Chapter 61: New Year

The New Year's Eve in 1923 was here. During the old calendar, both governments and shops were closed. Everyone was busy visiting relatives and friends and buying New Year's goods. The activities of the New Year's Club were temporarily suspended. They had a half-month rest and did not open until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, the car factory collected the car and got off work in advance. According to the old rules, the car factory did not charge any money today. It was all the coachman's own, which was equivalent to sending red envelopes for the New Year to everyone. The coachman happily went home for the New Year, and Chen Zikun also followed Baoqing and Xing'er to Liushu Hutong Site to celebrate the New Year.

Although Baoqing and his wife were in charge of such a large car factory, at least a few thousand yuan were sold in their account, they did not dare to spend a penny because the business belonged to Chen Zikun and Xiong Xiling's shares were in it. The couple was just in charge of it. They didn't even buy a new house and still lived in a slum.

There are few neighbors in the slums now. First, Yan Hongniang and Niang left, then Uncle Xue passed away, and later almost the neighbors moved away. Now only Baoqing's family, Xing'er's family, and Zhao Dahai's family are left.

The winter slum is shrouded in the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year. Brand new couplets are posted at the dilapidated gate. Every corner is cleaned by diligent housewives. Baoqing's stove is steaming, boiling water is boiling in the pot. Xing'er is holding firewood while pulling the bellows. Xing'er's mother and Baoqing's mother are busy laying dumplings, and the pork and leeks are fragrant.

In Zhao Dahai’s pot house, Dahai’s wife was busy cutting vegetables, Dahai’s lady was cooking, and Aunt Wang served the dishes, and she was very busy.

The men sat in the main hall and talked. There were only three families left in the slums. These three families had a lot of contact with each other and were even more close to the family. Now that Uncle Xue has left, Chen Sanpi is not on the table, and the only elders who can be in charge of the family are the only ones who can be in charge of the family are Uncle Zhao.

Zhao Dahai sat in the chief, followed by Chen Zikun, Baoqing, Chen Sanpi, Chen Guoer, Chen Sanpi was self-aware and sat in the last seat. Zhao Dahai's son Zhao Ziming is ten years old this year, and he is in the third grade of junior high school. He is considered half a man. He brought a small stool and sat next to his grandfather.

Thinking of the deceased Commander Xue, Li Yaoting, who was far away from home, and Zhao Dahai who was missing, everyone sighed. Since the accident between Zhao Dahai, Uncle Zhao's hair has turned white. During the Chinese New Year, his son has no news outside, and his mood is not much better. There are eight cold dishes and a pot of wine on the table. He only drinks and does not eat vegetables. He sighs: "Dahai, this child, is not here to send a letter."

Chen Zikun advised: "Uncle Zhao, don't worry, Brother Dahai has many friends and can't suffer any loss anywhere."

Chen Sanpi echoed: "Yes, yes, yes, a hero and three gangs, Dahai may be where to make a fortune. Maybe he will marry you a daughter-in-law for you."

"Dad, what are you talking nonsense?" Guo'er put the chopsticks and frowned his eyebrows together. He is now a junior high school student and is no longer a child, so he is qualified to sit with adults.

"Yes, yes, dad is talking nonsense, dad should slap his mouth." Chen Sanpi slapped his face a few times and continued to smile.

Uncle Zhao smiled and greeted everyone: "It's a disappointment, it's a disappointment. Today is the New Year, I won't mention those unhappy things, come and have a drink."

Everyone drank a drink together and began to discuss the business of the car factory and Baoqing's wedding. After the Chinese New Year, the three-year mourning period will be over, and Baoqing and Xing'er's wedding date will be set.

While chatting here, the hot dishes in the kitchen were brought up like a lantern, including chicken, duck, fish and meat, and hot dumplings. Chen Zikun greeted: "Well, you guys come and eat them too."

"We've eaten it." Xing'er shook her big braid and went into the pot house again. According to the rules of her ancestors, women cannot go to the table.

After three rounds of wine, it was already dark, and someone started to set off fireworks outside. Zhao Ziming jumped to go to set off fireworks. Guoer also responded. Chen Zikun stood up and said, "Go, go to fire the fireworks."

During the Chinese New Year, Zhao Dahai led his children to set off firecrackers. This year, Zhao Dahai was not at home, and the firecrackers were bought by Dahai’s wife. There was only a pitiful string of small whips, which hung on the treetops like a dead snake. It was lit and exploded, and it was over, and it was not satisfying at all.

"You are so stupid. You should be broken up and put them apart. That's interesting." Although Guo'er is eighteen years old, she is still a child in nature. Seeing that the firecrackers were all set off, she couldn't help but blame Zhao Ziming.

Zhao Ziming was young and ignorant, and immediately cried and asked his mother to ask for money to buy firecrackers. However, he was stopped by Uncle Chen.

"I want firecrackers, we have one!"

A full of firecrackers were pulled out of the house, not only firecrackers and second kicks, but also Western fireworks. Chen Zikun paid for it. Guoer and Zhao Ziming's eyes lit up when they saw it.

So they happily set off the cannons. The two of them held the lit cigarettes in their hands, making a lot of fun. Under the dead trees at the entrance of the slums, a thick layer of red paper scraps was laid, and the sound of firecrackers pressed down all the neighbors.

