and kissed his cheeks, and his relationship steadily warmed up.
He Yuzhu and Teacher Ran also reconciled, but Teacher Ran never dared to take He Yuzhu home again.
I heard that Ran's father objected to his daughter's relationship with a cook, and the father and daughter quarreled several times at home.
Wang Gang also advised He Yuzhu that after enduring these few months, Ran's father would no longer have the right to look down on the chef.
After the first month of the year, the atmosphere in the steel rolling mill became increasingly uncomfortable. Many workers were taken away, and even Director Yang was reprimanded several times.
On the contrary, it was Deputy Factory Director Li who became more and more arrogant and gradually overcame Director Yang, acting like the boss of the factory.
When the time came to April, the wind was still blowing into Sijiu City, and Wang Gang acted more and more cautiously.
Fortunately, his family's ancestors are farmers and his father is a worker, so no misfortune will happen to him.
Ran Qiuye was in a miserable situation. His family were overseas Chinese who had returned to China.
I heard that Ran Qiuye was also dismissed from his position as a teacher at school. He spent all day sweeping the floors and suddenly fell from the clouds to the mortal world.
At this time, Wang Gang asked He Yuzhu to comfort Ran Qiuye, and a good thing happened between the two of them.
After being beaten, Ran's father and mother lost their arrogance as scholars. At first, they didn't like He Yuzhu, the cook.
Now that He Yuzhu has not given up his past grudges and still wants to marry his daughter, Ran's parents are relieved and feel that their daughter has finally married the right person by marrying He Yuzhu.
As long as the parents did not object, the marriage of their children could be settled easily. He Yuzhu took Yi Zhonghai and his wife to propose marriage directly to their door, and the marriage was settled.
When He Yuzhu got engaged, the happiest people were Mrs. Long and his aunt, who laughed all day long. On the contrary, it was Yi Zhonghai who persuaded He Yuzhu to give up Ran Qiuye and find a woman with a simpler family.
But He Yuzhu had his sights set on Ran Qiuye, and he would not marry anyone other than Qing, which moved Teacher Ran to a great extent.
The weather is getting hotter, and people in Sijiu City are slowly taking off their cotton-padded clothes and wearing single clothes. He Yuyu has also graduated from high school, and her marriage to Wang Gang is also on the agenda.
Together, He Yuzhu and Wang Gang, in these extraordinary times, don’t make a big fuss about getting married, let’s just get married together as brothers and sisters!
When the family sits down to have a meal, it is considered a wedding.
