Feng Jiayou, are you messing around behind my back at home like this?

The final-term examinations for the senior high school repeater class at the Yanda Affiliated High School were not held in separate examination rooms like in later generations.

Students took the tests in their own classrooms at their regular desks. Consequently, during the two morning sessions, Ge You, who sat next to Cheng Xuemin, peeked and copied quite a bit.

For the English exam in the later session, Cheng Xuemin casually scribbled his answers, handed in his paper ahead of time, and left to rush home and cook lunch for his wife, who was at home awaiting childbirth.

Everyone else in the family was at work, and only Feng Jiayou had started her winter vacation early.

The little nephew and niece were also on vacation, which meant they needed Cheng Xuemin, their uncle-in-law, to go back and make them lunch.

Having handed in his paper early, Cheng Xuemin first went to the pigeon market to buy vegetables and meat.

"Comrade, need any ration coupons?"

Suddenly, a local loafer bumped into Cheng Xuemin. While repeatedly apologizing, the man quietly flipped open his overcoat for a brief second to flash the inside, speaking in a low voice to Cheng Xuemin.

Cheng Xuemin had sharp eyes. Even though the coat was opened casually and closed almost immediately, he noticed that the loafer's inner lining was indeed plastered with numerous coupons.

There were grain coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons, bicycle coupons, and so on—clearly, this was a scalper trading in ration coupons!

You had to hand it to this loafer; he had a lot of nerve!

What time was it yet, and he was already getting restless, wandering the streets, bumping into people at random, and pushing his coupons?

"Do you have a television purchase permit?"

Cheng Xuemin didn't care much for other coupons, but his household lacked a functioning appliance, which felt like something was missing.

Although he knew that to him, those things were completely obsolete and he wouldn't look at them much.

His wife, Feng Jiayou, would love the novelty of it!

Moving into a new house, how could he not manage to get a major appliance for his woman?!

"A television purchase permit?!"

"That thing... have it, I certainly have it. How much can you offer, younger brother?"

Hearing Cheng Xuemin's words, the loafer was startled for a moment, but quickly nodded repeatedly and asked in a hushed tone.

"That's a funny thing to say. If you actually have one, why don't you state your price first?"

Cheng Xuemin raised an eyebrow, knowing that this fellow likely didn't have a television permit on him either.

Televisions were currently in extremely short supply domestically, but as the pace of reform and opening up accelerated, the demand for them was growing daily.

Especially with the New Year approaching, everyone wanted to get a television set to take home for the holiday.

Therefore, television purchase permits were exceptionally difficult to secure. Even his eldest brother-in-law, Feng Jiazhao, who had very extensive connections, hadn't been able to help when Cheng Xuemin privately mentioned it to him a while ago.

There had been no news ever since; it was just too hard to get.

As for the workplaces of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, it was out of the question.

So if he could get a television permit from this loafer, Cheng Xuemin wouldn't mind spending a bit more money to get one!

Yet judging by the loafer's reaction, he obviously didn't have a television permit on hand.

"One hundred... and fifty, how's that?"

The loafer had originally intended to quietly hold up one finger and ask for one hundred, but greed got the better of him and he quoted one hundred and fifty.

You quote a high price and let them bargain down!

Cheng Xuemin couldn't even be bothered to deal with the fellow and directly pushed his bicycle to leave, not even having the urge to counteroffer.

It wasn't because the quote was too high, but because this guy didn't even have a television permit in the first place, so why waste breath with him?

"No, younger brother, you can make a counteroffer!"

"You know as well as I do that television permits are hard to come by right now, and with the New Year approaching... One hundred and twenty! Would one hundred and twenty work?"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin walk away without another word, the panicked loafer grabbed him by the arm and voluntarily lowered the price, speaking in a low voice.

"Seventy at most!"

Cheng Xuemin had no idea what the usual resale price for a television permit was, but slashing the price in half was just common sense. Whatever!

"Ah?! Seventy?! Younger brother, why don't you just go rob someone?"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin bargain so ruthlessly, the loafer's face showed great shock and heartache, but inwardly he was thrilled.

He wasn't afraid of a fierce counteroffer; what he feared most was someone turning around and walking away at the first disagreement, not even giving a chance to haggle.

"Then that's it, let go of me!"

Cheng Xuemin could read the fellow's thoughts easily. While the man was complaining about robbery, his hand was tightly gripping Cheng Xuemin's sleeve to keep him from leaving, which clearly meant this price had potential.

"Younger brother, at least let me make a little profit! It wasn't easy for me to get this television permit!"

"How about this, one hundred!"

