Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 358 Three Bicycles

In the early morning of the weekend, the wind was sunny and the sun was hanging in the sky early.

It was just after eight o'clock in the morning, but the weather had already started to get hot and dry.

Aiguo and Feng Ming ate the breakfast made by sister-in-law Jinghong and younger sister Xiaoya together, and then went out separately.

Xu Fengming is going to meet someone today with the old director of his factory. It is said that he is a high-ranking official. He will go over to visit and see if he can get another batch of equipment for their factory.

Aiguo and Feng Ming went out together. They didn't say what they were doing, but they looked so cheerful that it was probably a date with a beautiful woman.

Xiaoya also went out early in the morning. Just like Patriot, she changed into clean clothes, talked to her sister-in-law Jinghong for a while, and then left.

Only Xu Qing, his wife, and his son Hongzhi were left in the house.

There was nothing wrong with the family of three. After dinner, the little guy took the diabolo and ran to the front yard to play with Yu Li's daughter.

Xu Qingze and his wife put away the breakfast dishes into the kitchen and started cleaning them together.

Xu Qing hasn't been alone with his wife for a long time, and he hasn't washed and bathed with her for a long time. Today is a free time.

The daughter-in-law washes the dishes, and he washes the pots. The sun shines in through the windows, and the kitchen is brightly reflected.

After more than ten minutes, the pots and pans were cleaned, Xu Qing walked out of the kitchen, changed his clothes, and waited for his wife to change her outfit later, so that the family could go to the state-owned store to buy bicycles.

A few days ago, his younger brother and sister gave him all the industrial coupons. Today, he has a rest and goes to buy a bicycle and some food.

There are many people in the family now, and the noodles in the two noodle urns will meet the end within a few days.

Especially white noodles are the fastest to eat.

Fine grains, compared to corn noodles, are much more delicious, and they disappear without realizing it.

It's just that it's not enough to eat white noodles all the time these days.

The shortage of domestic materials has eased to some extent, but the supply in the city has not been able to keep up.

Although the stick noodles are not very tasty, it is not enough to say that you can’t eat them.

There is not so much food, Xu Qing has a few food stamps with him, and he can't buy white noodles, what can he do?
I had to mix white flour and cornmeal from time to time.

As for the family's money, during Xu Qing's three-year university period, he made almost no contribution, relying entirely on Jing Hong and his younger siblings for support.

There is no shortage of food and drink, but Aiguo, Fengming and Xiaoya will have to live their own lives in the future.

Jinghong was embarrassed to ask her sister-in-law and two younger uncles to pay for food every time, so many times, she used her salary and the savings she had saved with Xu Qing to buy rice noodles and oil.

After three years, Xu Qing and Jing Hong's savings were depleted.

But there are still two or three hundred yuan.

After all, Jinghong was still working during the three years Xu Qing was studying at university.

So money for a bike is fine.

What's more, Aiguo and Feng Ming secretly returned dozens of dollars to the elder brother Xu Qing.

If you add another black and white TV to your home, it won't be enough.

But Xu Qing and Jinghong have no such plans at present, anyway, there are not many programs to watch on TV in this year.

Aiguo, Fengming and Xiaoya didn't take the initiative to say anything about it.

Simply, Xu Qing kept the TV ticket.

When the family needs money urgently, it can be freed up and exchanged for some money.

TV tickets are more expensive than bicycle tickets.

Yan Bugui, the third uncle of the compound, asked Xu Qing several times in private, hoping to give him the TV tickets.

Xu Qing knew that the third master wanted TV tickets, but he was not willing to pay more.

This matter has been shelved for a long time, and nothing has been done so far.

Today Xu Qing was going to buy a bicycle on the street, so he took out the TV ticket, looked at it, and then put it on his body.

Don't worry, the family is not yet at the end of its rope.

If the third master wants to take advantage of him, it will never work.

There is a market for everything, but just because Yan Bugui is the third master in the courtyard, it can't be cheap.

While Jinghong was waiting for her to change clothes, Xu Qing went to the front yard, called her son home, and changed into clean clothes.

When I go out to the street later, the little guy can't go out dirty.

The little guy is very playful, and he played with Yu Li's daughter since he was a child, but he still doesn't want to go to the streets with his parents.

But Ma Jinghong glared angrily and immediately sat down on the kang obediently, not daring to make any more noise.

It was already past ten o'clock in the morning when Xu Qing took his wife and son out.

The sun is not too hot, but it is not cool at all.

The weather in August is no better than in July. The heat is still the same. The wind blows on my face, which is like a heat wave.

