Siheyuan: If you ruin the reputation of the whole courtyard, I will move out

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "This incident is not just caused by you. You are the backbone of the family and play the role of a parent. While I am watching you grow up, you are also at the stage of being a big child who needs guidance and protection."

He Yuzhu was deeply touched, and looking at Zhang Yu, sadness welled up in his heart. Hearing Zhang Yu's sympathy and understanding, He Yushui felt even more heavy-hearted, and felt the suffering that his brother had silently endured over the years.

She said guiltily: "Brother, I'm sorry. It's always been me who asked you to share the burden."

"Silly sister, there's no need to be so polite, because we are family. You are my only blood relative, He Yuzhu, and I will always be your support."

"I sent you to school because I was afraid that you would have a hard life and study hard, and I just wanted you to have a better future. For our family, the kitchen is our root. I hope you can escape from the farming life and become a student with higher education."

The two smiled at each other, and He Yuzhu raised his glass to Zhang Yu gratefully: "Zhang Yu, I toast you."

They clinked their glasses together and drank. After the wine went down their throats, He Yuzhu continued, "Zhang Yu, I want to tell you the truth. I hope you can manage your family affairs well. No matter how many changes have happened in the past, this feeling will never change."

Then he half-jokingly said, "Is it because you think my sister He Yudi is not gentle and sweet enough?"

This remark made He Yushui's face slightly red, and she shyly glanced at Zhang Yu secretly.

After putting down the cup, Henry Zhang explained calmly: “Please don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I look down on her, but when I mentioned Ms. Qin, the image of Mrs. Qin suddenly appeared in my mind.”

Hearing this, He Yuzhu was a little surprised: "The Qin Huairu you mentioned makes people worried, isn't it..."

"Misunderstood," Zhang Yu quickly clarified, "I didn't mean it that complicated. I was thinking about the rumors about you in the factory."

He Yuzhu asked in confusion, "Why is there such gossip in the factory? Who is gossiping about this?"

"In fact, those rumors have already spread throughout the factory." Zhang Yu explained, "Everyone is saying that the relationship between you two is unusual. Some people even privately speculate that you are a secret couple."

"Nonsense!" He Yuzhu stood up indignantly, and the chair was overturned with the shaking. "Who has nothing better to do than to make up such a lie? Could it be that little bastard Xu Damao who is behind this?"

"The rumor was not spread by Brother Xu, but by someone who had bad intentions, which damaged your reputation."

Hearing this, He Yuzhu was shocked and also realized the potential impact on Yu Shui, especially since she was unmarried. These rumors would undoubtedly add many obstacles to her future marriage. He imagined the cold eyes and difficulties that Yu Shui might encounter in the marriage market.

At this moment, He Yuzhu felt deeply remorseful: "Yuzi, you must be sure of Yu Shui's innocence. She is a good girl, and nothing in the past should affect people's judgment of her. She is pure and flawless." He held Zhang Yu's arm tightly, his excitement beyond words.

He Yushui's tearful face made He Yuzhu's heart burn with anger. He even slapped himself hard to express his guilt.

After finishing the meal, Zhang Yu said goodbye to the He family and returned to the bedroom, thinking about how to communicate with Yu Shui thoroughly and eliminate the misunderstanding between them. Tonight was obviously not a good time to talk about such things, and He Yuzhu urged Zhang Yu to go home and rest.

After returning home, Zhang Yu took a short rest, put on a thick coat and a hat, covered his face, and quietly walked into the pigeon market. This business only becomes lively at night, and it is basically deserted during the day. At this time, many traders have gathered.

At first, Zhang Yu just looked around casually, hoping to find something valuable. The transactions here are often centered around grain or ration coupons, and meat transactions are particularly rare. The high price of old hens is partly due to the lack of competition in this market environment.

Zhang Yu walked around for a while but didn't find what he wanted, so he decided to leave for now, maybe he'd get more in a few days. Just as he was about to pass a small stall, he stopped.

