The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 439 Winter of
Time flies.

The north wind is blowing quietly, the clouds are dark and gloomy, the fire is not warm, and the lamp is not lit yet. It is winter again.

Winter is memorable because the Spring Festival is in winter, and the beginning and end of the year are also in winter.

In winter, the wind is cold, snowflakes are flying, and ice is crystal clear under the eaves. Every morning, coal smoke rises from the chimneys of every household, which becomes a scene in the alleys.

The winter in the old capital is very long, and there is a saying that it lasts for three months, which probably refers to the coldest days.

It is cold this winter. Every winter Liu Zhiye would think of the past. He remembered that when he was a child he would freeze to death in bed at night.

Their family only had a white duck egg-shaped porcelain kettle, so their mother Deng Ru would sneak a few times into the beds of each of their siblings so that they wouldn't feel so cold when they got into bed.

When they were young, almost all of them had chapped faces and hands due to the cold. In winter, they would use clam oil to wipe their faces and hands. If conditions were better, they would use vanishing cream.

People use cold water to wash their faces in summer.

In winter, hot water is needed, and every family washes their face in almost the same way: in order to save hot water, the children wash first and then the adults, or the adults wash first and then the children.

The same goes for washing feet. When the water gets cold, just add some hot water to the basin. Old Beijingers call this "dirty water doesn't dirty your face."

What Liu Zhiye was most impressed with was toilet paper.

When I was a child, I used straw paper, which was yellow and very rough.

I remember the newspapers my father Liu Jingzhai brought back from school, the wrapping paper for shopping, especially the paper for wrapping tea, which was white. My mother Deng Ru treated them as treasures, cut them into notebook size by hand, tucked them under the quilt, and took out one or two sheets to use when anyone went to the toilet.

My father Liu Jingzhai also cherished every piece of paper. He used newspapers as toilet paper and white wrapping paper for writing.

Unlike now, we have toilet paper, the pink kind, which is better than straw paper.

At that time, people still ate steamed bread, pickled vegetables and stinky tofu in winter.

Only during the Chinese New Year and other festivals could the Liu family have a feast of steamed buns and dumplings.

Children in their growing years can eat, but they are in a semi-starved state just like adults, and no one wastes food.

The most scarce thing in winter is vegetables, forget about fruits. The vegetables in winter are the same old three: cabbage, radish, and potato.

When the winter cabbage season comes, the whole family gets up early and queues up to buy hundreds of kilograms of cabbage, brings it back home, stacks it neatly on the windowsill, and covers it with a torn quilt, as they rely on it for the winter's vegetables.

Because it is the signature dish for old Beijingers during the winter.

Mother Deng Ru would turn over the cabbage every few days. She would not bear to throw away the fallen cabbage stalks, so she would chop them into stuffing and make cabbage dumplings to eat.

Sweet potatoes are on the market in early November, and buying them is the responsibility of Liu Zhiye and his younger brother Liu Zhitai.

The line was long and the weather was cold, so we took turns buying sweet potatoes until we got them home. Our hands were red and swollen from the cold. The kids were ignorant and went home to warm themselves by the fire, which made their hands itch.

Sweet potatoes can be stored, but not for long, so they steamed sweet potatoes every day until they were all eaten.

In early winter, my mother Deng Ru bought some mustard greens, washed them, put them in a jar, pickled them with salt, and ate them as a vegetable.

Deng Ru turned over the cabbage every few days. She was reluctant to throw away the fallen cabbage stalks, so she chopped them into stuffing and made cabbage dumplings to eat.

If you ask Liu Zhiye what is the most delicious meal he has eaten in winter.

That was the winter of 50 when Liu Zhiye returned to Beijing overnight from the S City Infantry School.

Late at night, his mother Deng Ru prepared him a bowl of noodle soup with an egg in it and added a little sesame oil.

Liu Zhiye ate with great relish, it felt like a truly delicious meal.

After returning home to visit his relatives that day, he resolutely set foot on the battlefield of the Northern Dynasty, and was away for a long eight years.

Time flies, and twenty-five years have passed in the blink of an eye, but the memory of that period is still as vivid as yesterday.

Life of ordinary people is not easy in winter. It has its share of bitterness, joy and fun.

These days, ordinary people wear cotton-padded jackets and trousers for winter.

When Liu Zhiye was young, his mother made all the winter clothes for the whole family.

As soon as autumn came, mother Deng Ru was so busy that she could not even raise her head. She sewed soles and made cotton-padded shoes; she bought cotton to make cotton-padded jackets and trousers; she sewed and mended everything, and all the clothes she wore were covered with patches.

