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

Chapter 542: Gold is everywhere!!!
Old Li sighed and patted Fu Lei on the shoulder: "You kid, you only know how to make money. There are so many opportunities these days!"

As the day of retirement approached, the company held a farewell party for Fu Lei and his colleagues.

The comrades pooled their money to buy some dishes and also got two bottles of "Taihang Wine".

Comrade Li Guoqiang held Fu Lei's hand, his eyes reddened: "Old Fu, you have to write to me!"

Fu Lei nodded vigorously, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.

Several years of military life is neither long nor short, and these brothers have long become his relatives.

The Yanjing Railway Station in August was as hot as a steamer.

Fu Lei was wearing a faded military uniform and carrying a worn canvas bag, which contained a few sets of clothes and a letter of recommendation written to him by Lao Li.

The platform was crowded with people and the air was filled with the smell of coke.

Squeezed in the crowd, Fu Lei suddenly recalled his days in the army.

No matter how hard the training was at that time, when I returned to the dormitory at night, there would always be someone smiling and handing me a bottle of soda.

"Fu Lei! Fu Lei!" Someone suddenly called him.

When he turned around, it turned out to be his old squad leader Liu Guangfu when he was a rookie.

He was wearing a white shirt, carrying a black briefcase, and waving vigorously at the crowd.

"Why are you here?" Fu Lei was stunned and rubbed his eyes hard.

"I just came back from Bao County and was going back to my hometown to get some things." Liu Guangfu said excitedly, "I heard you were going to dig coal? Don't go, come with me to Bao County! There are many opportunities there!"

Fu Lei's heart moved, and he hesitated again: "Bao County? Isn't it in the southernmost part of Guangdong Province? My family will definitely be worried if I go so far. Besides, I am unfamiliar with the place."

Liu Guangfu pulled Fu Lei to sit on the bench and took out a few photos from his briefcase: "Look, this is Baoxian Special Zone. Buildings are being built everywhere, and there is a great shortage of people."

"I am now working on a project with an old man from a yard..."

"Working for a month at our construction site, you can earn much more than working in a coal mine. Fu Lei, just think about it, the skills we learned when we were in the army are very popular there!"

Fu Lei took the photo and saw tall buildings rising from the ground under the blue sky.

Although the photo is a bit yellow, you can see that the sky over there is particularly blue.

Liu Guangfu lowered his voice and said, "Old Li has long seen that you are stubborn, so he wrote to me to ask me to persuade you. Aren't we soldiers supposed to be brave and fight hard?"

"Besides, I am the leader of the company. I will protect you. What are you afraid of?"

Thinking of Lao Li's meaningful smile, Fu Lei's heart brightened.

That night, Fu Lei sent a telegram to his family in the telegraph room of the train station, saying that he had changed his mind and went to Bao County.

This really stirred up a hornet's nest.

Early the next morning, Fu Lei received a call back from his father: "Nonsense! Why go so far away when there is a good coal mine? My family is waiting for money!"

Fu Lei made up his mind and replied by telegram: "Dad, believe me, there are many opportunities in Bao County, I will definitely make more money to honor you and mom!"

Just like that, Fu Lei and Liu Guangfu boarded the train heading south.

After three days and three nights of sitting in a hard seat, my butt is numb.

The train swayed as it carried them across most of the country of Xia.

The scenery along the way keeps changing, from the loess plateau in the north to the rice-rich areas in the south of the Yangtze River, and then to the green mountains and clear waters in the south.

As soon as he arrived in Bao County, Fu Lei was dumbfounded.

The streets are full of people working, surging like the tide.

The construction site is filled with the roar of cranes and the whirring of trucks.

Everyone has a fighting spirit on their faces, which is completely different from Yanjing in the north.

In a small shop on the street, Cantonese songs that I had never heard of were playing, and the smell of unfamiliar food wafted in the air.

Liu Guangfu took Fu Lei to the construction site where they were responsible for the construction.

The boss of the company is surnamed Xu, and everyone calls him Mr. Xu.

Although this man is not very tall, he speaks with great vigor.

Seeing the energetic Fu Lei, Xu Damao's eyes lit up: "It's good to be in the army! You can start as a laborer for a few days, and if you perform well, you can be a team leader!"

Fu Lei stayed in Xu Damao's construction company, and he and old employee Zhang Guoqiang squeezed into a tin house on the construction site.

The accommodation conditions at the construction site are average. The roof is always leaking, and on rainy days we have to set up five or six washbasins to collect the water.

