Chapter 34: Got Money from the Stepmother

She had always wanted a watch and had saved enough money, but unfortunately, no receipt.

Staring at the brand-new watch in Feng Mian’s hand, she really wanted it.

If she could wear a watch, how impressive it would be — she could walk around the village with her head held high.

Liang Shi tried to calm her excitement, pretending to be indifferent.

“I don’t understand it anyway, why would I want it? No.”

“Fine, then forget it. I just bought it yesterday; it’s still new,” Feng Mian put the watch away and said, “Without the men’s watch, it’s not much use. I’ll take the women’s one to the black market and sell it for fifty more yuan; it should sell well.”

Liang Shi’s expression stiffened.

At that moment, Gu Yuelin came out carrying a woven bag. Feng Mian asked him, “Have you packed everything?”

“Yeah, all packed here.”

For such a big guy, all his things barely filled half a urea woven bag.

“Then let’s go.”

They walked to the door, one ahead of the other, when Liang Shi suddenly called out to Feng Mian.

“Wait.”

They stopped.

Feng Mian said, “Stepmother, do you still need something?”

Liang Shi said, “How much is that watch? I’ll buy it.”

Feng Mian took out the watch. “Since you want to buy it, I won’t charge the black market price. I bought it for 225 yuan with a receipt, but never mind the receipt — you can just give me 225.”

“Alright, wait a moment.”

Watching Liang Shi go into the inner room, Gu Yuelin quietly asked Feng Mian, “What’s going on?”

Feng Mian said, “I bought a matching couple’s watch set. She said she gave the men’s watch to your dad, so I said I’d sell the women’s watch too.”

Gu Yuelin got a bit anxious and was about to say something, but Feng Mian covered his mouth. “Don’t worry, I’m not losing out.”

She had only bought the women’s watch on the ‘underworld treasure market’ for a bit over 220 yuan, the men’s one was over 300.

Twenty-some years later, 220 yuan now wouldn’t be worth the same as it was then.

At the end of the 1970s, the average monthly wage was only fifty or sixty yuan. Those formal workers would have to save for months without spending a cent to afford a watch.

If it were now, 220 yuan wouldn’t even cover a single meal at a restaurant.

Liang Shi took out 250 yuan and counted it again and again in front of them, afraid she had counted incorrectly.

After counting three times, she finally handed the money to Feng Mian.

Feng Mian gave the watch to Liang Shi.

Liang Shi didn’t know how to check, but seeing the watch ticking, she happily accepted it.

She felt like she had made a big profit — it was like earning a free receipt.

Wearing the watch, she happily locked the door and went to the village entrance to watch the commotion.

After leaving the Gu family, Gu Yuelin told Feng Mian, “I know where Gu Sanhu lives. Wait here, I’ll bring the bike over soon.”

Since she wasn’t familiar with the village and they could hear the noise of an argument coming from the village entrance.

“I’ll go with you.”

There were no phones at the moment, so if she wanted to find him later, she wouldn’t know where to look.

Gu Yuelin nodded, slung the urea bag over his shoulder, and led Feng Mian toward a rice-drying field behind the village.

That place was big and flat, perfect for practicing riding a bike.

About a dozen kids from the village were there. Gu Sanhu was on the bike, not very skilled, with a young man on each side helping him balance, and he was laughing happily.

Having a bike to ride made him the center of attention for all the village kids, so of course he was thrilled.

Gu Yuelin threw the luggage down and went forward, grabbing the handlebars firmly.

“Stop riding. Your sister-in-law and I have to go now.”

Gu Sanhu’s face stiffened, and he said unhappily, “Mind your own business. What does this have to do with me?”

“This bike belongs to your sister-in-law. What does it have to do with you? Get off quickly.”

“What sister-in-law? This is mine. My mom said as long as I can ride it, the bike is mine.”

Gu Yuelin didn’t waste words and pulled him off the bike.

Gu Sanhu staggered. If it weren’t for his two little buddies holding him up, he would have fallen to the ground.

He was so angry his cheeks turned red. Being forced off his own bike in front of so many people was humiliating.

“You dare push me?” He braced himself, ready to fight Gu Yuelin. “If you push me again, I’ll beat you to death.”

Gu Yuelin had held back before, but now that his household registration was transferred and he was married, there was no need to hold back anymore.

The moment Gu Sanhu charged at him, Gu Yuelin used a wrestling move to pin him to the ground.

The teenager wailed and cried loudly.

With snot bubbles coming from his nose, he shouted to his friends, “Help me! Beat him up and get the bike back! I’ll lend each of you the bike for a day.”

Hearing this, some of the kids were tempted and eager to try.

Gu Yuelin looked calmly at the group of little kids. “I used to be a soldier. You can try.”

Kids back then were kind of intimidated by anyone who had been a soldier, especially after seeing how Gu Yuelin pinned Gu Sanhu. They thought Gu Yuelin was super cool.

Someone whispered, “Forget it. Brother Yuelin was a soldier; what if he catches us?”

Gu Sanhu shouted, “He’s not a soldier anymore, so he can’t catch us.”

But one kid was still scared. “He has friends who are soldiers. What if they catch us?”

Thinking about it, no one dared to make a move.

These kids were a bit silly, thinking that just being a soldier meant you could catch people.

Gu Sanhu cursed loudly, yelling he’d tell his mom to forbid Gu Yuelin from entering their house and not to feed him anymore…

Gu Yuelin ignored him and simply took the bike, riding off with Feng Mian.

At the village entrance, Feng Xiaomei and Gu Xiaoliu got married, and the two families were loudly quarrelling.

Feng Mian guessed some of the reasons and didn’t want to cause trouble, so she purposely told Gu Yuelin to go around the village entrance.

But, unexpectedly, they couldn’t avoid it.

Just after leaving the Gu family’s village at a three-way junction, a few people stopped them.

“Gu Yuelin, you can’t take Feng Mian away.”

Gu Yuelin’s expression darkened as he gripped the handlebars tightly.

Feng Mian hugged his waist and tilted her head to look at the group ahead.

“Who are you? What are you doing?”

“Hey, you must be Feng Mian, right? I’m Xiaoliu’s eldest cousin.”

“I’m Xiaoliu’s second cousin.”

“I’m his uncle.”

“I’m his eldest brother-in-law.”

“I’m his second brother-in-law…”

“I’m his third uncle.”

“I’m his maternal uncle…”

Wow, this family really has a lot of people.

In this era, having many boys meant the family was thriving. Although Gu Xiaoliu was their only son, his relatives were plentiful and strong.

Feng Mian waited for them to introduce themselves all the way through and then asked, “Who exactly is Xiaoliu?”

The whole group suddenly changed their expressions.

“I’m talking about Xiaoliu from my family — Gu Qingfeng, the one who was engaged to you half a year ago.”

Feng Mian looked like she just realized something. “Oh, you mean him? Didn’t your Gu family say they got it wrong? He was supposed to marry my older cousin Feng Xiaomei. Their family was really lively; I saw it all. Actually, I should’ve gone to celebrate their wedding and have some wedding candy, but unfortunately, I’m also getting married, so I don’t have time. I’ll go another day to wish my cousin and cousin-in-law a happy marriage.”