The booming era begins with the director of the Propaganda Department!

Chapter 332 Adopt Zhang Handong! !

After entering the year 1959, the days seemed to have accelerated, passing by one by one.

Zhang Shenfei's work at Yenching University got on track. Just as he had guessed before, after the famine, many students began to send the scholarships given to them by the school back to their hometowns.

More people began to join the work-study society. Fortunately, because of helping the major factories in the city to set up farms, Zhang Shenfei connected with more factories and provided more job opportunities for students.

at the same time,

When the daughter of the old Yi family was 100 days old, she finally had a name, Yi Weihong. Yi Weihong was the child that the old Yi couple had been waiting for for more than 20 years. The couple held her in their mouths for fear that she would melt, and held her in their hands for fear that she would fall.

Life was hard. In order to get milk powder, cake powder, lotus root powder for Yi Weihong, and to help the aunt to nourish her body and produce milk, Yi Zhonghai took his monthly salary to the Pigeon Market and exchanged it for those high-priced materials.

The food shortage worsened, and the price of 80 flour in Pigeon Market rose to cents per pound, and was about to reach one dollar.

Cornmeal used to cost a few cents per pound, but now it has risen to 20 cents. Rice, millet and even sweet potatoes have also increased in price.

At the beginning of spring,
The director of the Qianmen neighborhood committee retired, and Xu Huizhen took over as the new director, shocking everyone.

On an ordinary day in mid-March, the Zhang family successfully set up camp in the courtyard of Yunju Hutong.

The old lady lives there every day and basically never goes out.

The neighbors in the courtyard said that life in the old city was hard now and the old lady was taken away by her daughter who lived in a heavy industrial city outside the Great Wall to enjoy a good life.

Everyone knows that life outside the Great Wall is better now. The deaf old lady is envious and hates herself for being a lonely old woman without a daughter from outside the Great Wall to take care of her. Now she eats porridge three times a day, and her eyes turn green from drinking it.

Tang Danniu and Tian Xiaozao would go to Yunju Hutong to cook when they had time. The family would go there one or two meals a day to improve their diet.

The Zhang family drank clear cornmeal porridge three times a day in the courtyard, but they ate dry food in Yunju Hutong.

After a few months, her complexion wasn't rosy, but it was definitely different from the pale faces of those people in the courtyard.

The goose egg powder that Zhang Shenfei had bought before came in handy. Every day he repeatedly urged everyone to apply powder on their faces and make their faces turn blue before going out.

Chen Xueru gave birth to a son for Zhang Shenfei on February 6th of the Gregorian calendar, which was the 29th day of the lunar year.

After spending two months with her child in the countryside, Chen Xueru returned to Beijing and continued to work hard in the silk shop.

The days went by like this day by day.

One day after the beginning of summer, Liu Ma, dressed in tattered clothes, carried Zhang Handong into the city and said in front of everyone in the silk shop that she wanted to borrow money from her old employer.

"Comrade Chen Xueru, I picked up this child by the river two months ago... I felt sorry for him and wanted to adopt him, but the conditions in our countryside are really bad now... My husband doesn't agree with me raising this child and he won't give me a penny.

I hope you can lend me some money, considering that my husband and I have worked for your Chen family for decades, so that I can buy some cakes and flour for my children to eat."

Liu Ma said it pitifully.

Chen Xueru was a little indifferent: "As the saying goes, help in emergencies but not in poverty, it costs a lot of money to raise a child.

I can lend you money to buy cake powder today and next month. But you can't always rely on lending me money to raise this child, right? ? ? ? ? "

Mother Liu didn't seem to expect Chen Xueru to say that. She felt humiliated and her face turned pale. She turned around and was about to walk out while holding the child.

Manager Pian'erye, who had been watching the excitement for a while, hurriedly shouted, "Hey, Aunt Liu! Where are you going with the child?
Didn’t your husband say he won’t give you money? You didn’t get the money to bring the child back, will your husband forgive you???”

Aunt Liu hesitated and cried pitifully for a while. Then she looked at Chen Xueru and saw that she was unmoved. She gritted her teeth and said cruelly:
"I can't afford to raise this child anyway, so I'll send him to an orphanage. I don't want our family to be ruined just because of this child!!!"

"These days, children may not even have enough to eat with their biological parents. How can they live a good life in an orphanage??? Pianerye sighed, turned his head and looked at Chen Xueru again, "Boss Chen, didn't you always want to adopt a child before? ? ? Since Liu Ma and her family don't want their child anymore, why don't you just adopt one???"

Chen Xueru had been waiting for him to say this, but she had to wait a little longer. One moment she said the child's origins were unknown, and the next moment she said Liu's mother had raised the child for several months, and when she raised him, there was no telling who the child would recognize.

When Aunt Liu heard this, she immediately told Chen Xueru the excuse she and Chen Xueru had already prepared.

