Siheyuan: Bringing Warehouses to 1959

Before we knew it, it was already past three o'clock and everyone was really hungry, so we decided to go check out the bicycles and then go eat.

Bicycles can only be looked at, unlike watches. Even now, there are families who tighten their belts to buy them because they are useful once they are bought.

The retail price of a Phoenix 28-inch light bicycle is 158 yuan, and the Forever 42 light bicycle for women is 263 yuan...

For now I can only look at it. It will take two months before I can buy it. I will decide after I start working.

Zeng Wangcai himself didn't have any needs, but he was planning to equip his family with one, and then one for Zhang Xiuzhi, and one for the Tiger and Leopard brothers, so that it would be convenient for them to do work.

After seeing the bicycles, we went to eat. Zeng Wangcai originally planned to take the three of them to eat at the famous Donglaishun in Beijing. However, he did not expect that after the public-private partnership, Donglaishun changed its name to "National Restaurant". Not only was the price high, but the food was also unpalatable. And if you want to eat good mutton, it is best to eat in autumn.

So despite the three people's opposition, the four of them randomly found a restaurant. Zeng Wangcai and Zhang Xiuzhi each ate a bowl of noodles, while the two brothers Hu and Bao each had two bowls to barely fill their stomachs.

After dinner, before the four of them took their spoils to look for Zeng You, Zhang Xiuzhi, in addition to buying cloth, also brought some gifts for the family, mainly food, not much but valuable for the thought. She also brought headbands for Zeng Jinhuan and her three sisters.

We soon arrived at Zeng Youqian's tailor shop. This private shop turned into a state-owned store and it was still as antique as before.

The sign on the lintel was changed from Zengji Tailor Shop to State-Owned Tailor Shop. On the left hand side after entering the door are the counter and back cabinet. Compared with Wangfujing, it is smaller in scale and has less fabrics. There is a woman in her forties standing behind the counter. On the right hand side is a desk with a sewing table next to it.

The tailor shop is not big, but there are six people working there. Zeng Youqian is the only master tailor, responsible for two apprentices, both of whom are about 17 or 18 years old.

"Auntie Mei!" Zeng Wangcai greeted the woman standing at the counter as he entered the room.

Zhang Chunmei, an employee of the tailor shop, has a much lower salary than Zeng Youqian. There are two other people who are in management, but are affiliated with the shop and are generally not there.

There are now six people crammed into this small tailor shop. When Zeng Youqian was in charge of it, there were only two people. There is a world of difference.

"Wangcai is here. Is this your wife?" Zhang Chunmei looked at Zhang Xiuzhi with a smile.

"Uh..." Zeng Wangcai said with a cheeky smile, "Not yet!"

"Haha, Xiao Wangcai seems to like her. Aunt Mei will be attending your wedding soon. Master Zeng, remember to invite me. It's such a blessing. This girl is so pretty."

"Haha, of course, of course!" Zeng Youqian, who was busy making clothes, responded without looking up.

Zhang Xiuzhi glanced at Zeng Wangcai and became angry when she saw his smiling face. She felt that she had fallen into a trap.

"Wangcai, take Xiuzhi and the others to rest for a while, and go next door to buy them some soda and popsicles. I'll be done here in a moment." Zeng Youqian kept talking while pedaling the sewing machine so fast.

Zeng Youqian took out cigarettes and gave them to his father's two apprentices. When the two saw the filter cigarettes, they took them flattered but did not dare to smoke.

The relationship between today's apprentices and masters is a little worse than that between father and son, but these two are the kind who have just been arranged to become apprentices and are not familiar with Zeng Wangcai.

Zeng Wangcai went out to buy popsicles and soda, and did not forget to bring one for Zhang Chunmei.

Zeng Youqian is a low-key and calm person in the system, he does not fight or compete, otherwise he would not have lost his master's shop. This incident has always been a regret for Zeng Youqian, and he has been thinking about getting the shop back one day.

