Chapter 94

Cheng Zheng was speechless after being lectured by his wife. What else could he do? He could only go along with her.

Cheng Zheng, who was worried, told her to be careful and alert to strangers. Most importantly, "After you move into the guesthouse, ask for their front desk phone number and call me when the time comes. Remember to notify me if anything happens."

"I know, I know." Jian Lu was just going along with it now, agreeing to whatever her man said. "Captain Cheng, don't worry, we will definitely go there and come back safely!"

"Forget it, let's do this. I have a comrade over there. I knew him when I was in the military academy. You can write down his address and name. If anything happens, I can find someone to help me if I can't come over in time."

It's no wonder Cheng Zheng is worried. Although his wife has always been independent, it's still worrying for two lesbians to go away. Some people with bad intentions or human traffickers may target single lesbians.

"I'll call Lao He in a minute and have him pick you up."

Jian Lu: “…!”

It seems unnecessary to make such a fuss.

He asked hesitantly, "Isn't this a bad idea?"

Cheng Zhengsi said bluntly, "What's the big deal? We are all comrades, so let's not dwell on that."

Jian Lu seemed to understand their comradeship a little bit, which was sometimes like family ties. Previously, Cheng Zheng took her to the train station to help his comrade pick up a family that came with the army, and helped take care of everything, running around.

When his comrade came back, there was no extra words between the two of them. They understood each other with just one look. It was all in their hearts. Oh, no, it was all in the wine.

"Okay, I'll remember it all." Jian Lu actually missed home too, and she didn't know whether she was comforting him or herself, "I'll be back in a week at most, remember to tell Shuangshuang."

After a week, Cheng Zheng hung up the phone and kept muttering, "You'll have a long way to go."

While thinking about it, Cheng Zheng suddenly found that there seemed to be a burning gaze staring at his face from the left.

He looked over suddenly, his sharp eyes were firm and sharp, like a steel knife with a sharp blade. The operator Xiao Wang straightened his back instantly, looked at Captain Cheng, nodded and smiled.

I just muttered in my heart, this is the Captain Cheng I know, the person on the phone just now must be fake!

——

After Jian Lu hung up the phone, she carried her wicker suitcase and headed for the train station.

It was early July, the height of summer, the air was hot, the ground was scalding from the sun, pedestrians were hurrying along the street, some were wearing cloth shoes that had come apart, with half of the upper and sole separated. As they walked, their toes came into close contact with the scalding ground, making them shiver, and they quickly bent their toes and hid them back in their cloth shoes.

The ragged little man bent down, straightened his torn cloth shoes, put them on hastily, and when he straightened up again, he saw a young female comrade walking towards him not far away.

This female comrade was wearing a pink shirt with a ruffled collar, a pair of black tight-waisted trousers, and a pair of black leather shoes. The uppers were shiny and looked well-maintained.

Kong Liu also knew what goods were. He could tell at a glance that the outfit was not simple, costing no less than fifty yuan in a department store, and few people could dress so fashionably.

However, the outfit she wore was not the most eye-catching thing. What was more eye-catching was that the girl was also good-looking.

All the women Kong Liu had seen in his life were not as beautiful as this one. She was really an eye-catcher. And with that outfit, who could not take a second look at her?

Spitting out the straw in his mouth, Kong Liu quickly walked towards the people, but saw a woman appear in front of him who had taken the lead.

The two seemed to know each other. After meeting, they chatted and laughed for a few words, and then walked into the train station hand in hand.

"Hey, comrade!" Kong Liu trotted over and whispered, "Wait a moment."

Jian Lu saw a ragged man approaching in a mysterious manner, looking around from time to time, and she immediately became alert.

Could it be that just as Cheng Zheng was worried, he met someone with bad intentions?

Jian Lu is a very cautious person, especially when she sees this man pretending to be mysterious. No one would think that he is serious.

"Sister Xiujuan, let's go."

It's best not to waste time talking to him.

"Hey, female comrade, don't go, I have something to tell you!" Kong Liu walked closer and took a look at the person and was even more shocked. She was so beautiful!

"What are you doing?" Cai Xiujuan also noticed that this man was not right. He dodged and looked away from time to time, just like a scoundrel. "If you do this again, we will call the police!"

"Don't worry." Kong Liu knew that he was not in a good mood, so he took something out of his pocket and handed it to her while lowering his voice, "Do you want a watch?"

It turns out he was just speculating!

Jian Lu glanced at the watch in his hand. It was small and exquisite, with a few English letters on the back. It was a very famous watch brand in later generations. Logically speaking, this watch now should be very expensive and be considered a collector's item in later generations.

