Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Two-thirds romance. …
"We are all from the same compound. For Chong Feng's sake, it's no problem for me to teach your master how to make a sweet bread."
Li Jiankang just smiled when Liang Xin said, "But bread is not like steamed buns. The recipe cannot be changed. If important leaders criticize the bread of civil aviation, it means that they must have eaten better bread on flights from other countries. I told you the recipe of the bread that did not fall apart before. If important leaders visit abroad and eat better bread, what should we do then?"
Li Jiankang's expression paused and his brows furrowed.
He is a manager and doesn't know much about food technology and marketing issues.
"yes!"
Lu Yueji said hurriedly, "I've never eaten the bread made by my second sister-in-law before. I thought the square bread we bought in the store was very high-end and delicious. It was only after I went to the 11th Master Bakery and tried the jam bread that I realized there was such a delicious bread!"
Liang Xin nodded, "Besides, the original bread was actually the result of a long period of hard work by all the employees in our bakery. We failed again and again, and innovated again and again. We wasted a lot of raw materials provided by the 11th Division's logistics department. These raw materials are all very precious flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. I can teach you once for the sake of the compound and the charge. I can't always treat everyone's joint efforts as a personal favor and teach you for free."
"Of course it can't be free!"
Lu Yueji hurriedly said, "Even if it's just one lesson, it can't be free. The aviation food factory has to pay for it!"
"I don't know much about food production lines. After hearing what my sister-in-law said, I thought it was too simple."
Li Jiankang said apologetically, "It was an emergency, so I came all the way from Beijing. How about this, sister-in-law? You are already a junior, and you will be doing an internship soon, right? I will ask the factory to make an assignment plan and submit it to the State Education Commission, and let your school assign you to work in our factory. How about that?"
"How can that be possible!"
Lu Yueji said, "My mother was very worried when my second sister-in-law went to the 11th Division. She thought she would suffer there. She didn't know anyone in Beijing. I know the factory conditions and accommodation conditions very well. They are not good. Besides, my second sister-in-law is already the director of the bakery in the 11th Division. If she goes to work in your place... you are so bold!"
"Don't worry about the conditions. As long as my sister-in-law goes there, she will be given a room and salary according to the cadre conditions..."
"Healthy man."
Liang Xin interrupted him, "It's not realistic to go to work. I think, why don't we sign a joint production and marketing cooperation agreement with your airline food factory? We produce good bread and supply it to you at a 40% discount from the factory price of the supply and marketing system. Do you think it's okay?"
Li Jiankang was stunned, his brows furrowed again, and he said nothing.
"The country plans to build special economic zones and promote reform and opening up. I think in a few years, not only Hong Kong businessmen will come here to invest and set up factories, but entrepreneurs from developed countries around the world will come to our country to set up factories."
Liang Xin said, "Batches of international students are sent abroad, and batches of foreign students are exchanged to our country. The domestic and international routes of civil aviation must be the fastest growing in the industry. International flights represent the face of our country. If you cooperate with our bakery, the bread standards and quality level of international routes will not lag behind other countries. The joint production and sales contract starts with one year. If you are not satisfied with the bread, you can replace us at any time when the cooperation period expires. The initiative is in your hands."
"Brother Jiankang, our art troupe has been to so many places and eaten so many Western pastries, but none of them are as delicious as my second sister-in-law's."
Lu Yueji chimed in, "Besides, the most important thing about airplane meals is food safety. My second sister-in-law's bakery has all workers who are military dependents, and all the raw materials come from the Jiangkou base. My second sister-in-law just had the division set up a bakery!"
Li Jiankang's brows relaxed. "It's not that I don't trust my sister-in-law, it's just that... the shelf life of bread is not long. It takes at least one day to get from Jiangkou Base to Jiangjing, and another two days from Jiangjing to Beijing..."
Liang Xin was about to say that she would open a bakery in Jiangjing, but she immediately changed her mind and said, "We can open a branch bakery in Beijing right away."
Li Jiankang's eyes showed surprise: "Really? You went there in person? Can the bread you make meet the high quality standards without falling apart?"
