At this glance, Jiang Shan immediately understood, and asked in surprise: "No, is your house also supported by the state?" ”

"Pretty much it," Li Ruocheng nodded proudly: "In 57, my wife and I used the manuscript money we saved to buy five rooms here. ”

After speaking, the old man gave a look to the east side of the courtyard: "Including the two rooms directly opposite your house." ”

Jiang Shan was really surprised this time, looking at the age of the old couple in front of him, it is estimated that they will be about 40 years old in 57 years.

At this age, you can buy five rooms of private property with manuscript fees?

Or did the house of those days cost nothing at all?

Jiang Shan couldn't help but ask: "Twenty years ago, the translation fee was so considerable?" ”

Li Ruocheng smiled and shook his head: "What is this, compared to those translators, our little manuscript fee is not worth mentioning at all." ”

His wife Li Huaiying agreed: "Have you heard of the translator Qian Chunqi? ”

Jiang Shan shook his head in line with the personality: "I haven't heard of it." ”

Li Huaiying didn't care if he had heard it or not: "Just remember that he is a very famous translator." ”

"Well, go on."

"More than 20 years ago, this man quit his job as a doctor and translated three collections of Heine's poems, and only one of them earned more than 8,000 manuscript fees."

"Eight...... Eight thousand? ”

"Yes, eight thousand. In 1957, Qian Chunqi used the 8,000 yuan to buy a courtyard house in the four alleys of Yanjing East. ”

The old lady who asked and answered herself became more and more energetic, as if she was honored.

Suddenly, there was a "squeak".

Sister-in-law Hu Lina pushed open the door and walked out, and after seeing the country in the yard, she pushed the two children behind her in front of him.

"His third uncle," Hu Lina's face was not very good-looking: "I want to go back to my mother's house to live for a while, you can help take care of the two children." ”

"Me? Babysitting? Jiang Shan was a little confused for a while: "Have you discussed it with your eldest brother?" ”

Hu Lina looked particularly impatient: "What is there to discuss?" ”

Since her father was transferred back to Pujiang and reinstated to her original position, Hu Lina didn't want to stay in this compound for a day.

If it weren't for staying in the city, she would never have chosen to marry at the age of 20.

"On September 15, the state will hold an English test for officials sent abroad,"

Hu Lina is like a proud peacock, such news is not something that ordinary people can know: "I want to go home to study for the exam." ”

Jiang Shan: "So you're going to leave for half a month, and you can't review here?" ”

Hu Lina suddenly sneered: "Every night at 9:30 p.m., the TV station will broadcast English lectures, do you have a TV at home?" ”

After speaking, he raised his chin and turned around with his bag and left.

Jiangshan: "......"

He understood that this was a sister-in-law with great ambitions.

Turning around and smiling, he said to the old man Li Ruocheng: "Look, how high the enthusiasm of the masses of people is to learn English now!" ”

The old man also smiled: "It's not surprising that since the college entrance examination resumed last year, many people have been making up for English. ”

Jiang Shan didn't answer again, and walked over to pick up his little nephew.

The two children in front of them are a pair of children of the eldest brother Jiang Hai.

6-year-old Jiang Xiaoyu and 3-year-old Jiang Xiaobai.

looks like the Jiang family, with big eyes and full noses, and is always liked.

"Xiaobai,"

Jiang Shan, who had no children in his previous life, liked his little fat nephew the most.

rubbed the little fat man's bun face vigorously: "Who gave you this name?" It's still a well-known trademark! ”

How did Jiang Xiaobai know about this, he would be pinched by the third uncle, and he giggled non-stop.

Sister Jiang Xiaoyu has been sensible since she was a child, and at this time she had already moved out two small stools and beckoned to her younger brother.

So, Jiang Xiaobai immediately twisted his fleshy body and ran to sit with his little sister.

Looking at a pair of young brothers next to each other, Jiang Shan often felt that they were a little pitiful.

He knew in his heart that the reason why his nephews and nieces were so careful was because of the "blessing" of that sister-in-law!

After thinking for a while, Jiang Shan said to his younger brother in a warm voice: "Do you want to hear the story?" The third uncle is happy today, tell you one? ”

The two children's eyes lit up and soon darkened again.

Every time my mother told them a story, she would be furious at the end: "I'm so annoyed, I shouldn't have given birth to you so early......"

Six-year-old Jiang Xiaoyu is obviously more mature than children of the same age, and she almost grew up in the noise of her parents.

From the moment she was sensible, the little girl with a delicate mind learned not to make the adults angry.

Until now, she even thinks that her mother won't get angry as long as she can't see herself,

So he always carefully hid in the corner and kept quiet.

With the memories of the past, Jiang Shan naturally knew what the little girl was hesitating about.

So he directly clamped the two children with stools one by one.

After two or three steps, one on each side of the bench on either side of your original bench.

He pointed to the book in Li Ruocheng's hand and asked, "Old man, lend us the story book to take a look." ”

The old man immediately handed it over, thinking that he could just listen to this kid's English skills.

Coincidentally, Jiang Shan just wanted to tell him.

Written in dark blue, a few horizontal silver arcs outline the scene of the sea, and a goose-yellow moon hangs in the air......

The two children were immediately attracted by the gorgeous writing in the third uncle's hand.

"Daughter of the Sea" ......"

Jiang Shan turned the page of the book and read it aloud:

"In the depths of the sea, the water is so blue, like the most beautiful cornflower petals...... The castle in the sea is inhabited by six mermaid princesses......"

At this time, the sun poured into the courtyard.

The story of the third uncle continues.

Jiang Xiaoyu, who is accustomed to hearing about the little white rabbit and the big bad wolf, heard for the first time that there is a beautiful palace in the sea, and there is a group of mermaids living in the palace.

Listening to this, the little girl couldn't help but ask, "Third uncle, what does the little mermaid look like?" Is it a man or a fish? ”

Jiang Xiaobai: "Can you?" ”

Third uncle: "Can't! ”

Jiang Shan thought for a while, and asked gently, "Children, do you want to see what the Little Mermaid looks like?" ”

"I want to~"

Unsurprisingly unanimous answer.

"Can the old man borrow a pen and paper? Jiang Shan touched the heads of the two little ones: "The children have never seen the world, and they don't know what a mermaid looks like!" ”

"You've seen it?"

"Don't underestimate people!"

"You wait, I'll find you paper."

Li Ruocheng was not stingy, and handed Jiang Shan a brand-new soft copy.

The paper is good and the pen is smooth.

As soon as he looked at the posture of Jiang Shan holding a pen, he knew that this kid should have two strokes.

Sure enough, with the stroke of the pen brush,

The sea, the reef, the slender figure sitting on the reef, the long hair shawl, the fish-shaped tail......

A mermaid living by the rocks and the sea.

Jiang Xiaobai's chubby finger pointed to the painting book: "Third uncle, third uncle, why doesn't the woman you painted have an ass?" ”

"Because she's a mermaid."

The little fat hand kept nodding: "Third uncle and third uncle, why does this woman have no legs?" ”

"Because she's a mermaid."

"Third uncle and third uncle, is the mermaid good?"

Third uncle: "......"

Jiang Xiaoyu covered his brother's mouth, and the small courtyard resounded the Jiangshan version of "The Daughter of the Sea".

But this time, the third uncle's brush has not stopped.

Following the progress of the story, the picture book in Jiang Shan's hand is also turned page by page.

Solid professional skills, so that Jiangshan can think of hand.

Li Ruocheng soon discovered that as soon as a new chapter of the story was told, the next page of the picture book would follow the iconic image of that chapter.