"Where did you get this watch?" It was indeed the value of the watch that did not match the man's outfit.

Kong Liu smiled and tried to distance himself from the matter. "I didn't steal it or rob it. My father bought it. Now that my family is in a bad condition, he asked me to sell it to earn some money."

As soon as Jian Lu heard it, she knew he was not telling the truth. "Forget it, go find someone else."

Seeing Jian Lu was about to leave, Kong Liu knew that this person was not easy to fool. Judging from the clothes, it was obvious that she could afford to spend money, so he quickly stopped her and said, "Okay, let me put it this way. This is something that a factory leader I know asked me to sell. You know that we can't do anything now, and it's not convenient for people to show up, so we have to ask around on the street. This watch is a foreign product. You know what foreign products are? It's expensive, and the watch is beautiful. If I had money, I would wear it myself. But now, I don't have money."

"Why are you thinking of selling it to me? I already have a watch." Jian Lu couldn't tell whether this was true or not.

Kong Liu glanced at the watch on Jian Lu's wrist. It was also quite exquisite. However, most people couldn't afford the watches he sold at the price he paid, so he could only look for those who looked rich.

"You look extraordinary, you are pretty and energetic, you deserve this watch. You should wear two watches alternately, on the first and fifteenth of the month. Besides, I can't just sell it to anyone. There are so many people on the street, no one else can match it! It would be a waste if I gave the watch to someone else!"

Kong Liu was not good-looking, but he was very eloquent. He praised Jian Lu without sounding fawning. However, Jian Lu didn't buy his words.

"Forget it, I'm not interested in watches." She felt that this man was still not telling the truth.

"Hey, comrade! Don't go. We can negotiate the price. How about ninety? Sixty is the lowest price!"

Nowadays, watches in department stores cost more than a hundred yuan, and you need a ticket. Kong Liu thinks his price is reasonable, but still not many people can afford it.

Jian Lu stopped and looked at Kong Liu in disbelief. This watch was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future. The global production was not high. Jian Lu knew about it from the news. She sighed at the time and said that this watch could pay the down payment for a house. Who would have thought that someone would sell it to her for only 60 yuan? !

"Sixty is OK? I see you like this watch too. Come on, take it!"

Jian Lu didn't want to buy it. It was obvious at first glance that this man couldn't possibly own this watch, yet he hid the origin of the watch from her. If there was anything behind the watch, she would be implicated.

"Forget it. You didn't explain clearly how you got this watch. I'm worried there might be something wrong with it. You should find another buyer."

"Hey, I told you!" Kong Liu wanted to fool her, but when he saw Jian Lu's shrewd look, he shut up immediately, sighed, and finally told the origin of the watch.

"Forget it, we are all honest people, so let's not hide it. I picked up this watch."

“Picked it up?” Cai Xiujuan didn’t quite believe it. How could such a good watch be picked up?

"I'm not lying." Kong Liu was a dry-mouthed man who got easily angry when he was anxious. His words came out like machine gun fire. "I picked it up from the garbage dump outside the guesthouse. Don't worry if you laugh at me. We often go out to find some food and daily necessities. Those who live in the guesthouse are just wasting money. They don't want to throw away such good things. It's not a bargain for us! I was lucky to pick up this watch. Let me make it clear first, we won't steal or rob, and we won't do those dirty things!"

The more he listened, the more mysterious it became. Jian Lu asked him, "This is a foreign watch. How can you find it in a guesthouse here?"

"No, what I said is true!" Seeing that neither of them believed him, Kong Liu was eager to prove himself and took out a booklet and a pen from his trouser pocket. "Look, this is wrapped together with the watch. It must have been taken away accidentally. I can't read. I didn't want to keep the watch after I picked it up. If I returned it, the owner of the watch would definitely give me some thank-you fee. But the people in the guesthouse said that he was a foreigner and he would not come again! I had no choice but to sell it."

Jian Lu looked at the booklet and immediately turned to look at Cai Xiujuan. They both realized that they also had a copy of the booklet. It was a brochure for the National Commodities Fair to be held in early July. The title page was an invitation letter with the names of the participants. Cai Xiujuan did not know English, but Jian Lu knew Sam and Mary.

Judging from the appearance, it is most likely that they are foreigners who came to investigate investment and accidentally lost their invitation letter and watch. Thinking of this, the watch becomes useful.

"Okay, I'll take the watch." Jian Lu thought it through and took out a hundred yuan from her pocket and gave it to Kong Liu. "Maybe I can meet the owner of the watch and return it to her. This money is her way of thanking you for picking up the watch."