The second aunt and the second uncle Liu Haizhong were going to make an engagement with Liu Guangfu today, so they went out to catch the car after seven o'clock in the morning.

Xu Qing didn't see Xu Damao in the courtyard early in the morning, so he must have left early.

Liu Guangtian was in the courtyard, holding a cigarette in his mouth, standing in front of the two stewards Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, watching them play chess.

Qin Huairu in the middle courtyard was washing clothes, Xiaodang and Huaihua helped, one changed the water and the other dried.

Mrs. Jia Zhang sat under the eaves, sheltered from the sun, while cleaning the soles of her shoes, while whispering homework with Da Ma.

When Xu Qing took his son and passed the middle court, Yan Bugui had just eaten Yi Zhonghai's cannonball, and he was full of complacency. He saw Xu Qing and asked:

"The family is going out to see your father-in-law?"

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Third Master, I'm going to the street to buy a bicycle."

Yan Bugui snorted, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

A few days ago, Feng Ming said this in front of him, but today Xu Qing went to buy it, and the third master was really surprised.

When Xu Qing's family went to the front yard, Yan Bugui approached Yi Zhonghai and whispered:

"Old Yi, did you see that Xiaoqing is no longer alive now. In our hospital, he is the only one in the best situation. Today, I will buy another bicycle. In addition to the ones provided by Fengming Factory, there are only three. up.

My family and Xu Damao only have one car each! "

Yi Zhonghai held the chess pieces with both hands, with no expression on his face, "Old Yan, just play chess. What do you mean? Qingzi's family is in a good situation. They earned it together with his younger brothers and sisters. We can't compare. , don’t be jealous, if you want to blame it, just blame yourself for not having anyone capable."

What Yi Zhonghai said was very pertinent, and Yan Bugui also knew it.

But I just don’t feel good about it.

He has many children, but none of them can stand up to the four brothers and sisters of Xu Qing.

But it is stronger than Liu Haizhong's third son, just a little stronger.

And this is just Yan Bugui's own opinion.

At this time, Xu Qing's family of three had just left the alley, and happened to meet Shazhu, who went to his sister Yushui early in the morning to visit her.

Just now, when he came back, he saw Xu Qing taking his wife and son to the street, so he said hello, and then went back to the compound alone.

There are many people on the street today and it is lively.

On weekends, how can there be fewer people on the street.

Even if the weather is hot, who wants to stay at home after a day off.

Those who don't leave the gate and don't step through the second door are the daughters of big families before the Republic of China.

Now is a new era, people on the street come and go in an endless stream.

Regardless of whether it is a girl from a big family or a girl from a small family, or a girl from an ordinary working-class family, they are all on the street.

The children played together, ran around in the crowd, encountered a car, hid in front of the wall, and continued to play wildly after avoiding it.

The bicycle repair shop is doing very well.

Xu Qing took his son along the street and saw three houses, all of which were packed with people.

At this time, the means of transportation is bicycles, but the business is booming.

When we arrived at the state-owned store, the people inside were even more crowded, shoulders to shoulders, heads to heads, noisy noises one after another, old people, children, men, women, young students, all looking for a place to stay. Disaster.

Xiao Hongzhi was just over six years old and short. He held Xu Qing's hand with his left hand and his mother with his right hand for fear of getting lost.

Xu Qing went in first, then took his son and his wife, the three of them lined up and moved forward with the flow of people.

Within a minute of leaving, the little guy saw someone buying soda and shouted for a drink. Xu Qing took out 1 cents and bought three bottles. The family of three drank the soda and continued towards the place where they bought bicycles.

Bicycles are still in hot demand. There are many of them in state-owned stores and they sell out quickly.

Within three minutes of Xu Qing standing in front of him, ten bicycles were bought away.

Xu Qing decided to buy a lady's bicycle this time and let his wife and sister ride it.

In the past, there were fewer women's bicycles in state-run stores, but now in 76, women's bicycles are no less than men's.

The style is also good-looking, but it can’t carry things as well as a men’s bicycle.

After going to the beam in the middle, getting on and off the car is much more convenient.

However, on the latest models, a basket is added to the front, which can be regarded as making up for the lack of beams.

Xu Qing asked his daughter-in-law to try a few to see which one was the best to ride.

The little guy was bored. After drinking his own soda, he secretly took a few sips of his parents' soda, then squatted aside and shook his pedals with his hands, playing very enthusiastically.

Jing Hong picked it up and pointed to the women's Phoenix bicycle on the left: "Brother Qing, I think this one is good, but the price is a bit expensive, 30 yuan more than others."

Hearing this, Xu Qing smiled, took out his money and industrial coupons, and bought the car chosen by his wife.

