Reborn in the 1970s, Zhang Sanniu's new life

At noon, Zhang Laosan and his group brought back the things they bought. Wang Cuihua and the others cooked lunch. San Niu and the others happily ate their first meal in the house they bought!

After finishing their meal, everyone unloaded the clothes and bedding they had brought from the car. Since they knew they were coming to Beijing to settle down, they brought everything they could. Zhang Laosan even brought his family's clothes, bedding, and several large iron pots. There were enough to fit in several cars, and the iron pots would spoil if left unused for a long time!

Everyone moved their things into the house, tidied up, and then everyone rested!

In the afternoon, everyone took a break. San Niu and the others tidied up the garden and open space in the yard. "Oh dear, this yard has several flower gardens alone. If we tidy them all up, we can plant vegetables after the New Year when it gets warmer. That way, we won't have to buy vegetables to eat," Wang Cuihua said!

“Yes, let’s grow more vegetables. You don’t know how expensive vegetables are in Beijing. Even a little bit of greens costs several cents,” said Zhang Laosan.

“Alright, if you want to plant, you can plant them all. In a few days, we’ll buy all those three-courtyard houses and plant vegetables in them all,” San Niu said.

“Yes, we’ve got nothing to do these past few days anyway, so let’s plow the land and plant in the spring,” Wang Dayong said.

“No need to wait until spring. Let’s register the household tomorrow, then we’ll buy some tarpaulin and use it to build sheds. We can grow vegetables in the winter, and the vegetables grown in the sheds will grow especially tender and fast. Let’s buy more vegetable seeds tomorrow so we can eat fresh vegetables in the winter,” San Niu said.

“Really? Then let’s buy them tomorrow and plant them right away,” Wang Cuihua said!

San Niu and her family have turned over all the open spaces and gardens in the three families' two courtyards, as well as Wang Dayong's courtyard, and are just waiting to plant vegetables!

In the evening, everyone gathered together for dinner. After dinner, everyone happily sat down and chatted!

The next day, after breakfast, San Niu and the others went to the housing management office together!

When San Niu and the others arrived at the housing management office, the director said, "You're here. Come on, I'll take you to the population registration office to find my sister-in-law."

San Niu said, “Director, here’s four hundred yuan. You can decide what to do with it. But I’m telling you in advance that we have quite a few people in our family, so we’ll have to trouble you and your relatives.”

"Oh, it doesn't matter how many people there are. When we got there, I told her, and the director put the four hundred yuan into his pocket!"

Upon arrival, the director went in first. "Sister, I've brought the people. This is two hundred yuan, a tip from them. Please help them register all the household registrations," the director said.

"Okay, I understand. Let them in! He should quickly put the money away!"

San Niu and the others went inside. San Niu placed all the information and names of their companies on the table. "Thank you for your help. These are the information and names of our three companies. Please take a look," San Niu said.

"No problem, I'll get it done for you right now, that's what the director's sister said!"

Half an hour later, San Niu and the others came out with their Beijing household registration books!

San Niu and the others came out and found the director. "Director, thank you so much for today!" San Niu said.

"No need to be so polite. From now on, don't call me Director. Just call me Aunt Guo! That's what the Director said!"

"Okay, Aunt Guo, by the way, Aunt Guo, I have something else to ask you. My two older sisters want to go back to school after the New Year. Do you know anyone at school?" San Niu said.

"Yes, my brother's wife is a teacher at the school. Oh, she's the younger brother of the restaurant manager. You can go directly to him and ask him to handle it for you, Director Guo said!"

"That's wonderful! Oh, sister, your family are all educated people!" Zhang Laosan said.

"Ha, we're just trying to make a living. Compared to you guys, who are so wealthy and bought so many houses all at once," said Director Guo.

"Sister Guo, we won't keep you any longer. We'll head back now," said Zhang Laosan.

"Okay, see you later, Director Guo!"

After parting ways with Director Guo, San Niu and the others slowly walked back along the street.

On the way, Sanniu said, "Dad, let's go to the post office! I want to send a letter to Uncle Wang and the others, and give them our address!"

“Alright, let’s go to the post office first,” Zhang Laosan said.

When San Niu and her group arrived at the post office, San Niu bought stamps for all the letters she had written and mailed them out. San Niu then called Manager Wang and asked him to "say hello to the other managers!"

San Niu was still at the post office, buying several whole sheets of monkey stamps. It was only when San Niu saw the stamps that she remembered seeing on TV in her previous life that monkey stamps were very valuable and had great collectible value. So San Niu immediately bought all the remaining sheets of monkey stamps at the post office!

As Sanniu came out of the post office, she said, "Dad, let's go home!"

“Alright, let’s go down this street. I just checked, we can also go back from the side,” Zhang Laosan said.

“Okay, let’s go this way and take a look at these bustling streets of Beijing,” San Niu said!

“Look, those houses are so tall and beautiful,” Zhang Danu said!