She just said that as long as Chen Xueru was willing to adopt the child, she would never come to pick fruit in the future.

"I have worked for the Chen family for so many years, and you, Comrade Chen, know me well. I am not such a shameless person.

Comrade Chen, this child is a good child, but our family really can't afford to raise him. I only ask that you can take care of him for the sake of my decades of work for your Chen family, and I will be very grateful to you."

Chen Xueru was still pretending to hesitate: "It's true that I want to adopt a child, but..."

"Hey, Boss Chen, don't worry. Didn't you see that this child has been smiling at you since he entered the door? You two mother and daughter are destined to be together." Pianerye interrupted her.

He is my own son, how can he not smile at me? ? ?
Chen Xueru's heart softened, and she didn't even bother to say the lines she had prepared before, and just made the decision:

"Okay, just for what you said, Pian'erye, I will raise this child!!! Aunt Liu, you will come with me to the neighborhood committee to handle the formalities and register the child's household registration at my home."

The household registration system was only introduced in Beijing a few years ago, and management in all aspects was not very strict.

With Liu's mother's testimony and the relationship between Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen, the child was quickly registered.

Because when Liu Ma found the child, the note on the child said his surname was Zhang, so Chen Xueru finally gave the child the name Zhang Handong.

"Hey, Chen Xueru, this is not your style." Xu Huizhen looked at Chen Xueru with a half-smile, "When did you become so noble?"

Chen Xueru smiled very proudly: "Hey, I will let the child follow his biological father, which shows that I, Chen Xueru, am generous! What? Is it not okay? "

"Okay, okay, why not? You pay and you have the final say." Xu Huizhen completed the formalities quickly and sent Chen Xueru away.

Looking at the other person's back as he left, I fell into deep thought.

How could Chen Xueru be a person who suffered a loss? ? ? She gave someone else a child to raise, but did not let the child take her own surname, but gave the child the surnames of his biological parents. There must be something fishy going on here!!!
She didn't say it clearly just now, but a figure kept appearing in her mind. Could this matter be related to him? ? ?
After the child was registered, Chen Xueru carried the child and sent Liu Ma away. When they reached a secluded place, she expressed her gratitude to Liu Ma and her husband and gave her a small yellow croaker.

"Miss, please don't be like this. I'm taking care of your child not for money. You grew up drinking my milk. I just hope you can live a good life and live a good life with Handong and your husband in the future." Aunt Liu said while wiping her tears.

She cried because she was reluctant to give up her child, and because she felt that the young lady had followed a man in such an unclear way and had a child...

But the young lady likes it, what can an old servant like her do? ? ?

"Aunt Liu, take it. Times will be tough and we will have to spend money. If you miss your child, just come and see him. By the way, you listened to Dafei and secretly stockpiled food, right???"

"I heard it. Ever since my uncle mentioned it during the Chinese New Year, Lao Gu and I have been trying to find a way to stockpile food."

"That's fine. Dafei said that this kind of life will last for a while... If you have any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me."

After the two sides reluctantly parted, Chen Xueru carried Zhang Handong back to the silk shop.

Upon entering the door,

Pianerye, Chunmei, Niuye, Xu Huizhen and others came to congratulate.

Chen Xueru hugged her son with a proud look on her face: "Did you see that, Xu Huizhen? You have a daughter, and I have a son. I still win this round between the two of us!!"

"Okay, okay, okay! You won, you are awesome." Xu Huizhen did not argue with her and said readily. Chen Xueru handed the child to the waitress Chunmei, raised her chin and clapped her hands and said, "Great! I, Chen Xueru, have finally had a son after so many years of searching, I am so happy!!!

Two days later at noon I will treat everyone to a meal at Fengze Garden. It is a banquet for my son!!! No one is allowed to bring food coupons!!! I will quarrel with anyone who dares to bring them!!!"

You all should remember to come when the time comes. By the way, I also have to invite Director Zhang from the steel mill to the banquet. He has bought something from me before."

……

Two days later, Fengze Garden.

Chen Xueru held her son Zhang Handong, who was dressed in new clothes, and set up three tables for dinner.

Most of the customers were merchants on Qianmen Street, including those who set up stalls like Pian'erye to sell foreign films, large merchants who ran trust stores like Mr. Bai, and Manchu landlords like Niu Ye.

During the meal, everyone gave red envelopes to the children. After eating and drinking, everyone was a little tipsy, including Chen Xueru. Only Zhang Shenfei seemed to be sober.

"Director Zhang, please send our boss Chen and her son back home." After everyone went out, Pianerye made arrangements while burping.

"It's my duty." Zhang Shenfei didn't waste any words. He pushed the bicycle that was stored at the door over, rode the bicycle, and headed west with Chen Xueru sitting on the back holding the child.

"Hey, look at this... they really look like a family of three." Uncle Niu sucked his teeth and said casually.

