Huang Qinqin chuckled and said, "Oil costs one yuan and sixty cents a bottle, sugar costs one yuan a bottle, and salt, soy sauce, and vinegar are all five cents a bottle."
Xu Weiguo exclaimed, "So expensive?! Is it free???"
Xu Weiguo often ran errands for Zhang Yumei, like buying soy sauce at the supply and marketing cooperative. The prices at the department store were more than double what they were at the cooperative!
Xu Weiguo's first thought was that this shouldn't require a ticket, because the price was already comparable to that on the black market.
Besides, these items are sold in small quantities. If they're this expensive, and the quantity is so small, then requiring a ticket would be impolite...
Huang Qinqin touched her nose and said apologetically, "You still need coupons for oil and sugar..."
Xu Weiguo: ......
"Are you sure anyone will buy these things?"
If Xu Weiguo remembered correctly, they seemed to have ordered several thousand bamboo cups from Xujia Village, right?
Upon hearing this, Huang Qinqin smiled and said, "That's why I came here to ask you for help, Dad."
"You need my help?"
Xu Weiguo didn't think he could help the department store in any way. Even if he went to support it, he would only buy one or two bottles at most.
"Uh-huh!"
Huang Qinqin pointed to the things on the table and said, "Dad, we haven't properly thanked the director yet about Uncle's temporary worker position."
"Well, these things are just right to be given to the director as a thank you gift."
Upon hearing this, Xu Weiguo immediately turned serious and refused, saying, "No way! Isn't this bribery?"
This was the first time Huang Qinqin had seen Xu Weiguo with a dark expression towards her, and she was slightly taken aback.
However, she calmly explained, "No, Dad. How could this be bribery?"
"Dad, look. These five items only cost a little over 4 yuan. Who would bribe a leader with such cheap things?"
"Besides, Dad, do you usually treat the bureau chief to meals?"
Xu Weiguo's expression softened slightly: "We invite people occasionally. The bureau usually gets together every one or two months."
"That's settled then. Your meal costs more than four yuan, right? How is giving away something worth four yuan considered bribery?"
"Besides, we're just delivering some very ordinary things. Sometimes neighbors borrow soy sauce or vinegar from each other, don't they?"
"Dad, aren't you right?"
That seemed to be true, but Xu Weiguo felt something was off. But upon closer inspection, what Huang Qinqin said seemed to make sense.
Xu Weiguo still hesitated: "Yes, yes, but..."
Taking advantage of his hesitation, Huang Qinqin quickly interrupted, "That's fine, Dad. It's just to thank the director for taking care of you all these years. It's just some inexpensive stuff!"
Then he pulled out the article from the newspaper and continued to brainwash him: "Dad, look at this. The department store's cooperation with the food factory this time is mainly to support the nearby commune."
"The greater the sales volume of goods in the department store, the greater the demand for bamboo cups, and the more income the commune will have."
"This is all good news. But now problems have arisen."
"The main target audience for these products is actually cadres' families, so we need someone to promote them."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Xu Weiguo with an earnest expression, hoping that he would understand what she meant.
Xu Weiguo understood; they just wanted him to give the items to the bureau chief so the bureau chief could do some free publicity for them.
Tell others, "Look, even the police chief is using it!" Isn't that a ready-made advertisement?
Xu Weiguo guessed that they must have also given gifts to leaders in other units. After figuring it out, he wasn't angry anymore.
Although he still felt that it was inappropriate to give gifts to the bureau chief in this way, Huang Qinqin went through a long and roundabout way, and in the end, it was Xujia Village that actually benefited.
For that reason alone, Xu Weiguo couldn't refuse.
He conceded, "Okay, I understand."
Perfect!
Seeing that Xu Weiguo had agreed, Huang Qinqin immediately said, "Thank you, Dad! I'll be going now. Remember to give the things to the director, okay?"
Although he had convinced himself, Xu Weiguo still felt a bit overwhelmed looking at the pile of stuff.
He secretly cheered himself up, thinking, "It's okay, it's just like when I give gifts to my in-laws, it's very simple."
After mentally preparing himself, Xu Weiguo knocked on the door of the bureau chief's office.
The bureau chief was admiring his new acquisitions. Although it was during a crackdown, these old items were still quite popular.
After hearing a knock on the door, he put his things down before saying, "Come in."
When the bureau chief saw Xu Weiguo carrying a bunch of things in, he raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Old Xu, did you need something from me?"
This was the first time Xu Weiguo had ever given a gift to a superior privately, and he said stiffly, "It's nothing..."
"I just saw in the newspaper that the department store has a new and interesting product, so I thought I'd let you, Director, try it out."
The bureau chief asked in surprise, "Oh? That seems really interesting. What is it?"
At this moment, the bureau chief was really curious about what it was that Xu Weiguo would give him on his own initiative.
They'd worked together for over ten years, and this was the first time Xu Weiguo had ever given him something. He figured it probably wasn't anything valuable.
Because Xu Weiguo didn't even close the door after he came in. If he really had something to ask for and was planning to give a gift, he wouldn't have been so bold.
Xu Weiguo took out the newspaper and recited Huang Qinqin's explanation, then added, "I just feel that this meaningful product is especially suitable for the director."
"Because you and the department store share the same goal in doing this: to serve the people wholeheartedly and to make their lives better."
The bureau chief was thoroughly pleased by Xu Weiguo's words.
Xu Weiguo's words weren't particularly clever; he could tell they were just pure flattery.
However, this was the first time Xu Weiguo had done something like this.
The director felt particularly pleased when he thought that Xu Weiguo, who was always upright and incorruptible, would actually flatter him!
The bureau chief felt relieved and stopped thinking about what the man's purpose was in sending the gifts.
After all, people like to hear nice things, especially when someone like Xu Weiguo, who usually seems very serious, suddenly says these things to you, it feels especially sincere.
At this moment, the bureau chief was no longer thinking about Xu Weiguo's purpose in sending the gifts, but was instead immersed in the pleasure of being praised.
He took the newspaper and glanced at it, finding it contained only basic necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, so he accepted it without worry.
"We were just short of oil at home, and this is exactly what we needed."
The director picked one up and looked at it, saying with curiosity, "Wow, the packaging is quite unique."
"If you hadn't told me, I would have thought this was just a decorative item. Who would have guessed it actually contains seasonings? Hehe."
"As long as the bureau chief can use it, that's fine."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
