When Jill thought of bicycles, she thought of her father's words, "What kind of bicycle? The old car I gave you is not broken."
"Well, although my family is not short of money, it is undeniable that the price of bicycles has increased very seriously. Even if I intend to buy a new bicycle, my father will refuse."
"He is a frugal Bolshevik," Natasha said.
"As a Bolshevik, frugality is a virtue, but we all hope that life will get better and better. I have to say that buying a new bicycle now really costs a lot of money."
"Yes. When I went to the shooting range today, I heard from the two female members that when we mentioned bicycles, they both said that their families could not afford it."
Jill sighed: "Perhaps, they could afford it before the war broke out. Now, it is really expensive."
"expensive?!"
"At least five hundred rubles! Can you believe it, Natasha? More than a year ago, it was only fifty rubles, and because of the war its price increased tenfold!"
"I understand that the prices of most things in state-owned stores have increased significantly, especially flour."
"Alas, only when the war is over can we return to the good old days of having bread for every meal."
For Jill's family, of course they can eat bread every day. But for Natasha, the life of eating potatoes every day is not considered difficult.
Her hometown is in Gomel Oblast, Belarus. The population of such a large area is not as large as that of the current city of Perm.
The land there has large areas of wilderness and forests, and a large amount of cultivated land is in urgent need of development. However, Belarus has always been the focus of disputes in its long history. Therefore, the local people are more willing to plant crops that have a short growth time, do not require careful care, and are highly productive.
Potatoes. Gomel began to plant wheat and rye on a large scale, which also started after the Soviet Union stabilized the situation.
Even in peacetime, Natasha could not eat bread all the time. Even if she went to Mozyri Middle School to eat free lunch, she would still spend at least half of the week munching potatoes.
Eat bread every meal? That is really happiness! If you can eat bread every meal after the war is won, victory should come sooner!
"At least as students, we are lucky." Jill said happily, "The country will not starve her children."
"But the price of bicycles still increased tenfold." Natasha joked.
"Yeah. It was expensive before the war. The best brand was Friendship. I'm sure you know that."
"Yes, I know."
The so-called Friendship bicycle of the Soviet Union was produced in a factory in Penza, Russia, an industrial city only 300 kilometers away from Kuibyshev, the wartime capital of the Soviet Union.
As early as the Tsarist Russia period, the Penza Bicycle Factory was established. Since the establishment of Soviet Russia, the factory's production capacity has increased year by year, and a considerable number of military bicycles are produced by this factory. Then in 1933, the factory added a "Fulon"
The honorary title of "Zhi" and the abbreviation of the factory have also become "3nФ", the best of which is the friendship card.
There has been no war in the Soviet Union for twenty years. The long period of peace has allowed many factories to have enough time and ability to produce sufficient quantities of goods and do their best to ship them to various state-owned stores in major cities across the Union.
Bicycles are no exception. Even a "country girl" like Natasha knows that the Friendship Bicycle is a good product, so it is reasonable for the government to set a high price for it.
But its price is still too expensive. A worker can only buy one if he works hard for a month without eating or drinking, and earns all his salary. So when she was in school in Mozyri, she understood that anyone who rides a bicycle on the street, either
They are postmen, police and other agency personnel, or they are the very hard-working working class.
Having a bicycle of one's own is a symbol of status, and it also proves that the owner of the bicycle has become rich by bathing in the spring breeze of the Soviet Union.
"I'm talking about the friendship card." Gil continued. "The price of five hundred rubles is really crazy."
"Why is it so expensive? I really want to buy a car of my own. The price is amazing."
"Why? I think it might be the wheels."
"Why? I thought the price was raised deliberately." Natasha asked curiously.
"It should be rubber. Maybe you don't know that the role of rubber is so important. Tanks and airplanes all need rubber very much. Unfortunately, we have learned in textbooks that only the equator is the place where rubber is produced. Our alliance
Without rubber, and with our trade routes destroyed by war, the existing rubber can really only be used sparingly. You see, the tires on this bicycle are made of rubber. Without rubber, I would hardly be able to move even an inch while carrying you."
"Yes, I understand. I can't imagine a bicycle without rubber wheels."
"Speaking of which, the British invented the first bicycle. It was a simple wooden wheel, but you will never like it."
"Hey, let's buy a bicycle with rubber. Even if it sells for five hundred rubles now, I can still afford it."
Now Natasha can indeed afford it. After hearing her astonishing words, Jill was shaken up.
"What? You can afford it?! That's five hundred rubles! Although workers' wages have increased a lot now, my father is a relatively senior official, and even so his monthly income is only eight hundred rubles. Now this money can buy
Just a few kilograms of flour. Kharkova, do you really plan to buy one?"
