“Eat, what else can you do!”
Li Wu Wei looked down upon He Da Qing. He abandoned his children for a widow. Now, at eighty years old, he even went after his in-law, Lou Tan Shi, and still acted so superior.
“You’re eating here?”
He Da Qing was speechless. This place wasn’t for ordinary workers, was it?
“Just trying out the flavors.”
Li Wu Wei looked at Feng Ze Yuan, a grand courtyard, without any nervousness. So what if it had four courtyards? He had three courtyards himself. Back then, it would have been worth thousands of silver dollars.
Looking back twenty years, one silver dollar could buy a hundred pounds of rice. Even though the value of the silver dollar had halved by the time of the founding of the country, it could still be exchanged for forty to fifty pounds of rice or flour.
The smaller the courtyard or the more crowded it was, the less valuable it was. On the contrary, the traditional courtyard was worth a lot of money.
His grandfather’s three courtyards, even now, would sell for about thirty thousand yuan, but in the future, you wouldn’t be able to buy it back even for three hundred million yuan.
“You’re such a spendthrift.”
He Da Qing’s face turned pale. He had also lost his job. He came to Feng Ze Yuan, trying to find work, but they didn’t want him. They said he was a cook who only knew how to stir-fry, and he couldn’t make fine dishes.
But Li Wu Wei was here dining. He was actually living better than a young man.
“No worries, Qin Huai Ru supports me. What about you? You rely on Sha Zhu?”
Li Wu Wei’s words were a critical blow. He Da Qing wasn’t actually a total scumbag. After running off with the white widow, he had always sent money to Sha Zhu and his brother for their living expenses.
But Yi Zhong Hai had intercepted the money, using it to play the good guy and support Sha Zhu and his sister.
Otherwise, would He Da Qing, in his old age, really dare to go back to Sha Zhu to rely on him for support?
He Da Qing was only lusting after the widow. Yi Zhong Hai was the one who was morally corrupt.
“I won’t argue with you, a young man.”
He Da Qing was furious, but Li Wu Wei’s words silenced him. He hated that young man, Song Jiang. He ruined his good fortune. He thought that He Hua was tricked, blinded by the bad guy.
Li Wu Wei suddenly had an idea and said, “He Da Qing, you’re looking for work, right? You could sell steamed buns. Your family used to be in business.”
“Nonsense. My family has been tenant farmers for three generations. Even if I sell steamed buns, it’s just working for someone else.”
He Da Qing’s face turned white. This was a serious matter of social class. Merchants and tenant farmers were worlds apart.
“Look at how scared you are. I’m just kidding. Alright, take your time finding work. You have Sha Zhu to support you anyway.”
Li Wu Wei smiled as he entered Feng Ze Yuan. There was no shame in selling steamed buns. Even Feng Ze Yuan, so fancy now, would eventually have to make pancakes and steam steamed buns. They would have to sell them on the street.
“I, you…”
He Da Qing almost choked. After calming down, he thought that Li Wu Wei’s words were a little harsh, but he was right. He did have Sha Zhu to support him, so he wasn’t in a hurry.
Li Wu Wei ordered two dishes: a fish egg soup and braised sea cucumber with scallions. They weren’t the most expensive, but they were the most unique.
Eating some sea cucumber in winter was good for warmth. As for fish egg soup, it was Chairman Mao’s favorite dish. He was keeping up with the trend.
After dinner, Li Wu Wei calculated the preparations for the banquet. Even though the reward from the vegetable market included a lot of supplies, he still needed some things. He also had to prepare some decent gifts.
Fabric was a good choice. Buying a few bolts of fabric would make a good impression. Besides, buying fabric and having clothes made was much cheaper than buying ready-made clothes.
He immediately rode his bicycle towards Qianmen Street. Suddenly, snow started falling. Beijing winters were indeed so cold.
When he reached the alley, a tricycle came towards him. Li Wu Wei didn’t pay much attention at first, but when they passed each other, he was stunned.
“He Da Qing! Hey…”
Li Wu Wei called out unconsciously, immediately stepping on the brakes. But the tricycle didn’t stop at all. When he turned his head, the person had already pedaled away.
“I’m going to… He Da Qing is pedaling a tricycle? No way!”
Li Wu Wei was a little confused. He had really seen that the tricycle driver was He Da Qing.
Why would he give up his job as a chef and do manual labor? Was it really that hard to find work these days?
Whatever, it’s not his business anymore.
He continued forward. Soon he arrived at Qianmen Street. Although Wangfujing Street had more fabric, and the prices were even cheaper at Dashilan, the quality of the fabric on Qianmen Street was the best.
If he was going to buy, he would buy the best. He wasn’t short of money.
“Huh, Xue Ru Silk Shop, that name sounds familiar.”
Li Wu Wei stopped his bicycle again. Fortunately, the bicycle was of good quality, otherwise it wouldn’t have been able to withstand his vigorous use.
He thought for a moment, leaned his bicycle against the door, and then decided to buy silk. If he bought Qin Huai Ru a silk cheongsam, it would enhance their relationship behind closed doors.
Besides, he felt like he had seen the store name somewhere before.
“Oh, customer, where are you from? You look new.”
As soon as Li Wu Wei stepped into the store, he heard a voice trying to attract customers. This familiar line. Maybe he was at the wrong place? It was a silk shop, wasn’t it?
He raised his eyes and saw a beautiful woman, wearing silk even in winter. Finally, he realized.
Oh my god, it’s Chen Xue Ru, the silk shop owner from “Under the Zhengyang Gate.”
The tricycle driver he had encountered before was not He Da Qing, he seems to be called something else.
Li Wu Wei had only watched the show casually before he transmigrated, and he wasn’t familiar with the plot, because it was about public-private partnerships, and it was depressing to watch.
“Customer?”
Chen Xue Ru waved her hand. Was she that charming?
“Ahem… Sorry, I was distracted. I came from Dongzhimen to buy fabric. I wanted to pick out a silk cheongsam for my wife.”
Li Wu Wei calmed down. It was 1952. The story of “Under the Zhengyang Gate” was three years away. This Chen Xue Ru looked much younger than in the drama. He wondered if she was married.
But even though this woman was charming, her personality was too strong. An ordinary man wouldn’t be able to handle her. Not to mention that he was a big man himself. So, even if he had met her, he wouldn’t have any thoughts about her.
“Oh, that’s pretty far. Why did you come all the way here? But the silk in my store is the best.”
Chen Xue Ru had her hair permed in these times. She also wore earrings. She was so stylish.