secret base

Zhao Dongchuan took several turns into an uninhabited alley, put away his system glasses, and then headed towards the Cultural Center.

"Teacher Jia, busy as always?" Zhao Dongchuan saw Jia Bing hunched over his desk, writing, as soon as he entered the office.

"That's right, I have to work hard too! Seeing the younger generation pushing the older, I also need to catch up!" Jia Bing joked as he wrote.

"Teacher Jia, what are you saying? I'm just a junior with a few small achievements. I can't compare to your renowned reputation!" Zhao Dongchuan quickly flattered him.

Jia Bing waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, you rascal, stop flattering me! I know my own capabilities! Let me ask you, have the sample copies arrived yet?"

"Not yet, probably a few more days!" Zhao Dongchuan shrugged.

"Logically, it should be in the next two days. In a few more days, it will be publicly released!" Jia Bing said with a hint of doubt.

As they were talking, Du Lili walked in.

"Teacher Jia, Little Zhao, you're both here!"

"Sister Lili!" Zhao Dongchuan greeted her with a smile.

"Little Li, is something wrong?" Jia Bing asked.

"It's like this, the Huangyuan Cultural Bureau is organizing a Revolutionary Poetry Conference. They want to invite outstanding poets from our Huangyuan City to participate and create revolutionary poems. The top three will have a chance to go to Beijing!" Du Lili said excitedly.

"The director asked me to be responsible for the selection process at our Cultural Center, so I came over to ask if you two would like to participate!"

Jia Bing was clearly interested, but ultimately did not agree.

"I'll pass. I won't get involved with you young people. Besides, you know my wife is due in two months, and I need to take care of her!"

Du Lili then looked at Zhao Dongchuan.

"I can't either. I only know how to write small poems, so I won't go up there and make a fool of myself!" Zhao Dongchuan also shook his head.

Seeing that neither of them supported her work, Du Lili's face fell.

"Alright, since you're both unwilling to go, I won't force you. I'll be going now, you two carry on!" With that, she turned and left.

Zhao Dongchuan and Jia Bing exchanged a smile, shook their heads in tacit understanding, and returned to their desks to get busy.

This trend had been going on for nearly ten years. All the poems selected were praises and eulogies, utterly meaningless. They had no interest in participating.

...

The next day, when Zhao Dongchuan arrived at the office, he hadn't even warmed his seat when he saw the doorman walking over.

"Little Zhao, you have a letter!"

Zhao Dongchuan was stunned for a moment, took the letter, and said, "Thank you!"

Before he could examine it closely, Jia Bing, from the next desk, stood up and asked, "Is it from the magazine publishing house?"

Zhao Dongchuan looked at the return address on the letter, smiled, and said, "It really is!"

"It's finally here! Hurry and open it to see!"

"Alright!"

Zhao Dongchuan then opened the letter and saw a magazine, a remittance slip, and a notice of acceptance!

"Let me see it, I want to be the first to read it!" Jia Bing said impatiently.

Zhao Dongchuan said nothing and directly handed the magazine to Jia Bing.

He turned to look at the remittance slip. It stated 50 yuan. Normally, the payment for a novella would certainly be more than this, but during this special period, this was already the writing fee that Chief Editor Li of the magazine had tried his best to secure for him.

The letter also included many industrial coupons and various tickets.

Zhao Dongchuan's heart stirred when he saw these industrial coupons and various tickets.

Hmm? He had originally planned to give Sun Shaoan a second-hand bicycle as a gift, but it would be hard to explain its origin. Now with these industrial coupons, he could make it work.

He put away the remittance slip, tickets, and industrial coupons, and said to Jia Bing, "Teacher Jia, take your time reading. I'm going out for a bit!"

He planned to find Huang Laosan to inquire about where to find second-hand bicycles, intending to make some arrangements.

Jia Bing was engrossed in reading and didn't have time to bother with him, merely nodding. Seeing this, Zhao Dongchuan quietly got up and walked out.

After leaving the Cultural Center, he distinctly felt that there were more people on the streets than usual, and many people had bicycles laden with goods.

"It's almost New Year's Day, everyone is stocking up for the holiday!" He quickly scanned the bags in the pedestrians' hands and guessed.

Yes, New Year's Day was in a few days. He also needed to buy some supplies for the holiday, but there was one question he had never figured out: what do people actually eat on New Year's Day?

Some said rice cakes, some said dumplings, and some said tangyuan!

He couldn't figure it out in his original world, and now!

He glanced at the bags of people on the street; most contained rice cakes and dumplings!

Hmm! Understood!

He turned and rode his bicycle to a storefront, buying rice cakes, dumplings, and tangyuan!

No indecision, adults don't make choices, I want them all!!!

Zhao Dongchuan chuckled as he hung the bags containing rice cakes, dumplings, and tangyuan on his handlebars, preparing to return to his dormitory.

He would ask Huang Laosan later; there was no rush.

Back at the dormitory, Zhao Dongchuan placed the purchased items on the table, preparing to boil water to steam dumplings.

He first added water to the large pot, placed the dumplings on the steaming rack, and then turned up the heat.

Next, he took out garlic cloves and minced them, chopped a bit of red chili, sliced some ginger, took out a small pot, added water, poured the ingredients in, and started cooking it on another small stove. He also added some soy sauce and salt. In no time, a fragrant aroma filled the air. With the dipping sauce ready, he turned off the heat.

After about twenty minutes, Zhao Dongchuan felt the dumplings were almost ready and turned off the heat.

Soon, a plate of fragrant dumplings was out of the pot.

With his homemade dipping sauce, Zhao Dongchuan happily ate them!!!

The steamed dumplings indeed tasted good, better than boiled ones.

Soon, he finished the entire pot of dumplings and let out a satisfied burp.

Zhao Dongchuan wiped his mouth, tidied up the pots and bowls, and was about to go out. He was ready to do some serious business!

He left the dormitory and, after several turns, arrived at an abandoned courtyard.

This house was a small hideout Huang Laosan usually used. Sometimes, when he scammed powerful people and feared being caught and retaliated against, he would hide here to avoid trouble.

Now, it had become Zhao Dongchuan's secret base!

Zhao Dongchuan took out several bicycles he had acquired from Hei Lao Da from his space.

Suddenly, the empty room was filled.

This was also why he had to go out and come here. His small dormitory couldn't accommodate so many bicycles; it would definitely be a mess inside!

Zhao Dongchuan inspected each bicycle, finding one that looked the worst but was still usable.

"This is it!"

Zhao Dongchuan planned to give this bicycle to Sun Shaoan as a wedding gift. He didn't dare to give a good-looking one, fearing problems. This dilapidated bicycle could be said to be one that people had discarded, acquired with a bit of money and industrial coupons.

His gift wouldn't be too extravagant! Everyone would also find it easier to accept!

And with this bicycle, Sun Shaoan's family could alleviate some burden, and He Xiulian wouldn't have to work so hard!

He truly worried himself sick for the "protagonist group"!!!