Prices in 1986 were unusually low, yet ridiculously high.
A stark contrast has already quietly emerged.
White rice, a staple food on the tables of ordinary families, costs only four cents a pound.
However, if you want to step into the magnificent Guoyun Hotel and splurge, even a few hundred yuan might not be enough.
The spring breeze of reform and opening up has already swept across this land.
Director Zhao gave Zhang Cheng a few detailed instructions on the precautions for the supply and marketing cooperative's sales outlets, then waved for him to leave.
After the office door closed gently, Director Zhao picked up his well-worn fountain pen again and continued writing something, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.
Holding that thin yet substantial agent qualification certificate, Zhang Cheng felt full of energy, his steps light and quick, as if he were walking on the wind.
He returned to the front store of the supply and marketing cooperative feeling refreshed and in high spirits.
Mo Qijing came forward almost immediately, her sharp gaze sweeping over the brand-new certificate in Zhang Cheng's hand.
A hint of surprise flashed across her face at first, but then it turned into a matter-of-fact understanding.
This Brother Zhang is indeed no ordinary person.
Not only did he gain Director Zhao's favor, but he also got in touch with the director of the county hospital.
"Sister, Director Zhao just said that with this agency certificate, I can get 500 yuan worth of goods on credit from the supply and marketing cooperative?" Zhang Cheng asked directly without beating around the bush.
"That's right! Director Zhao specifically instructed me to!" Mo Qijing's smile grew even more eager as she asked warmly, "Little brother, have you decided which goods you want? Tell me, and I'll go to the warehouse to prepare them for you right now!"
Zhang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then began to announce the numbers: "Three hundred catties of coarse grains, fifty catties of rice, fifty catties of flour..."
He paused, then continued, "Bring some of these commonly used items: oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, pots and pans, kettle, kerosene lamp..."
"Also, fruit candies, assorted candies, and white sugar, all of that."
“Most importantly, it’s cigarettes,” Zhang Cheng emphasized. “Ten cartons of Pegasus cigarettes.”
Mo Qijing nodded as she quickly took notes.
"Sister, please prepare these things for me first, and I'll come to pick them up tomorrow," Zhang Cheng said. "By the way, sister, could you please help me find two reliable porters to carry these goods back to the village?"
Upon hearing this request, Mo Qijing's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
With heavy snow blocking the mountains, those dozens of miles of mountain roads are muddy and difficult to travel, and there may even be dangers. Carrying heavy loads into the mountains is a job that few people are willing to do.
"Sister, the wages are easy to discuss." Zhang Cheng noticed her predicament and immediately added, "Three yuan per person per day, plus two packs of Pegasus cigarettes."
"Three yuan a day? Plus two packs of cigarettes?" Mo Qijing's eyes lit up.
This price is quite high; it's equivalent to several days' wages for an average worker.
She pondered for a moment and said, "Brother, the conditions are indeed good. But I won't lie to you, this job is really hard and dangerous. I can only do my best to ask around for you, and I can't guarantee anything."
“Alright then.” Zhang Cheng expressed his understanding. These days, anyone who dares to brave the wind and snow to walk mountain roads to make money is risking their life. “Sister, if you really can’t find anyone, it’s okay. I’ll just pick out some of the urgently needed goods and take them back first. I’ll come back to pick up the rest next spring when the snow melts.”
“Okay! I’ve got it!” Mo Qijing readily agreed.
"Well then, we'll be going now. We'll come back to bother you again tomorrow."
"Take care on the road, bro!" Mo Qijing escorted the two of them all the way to the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.
As soon as he stepped out of the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhang Da Nao could no longer contain himself. His breathing became rapid, and he quickly caught up with Zhang Cheng, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Er... Er Gouzi... you just said... you can get five hundred yuan worth of goods on credit at the supply and marketing cooperative?!"
Is this true?
Zhang Cheng patted him on the shoulder with a smile and explained, "I was lucky last night at the hospital; I met a benefactor who was willing to help me."
"With this batch of goods, I can open a consignment store after returning to the village. In the future, the villagers will no longer have to travel dozens of miles over mountains to the county to buy daily necessities such as oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar."
Zhang Da Nao was stunned, then his eyes lit up with immense admiration: "Er Gouzi...you, you're really amazing!"
"This is nothing." Zhang Cheng smiled faintly, tightened his collar, and walked towards the guesthouse against the wind and snow.
The heavy snow continued to fall without any sign of stopping.
There's not much entertainment to speak of in the county town.
Back at the guesthouse, Zhang Cheng and Zhang Da Nao wrapped themselves tightly in their blankets, lay down on the bed, and chatted idly.
“Big Head Brother,” Zhang Cheng suddenly spoke up, “Next spring, I will buy all the wild fruits in the village, such as hawthorns and kiwis, and then send them to the supply and marketing cooperative to sell.”
"When the time comes, you'll need to find a few trustworthy people to help me. The supply and marketing cooperative said they can provide two temporary worker positions and pay them wages."
“Of course,” Zhang Cheng added, “the salary may not be very high, probably about 50 cents per person per day.”
"Five cents a day isn't much?!" Zhang Da Tou Nao suddenly sat up in bed, his face full of excitement. "Er Gou Zi, this... this means... I can get a government job too?"
"I'd say that's a close call," Zhang Cheng said with a smile.
People of this generation have an almost obsessive longing for "public jobs" and "state-owned enterprises".
"And another thing," Zhang Cheng continued, "when the roads are better next spring, could you help me go to the surrounding villages and buy some medicinal herbs like Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonum multiflorum? I'll pay you a salary of twenty yuan a month, how about that?"
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