Exciting 1979!

Chapter 219 Private Photos of the Queen

Li Chengru's family used to be very wealthy, and they also lived in a large courtyard house near the imperial city. However, his father died when he was two years old, which was even more miserable than Li Guangfu. Moreover, he had 11 brothers and sisters in his family, which made it even more miserable.

Even if the old father hid something and left it behind, there would be nothing left if 11 children took one share, so Li Chengru's future success will mainly depend on his own vision and courage.

But being too bold is not a good thing either, because later on I lost a lot of money in foreign exchange trading.

His main job now is a sewing worker at the Jingshan Garment Factory, which is just behind the Forbidden City. This is also an advantage for him to enter the garment industry later.

In addition, I am also learning drama with Teacher Dong, and have already set my sights on the amateur acting class at the Film Academy and am preparing to sign up for the exam. Today, I helped to look at houses purely on a voluntary basis and got to know some celebrities.

As for whether he could get some commission from it, Wei Ming didn't care, as long as he could get the job done.

The man who plans to sell the house has the surname "Na", which sounds like a Manchu. His ancestors were bannermen, but I don't know if they were Yehenara or Ulanara.

Xiao Na was Li Chengru's junior high school classmate, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and had lost his parents. However, he had an aunt in the United States, but they were not very close, and the two had never met each other.

My aunt promised to get him to the United States, but he would have to support himself there. My aunt's family is just an ordinary American family, and she couldn't make decisions for her foreign husband, so she could only help with this.

Xiao Na had longed to live abroad, so he wanted to sell the ancestral home that he had just returned last year. Once he got there, he would have some start-up capital and be able to start a business. In the future, he could return home in glory as an overseas Chinese and become a wealthy man.

"Because the house was previously used by a government agency, there will be no problem with other residents after it is returned to him. He can make the decision alone." Li Chengru said.

Wei Ming was very satisfied with this. Before the wave of going abroad officially arrived in the mid-80s, there were not many houses like this.

After walking for a while, they came to an intersection in front of them. The three of them turned in, and then turned another corner and arrived.

Once inside, it seemed much quieter. Wei Ming even specially observed the width of the street. Fortunately, cars could drive in easily.

When I arrived at the door, it was not big, but there were two stone lions placed on it. It looked very old. There were also steps and a threshold.

Li Chengru introduced: "The apartment we are looking at is not small. Although it is a courtyard, the area is about 400 square meters."

He didn't even knock on the door, he just pushed it open and walked in. There was a screen wall behind the door, and then he saw a spacious yard with a thick ginkgo tree with a fluffy crown standing in the middle of the yard.

Because of the existence of this tree, the yard is cooler in July. It is not autumn yet, and the leaves of the ginkgo tree are still green. They will be even more beautiful when they turn golden.

"Xiao Na, someone is coming!" Li Chengru shouted.

Soon, a tall, unkempt young man wearing a vest came out with a half-smoked cigarette in his hand.

"Come on, take a look."

Although he was eager to sell the house, he pretended to be calm, and there was also a trace of reluctance to sell his ancestral property.

The courtyard houses of this era are certainly not as beautiful as those after being renovated and remodeled by the wealthy in the future, but because they were previously used by government agencies, they are well preserved. They are much better than the large courtyard houses with multiple households, and there is no random construction.

Also, because there is only one entrance, there are no winding corridors, hanging flower gates and other designs, and some typical features of the courtyard house are missing.

Another thing is that the yard is quite large, but there is no separate toilet.

Xiao Na introduced: "The public toilet is close by, turn right when you get out of the door."

This is why Wei Ming doesn’t like the current courtyard houses. They are too inconvenient to use.

It’s not that it cannot be transformed, it’s just that the procedures are complicated and it also depends on policy changes, so it cannot be transformed at any time.

The advantage of this courtyard is that it is square, has enough rooms, and still retains some of its original style.

According to Xiao Na, "This ginkgo tree is more than a hundred years old."

This tree is a plus for Wei Ming because the yard is big enough, it does not affect the light too much, and there is a place to cool off, which adds a lot of vitality to the yard.

