Siheyuan: I just want to live

Time flies, and it's the weekend in the blink of an eye.

This weekend was a little special for Chen Feng because the transaction between him and Hou Debang was completed smoothly.

This transaction not only allowed Chen Feng to sell more eggs, but also earned him more than 2,000 yuan.

Considering that Hou Debang had to drive to deliver the eggs, Chen Feng was worried that the bumpy road would cause the eggs to crack. He was also very considerate and filled the box containing the eggs with a lot of sawdust and corn straw powder to ensure that the eggs could arrive safely at the steel mill.

After Hou Debang left, Chen Feng entered the space and his eyes fell on the pile of money. Although the money was not very convenient to use now, he still felt very happy.

After all, this is the result of his hard work and a guarantee for his life.

For the next two days, Chen Feng stayed in the yard outside the city and hardly left the house. It was not until Monday that he returned to work at the scrap yard.

From that day on, Chen Feng's life returned to the way it was before. He would slack off at work every day and become energetic after get off work. This continued until after New Year's Day, when a person's arrival changed his life.

On January 1960, 1, the first working day after New Year's Day, Chen Feng arrived at the scrap yard early.

This winter was unusually dry. Although it was already the coldest time of the year, there had only been a few snowfalls, and each time it was only a thin layer that melted quickly. The weather in the city was unusually cold, and people felt the chill to the bone.

After arriving at the scrapyard, Chen Feng immediately got busy. He first lit the stove, added enough coal, and made sure the room was warm enough. Then, he started his daily life as usual.

At about ten o'clock, Director Wang from the Street Office came to the scrap yard pulling a cart.

Director Wang pulled the cart to the entrance of the scrap yard and stopped in front of the message room. She knocked on the window gently and shouted to Chen Feng who was reading a book inside: "Chen Feng! I'm here to return your cart!"

When Chen Feng heard the voice, he looked up and out the window, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He quickly put down the book in his hand, stood up and spoke.

"Oh! Aunt Wang! Why did you personally deliver it to me? Didn't I tell you before that you could notify me when you were done with it, and I could go and get it myself! This cart is so heavy, what if you get tired?"

After saying that, he quickly ran outside.

Director Wang looked at Chen Feng's nervous expression and explained with a smile.

"It's okay, kid. This car isn't that heavy now! Didn't you say last time that you couldn't find a suitable wheel? So I found an old one for you in the street office's warehouse and replaced it for you. And, I also put the license plate on for you!"

Chen Feng then looked at the cart, and saw that the wooden wheels were gone, replaced by two wheels made of steel and rubber. They looked sturdy and durable, and rolled very smoothly without any noise.

Chen Feng looked at the wheel and couldn't help feeling happy. He knew that such a wheel could greatly reduce his burden when pulling goods and improve his efficiency.

He immediately took out a wad of money from his pocket and said, "Auntie Wang, how much is this wheel? I'll give it to you right away."

When Director Wang saw Chen Feng taking out the money, he immediately stopped Chen Feng and said, "Chen Feng, you don't have to pay. You asked us to deliver so much meat to the families of military martyrs. This spare wheel is a reward from the street office."

She believes that Chen Feng's behavior deserves praise and should be given certain rewards.

When Chen Feng heard what Director Wang said, he immediately shook his head and said, "I volunteered to deliver the meat. If it was voluntary, how can I ask for a reward? I must be paid!"

He felt that he was not giving meat to the families of military martyrs for any reward, but out of respect and gratitude for them, so he insisted on paying and was unwilling to accept any form of reward.

When Director Wang saw that Chen Feng insisted on paying, she changed the subject and said, "Hey, Xiaofeng, I came to you today mainly to introduce you to someone. If you still insist on paying, then I'll leave!"

When Chen Feng heard that she was introducing him to a girl, he immediately stopped talking about giving money and asked excitedly, "Auntie Wang, is this true? Do you have a suitable girl?"

Director Wang looked at the anxious Chen Feng, she smiled helplessly, and then said: "You, you are almost obsessed with your wife."

Chen Feng didn't care about what Director Wang said. He chuckled and said, "Director, I'm old enough now, right? It's time to find a wife."

Director Wang did not say much about Chen Feng's explanation, but asked: "Would you like me to take you to your hospital after get off work, or would you like to go with me to see the girl?"

After hearing this, Chen Feng quickly said, "Aunt Wang, of course I want to meet that girl first."

Chen Feng immediately said, "Auntie Wang, please wait for me in the reception room first. I'll ask for leave and then go with you!"

