Siheyuan: A Family of Loyal and Brave People

It is a hot summer day. Even when the heat fades away in the evening, there is still a hint of dryness in the air.

After taking a shower and having a simple dinner, the couple came to the stone table against the wall to enjoy the cool air.

Cheng Hao took the newly bought palm-leaf fan and fanned it up and down regularly, discharging the cool wind evenly. Xu Yun, who was sitting next to him, closed her eyes, enjoying the rare leisure time of the day.

"Yun'er, I suddenly remembered that we haven't bought something important yet."

Cheng Hao kept working and suddenly frowned and said.

Xu Yun opened her eyes, thought for a moment, and asked in confusion, "I've bought all the pots, pans, and other sundries that I should buy. There's nothing missing."

Before leaving home this morning, Xu Yun had already made a shopping list. Before returning, she checked it again to make sure there were no omissions.

“I still haven’t bought a bicycle.”

All the small items were indeed included, but Xu Yun did not include some of the large items.

"This place is quite far from your workplace. It will be very inconvenient for you to go to and from get off work without a bicycle."

"correct."

Xu Yun suddenly realized that she had been focusing all her attention on Cheng Hao and had not really considered this point.

"Then let's go to the department store and have a look when we have some free time in a few days."

It’s not a big deal. At most Xu Yun can just get up early.

“You have to go to work tomorrow, and I want to take you there on my bike.

I'll be back soon, before it gets too late."

Cheng Hao did what he said. He put down his palm-leaf fan, stood up and was about to leave the hospital.

"Hey, wait a minute, why are you so impatient? You haven't brought the money yet." Xu Yun shouted hurriedly.

"No, I have it with me. Just wait at home."

Cheng Hao turned around and responded, then left the yard without stopping.

……

Cheng Hao lived quite close to the commercial district of the old city, and with his amazing mobility, he soon arrived at the door of a brightly lit department store on West Chang'an Street.

Although it was night, the department store was still bustling with people. With the lights on, it seemed even more lively than during the day.

There was also nightlife in this era, and many small stalls and shops on the streets of Beijing would open until very late.

Of course, this kind of bustle only exists in the core areas of big cities such as Beijing.

Most of the outer areas of the city would still go dark early at night. Ordinary people followed the rule of working from sunrise to sunset and resting from sunset, and tried to avoid turning on the lights to save candles and lamp oil.

Cheng Hao followed the crowd into the department store and soon found a bicycle shop on the first floor.

During this period, public-private partnership had not yet begun and the planned economy was not strictly implemented. It was easy to buy a bicycle as long as you had money.

After a few years when the planned economy is fully implemented and all kinds of bills are flying around, it will be troublesome to buy things.

"Sir, we have just received a batch of Fei Ge bicycles. Would you like to take a look?"

As soon as Cheng Hao entered the store, a waiter came forward to greet him.

"Well, let me take a look first."

In this era, the country's industry had not yet developed, and the industrial products that could be produced were limited. There were only a few bicycle manufacturers such as Fei Ge, Forever, and Phoenix, so there was not much room for choice.

There is no choice, so Cheng Hao doesn't need to worry too much.

After taking a quick look and confirming that the Fei Ge bicycles in the store are sturdy and durable, and of reliable quality, I decided to place an order.

Cheng Hao had no financial pressure, so he was generous and ordered two bicycles, one for men and one for women.

After paying on the spot and picking up the goods, he left the department store, carrying one in each hand.

The clerk was not too surprised by such behavior. People these days are generally strong enough. There are even some strong men who can carry stone slabs weighing hundreds of kilograms on mountain roads. Carrying two bicycles is nothing.

After going outside, Cheng Hao tied the ladies' bicycle to the back seat of the car, and rode his newly bought men's bicycle, humming a little tune and rushing home.

……

"Okay, tell me the truth. How much private money have you hidden?"

As soon as Cheng Hao returned home, he was interrogated by Xu Yun.

"After buying these two cars, there's really not much left. I just saved a little bit."

Cheng Hao smiled faintly while holding onto his bicycle.

Some things are better left to one's own knowledge; speaking them out loud may bring unnecessary trouble.

"Really."

Xu Yun shook her head, went back to the house, took out a wad of money and stuffed it into Cheng Hao's hand.

"Keep some for yourself, or you won't have enough to treat others to a meal."

"Thank you, my lady, for the reward."

Cheng Hao did not refuse, and put the money carefully with a smile on his face.

"Look at you like that..."

"Yun'er, I picked this one specially for you. Do you like it?"

Cheng Hao unloaded the ladies' bicycle from the back seat of the car and pushed it towards Xu Yun.

"One is enough for the family, why buy two? It's a waste of money."

Xu Yun expressed disdain on the surface, but her eyes were honestly staring at the bicycle, and she couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth.

“Two is more convenient.

Go ride it and try it out for a few laps."

If you don’t buy it now, it will be hard to buy it in a few years.

Bicycles are a semi-essential means of transportation, so the sooner you buy one, the sooner you can enjoy it.

Xu Yun got on the bicycle and just as she put her feet on the pedals, she suddenly stopped.

"what happened?"

Cheng Hao thought something was wrong, but Xu Yun said with an embarrassed look on her face: "I... I don't know how to ride..."

Cheng Hao stood there for three seconds before he reacted.

No wonder I’ve never seen Xu Yun riding a bicycle before. It turns out she hasn’t learned how to do it.

This is not surprising, as bicycles had just become popular in China, and not everyone could own a bicycle like in later generations.

It is normal that you don’t know how to ride if you have little exposure.

"It's okay, I'll teach you."

Cheng Hao stepped forward, held the handlebars, and patiently taught Xu Yun how to ride a bicycle.

“Hold the handlebars with both hands to control the direction, put one foot on the ground to keep balance, and step on the pedal with the other foot to start the bike. When the bike starts moving, put your foot back and step on the pedal repeatedly.

Don’t be afraid, I’ll hold you up, you won’t fall…”

With Cheng Hao's patient guidance, Xu Yun got the hang of it quickly. But when Cheng Hao was holding her, Xu Yun could only keep her feet steady. As soon as Cheng Hao let go, she lost control and couldn't change it after trying several times.

Cheng Hao was not impatient. He was the same when he was learning to ride a bicycle.

Riding a bicycle may seem simple, but if you don't have the feeling, you will never be able to learn it. When Cheng Hao was in college in his previous life, some of his classmates didn't learn it for more than ten years.

……

Xu Yun was unable to master the trick of riding a bicycle in just one night, so Cheng Hao still had to ride her to work the next morning.

Cheng Hao rode very fast and steadily, and it didn't take much time for a round trip. By the time he returned to the street office, it was still early.

Cheng Hao, who had arrived at work early, was just about to go back to the office to make a cup of tea and rest for a while when he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Cheng Hao, Cheng Hao!"

Cheng Hao turned his head and saw a woman with bloodshot eyes and bangs holding a wooden box at the bottom of the stairs, staring at him straightly.

"Liu Haizhong, what are you doing here?"

Since leaving the courtyard, Cheng Hao seldom interacted with his neighbors in the courtyard.

Luoguxiang outside Xizhimen is not under the jurisdiction of Xining Sub-district Office, so they should not come here to do business.

I don’t know what’s going on in the fringe.