Happiness came too suddenly. Kong Liu was stunned. One hundred yuan? Ten big reunion tickets? !

"So many?"

"Take it, but give me this booklet and pen. I will return them later."

"Come on, take it!"

Jian Lu handed the money over, took the watch, wrapped it in a handkerchief and put it in her bag, then took another look at the man and thought he was a natural salesman. She asked his name and found out that his home was nearby, then went to the train station.

"Lulu, you spent a hundred dollars to buy a watch?" Cai Xiujuan was puzzled.

"Take it to City Z, maybe it will be useful to us." Jian Lu told her about the development direction in the next few years. "Now that reform and opening up have been implemented, there will be a lot of foreign investment in the future. If we can sign foreign orders, our business line will be taken to the next level."

Cai Xiujuan was completely confused. Want to do business with foreigners?

Jian Lu knew that in her previous life, Cai Xiujuan's pearl industry was huge and one of the best in the country, but she had never opened up the overseas market. This was because she did not have such a long-term vision at the beginning, and by the time she realized what was happening, there was no chance for her to break in anymore.

"Yes, we have to develop business both at home and abroad." However, everything has to wait until Cai Xiujuan opens a private farm. Now it is all public, which makes things very inconvenient.

The two got on the green train, slept all night listening to the clanging sounds, and arrived in City Z on the afternoon of the third day.

City Z is located in the east-central part of China and is at the forefront of economic development. The streets are lined with tall buildings, and the clothing of passers-by has shed nearly half of the blue-gray and black tones and is moving towards bright and fashionable colors and styles.

Cheng Zheng's comrade He Feng was standing at the entrance of the train station, wearing an olive green military uniform, very eye-catching, and next to him was his wife.

"Is it my sister-in-law?"

"Brother He, sister-in-law, I'm Jian Lu." Jian Lu greeted everyone and introduced Cai Xiujuan to them.

He Feng was the deputy commander of a nearby garrison unit. He was half a year older than Cheng Zheng. The two met at the military academy and even shared a dormitory. They were roommates for half a year, so naturally they had a great relationship.

"It's a pity that Lao Cheng didn't come with us this time. I was hoping to have a drink with him."

Jian Lu heard from Cheng Zheng that this guy can drink a lot. "He can't leave. You will definitely have a chance to drink with him later."

He Feng is familiar with the area. The day before yesterday, he received a call from Cheng Zheng and asked about the address of the trade fair. He then helped Cheng Zheng book a room in the nearest guesthouse in advance.

"There must be no rooms available at this time. It's just right for you two ladies to stay in one room."

Jian Lu and Cai Xiujuan showed their household registration certificates, introduction letters and invitations to the trade fair before they checked in. Jian Lu put away her luggage and immediately spent money to call her family at the front desk to let them know she was safe, and asked Cheng Zheng to write down the phone number here.

After finishing her work, Jian Lu looked at the two of them and said, "Brother He, sister-in-law, thank you. Otherwise, we would have to live farther away."

He Feng didn't care at all and took the two of them to eat at a state-owned restaurant. When paying the grain coupons and money, he didn't say anything about asking Jian Lu to pay.

"Jian Lu, don't argue with him. It doesn't make sense for him to ask you to pay." He Feng's wife quickly pushed Jian Lu's hand away.

He Feng then calmly handed the money and ticket to the waiter, and turned back to look at Jian Lu, "If you pay today, I will be embarrassed to see Lao Cheng next time."

Jian Lu withdrew her hand and did not force it anymore.

At the dinner table, He Feng and his wife introduced the situation of City Z to the two of them, including where there were most supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores, which street had the most people living on, and where the factories were located. They covered every aspect in detail.

"You can also walk around here when you have time. It's quite different from your island."

"Okay, we must make time to take a look." Jian Lu also brought a camera.

After dinner, He Feng and his wife sent the two back to the guesthouse before leaving. Before leaving, they specifically told them the address of their local unit so that they could come to them if there was anything urgent.

Cai Xiujuan has not been worried since she got off the train. She only sighed, "They have such a good relationship as comrades."

"Yes, almost like a brother."

After eating and drinking, the two walked into the lobby of the guesthouse and met an old acquaintance on the sofa in the lobby.

Yang Binghua arrived in City Z at around five o'clock this afternoon. He could only book a room in a guesthouse two kilometers away. After asking around, he didn't see Cai Xiujuan's name, so he came over to this guesthouse to have a look.

As a result, I found out the names of Cai Xiujuan and Jian Lu who registered, but I never saw them.

"You two left as soon as you arrived?"

