Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 24 Biaozi

Xiao Wei stared wide-eyed as Li Zhongguo operated the meter, looking on with a sense of wonder. In rural areas, electricity meters were usually on roadside poles, or there weren't even any meters at all; people just collected money monthly. This was the first time Xiao Wei had ever encountered such a high-tech device as an electricity meter.

Before the 90s, electricity meters in urban residences were installed indoors, one per household. Later, due to rampant electricity theft, the meters were moved outside and locked up. Subsequently, as residential complexes were built, the meters were centrally installed outdoors for easier meter reading.

Xiao Hong was also watching from the side when she suddenly asked, "Uncle, there's a water meter too, can we steal that?"

Li Zhongguo turned to look at the bathroom, shook his head with a smile, and said, "That's not that simple. You can steal it, but it's troublesome. You have to take the watch off and put it back on upside down, then take it off and put it back on right-side up after half a month. By doing this, the watch will run less. But you can easily spill too much of that thing, and then people will come looking for trouble. It's better not to do it. It's not worth much money."

Xiao Hong nodded, a little regretfully.

Xiao Wei said, "It's okay, I'll work hard to earn more money, we can afford it."

Xiao Hong rolled her eyes at him and said, "Get to work, put the clothes away neatly."

Li Zhongguo said, "Let's go, it's getting dark. Let's go out to eat. You can buy the groceries and cook yourselves tomorrow. The market should be nearby. Xiaowei, you can go find it tomorrow."

Xiao Wei agreed.

The four of them went downstairs and drove to eat.

……

After dinner, we sat in the dining room, drinking water and chatting. Li Zhongguo said, "Xiaowei, have you really decided to learn to be a chef?"

Xiao Wei looked at Xiao Hong and said, "Hmm, I think I can do it well. I just don't know where to learn it. I'll ask tomorrow."

Li Zhongguo tossed a newspaper to Xiaowei and said, "There's something in there. The Cultural Palace is having a cooking class, and they're recruiting. It's not far from here. If you really want to learn, go check it out tomorrow. That place is a bit close to the station, so be careful."

Xiao Wei took the newspaper, and Li Zhongguo pointed at it and said, "This is it, Fengtian City Cultural Palace, see? Just go and register."

Xiao Wei glanced at GG, carefully folded the newspaper and put it in his pocket, saying, "Then I'll register tomorrow—no, after Xiao Hong starts school—and ask Chen Hui to help me get a bicycle tomorrow. I'll ride it to and from school, and then I can go grocery shopping when I get back in the evening."

Li Zhongguo nodded, lit a cigarette, and said, "Okay, get along well with the locals. When people ask where you're from, just say this, but don't mention whose house it is. Gradually you'll become a local yourself, understand? Just say you're from Beixi, and you've been here for a few years. Don't tell them about your family situation. I'll write down Lao Lu's phone number for you, and keep Brother Liu's number safe too. If you need anything, contact them. Don't be afraid of owing favors. What are favors for? They're for getting things done. If you can make something of yourself, then it's all worth it."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Okay, I've got it. Don't worry, Uncle."

Li Zhongguo said, "Old Wang and I are comrades-in-arms closer than blood brothers. We help each other out in the county. No one can underestimate us. It's a bit far from here, and if something happens, we can't get there in time, so we have to rely on our comrades-in-arms here. So you have to make a name for yourself. Don't let others help you and then it's useless, otherwise the relationship will slowly fall apart. Understand? If you do well, people will be willing to help you, and the relationship will only get better. You have to be ambitious."

Xiao Hong clenched her little fist and said, "Brother Xiao Wei will definitely be able to do it, Uncle Li, don't worry. I'll have him cook something delicious for you to enjoy with your drinks."

Li Zhongguo laughed heartily and said, "Alright, I'll be waiting for that day. Then I'll enjoy the good life with you all."

Xiao Wei said, "I'm sure I can learn it well. After that, I'll find a job to practice, and once I'm proficient, I'll figure out how to start my own business. This place says it can recommend jobs, so it should work."

Xiao Hong pursed her lips, looking at Xiao Wei's confident expression, her little face flushed.

On the 10th, Xiaowei arrived in Fengtian for the third day.

Li Zhongguo and his driver Xiao He returned to Xiaoshi early on. They had made this trip specifically for Xiao Hong's matter and couldn't stay any longer.

Today marks the start of the new semester at Northeastern Institute of Technology.

After seeing Li Zhongguo and the other person off, Xiao Hong started getting ready. It was her first day of university, and the girl was quite excited.

Xiao Wei sat quietly in the armchair watching Xiao Hong fuss over her clothes, her hair, and he always had to offer his opinions, even though his opinions were completely useless.

Finally, after all that fuss, it was 8:30. Xiao Wei glanced at his watch and said quietly, "Xiao Hong, it's 8:30."

Xiao Hong froze for a moment, then screamed, threw down her clothes, grabbed her schoolbag, and ran outside, saying, "It's late, it's late, it's late! I'm going to die! Gui Zi Ge, pack up, I'll eat at the cafeteria for lunch, you can make it yourself." "Bang!" The door closed, and Xiao Wei went to the balcony. In less than a minute, Xiao Hong's figure came out of the stairwell and ran outside.

You can't go straight from here to the north gate of the School of Engineering; you have to go around the main gate of Nanhu Park. The straight-line distance is only a little over 100 meters, but this detour is two kilometers.

After Xiaohong left, Xiaowei tidied up the mess Xiaohong had made of the room, organized her things and clothes, locked the door, and went downstairs. Today he was going to buy two bicycles and also go to the Cultural Palace to take a look.

He hadn't walked more than a few steps after leaving the building when he heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from the stairwell behind him. Then Chen Hui rushed out of the building, waved at him, and said, "So early? I can't talk to you anymore, I'm going to be late."

Xiao Wei smiled, but Chen Hui rushed out for more than ten meters and then came back, saying, "Zhang Wei, what are you doing?"

Xiao Wei said, "I want to buy a bicycle."

Chen Hui asked, "New or old? Let's buy the old one, it's the same, and cheaper. Come on, come here." He waved to Xiao Wei and called him to come with him. The two turned a few corners along the road in the neighborhood. There was a repair shop downstairs in front of a building. Chen Hui walked over and called out, "Biaozi, Biaozi. Are you home?"

Someone inside answered, and a simple-minded-looking young man poked his head out and asked, "Xiao Hui, what are you doing?"

Chen Hui pointed at Xiao Wei and said, "My buddy wants to buy a car, get him a good one. I'm going to work now, I'll come find you after get off work. Xiao Wei, Biaozi is a buddy, just buy it from him. I'm off!" He then jogged off to work.

Biaozi looked at Xiaowei and said, "You're new here, aren't you? I've never seen you before. What kind of place do you want? Come in and take a look."

Xiao Wei walked into the house and followed Biao Zi into the inner room, where there were about ten bicycles neatly arranged, of all shapes and sizes, including 26-inch, 28-inch, and heavy-duty models, all clean and tidy.

Xiao Wei looked around and said, "I want to buy two, one for women and one heavy-duty. Which one do you think is better?"

Biaozi looked around and pointed to a small pink wheeled vehicle, saying, "This one is for women, it's lightweight and won't tire you out. For heavier vehicles, you can choose whichever you prefer; they're all Forever and Golden Deer tires, any one will do, just push any one of them, the tires are all newly replaced."

Xiao Wei glanced at it and said, "Okay, we're brothers, I trust you. How much?"