Chapter Four: The Sharp Minds of the Age

The last period in the afternoon was self-study. With ten minutes left until class ended, Li Ye hurriedly packed his bag and slipped away.

Class monitor Hu Man hurriedly called out, “Li Ye, where are you going? It’s not dismissal time yet!”

Without turning back, Li Ye replied, “Class monitor, I have something to attend to. Please help me ask for leave.”

Hu Man shouted angrily, “It’s just a little while, why ask for leave? I—”

But Li Ye had already left the classroom and quickly met up with Li Dayong, with whom he had arranged to meet earlier, vanishing like a flash.

Hu Man was furious, her chest heaving, emphasizing the ample curves she possessed.

Yet in the end, she still took out a piece of paper and wrote a leave note for Li Ye, so he would have an excuse if the teacher asked.

Li Dayong and Li Ye left the school and shared a ride on a “28 big handlebar” bicycle, heading toward the County No. 1 High School, located north of the town.

The County No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools were not far apart—less than ten minutes’ ride.

Li Dayong stopped the bike, pulled out a cigarette and lit it, then asked Li Ye seriously, “Brother, have you really made up your mind?”

Li Ye nodded slightly. “Yes, I have.”

Li Ye came to the gate of County No. 1 High School today to collect a debt.

Back when he was engaged to Lu Jingyao, he had gifted her a 26-model Phoenix bicycle.

In the 1980s, a Phoenix bicycle with a purchase ticket cost over 180 yuan; without the ticket, even 300 yuan couldn’t buy one. The 26-model was even rarer than the 28-model, making it more eye-catching than a small car would be in later years.

At that time, Li Ye’s grandfather and father had just resumed work for a little over a year, saving up industrial coupon vouchers to buy two bicycles, intending to buy Li Ye a 28-model Flying Pigeon as well.

But Li Ye insisted on giving Lu Jingyao a bike. His grandfather managed to get hold of this 26-model Phoenix, suitable for a lady to ride, as the engagement gift.

Their engagement caused a sensation comparable to someone in later generations giving a BMW to their granddaughter-in-law.

So even if the Lu family was reluctant, they should have returned the bike when breaking off the engagement.

However, when Lu’s father came to Li’s home to call off the engagement, Li Ye’s father threw fish and meat out of the door, shouting, “Consider the dowry as dog food!”

Though Lu Jingyao’s father didn’t pick up the fish and meat, he also did not leave the Phoenix bicycle behind.

Li Ye’s steady grandfather and thrifty grandmother did not stop Lu’s father from riding the bike away.

At that time, Li Ye might not have understood, but now he knew clearly that his grandparents were suppressing their anger to leave a way out for their grandson.

If Li Ye got into university this year, the Li family would use a mix of sternness and kindness to try to win back their grandson’s affection.

The Lu family might have similar intentions.

This unreturned Phoenix bicycle was the lingering tie between the two families.

After Lu Jingyao went to study in the capital, the bike was handed down to her younger brother, Lu Zixue, who was a first-year student at County No. 1 High School.

In the past, Li Ye had dreamed that Lu Jingyao might change her mind, willing to take the bus on Line 11 himself rather than reclaim the bicycle.

But now, Li Ye no longer had such magnanimity.

If it were just a matter of past grievances and letting bygones be bygones, it would be fine. But Lu Jingyao had boldly sent money to the school, causing Li Ye to be labeled as Huang Shiren, as if he were a villain. Did she really think Li Ye was some kind of scapegoat?

You can’t hog my favors on one hand while loudly proclaiming your “freedom” on the other.

Most importantly… Li Ye himself didn’t even have a bike to ride! It was inconvenient for him to get anywhere—how could he let you be the only one who’s comfortable?

Li Dayong took a deep drag of his cigarette and hesitated before saying, “Brother, if you get that Phoenix back, then you two really will be…”

Li Ye glanced at him and said, “Is Lu Jingyao really that great? Do I have to hang myself on that one tree? I’m a man who has the ability to own the whole forest.”

“……”

Li Dayong stared blankly for a moment, blinking, unable to fully grasp Li Ye’s words.

[So you weren’t the one desperate for Lu Jingyao before, brother?]

Seeing Li Dayong’s expression, Li Ye didn’t explain further but simply patted his shoulder to reassure him.

Though this childhood friend looked big and burly like a bear, he was actually quite thoughtful.

For example, when he cursed loudly outside Lu Jingyao’s house or suggested “going to the capital to scold Chen Shimei” at noon, it all had a clear purpose:

To force Lu Jingyao to reconcile with Li Ye.

[If you don’t come out and talk things over with my brother, I’ll shout your dirty laundry all over the streets. If you dare to pull a Chen Shimei, I’ll make sure the whole school hears about it.]

It could be said that Li Ye being unjustly called “Huang Shiren” was partly thanks to Li Dayong’s “Mu Renzhi”-style backup.

“Brother, school’s almost out. Let’s move further from the gate!”

