1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

Xiao Hui and Wang Liming exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.

"There's a Central Academy of Drama in our alley, and they happen to have a spot for the campus security team on this side of the street. It's a temporary position, though. I wonder if you'd be willing to go?"

"Your Uncle Wang drank with the director and school leaders several times to secure this spot. Although it's a temporary job, the Central Academy of Drama leaders have agreed that if you work hard for two or three years, you can become a permanent employee."

Xiao Hui was worried that Chen Weidong would look down on the temporary worker, so she made a special explanation and also subtly mentioned Wang Liming's contributions, expressing that this job was hard-won.

It really is the Central Academy of Drama!

When Wang Liming asked him earlier, he had already guessed. For Chen Weidong, who grew up in Mao'er Hutong, the Central Academy of Drama was very familiar with him, after all, it was right next to his home.

Even in his old age, his favorite thing to do was to sit with He Yan at the school gate, play chess, look at the flowers, and sit there all day long.

I don't feel tired at all!

"Of course I'm willing, and I also want to thank Uncle Wang for all the trouble he's been doing for me these past few days."

"Haha, we're all family, no need for thanks. If it weren't for Grandpa Chen and Brother Chen back then, Xiao Hui and our Guoqing would have been in danger."

Wang Liming was very satisfied with Chen Weidong's attitude. After all, he had asked many people for help for this matter. Fortunately, he acted quickly and secured the spot at the Central Academy of Drama ahead of time.

"Since you're willing, I'll take you through the formalities first."

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Liming, fearing that things might change if he delayed any longer, immediately stood up and took Chen Weidong to the Central Academy of Drama.

"How did it go? Did it go smoothly?"

Seeing Chen Weidong come out first, Chen's father immediately asked.

"Everything went smoothly, and they told me to come to work tomorrow."

Chen Weidong never imagined that he, who sat outside the door in his previous life, would now become one of the people inside.

"That's good, that's good."

When Chen's father heard that everything was settled, he was relieved. With this job, Chen Weidong would not go hungry in the future, whether he wrote or not.

At this moment, Wang Liming also came out, and Chen's father immediately stepped forward and said, "Liming, thank you so much. Don't let Xiao Hui cook tonight. Let's eat out together, or how about Quanjude? What do you think?"

"No need, Brother Chen, it was just a small favor, you're being too polite with me."

"How can that be? You've helped Weidong so much, I have to treat you to a meal."

"Uncle Wang, I'm so grateful for all the hard work you've done. It's my way of showing my appreciation by treating you to a meal."

Unable to resist the persuasion of Chen's father and Chen Weidong, Wang Liming finally agreed. He went home, called Xiao Hui, and the four of them had another meal at Quanjude.

Before leaving, Chen Weidong took two extra roast ducks. He gave one to Wang Liming to take back, and planned to take the other one home for the children.

He had promised Chen Xiaosui he would bring her some food before he left, and he couldn't break his promise.

"You're back. Did you take care of everything?"

When Chen's mother saw Chen's father and Chen Weidong, who reeked of cigarettes and alcohol, enter, she immediately asked them with concern.

"All done."

Mr. Chen nodded.

"Where will you work?"

"Uncle Wang found me a job as a security guard... no, a security guard, in the Central Academy of Drama's security team."

Chen Weidong replied that at that time there was no such thing as a security guard; everyone was called a security guard. He could be said to have entered the enviable old age decades ahead of schedule.

In the hot summer, everyone except for Old Mrs. Chen, who stayed at home due to mobility issues, stayed under the jujube tree to cool off.

"Central Academy of Drama security guards!? That's not bad, not tiring, and close to home. Have you eaten? I'll make you some noodles."

Hearing that the work arrangements were in place, Chen's mother stood up with a happy expression, preparing to boil water for noodles.

"No need, Mother, we've already eaten outside."

Chen Weidong took out the roast duck and shook it at Chen Xiaosui, who was playing with the cloth strips.

"Sui Sui, look what this is?"

"Roast duck! Second Uncle, you guys went to Quanjude again?"

Chen Xiaoting and Chen Xiaoteng, who were squatting nearby filling ant nests, stood up and immediately ran over.

"Food, Dad, I want to eat!"

Upon seeing the roast duck, Chen Xiaohui immediately threw down the cloth strip, tied her legs together, and slowly walked over.

"Second Uncle, I want to eat too."

Chen Xiaoting echoed this.

Chen Xiaoteng didn't say anything, but kept swallowing his saliva.

"What are you eating! I just ate, you can't eat anymore!"

Sister-in-law Chen frowned and immediately pulled Chen Xiaoting over. Chen Xiaoteng shrank back and obediently took a step back.

"eat!"

Just as Chen Weidong was about to speak, Chen Xiaoan suddenly uttered a word, and everyone immediately fell silent and looked at him.

"An'an, did you just speak? Say it again."

Chen Weidong immediately placed the roast duck on the table, squatted down in front of Su Man, and stared at Chen Xiaoan with a slightly excited expression.

This was the first time he had heard Chen Xiaoan speak. Although they already had two children, he wasn't there when Chen Xiaosui first spoke; it was Su Man who told him.

As for Chen Xiaoan, he didn't hear it with his own ears in his previous life.

"An'an, call her name again."

Su Man looked at Chen Xiaoan expectantly.

"eat!"

Chen Xiaoan was very accommodating and repeated it again, but this time Chen Weidong heard it clearly and was somewhat amused and exasperated.

"Another little foodie!"

He couldn't resist patting Chen Xiaoan's little bottom.

Everyone laughed. It was the first time the child had spoken. Some called him "Dad," some called him "Mom," but this was the first time they had heard him say "eat."

"Wei Dong, you and Su Man teach him a lot these next few days. He'll be able to call people in a day or two, just like Xiao Teng and Xiao Ting did."

Sister-in-law Chen said with a smile.

"Dad, let's eat roast duck!"

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Chen Xiaosui wanted to eat roast duck, but her arms were too short. She reached out on the table but still couldn't reach it. She couldn't help but shout at Chen Weidong.

"Eat, Dad will wash his hands and cut some for you."

"Don't go, I'll do it."

Chen's mother went to the kitchen and got a knife. She didn't quite trust Chen Weidong's knife skills; she thought it was better for her to cut the duck herself. Although she couldn't compare to the duck-slicing master that day, she wouldn't cut the pieces too thick.

However, Chen's mother only cut off a small half of the roast duck, and put the rest in a bag and put it in an iron bucket with water that she had drawn that morning, which could have a short-term freezing effect.

Nowadays, most families in Beijing do not own refrigerators. Refrigerators were considered luxury items in the 70s. The "three major items" were watches, sewing machines, and bicycles. It was not until the late 80s that people gradually began to purchase domestic refrigerators such as the "Snowflake" brand.

Nowadays, most families use well water or chilled tap water to cool meat. They fill iron buckets with chilled tap water, wrap the meat in the buckets, and put it in the buckets to cool it down. This method can only keep the meat fresh for a short time and cannot preserve it for a long time.

Some families, fearing the meat will spoil, will directly salt it by rubbing salt directly onto the meat or soaking it in brine to dehydrate and inhibit bacteria.

Some people hang the meat in a well-ventilated place to air dry or smoke it to give it flavor and prevent spoilage.

However, these two methods are relatively rare in Yanjing (Beijing), but are more common in the south.