"Wow, the roads, streets, and houses in Beijing are all so clean and beautiful," Zhang Xiaojun exclaimed.

"Tiananmen Square isn't even as pretty as this place! Once we've settled the house situation in a few days, we'll go see Tiananmen Square and then climb the Great Wall," Sanniu said.

"Great! Finally we can see Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall!" Da Niu exclaimed.

San Niu and her group chatted and laughed as they walked back!

Back home, San Niu asked, "Dad, did you get receipts when you went to the store yesterday?"

"No, I didn't need coupons to buy locks, rice, and noodles yesterday," Zhang Laosan said.

“It seems I was right. The government has abolished the use of all tickets,” San Niu said.

“Yes! Without tickets, it will be much more convenient for everyone to buy things,” Zhang Laosan said.

"Dad, since the tickets have been cancelled, I think we can start making and buying clothes. Tomorrow, let's go out and see if there are any tailors around here. We'll also buy two sewing machines so that Mom and Aunt can learn to use them. Once they've learned, we can make and sell our own clothes," San Niu said.

San Niu thought for a moment and then said, "Uncle Xiao Jun, Uncle Da Jun, tomorrow you and my uncle will drive out and look for the textile factory in Beijing. Once we find it, I'll go to the factory and take a look at the fabrics it produces!"

"Okay, I understand," Zhang Xiaojun said.

"Mom, if Aunt Guo comes looking for me tomorrow while you're home, tell her I'll be back by noon!"

“Okay, I understand,” Wang Cuihua said.

"By the way, Uncle Xiaojun, when are you and Uncle Dajun planning to have your two aunties come over?" San Niu said.

"San Niu, do you have something on your mind?" Zhang Dajun asked.

"Hmm, I want to make clothes and sell them. I want my two aunts to come over and learn to make clothes with my mother. That way, you can earn more money, right? Also, when our business grows bigger, we'll definitely need to hire people to help us. My aunt and aunt-in-law can help me manage the workers then, San Niu said!"

"Then I'll call and tell them to come over as soon as possible," Zhang Dajun said.

"Have them come by train. When they arrive in Beijing, find out the train schedule and you can pick them up at the train station," San Niu said.

"Then let's go to the post office this afternoon to make the call," Zhang Xiaojun said.

After lunch, San Niu and Zhang Laosan went out and bought oilcloth, vegetable seeds, and a lot of bamboo!

San Niu and her friends spent an entire afternoon setting up sheds and serving vegetables in all three courtyards!

Wang Cuihua also said that with the arrival of spring, she would buy some more chicks to raise, so that she could slaughter them for meat and eggs later!

The next day, after breakfast, San Niu and Zhang Laosan drove around the streets, turning many times, but they couldn't find a single clothing shop. It was really worrying. If they couldn't find a clothing shop, they couldn't get clothes made. If they wanted to get clothes made, they needed a tailor who knew how to make clothes. Without a tailor, nothing could be made. With no other choice, San Niu went to a store and bought two sewing machines.

San Niu thought for a moment in the car, "Dad, let's go find Aunt Guo this afternoon and ask her. She's familiar with this place and should know the tailor."

“Okay, we’ll go this afternoon,” Zhang Laosan said.

To everyone's surprise, when I got home, Director Guo was still there, looking for San Niu!

"Aunt Guo is here. Is there news about the house?" San Niu said.

"Oh yes, that's right, the landlord agreed. We'll sell it all to you at the price you asked for," Director Guo said.

“Great! Let’s go get the paperwork done this afternoon! My uncle and the others have gone out and haven’t come back yet. Let’s go together this afternoon to get the paperwork done,” San Niu said!

"It's alright, the afternoon is fine too, Director Guo said!"

"Aunt Guo, do you know the master tailor?" San Niu asked.

"We know each other, but during the political movements of the past few years, we didn't dare to go out and make clothes anymore. And now it's not allowed either, to set up stalls or open shops for business on our own, Director Guo said!"

“Aunt Guo, I only need to ask him for advice, not to make clothes. Aunt Guo, don’t be afraid. Haven’t you noticed that the country’s policies have been relaxed, and no one dares to arrest people anymore?” San Niu said.

"Well then, I'll take you to her house now. I don't know if she'll be home," Director Guo said.

“Then let’s drive there. You can have lunch at my house when we get back. After lunch, we’ll go to the housing management bureau together to complete the formalities,” San Niu said.

"Okay, then thank you," Director Guo said.

San Niu said to Wang Cuihua, "Mom, you and Auntie, cook a few more dishes for lunch. Director Guo is staying at our house for lunch!"

“Great, perfect timing! I bought a lot of groceries today,” Wang Cuihua said.

After giving Wang Cuihua some instructions, San Niu, Zhang Laosan, and Director Guo drove to a courtyard.

Director Guo stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon, an elderly woman in her fifties came and opened the door!

