Rebirth of Bloody Romance

Zhong Yuemin was watching with great interest when he suddenly felt someone patting his shoulder. He turned around and saw that it was Zhou Xiaobai.

Zhou Xiaobai looked at Zhong Yuemin with a look of reproach on his face. "Are you going to eat or not? How come you are so free? You come to watch people quarreling so early in the morning."

Zhong Yuemin scratched his head awkwardly and said with a smile, "Hey... Hey... Wife, I'm just joining in the fun. Life needs some fun, right?"

Zhou Xiaobai shook her head helplessly. She knew Zhong Yuemin's character very well. He was always curious about the things around him, and even the quarrels in other people's homes could make him watch with great interest.

"Okay, you continue watching. I have to go to work." Zhou Xiaobai said as he pushed his bicycle and prepared to leave.

Zhong Yuemin asked quickly, "Wife, what do you want to eat tonight?"

Zhou Xiaobai glared at him. "I eat whatever you eat." After that, she rode away on her bike, followed by Dong Huizhen.

Zhong Yuemin looked at Zhou Xiaobai's departing back and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: My wife still understands me!

Under the morning sun that was so gentle that it seemed to drip water, the alley was dyed with a faint golden glow.

Chen Yijun's figure appeared particularly gentle and firm in the interweaving of light and shadow. She said softly but with an unquestionable tone to Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen in front of her, "Stop looking, go home with grandma! The food is almost cold, and our little stomachs should be growling, right?"

Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen, the two little guys were staring with wide eyes and curiosity at the scene of two old ladies quarreling not far away. The interesting cursing captured their hearts.

Their little faces were filled with reluctance and pleading. Little Shihua tugged at her grandmother's clothes, her voice soft and sticky, "Grandma, can you watch for a while longer? Just a little while, okay?"

Little Haichen was not to be outdone. He snuggled up to his grandma and acted coquettishly in his baby voice. "Grandma is the best. Please let my sister and I play for a while longer. I promise, just a little while, and then we will go home for dinner." His little hand gently shook his grandma's arm. His dependence and trust made people's hearts soften involuntarily.

"Okay, okay, I know you are reluctant to leave, but the food at home tastes better." There was a hint of temptation in Chen Yijun's grandmother's words, as well as a tenderness that could not be refused.

Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen looked at each other. Although they were still reluctant to leave, they couldn't resist the temptation when they saw their grandma's kind smile and the tempting food in her hands, and they trotted after her.

Little Shihua did not forget to turn around and shout to Zhong Yuemin, "Dad, come home for dinner."

"Coming!"

A few people returned to the living room to continue eating. The aroma of the food and the laughter intertwined, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Zhong Yuemin picked up the chopsticks again, picked up a piece of meat and put it into the bowl, while still immersed in the memory of the wonderful "fight" with Mrs. Ding just now, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

"Mom, do you think that Mrs. Ding was born with this ability? She can curse people so artistically that people are both angry and amused when they hear it."

Zhong Yuemin turned to Chen Yijun and smiled, his eyes sparkling with admiration for the old lady's unique talents.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yijun smiled and was about to say something in agreement when suddenly, a burst of rapid dog barking was heard in the yard, breaking the silence in the room.

Chen Yijun frowned slightly, looked at Zhong Yuemin, and asked, "Yuemin, did you close the door? Why is the dog barking so loudly?"

Zhong Yuemin was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, put down the chopsticks in his hand, stood up and said, "No, I'll go out and take a look." After that, he walked quickly to the door, muttering to himself, who is so anxious to come to my house so early in the morning?

When he arrived at the gate, he saw two loyal guards - the family dogs, baring their teeth and barking at the person on the threshold, as if they wanted to eat him alive.

Li Wenbo, who was standing on the threshold, was obviously frightened by the sudden situation. He hunched his body with one foot out of the threshold, ready to retreat at any time, his face full of fear and embarrassment.

"Haha... Wenbo, are you blocked by my dogs at the door?" Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin couldn't help laughing out loud, and hurriedly stepped forward to drive the dogs away and rescue Li Wenbo.

Li Wenbo finally breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and said with lingering fear, "Mr. Zhong, your dog is too fierce. I almost thought I would die here today." There was a hint of self-mockery in his tone, but he could not hide his fear.

