The strong fisherman in the courtyard

The fair trade and honest management of these trust stores have won the trust and love of old Beijingers. Some stores even provide customers with partial refund services to prevent criminals from using trust stores to "sell stolen goods". In case of any problems with the items, the original owner can be found.

Comrade Li Ming, in a good mood, parked his bicycle in front of the Beixinqiao Trust Store and went in to ask for directions. He found out that all the second-hand furniture was displayed on the second floor and in the warehouse in the back yard, so he went straight to the second floor.

When he went up to the second floor, he saw several sales clerks leading their customers around the floor. Li Ming was not in a hurry and just chose a direction and walked over.

After a long while, a salesperson finally put down the customer he was serving and came over.

"Man, you want to pick out some furniture?"

Li Ming turned his head and glanced at the salesman. He couldn't be said to have a pointed chin and monkey cheeks, but he did have a horse face. You can refer to Xu Damao in the backyard for details.

"Well, I just finished decorating my new house, and I'm planning to come over to pick out some furniture that catches my eye. Do you have any good things to recommend to me?"

The salesman Wang Tieniu has worked in the Trust Store for several years and has trained his eyes. Most people who come to the Trust Store to choose furniture either want to get a bargain or are really knowledgeable!

Chapter 35 Furniture Purchase

As for the man in front of him, although he looked young, he was well dressed. Even if he didn't know much about the business, his family must have some money. If he could make a deal with this kind of customer, his salary commission this month would definitely be much higher.

"Don't worry, come with me and I'll show you around." Wang Tieniu became even more enthusiastic and started strolling around the second floor with Li Ming.

"I don't know what type of furniture you need. I'll show you around."

Li Ming stood there and thought for a while before continuing, "At least we have to complete the thirty-six legs first, and put the others aside, otherwise it will be troublesome."

The main thing is that if I have thirty-six legs, I'm worried that some bastards will get jealous. If I get too many, it will be difficult to deal with the beasts in the yard.

"Thirty-six legs" refers to a complete set of furniture, including a square table, four chairs, a double bed, a large wardrobe, a writing desk, and a dining cabinet, totaling thirty-six legs. This was a popular way of combining furniture at the time, and it also reflected people's pursuit of beauty and practicality in their homes.

When the salesman Wang Tieniu heard this, he breathed harder. "Okay, then come with me. Let's go pick out some chairs and a square table. These two items are closer to this side."

"Do you like old things?" Wang Tieniu asked Li Ming who was very interested.

"Of course I like this old good thing, but you have to take it out and have a look."

Now I am not worried about these old things. It is still a long way from that outrageous day. When that time really comes, the worst that can happen is to throw the things into the space and that's it!

"Look at this." Wang Tieniu said, pointing to an eight-immortal table with cloud patterns.

"This is a table from the Qing Dynasty. We have kept it since we bought it, and it is still in great shape. There is absolutely nothing to fault with it."

Li Ming walked around the square table twice to observe it carefully. "A table with cloud patterns?"

"You are this!" Comrade Wang Tieniu gave a thumbs up.

Before Li Ming traveled through time, he often looked at these antique furniture on the Internet. Although he is not an antique expert, he can definitely tell the style of the furniture by looking at it.

Square table with cloud pattern: a table with four sides of equal length is called a square table. Square tables are divided into large and small. The large one is called a large square table, which can seat eight people; the small one is called a six-immortal table by Beijing craftsmen, which is about 10cm smaller than the large square table. Common square tables include one-legged three-teeth square table, overlord square table and Luogou square table.

This one is quite large, and would be perfect to put in the living room. It would be convenient for many people to dine together. After all, although there are four of them now, who knows what will happen after Li Ming gets married.

"price!"

As soon as Wang Tieniu heard it, he knew that the guy had chosen her. He made the number five with his hand, which made Li Ming grin. Damn, this is too cheap.

"Take it!"

"Let's continue!"

Afterwards, Li Ming followed the excited Wang Tieniu and wandered around the entire second floor for more than two hours. He got a rosewood kang table inlaid with ice plum pattern, a pair of mahogany armchairs, a rosewood scroll table inlaid with huanghuali, and thirty-six other miscellaneous legs, which completed the collection.

When I got downstairs, I paid a total of forty-eight yuan and could take all the things away. The trust store also hired a man to take the things back.

Li Ming also bought a Tissot brand Felca model watch on the first floor. This model can be said to be the flagship product of Tissot watches in this era. He happily paid the money and put it on.

In front of the Trust Store.

