Chapter 246 The Battle for the Radio
Accounting Office
Wang Guixiang saw Gu Yihan take the lunchbox out of her handbag and put it in the drawer.
"Xiao Han, aren't you taking your lunchbox home?" she asked in surprise.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yihan looked up at Wang Guixiang and smiled slightly, saying, "Make some room, otherwise there'll be nowhere to put the things we bought."
Wang Guixiang remembered that Gu Yihan came in empty-handed.
He then smiled and inquired, "What do you want to buy?"
Gu Yihan laughed when she heard Wang Guixiang's probing tone, knowing that she was overthinking things.
He took a radio ticket out of his pocket, placed it on his desk, and said, "Let's get a radio for the family."
Upon hearing this, Wang Guixiang breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried that Gu Yihan might have secretly bought something to visit Hu Shan.
He stood up, walked over to Gu Yihan, and looked at the radio ticket on the table: "Xiaohan, radios are in high demand, and the nearby supply and marketing cooperatives may not have them."
"You might as well wait until the weekend and go to the department store in the city to buy it; there will be more options there."
Minjie glanced at Gu Yihan and Wang Guixiang talking, pursed her lips, and said, "It's not like it's anything very valuable, why are you being so cautious?"
Gu Yihan looked up at Sister Min, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
Radios were a big deal in those days, as rare as bicycles.
How come she doesn't consider these things valuable, but rather just commonplace things?
...
Gu Yihan entered the supply and marketing cooperative and went straight to the section selling daily necessities.
Looking at the slightly larger radio in the display case.
He looked up at the saleswoman with a smile and said, "Comrade, could you please let me take a look at this radio?"
The saleswoman saw Gu Yihan pointing to the only vacuum tube radio in the display case.
He paused for a moment, then kindly explained, "Comrade, this radio is a vacuum tube radio, not a transistor radio."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yihan paused for a moment, then smiled and asked, "Is there a difference?"
The saleswoman patiently explained, "The vacuum tube radio is larger, has better sound quality, and is more expensive than the transistor radio. It costs 145 yuan."
After saying that, she pointed to the small radio next to her: "This radio is a transistor radio, and it only costs 45 yuan."
Gu Yihan laughed after hearing this. She bought it for her grandmother, so of course she would buy the best.
He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Comrade, I'll buy this vacuum tube one."
Seeing that Gu Yihan was determined to buy vacuum tubes, the saleswoman guessed that her family must be well-off, so she stopped trying to dissuade her.
He took the key out of his pants pocket, opened the glass cabinet, took out the radio with both hands, and placed it on the table.
"Comrade, after you make the payment, I will demonstrate the machine to you in person."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yihan took out some money from her handbag, looked at the saleswoman with a smile, and said, "Comrade, please issue me a receipt."
The saleswoman glanced at Gu Yihan's movements, filled out a three-part form, and handed it to her.
Gu Yihan took the three-part form and walked to the cashier, where she saw a young girl.
Smiling, he handed her the 145 yuan, the cashier's plane ticket, and the receipt, saying, "Comrade, please pay."
The cashier took the three-part form, carefully checked the money and tickets, and then stamped it with the cash receipt stamp and the ticket verification stamp.
He handed the customer's copy and delivery slip to Gu Yihan.
Gu Yihan thanked her, took the receipt, walked to the counter, and smiled at the saleswoman, saying, "Excuse me, ma'am, could you please test the machine for me?"
She had never used a radio from that era before, so she needed the other person to demonstrate how to operate it for her.
I'll teach Grandma Gu how to operate it when I get back.
After the saleswoman turned on the switch, the radio started making a "buzzing" sound.
Gu Yihan looked up at the saleswoman in surprise and asked in a low voice, "Why is there noise on this radio?"
The saleswoman smiled at Gu Yihan and explained, "The radio needs to warm up for half a minute after it's turned on."
After saying that, she checked the rotary knob, tuned to the local radio station, and the tune of "The Red Detachment of Women" started playing on the radio.
"Comrade, the sound quality is also fine."
Gu Yihan smiled and nodded, reaching out to take the bulky radio, and said with a smile, "Thank you, sir..."
Are there still any of this radios left?
Before Gu Yihan could finish speaking, she was startled by a shout that suddenly came from behind her.
When he turned around and saw that the person who had just spoken loudly was Secretary Jiang, he frowned.
"Secretary Jiang, don't you know that it's impolite to suddenly speak loudly behind someone's back?"
Secretary Jiang was in a bad mood at the moment, so she didn't care about being polite or not.
He walked straight to Gu Yihan's side and looked at the saleswoman: "Give me the radio she's holding."
Upon hearing this, the salesperson glanced awkwardly at Gu Yihan and said, "I'm sorry, sir, this model of radio is out of stock. You can take a look at the transistor radios."
there is none left?
Secretary Jiang frowned, because she and Zeng Xiao both worked at the textile factory and lived nearby.
The two agreed that they would not buy the three watches and one radio for now, and would give it to her as a dowry instead.
To everyone's surprise, Zeng's father went back on his word and refused to agree, demanding that he buy all the necessary items ("three turns and one sound") before holding the banquet.
Everything else was fine; we bought everything in the city today. But my father specifically requested that we buy a vacuum tube radio from Shanghai.
There are no more in stock in the city.
"Comrade Gu, could you transfer that radio you have to me?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yihan raised her eyes to look at Secretary Jiang and coldly uttered a single word: "No."
After saying that, he picked up the radio and turned to walk towards the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.
Secretary Jiang watched Gu Yihan's departing figure, gritted her teeth, and chased after her, grabbing her arm: "Director Gu, I really need a radio."
Gu Yihan, holding the radio in one hand, glanced at Secretary Jiang and forcefully pushed him away.
He said coldly, "Just because you need it, I have to give it to you?"
Secretary Jiang raised her hand to rub her temples, then her voice softened, and she looked at Gu Yihan with a pleading expression.
He said, "Officer Gu, I can give you an extra 10 yuan."
Gu Yihan wasn't fooled by Secretary Jiang's feigned weakness and sneered, "Who cares about your money?"
After saying that, he walked straight to where the bicycles were parked.
"Officer Gu, I'm getting married tomorrow and need a radio. I hope you can give it to me since we're colleagues."
Gu Yihan paused, but without turning her head, she coldly refused, "No."
"It's not my fault that you can't buy a radio for your wedding, why should I give it to you?"
Secretary Jiang stared intently at Gu Yihan, who remained unmoved despite her humble demeanor.
Resisting the urge to snatch the radio back, he turned around and went back to the supply and marketing cooperative, intending to buy the transistor radio first to make up the difference.
"Comrade, I'll take this radio."
Secretary Jiang stood in front of the counter, taking out money as she spoke.
The saleswoman interrupted Secretary Jiang as he was taking out his money, saying, "Comrade, that radio has already been sold."
Upon hearing this, Secretary Jiang suddenly looked up and stared at the empty display case.
His teeth were grinding together: "You sold it in just five minutes!"
The saleswoman nodded sheepishly.
Jiang Mi was so angry she almost fainted. Before leaving, she kicked the display case hard.
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