A little more expensive is a little more expensive, as long as it is comfortable to ride.

These days, it is impossible to buy a car. Firstly, the price is too expensive. Secondly, even if you have money, you can't buy one.

Otherwise, Xu Qing will buy one high and low.

How good the car is. Just put a foot on the gas and it will go away. There is no need for people to pedal hard.

And it runs much faster than a bicycle.

Jinghong was happy when she saw Xu Qing bought the car she liked, but instead of showing it on her face, she rolled her eyes and said reproachfully:

"Brother Qing, you are really worth 30 yuan."

Xu Qing pretended not to hear, "I don't like it, why don't I change it to a cheaper one?"

Ma Jinghong snorted, pulled her son up, gave Xu Qing a gouged look, pushed the bicycle and left, bickering lazily.

After buying a bicycle, stamping the license plate and applying for a vehicle license, these procedures are naturally indispensable.

When everything was done, Xu Qing asked Jinghong to take his son back first. He rode alone and returned to the state-owned store. He used the tickets he had allocated earlier to buy two kilograms of pork, thirty kilograms of white noodles, twenty kilograms of stick noodles, and three kilograms of leeks. , two pounds of tomatoes and one watermelon.

After buying a lot of things, Xu Qing found a place where there was no one around at noon, and used his abilities.

These are more.

The back seat of the bicycle is full, and the basket in front of the bike is also full.

One hundred kilograms of grain, four kilograms of pork, two watermelons, six kilograms of leeks, and four kilograms of tomatoes.

The bicycle I just bought bears a weight of more than 100 kilograms, which is not counting that Xu Qing is riding it.

Fortunately, bicycles these days are expensive, but they are worth the money and the quality is very good.

Xu Qing rode all the way back to the compound alley, nothing happened.

The sun was shining now, and there were almost no people in the courtyard.

Those who went out have not come back, and those who stayed in the courtyard hid in their homes to rest for noon.

Qin Huairu's laundry in the middle courtyard was hanging to dry, and when Xu Qing passed by, he saw that it was almost dry.

The benefits of summer seem to be just that, the clothes washed in the morning can be worn after a nap.

At around four o'clock in the afternoon, Aiguo and Feng Ming came back. At the gate of Xu Qing's house, there were three bicycles instead of one.

In the front yard, Yan Bugui found something to do with Liu Haizhong who had just returned to the yard. As soon as he entered the backyard, he saw three bicycles neatly parked at the door of Xu Qing's house.

I couldn't help but walk to the door of Xu Qing's house first, take a look around, then turned my head to Xu Qing, who was eating watermelon with his two younger brothers, and said:

"Xiaoqing, your family is really prosperous now. Good guy, we have three bicycles, two of which are new. From now on, our hospital will be able to form a bicycle fleet."

Xu Qing smiled and did not answer, raised his hand and grabbed a piece of watermelon that his wife Jing Hong had just cut, and gestured to Yan Bugui;

"Third Lord, it's a hot day, go inside and eat a piece of watermelon, take a break,"

Yan Bugui was a little embarrassed, but he still walked into Xu Qing's house.

He reached out to take the watermelon from Xu Qing, took a big bite, and stretched out his thumb and said:
"Xiaoqing, you picked these melons well, which one bought them, I'll ask your third mother to buy two as well tomorrow."

Ma Jinghong continued: "Third Lord, the state-owned store, if you want to buy it, do it as soon as possible, don't sell out tomorrow, the next batch may not be so delicious."

Yan Bugui spat out the black watermelon seeds in his mouth, and nodded, "I'll let your third mother go and have a look later."

It's just that Yan Bugui couldn't help but say after eating a tooth of watermelon:

"Xiaoqing, your family's life is called life, and there are three bicycles, but in our entire area, I'm afraid we won't be able to find a second one."

Xu Qing smiled and said nothing, grabbed a tooth of watermelon and handed it to Yan Bugui again.

Yan Bugui didn't have the nerve to take it this time, so he waved his hand and said, "Qingzi, I'll just taste one piece. Your sister Xiaoya hasn't come back yet, so keep it for her."

When Xu Qing saw this, he was no longer polite and asked his third brother Feng Ming to pass a cigarette to the third uncle.

Yan Bugui took two puffs of his cigarette, remembering that he came to the backyard to discuss matters with Liu Haizhong, he quickly got up from the edge of the kang and said:
"Xiao Qing, I have something to do with your second uncle. Let's go to his place first."

Xu Qing didn't want to stay, stood up and sent Yan Bugui out of the house.

