Siheyuan, my new life

Just as Section Chief Zhao Xiangdong took the receipts from Guo Yongping and reopened the locked drawer, Guo Yongping took out a cigarette case from his pocket, first pulling one out and placing it in front of Section Chief Zhao Xiangdong, then lighting the last one for himself. He casually crumpled the empty cigarette case into a ball and threw it into the nearby trash can, then took out a match and lit it. At this moment, Zhao Xiangdong also picked up a cigarette from his desk, leaned over, lit it, and took a satisfying puff. Then he said with a smile, "Goodness, we've smoked quite a bit today. Don't follow our old smokers in the future. After all, you're still young, don't ruin your lungs. Alright, let's go home now."

Guo Yongping secretly pursed his lips. Today, he had taken out two packs of Peony cigarettes, one and a half of which had been consumed by Section Chief Zhao Xiangdong, a heavy smoker. The entire office was filled with smoke, like a fairyland. However, the air was filled with a strong smell of tobacco. Rather than passively inhaling secondhand smoke, Guo Yongping decided to join in and light one up every now and then.

The two walked out of the three offices one after the other. After Zhao Xiangdong turned around and locked the door, he said in a low voice, "Now that you have finished looking at the purchase invoices, come over before eight o'clock tomorrow morning to check in and then go home to take care of some things at home. After all, you have just come to the city and the New Year is coming soon. You need to prepare some New Year's goods in advance for yourself."

After thanking him softly, Guo Yongping followed Zhao Xiangdong out of the office building. Clearly, after their day together, Section Chief Zhao was less hypocritical and much more sincere. At this time, other department staff members working in the office building also came out in twos and threes, quickly forming a stream of people.

Zhao Xiangdong and Guo Yongping headed straight for the parking shed not far away. The factory had provided each purchasing agent going to the countryside with a bicycle, but upon learning that Guo Yongping was currently riding his uncle's bicycle, Section Chief Zhao Xiangdong suggested he use his own in the future. The few old bicycles in the logistics warehouse were in terrible condition, except for the broken bells. Although Purchasing Section Three had submitted an application to the logistics department requesting the purchase of new bicycles, bicycle vouchers were extremely scarce. The factory hadn't received many this year, not even enough for the leaders to distribute themselves. In previous years, outstanding employees received certificates, daily necessities, and an extra bicycle or watch voucher, but according to Section Chief Zhao Xiangdong, this year's outstanding employees wouldn't receive any of these vouchers either.

Pushing his bicycle, Guo Yongping blended into the flow of people leaving get off work and walked out of the steel mill gate. He noticed that the number of security guards on duty at the gate had increased to eight, and there were several armed security guards in the duty room next door, watching the flow of people passing by the gate intently.

Five or six meters after walking out of the steel rolling mill gate, Section Chief Zhao Xiangdong called out and got on his bicycle, then carefully rode forward while occasionally ringing the bicycle bell.

Guo Yongping didn't ride his bicycle. Instead, he pushed it and walked slowly with the flow of people leaving get off work. All he could see were steel mill workers in blue work clothes. Although many of them looked pale and thin, they were full of energy. They chatted quietly with acquaintances as they walked forward, and bursts of hearty laughter occasionally rang out from the crowd.

To be honest, this was the first time in Guo Yongping's two lifetimes that he had been in such a scene. Looking at the spirited workers around him and hearing the bursts of laughter, he couldn't help but feel excited. This was an era of passionate enthusiasm and a time of unity and progress.

Although he had seen a lot of negative news on the internet in his later life, Guo Yongping's thinking was somewhat influenced. In the social atmosphere of his later life, money was almost everywhere. Like many of his peers, he dreamed of having endless wealth, driving luxury cars at breakneck speed, and being surrounded by many beautiful women.

But seeing everything before his eyes, Guo Yongping had to admit that although this era lacked the various affluent living conditions of later generations, it was simply more humane.

Pushing his bicycle along with the flow of people leaving get off work, Guo Yongping was also thinking to himself that since he was fortunate enough to have traveled to this passionate era and possessed such a magical high-tech product as the "Heaven Rewards Diligence System," although he would never reveal the existence of the system in order to ensure his own safety, he also thought that if given the opportunity, he would like to make some contribution to the country.

As the crowd dispersed and headed to different streets, the main road became sparsely populated. Guo Yongping, who was lost in thought, was startled by the crisp sound of a bicycle bell behind him. Clearly, the road ahead was much emptier, but Guo Yongping continued to push his bicycle at a leisurely pace. The person behind him, also pushing a bicycle, was getting a little impatient and kept ringing the bell to remind and urge him on.

Guo Yongping quickly stepped onto the bicycle, put a little pressure on his feet, and the bicycle slowly moved forward.

From Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard, it would normally be a ten-minute bike ride. However, since it was rush hour, the nearby factories, though not as large as Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, still had several thousand workers. With such a large number of people hurrying along the main road, the speed of the bicycle was predictable. It took Guo Yongping more than twenty minutes to get back to No. 95 Courtyard.

Guo Yongping picked up his bicycle and stepped over the threshold of the gate. He subconsciously looked to the side, but unfortunately, he still didn't see the familiar scene of Yan Bugui standing at the gate as a door god from the original drama. He was a little puzzled. He rode his bicycle carefully all the way, glancing at the people around him from time to time. Even after arriving at the gate of the courtyard house, he still didn't see Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Jia Dongxu and the others. He had been staying in this courtyard house for three days and hadn't seen these main characters from the original drama even once.

Pushing his bicycle to the steps of the east wing of the front yard, Guo Yongping propped it up, took out his key to open the door, and then carried the bicycle inside. He turned around and closed the door. Guo Yongping could feel that the temperature inside was almost the same as outside, which meant that the coal stove he had sealed before going to work in the morning had gone out. It seemed that his stove-sealing skills were not up to par.