novelonline Chapter 1476 84 Spring Festival Gala
Chapter 1476 84 Spring Festival Gala
Chapter 1476 84 Spring Festival Gala
It was 7:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, 1984.
The east wing of Qin Hao's courtyard house was packed with people.
The house was already packed with neighbors—long benches, stools, and small stools were arranged in four rows, seating more than twenty people. There were also more than a dozen people standing at the back, making the house extremely crowded.
The stove was burning brightly, its metal chimney scorching hot. A large aluminum kettle sat on the stove, the water boiling, bubbling and steaming. Li Yuxiang was busy pouring water for the guests, while Zhao Yajing helped distribute melon seeds and candies. Children weaved through the crowd, and after being scolded by adults, they would laugh and move on to another spot.
"Sit down, everyone, it's about to start!" Old Sun from the front yard sat in the front row, holding an enamel mug in his hand, his eyes fixed on the screen.
The room gradually quieted down. Everyone craned their necks, waiting for the familiar opening music.
Last year, the first Spring Festival Gala was unveiled. In an era of extreme scarcity of cultural and entertainment activities, the inclusion of songs, dances, skits, and crosstalk was like a bowl of fine chaff suddenly served to people who had been eating coarse grains for over a decade. The shock and satisfaction left the residents of Jiudaowan Hutong with fond memories for a whole year.
So this year, when everyone heard that the Spring Festival Gala was going to be held for the second time, they made preparations well in advance. The New Year's Eve dinner can be eaten in advance, and the dumplings can be made in advance, but the Spring Festival Gala is absolutely not to be missed.
Starting from the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, neighbors began coming to Qin Hao's house to "reserve a spot".
In those days, a television set was considered the common property of the entire courtyard; whoever bought a television became the cultural activity center.
At 8 p.m. sharp, the Spring Festival Gala officially began.
The program proceeded one after another. Crosstalk, skits, songs, dances... each program captivated the audience.
Ma Ji's stand-up comedy routine, "Cosmos Brand Cigarettes," began. The master comedian stood on stage, imitating a salesman's tone: "Our cigarettes..." One punchline after another, the laughs coming in endless streams. The room erupted in laughter; some laughed so hard they were doubled over, others slapped their thighs in exasperation.
Qin Hao sat against the wall, still thoroughly enjoying the show despite having traveled through multiple worlds and watched it countless times. This collective joy, this pure entertainment, was incomparable to the fragmented and personalized forms of entertainment found in later generations.
"That's hilarious! Ma Ji is so quick-witted!" Aunt Li laughed while wiping away tears.
"That's right, he can even talk the dead back to life," Uncle Wang from the front yard said with a simple smile.
Of course, the skit "Eating Noodles" by Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao is also a must-see.
When Chen Peisi, playing a minor character, repeatedly performed the act of "eating noodles" under the direction of Zhu Shimao, while holding a bowl of "invisible noodles," the laughter in the room reached its peak. The children laughed so hard they rolled on the floor, the adults laughed so hard they couldn't stand up straight, and even the usually serious Old Sun choked on his tea and coughed repeatedly.
"Oh my god, Chen Peisi is so funny!" A young wife laughed, clutching her stomach.
“Look at his expression, it’s like he really ate ten bowls of noodles!” another chimed in.
Qin Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud. This classic skit could make anyone laugh no matter how many times they watched it. He glanced at Zhao Yajing beside him; she was laughing so hard her eyes were curved into crescent moons. Noticing Qin Hao's gaze, she turned her head as well, and the two smiled at each other, their hands secretly clasped together under the blanket.
The program continued. Songs, dances, operas... every performance was wonderful. When Zhang Mingmin walked onto the stage and sang "My Chinese Heart," the room suddenly fell silent.
"The rivers and mountains are only in my dreams, I have not been close to my motherland for many years..."
The melodious tune, the heartfelt lyrics, and Zhang Mingmin's slightly Hong Kong-accented yet fluent Mandarin instantly touched everyone's hearts.
The song ended, and the lingering sound lingered.