Ning Wei followed him out without knowing when. Seeing this, he couldn't help laughing. He patted Li Wenbo on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Wenbo, you are too timid. A few dogs scared you like this? How can you join us in the future?"

"Okay, come in quickly."

Li Wenbo stepped into the house, taking every step with extreme caution, as if he was walking in the corridor of history.

Every piece of furniture, every painting and calligraphy, and every piece of porcelain in the house exudes the breath of time. Although he cannot distinguish their authenticity one by one, their simplicity and elegance make him involuntarily feel awe.

Li Wenbo took the teacup handed to him by Zhong Yuemin, and gently stroked the warm surface of the purple clay with his fingertips. He was secretly amazed in his heart that even the teacup was so exquisite.

Therefore, Li Wenbo placed the teacup more carefully, fearing that any carelessness would ruin this beauty.

"Mr. Zhong, you asked me to come here because there is something important that needs my attention?" Li Wenbo finally spoke, breaking the silence in the room.

Zhong Yuemin smiled slightly, his eyes revealing his trust and expectations for Li Wenbo. "It's about an investment in computers. I think this project is very promising, so I want you to go and discuss it. You can make your own judgment on how to discuss it. I believe in your ability."

Li Wenbo felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this, and at the same time he felt a heavy responsibility. He nodded solemnly. "Mr. Zhong, I understand. I will do my best."

At this moment, Zhong Yuemin turned around and called Ning Wei. "Ning Wei, please help Li Wenbo arrange for him to stay in Gao Songshan's hotel so that he can handle his work more conveniently."

However, Li Wenbo quickly waved his hand and interrupted Zhong Yuemin's arrangement. "Mr. Zhong, you don't have to worry about the accommodation issue. I can solve it myself. I don't want to cause you too much trouble."

Zhong Yuemin was stunned for a moment, then he laughed, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Okay, since you insist, I won't force you. But if you need any help, just let me know."

"Okay Mr. Zhong."

Zhong Yuemin said to Ning Wei in a gentler tone, "Ning Wei, take Li Wenbo to see Liu Lianxiang. He has some matters that need your communication. At the same time, you are also responsible for taking Li Wenbo around the capital, so that he can truly feel the charm of our ancient capital, which is not only prosperous on the surface, but also has a profound cultural heritage."

Li Wenbo was a little disapproving when he heard this, but on the surface he still showed due courtesy and gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Zhong. I will cherish this opportunity, not only for work, but also to get to know this city more deeply. Then I will go with Ning Wei to do business first."

After saying that, Li Wenbo stood up, bowed slightly to Zhong Yuemin, and then followed Ning Wei out of the living room.

Walking out of the yard, Li Wenbo couldn't help but look back at the house full of ancient atmosphere, thinking to himself: Perhaps, I should really put aside my prejudices, experience every corner of this city with my heart, and feel the unique charm of a great country.

Ning Wei saw this and smiled slightly, as if he saw through Li Wenbo's thoughts. "Li Wenbo, Beijing is not just what you imagined. It has a thousand years of history. Every street and every building has a story. Come on, I will take you to experience the real Beijing."

So, the two embarked on a journey to explore Beijing. From the bustling Wangfujing to the quiet Hutong, from the solemn Forbidden City to the quaint Summer Palace, Li Wenbo was gradually conquered by the charm of this city. He began to realize that his previous view of Beijing might be too one-sided and superficial. Here, he felt the weight of history, the depth of culture, and the enthusiasm and tolerance of the people.

At the dinner table in the evening, as the topic deepened, the family's discussion gradually became heated. Chen Yijun was the first to sigh, "The prices are rising so fast now, it feels like money is not worth spending."

Zhou Xiaobai took over the conversation, frowned slightly, and counted the price changes in daily life. "Yes, pork elbow has risen to 1.3 yuan per pound, and eggs are not cheap either, they cost 1.2 yuan per pound. It's only been a few days, and the price has risen so much, it's really scary."

Zhong Yuemin was calm when he heard this. He put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "Oh, don't be so pessimistic. The rising prices show that our economy is active and commodities are naturally adjusted according to supply and demand, and the market prices are set by themselves. This is a good thing. It doesn't mean that we can't afford it, right?"

