After the fateful encounter with Boss He that day, Tao Yue and Huang Youdao took the antique items to the Dewang Pawnshop. The income of several dozen yuan at once was a significant sum for three children.
Zhang Si asked how the money would be divided.
Tao Yue said he didn't want a cent, just enough each month for groceries. Zhang Si readily agreed.
Huang Youdao then proposed an idea: he wanted to buy a house. After all, the current crackdown was intensifying, and the properties left behind by the fleeing capitalists in Beijing would be confiscated. Huang Youdao felt that someone would soon be in charge here.
Buying a house back then was very cheap; if you lived a bit further out, ten-odd yuan would suffice.
Although Zhang Si agreed, he chided Huang Youdao for lacking ambition. He intended to use the remaining money to recruit soldiers and expand the Beggars' Gang's territory.
...
That night, Huang Youdao dreamed he was covered in blood and woke up with a start. He saw Tao Yue carrying Tao Xiaoniu back from the toilet, and Tao Yue carefully tucked the blanket around the child.
Tao Yue noticed Huang Youdao was awake and pulled him aside, saying softly, "Brother is strong and well-equipped, going to expand territory. You shouldn't go with him."
Huang Youdao was puzzled. "Tao Yue, do you look down on me?"
"Old Huang, look at the current situation. This is no longer an era of ruling by force. People's lives are getting better and better. If we want to live with dignity in the future, we need culture."
"I can read!" Huang Youdao said earnestly.
"You can write, scribbled and crooked, but that's not called reading. Brother, didn't Big Brother give you over ten yuan? Buy a small house, the kind with a courtyard, old and uninhabitable."
Huang Youdao was very displeased. "How can that be? I wanted to buy a big house for the three of us to live in, no, four of us."
"If the courtyard is big enough, the house can grow. It's okay if it's small now. After you buy the house, take the remaining money and go study."
"Study what?"
"First, learn to read and write, then choose between being a worker or a doctor. These two professions have the brightest future."
Huang Youdao listened, utterly confused and half-believing. If Tao Yue had said this before, he would have dismissed it. However, after selling the antiques, Huang Youdao had witnessed Tao Yue's capabilities and was completely convinced.
"I'll listen to you. Aren't you going to study?"
"I learned a lot when I was young and can do accounts. I'm too lazy to study. Besides, I still have to take care of Tao Xiaoniu and you all."
...
While Huang Youdao diligently studied in Beijing, he soon earned the admiration of his literacy class teacher. Because Huang Youdao had bought a house, the police investigated him. They then sent a letter to Shandong inquiring, attaching the teacher's evaluation of Huang Youdao.
At that time, there were many drifters in Beijing without household registration or identification. The Beijing police could probably determine Huang Youdao's identity, but due to the teacher's recommendation, they sent an inquiry. It was all formal protocol. Shandong, knowing that Huang Youdao had become an intellectual in Beijing, did not mention his evasion of labor in Inner Mongolia, but stated that he had left home due to insufficient grain and was of excellent character and studies.
...
Among the three children, Tao Yue was as serene as Buddha. Zhang Si had seized a lot of territory and was full of high spirits. Huang Youdao's academic performance also improved, and he even obtained his household registration.
Every day after school, Huang Youdao would go to a steamed bun shop to eat. The middle-aged couple who owned the shop, surnamed Wang, had no children. They grew fond of Huang Youdao, always providing him with plenty of steamed buns and letting him take two home for Tao Xiaoniu.
Today, while eating steamed buns, Huang Youdao overheard some news: the owner of Dewang Pawnshop was in trouble. The story was that Boss He's successful business had angered his competitor, Boss Zhu, who was operating behind the scenes.
One day, Boss Zhu would send Boss He a valuable piece of antique porcelain, the next, a Buddhist statue, all good items, and at a low appraisal price. Boss He, running his business openly, didn't pay much attention to it.
At first, Boss He thought it was his good fortune, but as time went on, things changed.
His accounts were running low.
At that time, being able to open for business meant having substantial capital. Boss He also conducted his business with integrity. But with no money, and the end of the year approaching, what if someone needed to pawn a cherished family heirloom urgently, and he had no funds? Wouldn't that damage his reputation?
Boss He was in a frantic state. The instigator, Boss Zhu, had even leaked this information, eagerly waiting to see Boss He make a fool of himself. Furthermore, the news spread like wildfire.
...
Huang Youdao felt it was necessary to inform Tao Yue of this news. He ate one of the two large steamed buns and tucked the other into his pocket. At this time, Tao Yue should be at the market buying groceries with Tao Xiaoniu.
