139 Friendship Store
After the Canton Fair ended, Guan Yuehe and her colleagues had a day and a half to move around freely.
On the night the exhibition ended, the woman she was staying with said that clothes and appliances in Guangzhou didn't require tickets, and invited Guan Yuehe to go out shopping together the next day.
"No, I plan to go and look around elsewhere."
Guan Yuehe went to bed early the night before, and at five o'clock the next morning, she quietly got up to wash up. When her roommate was woken up by the alarm clock and opened her eyes, she saw that the small bed next to her was already neatly folded into a square.
"You're out so early?" She and her companions had agreed to leave at 8:30. Everyone was exhausted lately, and it was a rare opportunity to sleep in a little longer. Nobody wanted to get up so early.
Meanwhile, Guan Yuehe and Chunmei had already finished breakfast and boarded the bus to Friendship Store. Both of them had a backpack slung across their shoulders, and inside the backpacks were cloth bags, which they used for "buying goods".
Guan Yuehe arrived at the guesthouse where Chunmei was staying at 5:30 this morning, and Chunmei was already waiting at the entrance of the guesthouse.
They got up early, and they were still full of energy.
While having breakfast at the state-run restaurant, Chunmei boasted to Guan Yuehe, "I met our factory director Zheng yesterday. He doesn't look quite like I imagined. He's very friendly. He took a picture with me and even gave me a pair of sneakers out of his own pocket. I couldn't refuse them. However, there happened to be a foreign businessman nearby, and I managed to get him an order."
In their dormitory, they often used familiar terms like "our parents," "our sister," and "our neighbor brother." Guan Yuehe never expected that one day they would also have "our factory director."
Guan Yuehe's mood instantly changed from the joy of seeing an old friend to the sour feeling of being shown off.
"You actually took a photo with our factory manager! I've never even taken a solo photo with the factory manager!"
During her many years at Zhuoyue Garment Factory, she participated in group photos taken when the factory was built, when it moved from a small bungalow to its current location, when Zhuoyue Garment Factory was rated as an outstanding unit in the city, and during several major turning points... There are even group photos taken when she received awards such as "Active Worker" and "Outstanding Worker".
But there wasn't a single photo of him with the factory manager!
"Which of us actually came from the Excellent Garment Factory? Humph!"
Chunmei chuckled, finally able to show off in front of Xiao Guan, and said generously, "The photographer said to print a few more and send them to me, and I'll send you one as a souvenir later."
Guan Yuehe: "...It's only a ten-minute walk from my home to the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, I'll go pick it up directly!"
At this point, they boarded the bus. Chunmei was still deliberately giggling and mentioning the photo with "our factory director," which made Guan Yuehe angry and say that she wouldn't take a photo with her later.
Chunmei knew when to stop. As soon as she got off the bus, she walked to the front of the Friendship Store and urged her to quickly find someone to take a group photo for them, "It has to be in front of the Friendship Store!"
Guan Yuehe's anger came and went quickly. Seeing a photographer charging for taking pictures by the roadside, she took her camera and went over to ask if he could take her picture.
"Of course." The photographer didn't mind losing a business opportunity and even started chatting with her, "Judging from your accents, you're not from around here. Are you here for the Canton Fair too?"
During the Canton Fair, Guangzhou is always bustling with people from other parts of the country. This number has increased even more since the reform and opening-up policy was introduced.
The photographer took several photos of them and then quietly asked, "Do you want to exchange foreign exchange certificates? I have a way to get some."
Guan Yuehe thought for a moment, "If it's not enough, we'll come back to you for more. Thank you, comrade."
"You're welcome." Although no sale was made, the photographer was still all smiles. After they entered the Friendship Store, he turned to the people standing not far from the entrance and asked, "Sir/Madam, would you like a photo taken of you together? Leave your address and we can mail it nationwide..."
Ahead, Guan Yuehe and Chunmei were both holding foreign exchange certificates, which were checked by the door attendant before they were allowed to pass.
Once inside, Guan Yuehe and Chunmei looked around and saw many things they had never seen before in supply and marketing cooperatives, department stores, or even department stores. They were very curious and would go over to take a look at anything that looked new.
The two were incredibly excited, like two rats that had fallen into a vat of oil. But with many foreign tourists in the shop, they could only keep their excitement to themselves.
Seeing a certain chocolate on the shelf that was exactly the same as the one Chen Lizhong brought during the Lunar New Year, no wonder Gu Yu said that she couldn't buy the bittersweet Chocolat in department stores outside; it turns out it's only available at Friendship Store.
