The Barefoot Doctor of the Siheyuan

When she saw Li Donglai, she lowered her head subconsciously, and walked towards the middle courtyard with her big braids.

What dry rain?

Entering the house, the third mother is clearing the table.

There are five bowls on the table, and the bowls are clean.

There is also a plain plate with a few slices of pickled radish sticks.

"Donglai, the third master is trying to find you." Seeing Li Donglai, Yan Bugui asked the third mother to drive the three children to the back room to do their homework.

Then, brought two enamel jars and poured boiled water.

"Mr. Yan, this is a dried dandelion. It clears heat and detoxifies. You are a literate person. Reading books often hurts your eyes." Li Donglai handed over a small packet of dried leaves.

Yan Bugui quickly took it.

His eyes were originally small, but now they narrowed into a slit: "If you want me to tell you, Li Donglai is still very careful in our courtyard, and it is an old courtesy to know that you don't come empty-handed the first time."

"It's just some wild grass, it's worthless." Li Donglai took a sip of water and asked about what he told him yesterday, "Mr. Yan, did you ask me about my little sister's schooling?"

"I asked, it's all from a large courtyard, so I can't care." Yan Bugui said, pushing the frame with his hand and pursed his lips: "It's just that the school said that Li Xiaomei has a rural household registration and is not eligible for admission. condition."

"This...isn't there any other way?" Li Donglai's heart skipped a beat.These days, the little sister has been muttering that she wants to go to school, how sad it is to know this news.

The experience of the two generations told Li Donglai that there is not only one big road in this world, but also countless small roads.

Sure enough, Yan Bugui lowered his voice and spit out three words: "School selection fee."

. . .

Late at night, Li Donglai stared at the dark roof, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

If Li Xiaomei wants to go to Hongxing Elementary School, in addition to the tuition fee, she also has to pay ten yuan for the school selection fee.

Where can I find the ten dollars?Do you ask the master to borrow it?

No, no, Li Donglai immediately dismissed the idea.

If people always eat soft rice, they are prone to osteoporosis, and then the spine will no longer be able to stand up.

Or, go to the pigeon market to make a wave?

Before Li Donglai came to the capital, he often went to the commune to chat with the little fat correspondent.

Little Fatty's uncle is from the capital, and every time he is a guest, his uncle will tell them new things about the capital.

While attracting everyone's admiration, he smiled faintly again and said, "This is nothing to the people of the capital." By the way, there is the unique arrogance of the people of the capital on his cheeks.

Among these anecdotes, what impressed Li Donglai was the pigeon market.

The pigeon market is called the pigeon market because it is held in the early hours of the morning.

When the first rays of the sun appeared on the horizon, the people in the pigeon market were scattered like pigeons.

Pigeon Market is the gray area of ​​Beijing.

Nearby farmers, ticket dealers, antique dealers, and destitute households, all kinds of people, under the cover of night, trade the things or news they need.

The biggest advantage of the pigeon market is that it will not reveal its identity, pay with one hand and deliver it with one hand, and no coupons are required. It is a good place for speculation.

Well, it's Pigeon Market!

Li Donglai slept hazily until three o'clock in the middle of the night, quietly got up, took out a newspaper from the cabinet, and wrote two large characters on it with the help of the dim moonlight.

Then he shoved the newspaper into his arms and groped for a glance at the back room.

On the bed in the back room, Li Xiaomei kicked off the thin quilt and left her calves to dry in the moonlight.

Li Donglai walked over, gently helped her tuck the quilt, and then carefully opened the door and walked out.

Even with great care, the wooden door has been in disrepair for a long time, and the friction between the door shaft and the floor tile still makes a crisp 'squeak' sound.

The sound made Li Donglai stunned. He stayed at the door for a while, until there was no sound in the house, then turned around and walked quickly towards Shengdemen.

That's right, according to Xiaopang's uncle, the biggest pigeon market in Beijing is in Shengdemen.

In these years, the capital was far less prosperous than later generations. There were only a few main roads with street lights, and it was pitch black everywhere.

As a barefoot doctor, Li Donglai has been walking around the country and alleys in recent years. Even if he can't see his feet clearly, he can walk like a fly.

Soon, countless fireflies appeared in the darkness in the distance, and the fireflies gathered and scattered, constantly wandering.

Li Donglai knew that the pigeon market had arrived.

Those fireflies are the flashlights that people in the pigeon market use to light up.

. . .

Chapter 15 Wang Wu

When he entered the pigeon market, he saw that the people walking inside were covering their faces with towels. Li Donglai also took out a white towel from his waist and tied it around his head, with only two eyes showing on his face.

On both sides of the pigeon market are squatting members with dark skin.