Seeing dismissal approaching, Li Dayong suddenly grew nervous.

“Hm? What are you afraid of?”

“County No. 1 High School’s teachers are quite strict. I’m afraid they’ll meddle in things they shouldn’t.”

“……”

County No. 1 High School was different from County No. 2. Not only was its academic discipline strict, but it was also very tough on idle outsiders hanging around.

By 1981, street thugs had already started demanding money from children, but none dared cause trouble at the gate of County No. 1.

Li Dayong’s rough appearance naturally drew suspicion from the teachers.

“What’s there to fear? Teachers’ authority ends inside the school. How could they control the outside?”

Li Ye replied casually.

“Right, no matter how long teachers’ arms are, they can’t reach outside the school,” someone nearby chimed in.

Li Ye and Li Dayong turned to look and saw a man around thirty, grinning at them.

This man had approached earlier. Li Ye and Li Dayong had thought he was there to pick up a child but now it seemed otherwise.

Li Dayong’s face grew stern as he asked, “What do you do? Why are you hanging around the school gate?”

Boys these days grew up watching patriotic movies and were eager to deal with suspicious characters like spies, thugs, and villains. This man’s strong foreign accent made him suspicious.

The man wasn’t angry but smiled and said, “I sell sesame candy. Gentlemen, want some?”

“What gentlemen? Do you think this is the old society? Selling sesame candy? Aren’t you afraid the crackdown office will arrest you?”

Li Dayong looked righteous but his mouth betrayed him as he swallowed nervously.

The crackdown office was the bureau that targeted speculation and profiteering for over a decade, playing a huge role in crushing the budding capitalist tendencies.

“Don’t jump to conclusions, young man. The government has said that individual economy is a necessary complement to state and collective economies…”

The man spoke while pulling out a newspaper marked in red with an article titled, “Several Policy Provisions on Urban Non-Agricultural Individual Economy.”

Li Ye was surprised. There were countless clever people in the world; one should never underestimate the heroes among them.

This regulation had come out just a few months ago. Many departments probably hadn’t grasped its spirit yet, but someone had already seized the opportunity to “seek wealth amidst danger.”

This business acumen and adventurous spirit could easily stir ripples in this stagnant pond.

Of course, many would drown trying—after all, the crime of speculation and profiteering was only abolished in 1997, so misjudgments were inevitable.

“How much for your sesame candy?”

Li Ye stepped forward, signaling for the man to show his goods.

The man opened his bundle, revealing a small clay basin half-filled with yellow-brown sesame candy.

Sesame candy was a time-honored traditional snack, famous in the north at Tangshan and in the south at Hubei Province. Made from glutinous rice, sesame, maltose, and other natural ingredients, it was fragrant, sweet, thin, and crispy, with a distinctive flavor.

Li Dayong’s mouth watered audibly.

In an era when everything required official tickets to buy, such sweets were highly tempting.

The man smiled and quoted, “One yuan per jin. Young gentlemen, how much would you like?”

Li Dayong almost jumped up. “One yuan per jin? A White Rabbit candy costs one yuan fifty! I think you’re…”

“Hey, hey, you got it wrong,” the man hurried to explain. “I said one yuan per kilogram. White Rabbit is one yuan fifty per jin, and you also need sugar coupons…”

Damn, still a shrewd merchant.

Li Ye smiled but didn’t expose him. Instead, he took out two yuan and tossed it over.

The man quickly pocketed the two one-yuan bills and picked up his scale to weigh the candy.

He had already sized up this young master as a wealthy customer.

Selling outside the school, he usually made only a few dimes or even pennies a day. Sometimes it took several days to collect two yuan!

Li Ye didn’t care about a few yuan. As the only male in the family, with his grandfather, grandmother, father, and sister all giving him pocket money, he wasn’t a millionaire but certainly a small tycoon.

But seeing the candy seller press his right little finger on the scale’s arm, Li Ye couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

Trying to cheat with a rigged scale—didn’t he know who he was dealing with? Did he think Li Ye was a kid who could be fooled?

“Ahem~”

A light cough startled the candy seller into stopping. He quickly scooped up a large piece of candy from the basin and added it to the scale’s tray until the arm nearly tipped over.

“That’ll be two yuan for over two kilograms. Shall I divide it into two portions?”

“Make it three portions.”

The man took out pre-cut white paper from his bundle and skillfully wrapped the candy into three packages, handing them over to Li Ye.

Li Ye and Li Dayong each took a portion to eat, putting the third in their backpack.

The candy seller squatted nearby, watching the school gate, waiting for the next customers.

About half the candy in his basin was sold. He was likely to have a good day.

Li Ye munched on the candy while chatting idly with the man.

“Did you come from the countryside? Not returned to the city?”

“I married a wife here. I can’t go back.”

“Leave a contact address. I might need to find you later.”

“I hang around the city—either at the gate of County No. 1 High or at Yuhong Middle School’s gate…”

Well, he was cautious—definitely a worthy recruit for a henchman.