Zhou Xiaobai rolled her eyes after hearing this. She is now a cadre, and not young at all. She naturally has her own opinions on this issue. "You say this lightly, but you are a teacher in the economics department, so you still understand this basic knowledge. Rising prices, on the surface, indicate economic activity, but in fact, they reflect the relative scarcity of material wealth and insufficient labor productivity. We cannot only look at the nominal price, but also measure it by the number of hours of work exchanged for the same amount of products, so as to more accurately reflect the true situation of the economy."

"If you look for the People's Daily's "Provisional Regulations on Further Expanding the Autonomy of State-owned Industrial Enterprises" in May, you will understand that the main content is to divide production into planned and unplanned parts. In other words, the price is divided into a part allocated by the central government and a part purchased freely."

The things involved are very complicated, and Zhong Yuemin cannot explain it clearly in just a few words. In fact, this is the prototype of the dual-track pricing system. Products within the plan are subject to prices approved by the state, while prices of products outside the plan are determined by market supply and demand. This is the "dual-track" pricing system, but the state has not completely relaxed its control over prices outside the plan, and it is not a complete dual-track system.

In 1985, the state announced the abolition of price controls on non-planned means of production, which was a true dual-track pricing system.

Zhou Xiaobai said to Zhong Yuemin with a bit of coquettishness and dissatisfaction, "Yuemin, every time you talk about economics, you talk endlessly, as if you are the only one in the world who knows the most. No wonder everyone calls you 'Zhong Youli'. It's really boring to talk to you."

Zhou Xiaobai's words revealed some dissatisfaction with Zhong Yuemin's overly serious and preachy attitude, and he felt that he sometimes seemed too old-fashioned.

Hearing this, Zhong Yuemin laughed even more happily. He patted Zhou Xiaobai on the back and said softly, "Wife, let's be reasonable. I am just discussing the matter based on facts. Don't be angry. You won't be beautiful if you are angry."

Seeing his expression, Zhou Xiaobai was both angry and amused, so he simply stood up, pretended to be angry and turned away. Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin hurriedly chased after him, muttering, "Wife, wait for me, let's talk it out."

This scene made Chen Yijun, who was standing by, couldn't help laughing out loud. She shook her head, secretly sighing that the way this young couple got along was so warm and interesting.

Xiao Haichen was on the side, shouting, "Zhong Youli, you are at a loss now, right?" Zhong Yuemin gave him a fake fierce look and warned him, "Stinky boy, stop making trouble!"

After Zhong Yuemin caught up with Zhou Xiaobai, he pulled her into his arms. "Wife, I have something even more powerful. Do you want to try it?"

The two began to laugh and joke around. Although Zhou Xiaobai said "I hate you", his face was filled with a happy smile.

Zhou Xiaobai secretly glanced at the mother and children in the living room, fearing that their quarreling would be heard, so he whispered, "You want to die? It would be so embarrassing if mom and the children heard it."

Hearing this, Zhong Yuemin smiled even more proudly. He knew that although Zhou Xiaobai said this, he actually enjoyed this feeling of intimacy in his heart.

So, Zhong Yuemin hugged Zhou Xiaobai even tighter, as if he wanted to melt all her worries and dissatisfaction in this warm embrace.

The early morning sun shone on the quiet alley. Zhong Yuemin walked out of the house leisurely, preparing to go to Li Hongxia's pancake stall.

When passing by the breakfast stall at the door, a familiar and tempting aroma of fried dough sticks wafted into his nose. He naturally stopped and bought a few hot fried dough sticks to enjoy for breakfast.

At the entrance of the alley, Zhong Yuemin noticed some new changes. In the previously empty corner, there are now many farmers pushing bicycles loaded with various goods. Most of them come from nearby suburbs, with simple smiles on their faces, and use their hardworking hands to bring fresh agricultural products and handicrafts to the city residents.

However, behind such scenes, lies the harshness and helplessness of the household registration system in big cities. Cities, a place full of opportunities and challenges, are like an insurmountable wall for outsiders who do not have a stable job in the city. The harsh household registration system is like an invisible net that completely deprives most people of the possibility of living in big cities for a long time.

The lives of temporary workers such as nannies and bricklayers who come to the city to make a living are full of uncertainty and hardship. Not only do they have to face heavy work, but they also have to be on guard against inspections from management departments. Once they are found to have no legal proof of residence and work, they will be sent to the detention and repatriation station by car and face the fate of being deported back to their hometown.