The train driver in the courtyard

Zhou Xinke's trip to the Engineering Bureau can be described as a failure.

After knocking on Director Chen's office door, Director Chen received him warmly.

The two had fought side by side before liberation and had always had a good relationship.

The two of them asked about each other's well-being and work. Everything seemed so harmonious.

However, when Zhou Xinke mentioned the huge monster on the construction site, Director Chen unexpectedly said that he did not know.

Zhou Xinke put out his cigarette, pretended to be angry, and joked: "Old Chen, you are the director and the person in charge of the project, how could you not know?"

Director Chen was not in a hurry and responded calmly: "Oh, Lao Zhou, the project is under the charge of the railway soldiers and the railway. You also know their working style, and I am embarrassed to ask about it."

Seeing this situation, Zhou Xinke had no choice but to give up and stood up to leave.

"Old Zhou, wait a minute." Director Chen hesitated for a moment and stopped him: "How did you know that there was new equipment on the construction site?"

"I" Zhou Xinke began to hesitate.

"Forget it, just go." Director Chen did not continue to question him.

Because Director Chen already knew the source of Zhou Xinke's information.

Looking at Zhou Xinke's back, Director Chen smiled bitterly and shook his head: "If we have different aspirations, we will have different paths. If we have no friendship, we will only be friendly in appearance."

After Zhou Xinke returned to the Engineering Bureau, he felt something was wrong the more he thought about it, so he called his teacher Ostrovsky.

He reported the situation on the phone.

"Since we can't find anything, there's no need to investigate. According to our survey of the capital's geology, no machine can safely and quickly carry out tunnel construction."

Hearing this, Zhou Xinke breathed a sigh of relief and told Director Chen about his suspicions against him.

"Zhou, don't worry. You are working hard for a great cause. They have gone down the wrong path. It won't be long before the situation is completely reversed. By then, all those who misunderstood you will understand your painstaking efforts, and history will record your glorious deeds."

"Teacher, don't worry, I will firmly stand by your side."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Xinke's somewhat wavering belief gradually became firmer.

"The teacher is Big Brother! How dare they do something behind Big Brother's back! They are wrong. I am doing this for a greater cause!"

****
At this time, Yan Jiecheng also completed the first step of his great career - he received a full twenty kilograms of waste manuscripts from the "Comics" magazine.

Scarcity makes things valuable. The level of papermaking industry is low these days, and the profit from recycling and selling waste paper is extremely high. Just from this little bit of waste paper, you can earn 32 cents.

The key is that this business is sustainable, and the thing that magazines lack the least is waste paper.

If I can establish a good relationship with this young editor, won't I become rich in the future?

Yan Jiecheng looked at He Yunshan beside him and the more he looked, the cuter he found this guy.

"You, what are you going to do?" He Yunshan was frightened by his strange look and took two steps back.

"Ahem." Yan Jiecheng wiped his saliva, and asked with a serious face, "Editor He, can I ask what you want to see Brother Aiguo about?"

"It's nothing important, I just came to give him the manuscript fee and discuss the subsequent commissions."

"Royalty fees? Did Aiguo write an article again? How come I didn't know about it?" Yan Jiecheng was a little puzzled.

In the past, Li Aiguo’s articles were all related to the locomotive depot and trains, but recently, Li Aiguo has not been in the depot at all.

"It's not an article, it's a comic strip," He Yunshan explained.

"So, brother Aiguo draws comic books. I think I saw him drawing pandas at his house a while ago. Can you make money with this?" Yan Jiecheng asked with a glance, "Can I ask how much the royalties are?"

"Two hundred dollars."

"What? Two hundred yuan!" Yan Jiecheng felt that the thirty-two cents in his hand suddenly didn't seem worth much.

He Yunshan answered honestly: "This is only part of it. If the train driver comrade hands over the subsequent manuscripts, there will be more royalties."

"That kid's painting can be sold for so much money!"

Yan Jiecheng was moved.

He had seen Li Aiguo's paintings, which were just some simple lines, similar to those drawn by children.

If Li Aiguo can draw it, he can draw it too!
"Editor He, if I draw a picture, can I submit it?"

"Of course, our magazine accepts manuscripts from the general public."

After getting a clear answer, Yan Jiecheng was completely excited.

This is really going to make you rich.

Yan Jiecheng sent He Yunshan to the door of Li Aiguo's house, and Chen Xueru just happened to come back on a bicycle.