At night, I wrote letters home by kerosene lamp, with ink and sweat spreading on the paper. Sometimes when I missed home so much, I would chat with Zhang Guoqiang and talk about my hometown.

My sister's letters are always long and detailed: "Brother, I got first place in the grade! The teacher asked me to participate in the Mathematical Olympiad, but the registration fee is 20 yuan."

Every time he saw this, Fu Lei wished he had two more hands so he could do more work.

I often work until midnight, and the calluses on my hands are getting thicker, but I feel more and more at ease.

Although life is hard, there is hope everywhere. The workers on the construction site come from all corners of the country, and everyone is working hard for their dreams.

Once, when Fu Lei was delivering cement, he accidentally twisted his ankle. Without saying a word, Liu Guangfu asked someone to cover his shift for three days, and also treated him and bought him medicine.

When lying in bed, Fu Lei always thought of his days in the army. When he was injured, his comrades took care of him in the same way.

In just one month, Fu Lei became the team leader.

I was so excited when I got my first month’s salary of 380 yuan that I couldn’t sleep all night.

He quickly sent 300 yuan to his family and wrote in the letter: "Dad, Mom, I found a good job in Bao County, don't worry. When I save enough money, I will pay for my sister's tuition."

A few days later, his father wrote back, his handwriting trembling with excitement: "Son, I was wrong about you. You have a promising future, work hard!"

Looking at the words on the letter, Fu Lei's eyes became a little wet.

I remember that when I was leaving, my father was standing at the entrance of the village, seeming to want to say something but hesitant.

As the days passed, the high-rise buildings built by Fu Lei and his colleagues grew taller and taller, and the skyline of Bao County was constantly changing.

At the beginning of this year, Fu Lei was promoted to technical team leader and his salary increased to 550 yuan.

On the day when salaries were paid, Fu Lei excitedly invited Liu Guangfu to dinner, and the two grown men actually secretly wiped away tears.

Once, Lao Li came to Bao County to visit his two comrades Fu Lei and Liu Guangfu.

Standing in front of the building they built, Lao Li smiled and said, “Xiao Fu, do you remember that you insisted on digging coal?
Now do you think that I arranged for Lao Liu to pick you up, and that was a good idea?"

Fu Lei was stunned. He looked at Lao Li and then at Liu Guangfu, and they all laughed.

"You guys." Fu Lei's eyes suddenly became moist.

It turns out that all this was carefully arranged by Lao Li and Liu Guangfu.

Standing on the construction site and looking at the young city in front of him, Fu Lei often thought of the encounter at the train station.

If I had really gone to the coal mine, what would it be like now?

He couldn't say for sure.

I only know one thing, in this life, you must have a few good brothers.
Liu Guangfu also felt the same way. When he came back, if Xu Damao hadn't insisted on dragging him to Bao County to make a living,

He may be working from nine to five in a certain unit, and at most he earns a hundred yuan a month.

Now, he is the respected Vice President Liu in the society, with a monthly salary plus bonus of several thousand yuan.

Liu Guangfu had a considerable income, and Xu Damao, as the boss, made an even bigger fortune.

When he went south, he listened to Liu Zhiye's advice and did not rush around blindly like others.

Xu Damao had a clear goal and chose the construction industry directly.

After arriving in Bao County, Xu Damao started working on engineering projects, building roads and bridges, and carrying out infrastructure construction.

Last year, Xu Damao officially established the Baoan Construction Company and became one of the earliest contractors to establish a construction company in Baoxian Special Economic Zone.

As opportunities increased, Xu Damao would bring many of his old family members here almost every month, so he could undertake more construction projects.

By 84, Xu Damao had become well-known in Bao'an Special Economic Zone. He had abundant capital, advanced engineering machinery, high construction qualifications, and more than construction workers under him.

He created many firsts in Baoan: the first private enterprise to obtain first-class construction qualification, the first enterprise to undertake Baoan model project.
Today, Bao'an is like a giant construction site, with construction going on everywhere. High-rise buildings are springing up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, factory buildings are being built in full swing, and infrastructure construction is also being pushed forward at a rapid pace.

Here, it seems that the code to wealth is hidden everywhere.

People later said: "If you stand on the wind outlet, even a pig can fly!" And Bao'an at present is exactly where that strong wind outlet is.

Moreover, compared with the north, the breath of life permeates every corner of Baoan today. The Special Zone is full of vitality and vigor.