"I can go there, but our masters are all veterans who have experienced hard work. After I came to Jiangjing to study, the level of Shili Bakery has remained the same as before, and there has never been a problem with the taste being wrong."
Liang Xin said: "Besides, the initiative is in your hands. If it's really wrong, you can change the supplier at any time."
"If you can really open a bakery in Beijing, I will sign a three-year joint production and marketing cooperation agreement with you!"
Li Jiankang added, "But before signing the cooperation agreement, you must first provide a kind of bread to the factory. The factory office can only sign it after a unanimous approval at the meeting."
"Of course."
Liang Xin hesitated.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
Li Jiankang was happy to have solved a big problem that had been weighing on his mind, and took the initiative to ask, "Is there anything I can help you with? If you have any difficulties, just tell me. We are all family outside the compound, so don't be polite."
"I'm not familiar with Beijing, and the bakery's facade and equipment..."
"I'm familiar with this, don't worry, I'll find it all for you as soon as I get back!"
“And there’s money…”
Liang Xin hesitated and said, "All the money of the 11th Division has been invested in the pharmaceutical factory, leaving only 10,000 yuan for the bakery. I originally wanted to open the bakery in Jiang Jing first..."
Li Jiankang paused and said, "It won't cost much to rent a storefront and a production workshop. As for the equipment, I'll send it to you from the factory. The bread they make is not good anyway. When the cooperation starts and you have money in your account, you can pay us back at the price of the second-hand machines."
Liang Xin smiled, "Brother Jiankang, thank you so much!"
"What are you thanking me for? Once we leave the compound, we are all family, and family members have to help each other. I appreciate your kindness in teaching us the techniques without saying anything just now."
Li Jiankang said, "You should prepare to go to Beijing as soon as possible and open the bakery as soon as possible. The relevant regulations of the Special Administrative Region will be promulgated soon. Once the policy is promulgated, Hong Kong businessmen will immediately sign a lease agreement and start building a factory. So we are very anxious here and cannot be criticized by the leaders again, otherwise our food factory will have to be replaced."
"Don't worry, I will go there myself."
Liang Xin pointed at the aluminum lunch box on the dining table and said, "Brother Jiankang, would you like to eat something here?"
"No."
Li Jiankang waved his hand and said, "I rushed here as soon as I got off the train. I haven't returned home yet. I'm going home to eat. Remember to serve snacks as soon as possible!"
Lu Yueji went and brought back two more meals.
"Sister-in-law, I didn't expect your bakery would be opened in the capital in such a short time!"
Liang Xin picked up a piece of bean curd and put it in her mouth. "Thank you."
"Why thank me? He is actually not familiar with me. He is the best friend of the eldest brother. He has always played with the eldest and second brothers since he was a child, and never played with me."
Lu Yueji carried the lunch box and did not stay in the cafeteria to eat, "Second sister-in-law, I'm going to the library to deliver lunch to Brother Heping!"
Liang Xin ate her meal slowly, thinking about the staffing arrangements for the bakery.
I haven't decided on a name for the bakery yet.
The bakery shop decoration also needs a final plan.
Back in the classroom, the monitor arranged a research and discussion meeting on the rural contract responsibility system of the Anhui Daily for each group.
Liang Xin was halfway through the meeting when she heard someone was looking for her at the school gate.
From a distance, I could recognize that the people standing at the school gate were my eldest and second brothers.
"Xinzi, your university gate looks more imposing than the commune school."
The second brother was holding a snakeskin bag in his hand and looking at the words "Jiangjing University" on the door with a curious look.
Liang Xin took out a camera from her army green messenger bag, "Brother, can I take a picture of you?"
The second brother immediately straightened his back, grabbed a handful of hair, stood at the school gate, bared his teeth and asked Liang Xin to take a picture.
My eldest brother couldn't help but took a picture as well.
Then, the two brothers took a photo together.
Liang Xin put away the camera and asked, "Brother, what are you doing in the provincial capital?"
"Didn't you tell us to form a suona band that has been handed down from our ancestors?" The second brother followed Liang Xin, carrying a snakeskin bag. "The commune helped us get a business license from the county. We went to the county musical instrument store and found that they didn't have any, so we came to the provincial capital's traditional musical instrument store to have a look."