But he still complained that the trees took up space, but he couldn't cut them up because these historical trees were registered and couldn't be cut up.

Why was there a tree on the bed in the hut that Zhang Damin built privately in Liu Heng's "The Happy Life of Poor Man Zhang Damin"? It was because trees in Yanjing city could not be dug up by private individuals.

It took about half an hour to look at it, and we also checked the relevant documents. Li Guangfu helped to look at it. He had experience and after looking at it, he knew whether there were other owners or residents of this house.

Wei Ming quite likes the yard. Even if he doesn't live there permanently, it will provide a place for his parents and family to stay when they come over. And it will definitely be renovated to be more livable in the future, so that people can live in the building and the courtyard alternately.

He felt that this kind of courtyard was more suitable for writing. When he was tired of writing, he could sit in a rocking chair under a tree to relax, or look up at the sky, listen to the rain in summer, and enjoy the snow in winter. These are interests that cannot be found in buildings.

The next step is to ask for the price.

The lazy Xiao Na finally perked up. He held up a finger and said, "I want $10,000."

After listening to this, Wei Ming smiled politely and said, "Well, I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

Nowadays, the price of a courtyard house is usually around 5000 yuan. If the location is extremely bad, the living environment is extremely poor, the area is extremely small, and the owner is eager to sell it, it can even be bought for less than yuan.

This one is larger, in a better location, with clear property rights, and there's a century-old tree. It should be more expensive, but fifteen thousand is acceptable.

According to the official exchange rate, 15,000 RMB is 10,000 US dollars, that's what Xiao Na thought.

But who can you trade 15,000 RMB for 10,000 US dollars these days? Just dream on!
Although Wei Ming still has more than 10,000 US dollars, he can't squander it like this.

Seeing this, Li Chengru quickly criticized Xiao Na.

"Narilang, you are too cruel. You want $10,000 for such a small yard. There is no such market."

Li Chengru was caught in the middle, with his old classmate on one side and a rising star in the literary world on the other. He certainly hoped to make the deal happen and satisfy both parties, so he tried his best to mediate.

After he said that, Xiao Na was relieved: "I'll definitely take the eight thousand."

Wei Ming still shook his head. He held up three fingers: "Three thousand."

Three thousand dollars can easily be exchanged for fifteen thousand yuan, or even more.

Xiao Na was also anxious: "Three thousand is too little. How long will it take me to stay in the United States? No, no!"

Wei Ming smiled and said, "Three thousand dollars is definitely not a problem to get by for half a year in the United States, and I can support myself even if I wash dishes there."

"I don't want to wash dishes. I used to be a superior person," Xiao Na said unruly. "You have to give me at least 6,000."

After some bargaining, the price was finally settled at $5000. Na Rilang was satisfied and Wei Ming didn't feel bad about it.

This only used up less than half of his remaining US dollars, and Melinda should have new foreign currency arriving soon.

In order to secure the money, Xiao Na urged to start going through the formalities today. He was just waiting to get the money and go to the United States.

Wei Ming thought about it and said, "Okay."

It seems that I will have to leave the students completely to Xiaomei in the afternoon. He enjoys it anyway, it's just a little more difficult.

After coming out of the yard, Wei Ming estimated that the tour group had almost finished their tour, so he said goodbye to the two Lis temporarily and agreed to have dinner together at Quanjude in the evening. Having completed such a big transaction, it would not be appropriate to give money directly, and it was necessary to treat the two old friends to a few more good meals.

Wei Ming also planned to bring Xiaomei along. Jingshan Garment Factory is a large factory, and letting Xiaomei get to know Li Chengru would also be helpful in expanding business.

As for whether Li Chengru would wake up early and enter the clothing industry, Wei Ming was not worried at all.

The market in Beijing is too big. There are so many famous commercial streets, such as Wangfujing, Dongdan and Xidan. It is hard for one person or one store to satisfy all the demands.

After arriving at the north gate of the Forbidden City and waiting for about ten minutes, Mei Wenhua led the team out.