Western fireworks are even more beautiful. The brilliant fireworks turn into colorful and bizarre areas in the air, like a scattering of flowers in the sky. People in the whole alley come out to see the Western scenery, their faces grow and their mouths are stunned.

The gate of the slum was also full of people, and Dahai's wife muttered to herself: "Oh my god, how much does it cost."

Chen Sanpi continued: "A single foreign firecracker can cost a big ocean. Da Kunzi put at least twenty yuan at this moment."

"Oh my god, you can really waste money." Everyone was speechless, but they felt very comfortable. Being able to waste money was also a skill, which means that Da Kunzi is promising.

Suddenly, Chen Zikun saw a familiar face flashing in the crowd, and then pushed and walked away from the cottage. After a round, he finally found the person again and followed him to a secluded corner.

"Brother Dahai, why don't you come home when you come back?" Chen Zikun asked.

The man was Zhao Dahai. He fled outside for a while. The other person became thinner, his beard was stubborn, his body was dirty, but his eyes were even brighter.

"I've been here a few times. There are always sneaky people staring at them in the alley, so I didn't cause trouble for my family. Today is the Chinese New Year, and I thought that those people should leave. I didn't know they are still there. I'm so fucking dedicated. By the way, is there any cigarettes?"

Chen Zikun simply handed over a box of big front doors, and Zhao Dahai ordered a piece and sucked happily: "Oh, it's the New Year, I really miss home."

"What are you going to do? It's not a big deal to sway outside like this." Chen Zikun said.

"There is no way, I have to leave after a glance. There is still a task in the organization." Zhao Dahai sucked a cigarette and looked at his son who was lit in the alley, with reluctance and pity on his eyes.

"Brother Dahai, what kind of organization are you from?" Chen Zikun asked.

Zhao Dahai paused for a moment and replied: "I am a ** clerk."

Zhao Dahai finally didn't go home because the police department and the military police team were staring at Liushu Hutong. He just looked at his family affectionately from a distance and disappeared into the night.

Chen Zikun told their family about the news that Zhao Dahai had come. Uncle Zhao was so angry that he burst into tears: "This is a rebellion. In the early Qing Dynasty, there were few revolutionary parties killed by Caishikou. Dahai, this unfilial boy, I don't have this son!"

Dahai's wife cried, and Dahai's wife burst into tears, as if her son had already embarked on a road of no return. Zhao Ziming tilted his little head, looked at the adults in confusion, pulled the corner of Chen Zikun's clothes and asked, "What's the bad thing my father has done? Don't dare to go home?"

Chen Zikun stroked Zhao Ziming's head and said, "Your father did not do bad things, he just did what he should do based on his conscience."

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Zikun was woken up when he was still sleeping.

"Boss, the telegram from Shanghai." The bachelor Wang Dongliang was calling in the yard. Last night, after Chen Zikun came back from the yard, he saw Wang Dongliang sitting by the stove alone in the wing room and drinking, so he accompanied him to drink a jar of wine. He was still fainting. Wang Dongliang had already gotten up and chopped wood and boiled water to clean the yard. It seemed that this kid had a good alcohol tolerance.

Chen Zikun hurriedly put on his clothes and signed for the telegram. The telegram was taken from Jianbing from Shanghai, with only a line of words on it: Happy New Year, Quick Remittance.

After a moment of headache, Chen Zikun subconsciously touched his pocket, which was empty. Last night, he gave all the money he had on Zhao Dahai, and now he is penniless.

Since Jianbing followed him, Chen Zikun knew that there were such a money-spending woman in this world. In Jianbing's words, her wardrobe was always missing a set of outfits. When she was a courtesan in Shanghai, she bought hundreds of colorful silk clothes. After going to the United States, she didn't want these clothes anymore and bought many fashionable foreign clothes. Now those foreign clothes are out of season and are no longer popular. When they encounter the Lunar New Year, they are not allowed to buy a few new sets of outfits that have been on the countertop.

Although Jian Bing is taken care of by Li Yaoting in Shanghai, he is still his brother-in-law and can't count on others in everything. Chen Zikun had to go to Baoqing to ask for money. Baoqing didn't say anything, and immediately raised 200 yuan from the cabinet and found a big ocean. He asked him: "Is it enough?"

Chen Zikun shook her head with a wry smile. At the rate of spending money in Jianbing, 200 yuan was only enough for her two weeks' expenses.

Baoqing was stunned now and thought to himself, Da Kunzi, what kind of wife are you looking for? It's just a fire and a prodigal star. Two hundred yuan is enough for a small family to spend a year, but it will not take a month to get to you.

There is nothing we can do about this. During the old calendar, Bank of China was resting and could not withdraw its deposits. Even if you wanted to remit money, you had to go to a foreign bank in Dongjiaomin Lane to handle it.

Helplessly, Chen Zikun had to take the 200 yuan to HSBC Bank in Dongjiaomin Lane. After finishing the business, he saw two people coming out of the Japanese Jin Bank opposite. The man was short and stubborn, with a lace in a suit and a spring breeze, the woman was tall and sable, and the sable fur was full of extraordinary demeanor. The two got into the car and whistled away. Chen Zikun couldn't help but be surprised. Why did the woman look so much like Yao Yilei?
Chapter completed!