Chen Lizhong is indeed the biggest dog among the big dogs!
"Yuehe, the cola you mentioned." Chunmei tugged at her sleeve, gesturing for her to look at the shelf in front of her. "One dollar a bottle, you can buy a hundred bottles here."
Guan Yuehe had already calculated how many bottles she needed to buy, and now she was having a bit of a headache. She would have to find a box and line it with a thick cloth or something else to prevent the glass bottles from being bumped or knocked.
Chunmei: "This stuff is hard to carry. Are you really going to bring so many bottles back from all this way?"
"I'll just buy thirty bottles, that'll be enough." She wouldn't have the strength to carry a hundred bottles.
Guan Yuehe saw that there were still quite a few items on the shelves, so she told Chunmei to browse around some more and buy them later.
While browsing, Guan Yuehe said, "Right now, you can only buy it at Friendship Store. In about six months, you'll probably be able to buy it at department stores."
"Why? Do we import that much?"
"This Coca-Cola company is building a branch factory in Beijing, with an investment of nearly one million US dollars. If all goes well, it should be completed and put into production in April," Guan Yuehe said. "We'll buy some later and try it out first."
"If it doesn't taste good, would you still bring it to your family and friends?"
“I already promised them, it would be unreasonable not to bring them.”
Chunmei exposed her, saying, "If it doesn't taste good, you should bring it with you, right? You can't be the only one who drinks something that doesn't taste good."
Guan Yuehe covered her mouth and chuckled.
But if Xie Dongxue said it tasted good, then it couldn't possibly taste bad!
The two of them browsed the entire Friendship Store. There were some things that Guan Yuehe's eyes lit up when she saw them, but she couldn't afford them, so she took pictures of them with her camera.
She and Lin Yiku together earn a little over two hundred yuan a month. They can't afford it now, but if they save up, they'll be able to afford it sooner or later.
Thinking of this, Guan Yuehe asked Chunmei, "I didn't know how to ask before, are you still dating your ex?"
In her correspondence with her roommates, she rarely mentioned each other's relationship status, unless it was a major event like getting married or having children. Otherwise, she would almost never mention it, and even if she did, it would be just a few words before moving on.
"Huh? Why did this question suddenly come up?" Chunmei replied, "Our relationship is quite stable."
Guan Yuehe asked, "After you graduate, you're going to work at the Provincial Public Security Bureau's Exit-Entry Administration Department. Doesn't that mean you'll be staying in the provincial capital? You and your partner will be living apart?"
Chunmei was initially assigned to a county-level unit, but she pursued a master's degree so she could be with her boyfriend in the city. However, after graduating in July, she will be assigned to a provincial-level unit, meaning they will still be separated.
“I’ve talked to the organization, and the unit will consider the issue of family relocation. Once my job is stable and we get our marriage certificate, he will submit an application to transfer to a unit in the provincial capital.”
That's more like it.
In Guan Yuehe's opinion, if they were going to live apart, it would be better not to get married at all.
If Lin Yiku hadn't been transferred back, no matter how handsome he was, she wouldn't have been interested in him.
Having cleared up her doubts, Guan Yuehe didn't mention her boyfriend again and gave Chunmei twenty of the foreign exchange certificates she had.
"This is all I can give you. These coupons were exchanged for me by a friend, and I need to bring them back some more gifts."
Chunmei waved the twenty one-yuan foreign exchange certificates in her hand and said obsequiously, "I knew that following Xiao Guan would mean I'd be living a life of luxury!"
During college, Guan Yuehe's roommates all looked forward to her coming home because Yuehe always brought them food when she returned to school from home.
Chunmei exclaimed, "Really, Yuehe, your steamed buns are universally acknowledged as the best." She then gave a thumbs up.
Guan Yuehe also remarked, "During my two and a half years of university, I only received a salary but no ration coupons. Fortunately, you guys have ration coupons."
Back then, she would try to collect all the tickets her roommates had every month.
They could be said to be "thinking of" each other.
Chunmei and Guan Yuehe exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.
Guan Yuehe used the remaining foreign currency to buy thirty bottles of Coca-Cola, and then spent the rest on other food items.
Anything costing more than ten yuan is not within her consideration.
She's now hoping that the Friendship Store in Beijing will open to people across the country soon, so she won't have to worry about the Friendship Store in Guangzhou anymore.
