Phi-Fic Chapter 380: Honest People Should Live Their Own Lives (16)
Chapter 380: Honest People Should Live Their Own Lives (16)
Chapter 380: Honest People Should Live Their Own Lives (16) (Two in One)
——On the eve of National Day
"Aren't you going home?" Chen Xuyan asked.
Ye Mochen shook his head firmly, "Forget it, I don't want to go back." His father was too irritable, and he was not willing to be outdone. The two of them really couldn't coexist peacefully.
It would make his mother cry.
"Why, you still want to go back? You're not going to Ding Ze's wedding on the 4th?"
"I will be back on the evening of the 3rd. I have to go back to my hometown to visit the two old people at home." These two old people really care about Chen Xuyan. It can be said that looking at him is no different from looking at their own eyes.
His grandparents, who were always strong, never lost their temper with him.
But the original owner gave too little feedback. He was more concerned about whether he was living well and whether there was any way to get some money out of them.
Ye Mochen was silent for a while. It had indeed been a long time since he had gone back to visit his two elderly parents.
Grandpa is old now, injured and sick, and has a stubborn temper. Even if I really want to see him, I won't call him directly to tell him.
"I might as well go back. I have nothing to do anyway. If I stay in my mind, I can only play games and sleep."
Chen Xuyan naturally saw what he was thinking.
"Where are you going?" Ye Mochen looked at him getting dressed and it seemed that he was getting ready to go out.
"Let's go out and rent a car, and then go to the supermarket to buy some things to bring back home." Chen Xuyan changed his shoes.
The supermarket in the county is too small, and it is very crowded during the New Year and other holidays, so you can’t buy anything.
"You're really quick. I'll go with you." He didn't have a car, but he had a driver's license.
Renting a car is very convenient and not expensive. At least there is no parking fee when you get home.
"After National Day, I will buy a car." Chen Xuyan already has this plan.
The parking space rental in the community is very cheap, only four hundred yuan a month, and the parking lot is relatively empty.
Almost all the owners of the houses in this building are teachers from S University, and this generation has basically retired now.
The house is not very big and is not suitable for a large family.
"Are you so rich?" Ye Mochen raised his eyebrows.
"I benefited from the dividends of the times and made dozens of dollars by opening an online store." Chen Xuyan said modestly.
Ye Mochen was a little skeptical, "I see you don't send out many orders every week, how can you make so much?"
He still believes it if you can earn three or two thousand.
"It would definitely be impossible now. I earned this money during my undergraduate and graduate studies. E-commerce was just emerging at that time, and I sold several popular women's clothing items, and I had a store with over a million fans.
"Until now, this industry has become so competitive that I've had to follow suit. I really can't make much money." The original owner paused for a year to prepare for postgraduate studies, losing hundreds of thousands of followers. Then, the market started to expand, and the quality of the content had to follow suit.
The original idea of becoming bigger and stronger, and even opening a factory to make clothes, was shattered.
The market is becoming more and more competitive, more and more people are unemployed, and the overall environment is getting worse and worse.
Consumers seem to benefit, as they can get cheap and high-quality goods at the lowest prices. In fact, their living standards have greatly improved. The prices of daily necessities such as food, oil and salt that we can afford are rising, but wages have not increased.
Ye Mochen felt deeply, "Many things I bought online before are now either discontinued or reduced in price. It's really hard to get them."
"Nowadays, newly graduated college students are all running towards stable places. The recruitment requirements for counselors at S University have changed again this year. The requirements now are much higher than when we had them, and the conditions are not as good as they were back then." Not to mention other places.
"There is another profession, and I'm preparing for the exam." There's nothing we can do about it. It's difficult for college graduates with a liberal arts degree to find a job that matches their academic qualifications.
Students majoring in science and engineering are more popular.
His parents also gave up the idea of asking him to quit his job and find a new one. Instead, they wanted to buy him a house in S City so that he could settle down.
"Don't be sad about the passing of time. Live one day at a time. Just live your life well and don't starve to death.
Even if you have ideals, that's only after you've filled your stomach." Chen Xuyan pointed to the roast chicken not far away.
Ye Mochen's stomach growled at the right moment, and he smiled awkwardly, "It's been over four hours since we finished lunch this afternoon, I'm really a little hungry."
"You go and queue up first. I saw a milk tea shop opened outside. There isn't much of a queue. I'll go buy two cups of milk tea."
Chen Xuyan made an OK gesture.
- Half an hour later
"It's really good. I'll buy two more later and take them home to heat them in the microwave." Ye Mochen was in awe of the food.
