Chapter 160: Trouble at the Maternal Uncle's House (Sixth Chapter)

With Bureau Chief Zhang personally intervening, the issue was solved effortlessly.

When Zhao Guoyang, accompanied by Bureau Chief Zhang, went to the window on the first floor to pay the one hundred and fifty yuan installation fee, the muscles on the face of the round-faced woman standing nearby twitched involuntarily.

"Bureau Chief Zhang, thank you so much. Once I finish dealing with these matters, I'll treat you to dinner!" With the task successfully completed, Zhao Guoyang shook Bureau Chief Zhang's hand and expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

"Ah, Researcher Zhao, you are being far too polite. This is simply my duty. Whenever you have some free time, I will treat you to dinner, and the two of us can have a good chat," Bureau Chief Zhang said with great humility.

After some polite pleasantries, Zhao Guoyang did not linger and took his leave.

Watching Zhao Guoyang's retreating figure as he pushed open the door and stepped outside, the round-faced woman stretched her neck and asked tentatively, "Bureau Chief, what exactly is this Researcher Zhao's background? Why did it only cost a little over a hundred yuan for him to get a telephone installed?"

Although Zhao Guoyang had not really lodged a formal complaint against her in front of Zhang Donghai, Zhang Donghai had nonetheless keenly captured the woman's slight attitude of disdain.

Hearing the round-faced woman's question, Zhang Donghai cast an annoyed glance at her and said in a deep voice, "Regardless of his background, as long as someone comes to our telecommunications bureau to conduct business, they are our guest, and we cannot afford to show them the slightest negligence. With your arrogant demeanor, sooner or later you will suffer a bitter loss if you run into someone with a bad temper!"

Zhang Donghai did not spare the round-faced woman any face. After delivering a stern reprimand, he strode heavily upstairs.

The round-faced woman's face turned alternately pale and flushed, and it took her quite a while to return to normal.

She could not help muttering inwardly, "Old Zhang is just a coward. He talks all high and mighty, yet he couldn't even figure out the guy's real background."

"However, since this young man was able to reach the provincial bureau chief with just a single phone call, he is definitely no ordinary person. If I get the chance in the future, I should try to get on good terms with him..."

Zhao Guoyang was completely unaware of the thoughts running through the round-faced woman's mind.

Having finished his business at the telecommunications bureau, he headed straight to the county's busiest grocery market, intending to buy some New Year goods for his family.

In the early 1990s, the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was far better than in the era of Zhao Guoyang's past life, and the sense of tradition was much stronger. Although there were still about ten days left before the New Year, the streets were already bustling with activity.

Zhao Guoyang bought two bags of crispy fried pastries, two bags of peanut brittle, two bags of milk candies, and various other small snacks—all of which were the children's favorites during the New Year.

In addition, Zhao Guoyang bought twelve chi of red silk fabric for his mother and younger sister so they could make a couple of new outfits for the holiday.

This major shopping spree cost him well over a hundred yuan, and the items were piled so high on his bicycle that they almost wouldn't fit.

Roving around the county town until past four o'clock in the afternoon, Zhao Guoyang finally pushed his bicycle, laden with a full haul of goods, toward home.

Along the way, many people saw the massive amount of New Year goods this young man had purchased, and their gazes toward him were a mix of envy and admiration.

...

When Zhao Guoyang pushed his cartload of New Year goods back home, it was already past five o'clock, and the sky was growing dark.

The moment he pushed open the courtyard door, the barking of the little black dog rang out.

"That must be your brother back, Xiaoyong, come outside with me to take a look!" Inside the house, the voice of his mother, He Huifen, echoed.

Before her voice had even faded, He Huifen and Zhao Xiaoyong rushed out one after the other.

Seeing Zhao Guoyang arrive with his bicycle heavily loaded and unloading bags of all sizes, He Huifen immediately began to complain, "Guoyang, why did you buy so many things? The New Year isn't even here yet. If you buy this much food, Xiaojing and Xiaoyong will definitely have it all eaten up before the New Year even arrives..."

Zhao Guoyang reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead and said with a cheerful smile, "Hey, Mom, I bought these things precisely for Xiaojing and Xiaoyong to eat. What difference does it make whether it's before the New Year or not? If they finish it all, I'll just go buy some more!"

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaoyong immediately threw himself onto Zhao Guoyang and cheered, "Haha, awesome! Brother, you're the best!"

Supporting his younger brother, who weighed over a hundred pounds, Zhao Guoyang couldn't help groaning, "Damn it, Xiaoyong, you're the fattest!"

Looking at the playful banter between the two brothers, He Huifen's eyes grew somewhat moist.

After a moment, as if remembering something, she hurried forward and patted Zhao Xiaoyong's shoulder. "Xiaoyong, stop messing around and quickly help your brother bring the things into the house. We're going to have a guest over shortly, so don't leave the place in a mess."

"Got it!" Zhao Xiaoyong probably hadn't been this obedient in a whole month. He snatched the two bags from Zhao Guoyang's hands and darted into the house in a flash.

His mother He Huifen's words caught Zhao Guoyang somewhat by surprise.

He raised his head, rubbed his sore shoulders, and asked, "Mom, what guest is coming over later? Is it Uncle?"

The uncle Zhao Guoyang referred to was naturally He Huifen's own younger brother, He Guoping.

He Guoping had a low level of education, lacked any remarkable skills, and was exceedingly honest and submissive. Coupled with the fact that his wife had always been frail and sickly, his life was extremely difficult.

With only this one younger brother, He Huifen naturally wanted to lend a helping hand whenever she had the capacity.

From time to time, she would invite her brother over for a simple meal at home, which also served to improve his family's nutrition.

Although her financial conditions were limited, every time He Guoping came, he would bring a small gift for Zhao Xiaojing and Zhao Xiaoyong.

For instance, he would bring Zhao Xiaojing a small wooden comb he carved himself, or bring Zhao Xiaoyong a small jar for catching crickets.

Zhao Guoyang held a great deal of respect for this uncle of his.

Of course, these were all memories from his previous incarnation in this body. Since his rebirth, he had not yet met this uncle even once.

Hearing his mother say that a guest was coming to the house, Zhao Guoyang subconsciously thought of this uncle.

The moment Zhao Guoyang uttered his uncle's name, a look of sorrow appeared on He Huifen's face.

Putting on a brave face, she said, "It's not your uncle. It's Xiaojing's head teacher coming for a home visit. Your uncle's family has run into some trouble these past few days, so they probably won't be able to come for the New Year..."

"What trouble?" Hearing this, Zhao Guoyang was completely baffled.

What surprised him, of course, was not his sister's teacher coming for a home visit, but the trouble that had befallen his uncle's family.

Since the conversational door had been opened, He Huifen no longer kept secrets from Zhao Guoyang.

She raised her sleeve to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes and said with a choked voice, "Guoyang, you weren't back these past few days, so you don't know the situation. The second child in your uncle's family is in big trouble."

"The second child? He Wei? What happened to him?" Zhao Guoyang pressed on.

"Little Wei, he broke an imported game console belonging to a classmate's family and has to pay for it. I heard it costs over a thousand yuan. Your uncle's monthly salary is only a little over one hundred and twenty yuan, and he still has to support your aunt and two children. How could he ever afford to pay that..."

He Huifen wiped away her tears as she spoke, evidently touched by a painful memory.