Siheyuan: Bringing Warehouses to 1959

Yan Bugui persuaded Yi Zhonghai to convene a meeting.

There was actually only one main purpose of the meeting, which was to maintain the status quo in the yard.

There are only a few families in the yard who do not have temporary buildings, such as Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu, the former Liu Haizhong, etc., including the Zeng family.

Other people's temporary construction is a bit exaggerated, occupying too much public area in the yard and even encroaching on neighbors' land.

For example, the temporary construction of Yan Bugui’s eldest brother and the temporary construction of Yan Bugui.

If Zeng Wangcai's family builds any more temporary structures, the yard will no longer look good.

So these people planned to hold a meeting and talk to Zeng Wangcai together, saying don’t build it, because your family is not short of money and place to live anyway.

Zeng Wangcai doesn’t know this, nor does he want to know this. Since people have different thoughts, their plans are naturally different.

"Dad, I'm hungry. Let's buy some buns." When passing by the state-owned restaurant at the entrance of the alley, the eldest son shouted that he wanted to have breakfast.

"We won't eat here. Today, Dad will take you to experience the specialties of Sijiu City." Zeng Wangcai touched his son's head, "Bean juice, fried dough rings, stewed pork... There is a very authentic one in Pigeon Market."

"Oh, let's drink soy milk." The boss, who had heard about the specialties of Sijiu City a long time ago, was very happy.

The second child hesitated and said, "Dad, I asked Mom to buy some for us, but she wouldn't let me. She said we wouldn't be used to it and it would be a waste."

“Hehe…” Zeng Wangcai smiled awkwardly.

To be honest, fried dough sticks and stewed pork are okay, but he can't get used to soy milk.

However, I haven't eaten it for many years, so it is necessary to take my son to experience it and let him understand the culture of his hometown.

The father and his two sons did not drive or take a car. They walked towards the steel mill like the locals.

There are more than one place like Pigeon City in the old city. Zeng Wangcai remembers that there is a small Pigeon City behind the steel rolling mill, next to the staff dormitory area of ​​the steel rolling mill.

However, this place is still called Pigeon City, but its function has long ceased to exist.

Moreover, after so many years of ups and downs, the changes in the pigeon market are estimated to be even greater.

Zeng Wangcai planned to go to Wangfujing to buy New Year's goods after visiting the Pigeon Market. Although he had everything in his space, there was nothing about the era.

He thinks it is very necessary to take children to experience buying New Year's goods, feeling the New Year atmosphere, and setting off firecrackers.

"Wow, Dad, it's so lively here." The twin brothers followed Zeng Wangcai into the Pigeon City and were delighted by the popularity here.

"It's good to be lively, as long as you like it!" Zeng Wangcai said as he looked at the alley which was much more lively than before.

The Pigeon City is still the Pigeon City, but its days are numbered.

In previous years, there were fewer people who dared to take risks for a living, and no one dared to come to the Pigeon Market.

The market is so lively today because the weather is fine.

"Dad, what is that?" The eldest child saw a man standing under the eaves holding a stick. One end of the stick was stuck with grass, and on the grass were bunches of bright red fruits.

Candied haws!

I saw the candied haws as soon as I arrived. I was lucky.

"Uncle, how much are the candied haws?" Zeng Wangcai asked.

"Two cents a string, one dollar for six strings." The old man selling candied haws answered with his hands tucked into his tattered sleeves.

Judging from his appearance, his life must not be that good, otherwise he wouldn't have the courage to make and sell candied haws.

Two cents a string, it’s too cheap for Zeng Wangcai.

He remembered that more than ten years ago, candied haws cost only three or five cents a string. Now, more than ten years have passed, the price has increased four or five times, but the wages of ordinary people have not moved.

"Give me four skewers!" Zeng Wangcai took out a dollar and handed it over.

"Hey hey hey..." The old man was so happy that he opened the business.

He felt in his pocket and took out a torn newspaper wrapper and opened it layer by layer. Inside were yellow one-cent and green two-cent bills, not a single one-cent note.

The old man counted and counted the money again and again, and all the money added up to only 16 cents, less than 20 cents.

"Young man, do you want to take two more strings?" The old man said awkwardly but expectantly, "If not, take three strings. I won't give you enough money. If you don't want it, wait for me for a while and I'll break it open."

It's pitiful. As the richest man in the country, he has to watch an old man struggling over a few cents.

"Forget it!" Zeng Wangcai took out four strings of candied haws, "Don't look for them anymore. You can give them to us next time we meet. We can't eat more. Let's go, sir."

The old man knew that he had met a kind-hearted person, so he took the money, bowed to Zeng Wangcai and said thank you.

Zeng Wangcai was almost furious. They were the most hard-working and patient people, so why couldn't their lives get better?

"Dad, the candied haws are sour and sweet, so delicious!"

"Dad, let's buy some more and bring it back for my sister."

"You guys have some conscience and still care about your sister." Zeng Wangcai looked back at the old man and shook his head, "Let's talk about it later. There will be more for sale later."

There are too many people like you. It's useless to help them one by one.

Maybe because it’s the New Year and the weather has just cleared up, the district has turned a blind eye and more and more people are coming to the market, making it a bit like a temple fair.

Zeng Wangcai took his son along the way and looked around, and bought all the small toys such as sugar figures that he liked.

Before they had even finished walking down the street, the two boys' hands and pockets were full of gadgets.

"Dad, restaurant, I'm hungry!" The eldest son had sharp eyes and saw steam coming out of a shop not far ahead.

"Do you two really want to drink soy milk?" Zeng Wangcai asked with a smile.

"Drink, you must drink!"

"Okay, let's go!"

The father and his two sons walked into the restaurant and sat down at a table. Zeng Wangcai ordered: "Three bowls of bean juice, six fried dough sticks, and three servings of stewed pork..."

Two tables next to them, three people were sitting and eating.

One of them heard Zeng Wangcai's greeting, turned his head and recognized Zeng Wangcai. He said to the other two in shock, "Fifth brother, Seventh brother, look, it's Zeng Wangcai."

"Who?" The other two turned around.

These three people are old acquaintances of Zeng Wangcai. They were the Fifth Master, Seventh Brother and Cao Datong who helped Zeng Wangcai sell wine in Pigeon City.

Speaking of these three people, they were once very powerful, especially the Fifth Master, who was in charge of the entire pigeon market and had both a house and fields at home.

But the three of them are in trouble now and are doing badly. The fifth master was fired from the textile factory and lost his job. The seventh master and Cao Datong never had jobs in the first place.

Under such circumstances, their former younger brothers dispersed, and the three of them could barely fill their stomachs together.

The three of them earned a little money yesterday, so today they couldn't wait to have a meal of braised pork to satisfy their cravings.

"It's really him!" said the now-faded Fifth Master after recognizing Zeng Wangcai. "I heard he ran away a few years ago. Is he back? He seems to be doing well. Look at what they are wearing."

"I don't envy his clothes, I just covet the wine he drank at that time." Lao Qi sipped his saliva and said, "I haven't had such good wine in all these years."

He could not live without wine for three meals a day, but now he can't afford it, so he drinks Sanlouzi instead. Look, he didn't order soy milk in the morning, but ordered two taels of Sanlouzi.

"I'll go over and say hello..." Cao Datong recalled that Zeng Wangcai had always been very polite and righteous, so he stood up and walked over.