A few seconds of silence filled the room, followed by enthusiastic applause. Someone began to hum the tune they had just heard: "The Yangtze River, the Great Wall, Mount Huangshan, the Yellow River, weigh a thousand pounds in my heart..."
"This song is so beautiful." Aunt Li wiped her eyes. "It warms my heart."
"Is Zhang Mingmin a Hong Kong singer? He speaks Mandarin quite well," Uncle Wang said.
"That's out of patriotism; they learned it on purpose," Old Sun commented.
The gala continued, but the emotion evoked by "My Chinese Heart" lingered. While the subsequent performances were also excellent, the song remained the most discussed topic.
Time slipped by unnoticed. As the clock struck midnight, the Spring Festival Gala came to an end.
The host led the audience in a countdown: "Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one! Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" everyone in the room shouted.
Outside the window, the sound of firecrackers suddenly rang out, a continuous crackling and popping. The children excitedly rushed outside, shouting, "Let's go set off firecrackers!" The adults also got up one after another, congratulating each other.
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!
Wishing you and your family good health and all the best!
"Joy and rejoice together!"
After the Spring Festival Gala ended and most of the neighbors had left, Li Yuxiang took out a red envelope she had prepared in advance and handed it to Zhao Yajing.
"And what about mine?" Qin Hao was also given one.
Li Yuxiang smiled broadly: "As long as you're not married, you're still a child."
"If that's the case, then I'll have to settle the payment later."
"Pah! What nonsense is this kid spouting during the New Year!" Li Yuxiang glared at Qin Hao fiercely.
Zhao Yajing also glanced at Qin Hao.
……
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, just as dawn was breaking, the sound of firecrackers began to ring out again.
According to old Beijing custom, people don't go out on the first day of the Lunar New Year; they stay home and wait for guests to come and pay their respects. Li Yuxiang got up early in the morning, cleaned the house inside and out, and set out melon seeds, peanuts, fruit candies, and tea on the table. Then she sat in the front hall, waiting for the guests to arrive.
She had fled famine from another province to Beijing years ago, and later settled there after marrying Qin Hao's father. Her relatives on her mother's side were scattered or dead, and she had lost contact with them. On her husband's side, Qin Hao's father was an only child, his parents had passed away, and he had few relatives. So every Spring Festival, those who came to pay their respects were neighbors and Qin Hao's friends.
Around 8 o'clock, the first customer arrived.
"Auntie, I'm here to wish you a Happy New Year!" Old Xie walked in with a big smile, carrying two boxes of pastries and a bottle of wine. "I wish you boundless happiness and longevity, good health and all the best!"
Li Yuxiang accepted the gift with a smile: "Good, good, Auntie also wishes you all the best and great fortune. Please sit down and have some tea."
Old Xie didn't stand on ceremony, plopped down, and started cracking sunflower seeds. His current success was all thanks to Qin Hao—from an unemployed youth aimlessly wandering the alleyways to the manager of Burger King in Shenzhen, earning over 30,000 yuan a year in salary and bonuses, a truly high income in those days. Therefore, he held Qin Hao and his family in exceptional respect and was extremely courteous.
Qin Hao came out from the inner room, saw Xie Laozhuan, and smiled, "You've arrived early enough."
"Of course, we have to pay our respects to Auntie early in the New Year." Old Xie said, then suddenly his eyes lit up and he leaned closer to Qin Hao: "Did you hear that? Auntie said she wants me to make a fortune in the New Year. How about... I get a raise?"
Qin Hao slapped him hard on the shoulder and said irritably, "No matter how much salary I give you, you won't be able to save any money. It will all go into the pockets of women."
Old Xie's face immediately fell, and he lowered his voice: "You absolutely mustn't tell my family about this, or I won't even be able to keep my salary card."
"Get out of my way, look at your pathetic self." Qin Hao rolled his eyes at him.
As the two were talking, the courtyard gate was pushed open again. Yang Shumo walked in, followed by a woman in her twenties—not tall, but very energetic, wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, her hair neatly combed, and carrying gifts in her hands.
"Auntie, Happy New Year!" Yang Shumo shouted. "Wishing you a Happy New Year and good health!"
