Chapter 49: The Play Is Over, It Is Time for the Actors to Exit

In the east wing room of Duan Chengliang in the front courtyard, Qin Huairu walked in, pushing the door open while holding a small bowl and two cornbreads.

She said to Duan Chengliang, who was lying on the bed reading something: "My mother-in-law watches me closely, so I couldn't bring you too much. Just make do with these to fill your stomach for now. Sigh, what are you looking at over there?"

Duan Chengliang sat straight up immediately. Looking at the large half-bowl of salted cabbage and the two cornbread items in Qin Huairu's hands, a trace of warmth welled up in his heart.

He knew it was no easy feat for Qin Huairu to smuggle these things right under Zhang's nose.

He smiled and said to Qin Huairu, "My act is almost over anyway; it's practically time for me to exit the stage. Look, the reconciliation agreement has been signed, and the compensation has been paid."

As he spoke, he waved the reconciliation agreement in his hand.

Qin Huairu glanced at the piece of paper in his hand and asked with a curious expression, "Did Yi Zhonghai pay up so quickly? How much did he pay?"

This matter couldn't be kept under wraps, so Duan Chengliang didn't intend to hide it at this moment. He smiled and said, "Three hundred yuan and fifty catties of grain coupons. I specifically asked for ten catties of fine grain coupons, too."

"Ah? That much?" Qin Huairu was immensely surprised. Such a large sum of money and grain coupons truly exceeded her imagination and expectations.

Duan Chengliang, however, shook his head and said, "It's not that much. I was just afraid of complications arising from prolonged delays, so I made a swift decision and didn't dare push too hard. Otherwise, if I had been ruthless right now and doubled it, I think it would have been totally fine."

Qin Huairu waved her hands hurriedly and said, "Oh my, as the old saying goes, one shouldn't go too far in doing things. It's enough as long as it's reasonable. I think this is already a huge amount."

At this, she suddenly burst into laughter, looked at Duan Chengliang, and said, "How come I never realized you were so cunning? You acted so convincingly and struck with such ruthlessness."

Duan Chengliang replied, "When you get taken advantage of too much and constantly bullied, you have to find ways to protect yourself. Whenever other people run into trouble, there are always folks to help out and speak up for them. As for me, for better or worse, I have to look out for myself entirely. If I don't keep my wits about me, wouldn't I be bullied to death?"

The playful smile that had been lingering on Qin Huairu's face vanished instantly. Looking into Duan Chengliang's eyes, a wave of deep pity washed over her. She walked over to the edge of the brick bed, took Duan Chengliang's hand, and said gently, "From now on, your older sister will take care of you."

***

Yan Bugui was pushing his bicycle just as he entered the main gate of the large courtyard, when he was astounded to see Duan Chengliang slowly shuffling his steps out from the second gate.

He couldn't help asking in astonishment, "Duan Chengliang, are you all better?"

Duan Chengliang frowned, a trace of pain slightly masking his face, and said weakly to Yan Bugui, "I wouldn't say I'm well. After applying Old Man Li's medicine, there's nothing major for the moment. I'm going out to buy some food, otherwise I'd starve to death in my room."

Yan Bugui was deeply shocked in his heart. What kind of person was Old Man Li next door? Yan Bugui knew quite well what kind of medicines he frequently used. To be honest, Yan Bugui didn't really believe in him much, nor did he hold him in high regard. However, looking at the living, breathing example right before his eyes, he couldn't help but feel immensely amazed. It seemed Old Man Li's medicine was genuinely effective; the rumors weren't false after all, and the man truly couldn't be underestimated.

By this time, while Yan Bugui was momentarily stunned, Duan Chengliang had already slowly shuffled his way close to the main entrance.

Watching Duan Chengliang's retreating figure, Yan Bugui's small eyes rolled, and he said with a smile, "Chengliang, you're injured after all. In case you strain your wound and worsen the injury, why don't you give the money and coupons to me, and I'll go buy the things for you? It just so happens I can ride my bicycle fast."

Duan Chengliang stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at Yan Bugui, and gently shook his head: "No need. How much worse could the injury get anyway? Besides, Old Man Li's medicine really works wonders. The reason I'm walking slowly isn't because of pain, I'm just being careful with myself. Thanks anyway, Third Uncle."