The two of them each pushed a cart and soon parted ways to go shopping.
But after walking around, Ye Mochen still didn't know what to buy, so he specifically looked at what Chen Xuyan bought.
"High-calcium milk? Sesame balls? Lotus root powder? Honey? Tea? And wine. You are so thoughtful that you can buy so many things." Ye Mochen sighed.
He had a good memory. After remembering the things, he quickly found out what Chen Xuyan had just taken. After the two of them paid the bill, they drove back.
- the next day
Chen Xuyan expected that there would be a traffic jam today, so he left home before seven o'clock.
Ye Mochen couldn't get up and stayed in bed until after ten o'clock.
Not going to work means there is nothing to motivate him to get up early.
But things were different after he returned home. His family couldn't stand his laziness.
——Chenjia Village
When Chen Xuyan stopped the car, Grandpa Chen thought that some relatives had come. There was indeed a family getting married recently, and they might have come to inform them to attend the wedding banquet.
"Grandpa!" Chen Xuyan shouted.
Grandpa Chen was surprised and happy, "You kid, why didn't you call in advance when you came back?" The family didn't buy any vegetables, and the two old guys were reluctant to eat or drink when they were alone.
"Old woman, Xiaoyan is back!" He shouted into the house again.
Grandma Chen, who always complained about leg pain, didn't even use a cane and walked out panting.
"Xiaoyan is back! Ouch!" She walked into the yard with nimble legs.
"Whose car is this?" asked Grandpa Chen.
Chen Xuyan smiled and said, "Rented."
Grandpa Chen fell into deep thought.
"Let's take the things out first. The vegetables and fruits need to be put in the refrigerator." Chen Xuyan opened the trunk and took out a few bags of things.
"Why did you buy so many things? We use everything at home. You can just buy some good things for yourself from outside. Your grandfather and I can just go to town to buy anything we need." Grandma Chen was dazzled.
"Spend money recklessly!"
"Don't worry, they are not expensive. The more you buy in the supermarket, the cheaper it is. How much can I eat by myself? I will have to throw it all away in the end. Buy more and it will be just enough for the three of us." He was the first to carry the two heaviest things into the house.
The two old men had no choice but to follow him carrying the remaining things.
Grandpa Chen put down his things and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll make you some noodles. Wait a minute."
The noodles are served quickly, no need to wait.
Grandma Chen also went over to add to the fire.
They are used to cooking with earthen stoves and are not used to using gas.
As soon as Chen Xuyan entered the kitchen, he couldn't open his eyes because of the fumes. The two old people were coughing constantly, so he quickly turned on the range hood.
"Why don't you turn on the range hood?" Half of the kitchen wall had been completely blackened.
"I'm not used to using foreign things." Grandpa Chen said confidently.
Grandma Chen wanted to use it, but he scolded her for it, so she simply gave up.
"Use it when necessary." Chen Xuyan could only helplessly persuade him for another ten minutes.
"I understand. I'll use it next time." Grandpa Chen was annoyed by his nagging.
Chen Xuyan was about to take a bottle of ice water out of the refrigerator.
"The refrigerator is broken?" There were two bowls of leftovers in them, and the edges of the bowls were not even cold.
"It's not broken, it still lights up, but it's not as useful as before." Grandpa Chen brought out the noodles, and Grandma Chen held a pair of chopsticks in her hand.
Chen Xuyan sighed. This refrigerator has been repaired twice since he was in high school, so he might as well replace it with a new one.
"It's broken, and so is the bottom one. I'll go buy a new one this afternoon."
Grandpa Chen didn't say much, "Go buy it, and I'll reimburse you when you get it."
"No, I have money." Some other electrical appliances in the house also needed to be replaced, and they were replaced one after another in the next two days.
After eating noodles, Chen Xuyan rode his electric bike out.
Half an hour after Chen Xuyan left, Grandpa Chen slapped his thigh.
"Oh no, I forgot to tell Xiaoyan that the battery of this bike is dead. I can ride it there, but I can't ride it back.
"Forget it, he's definitely not stupid. He'll call me when the time comes, and I can just ride my electric tricycle to get him back." Grandpa Chen sighed.
Grandma Chen laughed and said, "You are really old and confused. You even forgot this."
"You are smart, why didn't you remember to remind me? Are you the only smart person in the world? I lost another hundred playing cards yesterday. Are you willing to join me in?" Grandpa Chen was not willing to be outdone.