The woman behind him stepped forward and said somewhat reservedly, "Hello, Auntie, I am Shumao's third sister, Yang Shuying. Happy New Year to you."
Li Yuxiang quickly greeted them, "Okay, okay, come in and sit down."
Yang Shuying blushed and placed the gift on the table. When Old Xie turned to look at the gift—two bottles of Moutai liquor and two boxes of pastries—his eyes widened.
"Wow, did the sun rise in the west today?" Old Xie teased. "Yang Shumao, your parents really went all out! How much did this cost?"
Yang Shumao and Yang Shuying exchanged a glance and smiled wryly.
"No, my third sister bought these especially for me," Yang Shumo explained. "You know my parents... they're already being very kind to have my sister bring two bags of candy."
"You scared me," Qin Hao joked. "If your parents really went all out, I wouldn't dare accept it."
Li Yuxiang gently patted Qin Hao: "What nonsense are you talking about? It's the New Year. People come to pay their respects, don't behave properly."
He then invited Yang Shuying and her brother to sit down, gave them melon seeds and candy, and poured them hot tea.
Yang Shuying was still a little awkward, sitting upright with her hands on her knees.
Just then, the courtyard gate rang again. Zhao Yajing led Zhao Yaping in.
"Auntie, Happy New Year!" Zhao Yajing was wearing a new wool coat and a red scarf, looking particularly energetic. Zhao Yaping followed behind her and reluctantly said, "Auntie, Happy New Year."
"Ya Jing is here, come and sit down." Li Yuxiang smiled and pulled her daughter over.
Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up when she saw the poplar tree shadows inside the house: "Oh, Third Sister is here too. I was just planning to come visit you after I've finished this busy period in a couple of days."
Yang Shuying was a little nervous and wanted to stand up, but Zhao Yajing pulled her to sit down next to her.
"Third sister, Sha Mao and I were elementary school classmates." Zhao Yajing said affectionately, "If it weren't for him protecting me when we were little, I don't know how much bullying I would have suffered. We're family, so let's not stand on ceremony."
She paused for a moment, then got to the point: "Old Qin has already told me about the clothing store. I'm already looking for a location, right on Qianmen Street, a great location. If you have time after the New Year, come with us to Guangzhou. I'll have someone explain the key points of opening a store to you then—how to source inventory, how to price it, how to deal with customers, there are all sorts of things to consider."
Yang Shuying listened attentively and nodded repeatedly: "I've been wanting to quit that temporary job for a while now. Don't worry, I'll definitely learn diligently and try my best not to embarrass you."
Even so, she was still a little uneasy. After all, this was her first time dealing with "sole proprietorship" business, and she was unsure of herself.
Zhao Yajing noticed her unease and patted her hand: "Third sister, don't be nervous. Nobody knows anything at first, you'll learn slowly. When I was in Guangzhou, I also started by setting up a street stall, and I suffered a lot. Now that you have us to guide you, you'll avoid a lot of detours."
Looking into Zhao Yajing's sincere eyes, Yang Shuying gradually felt at ease. She nodded emphatically, "Yes, I will definitely do my best."
After chatting for a while longer, Yang Shumao and Yang Shuying got up to say goodbye. They still had other relatives to visit for the New Year.
"Wait a minute," Qin Hao called out to them.
Yang Shumo turned around: "What's wrong, Lao Qin?"
"Da Mao, do you know anyone who makes antique-style buildings?" Qin Hao asked.
Yang Shumo paused for a moment, then scratched his head: "Ancient-style architecture? You're planning to renovate this courtyard house according to the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties?"
Qin Hao nodded, secretly praising Yang Shumao: This Yang Shumao is indeed smart enough, he understands things immediately.
"This..." Yang Shumo frowned and thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "That's right! I heard Sister Fei mention that their school's architecture department seems to have a team that does antique-style building restoration. I was just planning to go and wish Aunt Ye a Happy New Year, so why don't I ask her for you?"
Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "I'll just go with you. We have to go to Guangzhou on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, so we need to get this settled before we leave."
