Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 434: The Qing Dynasty Fell
After dinner, the snow was still falling, so Tang Zhitong went ahead and returned to the room.

First, he stuffed some firewood into the furnace, then pulled out two apples from the space, washed them, and placed them on the table.

After a while, Xiao Wang came in and saw the apples on the table. He was surprised and asked, "Where did these apples come from?"

"A colleague gave it to me when I went to the department today. It has been washed. You can eat it." The reason why Tang Zhitong took out the apple was because Xiao Wang ate slowly tonight. Although it seemed that he ate a lot, he actually ate less than usual.

"I'll take one from the main room and let our mom and sister share it, and we'll have a smaller one." Student Wang picked up a larger one and was about to turn around and go back.

"No need, this is specially for you. I'll buy some more next time we meet. Didn't you eat enough tonight?" Tang Zhitong stopped Xiao Wang. He thought that maybe Xiao Wang felt that her ration had been reduced, so she ate less and saved some money so that her family could eat more.

"I'm about 80% full. Eat another apple and you'll be full." After hearing this, Xiao Wang's eyes turned into crescents and he handed the big apple to Tang Zhitong: "You eat too."

"I don't want to eat it. What I said I would give you is what I give you. You don't have to save it. I feel bad if you starve." Tang Zhitong gently hugged Xiao Wang, patted her back and said.

"Eat dry food when you are busy and eat liquid food when you are free. This is what the local people said when I went to the countryside to deliver books." Xiao Wang felt warm in his heart and indirectly admitted that he had intentionally eaten less.

"If you want to save, then save. There's no reason to take food from your mouth to feed your sister-in-law. I'll find a way to solve the food problem. You don't have to worry about it." Tang Zhitong rubbed Xiao Wang's delicate face and said.

"Well, do what you can and don't make things difficult for yourself. I'll feel bad if you do. It's okay for me to eat less. Maybe these two burdens will be smaller." Student Xiao Wang raised his head and looked at Tang Zhitong with bright eyes.

"No, no, what can I catch if it's too small? I promised Chief Wang that I would solve the food problem for both our families." Tang Zhitong shook his head and turned on the automatic addressing mode, grabbing two handfuls at the same time.

"Go~you are not doing anything right. How to solve it? Go to the east again?" Student Wang twisted his body, escaped from the clutches of the devil, slapped his mischievous hand, and asked.

"Well, the river will be frozen solid in a couple of days, and we can then trade directly on the ice. The boat was too busy the last time I went there, so I didn't get a number." Tang Zhitong lied. He was busy picking pine nuts in the mountains at the time, and he didn't go to the river at all.

However, if we go to the riverside in a few days, there is another problem that needs to be solved, hard currency.

Do I really have to go find Lao Tong?

"There is one more thing. I didn't dare to tell the truth in front of our mother just now because I was afraid that she would worry..." Then, Tang Zhitong told Xiao Wang the cause and effect of the change in grain rations. After finishing speaking, he did not forget to ask: "Do you think we should tell Director Ye about this?"

"Director Ye is very busy recently. Let's wait until tomorrow. I'll go over after get off work tomorrow. There's no one at home, so I'll go to my mother's workplace." Student Wang nodded.

Ye Zhijuan has always been called "Director Ye", but the young couple only calls her that in private when they want to distinguish between the two mothers. It sounds quite smooth.

"Well, I'm not worried about getting any benefit from the 200 tons of coal. I'm just worried about Director Hu doing this and then asking Uncle Hao for a favor." Tang Zhitong thought about this matter seriously. He had never met Director Hu and didn't know him at all, so there was no question of them having any friendship. There was no reason for Director Hu to take the initiative to take responsibility for a little Karami like him.

"I think Director Hu should be considering Director Yan from the Material Bureau. He can't take 200 tons of coal for nothing, right? He is taking this opportunity to show Director Yan that he is not treating you unfairly.

Of course, Uncle Hao has a part to play in this, but Director Hu probably won’t take the initiative to look for Uncle Hao. At most, he’ll mention it to Uncle Hao when they meet, and he’d have to be thick-skinned to ask for this favor.”

Student Xiao Wang was biting an apple with a sizzling sound, and was using her brain to analyze the situation for her man.

"That makes sense. I feel relieved then." Tang Zhitong nodded. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was indeed not as good as Xiao Wang in this matter.

"Congratulations, Chief Tang, this has been successfully completed. I guess it will spread throughout your bureau soon. It can be considered a blessing in disguise." Student Xiao Wang winked at Tang Zhitong mischievously.

"Well, I hate fighting and intrigue. They're all boring. Isn't it enough to just do my job well?" Tang Zhitong smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Comrade Xiao Tang, such thoughts as yours are unacceptable, and things are not up to you." Student Xiao Wang preached mischievously.

