Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Just take those defective products as an example. The money and coupons saved each year are enough for a family to eat for another six months.

In this era where everything requires ration coupons, money alone cannot buy everything.

"We're out of regular stock." The salesperson returned empty-handed.

When he heard that the regular ones were out of stock, Yang Jianguo asked, "Do you have the non-regular ones?"

Seeing his ordinary clothes, the saleswoman frowned and said, "Exported but now sold domestically, Temple of Heaven brand, big name, 15.5 yuan?"

The salesperson spoke in short, deliberate syllables, as if afraid the man might misunderstand.

Five yuan is enough for a person's food for a month, and 15.5 yuan is for a shirt?

It's really expensive!

But Yang Jianguo insisted: "I'll buy it."

You only get married once in your life, it's not like you don't have the money.

He readily pulled out his cloth coupons and money, and the salesperson looked at him with unexpected respect and handed him the goods.

As expected of a major brand that originally exported to the domestic market, it's snow-white, exactly like a white shirt.

"Hey~"

I chuckled self-deprecatingly and noticed the embroidered words "Exquisite Craftsmanship" and "Made in China" on the label.

Yang Jianguo was a little proud. He thought that if a man like him showed off his trademark, the girls on the street would have matchmakers lining up at his doorstep.

15.5 yuan to buy a shirt, what kind of family does that belong to?

But the thought that being poorer was considered glorious, and that class background...

Yang Jianguo then realized he was overthinking things. If he really did that, people might think he was a capitalist and stay far away from him.

If the ingredients are bad, it could kill someone.

I've bought a shirt, so I don't need to buy pants anymore; my current pants are pretty new.

Yang Jianguo mainly felt that being too high-profile all of a sudden was going too far and could easily attract trouble.

He wasn't afraid of being investigated, as the tickets and money provided by the system were all verifiable.

He received 10 "big ten-yuan cards" for signing in earlier, which was a reward from the factory.

He was praised for setting a good example, serving as a role model for workers, demonstrating high awareness, and being a good comrade. He is hereby awarded this prize.

And the bicycle ticket in his hand was personally given to him by Director Yang after he heard that he had passed the fourth-level riveting worker assessment.

Yang Jianguo couldn't figure out whether it was his own intention to give it or if he only had the idea because of the system check-in.

However, no matter who comes to investigate, there won't be any problem!

No problem doesn't mean no trouble.

"Yang Jianguo, don't get carried away. You just want to get married and settle down. Let's take it slow."

After muttering a few words to himself, Yang Jianguo walked towards the bicycle.

"Comrade, I'd like to look after a bicycle."

This time, before the other party could even speak, Yang Jianguo took out the bicycle ticket on his own initiative.

Buying a shirt for 15.5 yuan is too extravagant, but buying a bicycle, although more expensive, is more affordable.

There are many domestic bicycle brands, such as Tianjin's "Flying Pigeon" and "Red Flag", Shenyang's "Baishan" and "Jinggong", and Qingdao's "Golden Deer", all of which are quite good.

Among them, the brands 'Yongjiu', 'Fenghuang', and 'Feige' are the most well-known.

Phoenix brand products, as a representative of light industry, were presented as gifts to foreign dignitaries.

Besides brands, bicycles also come in different models.

The Forever 13 and 17 models, the Phoenix 18 model, and the Flying Pigeon large chain set are among the best-selling models.

Tickets are also the hardest to get and are the most expensive.

In later times, this would be equivalent to a limited-edition model from a top-tier brand.

The sales clerk glanced at his ticket: Phoenix 18.

Amazing!

"Phoenix 18 costs 219 yuan."

"Here you go."

Do you want your car inspected?

Yang Jianguo was polite, and the salesperson was polite too. Anyone who could get a Phoenix 18 ticket was no ordinary person.

If someone is being so polite, wouldn't it be like he's looking for trouble if he then gives them a hard time?

"No need. The factory quality inspectors are no more experienced than me, and our supply and marketing cooperative can't sell substandard products."

Yang Jianguo's gesture brought a smile to the salesman's face for the first time: "Looks like you know your stuff. You can take the bike, and I'll give you a tube of chain oil for free."

"That's generous." Yang Jianguo cupped his hands in greeting, put the chain oil in his pocket, and pushed the bike away.

"Hey, look at him, that's what a real man is." Even after the man had walked away, the salesperson still couldn't help but praise him a couple more times.

It's like I'm hosting a guy, what an honor!

The process of getting the certificate and having it stamped cost another 12 cents.

That's all for this trip to the supply and marketing cooperative; next stop: the vegetable market.

When we arrived at the market, we used a large iron chain that we had bought along the way to secure the car.

Yang Jianguo took the opportunity to check the coupons in the warehouse. There were still about a hundred catties of meat coupons left, which should be enough.

"Give me an old hen, and buy a fish to make braised crucian carp," Yang Jianguo said, walking deeper into the market.