As he spoke, he brought out several boxes of pastries from his home—Beijing specialties such as Poria cocos cakes, candied fruit, and dried fruit—wrapped in red paper, intending them as New Year's gifts.
“I’ll go too.” Zhao Yajing stood up. “I haven’t seen Aunt Ye in a long time, I should go and wish her a Happy New Year.”
“Then I will too…” Zhao Yaping was about to speak when Zhao Yajing glared at him: “You stay home with Grandma, we’ll be back in a bit.”
Zhao Yaping pursed his lips, but dared not refute.
The three of them went out and headed towards Ye Fei's house.
To be honest, the apartment Ye Fei's family lives in now was actually given to them by Qin Hao. Last year, Qin Hao traded that apartment for Ye Fei's small courtyard house, and both sides were quite satisfied.
On his way to Ye Fei's house, Qin Hao noticed that the newly built residential area, which had seemed somewhat deserted last year, was now bustling with activity. Bedding was drying on balconies, paper-cut window decorations were pasted on windows, and children were setting off firecrackers downstairs. A quick glance revealed that the occupancy rate of the community had exceeded 70%.
"Things have changed so fast," Zhao Yajing remarked. "At this time last year, there were hardly any households in this building."
“Absolutely,” Yang Shumo chimed in. “Buildings are popping up everywhere in Beijing now, almost catching up with Shenzhen.”
"That's because there are too many educated youth returning to the city, and there's nowhere for them to live," Qin Hao said. "The housing problem is one of the most troublesome issues in Beijing right now."
As they talked, the three of them arrived at Ye Fei's apartment building. Ye Fei's family lived on the third floor. Although there was no elevator, no one cared about that these days—being able to live in an apartment building and not have to squeeze seven or eight people into a small bungalow of a dozen square meters was already a great satisfaction.
Yang Shumo stepped forward and knocked on the door: "Sister Fei~~~"
After only two knocks, the door opened. Ye Fei appeared in the doorway, wearing a white turtleneck sweater and blue corduroy pants, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking neat and tidy. The sweater was very form-fitting, highlighting her well-proportioned figure.
"Brother Mao..." Ye Fei greeted him with a smile, then suddenly noticed Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing behind her and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Hao, Yajing, what brings you here too? Come in, come in!"
The house was warm, the heating was on full blast. Aunt Ye was busy in the kitchen when she heard the noise and came out. Seeing Qin Hao and the others, she was delighted: "Little Hao's here! Ya Jing's here too! Please sit down, please sit down, Auntie will pour you some tea."
"Aunt Ye, Happy New Year!" Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing said in unison, placing the gifts on the table.
"You're welcome to come, no need to bring anything." Ye's mother said politely, but her face lit up with a smile. She had a very good impression of this young man who had helped her family solve a major problem by changing houses.
After everyone was seated, Ye Fei served tea and candy. After a few pleasantries, Qin Hao got down to business.
"Sister Fei, I've come today not only to wish you and Aunt Ye a Happy New Year, but also to ask you for a favor."
Ye Fei was taken aback: "Are you kidding me? How can I help you, a big boss like you?"
Her words were half-joking, half-sincere. She knew that Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing had a very successful business in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and she had heard that they earned more in a month than her parents earned in a year.
"Sister Fei, you can definitely help with this." Qin Hao said seriously, "Of all the people I know, only you can help me."
"Oh? Am I that important?" Ye Fei became interested: "Tell me, and I'll definitely help without hesitation if I can."
Qin Hao explained his situation: he owned two courtyard houses and wanted to renovate them in the Ming and Qing style, but couldn't find a professional team. He had heard that Ye Fei's school's architecture department had someone researching ancient architecture, and he wanted to ask her for help in making connections.
After hearing this, Ye Fei breathed a sigh of relief: "Oh, I thought it was something serious, you scared me. Don't worry, I have a classmate in the architecture department, and their professor specializes in Ming and Qing architecture. I'll definitely ask them for details later."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Fei," Qin Hao said with a smile. "Don't worry about the cost, just pay whatever it is."
“Okay, I’ll go find them tomorrow,” Ye Fei readily agreed.