Xu Huizhen pulled Xu Jingli to stand next to Niu Ye. When she heard his words, a hint of loneliness flashed in her eyes.

"Hey...you can't say that nonsense. Although Boss Chen is single, Director Zhang is married." Pianerye said hurriedly.

"Well, I was just saying it casually, why do you care about other people's business? I haven't even gotten the cornmeal for dinner at home yet.

Well, I'd better go back to the restaurant and pack up the leftover soup." After saying this, Uncle Niu picked up the bird cage and headed for Fengze Garden, fearing that if he walked a few steps too slowly, the soup would be packed up by the waiter.

"Hey, hey, hey, Uncle Niu, please wait a moment, you have to leave some vegetable soup for me!!!" Pianerye hurriedly chased after him.

Whose life is easy these days? ? ! ! ! If you can pack up some leftovers, it’s all free money! ! !
Compared to Pian'erye and Niuye who had a hard life, Xu Huizhen, who was able to trade grain from Niulanshan, had a much better life than them.

After Pianerye packed the soup, he carried the net bag and walked towards the street ahead with Xu Huizhen.

As he walked, he tentatively told Xu Huizhen that he might have to live outside the Great Wall.

"Why did you go outside the border for no reason?" Xu Huizhen was very surprised.

Uncle Niu has always lived near Qianmen. It can be said that he was born and raised in this city.

"Well, I can't eat enough in Sijiu City every day... My sister is outside the Great Wall. She said there is enough food over there, and there are even rich people. I'm thinking of going to her." Pian'er said, and suddenly lowered his voice, "Boss Xu, I won't go back to Sijiu City after I leave. How about I sell my yard to you???"

Sell ​​it to me? Xu Huizhen’s eyes moved slightly.

The house of Pianerye has a golden pillar gate, three entrances and three exits, and its specifications are very high.

He had been there before. Not only was the house well decorated, but the furniture inside were all old items, real good stuff.

After moving to the city these years, Xu Huizhen became interested in antiques and likes to study them whenever she has time.

She knew that since Pian'erye was in a hurry to go outside the Great Wall and sell the house, he would definitely not ask for a high price. This was an opportunity to pick up a bargain...

only……

Xu Huizhen said carefully: "But Mr. Pian, isn't it forbidden to buy and sell houses now???"

"Well, let's just sign an agreement ourselves. My uncle has lived on Qianmen Street all his life. If you ask around, there's definitely nothing wrong with his character."

"Okay, I'll think about it and give you an answer in two days."

"Then you'd better think about buying it as soon as possible. There are many people who buy my house."

"Got it."

……

Zhang Shenfei had no idea what Pian Ye and Xu Huizhen were talking about.

After he brought Chen Xueru back to the Chen family, the family of three had a warm time together.

Zhang Shenfei took out two cans of milk powder, some national food coupons, purchase tickets and so on from the Jiefang bag he carried with him and placed them on the table one by one.

"Take these things for now. I've also bought some food and will bring it to you at midnight," he said.

"Food is hard to buy nowadays. My son and I can eat sparingly, but you shouldn't take any risks." Chen Xueru frowned.

It's summer now.
The famine in the old city not only did not ease, but became more and more serious.

Correspondingly, the government has also imposed more severe penalties on reselling and speculating in grain.

She didn't want Zhang Shenfei to be caught because of a bite of food. If the man went to jail, how would she, a woman with a child, survive?

"Oh, don't worry, is your man so easy to be caught?" Zhang Shenfei touched Chen Xueru's head and comforted her, "No matter how difficult the world is, you and your son will always have food to eat. You just need to take good care of him, and you don't have to worry about anything else."

Chen Xueru nodded obediently. Her son had returned to her and her husband often came to see her, bringing her food, meat and other things.

The dividends from the silk shop are still paid out every month, so she really has nothing to worry about these days.

After leaving Chen Xueru, Zhang Shenfei returned to Yenching University again.

It was lunchtime, and he went to the Weiming Lake to look for Old Man Wang as usual.

As soon as we arrived at the Octagonal Pavilion,
But I saw that Old Wang was actually playing chess with a white-haired old man, and behind the old man stood a young man who looked to be in his twenties.

"Hey, besides me, there is actually someone willing to play chess with Old Wang, that lousy chess player!!!" Zhang Shenfei immediately became interested and walked over to watch the game.

"Ah, ah, ah, this penny cannot be placed here, it has to be placed there!!!"

"Oh, wrong, wrong, wrong again!!! How can you play chess like this?"

"You are really...what can I say to you? Do you know how to play chess???"

He stood aside, sometimes giving advice to old Wang, sometimes giving suggestions to another old man.

It didn't take long for two people to glare at him.

Old Wang blew his beard and glared: "Zhang Shenfei, what do you do? Can you shut up?"

The man also said with displeasure: "My young comrade, don't you understand the principle that a true gentleman watches chess without saying a word???"

(End of this chapter)