Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 50 Part 1

Chapter 50: Third Grandma Visits Again

Winter 1983. Today was the final exam for the first-year junior high students at No. 1 Middle School.

As soon as the bell rang, students swarmed out of the classrooms like ants.

A natural empty space formed around Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu as they walked, and the students nearby stole glances at them with envy in their eyes.

Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu had already become legends at No. 1 Middle School. First of all, these two brothers were not related by blood, yet their bond was closer than that of any blood brothers. Everyone at No. 1 Middle School knew that Zhao Shenggu cherished Guan Yuan in the palm of his hand. Secondly, ever since these two brothers started school, they had always tied for first place in their grade, and every single time they scored full marks with insane perfection. Lastly — and this was something everyone had only recently learned — the famous "Yuangu" braised meat and "Yuangu" Garment in Yun County were both businesses owned by these two brothers.

Now "Yuangu" braised meat had already made a name for itself nationwide, and there were countless people waiting to become franchisees. As for "Yuangu" Garment, although it hadn't gained as much fame yet because they hadn't done any advertising, its potential was extraordinary. Even in Harbin, many people were lining up to place orders.

In terms of scale, "Yuangu" Garment was already far beyond a workshop. Zhao Shenggu had built two large buildings on the wasteland he had bought. This summer, as soon as the paperwork came through, the "Yuangu" Garment workshop had already become "Yuangu" Garment Co., Ltd., with a factory built behind it.

After the factory expanded, even more people came to place orders.

"Yuangu" Garment was always in a state of rushing to fill orders, but none of the workers in the factory objected to this, because every piece of clothing they made came with a corresponding commission.

 

"Yuangu" Garment didn't just hire people from nearby villages — even people from neighboring counties came to work there. The factory's benefits were simply too good. As long as someone was willing to work hard and steadily, earning fifty yuan a day with overtime was not difficult. The first group of longtime workers at "Yuangu" had already become masters, and none of them earned less than a hundred yuan a day. That was a jaw-dropping amount of money in those days.

Although "Yuangu" Garment had already recruited workers three times in one year due to its expansion, every time, the line of applicants stretched for miles.

With the income from "Yuangu" Garment plus "Yuangu" braised meat, Guan Yuan truly understood the real meaning of the saying "money is just a number." Although they no longer had to worry about money, they still handled everything at home themselves.

Both of them felt this was more comfortable.

After today's exam, winter break would begin. Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu tidied up the house in town. In the shop, Guan Guo had sold out of braised meat early. Thinking that Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu were also heading back to the village, he waited for them to go together.

Snow in the north always came down generously. Winter in their area was especially long. Every place has its own characteristics. In recent years, as life had gotten better, ice sculptures had appeared in Yun County too.

The ice carver was an old man who had set up a stall not far from their shop, shivering from the cold. Guan Yuan saw that the things he carved were indeed exquisite, so he dragged Zhao Shenggu over to have two little figures carved with them as models.

Guan Yuan noticed that although the old man was shivering, his hands were especially steady when he carved. Through casual conversation, he learned that the old man had once done carving specifically for wealthy families.

But later, when times got bad, everyone wanted to be classified as middle-poor or lower-poor peasants — who would still hire him for carvings? So his craft had been abandoned all this time.

When ice sculptures started being sold in Yun County, the old man thought of his skill and came out to set up a stall, earning a bit of money for food.

The ice sculpture figures modeled after Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu were finished before long. Even Guan Yuan, who had seen plenty of realistic mass-produced crafts from later generations, couldn't help but marvel — they looked incredibly alike. Apart from the size difference, they were practically exact replicas of him and Zhao Shenggu, right down to the two front teeth that showed when Guan Yuan smiled.

Zhao Shenggu also loved the pair of figures. He especially treasured the one of Guan Yuan, holding it in his hand and never letting go.

Guan Guo couldn't resist getting one carved too, and even thought about bringing the whole family tomorrow to have a family portrait carved together.

Guan Yuan's heart stirred: "Grandpa, are you the only one in your family who knows this carving skill?"

The old man sighed when he heard this. "After I learned this craft from my master, I was supposed to teach it to my eldest son, but in the end I never got the chance. In Yun County, I'm afraid there really is no one else who knows this craft besides me."

Guan Yuan sighed. Who knew how many unique crafts like this had been lost in the river of history. Out of respect for the old man, Guan Yuan deliberately gave him a few extra yuan when paying. The old man was so happy his eyes crinkled shut, thanking him repeatedly.