The Happy Garden Ballroom became a place for people to gather and have fun in this era.

At Luohu Customs, groups of people line up to leave the country, looking forward to exploring the wider world.

The street booths silently watch over the busy life and become part of the community.

In a kindergarten, the children are laughing and talking happily, they are at their carefree age.

In Bagualing Industrial Zone, job seekers gather here, eager to find an ideal job through hard work.

In the sheds built on the construction site, migrant workers work hard, pursuing the hope of survival and development.

The increase in taxis has brought convenience to urban mobility and has become a part of busy life. Cuizhuyuan, one of the earliest commercial houses in Xiaguo, has witnessed the struggles and efforts of countless families.

College student models show youthful vitality and dreams on this land.

The Kingway Beer drinking competition attracted many ladies to join in, creating a festive atmosphere.

At the same time, a successful man on the street was walking with a mobile phone and shouting, "Hello, hello, hello? Speak louder, I can't hear you!"

This is a high-tech product that was just launched last year. It symbolizes status and wealth, and is definitely not something that ordinary small business owners can afford.

Xu Damao had one, but unfortunately it was useless when he returned to Yanjing because there was no signal.

Otherwise, he would have to show off in front of Sha Zhu.

Baoan is such a great place, Xu Damao simply doesn’t want to leave!

The social atmosphere here is relatively open.

In his spare time, Xu Damao likes to go to hair salons and hang out in discotheques.

He liked to watch the young women in the hair salon interacting with each other on the street, as if they knew everything and formed a unique social circle.

Unlike returning to Yanjing, the changes are not that big.

There is a unique sense of simplicity everywhere, and it is quite lively.

Today, the streets in Beijing are still spacious and very quiet, and the sound of car horns is rarely heard.

Bicycles are still the most common means of transportation for people.

From morning to night, whether it is young people rushing to work or elderly people leisurely going out to buy groceries, you can always see bicycle wheels turning on the streets, and everywhere is full of vitality.

In the bustling crowd, various types of bicycles are like flowing scenery, forming the most typical picture of this era.

Although the cyclist is dressed simply, the bicycle is quite elegant.

A branded bicycle is like the "face" of a family, whether it is newly bought or has been used for several years and is still polished to a particularly bright shine.

The paint on the handlebars gleamed in the sun, always making the neighbors envious.

The children were not willing to give up. They lay on the back seat, shouting "one fast, two slow", and gesturing with their fingers to indicate the speed of the wheels.

Those who are in a hurry will tie large and small bamboo baskets and sacks on the back of the car, and the crisp sounds of them will echo in the streets along the way.

There are no complicated traffic lights at the intersection, and people crossing the road are very obedient.

People riding bicycles, pushing carts, and walking all stopped and waited in an orderly manner.

Even if some impatient people quietly pedaled a few times, they would eventually obey and stand on the side of the road, smiling and chatting with the people next to them.

Bicycles became popular not only because they are practical, but also because they embody a unique culture.

Look, there is a cloth bag hanging on the back of the bike, and the basket in the front is filled with big radishes or steamed buns. This bicycle is not just a tool for traveling, but more like a "mobile warehouse" for a family.

Riding a bike out is also a good opportunity to enhance the relationship between neighbors.

If you meet someone you know, you turn the car around, the two of you will stop and chat for a few minutes, then smile and wave and leave.

Liu Zhiye has experienced two lives, but he still likes this natural sense of closeness between people, which makes ordinary trips lively and heartwarming.

Whenever he had free time, he liked to wander aimlessly in such markets.

These days, the streets and alleys of Yanjing are like the most vivid display of urban life.

Life was not as convenient as in later generations, but it was full of fireworks and human touch. It was simple but not monotonous.

Everyone is busy making a living, but there is a kind of warmth between them that is hard to find in modern society.

The vegetable market in the early morning is the busy starting point of the day. As soon as the sun comes out, the vendors in the market are already in place.

A piece of wood and an old newspaper can be turned into a makeshift shelf, where fresh vegetables, freshly picked fruits and various poultry meats are neatly placed.

The old farmer who sells vegetables has gray hair and rough hands.

Every time he weighed out a portion of Chinese cabbage, he would add a handful of coriander and say with a smile: "I'll give you more. It doesn't cost anything."

When the grocer hears this, he will smile and say, "I'll come back to buy from you next time!"