He, Yunyun and Teacher Li were in the front, Xiaohong and Teacher Hu were behind, and in the middle were 20 children wearing red scarves.

After seeing Wei Ming, Yun Yun was very excited: "Brother Ming, Brother Wenhua is so amazing. We just saw a few foreigners and he could actually speak to them in a foreign language!"

Mei culture's tail is about to rise to the sky. All the efforts in the past have finally made sense at this moment. It was worthwhile for all the time spent chatting with foreigners in the English corner.

Wei Ming knew that he only knew some simple daily conversations, but in the eyes of Yunyun and the primary school students, he was already a god. Xiaohong was also very good at English exams, but was very timid in conversation.

Wei Ming smiled and said, "Xiaomei is really studying English very hard because she likes a neighbor sister. That sister went abroad to study and she hopes to visit her one day."

Yunyun: "Ah? So that's how it is."

Mei Wenhua was anxious: "I have disliked him for a long time. Yunyun, don't listen to his nonsense."

Wei Ming laughed, pulled Xiaomei aside, and asked him to take the children to the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon.

"I have something else to do. We're having dinner at Quanjude in Hepingmen tonight. You can come by yourself. I have something important to do."

Mei Wenhua nodded. Although he was concerned about the decoration of the store, he was more than happy to be able to play with Yunyun without Wei Ming's supervision.

At noon, Wei Ming took the children to have a meal of braised pork and steamed buns. It was the first time they had seen this way of eating.

In my hometown, braised pork and pork intestines are usually sandwiched inside steamed buns, but here the internal organs and steamed buns are cooked together in the pot and then eaten in the same bowl.

But they only had one comment, "Delicious!"

After the test of douzhi, there is no unpalatable food anymore in Yanjing City.

In the afternoon, Wei Ming rode his motorcycle with Xiao Na to start going through the formalities. This kind of courtyard house transaction was more complicated than the Overseas Chinese Apartment, and involved more government agencies. It could not be completed in a few days, so they could only do it slowly.

~
At dinner time, Li Guangfu arrived at Quanjude first, and then he helped Wei Ming greet Li Chengru and Mei Wenhua. Wei Ming arrived last, holding a bottle of Moutai and a bottle of Wuliangye in his hands.

"Sorry, sorry, I just came back from the Housing Authority. Xiaomei, you and Brother Chengru already know each other, right?" he asked.

Mei Wenhua smiled and said, "Yes, we have met. When I am done with my work, I plan to go to the Jingshan Garment Factory to have a look. My brother Chengru is there!"

It seemed that they had a pleasant chat, and Li Chengru seemed even more humble.

"I've seen your store when I passed by and was wondering what kind of business it was. I didn't expect it to be a clothing store, and it's opened by you, Writer Wei. That's awesome!" The "awesome" came from the heart. If it was an official business, it wouldn't be a big deal, but this was actually a self-employed business opened by three young men in their twenties, with such a big store. It was incredible. That piece of house was not cheap, and it was even more expensive to rent it to an individual.

At this moment, he was indeed tempted, but his desire to be an actor still outweighed his desire to do business. In his twenties, he knew that money was important, but his ideals still came first.

Mei Wenhua also learned that his brother Ming had bought another courtyard house. He was extremely envious. It seemed that his brother had earned a lot of foreign exchange from writing novels. When would he be able to spend money so freely?

When Wei Ming and Xiaomei left after dinner, they left together. On the way, they chatted about the opening plan and the early preparations.

"In addition to Yunyun, we also need a few shopping guides who are familiar with clothing and have good articulation."

"We have already found the people. They are all unemployed female educated youth who have returned to the city. We are also helping the street to find jobs. The probationary salary is 30 yuan. Everyone is vying for it."

But because the current policy is not so open, there are only four shopping guides including Yunyun. Although the street really hopes that they can help share the burden, it is hard to say if there are more than five employees.

"We need to start training now." Wei Ming didn't plan to intervene for the time being, and just let Xiaomei follow the training he saw in Guangdong.

His top priority now is to take photos of Sister Lin and let Sister Lin and Sister Xue become the image ambassadors of Oriental New World.