"Yes! My bankbook savings allow me to buy one."
"you……"
Gil couldn't help but be shocked by this matter. Are all people from Moscow so rich? Summarizing various information, he can conclude that Natasha is basically an orphan. She is now alone, and the bankbook she holds is probably the reason why she died.
All the savings of her relatives were the money of her deceased parents.
Gil quickly persuaded: "Don't be impulsive. Five hundred rubles is a huge sum of money, so just keep it. I think it is money given to you by your family."
Natasha originally wanted to say that this was a reward for her military exploits. He mentioned his parents, and Natasha also thought of her parents who had never been rich. If the parents who died had known about their daughter, they would have a hundred thousand rubles in just one year.
, he is still a hero of the Soviet Union, they should be able to laugh.
"It doesn't matter, these are all money that I can legally control." Natasha said happily: "If they knew my current life, they would be very happy."
"Well, it's your money after all. I'm sorry for mentioning your sadness."
"It's okay. Even though I have no relatives, my classmates still care about me. Class monitor, thank you for your relationship."
To be honest, Natasha's voice is naturally softer. Now she is thanking Gil gently. Her words are like the arrows of the god of love, piercing Gil's heart, and his heart will melt with happiness.
The feeling of happiness made Jill intoxicated, and he even hoped to do something for the girl he liked.
"If you insist on buying a bicycle, you have enough money, but you still have to consider whether it is available."
"Well, it's a problem."
"I can help you with this." Gil said confidently, "Even if it is expensive, there are still quite a few people in the city who have the money to buy it. It is always in short supply and cannot be purchased at any time. Ordinary people can't buy it at any time."
I don’t know when the state-run bicycle stores will stock the goods. But as soon as the bicycle stores have the goods, they will definitely be sold out in two or three days.”
"Ah? Do you know when the store will have the goods?"
"Of course. My father is an official after all. If you use his connections to find out, I can know when the goods will be available in the store. Maybe they will be available in a few days. You just need to prepare the money first."
"Okay, money is not an issue."
Jill added: "You still have to go to the traffic police to apply for a bicycle driver's license. Don't worry, you can just bring your student ID."
Precisely because bicycles were expensive means of transportation before the war and now, all vehicles sold to citizens must have license plates. Firstly, it plays a role in preventing theft, and secondly, it strengthens management. After all, urban streets are still an era when most people walk.
, a fast-moving bicycle is in danger of hitting someone.
Natasha once couldn't afford a bicycle, but she knew that getting a driving license was not a hassle.
"Okay! I don't need to bother you anymore because I have the certificate. That's really bad. In fact, you are violating the traffic rules by taking me with you now."
Jill smiled naively: "The traffic police are off duty at this time. They can't see me driving people on the road, so what do we have to worry about?"
"That's true, but I'd better try not to do this. I'm not worried about you hitting someone, but I'm worried about me falling."
"Oh? Then you have to hold on tight to me."
Natasha didn't say anything else, but just pointed at the old car that was creaking and creaking as it moved. It really might fall apart. Natasha couldn't wait to help Jill replace it.
The two said nothing more, Jill sent Natasha to the school gate, and the two parted ways.
However, some tenth grade students who ran back at midnight watched eagerly as the squad leader of Class 6 returned with a girl on his bicycle. The girl had a very confident step and was wearing a rare white velvet hat. She
It was none other than Kharkova, a newly transferred Moscow girl from the sixth class.
More than one eyewitness believes that Gil Ivanov and Natasha Kharkova have a closer relationship. Yes, the two actually rode a bicycle together. How can it be justified if they are not closely related?!
On the way back to the dormitory, Natasha didn't care at all about any students who looked at her sideways.
Her mind was occupied with the bicycle.
"His car is also too old. His father uses a car that was eliminated by the post office as his car? How can he have such a frugal father?"
"Buying a bicycle now costs 500 rubles. If it is a high-quality Friendship brand, 500 rubles is considered appropriate."
"Today I must have misunderstood him. He and I are really just friends between classmates, but... I still have to give him a gift in return! Go to the bank to withdraw a thousand rubles, buy two bicycles, and give him one as a gift.
That’s alright. That’s right! Just do it.”
After thinking about it, Natasha felt a stone fall in her heart, and she walked quickly towards her dormitory.
That night after the club's target practice, Gil, extremely excited, rushed home and immediately reported the good news to his parents.
The son actually took the beloved girl for a ride around the city. No matter what this behavior was, the girl at least did not object.