Liang Xin thought for a moment and looked at her elder brother: "Is the money enough?"
"Enough, you don't have to worry about this."
Liang Ming said: "We have saved money ourselves. Last time you brought back so much pork, we didn't eat it, we sold it to the supply and marketing cooperative. After the policy was relaxed last year, we raised ten more chickens and ducks. Before coming to Jiangjing, we also sold them to the recycling station. Now there are only me and your second brother, as well as your uncle and his fifth son Xiaoliu. That's enough."
"If it's not enough, Xinzi can add some more."
The second brother looked at Liang Xin and said, "This is a side job. Maybe I can earn back the money in a year and pay you back."
"No need for you to add more."
The eldest brother hurriedly said, "Just live your life well. You married into a wealthy family. We in your family can't help you, nor will we hold you back or make you lose face in your family."
The second brother was stunned for a moment, "That makes sense, then forget it, if it's not enough, just buy two less."
Liang Xin: "...Are you two playing a double act?"
"No!"
The eldest brother was anxious and was about to speak, but Liang Xin pointed at the bus and said, "Hurry up and get on the bus."
The two followed Liang Xin into the car, and then they remembered to ask Liang Xin where she was going.
"Let's go to the house for dinner."
The eldest brother blushed immediately, "Go, go, go to the general's house?"
"Keep your voice down!"
The second brother looked around at the people on the bus and said, "We just brought you some wild wolfberries and salted duck eggs. Can you go like this?"
Liang Xin found an empty seat and sat down. "You didn't come here specially. You just came to Jiangjing for business. It's not necessary to have a simple meal at home."
"Xinzi is different after all."
The second brother smiled and said, "It's so natural to go to the general's house for a simple meal."
The eldest brother smiled honestly, "It means Xinzi is living well in her husband's family, but we can't just come to her house like this. We can't embarrass you. When we get to the station, we'll go to the store to buy some things before coming to her house."
Liang Xin: "You need tickets to buy anything in the stores in Jiangjing. You can't buy anything with the tickets issued by the commune supply and marketing cooperative."
Big brother: “….”
Second brother: “….”
Liang Ming and Liang De followed Liang Xin all the way into the military compound, and they didn't dare to look around.
When they walked into the General's Building and saw Chief Lu who had just come home for lunch, they both had difficulty breathing.
"Dad, Mom, these are my eldest and second brothers from my mother's side."
Hu Fenglian exclaimed, "Oh!" and hurriedly welcomed the two people. "Hurry up and sit down and take a rest. Xiao Shi, quickly braise the rooster. Lao Lu, call Xiao Zao and ask if there are any ready-made dishes that can be delivered!"
Chief Lu did not let the guard make the call. He walked to the phone, picked up the receiver, and was about to dial.
The second brother hurriedly said, "Uncle, no need, we just came to see you, just eat whatever is available at home."
"Yes, yes, let's have a quick meal."
The eldest brother didn't expect that the younger sister's in-laws would be so nice.
"How can we have a quick meal? Please sit down and I will make you some tea."
Hu Fenglian walked into the house, and when she came out, she not only placed two cups of tea in front of Liang Ming and Liang De, but also gave each of them a red envelope.
The two were so scared that they quickly stood up and waved their hands.
Liang Xin hadn't expected this to happen, so she walked over to stop him, "Mom, my eldest brother and second brother's children are already grown up, so they don't need it."
"Then consider it as a greeting gift for the children."
Hu Fenglian stuffed the red envelopes into their pockets and said, "This is your first time visiting us. This is a token of our gratitude as elders. We cannot refuse."
Chief Lu had already made the call and asked the two to accept the red envelopes. He then took the initiative to bring up the topic of the rural contract responsibility system.
When talking about this, the eldest brother was no longer nervous. "The commune held several meetings to discuss the household contract responsibility system, but many members were confused and didn't understand it clearly. Several brigades in the commune opposed this, so it hasn't been accomplished yet."
"be opposed to?"
Chief Lu asked, "Why do you object?"
"If the household contract responsibility system is implemented, the situation will turn into the same as before liberation, with everyone being a landlord. There will no longer be a collective economy, and members will no longer listen to the collective."
