During the summer vacation, Deyang Railway Station was crowded with people, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat.
Chu Yu inquired and found out that there is a direct train from Deyang to Wenzhou, the earliest being tomorrow afternoon, with a ticket price of 17.6 yuan, and a letter of introduction is required to purchase the ticket.
In 1983, there were no ID cards, so a letter of introduction was a symbol of identity. You needed a letter of introduction to buy tickets, travel, or fly. However, letters of introduction were usually issued by your employer. For self-employed individuals like Chu Yu, getting a letter of introduction was extremely difficult.
Who should I ask for a letter of introduction?
Finding Dai Donglin would be a sure thing; he's incredibly powerful, always running around the docks, able to get any industry permits, let alone a mere letter of introduction.
However, Chu Yu felt that it was inappropriate to ask for help before the two of them had developed into a romantic relationship, so she rode her bicycle to Baode Button Factory.
Chen Baifu thought she had sold out of buttons early today.
"So early today?"
Because of that bottle of Moutai, Chen Baifu's politeness towards her became more genuine.
"Section Chief Chen."
Chu Yu didn't know how to bring it up. She had just delivered the Moutai and then asked for help. It seemed a bit too obvious that she was giving a gift with a clear purpose, which is a big taboo when it comes to gift-giving. But things had come to this point, and she had no other choice.
Chen Baifu, being a shrewd man, could naturally tell that she had something to say. He understood what she was thinking, so he took her to his office, turned on the electric fan, and smiled.
"Just say what you have to say. Whether you say it or not is your business, whether I can do it or not is my business."
The electric fan whirred and spun, and the cool breeze made Chu Yu feel much more comfortable.
Chen Baifu is right. Once the matter is brought up, it's up to him whether to do it or not. Even if he ultimately refuses, there's no loss for him.
"Section Chief Chen, I'll get straight to the point. I need you to issue a letter of introduction for my trip to Wenzhou."
Chen Baifu hadn't expected this. There were many large button factories in Wenzhou that used advanced equipment imported from abroad. Chen Baifu often went to Wenzhou to learn and exchange ideas, so getting a letter of introduction to Wenzhou was a piece of cake for him.
But what is Chu Yu going to Wenzhou for?
“A letter of introduction isn’t something you can just issue casually. If you get into trouble outside and the investigation leads back to me, I’ll be held responsible. So you have to tell me what you’re going to Vancouver for and how many days you’ll be there.”
Chu Yu didn't intend to hide it from him. "The temple fair is coming soon. I've rented a stall there to sell some buttons and small commodities. I've heard that Wenzhou's small commodities are very famous, so I'd like to go to Wenzhou."
Chen Baifu stared at her in astonishment for a long time, as if he were seeing her for the first time. He knew that Chu Yu was capable, but he did not expect that Chu Yu would dare to go to Wen City alone!
In ordinary families, an 18-year-old girl is still a child, too afraid to speak to people. Where would she get such courage?
Chen Baifu's daughter is about the same age, and she's like a complete idiot. All she thinks about is food and clothes. She only knows how to ask her family for money. Let alone going to Wenzhou, if you ask her to go to the doorstep to buy a bottle of soy sauce, she will haggle for a long time and demand 2 cents for the errand fee before she will go!
At her age, Chu Yu not only sets up a stall selling buttons, but also dares to venture into Wenzhou! Even though Chen Baifu has always thought this girl was not to be underestimated, he now feels that his previous evaluation was a bit too low. This girl is not just unusual, she's clearly on her way to the top!
Given time, as long as she doesn't get married and stays home to nurse her children, she's sure to achieve great things!
Chen Baifu knew where her uncle's shop was, so he wasn't worried that she would run away. Besides, she was a delicate young girl, and she wouldn't commit any crimes outside. So he didn't hesitate, took out a letter of introduction and the official seal, and opened the shop for her!
"Here you go! Our company has a guesthouse in Wenzhou. Just take the letter of introduction and go there directly. It's cheap and safe."
It would be a lie for Chu Yu to say she wasn't moved. They were not related by blood or marriage, and even with the connection of a bottle of Moutai, an ordinary person might not be willing to write a letter of introduction for a stranger. Chen Baifu not only wrote it, but did so decisively and efficiently, without her having to say a word.
She had over two thousand yuan on her. As a young woman, she was bound to be worried about safety when staying in a hotel alone. If she could stay at the company's agency, then there would be nothing to be afraid of.
"Thank you, Section Chief Chen. I've been away for the past few days, so I've been leaving the task of removing the buttons to my uncle."
Chen Baifu had met Shu Aiguo and felt that he was more suitable to come, so he readily agreed.
After receiving the letter of introduction, Chu Yu went to the train station to queue for tickets. The line of twenty people took a full hour to form. There was a small glass window at the ticket counter, and you had to look down to see inside.
"Hello, could you please give me a train ticket to Wenzhou? Which train is it for tomorrow afternoon?"
The ticket seller opened the ticket holder, picked up the abacus and calculated for a long time before tearing off a few small tickets and pasting them onto the small white cards with glue.
"17.6 yuan, a letter of introduction is required."
Chu Yu handed over the money and the letter of introduction together, which surprised the other party. Usually, people would stuff the money into their underwear, shoes, or socks, but this girl had put it in her pocket so casually.
After buying the tickets, Chu Yu went straight to the Municipal Hospital. Seeing that she was covered in sweat, Shu Hui poured her a cup of mung bean soup.
Why is it so hot?
"I just got back from the train station."
"The train station?" Shu Hui was surprised. She took the train ticket from Chu Yu. The farthest Chu Yu had ever been was Deyang city. For such a young girl to go to Wenzhou alone to wholesale small commodities, even though Shu Hui knew her daughter was capable, she couldn't help but worry.
Uncle Shu also felt it was too risky for her to go alone, "Why don't I go with you?"
"No need, the temple fair is coming soon. I heard that more than 200,000 people attended last year's fair, the flow of people was huge. I've rented a stall in front of the snack shop for you, and I've also rented a spot opposite the department store. You'd better prepare what you want to sell on the day of the temple fair these few days, it wouldn't be good if you had nothing to sell on the day of the temple fair, would it?" Chu Yu said.
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