The prosperous era of courtyard houses

Chapter 109, queuing up in the middle of the night

When Li Weiguo got dressed and came out, he saw the Shazhu brothers and sisters carrying a lot of things in their hands and on their shoulders.

It's winter now, it's still very cold in the Imperial Capital, and it's snowed in the past few days. It's only minus four to five degrees Celsius in the early morning, so you have to prepare things when you go out.

No, the Silly Zhu brothers and sisters brought two benches, two sheets, as well as a thermos, an enamel jar, a small fire cage, a croquette and other supplies, just to prepare for a protracted war.

The other neighbors were similar. They all brought a lot of things. After all, they had to wait in line from night to morning, which took almost seven or eight hours. If they were not fully prepared, they would not be able to endure it.

Like the third uncle's family, they not only wrapped themselves up tightly, but also carried two quilts on their backs.

The second uncle, Liu Haizhong, has a good family. He also brought benches, quilts, coal stoves and kettles, as well as a small table. The two brothers Guangtian and Guangfu were holding everything, while Liu Haizhong carried everything on his back. He followed behind with his hands clasped, looking like he was ready to make tea and talk about heroes.

Li Weiguo didn't want to bring so many things with him. It was too troublesome. Anyway, he had everything in his own space. He could just take it out secretly and use it under the cover of his clothes.

So I put on the winter military coat I was issued in the army, put on my Lei Feng hat, and carried a bench, and I was almost ready.

"Weiguo, why didn't you bring anything with you? Just set off like this?" Silly Zhu asked confusedly when he saw Li Weiguo's empty hands.

"Hey, didn't you bring them? Why did you bring so much? I brought food." As he said that, Li Weiguo pretended to pat his military coat to show that he had something in his clothes.

"That's okay. Anyway, the three of us are together, so we can use whatever we need together. By the way, what delicious food did you bring?"

"Xifeng wine, fried peanuts, cold pig ears, roasted sweet potatoes, white flour steamed buns, melon seeds, candied fruits."

"Good guy, you are not queuing here, you are obviously going on vacation, hahaha." Silly Zhu was happy now, he had wine, meat and peanuts, he was so cool.

Li Weiguo raised his eyebrows and said proudly: "Hey, let's go?"

"Let's go!"

Silly Zhu had nothing to worry about. He waved his hand and walked out.

Li Weiguo took the things from Yu Yu's hand and followed behind with the little girl. The other neighbors who had packed up also walked out of the courtyard one after another with their things.

According to the arrangement at the previous meeting, the whole hospital was divided into four groups. Two groups went to buy chickens, ducks and geese, and the other two groups went to the meat stall.

Li Weiguo and Shazhu went to buy chickens, ducks and geese today. They were the main group in line, while Yu Yu was the backup group, responsible for temporary replacements.

About a hundred people in the hospital just walked towards the vegetable market with flashlights on.

It was about two o'clock in the morning, and the entire imperial capital was not as quiet as before. The surrounding courtyards were lit up one after another, and there were more residents on the streets. They were all dragging their families with them and carrying all kinds of equipment. Get ready to line up.

After leaving Nanluogu Lane, it took almost twenty minutes of walking before all the men, women, and children in the hospital arrived at the Dongdan Vegetable Market.

When it comes to the Dongdan Vegetable Market in DC District, everyone in the old capital knows about it.

Dongdan Vegetable Market is the oldest among the four famous vegetable markets in the Imperial Capital (Dongdan Vegetable Market, Xidan Vegetable Market, Chaonei Vegetable Market and Chongwenmen Vegetable Market).

Dongdan Vegetable Market was founded in 1902, more than a hundred years ago. It is a veritable century-old brand and was once a veritable "vegetable basket" for people in the old imperial capital.

According to records, the market was first built by the French and was named "East Market", which means the large market east of the imperial capital.

Because it was close to Dongjiaomin Lane, the "embassy district" at that time, many foreigners came here, and foreign goods were sold in the market all year round. Chocolate and red wine were once rare products here, so Dongdan Vegetable Market was also high-end among the four major vegetable markets in the old imperial capital. Shopping places.

Since 1954, the Dongdan Vegetable Market has been a public-private partnership, and the state has nationalized the vendors, and the Dongdan Vegetable Market has become a state-owned vegetable market.

It was not until 1997 that, with the urban reconstruction and development, it gradually faded out of people's sight.

The late-night Dongdan vegetable market gradually became noisy at this time, and the cold winter could not suppress the enthusiasm of the people to buy new year's goods.

At around three o'clock in the morning, many people gradually gathered in Dongdan Vegetable Market. People spontaneously gathered at the meat stalls and stalls selling chicken, duck and goose, and then began to take out the benches they brought with them and start queuing up to occupy seats.

Li Weiguo and the others came to the yard early. He, Shazhu, Yan Jiecheng, Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, and Jia Dongxu occupied a good position early. There were not many people in front of them, and they were only a few dozen away from the chicken, duck and goose stalls. Mi, when the market opens tomorrow morning, they can basically buy the first wave of chickens, ducks and geese.

After Li Weiguo and the others took their seats, they took out the benches and sat down, chatting and chatting. The backup team like Rainwater and others who were on rotation found a place with leeward to rest.

Two hours later, at five o'clock in the morning, the sky was slightly bright, and the entire Dongdan Vegetable Market was like a boiling oil pot. It was full of people and very lively.

At a glance, under the dim night sky, the entire market square was crowded with people, some standing and sitting, and many children playing and chasing each other around.

Not long after, trucks loaded with supplies began to roll into the market.

The carts carried baskets and cages of chickens, ducks and geese, slaughtered pigs, cattle and sheep, frozen fatty fish, various vegetables, etc.

Managers from the Dongdan Wet Market and nearby police officers arrived and began to maintain order at the scene.

This time, the whole scene came to life. The people stretched their necks and watched batch after batch of supplies being pulled into the vegetable market.

It was still five o'clock, and it was still early to leave the market. After waiting for a long time, everyone was still cold and hungry, so they all started to take out hot water and steamed buns to replenish their energy.

Silly Zhu didn't know where to get a small table, so he put it on their place, then took out the things he brought and prepared to have breakfast.

"Weiguo, where are the good things you brought? Come on time."

"okay."

As he spoke, Li Weiguo took out a bottle of Xifeng wine, a bag of fried peanuts, a bag of cold pig ears, a few white-flour steamed buns, and roasted sweet potatoes from his clothes under the cover of his military coat.

"I'll go, Weiguo, you really know how to enjoy it, hahaha."

Silly Zhu took the things, opened the warm peanuts and pig ears wrapped in oil paper one by one, picked up the bottle of Xifeng wine, bit open the lid, and poured two taels each for Li Weiguo and himself.

Seeing the actions of Silly Zhu, Yan Jiefang, Liu Guangqi and Xu Damao couldn't sit still. They licked their faces and came over, took out their own enamel jars and asked for a drink.

On this cold day, one sip of wine will warm you from head to toe, and there is meat and peanuts on the table, not to mention how comfortable it is.

The five or six young men in the courtyard didn't care what others thought, they just gathered in a circle and drank and spanked with peanuts and pig ears.