RIRW – Chapter 155

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Shen Yiming’s words hit Zuo Dan right in the heart. Who wouldn’t want to live in a nice house if they could? Especially a courtyard house she had always dreamed of.

Although Shen Yiming told her not to worry about it, as one of the pillars of the family, Zuo Dan felt she couldn’t just enjoy the benefits without doing her part. She needed to share the burden with him.

The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee hadn’t been held yet, so the tone for the reform and opening-up policy hadn’t been officially set. She didn’t dare act rashly in the capital. Right now, both she and Shen Yiming were university students, and they were preparing for a future in politics. They had to be careful to maintain their reputations and not make small gains at the cost of bigger losses. Once the reform policy was implemented, she could do business openly and make money. At that point, selling fruit or even setting up a small stall to sell handmade goods could earn her a fortune.

Since she couldn’t do business yet, she had to find alternative ways to resell things.

Taking advantage of Shen Yiming being out on errands, she fetched water into the house, pretending she was going to bathe. After closing the door and drawing the curtain, she entered the orchard space.

The fruit couldn’t be used for now, so she could only rely on the supplies her grandmother had prepared for her. Grains and such weren’t useful at the moment, so only clothes were left. There were outfits for all four seasons, none of them repeated.

Now that the environment had improved, there were also some imported goods in the capital. Zuo Dan had looked around before; although the styles differed from domestic clothes, the label of being foreign made them much more expensive—at least double. A single dress could sell for over twenty yuan, and some even over thirty. Workers in Beijing now earned at least fifty to sixty yuan a month, with most making seventy to eighty, and the better ones over a hundred. So women in the capital were willing to spend on clothing.

Zuo Dan quickly picked out over ten dresses with relatively conservative styles. She carefully cut off all the brand tags and packed them up. Only then did she leave the orchard and return to the room to take a quick bath.

While she was fetching bath water, Shen Youyou and Grandma were practicing walking in the courtyard. When the baby saw his mother come out, he grinned and waddled over step by step, asking to be held.

Zuo Dan set the basin aside and scooped him up with a smile. “All sweaty and stinky.”

Shen Youyou didn’t understand that his mom was teasing him. He lowered his head and started looking for food.

Zuo Dan thought for a moment, then carried the child inside to breastfeed him. Grandma followed in with a smile and said, “I think it’s time to wean him. He’s almost a year old now and can already walk. Still nursing doesn’t seem proper.”

“We’ll wean him when the semester starts. It’ll be easier with less time together,” Zuo Dan planned.

Grandma agreed. “Alright, I’ll let him sleep with me at night then. After a week apart, he’ll forget about it.”

Shen Youyou, unaware that his food source was about to be cut off, was happily nursing.

He was so excited that he bit his mom painfully with his two little teeth, causing her to frown. “Weaning is a must!”

After feeding, Shen Youyou went down for his afternoon nap. With Grandma at home watching him, Zuo Dan packed the dresses into a bag, slung it over her shoulder, and went out.

At the department store, she headed straight for the women’s clothing section.

There were quite a few clothes in Beijing, though still far behind what would be available in the future. Zuo Dan only saw a few ready-made clothing counters, and the variety was limited.

She found a counter without many people. The shop assistant came over to help, seeing a customer approach. “Comrade, what kind of clothes are you looking for? These are all freshly delivered from the factory.”

“Comrade, do you have any Western-style dresses here?” Zuo Dan asked.

The shop assistant replied, “They’re not imported, but the quality is good.”

“Comrade, I actually have some new Western-style dresses. If you like them, I’ll give you one,” Zuo Dan offered generously.

The shop assistant was shocked. “Give me one?”

“Well, not exactly for free. I do need your help with something,” Zuo Dan said as she pulled a dress out of her bag. “Comrade, this was brought to me by a friend from Shanghai. These are all the latest Western-style dresses. I spent a lot of foreign exchange coupons to buy them. But unfortunately, after I gave birth, I gained weight and can’t fit into them anymore. I can’t return them either. So I wanted to see if you could help me exchange them here. I don’t want foreign exchange coupons in return. If you think it’s doable, you can pick a dress for yourself.”

The shop assistant’s eyes lit up when she saw the dresses in the bag. These were styles she had never seen before, very fashionable and made of excellent material.

“These must be expensive.”

“Yes, that’s why I’m reluctant to waste them. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even think of bringing them out. Each dress cost me forty or fifty yuan. I spent a lot on these, and if they go to waste, my husband will definitely scold me. But you know how we women love to look good. Now I’m not asking for forty or fifty—just give me forty per dress. No foreign exchange coupons needed, just some fabric coupons will do.”

The shop assistant immediately saw the business opportunity. “Comrade, how about this? I’ll take them all for thirty yuan apiece, and I’ll pay right away.”

“That’s too much of a loss,” Zuo Dan protested. “I’m not doing this for profit—these are my personal clothes that don’t fit anymore. If it’s too big a loss, I’d rather slim down and wear them myself.”