"If it's one hundred, I'll take younger brother to get the permit right now, how about that?"

"Let go! Pull on me again and I'll start shouting for the authorities!"

One hundred was still being taken for a sucker. Any price that a loafer voluntarily reduced meant there was still room to squeeze.

"Ninety, ninety!"

"Eighty, eighty!"

"Fine, younger brother, you're the boss. Seventy it is. We'll go get the permit right now. Cash on delivery, paper in hand, how's that?"

"Right behind this alley, just a few steps away!"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin hesitate, the loafer feared the deal would fly away and quickly added another sentence.

"Do you really have a television permit?"

Now it was Cheng Xuemin's turn to be surprised. Did this loafer actually have one?

"I don't have it on me right now, but if you come with me, I guarantee I can get it for you!"

The loafer darted his eyes around craftily and lowered his voice. "Rest assured, I have connections to get it!"

"It's not a fake permit, is it?"

Although seventy yuan was small change to Cheng Xuemin—he currently had just over a hundred yuan in cash on him, freshly withdrawn from the post office.

That money had been slipped to him secretly yesterday by Zhang Guangnian of People's Literature when they attended a symposium.

It was a newly arrived reprint royalty fee. Cheng Xuemin hadn't had time to hand it over to Feng Jiayou yesterday, so he simply withdrew it when passing by the post office today.

Although yesterday's symposium ended on an unhappy note, receiving reprint royalty slips for his piece "Old Qiao" from time to time—though the money wasn't much—felt quite satisfying.

Just like right now!

A television permit for seventy yuan felt like finding something for nothing.

"Younger brother, you shouldn't say things like that about your elder brother!"

"Look around this street; if your elder brother dealt in fake permits, could I possibly survive in this market?"

"Reputation is everything! Rest assured, younger brother, I will definitely get you a genuine television permit!"

The loafer acted as if he had been deeply insulted, repeatedly pointing at the neighborhood to emphasize his reputation, as if he even understood the meaning of the word.

"I'll wait right here. If you aren't back in twenty minutes, I'm leaving!"

Entering the alley with him was an unnecessary risk, even though the fellow kept emphasizing his reputation.

In truth, just as the loafer said, if he dared to traffic in fake coupons on this street, he would be dead meat!

Private trading was already a daring act of testing the waters.

If he were audacious enough to make fake permits, his days would truly be numbered; it would be nothing short of playing with fire and burning himself.

"Alright, alright! Younger brother, you wait right here and don't move. It won't take twenty minutes, I'll be right back!"

Hearing that the deal was still alive, the loafer hurriedly pedaled his bicycle and darted deep into the alley.

And he didn't even make Cheng Xuemin wait the full twenty minutes. In about ten-odd minutes, the loafer came rushing back out of the alley, frantically ringing his bicycle bell and shouting, "Make way! Make way!"

He caused a commotion in the pigeon market, earning plenty of curses from the crowd.

"Younger brother, the television permit! Flying Deer brand!"

The loafer rushed up to Cheng Xuemin, pulled a permit from his pocket, flashed it before Cheng Xuemin's eyes, and said.

"Can't be fake!"

"You saw it yourself, everyone around here knows me well. If it's a fake permit, you can come right back and find me. My home is in the alley right behind us, I can't run away!"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin still carefully inspecting the television permit with caution, the anxious loafer urged him repeatedly.

"Fine, remember your words. If it's fake, I'll report you to the authorities, and you won't get away!"

Cheng Xuemin couldn't actually tell the difference between real and fake; he just wanted to test the loafer's reaction, which basically confirmed it was likely genuine.

Without further ado, he exchanged the cash for the permit. Once the transaction was settled, Cheng Xuemin hopped on his bicycle and rode off.

...

"Wife, why did you get up? What are you writing? Don't catch a cold!"

Returning home, Cheng Xuemin found Feng Jiayou hunched over the desk writing something. He took the vegetables and meat hanging from his handlebars and called out toward the window.

"Xuemin, you're back?! How did the exam go?!"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin return, Feng Jiayou flurriedly gathered up all the manuscripts on the desk and called back toward the courtyard.

"What are you writing? Still hiding it?"

Could a woman's panic escape Cheng Xuemin's notice? He walked inside and asked again.

"I'm not hiding anything! Just casually jotting some things down, you can read it later, Xuemin!"

Though she claimed she wasn't hiding it, her hand had already pulled open the drawer and shoved the manuscript right to the bottom, making Cheng Xuemin even more suspicious.

However, he didn't possess an overwhelming curiosity. Seeing that the tip of his wife's nose was frozen red, he quickly said, "You didn't even bother to light a brazier to warm yourself!"