Old Ivanov was very happy, and he didn't say anything on the surface. Regarding the girl named Kharkova, he checked through his own channels, but found no information. Maybe women are mysterious.
.
However, when his son mentioned that Kharkova was interested in buying a bicycle, a high-end Friendship brand, old Ivanov immediately became interested.
After some negotiation between the father and son, old Ivanov agreed wholeheartedly. After all, the girl who dared to spend a huge amount of money to buy a bicycle must be extraordinary.
"I know everything. I will ask your Uncle Vonorov tomorrow when he will have the goods."
"Ah! Thank you so much, Dad."
That night, the old Ivanovs didn't bother to ask their son why he suddenly ran home to sleep today. In short, it had something to do with the Kharkova girl.
Both husband and wife do not want their son to join the army and go to war. This is the so-called selfishness.
Old Ivanov saw a large number of testimonials from fallen soldiers, and he did not want tragedy to happen to his family. If his son fell in love, would he still take the initiative to go to the front line? Most likely not.
Gil was already fast asleep in his room. Only after falling asleep did he completely overcome the soreness in his arms. Carrying heavy loads and carrying guns was only good for soldiers. The source of muscle soreness lies in the tearing of cells and old muscles.
When some cells die, the new ones that grow will be more enlarged than before, and the muscles will be tighter.
In his parents' bedroom, two middle-aged men were whispering to his only son.
"Old man, that girl wants to buy a bicycle. She is not an ordinary person." Jill's mother asked her husband.
"Indeed, I haven't found the household registration information of that Kharkova. I don't know what kind of girl she is."
"What? Is there someone else you can't find? Doesn't she go to No. 1 Middle School? She is also our son's classmate."
"Then I can only ask someone to check her student status file, but it is better not to do this rashly. After all, it is illegal."
"Well, at least she charmed our son. He's never been so attracted to a girl before."
"If that's the case, isn't it a good thing? Maybe for the girl he likes, he will be reluctant to let her go to the battlefield, so that you and I don't have to worry about anything. Besides, that girl is said to be a war orphan. A rich orphan, really
Know what her life was like when her parents were alive."
"At least it's better than now." Jill's mother sighed regretfully, "What a poor girl. I've always wanted to have a daughter. It's you, an old man. Why aren't you happy?" She pushed her husband hard again.
Bundle.
Old Ivanov sighed: "I am very busy at work. However, we may have a daughter soon. That Kharkova, I will definitely find out her background, let me think about it..."
Suddenly, old Ivanov thought of something: "Dear!"
"I'm listening."
"Five hundred rubles is not small money. I will contact the savings bank branch nearest to the No. 1 Middle School. If a female student withdraws a large sum of money, I think I will be able to know her more detailed identity. After all, her
The bank account cannot be fake."
"What a troublesome move." Jill's mother stopped talking nonsense: "I'm tired. I think we should find an opportunity for Jill to invite the girl as a guest. Can you ask it yourself and solve all the problems?"
"Let me investigate it myself first. I will definitely succeed this time. As for inviting that girl to be a guest, let me think about it again. I can't believe that a Moscow girl who has money to buy a bicycle is such a simple person..."
Today is a special era of war. World War I is known as the "Great War." However, as the war continues, it has completely turned into a meat grinder for young people.
Compared to the First World War, the new world war was more tragic! In just over a year, old Ivanov obtained information that approximately 10 million people in the Soviet Union had died!
Gil's parents desperately hope that their eighteen-year-old son will not go to the front. It is best for Gil not to go voluntarily. If he is drafted, there is really no other way.
Both of them also knew that it was obligatory for adult men to join the army to defend the country, and they must be mentally prepared for their sons to be drafted.
If this is indeed the case in the future, it will be a blessing among misfortunes for Jill and her family to marry that Kharkova in the future.
It is said that she was a war orphan. When she got married, she automatically changed her surname to Ivanova according to tradition.
When their beloved son Jill joined the army, the couple had to prepare themselves to face the terrible reality of a letter sent back from a soldier killed in action. It was a great misfortune to lose a son at an old age, but there was also a married orphan by his side. If his son was killed
It's a good thing that she was pregnant before being drafted...
It would be best if the son who was recruited into the army triumphed and returned triumphantly, but if he really sacrificed his life for the country, his family would not be in the most painful situation. The worst thing is that he still has a "daughter" by his side, and his life in his later years would not be extremely miserable.
pain of.
But two couples over fifty years old couldn't say these words, otherwise they would be too selfish.
But they all knew about a policy that said couples whose only son died while serving in the army had the right to register with the civil affairs department, so that they would have priority in raising war orphans.