My eldest brother didn’t really understand what the household contract responsibility system was, so he just said what he knew: “My dad said that this household contract responsibility system was actually implemented ten years ago, but it was criticized in the end, so it’s a bad trend. Once it’s implemented, it’s the path of capitalism, and we must resolutely oppose it.”
Chief Lu had little patience with Lu Chongfeng, but was very kind to Liang Ming and Liang De. He patiently explained, "It's normal to have such thoughts. You young people are quick-witted and well-read. You should explain to the older generation of village cadres that the contract responsibility system is a red-headed document issued by the province and a policy that was recognized in the Anhui Daily. The contract responsibility system only changed the original remuneration system based on output to household distribution. The land is still collective and its public nature has not changed. It is still guaranteed to the state, with enough left for the collective, and the rest is yours."
Liang Xin saw that his elder and second brothers obviously didn't understand, so he interrupted and said, "In the past, the brigade distributed all the land to the production team. The members were lazy every day, playing cards and sewing shoe soles as soon as they started working, but they all took good care of their own private plots. The land was distributed to each household, and they would definitely not be lazy like they were in the production team. The more they worked, the more they got, and they had the final say on how much they got. Some of them wanted to be lazy and asked others to do the work. They would not only starve to death, but also owe money to the state and the collective. Therefore, the policy of contracting the land to each household was to fully mobilize the labor enthusiasm of the members, and treat the collective land as their own private plots and work hard with all their heart."
"So this is what the big contract responsibility system means!"
The eldest brother finally understood the true meaning of the official document issued by the commune. "This is definitely better than before. No one in the whole brigade can explain this clearly. After all, they are generals and college students. I understand it as soon as they say it. So if we do this, we will not be arrested?"
Liang Xin said to Chief Lu: "No, the sooner you divide the wealth, the sooner you will get rich. There is already a precedent in Xiaogang Village in Anhui. It won't be long before the whole country's rural areas will implement the policy of contracting the production to the whole family."
"I'll go back and tell Dad right now!"
The eldest brother stood up and said, "I told you long ago that we should tell Xinzi and let her come back to explain this matter, but Dad refused."
Liang Xin naturally knew why her father, who was obsessed with officials, refused to do so. "Brother, you haven't bought your musical instrument yet."
"Oh, yes."
The eldest brother sat down again, "I haven't bought the musical instrument yet."
Chief Lu continued to ask what musical instrument to buy.
“Eat first, let the children eat, and talk while eating.”
Hu Fenglian invited the whole family to the table for dinner.
During the lunch break, Liang Xin accompanied her elder and second brothers to a traditional Chinese musical instrument store to select musical instruments such as suona, sheng, gong, cymbals, and erhu.
After making their selection, they emptied their pockets from top to bottom, but were still twenty-six short of the total price.
The eldest brother was about to put the drum back when Liang Xin reminded him, "Didn't you just receive two red envelopes as a welcome gift?"
"How much money can there be in the red envelope? We still need twenty-six..."
The eldest brother's words were suddenly cut off when the second brother took out the red envelope. He said in disbelief: "Ten yuan?!"
Liang Xin guessed that the bag wouldn't be too little, so she took out another ten yuan from her wallet and handed it over.
The eldest brother hurriedly said, "Six dollars is enough."
Liang Xin said, "Six pieces, you guys plan to walk back?"
The eldest brother took the money and said, "We have to work hard now. If we do a good job, we can send more things to Jiangjing!"
Liang Xin took out the ticket and went to the department store to weigh out some assorted candies and White Rabbit milk candies, and asked the two to take them back home to feed their children. She also wanted to send them to the long-distance bus station.
Her eldest and second brothers asked her to go back to school quickly.
Liang Xin is fine.
Before the holiday, Liang Xin followed Sister Fang Xin to take a look at a storefront next to the city center cinema, which used to be a state-owned grain store.
Located at the crossroads in the center of Jiangjing City, opposite the cinema is the old department store and the new department store to be built. The location is excellent.
"How much is the rent?"