On the way, the two of them also stopped by "Yuangu" Garment to take a look. Seeing that everything was in good order, they finally returned to Guanjia Village.

Looking at the home he hadn't been back to in a week, Guan Yuan felt a deep sense of warmth. The yard was clean and tidy — Guan Yuan knew Li Ying had helped them tidy up.

Zhao Shenggu took off his coat and immediately lit the kang and the floor stove. When Zhao Shenggu lit the floor stove, he especially liked to roast peanuts, chestnuts, and other little snacks on the kang beside it, because Guan Yuan liked to eat them. This time was no exception. After the floor stove was lit, he still laid a ring of them around its edge.

Seeing Guan Yuan fussing by the window, he worried the temperature difference between inside and outside was too great, so he walked over and rubbed Guan Yuan down vigorously before telling him to come inside.

Guan Yuan placed the two ice figures facing inward by the window, so that they could see them while lying on the kang. In such cold weather, there was no need to worry about the ice figures melting.

"Alright, come inside. Change out of these clothes. I'll go cook." Zhao Shenggu pulled Guan Yuan into the room, gave him a reminder, and went into the kitchen himself.

The fire in the room was burning bright. Guan Yuan didn't feel cold at all, but he still obediently listened to Zhao Shenggu and changed into a set of dry clothes.

He came to the kitchen. Zhao Shenggu was wearing an apron and simmering soup. In the rising steam, Zhao Shenggu's resolute face seemed a bit softer. Guan Yuan didn't do anything — he just pulled over a stool and sat behind, staring fixedly at Zhao Shenggu.

Zhao Shenggu felt the burning gaze on his back. Without turning his head, he chuckled softly: "Why aren't you going to warm yourself by the fire?"

Guan Yuan propped his chin on his hand: "I'll go when you're done cooking."

Zhao Shenggu raised an eyebrow: "Then I'd better hurry."

Guan Yuan was amused by Zhao Shenggu. He stood up and wrapped his arms around Zhao Shenggu's waist, pressing his face against his back without saying a word. Zhao Shenggu's hand holding the ladle paused. He suddenly felt that the place where Guan Yuan was pressed against him was burning like fire, and the temperature on his face rose along with it.

Zhao Shenggu didn't know why this was, but he really liked Guan Yuan's dependence on him. He wished he could keep Guan Yuan tied to his side at all times.

Zhao Shenggu felt as if even the air had stopped at this moment. The only thing left in the whole kitchen was the gurgling of the boiling soup. His hand holding the ladle unconsciously slowed down.

"Brother...?" It was Guan Yuan's puzzled call that finally brought him back to his senses.

"Ah! What is it?"

"I said the soup is done." Guan Yuan pointed at the boiling pot.

"Oh, right. If it's done, let's eat." There was a hint of fluster in the way Zhao Shenggu picked up the pot. Guan Yuan looked at Zhao Shenggu's unusual behavior in confusion. Thinking about what had just happened, he felt a surge of joy in his heart — could it be that Zhao Shenggu already had feelings for him?

The two had just finished eating when there was a knock at the door. Zhao Shenggu got up to answer it and found that the person knocking was Third Grandma Guan. Zhao Shenggu looked at Third Grandma in confusion. Ever since they had stood up for her last time, and she had still spoken up for Guan Mandi and Zhao Juan, there had been no more contact between them. So why had Third Grandma come today despite the cold weather?

No matter what, an old woman was standing at the door, and Zhao Shenggu couldn't bring himself to leave her out in the cold. He invited Third Grandma in and poured her a cup of hot tea.

Third Grandma drank the tea with trembling hands, and only then did some color return to her face.

Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu brought out food for Third Grandma to eat, but they did not ask any unnecessary questions.

Several times Third Grandma seemed about to speak but stopped herself, and in the end she still did not say what she wanted to say.

Zhao Shenggu wrapped a thick coat around Third Grandma and finally walked her home. After he returned, Zhao Shenggu was noticeably quieter.

Guan Yuan asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"

On the way back after walking Third Grandma home, Third Grandma had complained to him the whole way, saying that Guan Mandi and Zhao Juan did not treat her like a person. On such cold days they often made her eat cold food and drink cold water, and they often made her work as well.

Zhao Shenggu only listened without saying a word, and after watching Third Grandma enter the yard, he left.