Chapter 2: One must reap what one has sown

  An Yi can get out of bed now and walk to the street corner and back, but for several days he has only walked to the street corner without going further. This is not because his legs are weak after a serious illness, but because after figuring out the various signs on the short street and the dress and speech of passersby, he finally confirmed where he was.

  The locals of Guangzhou can basically understand 70-80% of the Cantonese dialect, and An Yi has even sung classic Cantonese songs like "Fēn Fēi Yàn" countless times. He just can't speak it in everyday conversations. As for Jiangxi and Hunan dialects, they're even more difficult for him to handle. However, he had classmates and colleagues from various provinces in southern China when he was in school, so communication wasn't a big obstacle. An Yi is extremely intelligent, and the reason he didn't get into a top university wasn't because he lacked potential, but because he liked mechanics and was very biased towards it. He would work hard on things he liked, but wouldn't bother with things he didn't like, never trying to force himself.

  For several days, Dongzi and Mr. Lao's many unintentional words and actions have been moving and touching Anyi. On the day he could get out of bed, Dongzi carefully supported him, and at that time, Anyi asked Dongzi why he said he was his brother? Why did he save him? Who knew that Dongzi was surprised for half a day before answering in a low voice: Being with you is my brother... My parents used to tell me that saving someone's life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, it's a good deed. Besides, when I saw your face, it looked very kind and felt like my own brother.

  The streets have calmed down, and Mr. Lao can set up his stall again. I heard that he sets it up in the passageway between two shops opposite Tianzi Wharf. As long as there are no disturbances in Guangzhou City, Mr. Lao's business is still quite good, and he usually earns one or two yuan a day. If he encounters generous customers on a good day, they might even give him ten or eight yuan at once. Speaking of yuan, An Yi was curious and asked Dongzi carefully, only to find out that the yuan used in Guangzhou are slightly different from the national currency, Yuan Shikai's silver dollar. One yuan in Guangzhou is equivalent to one block of silver, but it's worth 10-20% less than a Yuan Shikai silver dollar, which means that eleven or twelve Guangzhou-made yuan can only be exchanged for ten Yuan Shikai silver dollars.

  In Guangzhou, one dollar was divided into ten jiao and fen. At first glance, it looked like silver, but in reality, there wasn't much actual silver content. Three jiao could get you a night's stay at an ordinary inn, while one jiao could buy a big bowl of smooth, oily, fragrant, and delicious beef rice noodles from a famous old shop. However, Winter himself had only heard about this renowned dish in the Lingnan region but never had the chance to try it because his monthly salary was only eight dollars. Adding various overtime pay and bonuses, his best month would be twelve dollars. After deducting five dollars for rent, Winter wouldn't have much left over each month.

  This time, An Yi's arrival at the Qian family's large compound made Winter spend a lot of money. He spent all his savings from the past three months on buying medicine and food until two days ago when An Yi saw Winter deliver a big bowl of meat porridge as usual. However, An Yi himself went outside to eat two unripe melons to fill his hunger. Only then did An Yi realize that he owed this kind brother too much.

  In the evening, Mr. Lao sent a package of oily braised duck palms to An Yi and Dong Zi. Seeing Dong Zi devouring them with green lights in his eyes while An Yi remained motionless, Mr. Lao thought for a moment and asked with a smile: "Don't you like this sweet and savory braised duck palm?"

  "No, no! Sir, I just feel that I'm not missing any limbs, lying at home all day eating and living for free is not a good feeling. A man should be self-sufficient, how can I let you increase your burden... Winter child, don't interrupt me, you're not easy either, every day buying meat porridge for my illness, but secretly gnawing on rotten melon and half a sweet potato, do you think I didn't see? My heart is really uncomfortable, the kindness of saving my life from people who have never met me before, how can An Yi repay this kindness? Do I still have the face to lie at home all day eating for free? Mr. Labor, you've been in Guangzhou for four years, familiar with the situation in Guangzhou city, so I want to ask you something, is it difficult to find a job in the city?"

  Mr. Lao's eyebrows slightly trembled, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes: "Xiao Anzi, you don't have to be so anxious, take good care of yourself for a few more days before talking about it."

  "I'm all better now... Ah, sir, from now on, please don't call me 'Little Anzi', either Xiao Yi or An Yi is fine, I beg of you?" An Yi said sincerely.

  Mr. Lao was quite surprised: "This little Anzi is called so smoothly! It's natural and still reveals a kind of intimacy, why don't you like it?"

  "No, no! It sounds terrible. The name 'Little Anzi' is exactly the same as what eunuchs are called. I remember in a TV show, Empress Dowager Cixi used to call her eunuch An Dehai that, disgusting!"

  Mr. Lao burst out laughing and Dongzi Le asked curiously: "An Ge, what is this thing called television?"

  "Exactly, I was just about to ask you too." Nothing could escape the meticulous Mr. Lao's attention.

  An Yi immediately realized that he had misspoken and quickly made amends: "When I was a child in the countryside of Chengdu, there was a theater stage padded with large stone slabs. The locals called it 'stone-padded stage' and performances were often held on top."

  Mr. Lao suddenly realized: "So that's how it is... Ba Shu is indeed a heavenly country, where the literary style has been prosperous for thousands of years and many place names seem simple but are actually a history book! Haha... Since that's the case, I'll call you Xiao Yi from now on. Xiao Yi, your movements are so natural and elegant, and your etiquette is meticulous, you must have a good family education?"