"The first and second floors and the backyard are rented for the entire property for 600 yuan a year." Sister Fang Xin looked at Liang Xin's reaction and said, "This place is really good. The two floors and the backyard together cover 200 to 300 square meters. It was just returned to the descendants of the capitalists. The asking price is ridiculously high, but I heard that the other party is a college student and he judged that this location will soon soar according to the country's reform and opening-up policy. Even so, he is only willing to sign a one-year contract. No self-employed person can afford this price."
Liang Xin was very satisfied after finishing the rotation and said, "Call the people over."
Sister Fang Xin was surprised and ran out immediately: "Okay, you go to my shop and wait, I'll ride my bike to her house!"
Liang Xin had just walked back to Fang Xin's shop and sat down when she saw a familiar-looking person riding a bicycle towards her.
"Liang Xin?"
Qian Shuyao walked in with surprise, "Are you the one who wants to rent a storefront?"
Liang Xin was stunned for a rare moment, "Yours?"
"Yes!" Qian Shuyao said happily, "You will be assigned an internship soon. Once you are assigned by the Political Economy Department, you will definitely be a state cadre in a key unit. Why did you suddenly want to be a self-employed person?"
"It's not just me who does it. The bakery in the division has opened a branch."
Liang Xin smiled and said, "What a coincidence. Let's talk about the contract, shall we?"
"Wait a moment."
Qian Shuyao pulled the housekeeper in the arm and said, "Please change the price in the contract to 200 yuan a year for... five years."
Liang Xin was about to speak.
Qian Shuyao turned around and said, "I have already applied to study abroad at my own expense. I am particularly worried about leaving the shop to someone else. You can just help me look after the house."
"I am indeed short of money, and I am also worried that the bakery has been renovated and it will be very troublesome if the landlord changes his mind."
Liang Xin said, "But let's be honest, the money should be paid. I am already very grateful to my classmates for giving me face by signing for five years."
"You are more than just a classmate in my heart."
Qian Shuyao has always wanted to thank Liang Xin, but has also always felt guilty about silently taking advantage of Liang Xin's protection and about this friendship. Now she finally has a chance to repay her.
Qian Shuyao said, "I feel comfortable signing this way. Five years later, we will sign the market price based on what the price is here. If you still don't agree, I won't rent it to you."
Liang Xin was touched and thanked him repeatedly.
After finding a shop, he returned to the 11th Division.
As soon as I opened the passenger door of the military vehicle, I saw a bunch of red plum blossoms placed on the passenger seat.
Liang Xin was stunned.
Lu Chongfeng stood behind and asked, "Does it look good?"
Looking at the clusters of red plum blossoms blooming on the branches, with the faint fragrance filling her nose, Liang Xin nodded, "It looks good."
Lu Chongfeng held the car door with one hand and said, "Get in the car first and go home."
Liang Xin picked up the red plum blossoms, sat in the passenger seat, lowered her head to smell the fragrance of the plum blossoms, and looked at Lu Chongfeng who was sitting in the driver's seat, "Why did you suddenly think of picking me up with flowers?"
"What I want most is to pick you up at the campus gate with flowers."
Lu Chongfeng started the car and drove the military car away from the train station. "It's a pity that I can't leave. I can only pick you up at the train station with flowers."
Liang Xin: "...I mean, why did you suddenly think of bringing flowers?"
"romantic!"
Lu Chongfeng held the steering wheel with both hands. "The Parliament of Birds by Geoffrey Chaucer, a 14th-century English poet, describes birds choosing mates on February 14. Westerners were influenced by this and have since regarded flowers as silent love letters, sending them to their loved ones."
Liang Xin looked at the flowers in her hand and thought the red plum blossoms were even more beautiful. "Have you started reading books about love recently?"
"I said last time that I wanted to study. Books on this subject are hard to find. I specifically asked Zheng Xiaojun to send me relevant books, but I can only read them at night when I have time."
Lu Chongfeng held Liang Xin's hand instead. "The West sent red roses. I haven't found any nearby commune flower gardens that grow red roses. During yesterday's training, I saw red plum blossoms in the mountains. The color red is related to the word "mei". Although "mei" is not the same as "mei" in "rose", the homophony can be considered related. "Red plum" has one less character than "red rose". Taken together, it is two-thirds romantic. How many points can the leaders give me for my learning achievements?"
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