I, Yan Jiefang, will live to 2025 in this courtyard house.

Yan Jiefang didn't react much when he saw the notebook Yang Ruihua took out.

Sitting behind him, Yan Jiekuang clenched his fists tightly, feeling utterly cold inside.

I gained a new understanding of the indifference and heartlessness of Yan Bugui and his wife.

Yan Bugui took the notebook and turned to the page with Yan Jiefang's name on it.

"Jiefang, you were born on October 1, 1945, so this account also begins in October."

I didn't go to the hospital at that time, but it wasn't without cost. We hired two experienced midwives, and the total cost was one silver dollar.

Don't think it's expensive; everything is clearly recorded in the ledger, so there won't be any mistakes.

As you know, one silver dollar is worth about 20 yuan on the black market or pigeon market now, so let's use 20 yuan as the price.

You have no objection to this, right? (Normal price: 18 to 22 yuan)

Yan Jiefang thought of the Yuan Shikai silver dollars in his space. Since you're calculating it at 20 yuan per dollar, then I'll definitely agree!

He took out a notebook, made a note in it, and nodded:

"Okay, it'll be as you say. Remember, one silver dollar is worth 20 yuan!"

I'll make a note of this too. Come over and put your fingerprint here, so you don't go back on your word later!

Although Yan Bugui felt something was amiss, this point was quite advantageous to him, since he could use this calculation for the last few years before liberation.

When it comes time to calculate his retirement savings, he will receive more.

After recounting the expenses at birth, Yan Bugui continued:

"Because of the instability of the legal tender, we used silver dollars to calculate before liberation."

Your mother and I provide you with food, drink, shelter, and clothes. It's not unreasonable for us to charge you one silver dollar a month, is it?

"That's outrageous! At most half a dollar a month!"

Yan Jiefang had read books on these topics in the library, and since it hadn't been long, the information in them was accurate and verifiable.

I know that at that time, the monthly expenses for an average family of four in Beijing were usually between 8 and 11 silver dollars.

The shrewd numerator only calculated his share to be one silver dollar, which was considered conservative.

But don't think he's being kind; this guy is shrewd!

Because the calculations don't go that way. Back then, the purchasing power of one silver dollar was only about the same as three to five dollars (including fare) today.

But this guy keeps a record of one silver dollar, which is equivalent to 20 yuan.

If Yan Jiefang really spends 20 yuan a month, then that can truly be considered a wealthy life!

We can eat steamed buns made from two kinds of flour every meal and still have some left over, not too much!

But in reality, his monthly expenses are at most three or four yuan.

Yan Bugui knew that his second son probably knew all about these things, so he didn't press the matter.

After all, half a silver dollar is not a small amount; it can be counted as 10 yuan, which is 10 yuan today!

He took out an abacus, clicked it a few times, and said to Yan Jiefang:

"Based on this cost, by October 1949, exactly four years had passed, totaling 25 silver dollars."

After liberation, I'll only calculate October 1st for you from 1949 to 1961, which is a total of 12 years.

If it's only 5 yuan per month, that's 720 yuan over 12 years.

The two items total 1095 yuan!

Even so, he was still not satisfied.

"So many years have passed, you can't not charge interest, can you?"

Calculating this interest is too complicated, so let's just round it up. Besides, you can't just abandon your mother, can you? We'll charge less; just give us 1500 yuan for her retirement.

It's only 1,500 yuan, but you only need 75 yuan in silver dollars.

Yan Jiefang did not respond to that question, but instead raised another one:

"I can give you this 1500 yuan, but we can only talk about it after we separate from your family."

When Yan Bugui heard that his second son was willing to give him money, he was initially delighted. However, when his second son proposed dividing the family property, he was taken aback.

After the second son leaves the family, wouldn't it be almost impossible to take advantage of him anymore?

But if you have this 1500 yuan in the bank, you'll earn nearly 100 yuan in interest every year!

Separating the family property doesn't seem like an unacceptable option.

Yan Bugui had an idea in mind, so he nodded and said:

"I'll agree to split the family business if you give me the money."

Yan Jiefang put his schoolbag in front of him, took out a pen, a notebook, and a sheet of blue printed paper.

Place the blue-printed paper between the two sheets of paper and then write quickly.

Parties to the Agreement:

Party A (Head of Household, Father): Yan Bugui

Party B (Second Son, Household Registeree): Yan Jiefang

Witnesses: Neighbors and community committee members (names may be filled in by hand)

Date of signing: [Date]

Address for signing the contract: No. 95, Nanluoguxiang

Party A, Yan Bugui, and Party B, Yan Jiefang, are father and son.

......

I hereby apply for the division of family property and the separation of household registrations.

This division of family property was entirely voluntary, without coercion, dispute, or conflict, and was agreed upon by the entire family.

There were various other agreements, including a one-time payment of 1500 yuan for retirement funds, which I won't list one by one.

The parties to the contract shall sign and affix their fingerprints:

Party A (Yan Bugui): __________ (fingerprint)

Party B (Yan Jiefang): __________ (fingerprint)

Witness's signature:

Neighborhood witness: __________

Residents' Committee Staff Member: __________

____ month ____ day, 1962

After writing the agreement, Ye Jiefang signed his name directly and then handed the agreement to Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui carefully read through the agreement several times, and after finding no problems, he also signed his name.

Then, Yan Bugui returned to his room, took out inkpad, and the two of them pressed their handprints onto it.

Yan Bugui eagerly stretched out his hand:

"Liberation, now that the agreement has been signed, when are you going to give me my retirement money?"

Yan Jiefang shook his head:

"There's no rush. I'll buy a house tomorrow, then get the neighborhood committee's signature. Once everything is settled, the money will be given to you naturally, and you won't be shortchanged a penny." (During this period, it was not possible to separate households without housing.)

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up when he heard this. Could he sell the house where his second and third sons were living to Jiefang at a high price?

If it works out, won't he make another fortune?

"Jiefang, what do you think of the room you're staying in? If the price is right, I can sell it to you directly."

We're all family here, so let's not mince words. This house has great natural light, is clean and tidy, and is very well maintained.

Only 720 yuan for you!

Yan Jiefang rolled his eyes:

"don't want!"

Yan Jiecheng and Yang Ruihua watched the whole thing without saying a word.

Yang Ruihua was a woman who obeyed her husband, Yan Bugui, in all such important matters.

Moreover, she was very happy that Yan Jiefang could come up with so much money, 1500 yuan.

Yan Jiecheng was greatly surprised, never expecting that his second son would have so much money.

He now earns a decent monthly salary of 32.5 yuan.

Among young people of similar age, he is definitely considered quite good.

But with the current salary, it would take more than five years to save up two thousand yuan, even if you didn't eat, drink, or spend a single penny!

(According to records, in 1962, a well-maintained side room cost more than 500 yuan.)

Yan Jiekuang remained seated without uttering a word, but his fingernails had dug into his palms.