Yan Jiecheng couldn't wait to say, "Sister-in-law, this is the editor of the magazine, sending the manuscript fee to Brother Aiguo."

"Editor He, this is Aiguo's lover, Comrade Chen Xueru."

After briefly introducing the identities of the two people, Yan Jiecheng rushed home.

A moment later, he ran out again, jumped into the next yard, rushed into Old Wang's house, grabbed a little black dog and ran out.

"Jie Cheng, why are you stealing my dog?" Old Wang chased after him.

"Uncle Wang, can you lend it to me?" Yan Jiecheng ran back to the courtyard.

Li Aiguo draws pandas, he can also draw dogs.

It was already time to get off work, and people were coming and going in the compound. Yan Jiecheng's dog snatching soon attracted the attention of the residents.

"Jie Cheng, what are you doing? Didn't your father forbid you to keep a dog?"

But the dog needs to eat black steamed bread, which is enough to feed a person. How could Yan Bugui spend such money?

"You know what? I'm going to be a painter."

"Painter?" Jia Dongxu came over with a stick.

Ever since Qin Huairu divorced him, she brought Xiaodang to Yi Zhonghai's house and left Banggeng to Jia Dongxu.

"Jia Dongxu, you may not know this, but Brother Aiguo has become a famous painter now, and he earns 200 yuan in royalties from painting."

"You're just bragging. I've seen Li Aiguo's paintings, and they're similar to Banggeng's." Jia Dongxu looked unconvinced.

Yan Jiecheng pointed to the backyard and said, "The editor is at Aiguo's house right now."

As he spoke, he became impatient: "Why am I telling you this? Go home and paint some pictures to earn money!"

Yan Jiecheng rushed back to the Yan family holding the little black dog.

Yan Jiecheng was also a smart man, and Jia Dongxu had no choice but to believe his enthusiasm.

"Can you really make money by painting? That's a good thing."

Jia Dongxu really can’t draw, but Banggeng can draw, and he draws better than Li Aiguo.

If you just draw dozens of pictures, you can earn thousands of dollars.

When she has money, Qin Huairu will have to return to the Jia family obediently.

If he had become rich and a great painter, why would he need Qin Huairu?

There are many literary young people in Beijing University. They are both beautiful and cultured.

Jia Dongxu instantly came to his senses, grabbed Banggeng's arm and pulled him back home.

He found some papers and a pencil and threw them in front of Banggeng.

"Son, draw."

"Yeah!" Banggeng raised his little head.

The news of the 200 yuan fee quickly spread throughout the courtyard.

The residents also became excited.

Every household is busy.

For a time, paper was in great demand in Siheyuan.

The third uncle took into consideration that the residents were reluctant to spend money to buy a whole exercise book, so he broke the books into pieces and sold them individually.

He placed his exercise books, pencils, brushes and ink under the eaves, just like a stationery stall.

Uncle Sanda also posted an advertising slogan.

"Comrade Li Aiguo used the Yan family's brush, ink, paper and inkstone to draw a comic strip worth two hundred yuan."

Now, those residents who originally had pens and paper at home also came to Yan’s stationery stall to buy them.

Even Jia Dongxu thought that the earthworm drawn by Bang Geng was too ugly, so he blamed the paper and pen and came to Yan's house with money.

"Old man, everyone is making money by drawing comic strips, why don't you draw?" After delivering the goods to Old Chen's family in the backyard, Auntie Three asked Uncle Three in a low voice while handing the money to Uncle Three.

"Comic strips? They've only seen comic strips. That stuff is not that easy to draw."

The third uncle took the money and waved it in front of the third aunt: "Let's take this opportunity to make some money."

"Gao, old man, I think you are becoming more and more calculating." The third aunt gave a thumbs up.

"Uncle, give me half a pencil." After Xu Damao heard the news, he also came over.

"okay."

The old man picked up the kitchen knife, chopped it off, handed over half a pencil, and took the money.

There were a few residents living in the back, some wanted two sheets of paper, some wanted half a bottle of ink. The third uncle's stationery business was extremely booming.

The noise was so loud that it alarmed the staff of the street office. When the staff learned that everyone in the courtyard was painting, he felt strange but did not say much.

After all, painting can cultivate one's sentiments.

He also praised Yi Zhonghai: "Old Yi, your school has a strong learning atmosphere. You should keep it up."

Yi Zhonghai nodded as he painted: "Secretary Zhang, don't worry, I will definitely set an example."

At this time, Li Aiguo finished his work for the day and rode his bicycle back to the courtyard.

