Chapter 43 Phoenix Bicycle

Lin Weimin certainly knew that Rong Shihui actually did not have the ability to help him solve his work problems.

But he also knew that Rong Shihui was a senior member of the Contemporary and even the People's Literature Publishing House. In this era, people are very friendly, and it would be better for him to help open the door than for a green hand like him to go to those leaders.

Being an editor is the best way out that Lin Weimin found for himself after careful consideration, at least the best way out in the next two or three years.

After experiencing the treatment and social status of literary workers these days, Lin Weimin's desire to stir up trouble in the tide of reform and opening up cannot be said to have been completely eliminated, but at least it is not as urgent anymore.

The reason is very simple. He was not a business tycoon before he traveled through time. It would be okay if he engaged in speculative business on a small scale, but if it became a big business, he would have no confidence in himself.

It would be better to lay a solid foundation for yourself while you have the conditions in the Institute of Literature.

He brought the works of his classmates to Rong Shihui and proposed to make an album, which was simply a token of his allegiance.

The next day was the weekend, and Lin Weimin got up early and ran to Yenching University.

"Old Ma!" Lin Weimin found the American guy he met at the last exchange and dialogue meeting, Keith McMahon, whose Chinese name is Mark Meng.

"Hey! Lin, why are you here?" Mark Meng came up to Lin Weimin in surprise and gave him a hug.

"Of course I came to play with you. Our Institute of Literature is on holiday!"

"Oh, that's really good news."

"You guys should take a break today too, right?"

"Yes, we are planning to go out and play today. It's great that you come, let's go together!"

Mark Meng excitedly pulled Lin Weimin to stand downstairs of Building 25, "We'll leave when everyone is here."

After a few minutes, a few more international students came, but the only familiar face was Xiao Hei Yoko, whom I met on the day of the exchange and dialogue session.

Mark Meng introduced the remaining three people, Yin Geli and Cao Mengde from Austria, Feng Xiaorong from Federal Germany, two men and one woman.

These people did not attend the exchange and dialogue session that day, so they did not know Lin Weimin.

After hearing Mark Meng say that Lin Weimin is a very famous writer in China, I couldn't help but become curious about him, and even the way I looked at him changed.

Lin Weimin looked at Mark Meng speechlessly. When it comes to bragging, I can’t even compare to you Americans.

There were four men and two women in the group. Everyone rode a bicycle, except Lin Weimin.

Ma Kemeng asked, "Lin, didn't you ride a bicycle?"

"No, I'm only studying in Yanjing for a short time, but I can buy one."

"Buy one?"

Mark Meng looked at him in surprise. Although they had not been in China for long and could not speak Chinese fluently, they still had some knowledge about the income level in the country. A bicycle was not cheap for ordinary working-class people.

But then Mark Meng thought of Lin Weimin’s other identity - a writer.

In the United States, anyone who can be called a writer usually has an income far exceeding that of ordinary working-class people. I think Lin should be the same.

"But I don't have a bicycle ticket..." Lin Weimin said with embarrassment.

Ma Ke waved his hand and said, "We can go to the Friendship Store."

"That would be too much trouble for you."

"It doesn't matter. We can't spend our foreign exchange coupons anyway."

Lin Weimin nodded, "Okay, I'll exchange RMB for your foreign exchange certificates."

"No problem." Mark Meng said readily.

After a few words, the matter was finalized and the group rode their bicycles straight to the Friendship Store.

Friendship Stores in China emerged in the 1950s, at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, mainly supplying scarce and high-quality goods to foreign envoys, sailors, international students and overseas Chinese.

The Friendship Store in Yanjing was built in 1964 and is located along Chang'an Avenue, on the bustling Jianguomenwai Street, adjacent to the embassy district.

In those days, the Friendship Store was always a place that ordinary people stayed away from because it only served foreigners and overseas Chinese.

It was not easy to use RMB in the Friendship Store. You had to use Overseas Remittance Coupons or Foreign Exchange Coupons. Most importantly, you had to have a foreign face. If Lin Weimin came by himself, he might not even be able to get in.

But today is different. Among Mark Meng and his companions, except for Xiao Heiyangzi who has an East Asian face and is difficult to distinguish, the others all have standard foreign looks.

Therefore, without even being stopped at the door, Lin Weimin went straight into the Friendship Store.

Lin Weimin wondered if this could be considered as the fox taking advantage of the tiger's might.

The Yanjing Friendship Store is a four-story building, and its scale is not inferior to the general large and medium-sized supermarkets in later generations. Even from the perspective of later generations, the shopping environment is not inferior at all, it is spacious and bright, comfortable and elegant, and has complete supporting facilities.

Lin Weimin and his companions took a walk around and found that the variety of goods was much richer than that of the supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores outside, but it was much worse than that of later generations.

But there are also advantages. Lin Weimin saw many extremely exquisite handicrafts on sale, all of which were for foreign friends.

Mark Meng and his companions entered the Friendship Store without any hurry, and they just looked around and strolled around.

Yin Geli and Xiao Heiyangzi were still chatting with the salesperson at the counter. Women have no resistance to shopping.

Lin Weimin and Mark Meng came to the bicycle counter, where bicycles from major domestic bicycle manufacturers were displayed, including Phoenix, Forever, Fei Ge...

Among all the bicycle brands, Phoenix is ​​undoubtedly the most popular and the most recognized by the people in recent years.

Lin Weimin did not hesitate and chose a black 28-inch Phoenix brand bicycle.

Mark Meng paid very proactively. The salesperson was very friendly and the shopping process was extremely smooth.

After coming out of the Friendship Store, Lin Weimin gave money to Mark Meng.

These days, according to official regulations, the exchange rate between RMB and foreign exchange certificates must be 1:1.

However, rules are dead, but people are alive. In terms of the degree of scarcity, the RMB cannot be compared with foreign exchange coupons. This has resulted in the ratio of RMB to foreign exchange coupons on the black market being higher than the official price.

Lin Weimin offered it to Mark Meng according to the black market price, but Mark Meng refused. Having lived in China for some time, he had some understanding of this aspect.

However, for him as a foreigner, the exchange rate of foreign exchange certificates had no impact at all. He was just helping a friend today.

After some arguing, Mark Meng only accepted 160 yuan, which was the equivalent of the bicycle's selling price.

They were a group of people who went out to have fun on the weekend without a specific destination.

Lin Weimin bought the bicycle, and since they had nothing else to do, they followed him to the vehicle management office to have the bicycle stamped.

(End of this chapter)