met free Chapter 18: An IOU
Chapter 18: An IOU
Only after the Qin sisters left did Wang Hongtao have time to look around the house.
The house is in the northwest corner of the backyard, a little further north from Xu Damao's house. The two large rooms are four meters wide and five or six meters deep, about 20 square meters each, and the three rooms together are about 50 square meters.
There is an octagonal table in the middle of the entrance, with four long benches on the side. However, there are only three left now. The lame one was just given away. Although they are not made of good materials, they are sturdy.
Further inside was a coal stove that was almost new. In the old city, you could live without the three turns, one sound and seventy-two legs, but you must have a stove.
In the 1960s and 1970s, in the slums of downtown Beijing, not only did every household have to burn a stove all year round, but there was basically no such thing as a kitchen.
In winter, we have a stove in the house for both heating and cooking.
What should I do when cooking and the pan is full of oil smoke? There is no other way but to open the door and window.
It is not that cold in spring, summer and autumn. Next to the door or under the window outside every house, there will be a wall buttress more than one meter high made of single bricks, with an iron stove inside for daily boiling water and cooking.
When it rains, they put an iron plate on top. When the rice is cooked, what should they do when cooking? They have to bring the stove into the house, open the door, and cook at the door.
Next to the stove was a large cupboard, also made of ordinary materials, and empty. The pots, pans, and other things were probably taken away by the ex. If the beasts in the yard had come in, they would have definitely emptied it out, leaving you with a room full of dust.
Next to it are rice jars, flour jars, washbasin racks and other miscellaneous items.
There is a portrait of a great man hanging on the main wall, with the words "Serve the People" written in big red characters next to it, which also reflects the unique atmosphere of that era.
The most eye-catching thing when entering the inner room is a long kang, which is two meters wide and more than three meters long. In front of the kang is a coal stove sunk into the ground, which can be used to make fire.
After the fire is lit, the empty fire in the earthen kang will enter the kang hole, and the kang will be heated. People sleeping on the hot kang will feel warm.
Apart from this, there is nothing else in the inner room. It seems that I need to buy cabinets, thermos and other things first.
After deciding what to buy, Wang Hongtao prepared to go out. When passing by the Jia family, Wang Hongtao took the initiative to go over and say hello to Jia Zhang.
"Aunt Zhang, are you sewing shoe soles?"
When Jia Zhang saw that it was Wang Hongtao, she smiled and replied, "Yes, although I am in poor health, I can't stay idle all the time, otherwise I will be disliked by others at home."
As she spoke, Jia Zhang looked at Qin Huairu, implying that she was afraid that Qin Huairu would despise her.
"Mom, when have I ever disliked you? Really..."
Qin Huairu was also wronged. With her family status, it was good enough that she was not despised. How could she have the courage to despise Jia Zhang?
Jia Zhang curled her lips: "You didn't say it, but who knows what you think in your heart?"
"Forget it, let's not talk about this. What does Xiao Wang want to talk to me about?"
"Well, Aunt Zhang, look, I just moved to the city. I don't have any oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, or anything else at home. I haven't received my salary or allowance yet. I want to borrow some money from you to get by."
Wang Hongtao thought that instead of waiting for others to come to him, it would be better for him to ask for a loan first. You see, I'm in such a difficult situation that I have to borrow money to make a living. You guys would feel embarrassed to take advantage of me, right?
Jia Zhang: ????
Jia Zhang thought she had heard it wrong, and repeated it again incredulously:
"Xiao Wang, you're looking for me? To borrow money?"
Wang Hongtao said as if it was a matter of course: "Ah! I don't know anyone in this courtyard. I am only familiar with you, Aunt Zhang. Who else should I look for? "
"My neighbor is having a hard time, so why not lend a hand? Right, Aunt Zhang?"
"It's not like I won't pay you back after you say that. I'll pay you back as soon as the factory pays you back!"
"this….."
Jia Zhang looked embarrassed. She was familiar with borrowing money from others, but this was the first time someone asked her to borrow money.
"Forget it, since Aunt Zhang is so embarrassed..."
"Hey, I'd better ask Second Master. I thought..."
Having said that, Wang Hongtao turned around and was about to leave.
"Wait a minute, Xiao Wang, Auntie didn't say she wouldn't lend it to you."
"Well, how much do you plan to borrow?" Jia Zhang felt inexplicably nervous when she saw Wang Hongtao's disappointment.
Looking for Liu Haizhong? What should we do if the two families become familiar with each other?
This silly boy is a very honest person. He can't bear to refuse such a favor. If he lends the house to Fatty Liu, he will lose face!
Could it be that he really died by running into old Liu's house?
Wang Hongtao frowned and did some calculations: "I need to buy vegetables, rice, oil, salt, bowls and chopsticks, and coal briquettes. It will cost at least 40 or 50 yuan!"
"It's okay, Aunt Zhang. If you really don't have money, I'll go ask Uncle Er. I heard he has a high salary, about 70 or 80 a month!"
"Yes, yes! Aunt Zhang will come into the house and get it for you right away!"
……
Five minutes later, Wang Hongtao went out to purchase things with the money borrowed from Jia Zhang.
Jia family.
Jia Dongxu looked at his mother, not knowing what to say:
"Mom, why did you lend the money to that new guy? Fifty dollars in exchange for such a pile of junk?"
"What do you mean new here? I have a name, Wang Hongtao! Don't keep calling me new here, or people will blame me for not being polite!"
Hearing what Jia Dongxu said, Jia Zhang was unhappy:
"Also, I borrowed the money, not gave it to you. I have to pay it back! Look, the IOU is still in my mother's hand!"
"look!"
"My mother lent him fifty dollars, and he took the initiative to write an extra two dollars in interest! Isn't he a very honest person?"
Jia Zhang handed the IOU to Jia Dongxu:
IOU
I, Wang Hongtao, today borrow 52 yuan from Zhang Xiaohua, and agree to return it within 30 days.
1961 9 Month 22 Day.
(This IOU is in duplicate and is kept by both parties of the debtor respectively. Both copies cannot be requested repeatedly.)
The fingerprints of Jia Zhangshi and Wang Hongtao were pressed below.
Jia Dongxu always felt that something was wrong when looking at the IOU, but he couldn't put his finger on it.