"Mr. Yang, long time no see. We went out for dinner." Jian Lu hadn't seen Yang Binghua for a long time. Now she found that he was much more easy-going. Before, he liked to put on a stern face, with the arrogance and old-fashionedness of an intellectual technician. "Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten, Comrade Jian Lu. I heard that you were admitted to university? Congratulations."

"Thank you, Mr. Yang."

Yang Binghua learned that the two were entrusted by Jian Lu's husband, so he felt relieved to arrange for his comrades to help. "It's easier to get things done with acquaintances. We live far away."

"I am also enjoying the good life with Lulu."

After a few pleasantries, the three of them started discussing the trade fair to be held the day after tomorrow in the lobby of the guesthouse.

"This is the largest commodity exhibition in the country. Product samples from all walks of life will be sent here. For example, there are three companies that cultivate pearls. By the way, how are the pearls you brought?"

Cai Xiujuan had a small flannel bag in her bag. She thought it was not easy to go out, and it would be convenient for someone to see the pearls, so she immediately opened the bag and took out more than ten pearls and spread them on her palm.

"Mr. Yang, these are the best pearls we have cultivated in recent years. Take a look!" Cai Xiujuan was proud when she talked about this. After all, she was the one who cultivated them day by day.

Yang Binghua picked up a pearl from Cai Xiujuan's palm, and found that this pearl was more translucent than the one he saw last time, and its texture, color and gloss were all excellent.

"You guys did a great job on this, it's not inferior to the one in City E."

City E is located in the basin of China's largest freshwater lake and has the most unique conditions for cultivating pearls. However, pearl cultivation technology is still in its initial exploratory stage. Cai Xiujuan is technically advanced with the help of Jian Lu. One side has the most superior conditions and the other has the most advanced technology, so they can barely tie.

"Right? Everyone who sees our pearls says they are beautiful!"

Jian Lu asked, "Mr. Yang, what are the other pearl culture products at this exhibition?"

Yang Binghua has visited almost all pearl cultivation farms across the country, and he began to introduce them nonstop.

In addition to the pearls from City E, there are also pearls from City F. Both places are old bases for cultivating pearls.

"Both of these companies supply pearls to the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country." Yang Binghua intends to promote their pearl farm. "You can see if you can negotiate some orders when the time comes."

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Yang!" Cai Xiujuan was excited. If this could be negotiated, it would definitely not be comparable to the stores in the county town.

Jian Lu also agreed, but then asked something else, "Mr. Yang, are there many foreigners coming this time?"

Yang Binghua is not sure. "I heard that there is. It is now open. This year, some foreigners came to inspect and wanted to do business with our country."

However, Yang Binghua was not interested in these things and just thought that Jian Lu was just curious. "Anyway, you guys just prepare well. If you can get some orders from those two restaurants, it will be enough for you to eat and drink."

After talking for a while, Yang Binghua got up and left, and Jian Lu and Cai Xiujuan also returned to their rooms. After washing up, they lay on a single bed and chatted.

"Lulu, you came out right after the semester ended. Your girlfriend must have missed you."

Cai Xiujuan and Jian Lu both had daughters, so they had a lot in common to talk about.

"Then you must miss me so much that you want me to come back as soon as I finish my work!"

"It's good to be a lady. My lady is also like that. This time she stuck to me and didn't want me to leave." Cai Xiujuan's eyes were filled with smiles as she spoke.

"A lady is good, a sweet little cotton-padded jacket."

After chatting about family, the two talked about the upcoming trade fair.

"Lulu, do you think we can get some orders?" Cai Xiujuan really wanted to.

Jian Lu leaned against the bed and wrote and drew, and answered, "Of course, Sister Xiujuan, you have to have confidence."

"Yes, the pearls we produce are just great."

"Really?" Jian Lu showed her what she had drawn in her notebook.

Cai Xiujuan took it and looked at it. There was a round circle on it and a small dot on the lower left. "What is this?"

"Our pearl brand image." Jian Lu explained to her, "In the future, the economy will develop faster and faster, and we must pay attention to these brand images, such as logos and slogans, and we can also advertise in newspapers and on television."

Cai Xiujuan was so excited by Jian Lu's words. She was so focused on studying technology that she had never thought about these things. "Really?"

"Yes." Jian Lu mentioned the matter of private contracting to her. Maybe the policy will be relaxed again next year or the year after, and she could try privately contracting ponds for pearl farming.

"Private work?" Cai Xiujuan had been used to working in the commune for the past few years and was not quite used to it yet.

"Yes, you have to get to this point. You can start your own company in the future and make it bigger and stronger. Then you will have the final say."

Cai Xiujuan didn't feel anything after hearing the first few sentences, but when she heard the last sentence, she was suddenly moved.