“Then thirty-five? All at once.”

Zuo Dan hesitated. “Thirty-eight, or forget it. I can still trade them one by one with relatives and friends. I’m just trying to save time. These are imported dresses, and only because the market is better this year could they even make it here. They’re hard to come by. Plus, I’m not asking for foreign exchange coupons—I’m already taking a huge loss. If my husband finds out, he’ll definitely lecture me.”

The shop assistant thought it over. If she sold them at the counter, these imported dresses would go fast. She didn’t need foreign exchange coupons, and she could make at least ten yuan profit per piece.

People who deal with goods and money regularly think quickly. After doing the math, she agreed to Zuo Dan’s price—no foreign exchange coupons, just cash and fabric coupons.

She called her family to bring the money, and the ten or so dresses were quickly bought.

Zuo Dan clutched over five hundred yuan in her hand and swiftly left the department store.

After wandering around for a bit, she returned home. Being able to exchange dresses she couldn’t wear into emergency funds made this a very worthwhile deal. Then she calculated her little stash. Previously, she had partnered with her third uncle to resell factory rejects out of town. She had provided the capital, and they later split the profits. That had earned her over a thousand yuan. Now with the extra five hundred, she could put together 1,500 yuan for a house.

Once Shen Yiming came back in the evening, she would talk with him and see how much more they needed.

When Shen Yiming returned at dinner time, he was visibly tired. But upon seeing the family, he seemed reinvigorated. After showering, he looked fresh and clean as he sat down to eat with them. After dinner, he sat with Shen Youyou on the bamboo mat in the room, helping him practice walking.

Once the door was closed, Zuo Dan leaned in.

“Shen Yiming, how much do we still need for the house? I did some calculations and consolidated all our savings—I can pull together about 1,500 yuan. If it’s still not enough, I’ll go back to my hometown and ask Third Uncle for a bit more. We really should buy the house early. I’m worried prices might change later.” If she went back home, she’d have more freedom to go all out with her plans.

Hearing what Zuo Dan said, Shen Yiming was stunned for a moment, then laughed, “I told you not to worry. Why are you borrowing money from your family? Don’t worry, I’ll have it all together soon. We’ll definitely be able to buy the house.”

“What do you mean ‘don’t worry’?” Zuo Dan was immediately angry when she heard this. She was truly upset—feeling like Shen Yiming didn’t treat her as a real part of the family.

“Am I not your comrade-in-arms? Am I not part of this family? Am I not Shen Youyou’s mother?”

Seeing that she was upset, Shen Yiming quickly nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, yes—no one said you weren’t. I just don’t want you to spend money. You married me, so it’s my responsibility to give you a good life. I’ll figure out the money for the house.”

Zuo Dan didn’t agree. “Your money and my money are the same. We both contribute our share. Doesn’t that make the burden on your shoulders a lot lighter? You feel sorry for me, and I don’t feel sorry for you?”

Shen Yiming looked at her silently for a while, then smiled and pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

After a moment, he finally let go and sighed with emotion, “Comrade Zuo Dan, how did I end up marrying you?”

“Regret it?” Zuo Dan asked with a blush.

“No, I’m lucky. I was really smart and wise back then,” Shen Yiming said with satisfaction.

Zuo Dan raised an eyebrow proudly. “You’re just realizing that now? My goodness is something you’ll never finish discovering, even in a lifetime.”

With the 1,500 yuan from Zuo Dan, Shen Yiming almost had enough. He already had over 2,000 saved up, and he earned more than 1,000 in the past few days. Altogether, it was enough.

Zuo Dan was shocked when she heard he had earned more than 1,000 in just a few days.

Where did he earn that kind of money?

“I earned it with Zhang Yue,” Shen Yiming smiled. “Actually, I haven’t told you how I know him.”

Zuo Dan shook her head. Although they had been in contact with Zhang Yue for a long time now, and he sometimes came by the house, she only knew they were close. She had no idea how they met.

“Zhang Yue’s ancestors used to run errands for a big capitalist. Officially, they were the exploited, but they built up a network. Although his family declined later, Zhang Yue is someone who can’t sit still. He likes reselling stuff. Back then, he was young and reckless. Once, he was smuggling some industrial goods from a factory and almost got caught. I had just arrived in the capital and was staying in a guest house. He happened to climb into my room at the guest house.”

“You saved him? Shen Yiming, I didn’t expect you to be so righteous,” Zuo Dan laughed.

Shen Yiming shook his head. “How could I? Even though I was young, I knew this kind of thing was serious. If I got caught, my life would be over, and I might drag my grandmother down with me.”

“Then you two…?”

“I pretended I didn’t see him and went next door to play chess. On the way out, I locked the door behind me. I wasn’t trying to help him, but as it happened, he didn’t get caught. If he had, it wouldn’t have involved me.”

“Oh, I get it. He was lucky not to get caught and thought you helped him… No, wait, you did help him. That’s how you two got to know each other.”