My father Liu Jingzhai's cotton-padded jacket and trousers were both black, with wide crotch trousers and a double-breasted cotton-padded jacket.

When he put on a pair of big black-framed glasses, he looked very serious and there was no student who was not afraid of him.

At that time, Liu Zhiye and his two siblings only had one set of cotton-padded clothes for the winter.

If your cotton-padded clothes get wet on a snowy day, dry them in a drying basket over the stove at night and wear them the next day.

What impressed me most was that one year someone came to my mother Deng Ru’s hometown, and my hospitable father invited this relative to stay overnight at his home.

Oh my god, Liu Zhiye and his siblings were all infected with lice, which bit them and left them with red bumps all over their bodies. They tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, and kept scratching themselves.

While they were sleeping, their mother Deng Ru would look for lice in the seams of their clothes under the dim light.

It’s disgusting to think about it now, but it was actually a very normal thing at that time.

At that time, children from better-off families wore undershirts and underpants under their cotton-padded jackets and trousers, while those from poorer families had to wear nothing but cotton-padded jackets and trousers.

Mother Deng Ru was a decent person. She worked hard and saved money so that Liu Zhiye and his two siblings could keep warm.

When Liu Zhiye and his younger brother Liu Zhitai both went to elementary school, things were pretty good. Everyone had a cotton jacket to wear.

Wearing cotton jackets, cotton gloves and carrying cloth school bags were standard equipment for primary school students in those days.

Now, by the time Liu Shuxian's generation comes, the Liu family will have completely risen to power.

The clothes my family members wear are basically ready-made clothes, including sweaters, trousers, and cotton-padded coats and trousers. They are all ready-made, beautiful and warm.

However, mother Deng Ru still insisted on making a set of sturdy cotton coats and trousers for each of her grandchildren every year.

Liu Zhiye has some free time today, and has been able to relax for a little while. The most comfortable thing for him is to curl up on this warm kang.

He leaned his back against the soft bedding piled on the head of the kang, with his feet covered with a thick quilt. Although the fire under the kang was so strong that his butt was a little hot, it also added a bit of warmth to the winter day.

My eyes pass through the carved glass window and look at the scenery in the courtyard. My thoughts can't help but drift away. Sometimes I recall the hardships of the past, and sometimes I sigh at the sweetness of the present. The memories of the past slowly flow in this quiet time.

"Hahaha, comrades, follow me!" Liu Wu put his hands on his hips, raised his arms and shouted, his voice resounding through the sky.

"Go!" Liu Wen, Liu Shucheng, Liu Baorui, Liu Baolin, Li Guang, Liming, this group of little brothers followed closely and shouted in unison. The snowballs in their hands cut through the air like meteor showers and were thrown accurately towards the enemy positions.

Faced with this sudden offensive, Liu Jiajia, Liu Haitang, Li Hongye, Liu Baoling and other young ladies who were as brave as men quickly organized an effective counterattack under the wise command of eldest sister Liu Shuxian.

They nimbly dodged the flying snowballs while throwing them with all their might, turning each snowball into a winter battle horn that resounded throughout this joyful battlefield.

Suddenly, Liu Zhiye’s thoughts were pulled back to reality by these naughty monkeys.

When he saw this scene, a smile immediately appeared on his face. It was still better when we were kids!
This winter is the world of children.

As soon as it snows, they run outside to make snowmen and have snowball fights.

Early in the morning, Liu Shuxian took her two younger brothers to make a small flat cart out of wood. They tied thick iron wire to the two wooden bars at the bottom. They sat on it, while one pushed from behind and the other held two iron chopsticks in his hands to poke the cart, and they played with the cart in the snow.

This is the happiest thing for them. If it is the Spring Festival, they will be even happier. They will set off firecrackers, smash cannons, and run around the streets carrying paper lanterns.

The girls played chua and skipping rubber bands. Liu Zhiye's nephew Liu Shucheng, who just started primary school, has recently become obsessed with two things. One is collecting candy wrappers, especially glass candy wrappers, which he finds precious.

Some of the candy wrappers are picked up, and some are bought specifically at department stores. After eating the candy, what you need are the wrappers.

Liu Shucheng exchanged the candy wrappers with his friends. He soaked the candy wrappers in water to moisten them, and then gently pasted them on the glass. When they were dry, he peeled them off and put them in books. Another thing was paper cutting. He bought electroluminescent paper to rub the flowers and birds and the little people. They were very beautiful.

Looking at the children in front of him with happy smiles, Liu Zhiye felt a lazy and satisfied emotion in his heart. He sincerely loved the unique charm of this era and the simple and warm atmosphere of life.