"Well, I understand the logic, but I simply don't like it and want to live an easier life." Tang Zhitong sat by the stove and lit a cigarette. After a while, the fire was lit, and when the air passed through the chimney, it made a humming sound.

"Your level is not high now, no one will do anything to you. Let's talk about the future later." Student Xiao Wang had no good solution to this problem.

When it comes to fighting for personal interests, Xiao Wang is indeed not as good as Tang Zhitong, but in this respect, influenced by her family and the influence of her surroundings, she is much better than Tang Zhitong.

"Well, let's talk about it later. Believe in the wisdom of my future self." Tang Zhitong joked. Not to mention the municipal bureau where he was, even a small unit of only a few people could be divided into several groups.

People are profit-seeking; this is their innate nature. There are definitely people who can truly escape from vulgar tastes, but they are very few.

Throughout history, we can see that many things just go on like this, with the company eventually going bankrupt. Then a new boss comes along, the company becomes bigger and stronger, and success continues.

The prerequisite is that you don’t meet people like Huang Chao.

"What are you going to do with that cellar? We don't have much money, how about I ask my mom for some?" Classmate Xiao Wang was also sitting next to the stove.

The fire was burning brightly, and it felt a bit toasty. It was no worse than the heating in Chunshu Hutong, but it would go out at night, and my nose would be a bit cold when I sleep at night. But since someone was holding me, Xiao Wang liked it very much.

"No, I have my own plans." Tang Zhitong immediately rejected Xiao Wang's proposal.

"I plan to dig the hole myself, and then pull back some wall bricks from the city wall. They are the ones our school used to build the swimming pool. Then I will ask the craftsmen from the Housing Authority to build a wall and a roof. The job will be done in two days. Including the building materials, I don't think it will cost more than ten dollars." Tang Zhitong laid out his plan.

Tang Zhitong certainly knew that the family didn't have much money. The little money they had saved had already been used to buy a Phoenix bicycle, and the rest, plus the salary they had just received, was only a few dozen yuan.

"Okay. Then I'll find you at the city wall after get off work and we'll move home together." Xiao Wang said excitedly. She was very interested in building her own nest. She had only come a few times when the wing was built last time because she was not married yet. She didn't want to miss it this time.

"No, the bricks of the city wall are very heavy, and it's snowing, so the road is slippery. I'm worried about you going. Just stay at home and help with the soil." Tang Zhitong shook his head and refused without hesitation. The reason why he dared to go in such weather was because he had the plug-in to rely on, otherwise he would have to think twice.

When Tang Zhitong thought of Tong Wang, Old Tong was sneezing at home wrapped in a quilt.

"Father, is it worth your while? You're still waiting outside in such a cold weather. The city is so big, who knows where he is?" Tong Wang's son was serving him, bringing a bowl of boiled ginger soup and watching Tong Wang drink it.

"You know nothing! From the Zhou Dynasty to the Republic of China, a total of more than 3,000 years, there have been more than 5,000 recorded famines! There were at least two famines a year. Aren't there enough people who exchanged their own children for food?

When the Qing Dynasty was still in existence, slaves rushed to deliver food, so we had to eat, but the Qing Dynasty was gone! It was still okay during the Republic of China. As long as you had money, you could buy food.

But what about now? Everything is ticket-based, restaurants don’t require tickets, can you queue up? ?
I asked you to buy some food a long time ago, but you believed what was said in the newspaper, saying that there was more food than you could eat, and you used the money I gave you to gamble!

Why did I give birth to a loser like you? ? "

Tong Wang finished drinking the ginger soup, wrapped himself in the quilt, and yelled at his son on the bed. If he didn't want to be cold again, he would have kicked this useless thing out.

Xiao Tong lowered his head and said nothing. He was so desperate that he wanted to say: "I am just like my father. I am just like this. What can you do to me?"

Tong Wang got tired of scolding his son, so he said to him, "Go away! I get angry just by looking at you!"

Tong Wang, who was old but had not lived a dog's life, had long realized that the situation was not right. With the mentality that some preparation was better than no preparation, he asked his son to go outside the city to buy some food.

Who knew that this kid lied and said he had bought it and put it in another yard, but actually took the money to gamble and lost it all!
What’s even more infuriating is that I’m in so much debt!
If the creditor hadn’t come to his house a while ago, Tong Wang would still be kept in the dark.

Not all the Eight Banners were spendthrifts who only cared about raising birds in cages. Those with real financial resources also attached great importance to their children's education. Instead of sending their children to private schools, they would directly hire private tutors. Tong Wang and his brothers were among them.

Tong Wang does understand physiognomy, and his speculations are mostly based on his own knowledge.