"Take care. My name is Wang Tieniu. Come see me next time if you need anything." Wang Tieniu said respectfully to Li Ming while standing at the door of the trust store. Just now, he saw Li Ming buying a Plum watch on the first floor without blinking. Although it was second-hand, its price was much more valuable than the furniture he took away.

"Okay, don't worry." Comrade Li Ming rode his bicycle and followed Banerye slowly towards the courtyard.

Today's trip used up half of Li Ming's money from selling pigs, but the harvest was still quite gratifying. At least he won't have to look up and count the sun every day.

The courtyard of the steel rolling mill, Li Ming’s new home.

After returning home, Li Ming began to move the purchased furniture into his new home one by one like an ant moving house. He did not move until the last piece was moved. Then he stood outside the door and slowly let out a breath.

"Wow! Mingzi, you are quite capable! You finished the move by yourself!"

He Yuzhu's rather rough voice was heard. Li Ming turned his head and saw He Yuzhu just walked into the front yard carrying a fish.

"Haha, I've asked for leave today, and no one in my family has gone to work, so I'm the only one free!"

"Brother Zhuzi is planning to stew fish. It looks like Yushui will have a treat tonight."

Although he didn't plan to have a close relationship with He Yuzhu, he still had to talk to him, otherwise it would be embarrassing for his neighbors. Nowadays, the gentlemen in Beijing all care about their face, and giving others face in a hurry can save a lot of trouble.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?" He Yuzhu made the invitation, mainly because he saw that the Li family was getting more and more prosperous, and more importantly, he wanted to help He Yushui find a partner.

Li Ming shook his head. "Not today. We just moved. Our family of four has to cook here tonight!"

Don't think that Li Ming doesn't know what He Yuzhu is planning. He must want to get closer to He Yuzhu because he sees that He Yuzhu is living a good life. He probably also wants to match him up with He Yushui. He, Li Ming, is not stupid!

There are many people in this courtyard who are greedy for his body, how can he give it up so easily?

"Okay, then we'll have a drink together next time we have the chance." He Yuzhu didn't persist after being rejected. He chatted with Li Ming for a few words and then went back to the Intermediate Courtyard.

Li Ming then turned around and went back, thinking of finding a place to lie down and have a good rest.

After all, he was exhausted today. Although he was in good physical condition, he couldn't stand the constant cleaning.

Comrade Li Ming, who was resting in a chair, fell asleep unconsciously and slept quite comfortably in the warm afternoon sun.

. . . . . .

"Brother! Wake up!"

Comrade Li Ming, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly heard his sister shaking him and slowly woke up.

"Wow, it's almost dark. Where's our mother?" Li Ming asked, rubbing his eyes.

"My parents are cooking right now, hehe, at our new home. It will be ready soon, so I'll come and call you."

As Li Rui was talking, she was looking towards the west wing. The aroma was already coming out. There must be meat when cooking in the new house today!

"Okay, let's go over and eat!"

Chapter 36: Fire at the New Home

When they pushed open the door and entered the new home, Li's mother and father had already set up the food in the small living room on the left side of the west hall. Even the Eight Immortals Table with Cloud Pattern that Li Ming had just bought today was in use.

"Mingzi! Come sit down quickly and try your mother's stew. I haven't had it in a long time. Hehe, I am lucky to have you this time."

Father Li put his face close to the pot of stewed meat, fanning it with his hands and sniffing the aroma with intoxication.

"Stay away, your drool is dripping!" Li's mother brought a plate of cold dishes and put it on the table, and also slapped Li's father. The brother and sister laughed out loud when they saw it.

"For the sake of our son and daughter, can't you please give me some face?" said Li's father indignantly.

Mother Li ignored him and looked at her two cubs instead, "Eat quickly, or they will all be in your dad's stomach soon."

After hearing the Queen Mother's words, the family started to eat. For a moment, the table was full of food. Even Father Li, who usually liked to drink a little wine with dinner, didn't drink a single sip today and focused on stuffing the food into his mouth.

. . . . . .

The family of four all lay on the chairs that Li Ming bought today, burping and touching their stomachs to digest the food, and then they started chatting.

"Wife, your cooking skills are getting better and better!" Father Li started to praise. After all, he was the one with the lowest status in the family. Especially after the last discovery of the slush fund, he felt that his status was not as good as the two chickens in the chicken coop at the door of his house. He always felt that if there was a new thing in the family in the future, his status would automatically decrease by 1.

Mother Li was naturally happy to hear Father Li praising her cooking skills. After all, no chef doesn't want to be told that the food he or she cooks is bad.

"Son, you've tidied the room quite nicely!" Mother Li stood up from her chair and began to wander around the room, preparing to digest her food.