The streets at night are a completely different scene. Small vendors set up their braised food stalls and use simple oil lamps to illuminate the stalls.

The aroma of a pot of braised duck wafts out, attracting passers-by who are passing by after get off work to stop.

The auntie picked up a piece of duck meat with a bamboo stick, tasted it, smiled and nodded, saying: "It tastes really authentic!"

The stall owner smiled naively and said, "If I hadn't added the seasonings passed down from my ancestors, how could I have kept you here?"

Such conversations are simple but full of sincerity, which makes people unable to help but savor them.

These days there are no chain supermarkets or convenience stores, so mutual help among neighbors is the basis of daily life.

If a family is out of rice, they can knock on their neighbor's door and borrow a bowl of rice.

If a child is sick, the neighbors will send a bag of freshly boiled herbal medicine.

This kind of situation happens almost every day.

Although people's lives were not abundant in material terms, the atmosphere of solidarity and mutual assistance made life in a certain era special.

City life is not just about eating and drinking, there are also many simple pleasures.

There was an old man carrying a bird cage, who loved to sit on a bench in the square.
Basking in the sun with other bird-raising friends, they would occasionally joke with each other and compete to see whose bird's chirping was clearer.

The little kids nearby were running around barefoot, holding green bean popsicles they bought for five cents. Their faces were covered with ice chips as they ate, and they giggled as they ate.

Such a pleasant picture is the most common "happy moment".

At the other end of the street, a few young people were gathered around a very simple karaoke machine, singing popular songs.

They may not sing very well, but they can still often attract onlookers and get people to applaud and cheer.

After the song was over, several listeners hurriedly handed over cigarettes, and then everyone laughed. The atmosphere was warm and lively.

In many places, high-rise buildings are rare, and bungalows and old buildings coexist with new facilities on both sides of the streets.

This gives the city a sense of both conservatism and fashion, as if one foot has just stepped into modernization while the other foot is still in the old era.

In summer, the locust trees on both sides of the street are lush and leafy, with dense green shades. The shadows of the trees are cast on the ground, mottled, revealing a sense of tranquility, right at that busy intersection.

A tram slowly drove past. Its body was silver-gray with simple slogans written on it.

Although this old-fashioned means of transportation is slow, it carries the memories of generations.

Inside the carriage, the passengers are all crowded together.

Some were carrying baskets of vegetables, and some were holding children.

The people in the car spoke with the unique straightforwardness of the north: "Sister, please move a little further in and make room for the child!"

When it was time to get off the bus, the conductor's clear voice announced the station name: "We're at Qianmen!" Although there were a lot of people squeezing around, the whole process was still orderly.

……

Every time it is mealtime, there is a long line outside the He's Restaurant, waiting anxiously.

Sometimes when we stood for a long time, we started chatting. "I heard that the street to the south is going to be demolished and a foreign-style house will be built."

"Yeah, it's a different era now, we can't always live in a bungalow."

The busiest time in front of the hotel is at night, and the street is busy all day long.

The adults came out for a walk, watching the fun and ballroom dancing.

The radio plays "Little White Poplar" and "Song of the Yangtze River", and sometimes you can hear the theme song of "The Bund".

The children were playing marbles, skipping rope, and hide-and-seek under the street lights, and were immediately surrounded.

There is a 24-inch color TV in the lobby of Shazhujia Hotel.

Whenever "Huo Yuanjia" or "The Bund" was played, the hall was crowded with nearby neighbors.

If there are no customers in the hall yet, everyone will sit or stand here, and even the main entrance will be crowded with people.

Sha Zhu was not stingy and simply prepared a large plate of melon seeds, which he fried until fragrant and crispy.

When they saw the exciting parts, everyone exclaimed together, and the sound could be heard throughout the whole street.

Just after five o'clock and as the sky gradually darkened, a shiny black Crown 122 screeched to a stop in front of the "He's Hotel".

"Hey! Boss He, the big boss is here!" Neighbor Old Wu could tell at a glance that the car was unusual.

He Yuzhu was wondering why someone came to eat at this time.

Only after the person got off the bus did he know who it was.

Liu Guangfu stopped the car steadily, then hurried to the back seat and opened the door for Boss Xu.

Xu Damao was wearing a coat and a neatly tailored suit underneath. His hair was neatly combed back and looked shiny. He stepped out of the car.

"Boss He, how are you?" Xu Damao said.

"Wow! Who did I think it was?" Sha Zhu's eyes widened.

(End of this chapter)