After finishing their business, the group chatted for a while. Yang Shumo wished Ye's mother a Happy New Year and was about to leave with Qin Hao and the others when Ye Fei called him back.
"Brother Mao, stay a moment, I have something I want to tell you."
"Well... okay, you guys go back first, I'll go back by myself in a bit." Yang Shumo scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing exchanged a smile, then got up to say goodbye.
……
Ye Fei arrived early on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
"Xiao Hao, I've found out." Ye Fei said as soon as she entered the door, "My classmate's supervisor is surnamed Zhou. He's a professor in the architecture department, specializing in Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. He has several graduate students under him, and last year he participated in the restoration of a side hall in the Forbidden City. He's very experienced. They heard that you're going to renovate a courtyard house and are very interested. They said they could take on the job."
Qin Hao was overjoyed: "Great! How do we contact them?"
"Professor Zhou said that if it's convenient for you, you can come to the school this afternoon to have a face-to-face meeting with him. He has an office at the school, and he'll be there for the next few days during the Chinese New Year holiday." Ye Fei said, taking out a piece of paper: "This is the address and phone number."
Qin Hao took the note and looked at it: "Okay, I'll go this afternoon."
At 2 PM, Qin Hao arrived at Yenching University according to the address. The campus was quiet; most students had gone home for the Chinese New Year, and only a few faculty and students remained on campus. The architecture department was in an old three-story building. Qin Hao found Professor Zhou's office and knocked on the door.
"Please come in." A steady voice came from inside.
Qin Hao pushed open the door and went in. The office wasn't large, but it was piled high with books and blueprints. A man in his fifties, with gray hair and wearing glasses, sat at the desk, looking at a blueprint. Standing next to him were two young people, a man and a woman, who looked like students.
"Hello Professor Zhou, I'm Qin Hao, introduced by Ye Fei," Qin Hao introduced himself.
Professor Zhou looked up, glanced at Qin Hao a few times, stood up and shook hands with him: "Hello, Qin Hao. Ye Fei told me about your situation. Please sit down."
The two men sat down on the sofa, and the two students sat down beside them. Professor Zhou introduced them: "These are my two graduate students, Wang Jianguo and Li Xiumei. If you decide to entrust the project to us, they will be primarily responsible for the specific work."
Qin Hao shook hands with Wang Jianguo and Li Xiumei. Wang Jianguo was a tall, thin boy with black-rimmed glasses, who looked somewhat scholarly; Li Xiumei was not tall, but she was very energetic and had bright eyes.
"Professor Zhou, here's my idea." Qin Hao began to explain his requirements: "I have two courtyard houses, one larger, over 400 square meters; and one smaller, over 200 square meters. I want to renovate them in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, but not completely retro—it should retain the beauty and charm of traditional architecture while incorporating the convenience of modern life. For example, there should be separate bathrooms and kitchens, electricity and running water, and heating should also be provided."
Professor Zhou listened and nodded: "This approach is correct. Completely retro is unrealistic, after all, people need to live in a place and need to be comfortable. Our principle is 'restoring the old as it was, combining the old and the new,' improving living conditions while maintaining the traditional style."
He asked Wang Jianguo to bring out a stack of blueprints and photos to show Qin Hao the projects they had done before: old house restoration, new antique-style buildings, each with its own unique features.
Qin Hao examined it carefully and was very satisfied: "Professor Zhou, I have great confidence in your abilities. I'll leave this task to you."
Professor Zhou was pleased: "Great, we'll go to the site as soon as possible to conduct an on-site survey and then come up with a design plan. By the way, Comrade Qin Hao, what's your budget for renovating these two courtyards? We need to determine the materials and techniques based on that budget."
Qin Hao thought for a moment and then held up five fingers.
"Five thousand?" Wang Jianguo asked tentatively. "Isn't that a bit too little? It might not even be enough for timber and bricks."
Qin Hao laughed: "What I mean is within 500,000. You can decide what to do, as long as it meets the requirements I put forward."
"Five hundred thousand?" Wang Jianguo and Li Xiumei were completely stunned. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. Their teacher's annual research funding was only tens of thousands of yuan; this five hundred thousand was simply an astronomical figure.