Seeing this, I couldn't believe my eyes.

"It's only been one day since I came back, and the residents in our yard are so fond of studying?"

"Aiguo, you're back. You may not know that everyone has started painting." The third uncle put the money in his pocket, came over and explained the whole story.

"So I'm the equivalent of an advertising star before liberation?" Li Aiguo looked the uncle up and down, rubbed his fingers together, and said with a smile, "As an advertising star, do you have to get endorsement fees?"

The third uncle took a step back in fear.

He hesitated for a moment and shrank his neck: "I'll give you half, how about that?"

Although the third uncle was reluctant, he still wanted to expand the painting business to the entire block, so he gritted his teeth and took out a handful of money.

"Forget it, Uncle San, you should collect the money and close the stall quickly. Be careful that the tenants may come to you to ask for a refund later."

The third uncle suddenly thought of something, his face turned pale, and he quickly nodded to Li Aiguo: "Aiguo, thank you for the reminder."

He immediately set up the stall and told the three aunts: "I will be staying in the school these days. If anyone comes to look for me, just tell them I'm not here."

Once you make money, run away quickly.

Li Aiguo felt sorry for the third uncle. With such a brain, if he was born twenty years later, there would be no Chen Jianghe.

Staggered back home.

He Yunshan had already drunk two enamelware mugs of tea and was getting a little impatient while waiting.

When he saw Li Aiguo, he immediately revealed his identity and took out an envelope from his pocket.

"Comrade train driver, this is two hundred yuan in royalties. Please count it."

Li Aiguo checked them, put the envelope on the table, and asked, "Editor He, generally speaking, the royalties are settled after the drawings are published. What do you do?"

He Yunshan continued, "It's like this. Our editor-in-chief thinks your drawings for Kung Fu Panda are of very high quality, so he sent me here to settle your royalties and to discuss the subsequent drawings."

Li Aiguo anticipated that "Kung Fu Panda" would be published in the comic magazine, but he did not expect the other party to take it so seriously.

"As for the follow-up, I have already thought of the relevant plot." Li Aiguo did not take out the remaining drawings, but simply explained his creative ideas.

After listening to this, He Yunshan asked, "Comrade train driver, if we draw the story according to the current plot, how many chapters will it take?"

"There are at least 500 pairs left." Li Aiguo estimated. In fact, he was already very conservative.

Although the plot of "Kung Fu Panda" is simple, there are several derivative versions that can also be drawn together.

"Five hundred pairs!" He Yunshan took a breath of cold air.

"Is it too much?" Li Aiguo was worried that the fee was too high, and said with a smile: "In fact, I am already very satisfied with five yuan per copy."

"No, no, no, you misunderstood. Our Comic Strip Magazine is the most famous pictorial magazine in the north after all, so we can afford the royalties." He Yunshan swallowed his saliva and said excitedly, "You may have just started this business and don't know much about it. The longer the comic strip, the better. This way, we can attract more readers and form a fixed readership."

Isn’t the reader group the IP of later generations?
Hearing this term, Li Aiguo couldn't help but look up to He Yunshan.

To be able to have such an idea in this era, the editor of this magazine is definitely not an ordinary person.

After a brief chat, Li Aiguo found out about He Yunshan's background. He was the son of three generations of poverty and a top student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Art is something that requires family traditions. It's already remarkable that He Yunshan was able to get into the Academy of Fine Arts on his own, not to mention that after graduation, he can work as an editor for a magazine.

He Yunshan was sure that Li Aiguo was the real train driver. He was also very interested in Li Aiguo and asked him a lot about things on the train.

The two chatted happily.

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Aiguo stood up to see the guest off.

"Editor He, please come to my house often in the future."

"Of course, of course. Comrade train driver, if you have manuscripts in the future, you don't have to mail them. Just give me a call and I'll pick them up at your door."

Is this considered a commissioned article?

Li Aiguo smiled and waved at He Yunshan before going into the house.

Just now at the locomotive depot, he contacted Zhou Shiqian and learned that Anshan Iron and Steel Group has helped them forge a batch of special steel materials, which will be shipped back to Beijing in two days.

Li Aiguo needs to quickly complete the drawings of the cutter disc so that once the steel is in place, the cutter disc can be manufactured as quickly as possible.

He Yunshan left the Li family and felt that he was very lucky this time.

With more than 500 manuscripts, if he could seize the opportunity, it would be enough for him to become a top comic editor in the country.

Just as I was sighing, someone blocked my way ahead.

