"Is this Comrade Jiang Changhai’s home?" asked the man in work clothes politely.
Su Wanyu nodded, "Yes, Jiang Changhai is my husband."
"Well, we’re from the communications department. There was an old man who called us yesterday, asking us to come over today to install a telephone for your family. His surname is Yu. What’s the matter? Didn’t the old man tell you?"
Seeing that Su Wanyu still looked perplexed after he finished explaining, the man also became a bit confused about the situation.
"It was Elder Yu who requested it? Please come in then," Su Wanyu said as soon as she heard the old man’s surname was Yu, knowing who it was. She opened the door and let the two men in.
The two were there to do a job and collect payment. Since this was Jiang Mianmian’s home, the address was correct, and they didn’t delve into why Su Wanyu’s initial reaction was what it was. Taking out their tools, they started the installation.
Wang Li and Li Lan stopped doing their homework to watch curiously; it was their first time witnessing a telephone being installed.
Jiang Mianmian also didn’t know why Grandpa Yu suddenly decided to have a telephone installed for them, but he must have his reasons for doing so.
Installing a telephone was a meticulous task. Li Lan and Wang Li hadn’t finished watching before it was time for lunch. Seeing that the food was ready and the children hadn’t come back, both sets of parents came over to call them for a meal.
They were surprised to see that the Jiang Family was getting a telephone installed, as it was particularly expensive in those days. It seemed the Jiang Family was fairly well-off.
Aunt Li and Wang Li’s Mother chatted with Su Wanyu for a bit before taking their kids back home to eat.
It was almost another half-hour before the telephone was completely installed. Su Wanyu went inside to get the money and came out to ask, "How much do I owe you, brothers?"
"No need for that. That old man with the surname Yu has already paid in full. He gave extra money, and he said the rest could be used as your phone bill credit. I’ll deposit it into your account when I get back," said the man.
"Oh, thank you so much. Could you tell me how much it all was?" Su Wanyu inquired.
She planned to ask and then return the money to Grandpa Yu. Yu Cheng had already given them so much; they couldn’t let him pay for the telephone installation as well.
"So altogether, the expenses come to five hundred yuan," the man replied.
Upon hearing this, Su Wanyu was startled; getting a telephone installed was so expensive. No wonder no one nearby had one.
After the installation workers left, Su Wanyu patted Jiang Mianmian on the head, instructing her, "Girl, now that we have our telephone installed, you should give Grandpa Yu a call to let him know."
"Okay, Mom. I’ll call right now," Jiang Mianmian said, looking at the telephone with excitement.
Great, they had a telephone installed at home. Now she wouldn’t have to go out to make calls anymore, which would save a lot of trouble.
When she made the call, it just so happened that Grandpa Yu answered.
He had returned to the Capital City late the previous day and hadn’t gone to work the next morning; he was sitting on the sofa, reading the newspaper.
"Hello, who may I ask for?" Grandpa Yu’s voice came through the receiver.
"Grandpa Yu, this is Mianmian. Thank you for getting us a telephone. I will mail you the installation money in a few days," Jiang Mianmian said very directly.
Her childlike straightforwardness made Grandpa Yu burst into hearty laughter, "Mianmian, no need to mail me the money. Installing the telephone for your family is a reward you deserve. The researchers who left your home yesterday successfully created a color television based on the principle you described. Therefore, the nation has decided to award you a bonus of two thousand yuan, a first-class certificate of honor, and this telephone."