pjbooks Chapter 18 Meeting Zhou Jiefang
Chapter 18 Meeting Zhou Jiefang
"Wait a minute, I'll ask the finance department to pay you 100 yuan for translation. When do you have time to help me proofread the draft?"
Lu Tiejun said.
"I'll be coming to the township tomorrow to check the draft and give you a copy of the price list. You guys need to finish it as soon as possible."
Zhao Yuan said.
"Liu Jianjun, go to the finance office and get 100 yuan for translation fees. I'll sign it later."
Lu Tiejun walked to the door of the office diagonally opposite and said to Liu Jianjun.
"Ok."
After Liu Jianjun finished speaking, he walked towards the finance office at the far end of the corridor.
A moment later, he came in with 10 ten-yuan bills.
Lu Tiejun took the money and handed it to Zhao Yuan.
"Zhaoyuan, it's a pleasure doing business with you! I'll be waiting for you at the factory tomorrow; just come directly to my office."
"Okay, I might come a little later tomorrow afternoon."
Zhao Yuan took the money, put it in his bag, and kept it safe.
Zhao Yuan picked up the bag of documents and carried a box downstairs.
"Wait a minute, this box contains the little fireworks Zheng Ziqi gave you, right?"
Lu Tiejun said.
"Yes, I'll take them all back and put them in the air to see how they work, so I can recommend them to others."
Zhao Yuan said.
"I'll have someone help you tie it up and give you a carrying pole to carry it. Otherwise, it's not easy to carry a bag of books and a box of fireworks for five miles."
As he spoke, Lu Tiejun walked out of the office and headed to the right end of the corridor. After a while, he returned.
"Wait a moment, they've gone to get the rope. Have some more tea."
As Lu Tiejun spoke, he refilled Zhao Yuan's teacup.
After a while, Liu Jianjun brought in a box with a young man, along with a rope and a carrying pole.
"These are small fireworks from our factory. Take some back and set them off."
Lu Tiejun said.
After the young man came in, he weighed the books and the two boxes in his hand, then divided the books and translation paper into two bags, tied them to the two boxes respectively, secured them, picked them up with a carrying pole, and handed them to Zhaoyuan.
"Thank you so much, this makes things much easier for me."
Zhao Yuan said with a smile.
"You're welcome. I'll be waiting for you tomorrow afternoon."
Lu Tiejun said.
Zhao Yuan thanked Lu Tiejun and the others, then carried his things downstairs.
Zhao Yuan left the Honghonghuohuo Fireworks Factory and headed home. He stopped at the township supply and marketing cooperative on his way home. Since he didn't have any meat coupons, he bought a pound of expensive meat, a pound of candy wrapped in paper, a bottle of ink, a bottle of ink, a fountain pen, a calligraphy brush, and some paper. After packing his things, he picked up his load and headed home.
This trip was very fruitful; he not only made money but also solved his job problem. The day after tomorrow, he can go on a business trip to Huacheng at his own expense. In his previous life, Huacheng was a major export city with an astonishing annual import and export volume. He was very eager to see what Huacheng was like now.
Thinking of all this, Zhao Yuan was in high spirits. He walked briskly along the country path, admiring the revitalized earth. The grass in the fields was sprouting tender green shoots, as if celebrating the arrival of spring. Occasionally, a few birds flew across the sky, chirping merrily, seemingly singing in celebration of this joyful occasion. Zhao Yuan's mood brightened with all of this, and he quickened his pace, eager to return home and share this joy with his family.
As he rounded a bend to enter the village, he saw a middle-aged man sitting under a camphor tree by the roadside. The man looked exhausted and weak, his breathing was rapid, and he coughed occasionally, but seemed unable to cough anything up. Upon closer inspection, Zhao Yuan noticed the man's obvious edema, a classic sign of malnutrition. In those days of scarcity, most people couldn't get enough protein, so edema was a common occurrence.
"Comrade, hello, are you feeling unwell?"
Zhao Yuan stopped and asked.
"Yes, I've had a cold for the past few days. I feel weak all over, and I get out of breath after walking just a few steps. I don't even have the strength to cough. It's an old problem of mine. I'll be fine after a rest."
Zhao Yuan was about to continue his journey when he suddenly remembered that he had bought some candy in paper wrappers today. In those days, candy was a good thing; eating one when you were weak could give you a boost of energy, which was basically for when you were hungry.