Professor Zhou was also stunned, and pushed up his glasses: "Comrade Qin Hao, this... this is too much. According to our estimate, if we renovate both courtyards completely, using the best materials and hiring the best craftsmen, 50,000 yuan should be enough. 500,000 yuan... that would be enough to build a royal palace."
Qin Hao smiled and said, "Professor Zhou, my idea is that since we're going to repair it, we should repair it properly the first time, using the best materials and hiring the best craftsmen. I not only want it to look good, but also to be durable, so that people can still live in it a hundred years from now. Five hundred thousand is the upper limit; we don't necessarily have to spend it all. You make the budget and spend as much as you need, but the quality must be guaranteed."
Professor Zhou pondered for a moment, then nodded emphatically: "Alright, since you trust us so much, we will definitely do a good job. Jianguo, Xiumei, did you hear that? This is someone's trust in us, and it's also a test. We must be attentive and not be careless in the slightest."
"Yes, teacher!" the two students replied in unison.
Next, the two parties discussed some details. Qin Hao gave Professor Zhou one of the keys to the two houses, and they agreed to go to the site for inspection on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Then they signed a simple agency agreement, and Qin Hao paid 5,000 yuan as a deposit.
It was already late when Qin Hao left Yenching University. He rode his bicycle home, a weight lifted from his heart. The courtyard house renovation was settled; now he could go to Guangzhou with peace of mind.
On the evening of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the two did a final check of their luggage. Both large travel bags were packed full.
"Have you bought the plane tickets yet?" Li Yuxiang asked worriedly.
"It's all bought. The flight is at 10 a.m. tomorrow." Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry about it. It's not like this is our first time traveling."
As Li Yuxiang spoke, she began to remind everyone, "Be careful on the road, and call back when you arrive."
"I know, I know, you've said it eight times already," Qin Hao said with a smile.
On the morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, the group got up. Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, Yang Shumao, and Yang Shuying, the four of them, gathered at the courtyard gate with their luggage. They agreed that Xie Lao would wait for them at the alley entrance, and then they would take a taxi to the airport together.
At 7:30, Mr. Xie still hadn't arrived.
"Did this guy oversleep?" Yang Shumo glanced at his watch. "We agreed to wait here at seven, and it's been half an hour already."
"Wait a little longer," Qin Hao said.
Ten more minutes passed, but there was still no sign of him. Zhao Yajing grew anxious: "Should we go to his house to look for him? We don't want to miss our flight."
Before the words were finished, hurried footsteps came from the other end of the alley. Everyone looked over and saw Old Xie running towards them, panting, carrying luggage in his hand, and behind him... was another person.
A young woman.
As they approached, Yang Shumo's eyes widened: "Jia Xiaoying? What are you doing here?"
The girl was in her early twenties, not very tall, but quite pretty. She was wearing a red cotton-padded jacket and a white scarf. When she saw Yang Shumao, she raised her chin smugly: "What? This road was built by your family, so you're allowed to come, but I can't?"
Qin Hao frowned and turned to Elder Xie: "What's going on?"
Old Xie turned his face and pulled Qin Hao aside, lowering his voice: "Don't even mention it. Yesterday I went ice skating at Shichahai, and by some strange twist of fate, I ran into her. She kept pestering me with questions, and when she heard I was going to Guangzhou today, she insisted on coming with me... I couldn't shake her off."
"Old Xie, you're not planning to take her to Guangzhou, are you?" Zhao Yajing overheard their conversation and glared at Old Xie with an unfriendly expression.
Feeling a little guilty, Xie Lao quietly tugged at Qin Hao's sleeve, signaling him to put in a good word for him.
Qin Hao irritably shook off Xie Lao's hand, saying, "You, this is what they call reaping what you sow. Go explain to Hua Mei yourself."
"Who is Hua Mei?" Jia Xiaoying, with her sharp ears, heard this and grabbed Xie Laozhuan's collar: "Xie Laozhuan, tell me, who exactly is Hua Mei? Do you have a lover in Guangzhou?"