It was finally a little cooler outside the house now. There was no sun at noon. Thinking of the old lady, she was sitting alone in the house and couldn't even get off the bed. Xu Qing turned around and returned home, taking three pieces of watermelon and giving them to his son. Sent over.

And at the same time.

Yan Bugui, who left Xu Qing's house, sat in Liu Haizhong's room, and said to Liu Haizhong and the second aunt:

"Have you seen the three bicycles at the gate of Xu Qing's house? They are really good, especially the lady's bicycle that Xiaoqing just bought today. There is no beam, and children can ride it."

Liu Haizhong looked stunned. When he came back from an engagement with Liu Guangfu, he wanted 50 yuan for his third son's betrothal gift and refused to take any less. He was so angry that he didn't pay attention at all. At this moment, he heard Yan Bugui's words. , hurriedly glanced out the window into the courtyard.

But the second aunt saw it when she came back, she held the enamel tea mug, put it in front of Yan Bugui and said:
"Third Master, isn't it? Xiaoqing's family conditions are good now, and he himself became the director of the fifth branch factory. Aiguo and Fengming, one works in the main factory, the other works in the hardware factory, and Xiaoya, both They have official jobs, and they are all cadres like Jinghong, let alone three bicycles in his family, even one for each person, in my opinion, he can afford it."

Yan Bugui nodded, thinking that the second aunt was right.

In the past, there were only three cars in the compound, one for him, one for Xu Damao, and one for Xu Qing.

But now, Xu Qing's family has two more cars, and his family alone now has three cars.

Xu Qing is the director of the factory, his wife, younger brothers and sisters are all cadres. They only have one car per person, so there is really no suspense about this matter.

At this time, Liu Guangtian opened the door curtain with a cigarette in his mouth, entered his parents' house, saw Yan Bugui was there, nodded his head as a greeting, and then took the second aunt's words and said:

"Mom, you and my dad also saw it today. Xu Qing's family now has three bicycles, and Xu Damao's family also has one. Our family doesn't even have a wheel."

After Liu Guantian finished speaking, he sat next to Yan Bugui, turned to look at Liu Haizhong and said:

"Dad, I'm not talking about you. Why are you keeping the money you saved? If you don't think about our family, you have to think about yourself, right? You and I are all the stewards of our compound. , look at my third uncle, I ride a bicycle to and from work every day, how stylish it is, how different is it from you, when I was an official in the factory, I didn’t even think about buying one. At that time, I just wanted to rent one. If you don’t buy it now, , this will affect your prestige in our compound in the future."

The second aunt had no words, and Yan Bugui, as an outsider, was even more inconvenient to say more.

Liu Haizhong glanced at his second son, snorted, and said:
"Hey, I don't know what you're thinking. If I buy a bicycle, can I ride it? I'm going to make an appointment for your brother today. 50 yuan will be gone in a blink of an eye. If you want a bicycle, use it Buy it with your own salary, don't worry about me and your mother's money."

Liu Guangtian put his left hand in his trouser pocket, threw the cigarette butt on the ground with his right hand, touched his head with his hand, stood up, looked at Liu Haizhong and said:
"Dad, it's up to you. Whether you want to buy your money or not has nothing to do with me. I don't have enough industrial certificates right now. When I have all the money, just watch it!"

After Liu Guangtian finished speaking, he turned around and went out of the house, standing outside the house, staring straight at the three bicycles at the door of Xu Qing's house, his back molars could be crushed with envy.

But Liu Haizhong didn't want to pay him. He didn't have much money on his own, and he hadn't got all the industrial coupons, so he couldn't afford to buy it.

I can only be envious in my heart, secretly thinking, if I have money in the future, I will have to buy a bicycle no matter what!

In the middle courtyard, when Xu Qing came back by bicycle at noon, Jia Zhang saw him through the door curtain.

At this moment, Mrs. Jia Zhang was sitting cross-legged on the kang, using a feather duster to dust off the kang, and whispered to her daughter-in-law:
"Huairu, Xu Qing bought a new bicycle in the backyard today. His family's life has become better. He became the director of the factory again last week. You can take advantage of noon and go to the backyard to ask him for help to bring Banggeng back. , as a factory director, he can definitely handle this matter."

Qin Huairu had just finished mending Xiaodang's clothes and used scissors to cut off the threads when she heard Jia Zhang's words.

Thinking about it in his mind, it has been many years since his son Bangge went to the countryside to join the queue.

If you stay so far away and don't come back, it won't work.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Huairu obeyed Jia Zhang's words, and let Xiaodang clean up the needles and threads that she hadn't had time to clean up. She got off the kang by herself, walked out of the house, and walked towards the backyard.

(End of this chapter)