As expected, Huang Youdao found Tao Yue in the market. Tao Yue, carrying a basket of vegetables, looked out of place standing among the elderly ladies and gentlemen, but Tao Yue didn't mind, dotingly watching Tao Xiaoniu. Tao Yue had just used his savings to buy Tao Xiaoniu a sugar figurine. Tao Xiaoniu was currently staring with wide eyes at the sugar craftsman, holding her breath, afraid that any loud noise would cause the sugar figurine to shatter.
While Tao Yue was distracted, Huang Youdao told him about Boss He's situation. Tao Yue's delicate, arched eyebrows furrowed, and he sighed, "Boss He helped us. We shouldn't stand by and do nothing."
After the sugar figurine was ready, Tao Yue picked up Tao Xiaoniu and started to leave. Huang Youdao asked for Tao Xiaoniu's sugar figurine, but she clutched it tightly. Huang Youdao offered her the steamed bun, and Tao Xiaoniu's face lit up with a smile. She took the large steamed bun. Huang Youdao asked for the sugar figurine again, but Tao Xiaoniu still refused. Tao Yue watched and laughed heartily, "My little girl is so shrewd!"
"I'm your brother too," Huang Youdao said earnestly.
"No!"
Huang Youdao was a bit unhappy, but Tao Yue shielded her, saying, "The child is still young and doesn't understand. She'll understand when she's older."
In a moment, the three of them arrived at Boss He's place. Boss He had a deep impression of Tao Yue. "You shrewd little fellow, have you come to pawn more treasures?"
"No, I heard Boss He is facing some difficulties."
"Indeed, the accounts are empty."
The news had spread outside, so Boss He didn't need to hide it. Tao Yue handed Tao Xiaoniu to Huang Youdao, ducked behind the large counter, and whispered a few words to Boss He. Boss He replied, half-believing, "Will it work?"
Tao Yue chuckled, "Thank you, Boss He, for the red envelope."
...
Huang Youdao had no idea what Tao Yue and Boss He discussed. Even Zhang Si found out about this matter and, beaming, patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, this matter is in the hands of my Beggars' Gang."
It was all about money. What could the Beggars' Gang resolve? Huang Youdao, clueless, went to ask Tao Yue. Tao Yue shook his head, "Huang Youdao, focus on your studies. You don't need to worry about this."
After the founding of New China, pawnshops were abolished. In the 1950s, there were still people secretly operating pawnshops, and both Boss He and Boss Zhu were doing so covertly. In the past few days, news spread from the Beggars' Gang that they would help Boss He secure a large sum of money, from the bank to the pawnshop.
It was then that everyone realized Boss He's money was also deposited in the bank. That day, some people saw Zhang Si emerge from the bank with some disabled individuals, pushing a cart with a large box on it. They headed toward Boss He's house in a grand procession.
The wind was strong that day. Someone, it's unclear who, carelessly lifted the lid of the box, and a considerable amount of small bills were blown out by the wind.
These beggars, some lame, some with missing hands or feet, all chattered and chased after the money, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Zhang Si roared loudly to call the beggars back.
This scene was more entertaining than a play and soon reached Huang Youdao's ears. What puzzled Huang Youdao the most was that he also heard news that Boss He's financial problems were resolved, and during holidays, if anyone was short on cash, they could still pawn items at Dewang Pawnshop.
This reminded Huang Youdao of Tao Yue, and he firmly believed it must have been Tao Yue's idea. He wanted to understand, so he went to find Tao Yue. Tao Yue had bought groceries and was taking Tao Xiaoniu to the moat in front of Tiananmen Square to play. Because he bought a windmill, despite the midwinter cold, Tao Xiaoniu ran tirelessly.
Hearing Huang Youdao's question, Tao Yue didn't hide anything, saying with a smile, "Actually, Boss He was out of money. Those small bills blown by the wind were just for show. Everyone thought Boss He had money, and the matter was interesting, so the news spread. The one who couldn't sit still was Boss Zhu next door. His treasures were all mortgaged at Boss He's place, incurring significant daily interest. He originally wanted to use money to overwhelm Boss He, but he realized he couldn't do that with so much money, so he withdrew. Without Boss Zhu's priceless treasures, Boss He's finances would certainly be easier."
Huang Youdao was both envious and jealous. He asked Tao Yue, "How do you know all this so clearly?"
"My family used to run a pawnshop."
"Why don't we find a way to resume the old business?"
Tao Yue burst into laughter. "Pawnshops were a means of exploiting people in the old society and will soon be eradicated. It's better to study hard and become a worker or a doctor."
"Why aren't you studying?"
Huang Youdao countered. Tao Yue pursed his lips, did not answer, and called out, "Tao Xiaoniu, run slower, don't fall!"