"Get into the covers right now. I'll go make lunch immediately. You must be starving, right?"

It was already past twelve o'clock, and his wife had eaten her breakfast around seven. Pregnant women needed frequent small meals; she must have been hungry long ago!

"Hehe, I am a bit hungry indeed!"

"What vegetables did you buy, Xuemin? I won't get into the covers, I'll help you stoke the fire—ah, ah, ah, Xuemin, my legs are numb!"

Feng Jiayou rubbed her belly. Sitting at the desk, the entire morning had slipped away unnoticed, and when she tried to move, she found her feet were completely numb from the cold!

As she tried to stand up, her legs failed her entirely, frightening her into crying out to Cheng Xuemin.

"Just how long have you been sitting there?!"

"You never listen. Your feet went numb from the cold, didn't they?"

Cheng Xuemin was utterly speechless with this woman. He had given her clear instructions before leaving in the morning to stay snuggled under the covers and not get up in this freezing winter weather.

Yet look at her—draped in a large padded cotton coat, she had sat at the desk for goodness knows how long.

What kind of prenatal care was this!

Cheng Xuemin was genuinely afraid this heedless woman would bring misfortune upon herself through her own negligence.

Scolding her all the while, he hurried over to massage her feet and circulate the blood.

"Hehe, much better!"

"Hehe... who's giggling with you?! Go on and stoke the fire!"

With a look of exasperation, Cheng Xuemin rebuked the thick-skinned woman, helped her up, and guided her into the kitchen.

Stoking the fire would double as warming her up.

Shortly after, Cheng Xuemin whipped up a simple lunch: using some minced lean meat, he prepared an egg and meat patty soup for his wife, stir-fried some tofu with pork, and added a plate of oil-drizzled Chinese cabbage.

"Liqin, where were you and your younger brother playing this morning? Why didn't we see either of you all morning?"

The two little ones had remembered to come back for lunch, clearly starving. They were already resting their chins on the edge of the table, waiting for Cheng Xuemin to serve the food.
Feng Jiayou gently patted her little niece's head and asked softly.

"Hehe, Big Aunt, I took my younger brother to buy roasted sunflower seeds! This morning, Big Uncle gave me and Liwen two mao each!"

"After buying sunflower seeds, Liwen and I ran over to the front courtyard to watch television!"

"Big Aunt, when is our family going to buy a television?"

They had run off to watch TV in the front courtyard—no wonder they hadn't been seen all morning.

"Xuemin, you gave them money again?"

Hearing that her husband had given the two little ones two mao each before going out, Feng Jiayou said speechlessly, "Xuemin, if you spoil them like this, what will happen when they grow up used to spending money recklessly?"

"Just listen to her, now she even dares to ask you to buy a television!"

These two little ones had truly been spoiled rotten by her man. A mao today, two mao tomorrow; ever since their winter vacation started, Cheng Xuemin's allowance to them had never stopped.

And now look!
Seeing that other households in the courtyard had a television to watch, they had come back daring to beg for one to be purchased.

Unbelievable!

"They're just kids! If you don't give them a little pocket money, they'll just keep making a fuss around you."

Cheng Xuemin served up three bowls of rice, set them on the table, and added, "Besides, I happened to pick up a television purchase permit at the pigeon market today!"

"Before we move into the new house, we can buy a television set so we can have a lively New Year celebration!"

With that, he pulled out the television purchase permit that had cost him seventy yuan from his pocket, handed it to Feng Jiayou, and spoke.

Cheng Xuemin had the means to acquire the permit, but the money to actually buy the television... well, he certainly didn't have that much on hand.

So if they were going to buy one, his wife would have to foot the bill!

"You managed to get a television permit?"

Feng Jiayou was stunned and pleasantly surprised. She hadn't expected that right after her niece mentioned a television, her man would manage to secure the hardest part—the permit!

"It really is a television permit!"

Taking the paper from Cheng Xuemin's hand and verifying that it was indeed a television purchase permit, Feng Jiayou couldn't contain her joy.

Although she hadn't said much out loud, in her heart she had also been longing for a television set.

Unfortunately, television permits were far too scarce and hard to get, so she could only dream.

Yet who would have thought!

Her husband had quietly brought a television permit right back.

"Let me see, let me see! Big Aunt, let me see, is Uncle really going to buy us a television?"

Hearing this, the older niece, Feng Liqin, excitedly reached out to snatch the permit from her aunt's hand.

"Liqin, what does a little kid like you know? Don't tear it!"

Seeing Feng Liqin grab for it, Feng Jiayou instinctively pulled back in a panic. Such a precious television permit mustn't be torn by them!