It's not just one person, but a group of people.

The person leading the group was none other than the good-for-nothing boy—Yan Jiecheng.

"It's Comrade Yan Jiecheng, you also want to collect waste paper?" He Yunshan joked.

"You misunderstood. I don't accept waste paper. I want to submit my work!" Yan Jiecheng said as he handed over a piece of paper: "Editor He, please take a look."

He Yunshan took it, took a look at it, and was stunned.

“Is this a bear?”

"Editor He, you misunderstood. This is a dog. I used exaggeration. It's a new society now. Life is better, and dogs have to be fatter." Yan Jiecheng explained somewhat embarrassedly.

"Well, this dog is indeed drawn quite fat. Not bad, not bad."

Seeing this, Yan Jiecheng asked hurriedly, "Can you see if my manuscript can be published in your comic book magazine? As for the manuscript fee, I'll charge you less than Aiguo! Only five yuan a copy."

Yan Jiecheng looked expectant.

"It's really good, but I don't know much about comic strips about dogs. You can submit your manuscript directly to our editorial office by mail." He Yunshan smiled and handed the draft back to Yan Jiecheng.

"Oh, I'm really able to submit an article. Thank you, Editor He!" Yan Jiecheng was overjoyed.

When the residents nearby saw that Yan Jiecheng's manuscript was eligible for submission, they became excited.

The cost is less than ten cents, and the royalties are five dollars, which is a huge profit.

Everyone rushed to send their manuscripts to He Yunshan.

"Editor He, take a look at mine."

The one in the front is Jia Dongxu.

He Yunshan took it and looked at it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what it was.

"This is a comic strip about a chicken eating rice!" Jia Dongxu reminded.

"Hey, where's the chicken?"

"I finished eating the rice and left."

"Where's the rice?"

"Eated by the chicken!"

Looking at the blank paper in front of him, He Yunshan fell silent.

Jia Dongxu also felt that having only a piece of white paper was a bit too much and it did not show his strength, so he took out another piece of paper and said, "Look, this one is a picture of an earthworm."

He Yunshan looked at the two earthworms on the paper, was silent for a moment, and said, "Let's talk about the chicken eating rice picture, shall we?"

Jia Dongxu perked up: "Then can I also submit an article?"

"Yes, definitely!" He Yunshan touched his chin.

This piece of paper is very clean and can be used as toilet paper.

After getting the answer, Jia Dongxu jumped up excitedly.

He Yunshan looked at a few more paintings before leaving the courtyard.

After he left, Yan Jiecheng, Jia Dongxu and others began to discuss going to the post office to mail the manuscript out the next day.

At this time, Liu Haizhong came over and asked, "If Editor He liked your manuscript, why didn't he take it away just now? Instead of letting you waste stamp money and mail it through the post office?"

These words were like heavy rain falling from the sky, drenching everyone present in the cold.

"Maybe he's too busy. The panda Li Aiguo drew is not as good as my earthworm. If he can make money, so can I!"

"Yes, the picture I drew of a chicken eating rice is so beautiful."

Some people were very confident, while others backed down.

Yi Zhonghai brought several residents with him and immediately asked the third uncle for a refund.

"It's an old man. Old Yan is busy at school and not at home. If you have something to do, come back in a few days." The third aunt looked at the few people and said slowly.

Yi Zhonghai: "."

He always felt that the third uncle seemed to have run away with the money, but there was nothing he could do.

****
The next day, Yan Jiecheng, Jia Dongxu and others handed the envelope to the postman.

After the postman left, Jia Dongxu excitedly came to Yi Zhonghai's house.

"Huai Ru, I am now a famous comic artist."

Jia Dongxu told Li Aiguo that he had received 200 yuan in royalties and that he had already submitted his article.

"Chickens eating rice pictures, I can draw hundreds of them a day, each one costs ten yuan, that's a thousand yuan, I'm rich, I'm rich."

Divorce is a shameful thing these days. Qin Huairu has been embarrassed to go out recently and has been hiding in Yi Zhonghai's house. She is not aware of what is happening in the compound.

Now seeing Jia Dongxu's appearance, a wave of sadness welled up in my heart.

Li Aiguo has now become a famous comic artist, and any of his paintings can be worth ten yuan.

Where is Jia Dongxu? He can only fiddle with the chicken eating rice picture.

Why is there such a big gap between people?

Qin Huairu was very sure that she regretted it even more.

