"You're buying Er Ni a bicycle?"
With the two little ones sleeping soundly on the small bed, Shen Xue, her face flushed, let out a long sigh. She glanced at the slightly dazed man beside her, feeling a pang of jealousy.
"If this girl can get into university, buying her one is no big deal."
"Consider it encouragement for her to study hard."
The man pulled his delicate wife closer, the taste of her still lingering. He found himself increasingly captivated by her. Su Dan Novel Network
"Hiss."
"Ouch, ouch, ouch."
"My dear, what's wrong with me now?"
Chen Yang hadn't quite recovered from the recent bliss when suddenly his waist was being squeezed.
"We haven't even bought ourselves a bicycle yet."
Shen Xue's face felt hot. She didn't know why she was feeling jealous of Er Ni.
But Chen Yang hadn't bought her a bicycle yet.
"You mean that? We drive the donkey cart every day, so we don't really need one."
"It's just a bicycle, I'll go buy you one tomorrow. You can pick any brand you like, Forever or Phoenix!"
Chen Yang was still trying to figure out what was happening, only to realize his wife was jealous.
It was just a bicycle, and he bought it.
Indeed, owning a bicycle was quite the status symbol back then. Even the old village chief, Shen Fuguo, envied the commune director Liu's bicycle. If he could afford it, he would have bought one.
Currently, in the entire Shenjiaba, no household owned a bicycle yet.
"You said it."
"Tomorrow, I'll go pick it out with you."
Upon hearing Chen Yang's words, Shen Xue happily turned over.
"Hiss."
A moment later, the man felt his blood boil.
Good heavens, this bicycle was worth it!
If he had known a bicycle could make the shy Shen Xue so forward, he wouldn't have waited this long.
As the night was stormy, with rain beating on the banana leaves and birdsong filling the air, it was intoxicating and endlessly memorable.
Thus, the man, once again, did not get out of bed!
Chen Yang was puzzled. Shen Xue also slept late, yet why was she always radiant in the morning, while he slept like a log?
Strange, very strange.
"Daddy, buy a car."
After Chen Yang finished breakfast, the little one tugged at his pants, constantly muttering about a bicycle.
Chen Hao was only interested in food and stayed by Shen Xue's side, staring at the fish in the bucket. If the fish hadn't been so smelly, the little fellow would have probably gnawed on it.
Chen Yang found it strange. Hu Dong and Yu Lili doted on their son, and their family wasn't in dire straits.
Could it be because he was starved daily by the kidnappers, he had an obsession with food, and that's why he was so fixated on eating?
Thinking of this, he felt a pang of pity for the little fellow.
Otherwise, why would a child this young be so obsessed with food?
"Hao Hao, stop looking. I'll save the fattest carp for you, and Daddy will make you sweet and sour fish."
"Yan Yan, whatever you want to eat today, Daddy will satisfy you."
Chen Yang waved his hand grandly. Today was a great day to buy a car, so they should have a good meal.
"Daddy, I want to eat roast chicken. I love roast chicken the most."
The little one immediately lost interest in the car upon hearing this.
"You little glutton, everything is your favorite. What is there that you don't like?"
He pinched the little one's cheek, making the child giggle.
"Daddy, is roast chicken tastier than roast duck?"
Chen Hao asked Chen Yang quite seriously. He remembered his sister saying roast duck was the tastiest, but now he said roast chicken was the tastiest. So which one was the best?
"This, this is a different kind of deliciousness. Both are good."
Chen Yang rubbed his head, thinking, you little foodie, you probably find everything delicious.
After their usual routine of collecting fish, they drove the donkey cart to the aquatic products station. This time, Shen Xue and the two children accompanied them.
This time, it was only over six thousand catties. After exchanging pleasantries with Wang Jianguo, Chen Yang took Shen Xue and the two little ones to exchange industrial coupons with Uncle Liao Er.
They obtained a total of thirty industrial coupons and, with an excited Shen Xue, went to the state-run bicycle shop in Liuhe County. Various bicycles were displayed sparsely inside.
Feige brand, Yongjiu brand, Fenghuang brand, all sorts of bicycles were available.
"Comrade, do you have any bicycles suitable for ladies?"
Chen Yang entered the shop with Shen Xue and the two children. The shop was mostly empty, with people tinkering with bicycle parts.
These bicycles were delivered as parts and needed to be assembled by the mechanics before being put out for sale.
"Fenghuang brand, 26-inch, no crossbar, 25 industrial coupons, 160 yuan."
"Comrade, it's better to buy a 28-inch than a 26-inch. It has a large crossbar. You can put a child in the front and an adult with a child on the back seat. It's much more practical than a 26."
Hearing Chen Yang inquire about bicycles, the mechanic stopped his work.
Chen Yang glanced at the black 28-inch bicycle pointed out by the mechanic. This model had been popular throughout China for countless years.
So many children's bottoms grew up being bumped and jolted on this crossbar.
"Look at these large steel rims, the chain is also covered. Ordinary small stones can't get in."
The mechanic was clearly very satisfied with the Feige brand 28-inch bicycle he had assembled. Chen Yang glanced at it; he could ride it without any problem.
After all, he was 1.8 meters tall, and he could touch the ground with his feet. For Shen Xue, it would be too high.
This large crossbar was considered practical by almost everyone at the time, but in Chen Yang's eyes, it was an obstacle.
If Shen Xue rode a 28-inch bicycle, her feet definitely wouldn't reach the ground. And with this large crossbar in the way, she wouldn't even be able to spread her legs, and she might even fall.
"Master, thank you. If I were to ride it, I would definitely choose this 28-inch one."
"This bicycle is for my wife. A 26-inch is enough."
Chen Yang glanced at a pale yellow 26-inch bicycle next to it. Most bicycles back then were black, and this pale yellow one was quite rare.
"Then let's look at this one, the Yongjiu brand. I don't need to say much about this one."
"28 industrial coupons, 180 yuan."
"You can tell from the price."
"I'll also add a cushion for you, so it won't hurt your butt."
The shop mechanic patted the Yongjiu brand 26-inch bicycle in front of Chen Yang. Its curved front bar was more appealing to women than the 28-inch one.
Shen Xue glanced at it, her eyes unable to leave the bike.
"Why don't we buy a 28-inch one? It can carry things."
Although she really liked that Yongjiu brand 26-inch bicycle, the 28-inch one was clearly more practical. Deep down, she still considered its utility more.
"This bicycle is for you. You can't ride a 28-inch one. If you fall with the child, it will be a great loss."
"Master, put some oil on the chain. We'll take this one."
Chen Yang could easily see that Shen Xue liked the Yongjiu brand 26-inch bicycle. He himself wasn't that keen on riding bicycles; wouldn't a motorcycle be more impressive in a few years?
After paying the industrial coupons and money, the mechanic immediately tore off the plastic wrap from the bicycle and polished the black leather seat until it gleamed.
Looking at the brand new bicycle, Shen Xue's heart pounded. This fool, he really came to buy her a bicycle!
Nowadays, what woman wouldn't be moved by such a man!