Indeed, the future world may bring more colorful entertainment, wireless networks in every corner, bizarre game worlds, abundant material resources, worry-free food and clothing, ever-changing travel methods, and ever-changing information flows. However, in this vision of the future, he cherishes the simple and pure happiness in front of him more.

Furthermore, even that seemingly insignificant weather may mean that the future will be less bitterly cold and more warm like spring.

But at this moment, the slightly cool air just complements his inner peace and satisfaction, making him more immersed in the happiness that belongs to this era.

But he still likes this era, likes the winter in the old capital, likes the Tongzi River outside the Forbidden City, the ice in Beihai Park, the candied haws in Changdian, the wishing in Lama Temple, the snow in Badaling... In the cold Shichahai, people walk on the ice more steadily than on the ground, sliding out laughter and having a different kind of fun.

When strolling along the alleys, you will often see people selling sugar-roasted chestnuts or roasted sweet potatoes on the roadside or at the corners. The rich fragrance and sweetness spread everywhere with the wind, teasing people's taste buds from a distance...

This old capital city gives people a bleak impression every winter. The mansions in the winter lack the soft green of willows, but are more vigorous and strong like pines and cypresses.

Occasionally in the alleys, one could hear people shouting "Radishes are better than pears" and "Trade tomatoes when they're too sour"... There are also proverbs like "The seventh and eighth days of the twelfth lunar month, crows freeze to death; the eighth and ninth days of the twelfth lunar month, puppies freeze to death; the ninth and tenth days of the twelfth lunar month, children freeze to death...", which left behind the saying "hibernating in the winter" and "Before and after winter, stones are cracked by the frost". Cracks will appear on the ground, and if you pull the door handle with your hand, a layer of skin will stick to it with a crackling sound.

What Liu Zhiye remembers most recently is that before winter came, every household was busiest about installing chimneys, enameling stoves, installing wind scoops, buying coal briquettes, storing cabbages, and making cotton-padded clothes and shoes.

The old capital city couldn’t do without “coal” in the winter, which can tell a lot of stories.

When he was a child, the weather was cold and some poor people had no money to buy coal, so they went to pick up coal cores from the garbage dump on the street.

Most of the people who went there were children. They would hold a basket in one hand and a stick or hook in the other. They would squat and knock on the remaining coals that had been burned by others, knock off the outer layer of ashes, and take out the unburned cores and put them into the basket.

Most ordinary families use coal briquette stoves, and only those with a slightly better economic situation can afford to use "foreign stoves" with chimneys. This invisible "killer" of gas "takes away" many people every year, including many young people... Winter is the fortune-making season for coal shop owners, and it is common for coal prices to rise every few days. Adding soil, pouring water... are all common means, and coal shop owners try every means to make money at this time.

Today, the villagers of Liujiazhuang have enjoyed collective heating for more than ten years, and every household is warm and cozy.

Outside, the wind was biting, snowflakes were flying, the temperature was close to minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, and the whole place was covered in silver; but inside the house, it was a different scene, as warm as a spring afternoon, making people eager to take off their heavy cotton clothes as soon as they stepped into the house, otherwise the stuffiness would be unbearable.

The convenience of this collective heating not only protects the villagers from the severe cold, but also significantly reduces the use of coal. It is in sharp contrast to the lingering smell of coal smoke in the capital in winter, and truly realizes a winter life that is both warm and environmentally friendly.

All these achievements are derived from the biogas power generation project that Liujiazhuang has been working on for more than ten years.

It not only efficiently meets the electricity demand of the local booming industrial development, but also effectively solves the villagers' daily heating and cooking problems. At the same time, it also builds a solid green barrier for the ecological environment of Liujiazhuang, showing the beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

However, coal has not completely disappeared from the daily life of Liujiazhuang. For example, in some bungalows and courtyards in the old area on the west bank of Liujiazhuang, people still use coal to make fires for heating and cooking in the winter.

Liu Zhiye has a special liking for the hot kang. The first thing he does when he returns home is to jump onto the kang and enjoy the unique warmth.

The stove in the house is constantly burning and the water is boiling. The water comes from the clear spring water in the family's deep well, and the water is clearer than the tap water in the village.

At this time, brew a pot of this year's new "Xishan Tea", the fragrance of tea overflows, take a sip, and the warmth surges into your heart. Pair it with melon seeds and peanuts, and read a book while eating, the comfort is unparalleled!
Although he was comfortable, he also had an unrelieved sorrow in his heart.

The new year is coming soon. Next year will be a very important year with many big events happening.

Faced with the impending earthquake, Liu Zhiye was extremely anxious. He had finally traveled through time and space, and he couldn't let the tragedy happen again.

