"Xiangzi, how much can you earn from pulling a rickshaw in a month? How is your livelihood?" Bao Guowei asked.
"Huh?" Xiangzi pulled the cart a little slower.
Bao Guowei knew that he had not heard what he said clearly, so he repeated it again.
"Let's make do! It's good if you can get ten yuan a month!" Xiangzi's tone was helpless.
Bao Guowei converted prices in the Republic of China, and found that the purchasing power of ten yuan was pretty good!
If it were in Shuixiang Town, it would be more than enough to support a family of three.
"Then being a rickshaw driver is okay. You can make quite a lot of money."
"Where is it? I make money alone, spend money alone, and have enough food for one person and the whole family is not hungry. But the old masters have children, and this place is not like the countryside. Everything costs money, and less than half of it is required for a month's rent. , and other expenses combined, we can only make ends meet.”
Bao Guowei did not answer.
Yes, every family has its own scriptures that are difficult to recite. In today’s world, everyone’s life is very difficult.
"So now that you have saved money, what do you want to do in the future?"
"I want to buy a car! But it costs one or two hundred yuan to buy a car. Look at me, I have been driving a car for so long and I don't dare to spend any spare money. Now I have only saved a small half."
Bao Guowei silently said that the biggest dream of Xiangzi in the novel is also to drive, but the ending...
"Oh! I heard from the old masters that the situation of rickshaw drivers is getting worse and worse now. They said that the tracks in the city over Jingkou have been very long, and many people don't take rickshaws anymore. I think Wu Sucheng will do the same in the future. After all, things are always changing."
"Do you still know that things are changing?" Bao Guowei said with a smile.
"Of course! Don't look at me because I am illiterate. I don't even know what a word is when the pole falls over. But I often hear people reading newspapers on the street."
Bao Guowei became more and more interested in Xiangzi.
"Sir, where do we drive to Jianhuan Road?" Xiangzi suddenly asked after turning an intersection.
"Zhicheng Bank, I'm over there."
The so-called world is dangerous.
When Bao Guowei was at the tea stall just now, the destination he told Xiangzi was not directly Zhicheng Bank, but the construction of a ring road.
After all, the tea stall is crowded with people, especially those rickshaw drivers. Even though they are all honest and kind, they are actually smart people.
So just in case someone sees that Bao Guowei is so shabbily dressed, yet he chooses to take a rickshaw or go to the bank, they might guess that he has something valuable on him.
Don’t show your wealth when you go out!
The speaker is unintentional, but the listener is intentional. If someone really cares about you, that would not be good.
"Okay." Xiangzi responded, stopped talking, and concentrated on pulling the cart.
In a short time, Xiangzi pulled the rickshaw to the entrance of Zhicheng Bank, and Bao Guowei got off.
"Sir, the fare is a dime."
"This is the bank. I don't have any money with me right now. Just wait here. I'll go in and get the money and then come out and give it to you."
Xiangzi nodded, "Okay."
Bao Guowei smiled, "What? You just believe me so much? There are many people in this bank and it's noisy. Aren't you afraid that I'll run away?"
"I've already pulled you here and done my best. If you really run away, there's nothing I can do to you." Xiangzi said.
"It's interesting." Bao Guowei murmured in his heart.
"Okay. Wait for me here. I won't lie to you. I will give you money as soon as I come out!"
After that, Bao Guowei walked straight into Zhicheng Bank. He had just stepped into the bank's door with one foot, and blocked his chest with a long arm.
"Hey! This is a bank." It turned out to be a bank security guard standing at the door. He had a baton on his waist and his hat was tilted.
Bao Guowei smiled, "I know this is a bank."
Not allowing the security guard to speak any more, he pushed the security guard's arm away and strode into the bank.
Bao Guowei came to the counter, took out the check in his arms and handed it over.
He stood steadily - during the Republic of China, most banks had no place to sit. They were like pawn shops. To handle business, people had to stand and hand things through the small window.
Bao Guowei glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that the security guard who had just stopped him was still looking in his direction. Apparently he had regarded him as a suspicious person.