"Get out, Jia Dongxu, I don't want to see you!" Qin Huairu was so angry when she saw Jia Dongxu jumping up and down that she pushed him out of the house.

"This woman is really looking down on others!" Jia Dongxu was so angry that he rolled his eyes and had no choice but to leave.

They quarreled at the head of the bed and made up at the foot of the bed. Yi Zhonghai thought that Qin Huairu was just angry for a while and would make peace with Jia Dongxu soon.

Seeing that Qin Huairu had persisted for so many days, he felt that things were getting difficult and quietly called the aunt out.

"I think Huairu is determined to get a divorce. What should I do?"

Jia Dongxu is taking care of the elderly, and Qin Huairu will have to take care of them in the future. If they get divorced, who will serve them tea and water?

"Old Yi, why don't you go to the street office and ask the comrades there to do something about Qin Huairu's work." An aunt suggested.

"That's all."

These days, the sub-district office not only has to manage the neighborhoods, but also has to deal with trivial matters like quarrels between couples.

When it comes to reconciliation, Aunt Zhang from the street office is professional.

Upon learning that Qin Huairu was going to divorce Jia Dongxu, Aunt Zhang from the Street Office quickly came to the courtyard and did ideological work on Qin Huairu.

"Comrade Xiao Qin, you have to think it over carefully. You have a rural hukou. If you get divorced, you can only go back to the countryside."

"Even if it means going back to the countryside to farm, I'm willing. Aunt Zhang, Jia Dongxu and I can't survive for another day."

"Hey, it's inevitable that a couple won't quarrel. Even if you don't consider your parents at home, you have to consider your two children, right?" Although Aunt Zhang also looked down on Jia Dongxu, she still had to analyze the pros and cons for Qin Huairu based on the actual situation.

"According to our policy, Banggeng and Xiaodang both have rural household registration. If you get divorced, they can only follow you back to the countryside."

When it comes to children, Qin Huairu's originally firm belief was shaken.

She can return to the commune and become a member.

Where is Bang Geng? Where is Xiao Dang?
In the original novel, Qin Huairu did have many faults, but she was impeccable in treating her children.

Seeing Qin Huairu's attitude soften, Yi Zhonghai took the initiative to express his position: "Huairu, Jia Dongxu really did something wrong this time. How about I ask him to apologize to you and write you a letter of guarantee?"

"Letter of guarantee? Master, I am a man, how can I write a letter of guarantee to a woman?" Jia Dongxu refused to do it at that time.

Here, Yi Zhonghai treats Jia Dongxu with the same attitude as he treated Sha Zhu.

He was only trying to protect his own interests and didn't consider Jia Dongxu at all.

"Jia Dongxu, the master is doing this for your own good! Take a look at how the leaders in the workshop view you since the divorce? How do the residents in the compound view you?"

Under Yi Zhonghai's moral blackmail, Jia Dongxu had no choice but to agree to write a letter of guarantee.

Afterwards, in order to prevent Jia Dongxu from changing his mind, Yi Zhonghai invited the manager to his home and asked Liu Haizhong to be a witness.

Where is the third uncle?

Still hiding in the school!
Jia Dongxu wrote in the letter of guarantee that he would no longer bully Qin Huairu, and then signed his name on it.

Although Qin Huairu was unable to get a divorce, getting the letter of guarantee was a consolation.

"Jia Dongxu, if you dare to make trouble again in the future, I will ask the steward to take care of it for me."

Jia Dongxu sighed helplessly.

After such a big fuss, he was the only victim in the end.

But he still has hope. As long as his drawings are published and he has money, he can stand up straight again.

Li Aiguo learned from Chen Xueru that Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu had reconciled.

After finishing his meal, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and was about to leave.

"Brother Aiguo, why are you here so early today?" Chen Xueru took out a canvas bag from the coat rack and handed it to him.

"There's been some progress at Xiaoxi Mountain. I have to keep an eye on it today."

Li Aiguo replied and rode his bicycle to the Xiaoxishan construction site.

At this time, a GAZ truck carrying a huge disc was slowly approaching from a distance.

The GAZ truck was obviously overloaded and overwide. There was a jeep leading the way in front, railway soldiers were ready to cut down trees on the roadside at any time, and police from the railway police station were escorting it from behind.

"This can be considered as a large-scale transport in this era."

Seeing the truck approaching, Li Aiguo quickly stepped forward and held Zhou Shiqian's hands tightly: "Old Zhou, you have made a great contribution to making the blade in the shortest time this time."

(End of this chapter)