Zeng Wangcai knew that this was actually not difficult. The shop was supported entirely by his father. If it weren’t for his father’s good craftsmanship, the shop wouldn’t have been able to pay the wages during the public-private partnership.

Therefore, when the policy was liberalized in the 1970s and 1980s, it was not difficult for Xu Huizhen from Daqianmen to take back the shop by first contracting it and then buying it out.

"It's done. Xiuzhi, Xiaohu and Xiaobao, come and take a look." Zeng Youqian stopped what he was doing and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Xiaohu and Xiaobao, you try it out here. Xiuzhi, go to the back. There's a room there. Try this outfit on and see if it fits."

In one day, the old tailor made three short-sleeved shirts and a pair of trousers, with extremely high efficiency.

Two of the short-sleeved shirts were for Zeng Hu and Zeng Bao, and the other one was for Zhang Xiuzhi.

The Tiger and Leopard brothers took the white short-sleeved shirt without hesitation, took off their shirts and tried them on, saying at the same time, "Thank you, uncle!"

"Thanks for nothing. You guys must have the ability to get the cloth coupons. Otherwise, even if your uncle has the skills, he wouldn't have any cloth to give you." Zeng Youqian laughed and scolded without taking credit.

Zhang Xiuzhi was holding a white cotton short-sleeved shirt and blue trousers. Her eyes were red and her nose was sour. This outfit was exactly the same as what the city people wore, without any patches, and it was even better than what the city people wore.

Although the current family tradition is that the eldest child gets new clothes and the second child gets old ones, she has not worn new clothes since her biological mother passed away and her stepmother came into the family. All her clothes were made by modifying her younger brothers' clothes when they were no longer worn.

Now, Zhang Xiuzhi once again felt the warmth in a home that was no longer her own.

"Okay, Xiuzhi, let Aunt Mei take you to try on clothes." Zeng Youqian said sympathetically after noticing Zhang Xiuzhi's strange behavior, "This is what you earned. Without you and Wangcai going fishing, I can't do anything even if I am the Weaver Girl descended to earth."

"Thank you, uncle!" Zhang Xiuzhi held her clothes, bowed deeply, and then ran to the back.

"Master Zeng, you have picked up a treasure. You can tell at a glance that this child is capable and grateful." Zhang Chunmei praised him and followed him in.

Zhang Xiuzhi knew very well that she had not actually contributed much to fishing, and the money for making clothes was secondary, while the tailor was the most important. In the past, when her family hired a tailor, in addition to paying the tailor money, they also had to treat him to good food and drink.

While Zhang Xiuzhi was changing clothes, Zeng Wangcai took out the watch he bought and said, "Dad, look!"

"Watch? Are you crazy? When did you buy a watch? You can't eat or drink with this thing..." Zeng Youqian was unhappy and got angry, and scolded his son.

Zeng Wangcai was embarrassed: "I bought it for you. You always wanted to have a watch, right? Try it."

"It doesn't matter who you buy it for!" Zeng Youqian continued to lecture.

"Xiuji bought it for you!"

"Uh... Really?" Zeng Youqian took the watch and put it on his hand. "You divided the money, and Xiuzhi bought me a watch? Are you ashamed? You let Xiuzhi spend money, and then remember to return the money. If you don't have money, go home and ask your mother for it..."

At this time, Zhang Xiuzhi came out wearing a brand new set of clothes, with her head lowered. Zhang Chunmei beside her kept pulling the corner of her clothes.

"It fits perfectly. It fits perfectly. Master Zeng's eyes are like a ruler. He can tell without measuring... Hey, Master Zeng, where did you get the watch?"

“Hahaha, ah haha!” At this moment, Zeng Youqian couldn’t hold back his inner agitation. He shook his left hand with a smile on his face. “My daughter-in-law... uh, Xiuzhi bought it for me. Didn’t they make some money from fishing yesterday? They went to the department store today and bought me a watch. I was wondering why she bought this? It can’t be eaten or drunk…”

Haha, hypocrisy...

Zeng Wangcai looked down on his father. The next second, he met Zhang Xiuzhi's watery eyes and panicked...