…………

Whenever the smoke flowing out of the chimneys freezes into icicles, the capital city enters deep winter.

The capital city is very cold in deep winter. The north wind howls through the streets and alleys and rarely stops throughout the winter.

Outside the gap is a wind vent, and the weeping willows beside the moat are like women without makeup, with messy hair and unruly appearance.

To the west of Nanluoguxiang is Shichahai. Now that there is thick ice, it is no longer difficult to go to the small island in the lake.

Pedestrians huddled in heavy cotton-padded jackets, their breath condensed into frost on their collars and eyebrows. On windless days, the elderly came out to bask in the sun and chat about the past.

Uncle Yan Bugui returned empty-handed again. It was too cold to catch fish. Some of the ice was too thick and it took a long time to break it, but it froze in a short time.

Yan Bugui likes fishing. In the past, he fished for a living, but now he fishes for fun. The two are completely different.

"Hey! Teacher Yan is back soon?"

"I'm back! We had a bad start today, we'll fight again tomorrow!"

"Hey! Teacher Yan, you keep fighting despite repeated failures!"

"Let these fish have their fun for a few days. I'll go home and gather my strength before I catch them!"

"Brothers, I'm leaving first. See you later!"

"Okay! Then I won't lean on you anymore. It's too cold!"

"Let's go, let's go back and heat up a pot of old wine..."

Everyone dispersed in a hurry.

It snowed heavily last night, and it didn't stop all night. The snow on the road was so thick that it was difficult to walk. Yan Bugui walked slowly towards home on the snow.

"Ding-ling-ling! Ding-ling-ling!" A burst of rapid bicycle bells suddenly rang behind him. Yan Bugui instinctively thought that something was blocking the road, so he quickly moved aside.

Unexpectedly, the cyclist seemed to be turning this way as well, shouting "Excuse me, make way..." Before he could finish his words, there was a "bang" and then a "click" sound of the bicycle falling to the ground. The girl screamed "Ah!" and then "Ouch", and a young woman fell into the snow pile on the side of the road. She was wearing a heavy cotton coat and lying face up in the cold snow.

Upon seeing this, Yan Bugui hurried forward to help the woman who had accidentally fallen.

"Ouch! It hurts so much, uncle, you have to be careful when you walk! Hey, isn't this Uncle Three?"

The woman was wearing heavy clothes that covered her face tightly. It was not until she took off her mask that Yan Bugui suddenly realized, "Oh, it's Xiaodang! How come you have time to come back today?"

Xiao Dang quickly picked up the fallen bicycle, her eyes full of distress. She put on gloves and wiped the body of the bicycle carefully, leaving no part untouched. After confirming that the bicycle was intact, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"Hey, Uncle, I'm on the day shift today and I finished work early in the afternoon, so I was thinking of riding my bike back to visit grandma and Sophora japonica." His words were filled with intimacy and the joy of returning home.

Yan Bugui smiled and nodded, thinking: "This little Dang is not bad, much better than her brother Banggeng. This kid has never come back since he went to the countryside..."

He took a look at Xiaodang's new bicycle and said, "Wow! Xiaodang is really great. He even bought a bicycle for himself?"

Xiao Dang proudly responded, "Uncle, this is produced by our factory. As employees of the factory, we don't need tickets to buy it, and it's much cheaper."

Yan Bugui smiled and glanced at Xiaodang. She returned to the city this fall.

Xiaodang was able to return to the city, firstly thanks to the hard work and help of her aunt Qin Jingru, and secondly because she happened to come across recruitment opportunities at major companies in Liujiazhuang.

Among them, the "Jaguar" brand bicycle factory, as a star enterprise in Liujiazhuang, has become the leader in this year's recruitment boom due to its continuously expanding business territory. The number of people recruited by their factory is eye-catching.

However, the factory has relatively high requirements for front-line workers, and applicants must have a junior high school education or above.

Although Xiaodang had the required academic qualifications, she was an educated youth from another province. If she wanted to work in the bicycle factory, she had to have a work certificate issued by the factory before the local commune would release her.

Although Qin Jingru did not know the leadership of Liujiazhuang Bicycle Factory, their Red Star Factory was the factory's largest supplier of raw materials.

So Qin Jingru had to find Xu Damao, the deputy director of the factory, and spent a lot of money to invite him to have a meal at the "Donglaishun" mutton restaurant.

After Xu Damao had his fill of food and drink, he helped Qin Jingru to smooth out the relationship with the bicycle factory, and eventually got Xiaodang to work at the factory.

When Xiao Dang received her first salary after working for a full month, she was shocked and said in disbelief, "I only got 32 yuan for my apprenticeship?"

(End of this chapter)