Chapter Seven: Everyone's Schemes, Trying to Introduce Yang Jianguo to a Partner

"Come and see the fresh river shrimp."

Upon hearing that there were shrimp, Yang Jianguo's eyes lit up and he went over to them.

The fresh river shrimp were each a handful long. Yang Jianguo bought twenty of them in one go and paid seven ounces of meat coupons.

Twenty river shrimp cost two yuan, plus seven ounces of meat coupons.

Don't complain about the price; it's not available every day.

There was fish and shrimp, an old hen, braised beef from the warehouse, and cooked braised pork.

Milk candy, chocolate, sunflower seeds, fruit...

Okay!

Yang Jianguo hung the old hen, fish, and live shrimp on the back seat of the car, then got on and drove back.

We agreed to meet at noon. I'll go back and pack up now; the person should be arriving soon.

Before mealtime, only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled remain in the courtyard.

As soon as Yang Jianguo pushed his cart to the gate, the three women who were cooling off in the courtyard were all surprised.

Is Yang Jianguo desperate to make ends meet, buying so much food?

"Jianguo, are you entertaining your blind date?"

"Ah, it's our first meeting, we shouldn't be too formal."

"I'll go back and get ready first. Auntie, you can rest."

Upon arriving at the central courtyard, Granny Jia, having heard the commotion, hid behind the window to peek again.

Yang Jianguo was pushing his bicycle, with chickens, fish, and river shrimp hanging on it.

This infuriated Jia Zhangshi. "That damned Yang Jianguo, he eats so well every day, does he think he's some kind of landlord?"

"Even if he wants to get married, it's destined to end in divorce."

The old woman cursed inwardly, while Yang Jianguo opened the door and began preparing the ingredients.

He carried the old hen with its legs tied, found a basin for slaughtering chickens, hooked the rope with his fingers, and pinched the hen's comb with his thumb and forefinger.

Offer the chicken's neck up, then swiftly chop it down.

The scalding hot chicken blood flowed into the basin.

Once the chicken stopped hopping around, Yang Jianguo hung it on the windowsill outside the door and then went to prepare the fish and shrimp.

River shrimp can be boiled, then dipped in a little aged vinegar and sesame oil for a delicious flavor.

Braised crucian carp is no challenge for him either.

I got a cooking card from checking in earlier. I wouldn't dare say I cook better than a professional chef, but I can still make decent home-style meals.

Yang Jianguo took out the soybean oil provided by the system, heated the oil in a wok, and started cooking the fish.

Cook the fish until it's half-cooked, then plate it. When people are almost here, just stir it in the pan again, and it's ready to serve.

The flavor penetrates even better, it's just as good.

Remove the heads and veins from the shrimp and set them aside in a bowl.

The hen outside had finished bleeding. As soon as Yang Jianguo went out, he saw Banggeng squatting under the windowsill, holding a basin full of chicken blood.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Banggeng was startled and quickly let go of his hand. "I...I...I'll help you pour out the chicken blood."

Yang Jianguo was strong and tall, looking even more robust than Sha Zhu.

If someone catches you red-handed, how can you not be afraid?

"No need, I'm going to make chicken blood cubes with this blood. Let's go back!"

Yang Jianguo picked up the basin, flicked the rope on the chicken leg with his finger, hooked it, and went back into the house.

Bang!

The door is closed.

Banggeng returned home to find his grandmother scolding Yang Jianguo, "You damned brat, you're so stingy with your energy, you're doomed to have a miserable future."

“Exactly, it’s not much better.” Banggeng echoed.

Little Dang, who was squatting inside playing, couldn't understand, but he thought it was great that Uncle Yang's family outside had meat to eat.

Just thinking about having a bite makes her mouth water.

In Granny Jia's family, any meat she had was reserved for herself and her beloved grandson.

Xiao Dang occasionally gets a little bit of meat broth, but Qin Huairu doesn't even get to lick the plate clean; her daughter licks it all up.

……

At noon, Aunt Liu came in a few minutes late, just in time.

A girl followed behind him; she was delicate and her head was down, so his face was not clearly visible.

"Is it possible to get this thin?"

"Whose daughter is this? This Aunt Liu is so unreliable."

The second and third aunties huddled together and whispered, then followed to see what was going on.

Judging from their standards, this girl is definitely not suitable.

Putting aside the question of whether or not I can have children, I just hope this body of mine doesn't become a walking pharmacy, which would be a burden for the rest of my life.

At this moment, the three aunts considered suitable candidates and introduced them to Yang Jianguo.

Previously, when Aunt Liu introduced him to potential partners, they would each get a meal of braised pork.

This time, the meal included chicken, fish, and shrimp.

If I were to introduce him to someone, she couldn't possibly be worse than this, could she?

As the saying goes, "One who stays near ink gets stained black," and after living with Uncle San for half his life, Aunt San has also started to scheme against him.

The second aunt was also thinking that her own niece was of marriageable age.