Chapter 18: Educated Youth Going to the Countryside
The machinery factory is a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, and workers can be seen everywhere. Under the country's strict planned economy, materials are scarce, and the market demand naturally gave rise to a black market for underground transactions.
There are several other black market locations.
There are small streets, courtyards, and warehouses.
The small street is the one that most people go to, has the most items, and is most likely to be inspected. The original owner died because he went there, so Chen Qing really didn't dare to set foot there.
Chen Qing smeared some dust on his face and messed up his hair, like a beggar, then walked along the alley into an abandoned warehouse.
The slogan "Serve the People" on the brick wall of the warehouse was swollen by rain, and mossy scars were revealed where the lime had peeled off.
It feels eerie and weird.
There is a terrifying smell everywhere.
There were several burly men standing outside the warehouse, their eyes coldly scanning everyone who came in.
You can tell at first glance that they are organized and disciplined.
Chen Qing's palms were slightly sweaty.
She couldn't help but sigh at her own audacity and how much she loved food to go to such lengths for delicious food!
But once you step into the warehouse, you'll feel like you're in a different world. Every corner is filled with all kinds of goods, including food, cloth, medicine, and some luxury goods of unknown origin.
People spoke in low voices and looked alert, fearing that their true identities would be discovered.
Chen Qing looked around and walked to a booth selling tickets. He asked in a low voice, "Do you have meat tickets?"
"Yes, how much do you want?"
"How much is a meat ticket?"
"Four cents."
"Give me five."
Four cents is indeed the market price. The previous transaction between the original owner and Yang Xiujin was four cents per meat ticket. After putting five meat tickets in his pocket, Chen Qing asked in a low voice: "Do you have a sewing ticket?"
"There are currently no sewing tickets available. If there were, it would cost about fifty dollars."
"good."
After Chen Qing asked all the questions he wanted to ask, he left in a hurry without further delay.
But she was quick and decisive, and as a girl, even though her skin was covered in dark gray, her eyes were still very beautiful. With special attention given to her, she quickly followed her pace.
As soon as he walked out of the alley, Chen Qing felt a tail behind him that he couldn't get rid of.
She has experience in this matter.
As a single woman, Chen Qing has been harassed several times. The more arrogant ones even wanted to go home with her!
Chen Qing walked forward.
The other party followed.
When we arrived at the police station, the other party became quiet.
Chen Qing curled his lips and smiled.
She blended into the crowd and quickly returned home.
The person who was following him walked away cursing.
After Chen Qing returned home, he called He Yuxiang to buy meat: "Today the state-owned restaurant has sweet and sour spareribs. If they are sold out, you can buy stir-fried pork. Remember, run to a place with fewer people, and try not to be seen by others eating meat at home again."
"Can't we buy meat and cook it at home? It's too expensive to order food at a state-owned restaurant."
He Yuxiang calculated that a state-owned restaurant would spend one meat ticket for one pound of meat, but would only get seven ounces of meat. If he went to the supply and marketing cooperative, he could buy one pound.
And a pound of pork is only 80 cents!
After all the calculations, it’s all the supply and marketing cooperative’s value!
Chen Qing also knew that He Yuxiang’s ideas were most in line with current values.
Ask for enough food, not good food.
But she is from the 21st century.
No experience of starvation.
Instead, I eat very casually!
After eating the delicious food, Chen Qing began to pursue gourmet food, especially gourmet food made by chefs.
"I can't cook meat dishes, can you?"
He Yuxiang frowned: "I can learn."
"When you can cook the vegetables properly and make them look like normal vegetables, I will naturally choose the meat from the supply and marketing cooperative."
She is a cooking geek.
He Yuxiang wasn't much better.
The vegetables that were mushy together looked completely unappetizing. To some extent, this was very suitable for the current family environment. If the food was too delicious and she was always thinking about it, then no matter how many overtime hours she worked at her side job, it would not be enough to support her.
"I, I will definitely prepare the meal!"
He Yuxiang spoke harshly but was tripped by the door sill when he turned around. His straw sandals rolled heavily over the weeds growing out of the cracks in the floor, and the green weeds stuck to his feet.
Itchy feet.
His face turned red.
Chen Qing couldn't help laughing and went back to the house to count the money at home.
Delicious food is nice, but the family expenses are too high and she can't eat it all the time, especially when she is in debt.
Chen Qing took out a small notebook and did some calculations.
I can earn about 40 yuan a month from my side job, and 36 yuan from my main job. Plus the fixed monthly allowance of 8 yuan for each of my two children, the total is 92 yuan.
The children in the family will be going to school soon, but the necessary winter clothes, winter pants and quilts are not prepared yet, which is a big expense.
Assume the monthly repayment is thirty.
Sixty-two left.
Then you have to save up another fifteen.
Roughly think of the children's allowance as savings for winter needs, the side job as repayment money, and the salary from the main job as living expenses.
The money hasn't been made yet.
Chen Qing has already made arrangements.
After distributing the money in the house, Chen Qing went out to eat.
At the dinner table, He Yuxiang also put forward his idea: "I haven't figured out how to solve your clothing problem, but I have another idea."
"Tell me about it."
"If you want to sew clothes, you will need a lot of needles and thread. I have asked around. If you go to the largest supply and marketing cooperative for wholesale, it will be 30 cents cheaper than the one near us. You will need so many needles and thread, so you can save a lot of money by going to wholesale. I also asked if it is expensive to take the bus. People said it only costs two cents. Over time, you will definitely save a lot of money."
"wholesale?"
Chen Qing remembered that the original owner liked to take a bus to the largest supply and marketing cooperative to buy things. She thought about the things there, and there were indeed a lot of big bags. She did need needles and thread to sew clothes, and there were many colors.
Going wholesale really saves money!
"That's an idea. I'll give you a dime."
"Can!"
There is new money coming into the slush fund.
He Yuxiang ate his meal happily and enjoyed it even more.
The family of three ate up all the sauces on the meat and dishes, leaving not a single drop of oil or water on the plate.
After Chen Qing had eaten and drunk her fill, she began to sew some clothes while there was still daylight.
Suddenly, there was a sound of mourning outside the house. Chen Qing stretched his head to look and asked the two children who were just going to get water: "Who is crying?"
He Yuting was familiar with the relationships among families outside, so she replied, "Soon the educated youth will go to the countryside, and many people are unwilling to do so. A sister from a large compound had already found a partner, but if no one in her family wanted to go to the countryside, her brother would have to go. In order to prevent her brother from going to the countryside, her parents forced her to break up with her partner. Her brother wanted to commit suicide. I saw it all. It was so scary."
"So scary! Is he okay?"
"It's okay. They were stopped. The sister's mother said that she would be sent back to the countryside. Nothing will happen to her."
(End of this chapter)
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