At this glance, Jiang Shan immediately understood and asked in surprise: "No way, is your house also supported by the state?"
"About that," Li Ruocheng nodded proudly: "In 1957, my wife and I bought five rooms here with the money we saved from our manuscripts."
After speaking, the old man glanced towards the east side of the courtyard: "Including the two rooms directly opposite your house."
Jiang Shan was really surprised this time. Looking at the ages of the old couple in front of him, he estimated that they would be about 40 years old in 1957.
At this age, you can buy a five-room private property with royalties?
Or is it that houses in that era were not expensive at all?
Jiang Shan couldn't help but ask: "How could the translation fees twenty years ago be so considerable?"
Li Ruocheng smiled and shook his head: "What does this mean? Compared with those translators, our royalties are nothing at all."
My wife Li Huaiying agreed very much: "Have you ever heard of the translator Qian Chunqi?"
Jiang Shan shook his head in a befitting manner: "I haven't heard of it."
Li Huaiying didn't care whether he had heard of it or not: "Just remember that he is a famous translator."
"Hey, go on."
"This man quit his job as a doctor more than 20 years ago and translated three collections of Heine's poems. Only one of them received more than 8,000 royalties."
"Eight...eight thousand?"
"Yes, 8,000 yuan. In 1957, Qian Chunqi used the 8,000 yuan to buy a courtyard house in Dongsi Hutong, Yanjing."
The old lady who asked and answered questions became more and more energetic as she spoke, as if she was proud of herself.
Suddenly, there was a "squeak" sound.
Sister-in-law Hu Lina opened the door and walked out. After seeing Jiang Shan in the yard, she pushed the two children behind her in front of him.
"His third uncle," Hu Lina said with a sullen face, "I want to go back to my parents' house to live for a while, and you can help take care of the two children."
"Me? Take care of the children?" Jiang Shan was a little confused for a moment: "Have you discussed this with eldest brother?"
Hu Lina looked very impatient: "Is there anything to discuss?"
Ever since her father was transferred back to Pujiang and resumed his original position, Hu Lina didn't want to stay in this courtyard for a day.
If it wasn't for staying in the city, she would never have chosen to get married at the age of 20.
"On September 15, the country will hold an English test for public personnel sent abroad,"
Hu Lina is like a proud peacock. This kind of news is not something ordinary people can know: "I want to go home to review for the exam."
Jiang Shan: "So you have to leave for half a month and can't review here?"
Hu Lina immediately sneered and said: "The TV station will broadcast English lectures at 9:30 every night. Do you have a TV at home?"
After saying that, he raised his chin, picked up his bag and turned around to leave.
country:"……"
He understood that this was a sister-in-law with great ambitions.
He turned around and said to the old man Li Ruocheng with a smile: "Look, how motivated the people are to learn English now!"
The old man also laughed: "It's not surprising. Since the college entrance examination was resumed last year, many people have been studying English."
Jiang Shan didn't answer any more and walked over to hug his little nephew.
The two children in front of me are the sons and daughters of the eldest brother Jiang Hai.
6-year-old Jiang Xiaoyu and 3-year-old Jiang Xiaobai.
He looks like the Jiang family, with big eyes and a plump nose, which makes him very popular.
"Xiaobai,"
Jiang Shan, who had no children in his previous life, loved his little chubby nephew the most.
He rubbed the little fat man's bun face vigorously: "Who gave you your name? It's a well-known trademark!"
How could Jiang Xiaobai know this? He would be pinched so hard by his third uncle that he would giggle non-stop.
My elder sister, Jiang Xiaoyu, has been sensible since she was a child. At this moment, she had already moved out two small stools and waved to her younger brother.
So, Jiang Xiaobai immediately twisted his fleshy body and ran to sit with his little sister.
Looking at the pair of little brothers next to each other, Jiang Shan often felt that they were a bit pitiful for being so good.
He knew in his heart that the reason why his nephews and nieces were so cautious was all thanks to the "blessing" of his sister-in-law!
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Shan Wen Sheng said to the younger brother: "Want to hear a story? Third uncle is happy to tell you one today?"
The two children's eyes suddenly lit up and then darkened again.
Every time her mother told them a story, she would get furious at the end: "I'm so annoyed, I shouldn't have given birth to you so early..."
Six-year-old Jiang Xiaoyu is obviously more mature than other children of the same age. She almost grew up amidst the noise of her parents.
Ever since she was sensible, this delicate and thoughtful little girl has learned to try not to make adults angry.
Until now, she even felt that her mother would not get angry as long as she could not see her.
So I always carefully hide in the corner and keep quiet.
With his past memories, Jiang Shan naturally knew what the little girl was hesitating about.
So he directly picked up the two children with one hand and one stool.
After two or three steps, place them one on each side of their original bench.
He pointed at the book in Li Ruocheng's hand and asked, "Old man, please lend us the storybook."
The old man handed it over immediately, thinking that he could just listen to this kid's English skills.
By coincidence, Jiang Shan just wanted to tell him.
The dark blue writing, a few horizontal silver arcs outline the scene of the sea, and a bright yellow moon hangs sideways in the sky...
The two children were immediately attracted by the gorgeous writing in the third uncle's hand.
""The Daughter of the Sea"..."
Jiang Shan opened the page and read aloud:
"In the depths of the sea, the water is so blue, like the most beautiful cornflower petals... There are six mermaid princesses living in the castle in the sea..."
At this moment, the sun splashed across the courtyard.
The story of the third uncle continues.
Jiang Xiaoyu, who was used to hearing about the little white rabbit and the big bad wolf, heard for the first time that there was a beautiful palace in the sea, and a group of mermaids lived in the palace.
As she listened, the little girl couldn't help but ask: "Uncle Third, what does the little mermaid look like? Is it a human or a fish?"
Jiang Xiaobai: "Can you laugh?"
Third Uncle: "You can't be angry!"
Jiang Shan thought for a while and asked warmly: "Children, do you want to see what the Little Mermaid looks like?"
"Think~"
Unsurprisingly, the response was unanimous.
"Master, can you borrow some paper and pen?" Jiang Shan touched the heads of the two little ones: "The children have never seen the world, so they don't know what mermaids look like!"
"have you seen?"
"Don't underestimate me!"
"Just wait, I'll find some paper for you right now."
Li Ruocheng was not stingy and handed Jiang Shan a brand new soft-cover copy.
The paper is good and the pen is smooth.
As soon as he saw the posture of Jiang Shan holding the pen, he knew that this kid must have two tricks.
Sure enough, as the pen strokes,
The sea, the rocks, the slender figure sitting on the rocks, long hair shawl, fish-shaped tail...
She looks like a mermaid nestled between rocks and the sea.
Jiang Xiaobai's chubby finger pointed at the drawing book: "Third Uncle, Third Uncle, why does the woman you drew have no butt?"
"Because she is a mermaid."
The little chubby hand kept tapping: "Third uncle, third uncle, why does this woman have no legs?"
"Because she is a mermaid."
"Third uncle, third uncle, how do you like the mermaid?"
Third uncle: "..."
Jiang Xiaoyu covered his brother's mouth, and Jiangshan's version of "The Daughter of the Sea" sounded again in the courtyard.
But this time, Uncle San's painting brush never stopped.
Following the progression of the story, the picture book in Jiang Shan's hand also turned page by page.
Solid professional skills make Jiangshan something you can expect at your fingertips.
Li Ruocheng soon discovered that as soon as the story reaches a new chapter, the iconic image of this chapter will appear on the next page of the picture book.