In front of them are corn noodles, peanuts, small mill oil, soybeans and other grains.

In the dark corner, stood a few middle-aged men with canvas bags.

They have a bulge around their waists, and they should have brought a guy.

From time to time, someone would lean over and take out a few coupons from their arms. The middle-aged man touched the coupons, counted out a few bills from his shoulder bag, and handed them over.

The way of negotiating prices in the pigeon market is very strange. The buyer and the seller put a towel on their hands, then hold it with each other's hand, and negotiate the price through their fingers.

Without the hustle and bustle of the traditional market, the entire pigeon market is as silent as a ghost.

Li Donglai walked slowly through the ghosts until he remembered all the exits in his heart.

Only then did he come to a member with two ducks in front of him.

Under the surprised gaze of the uncle, he took out the newspaper from his arms and spread it on the ground.

Then use a flashlight to illuminate the newspaper.

The newspaper said two big words, doctor.

This guy looks like a man, how can he be a lunatic!

The uncle hurriedly put the ducks into the bamboo basket and took two steps to the side.

Don't take my ducks away, this is the work capital of the baby.

Under the light of the flashlight, the black words on the newspaper appeared exceptionally bright on the dark street.

Those who went to the ghost market also stopped one after another. Although their faces were covered by towels, they could still feel the surprise on their faces.

This is a ghost market, a place for speculation.

You, a doctor, don't go to the hospital for a consultation, what are you doing in the pigeon market?

Could it be a liar.

Most of the people who dare to appear in the pigeon market have experienced social beatings.

I've been fooled, more than I've ever eaten white flour buns.

They looked around for a while, then all shook their heads and left.

Boy, this is what the uncle played many years ago.

Dare to come to the pigeon market to deceive people, you will not be able to get out today.

Yes, although the pigeon market is a gray area in the capital, it is not a place of lawlessness.

In the pigeon market, it is the official acquiescence to make small troubles, trade some agricultural products, and re-sell a few tickets.

Once weapons, antiques, or national treasures appear, the pigeon market is waiting to be washed away.

In order for the pigeon market to survive for a long time, every pigeon market will have a pigeon owner.

The pigeon owner of Shengdemen pigeon market is an old man in his 60s. People in the pigeon market don't know his real name, but his nickname is Wang Wuye, who is said to be the grandson of Da Dao Wang Wu.

Wang Wuye opened a martial arts hall in the capital before liberation.

After the liberation, the martial arts hall was disbanded, and one of the disciples and brothers became workers one after another.

However, how can people in Jianghu stand loneliness, plus the life of the big guy, they all live tight.

After the rise of the pigeon market, Wang Wuye stood up again and took a group of old brothers to maintain the order of the pigeon market.

Of course, along the way to collect some water money.

This water money usually comes from the ticket dealers who resell tickets. For these dealers, there is a place to trade, and this extra expense is nothing.

In a small two-story building in the center of Pigeon Market, Wang Wuye was playing a game with a young man in a school coat.

The young man placed Heizi lightly on the chessboard, "Wang Wuye, father asked me to thank you for the information you provided last time."

"You're welcome, your father and I have known each other for a long time, so I should help you with this." Fifth Master Wang responded and said slowly, "Don't call me Fifth Master Wang in the future, I'm just an old man."

The young man raised his head, his eyes were meaningful: "Then... I'll call you the fifth master."

"Five masters, you don't want to know who the person who resells the Yuan blue and white porcelain vase is?"

Wang Wuye didn't seem to hear it, and said softly, "Gu Shen, you lost again."

Gu Shen looked at the chessboard and laughed dumbly, "Master, your chess skills are much better than my father's."

"You can't compare. Your father was someone who fought on the battlefield. I only played tricks on the flyover for a few days before, so I can't compare at all."

As Wang Wuye said, he was about to start putting the chess pieces into the grass basket.

Gu Shen also counted the number at this time, and stretched out his hand to hold Wang Wuye's thin right hand, "Fifth master, if you Feixing just now, wouldn't you be able to slaughter my dragon, why did you choose to hang up? Corner, that's how I won a mere sight."

Wang Wuye retracted his arm and said with a smile: "Winning a hundred eyes is a win, and winning one eye is also a win. Is there a difference?"

Gu Shen was stunned, pondered for a long time, then shook his head with a wry smile, "I seem to understand why my father asked me to play chess with you."

"Oh, that's why he thinks you are a stinky chess basket!"

The two were chatting, and a middle-aged man in a blue sackcloth shirt hurried in.

He glanced at Gu Shen, nodded in apology, and then muttered a few words in Wang Wuye's ear.

Middle-aged man: "Five masters, what should we do?"