He just found it funny.
"It seems that the first thing I will do after getting the money today is to buy a gorgeous outfit!" Bao Guowei said with determination.
"Here! Your money." The counter staff handed over the money and put it in an envelope.
Bao Guowei only withdrew 500 yuan this time. It was inconvenient to carry too much money with him, so the remaining more than 1,000 yuan was not used yet, so he kept it at Zhicheng Bank.
It's not too late to come back and pick it up when you need it.
He stretched out his hand to take the money and walked out of the door.
As for the security guard at the door, Bao Guowei didn't even bother to look at him when he went out.
But just as he walked to the door, the security guard gently bent down and bowed as if he was receiving a normal VIP guest.
It’s cool to have money!
"Xiangzi." Bao Guowei called out when he came out of the bank door.
When Xiangzi, who was squatting in the corner, heard this, he stood up immediately and said, "Sir, have you withdrawn the money?"
Bao Guowei nodded, "I got it."
With that said, he took out a dollar and handed it to Xiangzi. Xiangzi waved his hands hurriedly and said, "It's too much, sir... I don't have much money with me, so I can't find it."
"No need to look for it, you deserve it."
Xiangzi moved his hands even wider, "No sir!"
Bao Guowei smiled and asked: "Let's do it! Xiangzi, how much does it cost to charter a car here for a month?"
"I have never done any car charter business, but I heard from them that chartering a car for a month should cost ten yuan!" Xiangzi said after thinking for a while.
"Haha. Ten yuan? How about I give you fifteen yuan a month and you pull a rickshaw for me for a month?" "How...how can this be done?" Xiangzi stammered.
"Haha. Why don't you do business? It's all between you and me. You make money based on your ability. What are you afraid of? You don't dare to accept this money?"
Just as he was talking, Bao Guowei took out another fifteen yuan and stuffed it into his hand without saying anything.
"But sir, you gave me too much."
Xiangzi had been in the team of coachmen since he was a child. He had never seen this scene before, and he was immediately at a loss and felt a little embarrassed.
"This is the extra service fee for your hard work in pulling the cart. From now on, if you pull the cart harder, you will be worthy of the money I paid."
"Then just give me fourteen, and I'll give you this piece in exchange. You already gave me a piece just now."
With that said, Xiangzi was about to return the one dollar fare Bao Guowei had just given him in his hand.
Bao Guowei smiled and waved his hands, feeling that his mind was a bit fresh, but fortunately his nature was pure.
"Consider it a tip for you."
"Thank you, sir!"
Xiangzi smiled naively, showing his slightly yellowed teeth. Excitement and emotion surged into his body, and his eyes turned red for a moment.
Bao Guowei took a look and realized that in this world, it would not be easy for Xiangzi to grow up. There must be something unspeakable.
This aroused his interest in learning more about Xiangzi.
However, now is not the time to talk, there are more important things to do.
"Xiangzi, let's go to Wusu Road now. I want to dress up properly!"
Wusu Road is the main road in Wusu City. It can be regarded as the most prosperous place in Wusu City. It is also the street with the most developed commerce in the area near Jingkou.
On the street, from the street to the end of the street, there are suit shops, high-end restaurants and restaurants, high-end hotels, banks and securities, high-end jewelry stores, nightclubs, etc., with everything you need for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and a variety of food and entertainment options.
At night, the lights here light up, and it is really a feasting, drunken and luxurious place. In a daze, I may have thought I have arrived at Jingkou.
Therefore, this Wusu Road is often called "Little Jingkou".
"Mr. Bao, where should we stop?" Xiangzi slowed down the cart so that he could hear Bao Guowei's answer.
"Well..." Bao Guowei thought for a moment, "First go to a suit shop and buy an outfit, then go to the big bathhouse, take a comfortable bath, and get rid of bad luck!"
"okay!"
Not long after, they arrived at Wusu Road, and Xiangzi parked the car in front of a suit store.
This was Bao Guowei's instruction. This suit shop is the most stylish in Wusu City.
