Chapter 454: Secret Competition

"Okay, let me tell you, why did such a beautiful girl suddenly come to our research institute? She has a romantic partner."

"I'm still thinking about it. Who can let this girl wait at the door? It turns out to be our Section Chief He, so it'll be fine."

"Is this the wife of our Section Chief He? Don't tell me, she is really a good match for our Section Chief He!"

These small workers ate the dog food that He Yuzhu and his wife spread out, which really made many people envious.

……

After coming out of the institute, Xie Yingqi sat behind He Yuzhu's bicycle and said with a smile: "Did you do that on purpose just now? I saw the look in those guys' eyes, so I'm not afraid of them beating you."

Hearing this, He Yuzhu chuckled: "Why, why don't you let me have a wife? Those boys who are capable can marry such a beautiful and virtuous person like me."

Hearing this, Xie Yingqi couldn't help rolling her eyes, "Virtue!" However, she tightened her arms around Zhu Zhu's waist.

The two of them walked through the streets. Instead of going to the vegetable market to buy goods, they went to Wangfujing first. These days, He Yuzhu was busy working in the institute, and Xie Yingqi had not been to Wangfujing much because of having a baby.

Now that the public-private partnership has been implemented, state-owned shopping malls and supply and marketing cooperatives are popular. Because the Spring Festival is approaching, the streets are also full of festive atmosphere.

There are couplets, lanterns and other decorative objects hanging on both sides of Wangfujing Street. The mall is crowded with people who come out to buy New Year's goods.

It is 56 now, and there are still two years before the difficult period later, so everyone is living a good life now, especially on the streets in the center of the city. Those who dare to go out and stroll are all rich.

After He Yuzhu parked his bicycle, he took Xie Yingqi to stroll on the street. Whatever he valued, He Yuzhu would buy it directly. He had all kinds of tickets saved in the institute, so he didn't have to worry about whether he had money or not.

After two hours of shopping, He Yuzhu was already carrying a lot of bags.

Among them, there were new winter clothes bought for his family this year. Now state-owned stores have new industrially produced clothes. Compared with the clothes made by ordinary people with sewing machines, they are undoubtedly more fashionable. Of course, the price is also incomparable.

Under normal circumstances, if you buy fabrics and make clothes at home, even if it is an adult's winter clothes, a brand new one will only cost a few yuan at most.

But if you buy it in this mall, it will cost at least 30 yuan per piece, and you have to ask for the necessary cloth coupons.

But for He Yuzhu, this is naturally affordable, and he bought more than ten sets of winter clothes at once. In addition to his own family, He Yuzhu also prepared a set for several masters and their wives.

When the salesperson at the counter saw He Yuzhu taking so many sets of clothes at once, he didn't dare to sell them even if he had tickets and money, but wanted to check He Yuzhu's identity.

After all, even in Wangfujing, few people buy so many clothes at once.

Later, after learning that He Yuzhu was a senior researcher at the 304 Institute, the salesperson dared to sell clothes to He Yuzhu. This matter also alarmed the manager of the mall.

Of course, these are just a small episode.

In addition to clothes, He Yuzhu and Xie Yingqi also bought some new tableware, tables, chairs, benches, etc. at the mall. In short, the new year and new atmosphere are all about the atmosphere. He Yuzhu did not take these large items at the back, but left his address to the mall staff and asked them to deliver them to the door, and he also gave them a travel fee.

When the two returned to the yard with large and small bags, the residents in the yard looked at them frequently.

"Hey, Zhuzi, what did you buy with these large and small bags?"

The third uncle of the door god saw that He Yuzhu and Xie Yingqi were holding a lot of things in their hands, and he hurried over to help.

"Oh, isn't the New Year coming soon? Let's add some things to the house. Third uncle, you should write our couplets this year. I have prepared paper, ink, brush and inkstone. You can just come directly when the time comes."

Yan Bugui helped and took a lot of things. He was complaining in his heart, "You call this buying something?" After hearing Zhuzi ask him to help write couplets, he nodded happily again: "Okay, Zhuzi, you can rest assured about Third uncle's couplets. I will definitely make you happy!"