Shen Yiming nodded. “This time I earned money by working with him.”

“How did you earn it?” Zuo Dan was curious.

“We hired an old master at a glass factory to make a batch of glass bottles. Then we went to a printing factory and printed some labels to stick on the bottles. We got a batch of white liquor and filled the bottles, then Zhang Yue found people to take them to other provinces to sell. Zhang Yue travels all over and knows where the regulations are more relaxed. Everyone is willing to buy high-end liquor from the capital.”

“… You’re a profiteer, Shen Yiming. Don’t go into politics,” Zuo Dan said. The reforms haven’t even started yet, and you’re already selling packaging to trick customers. What a waste if he doesn’t go into business.

Shen Yiming sighed. “Honestly, I got the idea from someone else. Fruits and meat—put them in baskets, and the price multiplies…”

“… Seriously?” Zuo Dan was shocked. “Who came up with that idea? Genius. Fine, Shen Yiming, let’s stop worrying about all this nonsense and just buy the house already.”

Buying a house had to be done privately and then transferred at the housing office under the guise of “gifting to a friend.”

The courtyard house they picked was farther than their current place. It took about half an hour by bike to get to school. But both Shen Yiming and Zuo Dan felt that wasn’t an issue. They weren’t just going to live there for a few years—it wasn’t worth compromising over distance.

After buying the house, they started cleaning it up.

A few years ago, the house had been taken over by a Cultural Revolution group. People had been living in it. Later, when the group fell, some properties were gradually returned to their original owners. The owner of the house, afraid of future trouble and already preparing to emigrate, also thought the house was unlucky due to its past occupants. That’s why he agreed to sell it.

So the house wasn’t dilapidated; it even had some furniture inside.

If not for one of Shen Yiming’s economics classmates being a local in the capital—and a minor second-generation official—they wouldn’t have come across this opportunity.

Connections were indeed important. Zuo Dan was determined to maintain good relations with her university classmates. The ’77 and ’78 classes at Peking University—those students were bound to be future big shots.

Once the house was tidied up, the family quickly moved in. The people in the old courtyard didn’t think much of the Shen family’s move, except for Aunt Chen from Number Four, who came to ask if they had gone to join the Qi family.

Grandma said bluntly, “You care so much about the Qi family—what were you doing those ten-plus years when they were gone? Since they left, don’t keep thinking about them. Maybe Comrade Qi will remember who treated his family well during those hard years and come back to visit.”

Aunt Chen immediately pulled a long face and slammed her door shut.

No one else in the courtyard dared to come ask. They just watched as the Shen family left with bags upon bags.

Even Zhang Yue didn’t expect Shen Yiming to establish himself so quickly in the capital—he’d even bought a house, and a good one at that.

“You really dared to buy it? Aren’t you afraid of problems later?” Zhang Yue said.

There were quite a few people with money at the time, but most didn’t dare show it off. They were afraid of trouble. Buying such a big house would surely attract attention. If anything happened, they’d be the first targets.

“You can’t give up eating for fear of choking. We’ve bought it, and that’s that. Worst case, we just hand it over,” Shen Yiming said casually.

“You really are bold,” Zhang Yue sighed. After his previous scare, he’d become much more cautious. Shen Yiming, on the other hand, feared nothing. Last time he wrote an article calling for setting things right; now he bought a big house.

After the move, Shen Yiming and Zuo Dan discussed the household registration.

Previously, their registrations had both been transferred from the provincial capital to the school. Grandma’s was still in the provincial capital. As for Shen Youyou, since Shen Yiming and Zuo Dan’s household registration were under the school’s collective account, they couldn’t bring the child’s over—he was still registered in Zuo Family Village.

The whole family’s household registration was a mess, which was quite inconvenient.

So Shen Yiming made the call to first move their household registration from the school to the new courtyard house, then transfer Grandma’s and Shen Youyou’s over too. That way, the whole family would have Beijing household registrations. Life would be much easier that way.

Thinking of how hard it would be to get a household registration in the future, Zuo Dan couldn’t stop smiling all night.

Although school was on break, the administrative offices were still open, especially since the university entrance exam had just happened and the admissions process was ongoing.

So the two of them went early to the school to handle the transfer.

With proof of property ownership and acceptance from the local neighborhood office, the transfer went smoothly.

As they left the school, Zuo Dan said with a smile, “Shen Yiming, it’s almost Youyou’s first birthday. Let’s celebrate it at the new house. I also want to do a traditional ‘Zhua Zhou’—we’ll see what he’ll be in the future.”

Shen Yiming nodded with a smile. “Sure, anything you say. You decide.”

Just as they were about to get on their bike and leave, they saw Yang Wenxin at the entrance of Hua University talking to a girl. From the look of it, they were clearly dating.

Yang Wenxin was facing the street, so he also saw Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming. His face immediately showed panic. He said something to the girl and tried to pull her away.

Caught off guard, the girl cried out in shock, “Su Dai, what are you doing?!”