"Master Li, my friends need to see you, so I brought them along, Master Guo!"

"Oh, let's go inside and talk! Master Li, please speak!"

"Please sit down. May I ask what brings you here?"

“Master Li, the national policies have been relaxed now, and many people are starting factories and businesses. I want to open a garment factory and would like to ask Master Li to come out of retirement. Don’t worry, you just need to sell clothes and teach people how to make clothes. You don’t need to go out to sell clothes or expose yourself, and there won’t be any danger,” San Niu said.

“But there’s not a single business on the street right now, what if… I’m still scared,” said Master Li.

“Master Li, to be honest, I’ve been doing business in my county for four or five years without any problems. Otherwise, we wouldn’t dare to come all the way to Beijing to do business. Think about it, if something really happened, Beijing is right under the noses of the leaders. Who would dare to cause trouble?” San Niu said.

"I'll think about it and discuss it with my family," said Mr. Li.

"Then we'll go back and wait for your letter. If you agree to cooperate with me, I'll pay you a salary of two hundred yuan a month, and it will increase later. Okay, you can go back now!"

"Take care, everyone," said Master Li.

San Niu, Zhang Lao San, and Director Guo then drove home!

When I got home, Zhang Xiaojun and Zhang Dajun had just returned as well!

San Niu said, "Dad, please accompany Aunt Guo to the living room for tea. I have something to discuss with Uncle Xiao Jun and the others!"

San Niu called Zhang Xiaojun and Wang Dayong to another room and said, "The landlords have agreed to sell those houses. We can complete the formalities this afternoon. Have you decided how many you want to buy?"

“My brother and I have discussed it and we’re going to buy four small courtyards and one three-courtyard house. But we don’t have enough money. Can we borrow some from you?” Zhang Xiaojun said.

“Okay, I’ll lend you what’s not enough,” San Niu said!

"Uncle, how many more do you want to buy?" San Niu asked.

"I'd like to buy two more small ones, each weighing three jin," Wang Dayong said.

"Alright, those two three-courtyard houses, each costing 70,000, you two families can buy them, okay?" San Niu asked!

“Okay, that’s what we were thinking too. We see you like the old furniture in that house, so you can buy the three-courtyard one yourself!” Wang Dayong said.

"Yes, I really like it. Let's settle on that then. After we eat, we'll go and complete the formalities," San Niu said.

After lunch, San Niu and her group, along with their money, went with Director Guo to complete the procedures for buying a house!

San Niu spent another 120,000 yuan to buy a three-courtyard house!

Wang Dayong bought a three-courtyard house for 70,000 yuan, and then bought two two-courtyard houses for 20,000 yuan each!

Zhang Xiaojun and Zhang Dajun bought a three-courtyard house for 70,000 yuan, and then bought four two-courtyard houses for 20,000 yuan each!

After completing the formalities, Sanniu handed a red envelope to Director Du. "Aunt Guo, thank you so much for your hard work. This is two thousand yuan as a token of your appreciation. If you find a good house in the future, you can come to me for help," Sanniu said.

"Then I'll accept it. Don't worry, I'll let you know first if I find any good properties in the future," Director Guo said with a smile.

"Aunt Guo, we'd like to rent out those two-courtyard houses. If you know anyone who rents out houses, could you please help us find a place to rent out our houses?" San Niu said.

“Okay, if anyone is looking to rent a house, I’ll show them your place first,” Director Guo said.

“Alright, then you can go back now,” San Niu said.

Director Guo personally escorted San Niu and the others to the door! Director Guo was overjoyed; she never expected to earn several thousand yuan just from selling some houses—more than her annual salary in just a few days! Wow, she's really struck it rich!

On the way back, Sanniu said, "Uncle Xiaojun, I still have bamboo for building sheds and lots of vegetable seeds. Let's go back and plant vegetables in all the courtyards of those three-courtyard houses. When the two aunties come, you can cook for yourselves and have vegetables to eat!"

“Okay, let’s all plant vegetables. That way it’ll be convenient and save money,” Zhang Xiaojun said.

When San Niu and her family got home, they built sheds in all three courtyards and planted vegetables there!

The house was bought and the household registration was completed. That evening, San Niu and her family cooked a lot of dishes and happily gathered together to eat and celebrate!

Zhang Xiaojun stood up and said, "San Niu, we want to thank you. Without you, we wouldn't have been able to buy so many houses in Beijing, let alone transfer our household registration and become Beijing residents!"

“Yes, without San Niu, we would still be living a hard life at home! We wouldn’t have such a big, nice house to live in, and we wouldn’t be able to come to Beijing, let alone become Beijingers,” Wang Dayong said.

“Yes, we will definitely work hard with Sanhao from now on,” Zhang Dajun said!

“Okay, let’s work hard together to earn more money and live a better life. Let’s drink to a better future!” San Niu said.

Everyone happily raised their glasses to celebrate the good life!