When Wei Ming returned home, he saw what seemed to be a letter in the mailbox. After opening it, he saw a letter from Sister Xue. It seemed that it was written just two days after he left.

After entering the house, Xiaohong and Yunyun were watching TV. They came back by bus by themselves. Wei Ming had bought monthly bus tickets for them. Monthly tickets are very important.

And try to act in pairs, don't be alone.

"Brother, who is this woman in the painting?"

Wei Minggang sat down on the sofa, Yunyun handed him a cup of tea obediently, and Wei Hong came over with a picture frame.

"Oh, this is my friend Zhu Lin. It turns out that the tape recorder she bought for our dad was hers." Wei Ming answered frankly.

"So how old is she?"

Wei Ming: "I think I'm almost thirty."

When she heard the age and saw her brother's naturally relaxed look, Wei Hong knew that she was overthinking it. Maybe her brother just loved painting, so he asked his friends to be his models.

She put the painting back in disappointment, and Wei Ming reminded her again: "I have to go through some formalities tomorrow, so you should follow the group to visit Tsinghua University and Peking University then."

Tomorrow's plan is to visit Tsinghua University, Peking University, the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace.

"What procedures are required? A clothing store?" Xiaohong asked.

Wei Ming: "No, I bought another courtyard house today and went through the formalities."

"What!" Xiaohong and Yunyun were both stunned.

"Brother, why are you buying another house? It would be better if you save your money to marry a wife!" Xiaohong began to be possessed by her mother.

Wei Ming smiled and explained, "It's still a long way from me being able to get married. Don't worry, I'll have enough money to get married. When my parents move into the city, I'm afraid they won't be used to living in a building. It would be great to buy a courtyard house and live wherever they want."

Seeing her brother's confident look, Wei Hong felt that she really needed to integrate into Yanjing life as soon as possible and gain more experience, otherwise she would never be able to catch up with her brother.

After returning to the bedroom, Wei Ming immediately opened the letter. There was nothing important in Sister Xue's letter. It could be summed up in two words: "I miss you."

Wei Ming: I miss you too!
The next morning, Xiaohong and Yunyun took the bus to find the big team. The big bus from their hometown would take them to Peking University.

Wei Ming first called Uncle Ping'an's house and explained the matter.

"Okay, I'm at school today and I don't have anything to do. I'll be their guide myself."

"That's great!" Wei Ming said, "With you as an example, these kids will know how bright the outcome will be if they study hard."

It's vacation time now, there are not many students in school, and there is not much of a learning atmosphere.

When it was almost time to go to work, Wei Ming called Zhu Lin's workplace again and asked her to wait for him to pick her up at noon.

"No one is home at noon~"

Zhu Lin's ears turned red as he covered the microphone.

Wei Ming then went out to find Xiao Na, and the two continued to go through the procedures.

~
At the west gate of Peking University, Mei Wenhua returned to this place a few days after resigning. His colleagues at the gate were surprised and started making jokes.

"Xiaomei, you opened a shop, so why did you become a tour guide?"

Mei Wenhua replied: "These are all Brother Ming's fellow villagers. I am here to guide them."

The children have been in the capital for three days. As soon as they entered Peking University today, they felt that the atmosphere here is very different from the hutongs and Wangfujing they visited before. It has a sacred feeling that makes people yearn for it, especially the older children.

Wei Hong was even more excited, wishing she could fast forward to two months later and enter Peking University as a student.

Soon Wei Ping'an also arrived, and the two elementary school teachers immediately greeted Wei respectfully with admiration in their eyes.

Wei Ping'an was very polite. He could recognize several of these children and called out their fathers' names, which immediately brought him closer to them.

Wei Pingan pointed to the ancient west gate and said, "This is where I first entered Peking University. Let's start from here today. Xiaohong, you push my cart."

As representatives of outstanding figures who also came out of Gouzitun, Wei Pingan and Wei Ming have the same mentality, hoping that more outstanding talents can emerge from their hometown.

Even if the talents do not stay in their hometown in the end, it does not affect their efforts to build their hometown, give back to their hometown and make their hometown a better place.