Old Xie was immediately at his wit's end, stammering, "I... I had no idea we'd meet again... That was in the past..."
"What happened before?" Jia Xiaoying persisted, "What did you tell me last time? You said you only had me in your heart! Well, Xie Laozhuan, you actually lied to me!"
The two started pulling at each other at the alley entrance, attracting the attention of passersby. Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, Yang Shumao, and Yang Shuying stood by, watching the farce with complicated expressions.
Finally, Yang Shumo couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward to separate the two: "Alright, alright, what's all this commotion in the street? Xie Laozhuan, you caused this mess, deal with it yourself, don't delay our flight."
Qin Hao glanced at his watch; it was already eight o'clock. It would take more than an hour to get to the airport from here, and if he didn't leave soon, he'd be too late.
"Alright then," Qin Hao made his decision: "Old Xie, you either persuade Jia Xiaoying to go back, or you take her with you to Guangzhou—but you'll have to bear the consequences. I'll give you five minutes. If you've made your decision, we'll leave immediately."
Old Xie glanced at Jia Xiaoying's stubborn face, then at Qin Hao's serious expression, and gritted his teeth: "Take her with you! I'll figure something out when we get to Guangzhou..."
"You!" Zhao Yajing was so angry she wanted to curse, but Qin Hao stopped her.
"This is his choice, and he will bear the consequences himself," Qin Hao said calmly. "We don't have time, let's go."
The group of six—originally planned as four, plus Xie Laozhuan and Jia Xiaoying—squeezed into two taxis and headed to the airport.
It was Yang Shuying and Jia Xiaoying's first time at an airport, and they both looked curiously at the scenery outside the window.
Upon arriving at the airport and completing check-in, there were still forty minutes until takeoff. The group waited in the departure lounge.
Yang Shuying looked around and said in an incredulous tone, "I can't believe I'm actually flying on an airplane... I never even dared to dream of it before."
Zhao Yajing smiled: "Third sister, as long as you work hard, plane tickets are no big deal. If you do well, buying a house won't be a problem either."
"That's great," Yang Shuying said half-jokingly. "This is like a turnaround for me. I worked in a street factory for six years and thought that was the end of my life. I never thought I would have the chance to try something new."
Qin Hao said, "Third sister, you can do it. If the clothing store does well in the future, you might be able to become your own boss, open branches, and expand the business."
Yang Shuying was deeply moved and nodded emphatically: "I will definitely work hard!"
The boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker. The group picked up their luggage and lined up to board the plane.
She crossed the jet bridge and entered the cabin. Jia Xiaoying curiously looked around the interior—spacious seats, pretty flight attendants, and a clean environment. She found her seat according to her boarding pass, sat down, and carefully fastened her seatbelt.
The plane began taxiing, accelerated, and took off.
As the plane lifted off the ground and soared into the sky, Yang Shuying gripped the handrail tightly, feeling both nervous and excited. Looking at the buildings outside the window growing smaller and smaller, she suddenly felt a sense of unreality—just a few days ago, she was a temporary worker in a street factory, earning twenty-eight yuan and fifty cents a month; and now, she was sitting on a plane bound for Guangzhou, about to begin a completely new life.
Zhao Yajing sat down next to her and patted her hand: "Relax, it'll be fine in a bit."
Yang Shuying nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly released the handrail.
After the plane reached a stable altitude, the flight attendants began serving drinks. Yang Shuying ordered a Coke, took one sip, and then disdainfully handed it to Yang Shumao.
"What is this stuff? It tastes awful!"
"You're just not used to it. This is a good stuff; you can't even buy it in Beijing if you want to," Yang Shumo explained patiently.
Jia Xiaoying, who was standing nearby, secretly glanced at Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing, and whispered to Xie Lao, "Are they really rich now? Are you really working for them?"
Old Xie looked at Jia Xiaoying, whose face was full of curiosity, and felt a headache coming on. He didn't know how to explain things to Hua Mei when they got to Guangzhou.
Regarding Xie Lao's "experience," Zhao Yajing had only one word: He deserved it!