Duan Chengliang ignored Yan Bugui's enthusiasm any further. Taking one slow step at a time, he made his way from Courtyard 95, Nanluoguxiang, all the way to the Beixinqiao Non-Staple Food Market.

Along the way, curious neighbors inquired one after another, and Duan Chengliang simply replied that he had used Old Man Li's medicine, which had brought his injury under control. As for anything extra or detailed, whenever anyone asked further, he just smiled, shook his head, and kept walking his own path.

Yesterday, his thought process was that if the compensation wasn't in place, he wouldn't be able to come out at noon, and Qin Huairu would have to fetch the items for him.

Now that the money and coupons were in his hands, the reconciliation agreement signed, and the play nearing its end, he simply didn't want to worry about so much anymore. If he hadn't wanted to see this matter through to a proper conclusion, he wouldn't even have wanted to put on this final act.

On second thought, since he had taken so much of their money, he might as well give them a bit of face.

By the time he reached the non-staple food market, the meat stalls had already packed up. At the aquatic products counter, only a single salesperson sat dozing off.

The salesperson brother saw him, stood up, and said with a smile, "I thought you weren't coming anymore. We got quite a few good things today, and I was just feeling regretful for you."

Upon hearing those words, Duan Chengliang asked with a face full of pleasant surprise, "Judging by what you mean, does that mean today we not only have pork, but also offal and bones?"

The salesperson smiled and nodded. He bent down and fished out a cloth bag from under the counter, saying, "Take out your rationing booklet and I'll check it off for you. Pork, plus a set of pig bones. In addition, there's a set of pig intestines."

Duan Chengliang handed his booklet to the salesperson first, then rummaged through the cloth bag to take a look. Not bad at all—both cuts of pork were, by the standards of this era, prime meat with thick fat and robust stature. The bones weren't stripped too clean of meat either, and they looked like they had plenty of fat. As for the pig intestines, there was nothing much to say; they looked sticky and unappealing, giving Duan Chengliang a slight wave of nausea.

"Big brother, can you leave some of the pig bones behind? Let's split them half and half."

The salesperson finished logging the booklet, handed it back to Duan Chengliang, waved his hand with a smile, and said, "Don't be so polite. In a couple of days, when my hairtail fish arrive, just help mobilize your courtyard to buy a bit more, and that'll do."

Duan Chengliang patted his chest and said, "Big brother, you won't even need to worry about selling them when the time comes. Once they arrive, just set them aside for me. However many there are, I'll take care of them all for you, don't worry."

After stepping out of the non-staple food market, Duan Chengliang still went to a secluded spot first and stashed the items into his spatial dimension. Seeing that the small storage room inside the space was no longer empty, he felt a deep sense of security. Isn't this how supplies slowly accumulate over time?

Passing by the Beixinqiao Store, he thought about going in to buy a sheet-metal coal stove to use inside the blacksmith's workshop space, so he made a detour and stepped inside.

Just as Duan Chengliang walked in before he even figured out where the sheet-metal stoves were placed, the salesperson behind the counter spotted him and greeted him loudly, "Hey, Duan Chengliang, you've come at just the right time. I was just about to notify you—your bicycle has arrived, and it's finally your turn. Do you still want it or not?"

A wave of pleasant surprise washed over Duan Chengliang. He turned his head to look and found that the salesperson behind the counter wore an expectant expression, her chubby face beaming like a blooming flower.

In an instant, he understood completely. That person was probably just waiting for him to say, "I don't want it anymore."

However, she wouldn't get her wish. Having waited in line for so long and finally managing to get a bicycle right before the New Year, how could he possibly not want it? His pockets were literally burning with money waiting to be spent!

So he smiled at the plump salesperson and said, "I want it, of course I want it. The money has been ready for a long time, just waiting for you guys to get the shipment in."

In an instant, the salesperson—who moments before had treated comrades with the warmth of summer—turned frosty-faced. Her tone became perfunctory and indifferent. The seasonal transition of her expression was remarkably swift, fully demonstrating the characteristic short autumn of Beijing as it instantly plunged straight into winter.