Every New Year, Yan Bugui can point to his good brush calligraphy to help everyone write couplets in the yard. Of course, with this guy's temper, he will definitely not suffer any loss.

Those residents who asked him to help write couplets would give some benefits, such as a handful of peanuts, a bag of melon seeds, or one or two candies. After all, he couldn't write for nothing, and he could also get the paper, ink, brush and inkstone for his own couplets.

Of course, the most generous ones are Zhuzi's family.

Every year, after he helps Zhuzi write couplets, Zhuzi gives him a handful of candy, such as White Rabbit milk candy, or a few kilograms of flour. Anyway, no one in the whole compound gives more than Zhuzi.

This is of course because of the relationship between the two families. Otherwise, if He Yuzhu really wants couplets, it would not be a problem to buy a few pairs from the supply and marketing cooperative. It's just a personal relationship.

After all, although He Yuzhu doesn't live in the compound now, he still belongs to the Hongxing Street Office. What's more, his father and Aunt Chen still live here, so they have to deal with the compound here.

The three uncles in the compound, that is, the third uncle, don't have so many bad intentions. At most, they like to take advantage, but since the relationship is good, he should do things.

Yan Bugui helped Zhuzi carry the big and small bags back to the middle courtyard. He Daqing and Chen Juan came to help after hearing the noise. Seeing this, Yan Bugui put down the things. "Okay, Zhuzi, you guys go first. Everyone has a lot of things to do at the end of the year. My family is also busy."

Seeing this, He Yuzhu also nodded and handed over a piece of chocolate without leaving a trace.

"Uncle, I saw this at the supply and marketing cooperative today. It's chocolate, imported stuff. You can try it when you go back."

"Hey, Zhuzi, you are promising now. You are willing to buy this thing. Uncle, I heard several students mention it in school. It must be at least a few cents for one, right?"

"There are some non-staple food tickets in the tickets issued by the institute. Just buy it and try it. Don't forget, just come over and give some couplets when the time comes."

After sending Yan Bugui away, He Yuzhu's family packed up the big and small bags.

...

In the front yard, not long after Zhuzi entered the yard, two figures returned to the yard.

Xu Damao pushed a bicycle with various items hanging on it. Lou Xiao'e followed beside him, but she was leisurely holding nothing in her hands.

Because there were a lot of things, Xu Damao was pushing his bicycle the whole time. He finally saw the gate of the courtyard, which finally made Xu Damao feel relieved. When Xu Damao saw the third uncle in the front yard, he hurriedly said, "Hey, third uncle, it's just right, come over and help me."

"Oh? Xu Damao?"

After seeing Xu Damao's full cart of things, Yan Bugui raised his eyebrows again.

"You guys are in a hurry to buy New Year's goods on the same day."

He muttered to himself, but walked closer to take a look.

Xu Damao and his wife went to Lou Xiao'e's mother's house today, and these New Year's goods were naturally brought from Lou Xiao'e's mother's house. Although it has been a public-private partnership, the capitalists have not been fully suppressed yet. The Lou family still lives a comfortable life, but not as chic as before. There are many good things for Xu Damao's family in the New Year's goods, including imported foreign wine.

Although Xu Damao was exhausted, he couldn't help but show off when he returned to the yard. After all, the Xu family in this compound had a very good life.

"Uncle San, please help me quickly. It's really hard for me to carry this cart of New Year's goods."

Xu Damao said this deliberately, but he wanted to show off in front of Uncle San. After all, he knew Uncle San's temper. He was greedy for so many things.

If it had been just now, Yan Bugui might have taken a few more glances when he saw Xu Damao's cart of things. After all, it's good to have a good time. But Zhuzi and Xie Yingqi had just entered not long ago, and they had much more bags than Xu Damao. Not to mention, they were all from the same compound. How could Yan Bugui not know Xu Damao? What benefits could he get from going over to help?

Zhuzi is very good at socializing. The two families have a good relationship at ordinary times, not to mention that he just took a piece of chocolate from him. If he helps Xu Damao, he will be lucky to get a drink of water.