"Of course it's a real television permit!"

Cheng Xuemin sat down with his rice bowl and added, "Once I finish my exams here, I'll go buy one at the department store!"

"Oh, forget it! A television costs over four hundred yuan, that's far too expensive!"

Though deeply tempted, the price of a television made Feng Jiayou instantly retreat from the idea.

However, Feng Jiayou's opinion didn't count here!

"Hehe, Uncle is going to buy a television! Uncle is going to buy a television! Uncle, I like you so much!"

"Uncle, I like you so much too!"

The older niece clapped her small hands in jubilation, wanting nothing more than to rush forward and plant a big kiss on Cheng Xuemin, but she was held back by her aunt Feng Jiayou.

Little Feng Liwen was the same; hearing that his uncle-in-law was going to buy a television, he jumped up and down with excitement.

"Let's buy one! The kids like to watch!"

Cheng Xuemin looked at the two little ones and smiled at Feng Jiayou.

"Buy one... I'm afraid that once you bring it back, they'll end up fighting with Feng Jiamei over it!"

Feng Jiayou muttered indignantly. Once this television was bought, who knew who it was actually for!

Just wait and see!

These two little ones would definitely fight and brawl with their young aunt over viewing time.

To this, Cheng Xuemin temporarily expressed no opinion!

"Should I go heat up the brick bed in the second sister-in-law's room so you can lie down in there this afternoon?"

After lunch, when Cheng Xuemin was escorting his wife back to her room, he realized that even if she huddled under the covers, she might not stay warm.

Their room wasn't like the main courtyard; it didn't have a heated brick kang. Instead, it had the nanmu bed they bought at the pigeon market, which couldn't be heated.

And although the weather wasn't snowing or raining, it was still bitterly cold.

If Feng Jiayou huddled on the bed alone, she might not stay warm, so Cheng Xuemin considered moving her to the heated brick bed in the main courtyard.

"Forget it! Xuemin, just bring the brazier from the main room over for me," Feng Jiayou deliberated for a moment before shaking her head.

"Alright then!"

Cheng Xuemin quickly went out and brought the brazier, which still had hot coals from cooking, into his wife's room.

He added a few more pieces of charcoal and instructed his wife, "Since there's a brazier in the room, don't close the window completely. Leave a crack for ventilation, or you'll get asphyxiated!"

With that, Cheng Xuemin pushed the window open a crack, leaving it half-open, and still feeling uneasy, left the door slightly ajar instead of locking it shut.

"Alright, alright, your wife isn't that foolish. Go on to school, Xuemin! Don't be late!"

The woman grew impatient, urging Cheng Xuemin to hurry off to school.

"You aren't foolish?"

Cheng Xuemin rolled his eyes at her, then walked back to the main room to clear away the bowls and chopsticks, only to find that the two little ones had run off out of sight again!

Right, counting on them to look after their aunt was a pipe dream. They had certainly run off to some neighbor's house with a television to watch.

Cheng Xuemin called out once more through the window, filled with worry: "There's only a physics exam this afternoon, I'll be right back as soon as it's over!"

"Got it, got it, stop nagging like an old woman and go!"

Yet no sooner had Cheng Xuemin left than Feng Jiayou crawled out from under the covers again, pushed the brazier closer to the desk, sat back down, fished the manuscript out of the drawer, and continued writing.

"Teacher Gu, go tell Xuemin that we're putting his piece in this issue of *October*, right on the front page as the lead headline!"

Back at the office, Mother Feng had received feedback from chief editor Liu Xinwu (Old Liu). Hearing him speak with such absolute certainty, Mother Feng was momentarily speechless and asked, "Old Liu, shouldn't you send it to the department first for Elder Wu to review?"

"Teacher Gu, don't try to provoke me!" Liu Xinwu waved his hand, knowing she was trying to use reverse psychology as a mother-in-law. But this time he didn't even need any provocation; Liu Xinwu was bottling up his own anger anyway.

Send it to the department for review?

What if they claimed once again that *October*'s influence wasn't enough, that it lacked the qualifications to go toe-to-toe with the *Tianjin Daily*, and told him to pass it to *People's Literature* or the *People's Daily* instead?

Having learned his lesson once, Liu Xinwu had wised up. This time, he was going to present the authorities with a fait accompli.

"Fine, with those words from you, Old Liu, that's more than enough! I originally wanted to give Xuemin's previous novella to *People's Literature* to build up more momentum!"

"But now, I think I'll keep it here and let us serialize it slowly in our own journal!"

***

Respected patrons and little masters, begging for monthly tickets!