Back to the 60s: The Struggle Career of a Charmed Wife
Chapter 1148: Chaos With Chickens Flying and Dogs Jumping 9

Chapter 1148: Chapter 1148: Chaos With Chickens Flying and Dogs Jumping 9

Lu’s father expressed his approval of the name Wen Ruyu had chosen, and thus one of the grandsons was named Lu Tianwei.

"Then there’s the last grandson, who can only have one name. Which character do you all think is better?"

Upon hearing Lu’s father’s words, Uncle Xu blurted out, "How about ’Ying’? It signifies intelligence and excellence, and it fits perfectly with his brothers’ and sister’s names. When you hear it, you know they are siblings."

"Lu Tianying!"

"Lu Tianying..."

"Good, that is also a fine name." Lu’s father made the final decision, continuing, "So, we’ll name them Lu Tianwei, Lu Tianying, and the other one Lu Tianxiu. I just don’t know if they have already decided on their nicknames. I hope their parents won’t be so unsophisticated as to name them something common like ’Prosperity Treasure,’ ’Longevity Treasure,’ ’Wealth Treasure,’ to complete the set of ’Five Blessings Knocking on the Door.’

Everyone laughed heartily, "Qingxue is talented and extraordinary; she surely wouldn’t be so banal."

"Let’s come up with a few nicknames to send over, so they can choose," Lu’s father suggested. "Having triplets, they are certainly weaker than single births; we should use nicknames that carry the wish for them to grow up strong and healthy."

A group of idle elders, who normally would be learning from Guan Cheng, were left to their devices as he had gone to see patients, and Lu Tianzhi and Guan Cheng had returned to school due to the resumption of junior and senior high schools. Hence, these old gentlemen, who were originally teaching on campus, were invited back to the classroom by Wang Zhengguo, temporarily escaping the bleak situation of labor reform.

They all gave their two cents, coming up with a whole host of nicknames—varied, melodious, grating, elegant, and vulgar—everything you could think of.

In the end, they picked a few outstanding nicknames and wrote them on a piece of paper, along with their formal names. They asked Guan Cheng to send a telegram with the names to the army when he went into town, as well as the New Year’s goods prepared by the four families of Feng Qingxue’s uncle and aunt after hearing the good news, asking Guan Cheng to send those as well.

After completing the task, Guan Cheng headed to the black market.

In the harsh winter, life was tough, and there were people willing to sell their gold and silver treasures for cash to buy grain and survive the winter.

Wearing warm clothing, Guan Cheng had just stepped into the black market when someone sidled up to him and whispered, "Young man, got any grain? A piece for fine grain, three for coarse grain, I’ll take as much as you have."

Guan Cheng, tall and energetic, was instantly recognized by everyone as someone living in good conditions.

Those who aren’t well-fed can’t grow as tall or as hearty as he is, and the backs of his hands, bony yet well-fleshed, were clearly not just skin and bones.

Guan Cheng shook his head and said, "No grain, but I have money. I’m only buying gold and silver items."

Hearing his response, the young man acknowledged him and walked away.

Transactions in the black market were based on voluntary exchange, and everyone knew the rules; no one could take offense if the other party chose not to trade with them.

A emaciated girl with sharp ears and a face dark as ink sidled up to Guan Cheng and asked quietly, "Brother, are you buying old things? Would you buy mine?"

"What do you have?" Guan Cheng glanced at her.

She looked about the same age as Feng Qingyun but shorter and thinner.

The girl counted on her fingers, looking pitifully hopeful as she said, "I have a few silver dollars, and a piece of jade that I hid away and wasn’t confiscated. It’s beautiful. Brother, can you buy it? Just give me a few dollars to buy some coarse grain, that would be enough."

As she spoke, she took out from her pocket four silver dollars and a jadeite tube of clear green hue.

In the black market, items like jadeite and jewelry were still worthless, but a silver dollar could be exchanged for ninety cents, as the national bank’s exchange rate was one dollar; those who dared to deal in the black market, rather than going to the bank, generally had ’undesirable’ backgrounds.