Therefore, even if Yan Bugui heard Xu Damao's words, he just came over slowly and glanced at Xu Damao's New Year goods.

"It's just these things, why do you want to help? You are young now, it's good to suffer more. If it doesn't work, don't you still have your wife? Zhuzi and his wife just bought a lot of New Year goods, much more than you. They share half of the money each, which is good for me."

Xu Damao saw the slow movements of the third uncle and was about to urge him, but the next second he heard these words, which made Xu Damao's face turn green instantly.

What pot is not open!

Who doesn't know that Xu Damao is afraid of his wife?

Lou Xiao'e glared at him, and he was more scared than a mouse seeing a cat, so how dare he let his wife carry things?

Moreover, this uncle compared himself with Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu bought more things than their family? Isn't this making him unhappy!

"Okay, okay, uncle, if you don't help, then don't block the way and make trouble. Make way, make way."

Immediately, Xu Damao's tone was instantly impatient, and he pushed his bicycle and yelled at the uncle.

"Hey, you kid... I say Xiao'e, your Xu Damao should be disciplined."

Seeing Xu Damao's impolite attitude, Yan Bugui immediately clicked his tongue.

"Uncle, if you don't help, don't make trouble here."

Lou Xiao'e didn't respond to Yan Bugui's tone.

No matter how she manipulated Xu Damao, it was their family's own business. The couple could say whatever they wanted to each other, and as long as it didn't involve issues of principle, she certainly couldn't undermine her man's stage.

…

After returning to the backyard, Xu Damao moved all the things into the house, sat on a chair, poured himself a cup of tea, and thought about what the third uncle had just said. He became more and more angry.

"Ezi, tell me, what is this idiot Zhu so proud of? He just went to a crappy university and got a good job, but he has so many bags and small bags, more than what we buy at home?"

Hearing this, Lou Xiao'e said fairly: "It's not a crappy university. Tsinghua University is a serious top student. And my father knew about the 304 Institute when he was the factory director. This unit is not easy to enter. You say you are the same. Zhuzi is not stupid. I really don't know what you did. Why are you so hard on Zhuzi? You two grew up together in the same courtyard. Why are you still holding grudges like a child when you are so old?"

Although Lou Xiao'e married Xu Damao, she still has her own unique personal insights and world outlook. She didn't just agree with her man, but helped Xu Damao analyze the situation objectively.

But Xu Damao was good in other aspects, but when he met the stupid Zhuzi, he naturally had a lot of energy. It might be because they were the same age since childhood, and they didn't see eye to eye.

Therefore, Xu Damao did not take Lou Xiao'e's words seriously: "If you ask me, there is nothing special about Sha Zhu. No matter how much New Year's goods we buy, it can't be as much as our family. Ezi, when we go back this time, our father-in-law gave us a lot of tickets, right? It just so happens that we haven't bought food for the New Year this year. Let's continue tomorrow and buy him a lot of bags and small bags, so that everyone in the courtyard can see that my life is better than Sha Zhu's!"

Xu Damao said this with the confidence of his father-in-law Lou Zhenhua.

Hearing this, Lou Xiao'e looked a little helpless, but she didn't dissuade him. She was still very confident in her family's conditions. Zhuzi was indeed a talent, but compared with their family, which was a wealthy family before liberation, it was still a lot less profound. Therefore, Lou Xiao'e always had her own aura of a young lady in her heart.

……

Central Courtyard, He Family.

The whole family worked until the evening, and finally sorted out the things that Zhuzi and his family bought in Wangfujing today.

Among them, Chen Juan and Xie Yingqi divided the winter clothes into several portions according to the recipients, and they can just deliver them directly in the next few days.

And some household items are also placed in an orderly manner.

After dinner, He Yuzhu reminded He Daqing and others before leaving that they should go to the vegetable market together tomorrow morning to buy some food for the New Year.

This time, in addition to the consumption needed for the New Year, He Yuzhu also needs to increase the food reserves in the space. There is not much time left for him to store food. Taking advantage of the last few years of food and conditions, He Yuzhu will stock up again.

……

……(End of this chapter)