The quarrel between the two people became louder and louder, and the local dog at home couldn't sleep. Even after changing its position, it could still hear the sound of their quarrel, but it seemed to have gotten used to it.
Chen Xuyan was riding a damaged version of the bike when he suddenly felt that the front part of the bike seemed to be shaky, so he simply stopped and squatted down to observe.
As expected, it was smashed to pieces, and the upper parts were not in good condition either. Only one ear of the mirror was left, all the headlights were broken, the headlight was broken, and the horn also had a problem and was mute.
When riding, the gaps between the wheels seemed to be filled with mud and were not smooth.
The most important thing is that the brakes don't work. If you want to stop completely after slowing down, you have to use the foot brake.
Grandpa can no longer ride this electric bike. It is too dangerous and his eyesight is not good.
I might as well just change them all today.
Chen Xuyan bought a new refrigerator and a large-screen TV at the furniture store, totaling just over 5,000 yuan. He told his master the place, but the master was unfamiliar with the place and had never been to their village.
In the end, Chen Xuyan had to lead the way, but he couldn't leave until half an hour later, and now he had to deliver some goods to the surrounding area.
"Okay, I'll be out for a while. I'll come show you the way later." He was going to buy an electric car now, and there was an old store not far away.
He spent 3,800 yuan to buy a new electric car and sold the broken car to his boss for 100 yuan.
The battery is worth some money.
"Can this bike be ridden for 15 kilometers? It still has half a battery left." Chen Xuyan asked.
The boss put down his bowl and chopsticks and said confidently, "No problem, a 60-kilometer round trip is no problem at all."
"But after three months, the power will gradually fade away. I must make this clear to you."
"The electric car you chose is quite good. It has a large space and is convenient for storing things. Many people buy it."
Chen Xuyan nodded, "Okay."
The boss was also very happy. Holidays are great, young people go home and spend money. He can't be lazy these days, so he opens the shop early and closes late.
Grandma Chen didn't go to play cards today. She never plays cards when Chen Xuyan is at home.
She was afraid that the children would be hungry and no one would cook for them, and the old man’s cooking was not tasty, so she had to cook.
Chen Xuyan rode a red and black electric bike in front to lead the way, and the driver behind him drove a van behind him.
"This." Grandpa Chen felt his heart break when he saw the things unloaded from the car.
"Why did you buy a TV? The TV at home is not broken! It's time to return it!" Grandpa Chen said in a serious tone.
"There's also an electric car. That one can still be ridden. Why did you change them all? You have money to burn, right?" How much does this cost!
It would take two years of farming to earn back that much money.
Chen Xuyan refused resolutely.
"The TV at home is too small. It was bought when my parents got married. It's been almost 30 years. Your eyes will go blind if you keep watching it." In order to watch TV, he always moved a stool and got very close.
I also bought two pairs of cheap glasses at a street stall, but after wearing them for a long time, my eyes started to have problems.
Actually, there is no need for that. Just buy a big TV.
Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen tried to stop the master from installing it, but Chen Xuyan stopped them. The master quickly said that it was a discounted price and that it was a good thing for the child to be filial.
It took more than half an hour to finally install it.
"Which store did you buy the electric car from?" Grandma Chen asked secretly.
Chen Xuyan laughed as he adjusted the refrigerator, "Don't worry about it. I threw away the invoices. I can't refund them."
"There's no need to return the TV. Every household in the village is using this wide-screen TV, and it's time for you to replace it." The refrigerator is fine, and we can put all the things in it in the evening.
The things he bought that had to be frozen are now kept in his neighbor's refrigerator.
Grandma Chen was helpless, "Nonsense! It's so hard for you to make money outside!"
"Don't worry, my monthly salary from school plus the income from my online shop, minus expenses, can steadily save 10,000 yuan. How much better than farming?
Listen to me and plant fewer vegetables. If you try to sell them too early and get into a car accident, then all my savings will be in vain, and I’ll have to spend it all on you in the end.” Chen Xuyan said with feigned helplessness.
"I'm also going to resign and go home to take care of you."
My grandfather has eye problems, and if the weather gets bad and the road becomes slippery, it will be easy for an accident to happen when he rides a three-wheeled electric vehicle to the market.
The original owner told them several times but they didn't listen, so they just gave up growing rice but continued to grow vegetables.
He had to say this so that they would listen.
Grandpa Chen was a little angry, "No treatment! We are all going to die, it's not worth spending this money on us." If they really encountered this situation, he and his wife would choose to send themselves to death.
Being half dead would only cause trouble for Xiaoyan.