1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

After leaving the editorial office of "October", Chen Weidong hailed a rickshaw and went straight back to Mao'er Hutong.

"Second Uncle."

Chen Xiaoteng, who was playing hopscotch, saw Chen Weidong return and immediately called out.

Hopscotch was one of the most popular games in the alley at that time. Children only needed to use whatever they could find, such as a twig, to draw a grid on the gray ground. They would hop on one foot and then on the other, kicking the "one, two, three" before returning to the starting position.

This game continued into the post-millennium era, and children in rural areas and some town schools still played it.

However, with the development of the times, it gradually faded from the stage.

"Second Uncle, where did you go?"

Chen Xiaoting ran over, hugged Chen Weidong's leg, and looked up at him, saying...

"I'm going out to run some errands. Want some popsicles?"

"I want to eat it."

Chen Xiaoting immediately nodded, while Chen Xiaoteng, who came over later, looked hesitant, unsure whether he should agree.

"Come on, your second uncle will take you shopping. Do you know where the grocery store is?"

"I know, Second Uncle, I'll take you there."

Chen Xiaoting immediately led the way, and the three of them arrived at the grocery store.

"Aunt Ma."

It was the same saleswoman he knew, who also lived nearby and had a good relationship with Chen's mother.

Don't underestimate the seemingly insignificant supply and marketing cooperatives and grocery stores; they are state-owned entities that couldn't be more "formal" than the last. Both are "state-run units" that are part of the government system, receive state salaries, and have administrative ranks.

Grocery stores were under the jurisdiction of the district and county commerce bureaus and belonged to the urban system. Their business licenses were "state-owned" and all employees were formal state employees. From managers to sales clerks, they were all graded according to the standards of public institutions. Their wages, cloth ration coupons, and food subsidies were all paid by the government.

As for supply and marketing cooperatives, they are found all over the country, from production brigades, counties, cities, and provinces. They are officially high-ranking government departments. Supply and marketing cooperatives above the county level are organized according to administrative staffing, while grassroots cooperatives are also state-owned enterprises that manage rural purchasing and sales. Their employees are also considered state cadres.

Both were considered secure jobs, and at that time, they were highly sought-after departments, no less desirable than the postal and railway systems. Ordinary educated youth returning to their hometowns couldn't get into supply and marketing cooperatives or grocery stores.

"Weidong's here. I heard you were back yesterday. Since you're back, are you staying? Should I buy cigarettes or alcohol?"

"We still need to go back and buy some popsicles for the kids. What do you two want to eat? Tell your Grandma Ma."

"Tell Grandma what you want to eat. These two little ones have grown quite a bit taller in just a few days."

Ma Mei patted Chen Xiaoteng and Chen Xiaoting's heads, lifted the quilt, and opened the box inside.

Chen Xiaoteng is tall, and he spotted what he wanted to eat at a glance.

"Second Uncle, I want to eat cream."

"Second Uncle, I want cream too, just like my brother."

Chen Xiaoting immediately shouted.

"You two little ones are quite picky; even the popsicles from Xiaodou and Hongguo aren't enough for you."

Ma Mei said with a smile.

Red bean and hawthorn popsicles cost 3 to 5 cents each, while cream popsicles cost 8 cents each, twice as expensive.

"Give them cream popsicles, then three red bean popsicles and four hawthorn popsicles."

In addition, Chen Weidong bought some candy and several pinyin notebooks for Chen Xiaoteng.

He and his elder brother Chen didn't finish their studies, so now it's time to focus on nurturing the fourth generation of the Chen family. As the eldest son and grandson of the Chen family, Chen Xiaoteng definitely deserves more care and attention.

Chen Xiaoteng...

Actually, Chen Weidong wanted to buy quite a lot of things, but whether it was pork, mutton, or fish, he needed tickets to buy them, so he couldn't spend the money.

As soon as she entered the house, Chen Xiaoting started showing off to her sister-in-law.

"Mom, look at the cream popsicles Uncle bought for me, they're so delicious! Only my brother and I get them."

"It's not that I don't want you to eat whatever you want, you just had an upset stomach a few days ago and I forgot. Look at all that's spilled, did you leak from your mouth?"

Sister-in-law Chen picked up a cloth and wiped Chen Xiaoting's cotton-padded coat while saying to Chen Weidong, "Weidong, you've spent so much money. How much did it cost? I'll give it to you in a bit."

"It's not much money. As the second uncle, why should I pay for the kids' things? That would be embarrassing. If we were to calculate it, I don't even know how much money I've spent on you guys before."

"Xiao Rong, Wei Dong is right. If he, as an elder, were to give money to his nephew for buying him popsicles, wouldn't that be like creating distance?"

Chen's mother nodded in agreement, giving Chen Weidong a pleased look; finally, he was acting like an elder.

Sister-in-law Chen didn't say anything more after hearing this. Her reaction was just natural. After all, no family is rich these days, especially since her brother-in-law's family is in the village and recently had their second child. They definitely don't have much money.

"I also bought a few other flavors. Mom, sister-in-law, you can choose one too."

Sister-in-law Chen couldn't refuse Chen Weidong's request, so she picked the cheapest red bean popsicle.

"I won't eat it. It's cold and damp. You can freeze the rest later."

Seeing that Chen Weidong had bought so many popsicles, Chen's mother felt a little sorry for him; it was enough for her to buy some pork to make dumplings.

Chen Weidong didn't insist. He took out two and hung the rest on the windowsill.

He took a bite himself, then took the other one into the main room and put it directly into Old Mrs. Chen's water glass.

"Grandma, I've put the popsicle in your cup. You and Grandpa can have some too in a bit."

Grandma Chen nodded with a big smile; she definitely had to try something her grandson had bought.

"How much did it cost? Grandma will reimburse you."

As she spoke, Old Mrs. Chen took out a gray handkerchief from her bosom, which was tightly tied with a rope.

Untie the rope, open the handkerchief, and you'll find about ten coins scattered inside—one cent, two mao, five mao… including two ten-yuan bills.

"Grandma, why are you carrying so much money? Aren't you afraid of losing it?"

"It won't get lost, it's tied with a rope."

Only then did Chen Weidong realize that the rope was still tied to the button inside.

"This money was saved by Grandma. She originally planned to use it to help you get married, but it was never used. Now that you're back, take it all."

As she spoke, Old Mrs. Chen got off the kang (a heated brick bed) again and took out a smaller wooden box from the cabinet, which was locked with a lock.

When it was opened, there was a stack of money inside, all in ten-yuan notes, at least a thousand yuan.

"Take all of these with you when you leave. Use them when you get back. Hide them well and don't let your mother and the others find out."

"Grandma, please put it away. I have money on me and don't need it for now. I'll tell you when I need it."

Chen Weidong felt a warmth in his heart. Old Mrs. Chen had always doted on him since he was a child, and in her previous life, she still thought of him on her deathbed.

As she was dying, she handed him her bankbook before passing away.

There should have been more money in it back then than there is now, so it seems that this must have been part of the savings account from my previous life.

……