Early the next morning, Xu Damao took Qin Jingru to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate.
The country now encouraged childbirth and did not advocate late marriage, so the adult Qin Jingru was approved without any trouble.
Having finally gotten the city life she wanted, she was as happy as a seven- or eight-year-old child.
"Hahaha, I'm finally a city person!"
Xu Damao said smugly, "Your good days are only beginning. Once you give me four sons too, our family will definitely be richer than Lin Zhen's!"
Qin Jingru said proudly, "Of course! All the women in my family can have children—we all aim for four or five. I definitely won't be any worse!"
At lunchtime.
Lin Zhen went to the Finance Section at the rolling mill to apply for a bicycle coupon.
But Xiao Zhang, a Finance Section employee, said awkwardly, "Engineer Lin, it would have been better if you'd come a month earlier."
"There are no coupons left?"
"Well, a batch of bicycle coupons was issued a month ago, but they've almost all been claimed. Even if there are still a few, we need to save them for people in the factory who don't have bicycles. You already have one, don't you? If there aren't any extra coupons, we can't prioritize you."
"Oh, I see. That's fine. Give them to the people who don't have bicycles first. I'll just buy one from the supply and marketing cooperative with cash."
"Hey, buying one with money is such a waste. Xiao Zhang, give my bicycle coupon to Lin Zhen. I don't need it."
Lin Zhen turned around and saw Deputy Director Li walking over with a smile.
He had happened to hear that Lin Zhen was applying for a bicycle coupon, so he generously gave his own coupon to Lin Zhen.
He had a dedicated car to take him to and from work, so he truly had no need to ride a bicycle.
But the Finance Section had always kept a coupon reserved for him.
Anyone would have been overjoyed to receive favor from the dignified Deputy Director Li and be given a bicycle coupon.
If it had been Xu Damao, he probably would have been moved to tears.
Although Lin Zhen looked delighted on the surface, he felt thoroughly disgusted inside.
Deputy Director Li was clearly trying to win people over and recruit loyal followers.
Lin Zhen understood that Deputy Director Li was not a hypocrite like Yi Zhonghai. He was a genuine villain.
Many of the factory's minor leaders and engineers had been drawn into his circle.
He was only a deputy director on the surface, but his real authority was not much less than Director Yang's.
After Lin Zhen had been promoted to engineer, Deputy Director Li had also shown him goodwill, hoping Lin Zhen would join his camp.
Lin Zhen had played dumb and brushed him off every time.
But this time, it would not be easy to brush him off again. Deputy Director Li had already taken the bicycle coupon from Xiao Zhang and was trying to press it into Lin Zhen's hand.
Refusing again would be a clear declaration that he stood against him.
Anyone with even a little social awareness would be unable to refuse at a time like this.
After thinking it over, Lin Zhen decided it was not worth offending a genuine villain like Deputy Director Li right now. He should accept it, then continue practicing the art of moderation and keep his head down under him. If he could avoid standing out, he would.
"Deputy Director Li, th-this... this is far too valuable. I'm truly overwhelmed by your favor."
"Hey, it's nothing. You're someone the factory is focusing on cultivating. I'm cultivating you now."
"Rest assured, I will never let down your high expectations."
"Good. If you make any progress in your work or have any good suggestions for production, be sure to report them to me promptly!"
His meaning could not have been clearer.
He was worried that if the engineers made some major discovery and bypassed him to report directly to Director Yang, he would lose a share of the credit.
Lin Zhen understood his intent in an instant and immediately promised, "Yes! I'll keep it firmly in mind!"
"Mm, I think highly of you. Go get back to work."
Lin Zhen returned to the workshop with the bicycle coupon tucked away, feeling like laughing.
If he wanted to make good suggestions for production processes or upgrade mechanical engineering,
as someone from the future, he could do it whenever he wished.
He could even design efficient, energy-saving new products that would not appear until the future.
But now was not the time. Those were the trump cards he would use to protect his wife.
If a special period came, he fell out with Deputy Director Li, and his wife Lou Xiao'e was in danger, then he would reveal his hand.
If he had a project that far surpassed the current international standard or concerned the interests of the entire nation, then Lin Zhen and his family could receive protection.
As long as life could continue steadily and society could develop smoothly, he did not want to be too conspicuous.
Most importantly, there was no need to fall out with Deputy Director Li now. It would be best if he could keep a low profile until the 1980s.
After getting home from work, Lin Zhen went alone to the supply and marketing cooperative again and rode back on a brand-new Phoenix bicycle.
Third Master Yan Bugui was green with envy.
"Wow! Lin Zhen, why did you buy another bicycle?"
"Deputy Director Li gave me a bicycle coupon. Isn't Xiao'e going back to work in another ten days or so? Our family needs two bicycles."
"Deputy Director Li gave it to you? Then this bike must feel even better to ride!"
Third Mistress said enviously, "Just look at how well Lin Zhen treats his wife. Working at the neighborhood office is even closer than working at the rolling mill, yet he still can't bear to let his wife walk."
Lou Xiao'e smiled and said, "It's mainly because the four children will be going to the steel mill daycare after the New Year. It'll be more convenient for Lin Zhen and me to take them there and pick them up."
Second Elder Liu Haizhong was envious too. Once he heard that Deputy Director Li had given it to him, he felt even more jealous.
He had tried several times to get close to Deputy Director Li and ask for some official position, big or small, but he was simply not important enough. The man paid him no attention.
First Elder Yi Zhonghai had no interest in the matter.
After Silly Zhu heard that Deputy Director Li had given it to him, he instead said disdainfully, "That Li guy isn't a good person. Why would you take something from him? If it were me, I'd have thrown the coupon right in his face."
Yan Bugui laughed. "Hey, exactly! Otherwise, how could you be called Silly Zhu?"
"Hahahaha..."
A few days later.
The Yan family held a happy occasion.
Yu Li joined the family, Yan Jiecheng married a wife, and the courtyard gained another newlywed couple.
Although Yan Bugui was stingy, he still went through the necessary motions and set out two tables of food.
He treated the people in the courtyard to a meal.
Although the two tables were mostly fish, it was indeed much better than Xu Damao's affair.
Yan Bugui's family had no money, yet he was still willing to hold a wedding feast for his son and maintain neighborly relations.
Xu Damao's family had money, but he would not let a single cent leak into the courtyard.
Everyone who went to the Yan family's wedding banquet gave at least a little gift money.
The one who gave the most was the "old nice guy," Yi Zhonghai: five yuan.
Lin Zhen came next with four yuan. Everyone else gave one or two yuan, and some gave fifty cents.
After the wedding banquet, the Yan family actually made several yuan in profit.
Third Master Yan Bugui was thrilled.
That evening, as the family sat together reheating the leftovers, Yan Bugui said smugly, "See? Xu Damao is still young and inexperienced. How could holding a wedding banquet lose money? Not only did we end up with several basins of leftovers, we even made several yuan. This is how you have to live—by calculating every expense."
But Yu Li felt somewhat disappointed.
Why is my father-in-law so stingy? Some of the fish are nothing but bones, yet he still won't throw them away. Everyone gets a fixed portion at meals, and you can't even go back for a second bowl.
Most importantly, no one has mentioned Yan Jiecheng's future wages. We're married now, so surely he won't still hand over all his wages?
Then she thought of Lin Zhen and his wife.
Why are their lives so prosperous? They even have two bicycles at home!
It seems he proposed to me back then too, but I had just finished school and was too picky.
Sigh, who knows what life will be like? I only hope we can catch up to Lin Zhen's family.
Before you continue