—
The photographer's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he watched the two exceptionally tall women each carry out a case of Coke.
Since the Friendship Store became accessible with just foreign exchange certificates at the end of last year, he has seen many people exchange foreign currency to buy Coca-Cola to take home, but this is the first time he has seen two women buy a whole case of it.
If he remembered correctly, one of the women said she was from Beijing. It takes several days by train from Guangzhou to Beijing, and involves transfers. Didn't they find that troublesome?
Wouldn't it be better to go to the wholesale market and buy clothes, toys, and electronic watches?
When Guan Yuehe and Chunmei passed by him, they greeted him warmly, their faces beaming with the joy of a bountiful harvest.
They went back to the guesthouse to put their things away, and then each of them went out again with a bottle of Coke.
It was impossible to bring it back to Beijing to taste again; Guan Yuehe knew very well that she didn't have that much self-control.
Before she even left the guesthouse, she had already popped the bottle cap off, taken a small, tentative sip, smacked her lips a couple of times, and couldn't quite describe the taste.
"The taste is a bit strange." Chunmei also took a small sip first.
Guan Yuehe nodded, gulped down two mouthfuls, burped, and it seemed like a breath came out of her nose.
"It's a bit strange. Strangely delicious."
It was worth the trip; it was worth bringing all the way from Guangzhou back to Beijing.
Guan Yuehe didn't forget to go to the entrance of the guild hall to take a solo photo.
Chunmei also took photos, saying, "Remember to send me the photos when they're developed."
"I know." Chunmei reminded her several times today, as if afraid she would forget.
Guan Yuehe is not such an unreliable person!
After lunch, the two consulted a map and asked for directions, finally finding the industrial products market in Guangzhou that was built last October.
Although it's called an industrial products market, it actually includes clothing, shoes, hats, and other goods. The streets are lined with stalls, and people come and go.
Does Beijing have such a market?
Guan Yuehe thought about it carefully for a moment, then shook her head.
The market here only accepts cash, not coupons; cloth coupons and industrial coupons are not required. The appliance stalls have the most customers.
Chunmei said it was a pity, "I haven't reported to my workplace yet, and the housing allocation is still unresolved. If I buy big items now, I won't have anywhere to put them."
But who knows when I'll be able to come back to Guangzhou again?
Guan Yuehe wasn't disappointed; her family already had plenty of appliances. Besides, she thought she would be invited to participate in the Canton Fair again in the future.
You can't bring home appliances, but you can bring clothes and shoes for family and friends.
Chunmei followed behind Guan Yuehe, picking and choosing, then watched with surprise as Guan Yuehe skillfully bargained with the shopkeeper.
Guan Yuehe packed the items into her bag with satisfaction and said proudly, "I've gone to the black market with the old folks in our alley quite a few times, and I've managed to learn a little bit of their bargaining skills."
It really is just fur.
They had barely left when they overheard a woman haggling with the shop owner, offering a slightly lower price than them. But the owner retorted confidently, "She's buying more!"
"If only we had found someone who buys a lot and teamed up with them," Guan Yuehe sighed.
Chunmei laughed at her, "I thought you didn't care about the price."
After all, Xiao Guan spent a lot of money today, and he even had to count heads when buying things, so he seems to be a very generous person.
"Save where you can, spend where you can."
—
That evening, when Guan Yuehe returned to the guesthouse, she heard her roommate ask in shock, "Did you buy all of those?"
There was a small pile of things neatly placed on the floor of the room, including a case of cola and a package. Now Guan Yuehe had brought back another package.
Guan Yuehe glanced at them, nodded, and pointed to one of the packages, "This was a gift from my friend, and the rest I bought."
When Guan Yuehe said that she had gone out with friends the next morning, her roommate was shocked again.
Buy it again? Can you even take it back with you?
Guan Yuehe's roommate misunderstood; she had gone out early to find Chunmei so they could have breakfast together.
The Yunnan Province foreign trade delegation was scheduled to leave by train at 11 a.m., and they had to leave at least two hours earlier to get to the train station, leaving them with very little time to get together.
After Chunmei graduated and joined the Provincial Public Security Department, their work did not overlap much. The only way they could meet again was if they went to each other's cities on business trips.
But compared to their other university classmates, they are lucky to still be able to meet in Guangzhou at this time.
Suddenly, it was time to say goodbye.
The driver who was taking them to the train station urged, "Hurry up and get in the car!"