Zhao Yuan turned back, put down his things, grabbed a handful of paper-wrapped candies from the bag, handed them to the man, and sat down.
"Comrade, here, have a few candies. They'll give you energy. Which village do you live in?"
As he spoke, Zhao Yuan handed the man a handful of paper-wrapped candy.
"Thank you. I'm not afraid to admit it, but I'm so hungry right now that I have no strength left. I live in Chijiaopen Village, and I was a sent-down youth."
The man took the paper-wrapped candy, opened it, put one in his mouth, swallowed, and then said.
"Where did you come from to cut in line?"
Upon hearing that he was an educated youth sent to the countryside, Zhao Yuan sat down and prepared to chat with him for a while.
“My name is Zhou Jiefang. I’m from Kyoto and I’ve been in Chijiaopen Village for eight years.”
Zhou Jiefang introduced himself.
"How old are you this year? Did you not take the college entrance examination?"
Seeing that Zhou Jiefang had clearly recovered a lot after eating the candy, Zhao Yuan asked him curiously.
“I am 25 years old this year. I also applied for the exam last year, but I fell seriously ill during the days of the college entrance examination. I barely survived and missed the exam.”
After speaking, Zhou Jiefang's eyes were filled with melancholy and helplessness.
"Zhou Zhiqing, do you smoke?"
Zhao Yuan took out his pipe and handed it to Zhou Jiefang. They say time is a butcher's knife, but poverty is an even bigger one these days. At 25, he looked like he was almost 40.
"Thank you, but I don't smoke. Look at me, if I smoke, I'll die even faster."
After saying that, Zhou Jiefang peeled off another paper-wrapped candy and put it in his mouth.
At this point, Zhou Jiefang had clearly recovered and had more energy to speak.
"You're planning to take the college entrance exam again this year, right? Do you have any study materials?"
Zhao Yuan asked.
"Yes. I'm going to keep taking the exam. Where can I get the money to buy books? As long as my health doesn't hold me back, I'm confident I can pass even without study materials. I'm just worried about my health."
After speaking, Zhou Jiefang's face was full of helplessness and confusion.
"Well, how should I put it, you must have excellent grades."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan immediately perked up.
In this era and under these circumstances, anyone who can say such a thing is either arrogant and conceited, or truly capable. Clearly, Zhao Yuan believes Zhou Jiefang is the latter.
"I actually got accepted into Beijing University, but I only received the admission notice before something happened in my family. Before the day to register arrived, I ended up here."
Zhou Jiefang peeled another candy wrapped in paper and stuffed it into his mouth.
"You can apply to have your student status reinstated."
Zhao Yuan said.
"Well, but my family's problems haven't been resolved yet. My family background isn't good enough to apply, so retaking the college entrance exam will be faster."
Zhou Jiefang said.
"Come on, let's have dinner at my house before you go. It's still five miles to go back to Chijiaopen Village. Let's have dinner before you go."
Zhao Yuan said.
"Hmm, should I come to your house for dinner? My family background isn't good, and I'm afraid it will implicate you, so I'd rather not go and cause you trouble."
Zhou Jiefang stared at Zhao Yuan in astonishment. In those days, people generally wouldn't invite others to their homes for meals, especially educated youth. Educated youth weren't well-liked, and everyone had difficulty getting food. Besides, he and Zhao Yuan had only met once and weren't even close acquaintances.
“Let’s go. My family has been farmers for generations, so I’m not afraid of being implicated. Everyone has their difficulties these days. I’m 28 years old this year. You can call me Brother Zhao from now on. My home is in Zhaojia Village. We’ll be home soon. I can still make enough food for you, so don’t be shy with me.”
As he spoke, Zhao Yuan picked up the load. In fact, Zhao Yuan knew that things were different now than they were a few years ago; class background was no longer such a taboo subject and didn't matter at all.
"Okay, Brother Zhao, I won't thank you enough. I'll be polite with you from now on. I've decided you're my brother now, and I hope to repay you in the future."
As he spoke, Zhou Jiefang stood up and followed Zhao Yuan toward Zhao Yuan's house.
"No need to be so polite, meeting is fate."
Zhao Yuan carried the goods and walked ahead.