Seeing a customer coming, the vendor hurried forward to greet him: "Hey, big brother, what can I do for you? Our shop has a wide variety of goods." The boss was about forty years old and dressed simply, but the goods on his stall were unique, including ancient rosewood beads and canned stamps from the World War II era.

The can was a relic of World War I, only one can remained, and it might have expired long ago. The old red sandalwood beads, eroded by time, shone with a unique luster after long-term friction. A stamp caught his attention, it was a treasure left over from the old dynasty, and was well preserved.

If the guess is right, it will probably be a real dragon stamp. If confirmed, such a treasure will be extremely valuable in many years, enough to exchange for a property in the city. He asked, "How much does this can sell for?"

Although he knew the market conditions, Zhang Yu did not show much interest in the product in order to avoid being overpriced. "This is indeed very unique," he hinted in a joking tone while observing the vendor's reaction.

"This brother has really good taste. These are precious foods obtained from the battlefield. They are so delicious that you will never forget them." She explained enthusiastically, seemingly intent on selling.

"Is this really true? Are you kidding me?" Zhang Yu asked, pretending to be ignorant.

"When it comes to business, I always adhere to integrity and never do business at a loss. I have a very good reputation here."

Zhang Yu had expected this, but he found it a little funny.

He reached out and touched the red sandalwood beads: "Did you say there are a lot of treasures?"

"These are old items. I hope someone can recognize their treasures." After hearing her say this, Zhang Yu put down the wooden beads, picked up the stamps and examined them, and then asked: "Is this something from after the founding of the People's Republic of China?"

"This is my grandfather's collection, stamps from the Guangxu period. They were not noticed during my grandfather's lifetime, and I only sorted them out recently. I just want to see if I can sell them for a good price."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu sneered: "What a treasure from the Guangxu period, it's useless now, just a pile of waste paper." Having said that, he had decided to leave.

"Brother, canned food is delicious and tastes better than meat. You should name a price!"

After thinking about it, Zhang Yu said: "Of the two, I would rather exchange it for ten kilograms of white flour."

Hearing this, Niu Meili was secretly delighted. In the pigeon market, perishable food was more scarce and precious than circulating hard currency. The food coupons that were originally worth three yuan each were now only worth half a catty of rice. If she was smart, she could raise the price. Twenty catties of white flour could be exchanged for about six yuan and forty cents, while a can of expired canned food was worth only one yuan at most. Therefore, she proposed: "The total value of all the goods added together may not be as much as the value of twenty catties of flour. Fifteen catties will be enough. If you really want to buy it, I can accept it."

When asked about the rosary and stamps that her grandfather treasured, Niu Meili immediately responded anxiously: "These are the apples of my grandfather's eye. They must be worth dozens of dollars at least."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "If they were really valuable, why didn't your grandfather exchange them for food?"

Then, Niu Meili grabbed Zhang Yu's hand and begged, "Brother, can you increase the price a little more?"

"It's okay if you don't want to. I'm interested in new things. Your rosary and stamps are of no use to me." Zhang Yu shook his head and refused.

She had no choice but: "Well, it's fate that we are closed today. Since you need it, then fifteen kilograms will be fine. It must be white flour!" Zhang Yu turned and walked out.

Niu Meili nodded in agreement and urged: "Hurry up, the family is waiting."

After leaving the market, Zhang Yu took out a total of 15 kilograms of white flour from a hidden place and returned to the original place. Niu Meili carefully inspected the flour and smelled it to ensure its authenticity. She smiled happily and said, "Brother, this seems to be new flour that has just been harvested!"

After packing up the shop, she handed everything over to Zhang Yu.

After taking the package, Zhang Yu put the white flour in his armpit and prepared to leave.

"Can the remaining flour be exchanged for cash? I also want to buy it with cash." It was Niu Meili who interrupted Zhang Yu again.

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and realized that he did have some flour in his storage room, so such a cash transaction would not cause him much trouble.

"How much are you willing to pay for one pound?" he asked.

"How about 25 cents?" Niu Meili thought for a moment and responded.

Zhang Yu said firmly: "I won't sell it for less than 30 cents." He insisted on this bottom line.