At noon, after the students finished their tour of Tsinghua University, Wei Ping'an arranged for the primary school students to have lunch in the Peking University cafeteria.

Wei Ping'an also took the opportunity to talk about the 22.5 yuan monthly scholarship for rural students, which is enough to cover food and daily expenses.

This number once again shocked the group of elementary school students. There were actually so many!

After dinner, Mei Wenhua met Master Liu from the school car team. He asked Xiaomei to tell Wei Ming that he could take the actual driving test.

On the other side, Wei Ming picked up Zhu Lin and went straight home.

Although they were all wearing helmets, Old Sun could tell at a glance that the women today were not his two younger sisters, but probably his older sister again.

After entering the room, Wei Ming was changing his slippers when his sister hugged him from behind.

Wei Ming immediately turned around and met his sister's little mouth.

Zhu Lin hadn't been touched by Wei Ming for more than ten days, and he was now very aroused and not reserved at all.

But Wei Ming did not put out the fire immediately. He said, "Good sister, I want it too, but let's do the work first. I'm afraid I won't be able to shoot after that."

Wei Ming had already explained to Zhu Lin that he and Xiaomei had opened a private clothing store and were planning to find a few pretty girls to wear the clothes they made and take photos of them, which would be like a living signboard to attract customers.

Although Zhu Lin felt a little embarrassed, she agreed without hesitation for the sake of her lover's career.

But when she saw the clothes, her last bit of resistance disappeared.

"So beautiful!"

Wei Ming put his hand into her clothes: "Then start changing clothes now, I'll help you."

A total of thirty or forty sets of clothes were made, and Wei Ming selected five or six. However, they were all suitable for Sister Lin's temperament, bright and elegant, and slightly heroic, and had the potential to become a hit.

After Zhu Lin changed into the first set, Wei Ming asked her to pose in front of a blank wall. She was still a little uncomfortable.

"Usually I take photos in a photo studio or outdoors. This is the first time I take photos at your home."

Wei Ming smiled and said, "This is called private photos, taken in a private house. I plan to clean up another room and use it as a darkroom to develop photos later."

I will be leaving the school magazine after school starts, and it is not good to always bother using other people's darkrooms. With Wei Ming's current financial resources, it is no pressure for him to get a set of equipment for developing photos by himself.

Basically, we only take one or two photos of each set of clothes, and the photo shooting process is very fast. Most of the time is spent on changing clothes and flirting while changing clothes.

Both Wei Ming and Zhu Lin had to work very hard to control themselves from accidentally firing the gun.

After the last set of clothes was filmed, Wei Ming asked her to take off her clothes and then she didn't need to wear them anymore.

As Zhu Lin took off his clothes, he glanced at the door nervously: "Do your sisters have the key?"

"Yes, but we're going to Peking University, and then we'll go to the Summer Palace, and we won't be back until evening." Wei Ming walked over and hugged Sister Lin, and the two of them walked into the bedroom in a tango dance posture.

Only after closing the door did Zhu Lin feel completely at ease and let himself go.

I don’t know how much time had passed, but Zhu Lin was going to be late for work in the afternoon, but she really didn’t want to leave Wei Ming’s chest muscles.

She gave up and said, "It's fine if I'm late. I'll be late often when I go to acting class anyway."

Wei Ming told him about a friend he had just met: "His name is Li Chengru, he works at Jingshan Garment Factory, he studied under Dong Xingji of the People's Art Theatre, and he also plans to apply for the amateur acting class of the Film Academy this year. If you both pass, you will be classmates in the future."

"Ah, he is the apprentice of a famous drama teacher. If there are more like him, I guess there will be no chance for me to succeed."

Wei Ming said to her, "What are you talking about? Am I any different from your master? I received an orthodox education from a film school."

"Yes, yes, your orthodox education is to teach people to use the tongue flexibly, right?" The sister fought back strongly and pinched back.

The flames of war that were about to be extinguished are reignited~
……

(Yesterday's guaranteed minimum)
(End of this chapter)