Chunmei carried large and small bags and a box of tightly bound Coca-Cola onto the bus. Just as she put the things down at her feet, the bus door closed and the bus started moving.
She leaned out of the car window and looked back; Yuehe was still standing there waving at her.
"Let's keep in touch by letter. See you next time, Yuehe!"
Then, Yuehe nodded with a pout, which made Chunmei so happy that tears almost welled up in her eyes.
The brief reunion unearthed long-forgotten memories of her university life. Chunmei felt as if she were still the spirited young woman of eighteen or nineteen, eager to achieve academic success and serve her country...
Although they talked about mundane things all day yesterday, she felt that they were still fellow learners working together and revolutionary partners with the same aspirations.
Sigh! Little Guan is right. We should live our lives as they come, and we shouldn't fall behind when it's time to study and improve.
Chunmei quickly composed herself and chatted with the classmates around her about what they had bought to take home.
—
After seeing Chunmei off, Guan Yuehe ran all the way back to the guesthouse; she hadn't even unpacked her luggage yet!
Guan Yuehe traveled with her colleagues from the foreign trade department. When she boarded the bus, she carried a case of Coke in one hand and two large duffel bags in the other. She walked briskly downstairs and headed straight for the bus that would take them to the train station.
Colleagues: "..."
That's impressive! No wonder he could swing a bicycle at a fugitive!
Once on the train, Guan Yuehe put her luggage on the luggage rack and helped her other colleagues, but she put her case of Coke on her berth.
She bought thirty bottles of Coke, a case of twenty-four. She drank one herself and put the remaining five separately in her pocket.
Although Guangzhou is far from Beijing, fortunately they were able to take a sleeper train and lie down all the way back.
On the way back, his colleagues held a meeting and also visited other carriages to chat with the companies exhibiting in Beijing.
Unfortunately, half of the Zhuoyue Garment Factory's exhibition team returned to Beijing yesterday, while the other half remained in Guangzhou to make other arrangements.
Looking at the scenery that kept receding, Guan Yuehe felt somewhat lost.
She was away for a whole month, participating in negotiations for an automotive joint venture project in Shanghai, and then going to Guangzhou to handle contract signing negotiations. She met new friends and saw old colleagues and friends, and visited the Friendship Store...
The auto show was held in the first phase, which she missed. Otherwise, she might have met the Five Star Automobile Factory's exhibition group, and perhaps even Zhang Xinbi and Guo Xusheng.
She had heard Zhang Xinbi mention the Friendship Store when she first attended the Canton Fair.
She actually went into and spent money at places that seemed unattainable back then.
Guan Yuehe smiled as she looked out the car window.
The Coke we bring back must include a portion for both teachers Zhang Xinbi and Guo Xusheng!
The female colleague in the opposite bunk was puzzled when she saw Guan Yuehe covering up the Coke bottles with her belongings.
Guan Yuehe was too embarrassed to tell the truth: the train ride was so boring that she couldn't help but want to eat and drink.
—
Guan Yuehe got off the car and followed the company vehicle back. The driver took a detour to drop her off near Changhu Street.
She had only taken two steps when someone called out to her from behind: "Sister Yuehe".
Looking back, I saw Wu Jiawang riding his tricycle to collect recyclables.
What a coincidence.
Guan Yuehe put her things in his truck bed and said, "Give me a ride."
Wu Jiawang said "oh," and seeing that she only asked him to carry her luggage and not her people, he deliberately sped up, wanting to leave her behind and get revenge for what happened when they were children.
When he stopped in front of the gate of Courtyard No. 1, and was about to smile smugly, Guan Yuehe behind him said quietly, "You ride your bike pretty fast."
Wu Jiawang scratched his head and remained silent. He wanted to get out of the car to help move things, but when he looked, he saw that Guan Yuehe could move everything herself in one trip.
Before Guan Yuehe even stepped into Courtyard No. 1, the elderly men and women at the entrance of the alley gathered around her.
"What good things did Yuehe bring back this time?"
"Oh! It's Coca-Cola! Old Lu from the purchasing department brought back two bottles from the Canton Fair this time. He said it can only be bought at the Friendship Store."
"Old Lu also brought back a color TV, no ticket required. Yuehe, didn't you bring one?"
Guan Yuehe felt as if multiple loudspeakers were blaring simultaneously around her.
It was the Ginkgo Alley she knew well.
Author's Note: [Laughs out loud]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
