The department store in Beicheng has three floors. The third floor sells bicycles, which have a wide variety, as well as televisions.
Xu Xiangyang looked at the television with curiosity. It was tiny, only nine inches long, and smaller than a stool.
With a TV this small, won't you get nearsighted if you watch it for too long?
Having gotten used to the ultra-thin LCD TVs of later generations, this little gadget really seems quite miniature now.
Seeing that he was staring at the TV, Qian Wenqing said, "Brother Xu, this thing is quite expensive, and you even have to pay for the TV ticket."
His family does have one, but it took a lot of connections to get it.
Xu Xiangyang nodded. "It is indeed quite expensive."
He overheard the salesperson mention that it would cost five hundred yuan, plus TV tickets, plane tickets, and other vouchers.
Five hundred yuan can buy three bicycles. Who would buy this thing for no reason?
However, that doesn't mean there won't be any. No matter when, there will always be people who consume good things.
The two of them wandered around for a long time but didn't buy anything.
Xu Xiangyang didn't have much money; he needed to save the money in his pocket to get through the river. A grown man can't just reach into his pocket and find himself penniless, can he?
Qian Wenqing didn't buy anything because he was broke. Despite his neat and tidy appearance, he actually spent all his monthly paycheck within the first ten days.
It's only the middle of the month, where are we going to find the money?
The two returned empty-handed, and it was almost time for dinner.
When Chen Jiancai saw the two men return, he didn't reprimand them. Instead, he took out two pieces of paper and handed them to Qian Wenqing.
"Here are your meal tickets. Just wait here by the car after you've finished eating."
Oh, so you can eat here?
Xu Xiangyang was satisfied. He had just been wondering whether he should go out for dinner.
Eating out required food coupons, so it was best to save money whenever possible and avoid spending your savings unless absolutely necessary.
The two men went to the cafeteria with their meal tickets. Chen Jiancai followed them, but he was accompanied by a man in his fifties wearing glasses and carrying a bag.
Xu Xiangyang had heard Qian Wenqing mention before that a bureau chief was traveling with them this time, and it seemed that this was the one.
The two entered the staff canteen and then went to a private room.
Seeing that he was looking at it, Qian Wenqing said, "Master Chen and Director Liu are being treated to a meal, so we'll have to eat in the cafeteria."
This has happened often before; he's gotten used to it.
Xu Xiangyang nodded without saying anything and followed him to the cafeteria window to get his food.
The food here is quite good: cabbage, tofu, glass noodles, and shredded green beans. The soup has oil floating on top, which means it must have a lot of lard in it.
"Comrade, give me more green beans and less cabbage." Qian Wenqing had also noticed this, and he mainly added more green bean strips.
Xu Xiangyang was on the same scale as him, because everyone else was eating like that. It was rare to find that the cafeteria used a lot of oil, and who wouldn't want to eat more oil?
The food was so-so, but Xu Xiangyang didn't complain. After eating and drinking his fill, he went to wait on the side.
The leaders haven't finished eating yet, so they have to wait.
Qian Wenqing clicked his tongue, glanced at the time, and said, "I guess they're drinking, otherwise it wouldn't have taken this long."
It's always been like this; he's known it all along.
More than half an hour later, Master Chen and Director Liu came out.
As Xu Xiangyang approached, he could indeed smell the strong odor of alcohol on Director Liu, indicating that he had drunk quite a bit.
Chen Jiancai looked perfectly normal; he hadn't been drinking because he was driving.
He said to the two men in front of him, "You two drive back first, I'll follow behind."
Xu Xiangyang knew what was going on when he saw Director Liu get into the jeep next to him.
"Let's go." He called to Qian Wenqing, and the two drove off.
Director Liu drank quite a lot and was feeling dizzy.
"Old Chen, after we get back, unload the truck first, then take me home."
Chen Jiancai quickly nodded in agreement and then drove back with them.
Along the way, Xu Xiangyang asked about the grain bureau, and Qian Wenqing did not hide anything from him.
After all, anyone could find out about this by asking around, and since Xu Xiangyang taught him to drive, he naturally wouldn't refuse to answer such a small question.
"Our Director Liu is a drunkard; he loves smoking and drinking, which are both expensive hobbies!"
Qian Wenqing said, a look of envy on his face. These days, people who enjoy this kind of thing are all quite wealthy; otherwise, wanting to enjoy it? Absolutely impossible.
Xu Xiangyang, however, didn't feel anything; this would be perfectly normal in later times. Aren't there only a few things men like? Besides, as long as they don't gamble or steal, there's no major problem.
Back at the grain bureau, Xu Xiangyang drove the car to the unloading area.
The outer packaging is all wooden boxes, and we have no idea what's inside.
He didn't ask any more questions. The bureau's affairs were handled by the leaders. He was just a driver, and all he had to do was work honestly.
To outsiders, being a truck driver might seem like a good job, but to his superiors, he's no different from any other ordinary worker.
Xu Xiangyang's greatest strength is his self-awareness and ability to assess situations. Otherwise, he could never have risen from a lowly employee to become the boss's most trusted person in his past life.
The goods were loaded and unloaded quickly, and he drove the car back, then he could sit back and wait to get off work.
As Xu Xiangyang walked toward the lounge, he suddenly heard someone crying and making a fuss.
It's during working hours, why would anyone be crying?
He looked curiously in the direction of the sound and saw two women talking to each other.
One of the little girls was sitting on the ground crying, while a woman standing next to her looked helpless.
"What's wrong?" Qian Wenqing walked over from behind and saw him watching the commotion.
Xu Xiangyang shook his head. "I don't know either."
Qian Wenqing, a gossip, immediately ran over to watch the excitement, and dragged Xu Xiangyang along as well.
Xu Xiangyang: ...
He shouldn't have watched so much. Is it something you can just watch casually? Especially for women, it's easy for people to gossip.
After all, they are all young men. If they were like women who enjoy watching the spectacle, who knows what people would say about them.
"Accountant Liu? What happened?" Upon closer inspection, Qian Wenqing recognized the person.
This is Liu Honglan from the accounting office. Xu Xiangyang had met her once before when he went to the accounting office to settle his wages.
The girl on the ground was someone I'd seen before; she had almond-shaped eyes.
However, she looked rather disheveled, with her clothes covered in dust and her hair in a mess.
Her face was streaked with tears, and she looked extremely miserable.
When Liu Honglan saw that someone had arrived, and it was someone from the Grain Bureau, she couldn't keep her composure.
To be honest, this is all a family matter, who would have thought this girl would make such a fuss?
That's not all. If others see this, who knows how it will be spread tomorrow.
"Xiao Qian, it's nothing. This child is disobedient and won't listen to anything I say." Her tone was helpless, but she was a little anxious.
If we don't let them leave, even more people will come to watch the spectacle.
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