"I have the final say?" Cai Xiujuan looked at Jian Lu expectantly.

"Yes."

"Lulu, when you mentioned this, I just remembered that there is something I have never mentioned to you."

"What's wrong?" Jian Lu turned sideways and looked at Cai Xiujuan who was lying on the bed opposite.

"In recent years, our pearl farm has been doing better and better. Everyone's work points are worth money and we earn a lot. Many people are jealous and want to come in through various connections. Every now and then, it's either the commune secretary's relatives or the team leader's relatives. A lot of them come and don't listen to our training. They are lazy and like to eat. What can I say? It's really frustrating."

Jian Lu understood that the pearl farm was doing well and many people would definitely be watching it. Cai Xiujuan was nominally the director, but everything belonged to the commune after all. It was public property and Cai Xiujuan could not bypass the commune leaders no matter what.

"So, when the time is right, I can take it on as a private contractor. I can then set up a company and invest in it to develop the pearl business."

"Oh, after listening to what you said, I think it's a good idea!" Cai Xiujuan has found it increasingly difficult to put some things into practice in the past two years. There are many people in the venue, many idle people, and various relatives and friends, all of whom she cannot afford to offend.

"It's a deal then! Let's do it together! You must be there."

Jian Lu smiled, thinking about how wonderful the future would be since she had invested in the Pearl King's company. "Don't worry, I'll definitely be here!"

The next day, the two of them slept until they woke up naturally and strolled around City Z. Jian Lu took her camera and took photos everywhere, acting like a rare tourist in this era.

On the third day after arriving in City Z, the two finally entered the venue of the National Trade Fair.

This was the first national exhibition of various small and medium-sized commodities, covering all walks of life. Participants in the exhibition were all government-owned factories, mostly large ones. Occasionally, some small factories could get a place after great efforts. Cai Xiujuan was able to get a place thanks to Yang Binghua's connections.

Jian Lu and Cai Xiujuan dressed up today, each wearing a shirt, long pants and small leather shoes.

"If each of us wears a bag under our arms, we'll look exactly like our commune secretary!" Cai Xiujuan had never worn such an outfit before. She had always been simple. Later, when she had money, she bought some blouses based on Jian Lu's recommendation, but this was the first time she dressed like this professionally.

"Hahahaha, no, that would be too much!" Jian Lu didn't dare to imagine that scene.

The trade fair will last for a total of five days, with a different product booth every day. The pearl booth that Jian Lu and her friends signed up for is on the afternoon of the third day. Today they came to join in the fun, or to see the world.

"There are so many people today!" Cai Xiujuan looked around the venue and felt it was very lively. She had only seen such a lively scene when she was in the commune gathering before. This trade fair seemed to be similar to the gathering, with people setting up stalls on both sides.

"Well, let's go see what's going on and get some fresh experience." It was the first time that Jian Lu attended a trade fair in the 1970s and she found everything new and interesting. She brought her watch with her, wanting to see if she could find the owner of the watch.

One can probably guess that the owner of the watch is a foreigner who lost his invitation letter.

Today's trade show booths are dominated by small appliances and daily necessities, all of which are hard currency.

For example, a fan factory, refrigerator factory, and washing machine factory in a certain city all had booths. These state-owned factories usually sign orders with government agencies, schools, and large department stores.

Cai Xiujuan had never seen so many fashionable home appliances before, and she had never used any of them. She wanted to stop and listen to the introductions wherever she went. Jian Lu had certainly used these home appliances before, but she couldn't tell them, so she had to pretend to listen to the introductions, occasionally saying "hmm" and nodding to indicate.

Today’s home appliances are much simpler than those of later generations. They are still in their infancy and have simple functions, but they are already able to meet the needs of today’s society where everything is artificial.

The two of them looked at a domestically-made washing machine. Cai Xiujuan was already tempted and wanted to buy one, but she didn't have an industrial coupon, so even if she had money, she couldn't do anything about it.

"Did you feel like buying something after just one visit?"

Cai Xiujuan responded, "It is indeed different. Seeing it here makes me want to buy one to take home."

"This is the benefit of trade fairs. It facilitates sales and signing of orders. Of course, it also serves as advertising."

While they were talking, they saw someone ordering a washing machine.

While the washing machine booth was bustling with activity, a few meters away, the D City Fan Factory was also setting up its booth. Three young men in work clothes from the fan factory were busy and sweating as they assembled four small fans and placed them in front of the booth.

A male comrade wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeves and said to the two female factory workers who came with him and were still busy, "Niu Lili, Qiu Cuiping, take a break first."