  "Sorry to say, I don't recognize most of the signs on the street. Those traditional characters, when put together, I can barely make out, but separately, half of them I don't know, and it takes me a long time to figure out the general idea."

  "Are you saying the characters on the sign are traditional?" Mr. Lao looked at An Yi with interest.

  An Yi was taken aback again, and then sighed with a bitter smile: "Looking at characters with more than ten strokes makes me annoyed, so I call them 'annoying characters'."

  Mr. Lao laughed loudly: "Interesting, interesting! Haha, you're a clever kid! Such a novel and unique summary, I've never heard it before, with a brain like yours, what's there to worry about not learning? Take Dongzi for example, his late father was a private school teacher in their hometown, and his mother was originally the daughter of a large family outside Ji'an City. Dongzi is also 18 years old this year, born on July 1st of the lunar calendar, only one month younger than you, both born in the 32nd year of Guangxu. At the age of 7, Dongzi could recite the entire "Expanded Classic of Filial Piety", and his handwriting was also well-written and elegant. Otherwise, how could he have passed the exam for the Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau? Haha... Little Wei, since that's the case, I think you might not find it easy to get a job, those big foreign companies and commercial firms only hire people who can write and calculate, with at least a middle school diploma from the provincial capital, and many have even graduated from university or studied abroad. So, I think you should try applying to local ordinary shops, maybe it'll be smoother, and after you've practiced your writing and gained more experience, you might still have a chance at those big companies."

  Dongzi thought for a moment and suggested: "Big brother, our Civil Affairs Bureau's Director Cai is quite good to me. She said my handwriting is beautiful and I'm also good at math. She plans to transfer me from the service team to the bureau's garment factory as an office clerk. If I can go, let's see if we can ask Director Cai to take you in."

  Although An Yi felt sad in his heart, he was still grateful to Mr. Lao and Dongzi: "Thank you, Dongzi, I may not be able to recognize all the characters on the newspaper, but I think it won't take long for me to get used to it. You said that the Civil Affairs Bureau is a good place, and from the old newspapers you brought back to entertain me, I saw that Sun Ke, the son of Mr. Sun, is still the mayor of Guangzhou. As long as you work hard, maybe there will be a good development prospect. After all, the current National Government is a new government, and it's possible that they will soon rule all of China, and at that time, people with various talents will have their own positions. As for me, I don't like to go to government agencies or their subordinate institutions to work, I'm not good at bowing my head and flattering my superiors every day, so it's better to try my luck in factories or shopping malls. I believe that as long as I work hard, I will definitely find a suitable job."

  Dongzi stopped forcing the issue after hearing An Yi's words, but Mr. Lao was secretly shocked in his heart. He didn't expect that this young man with a gentle and polite appearance would have such arrogance inside him. His words were smooth and fluent, not just spouting out a few surprising and ingenious phrases. It seemed he also had some understanding of the officialdom, and it was astonishing how highly he looked at the Nationalist Party, which was currently in a difficult situation with limited power. After careful consideration, if he didn't have certain experiences and knowledge, he wouldn't be able to say such things.

  However, another aspect of An Yi left Mr. Lao deeply perplexed. When he asked him about his age some time ago, he only said that he was eighteen years old, but did not know what year he was born in. Mr. Lao pointed out without thinking that if he is eighteen years old this year, then the year of his birth must be the thirty-second year of Guangxu, and his zodiac sign is Horse. Counting back from July 1st on the new calendar, it would be June 1st on the old calendar. These ordinary words made An Yi listen with wide eyes and a tongue-tied mouth, and he muttered something about "returning to ancient times". This left Mr. Lao, a Taoist master who was skilled in fortune-telling and divination, deeply puzzled and unsure of how to judge him.

  The three of them chatted for a while longer before each taking a rest. An Yi still insisted on his cleanliness habit, picking up the toothbrush that Dongzi had finally managed to retrieve and applying some toothpaste, then tearing off the cotton towel from the bamboo pole and heading towards the well in the courtyard.

  Dongzi put down the newspaper, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand why Anyi would call the toothbrush that he had finally managed to get back a "shoe brush". Dongzi asked Anyi twice in detail, but instead of explaining, Anyi just smiled apologetically and changed the subject.

  Actually, it's understandable that An Yi called the toothbrush a shoe brush. This Guangzhou-made toothbrush has a handle made of coarse plastic and organic glass full of impurities, with three rows of small holes at the front end tied to three rows of bristles, which are made of neat horsehair, exactly like a miniature shoe brush.

  An Yi didn't ask why it was called a shoe brush, because he knew how hard this toothbrush had come. Although there were advertisements for American-made toothbrushes in the newspaper, the price of one toothbrush was equivalent to three days' wages for Dongzi. An Yi was already grateful that Dongzi could buy him this locally made toothbrush and a small packet of calcium carbonate tooth powder.

  It was late at night, and An Yi was still asking Dongzi about the layout of industry and commerce in Guangzhou. After learning that only a few factories were mostly small workshops operated by family members themselves, An Yi quietly shifted his employment goal to the commercial field. Guangzhou has always been an important trading port since ancient times, with a long history of development in commerce and finance, ranking among the best in the country, while industry has not received due attention, and compared to cities like Wuhan and Nanjing, there is a significant gap. Therefore, looking for opportunities in the commercial field should be more promising.

  With a determined mind and a satisfied heart, he fell into a deep sleep, never expecting that he would encounter so many setbacks on his upcoming career path.