When Niu Meili heard the quotation, she was very excited, because it meant that she could make a little money from every pound of flour.

"How much do you have left now?" She couldn't wait to know the details.

"At least a hundred kilograms." Zhang Yu's answer made her full of expectations for this potential buyer.

Hearing this, Niu Meili said anxiously: "I'll take as much as you want, I can eat it all!"

Zhang Yu looked around and gestured with a finger.

The light in front of her was so exciting that she shouted excitedly, "Sell them to me at 1.5 cents a pound. Bring them over right away."

This white flour can bring Niu Meili several times more profit. Zhang Yu couldn't help but ask in his heart: "When can I get enough money to pay for it?"

"I can go home right away and come back to raise money within half an hour," Niu Meili immediately promised the time.

“Wait for me to pick up the flour at the foot of the east wall of the Pigeon Market in half an hour,” Zhang Yu confirmed the delivery location.

According to the agreed time, half an hour later, Niu Meili showed up at the old place with 300 yuan as promised. Zhang Yu handed over 100 bags of flour, each weighing 50 kilograms.

Looking at the huge amount of white flour, Niu Meili paid for it without hesitation and praised: "You deliver the goods really fast!"

After both parties completed the settlement, the cooperation seemed relaxed and pleasant. Zhang Yu left after checking that everything was correct, and Niu Meili also carefully checked the quality of the white flour.

Before leaving, Niu Meili suddenly reminded her: "If you have new goods, remember to find me. I live in Zhima Hutong. You can find me by saying my name."

After thinking about it, Zhang Yu suggested: "Do you need corn flour? I have a lot of it stored in the warehouse, but I don't eat much of it myself." Through this, he also hopes to further expand his sales scope.

"How much stock is left?" The anticipation in Niu Meili's eyes burned again.

Zhang Yu raised a finger, which represented a single amount.

Niu Meili became excited: "Take them all. Cornmeal is one yuan per pound. It would be great if you could buy more!"

Zhang Yu, who knows the market well, knows that cornmeal is usually sold at 9 cents per pound in the market, but it is twice as expensive in the pigeon market and is difficult to bargain for.

"I am willing to sell it to you at one and a half yuan per kilogram. This is the bottom line." He thinks this is a relatively fair price.

After a brief consideration, Niu Meili agreed to the deal.

Even though cornmeal is cheaper than flour, due to the huge demand, one ton can bring an extra profit of more than 40 yuan. Together with the white flour, she is expected to make a profit of more than 150 yuan.

However, Niu Meili needed some time to arrange: "Can you wait for me for an hour? I don't have enough money on hand, and I need my husband to help send the flour back."

"Then let's meet at the same time tomorrow. Don't forget to bring enough cash." Zhang Yu rescheduled the meeting time.

"If you have more supplies, please don't forget to come find me. I live in Zhima Hutong. Everyone will know me as long as they say my name."

Zhang Yu understood that their relationship was not yet stable enough, so it would be wiser to keep a proper distance.

When he entered the yard and saw that his uncle was about to lock the door, he shouted hurriedly and ran in quickly.

"Uncle San, don't lock the door right away," Zhang Yu said to the door, "Xiao Zhang, where are you going so late?" Uncle San outside the door asked back in confusion.

"I drank too much today, so I came out to get some fresh air and sober up." Zhang Yu made an excuse and immediately returned to his room to light the fire. He carefully sorted out the night's harvest, and sold twenty bags of white flour for a total of three hundred yuan in cash. The scattered small change was neatly stacked in three pockets. But the real valuables were the stamps tightly held in his hand.

Zhang Yu's estimate was correct. It was a local stamp from the 70s, a set of rare treasures issued by the customs in limited quantities to promote postal services. There were only three of them issued in total, and even if they were auctioned separately, they would be worth more than million yuan today. Since it is a single version and cannot form a complete series, its current value is slightly lower than the complete version, but it is also possible to appreciate to millions in the next few years.

This tiny stamp is far less valuable than waste paper in modern society. Who could have imagined that its price would skyrocket like an arrow thirty years later?