"That's right. I even made three toilets. This winter we don't have to queue outside and suffer the cold." Li Ming is very satisfied with the new home he designed.

"When our Mingzi gets married and has children, this will be enough for him to live in." Li's mother talked about marriage every other sentence and urged Li Ming to get married as soon as possible anytime and anywhere.

"Is this also a small bedroom next to you?" Father Li walked to the door of the small bedroom, opened it and asked.

"Well, I'm thinking of adding a few more bedrooms so that it will be convenient for you to stay here."

"My son is sensible. If your mother chases me away again, I will come to your place. Haha." After hearing what Li Ming said, Father Li went straight into the small bedroom. It seemed that he was preparing to get familiar with his other nest in advance.

Mother Li was in a good mood today and ignored him. "Son, are all the bathtubs in your bathroom like this?"

Li Ming walked to the big bathroom and nodded, "Yes, bubbles can also relieve fatigue. From now on, we don't have to go to the bathhouse to take a bath. There are too many people and it's too noisy."

"That's right, my son is sensible. Your mother is looking forward to having a place to take a shower at home. Your father is not good enough. If I count on him, I will never be able to use it in my life!"

Mother Li kept muttering in annoyance to Father Li who was surveying the terrain in the small bedroom.

"Brother! Where is my room?" Li Rui tried hard to make her presence known, fearing that her place would be occupied by someone else.

"Let's go to the annex. My sister's bedroom is right there."

Li Ming took his family around the house thoroughly and gained a lot of emotions.

"Tsk, Old Li, do you want to clean up our house as well?" When Li's mother saw the house her son had cleaned up, her eyes lit up and she suddenly felt that the current house she lived in was not so nice anymore.

Father Li's excitement was cut short. "Well, our family has spent a lot of money on food storage and renovation recently. How about next year?"

"Akira is working now, so I'll do the renovations for you next year?"

Mother Li thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. But when she saw the watch on her good son Li Ming's hand and the furniture he bought today, she suddenly realized that most of the money spent by that bastard Li Weiguo was paid by her son.

"No, I remember our son paid for most of it!"

Father Li looked at Mother Li who had understood and his face suddenly fell. "Well, I'm just trying to save more money for our son to get married."

There is no other way but to use the important event of my son's wedding as an excuse to slow down the renovation and try to finish it next year.

Only then did Li's mother let him go.

Li Ming couldn't help but laugh as he watched the old couple talking, "Mom, you can live in the master bedroom with my dad. It's very convenient in this room."

"I can live in the second bedroom or this small bedroom. We have a lot of space at home, so I can live anywhere. Besides, I'm not married yet."

"When winter comes, we can all live in the same house, and save a lot of money on coal, right?"

Li's mother agreed. "Okay, your father and I will move in tomorrow. We have no choice. My son has cleaned up this house so neatly."

"That's not right! Brother, if you stay in the second bedroom, where should I stay?"

Father Li added from the side, "You can live in the small bedroom I just saw. Even your brother's small bedroom is bigger than your previous one."

"And there are lockers against the wall, so you can put a lot of your stuff in there."

Li Rui, who was not very happy at first, suddenly became happy, "Dad, is there really a locker in the small bedroom?"

There was no place to put things in the room she lived in before, so she usually put them in the utility room next door, and it was extremely troublesome to get them out.

Although she was calling her old father, Li Rui still looked at her brother. After all, her brother had never lied to her, but her father always cheated her out of New Year's money when she was a child.

"That's right, why don't you go and take a look?" Li Ming nodded with a smile. After hearing this, the little girl rushed into the small bedroom.

"Okay, then we'll clean up the old house next year and live here this year."

With Li's mother's final decision, the amount of moving work increased several times.

"Okay, let's move here one after another tomorrow. The empty old house is just right for storing some extra things."

"If we can buy more food, we'll have room to store it."

What Mr. Li said made a lot of sense. After all, he also liked having a toilet in the bedroom so he didn't have to go out and squeeze with others.

"When I have nothing to do in the future, I will go to the countryside more often to see if I can get more rice and flour." Li Ming also said.

"Okay, but you have to be safe, son. We definitely have enough food for now, and if everything goes well next year, there will be more than enough."

Mother Li always puts her son's safety first.

"Okay, don't worry, Mom."

"Besides, your son's strength is not gained in vain." Li Ming joked happily with Li's mother.

Chapter 37 Interlude

Time flies. It has been more than three months since Li Ming's new house was renovated. The trees planted in the yard have begun to lose their hair.

"Great! Today is another day off. This is the life I dream of in the future. No need to work overtime or work 996."

Comrade Li Ming got out of bed and started to tidy himself up.