After saying that, Chen Feng welcomed Director Wang into the communication room, pulled the cart aside, and then ran towards Li Guotao's office like a gust of wind.

Director Wang sat on a chair in the communication room, looking at Chen Feng running away, and smiled helplessly.

Chen Feng didn't even knock on the office door, but barged in directly, which frightened Li Guotao, who was writing behind the desk. Li Guotao subconsciously reached for his waist, but when he saw that it was Chen Feng, he breathed a sigh of relief.

When he saw it was Chen Feng, Li Guotao put his hand back which was originally about to touch his lower back, and then, without waiting for Chen Feng to speak, Li Guotao took the lead in asking.

"Chen Feng, why don't you just stay in the message room? Why did you rashly come here to me?" Li Guotao asked Chen Feng in a helpless tone.

But Chen Feng seemed not to notice, and said excitedly: "Stationmaster, I want to ask for leave!"

Li Guotao was speechless and thought: "This guy made such a big fuss just to ask for leave. Only Chen Feng can do this, right?"

But he didn't care too much, after all, Chen Feng has always been like this. So, Li Guotao nodded,

"Okay, I approve it. Do you have anything else to say?"

Chen Feng shook his head and said, "No more."

Li Guotao pointed at the door and said, "Since there is nothing left, just go out! Remember to close the door when you go out!"

Chen Feng heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this, knowing that his request had been approved. He smiled, looked at Li Guotao gratefully, then turned around and left the office.

When he reached the door, he closed it and gently shut it. With the sound of the door closing, the whole office returned to silence.

After leaving the office, Chen Feng returned to the reception room and said to Director Wang who was sitting on the chair, "Auntie Wang, I have already asked for leave. I'll put on my coat and we'll go!"

Director Wang looked at Chen Feng and said with a smile, "Okay, you put on your coat!"

Then Chen Feng put on his coat, carried his schoolbag, and rode his bicycle with Director Wang in the direction Director Wang pointed.

Soon Chen Feng brought Director Wang to the gate of a yard, which was a relief station set up by the street office.

As winter came, the weather became colder and colder, and more refugees came to Sijiu City. Most of these refugees came from northern provinces. They had to leave their homes because of disasters in their hometowns, seeking better living conditions and opportunities.

Many of these refugees are young people, as well as the elderly, women and children, who all hope to have something to eat to get through the winter.

However, the reality is often more cruel than imagined. Due to lack of skills and experience, it is difficult for them to find suitable jobs and they can only survive in the corners of the city.

Every street in the old city has a certain number of resettlement quotas, and the people here are the ones who need to be resettled in Nanluoguxiang.

After Chen Feng parked his bicycle in the designated spot, Director Wang said to him, "Chen Feng, please wait here for a moment. I will go and get the person out right away. You can take a good look at him."

Chen Feng followed Director Wang's arrangements very obediently. Since Director Wang asked him to wait, he stood there obediently, waiting patiently for Director Wang to bring the girl out.

After a while, Director Wang came out with a thin girl who was about 1.7 meters tall. The girl was dressed simply, had a pretty face, and a look of determination in her eyes.

Chen Feng's eyes were immediately attracted, and he thought to himself: "This girl is so beautiful, but why does she look a little young?"

Director Wang looked at Chen Feng and said with a smile: "Xiao Feng, this is the girl I want to introduce to you. Her name is Jin Ling. Jin Ling, this is Chen Feng."

Jin Ling smiled and nodded to Chen Feng. Chen Feng walked forward nervously and stretched out his hand, "Hello, my name is Chen Feng, nice to meet you."

Jin Ling also stretched out her hand and shook hands with Chen Feng, "Hello, I'm glad to meet you too."

After a brief greeting, Director Wang suggested that the two chat alone and get to know each other. Chen Feng and Jin Ling found a quiet place to sit at the gate of the yard.

Through chatting, Chen Feng learned that Jin Ling was from Zhangjiakou and came to Sijiucheng with her brother to escape famine. Everyone in her hometown was gone, leaving only herself and her brother.

As the conversation deepened, Chen Feng also learned that Jin Ling was only seventeen years old this year, and her younger brother was eight years old and in the second grade of elementary school. Because of the natural disaster, his studies were interrupted.

No wonder Chen Feng looked so young, it turned out that she was not yet an adult! Is this right?

When Chen Feng asked about her background, Jin Ling said hesitantly that her family was rich peasants.

When Chen Feng heard that Jin Ling's family background was rich peasants, he was also a little surprised.