In this year, I can buy two pots at a time, and I won’t be tempted even if I ask him to treat me to meat. Plus, that bicycle, although a model from a few years ago, is imported!

Tong Wang certainly didn’t know Tang Zhitong’s background, but he couldn’t help but imagine from these details: This is a guy who can get meat!

Especially after Tang Zhitong lost money, Tong Wang saw the greed for yellow croaker in his eyes and thought it was a sure thing.

It was precisely because of this kind of confidence that Tong Wang didn't even ask Tang Zhitong's name, but just waited for him to come with the things and ask him to buy them at a high price.

Tong Wang was used to fine clothes and delicious food, and he was not used to the current life of having nothing. Each person only had half a pound of meat per month, which was not even enough for a lavish meal like he used to have!
Although he wanted to eat meat, Tong Wang was not stupid. He was thinking about how to bargain for Tang Zhitong when he came to him with the meat.

How could I have imagined that I would wait and see and still hear no news. It’s been almost half a month and there’s still no news at all!

Tong Wang could no longer sit still, so he rode his tricycle and headed in the direction where Tang Zhitong had left.

He walked around the city in broad daylight, and when he got off work, he stood on the side of the road looking around, afraid that Tang Zhitong would slip away from under his nose.

As a result, after several days, not a single hair of Tang Zhitong was seen.

Tong Wang was so regretful. If he had known earlier, why did he pretend to be so profound? He should have just thrown a yellow croaker at him and asked his name!

Tong Wang has been craving for meat lately. He even dreams about eating meat. He can eat a whole cow in just three bites!

After waking up from the dream, Tong Wang couldn't believe that he would have such a dream.

The next day was November 11th, the ninth day of the tenth lunar month, a Tuesday, and it snowed.

Tang Zhitong got up, had his meal, and sent his classmate Xiao Wang and two sisters to school before wandering to the escort department. Today was the day to distribute cabbages.

Due to the snow, many people were late for work, many shops on the street were closed, and there were no public telephones to use. This was force majeure, and no one would deduct wages based on attendance.

There were cabbages hanging in front, so not so many people from the escort department were late.

After Tang Zhitong arrived at work, he first used the phone in Fangyuan's office to call Room 219 of Dormitory and told Lu Jian that he had a task at work today and should tell the teacher the truth if he asked any questions.

Fang Yuan discussed with Ms. Chen from the trade union and decided to give each employee ten cabbages. The trade union would participate this time, and it would be considered a welfare benefit given to everyone by the trade union.

Tang Zhitong had no objection to this. Fang Yuan must have his own reasons for doing so, so he could just do it himself.

Because there was no need to weigh them, the distribution was very fast. Tang Zhitong picked out the big ones to distribute to everyone, and kept the small ones for Gao Lide in the cafeteria to use for cooking. Anyway, they wouldn't be wasted.

Ten cabbages can fill half a sack. Those who are off duty or on business trips either come themselves after hearing the news, or their family members come. In any case, everyone can't hide the smiles on their faces and they are all beaming with joy.

For a while, there were sacks next to the offices of all the people in the escort department. While working, everyone was sharing their cooking experiences: how to cook cabbage to make it taste good.

Tang Zhitong definitely would not get involved. He distributed the cabbages according to the roster. After a final count, he found that some colleagues still did not come to claim them, probably because they did not receive the news.

With the assistance of the logistics department and canteen colleagues, the better cabbages were picked out according to the number of people and put aside, and then all the remaining cabbages were gathered in a room and locked up.

Tang Zhitong handed the keys and roster to Sister Chen from the union and made the handover.

Sister Chen was very happy and stuffed a handful of movie tickets into my hand without hesitation: "This is a benefit from our department. You were in school recently and I didn't see you. I saved these for you."

"Oh, thank you, Sister Chen. I'm sorry for your trouble." Since Sister Chen said it was a welfare, Tang Zhitong naturally had no reason to refuse. As for whether it was, it must be.

After coming out of the union office, Tang Zhitong planned to carry his cabbage home, but before leaving, he went to Fang Yuan's office.

"Brother Yuan, some colleagues haven't come to claim their cabbages yet. I've already made it clear with Sister Chen. Do you have anything else to do?" Tang Zhitong knocked on the door and handed Fang Yuan a cigarette after entering.

"It's okay. You still have to go to school, right? Just go about your business and be careful on the road." Fang Yuan didn't take the cigarette and waved at Tang Zhitong.

"Okay, see you later, Brother Yuan." Tang Zhitong put the cigarettes back into the cigarette box, went out and closed the door.

Tang Zhitong didn't plan to go to school today. Since he had asked for leave, he might as well do his own things, such as getting some bricks for the city wall.

(End of this chapter)