Chapter 78
This service station set up by the street is nothing special to Huang Li.
She has also seen many convenience service centers and comprehensive service stations in later generations.
But going back sixty or seventy years, the fact that Ye Manzhi was able to propose the idea of a comprehensive service station in the 1950s when everything was in ruins really made her look at him with new eyes.
The key point is that she was particularly attracted by the proposal of the sales outlet to help deliver newspapers.
The postal system integrates mail and distribution, and not only provides mail delivery services, but also newspaper and magazine distribution services.
When Huang Li first became a postman last year, the delivery pressure was not particularly great. As long as he could deliver letters and newspapers to residents on the same day, it was fine.
However, now all walks of life across the country are carrying out labor competitions, and their postal system is no exception.
The Municipal Bureau has just established an "early morning delivery section for party and government agencies and state-owned enterprises" to ensure that more than 200 units in the city can see the day's newspaper before 7 o'clock.
Huang Li was unlucky enough to be dragged into this early morning delivery section.
Together with another colleague, we took turns delivering newspapers to nine units near Guangming Street.
When she first came here, her original body's physical condition was not good. She was thin and afraid of the cold, and her symptoms of dysmenorrhea were particularly severe. She took care of herself for two years, riding a bicycle to bask in the sun, doing exercise, and supplementing nutrition every day. She finally showed some improvement and was able to have a child, but she was assigned to the early delivery section!
It's okay now that it's summer, but in winter, with ice and snow everywhere, I have to deliver newspapers on a bike before dawn. If I fall and have a miscarriage, the damage to my body will be immeasurable.
Ye Manzhi said, "Sister-in-law, aren't you and my brother planning to have a baby? Even if I can't switch from a postman to a clerk, I'll be able to do less work and have less stress. Please think about it and talk to your director for me."
Huang Li wanted a child, but she never said it out loud and her attitude towards having children was always rather indifferent.
She asked suspiciously, "Who told you that I want a child?"
"My third brother said that. She said you really wanted a child and even drew picture books for the child!"
Huang Li: “…”
She drew picture books and planned to submit them for publication.
Although the overall environment is relatively relaxed now, we have promoted the policy of letting a hundred schools of thought contend and allowing everyone to speak freely.
But Huang Li was really not very courageous. Even when he published articles related to workers and peasants, he always had to carefully consider each word and think it over repeatedly, for fear that any of his words would be used as a handle to accuse him of something.
So, inspired by Ye Manzhi's publication of clothing books, she temporarily gave up serious literature and turned to children's literature.
There are very few children's books nowadays, and even the picture books are mostly for adults.
She learned to paint for two years when she was a child, so she was able to tell stories clearly with simple pictures.
Anyway, her purpose of writing is to make money and improve her life, so she will write whichever book can be published as soon as possible.
In two years, when the publishing industry is also transformed, she won't make much money even if her books are bestsellers nationwide.
But she didn't expect that Ye Mantang would see her behavior of drawing picture books as wanting to have a child!
She was saying, why is this man acting like he's taken an aphrodisiac lately?
Huang Li told Ye Manzhi that she had been added to the morning delivery section, and then asked, "Can your service station really deliver newspapers for me?"
Ye Manzhi asked about her delivery route and nodded, saying, "Of course we can deliver. Why can't we? But our service station can do voluntary work for the residents, but we can't do voluntary work for your wealthy postal system. We have to take a commission from delivering newspapers and selling them on behalf of others."
Hearing this, Huang Li frowned slightly. Even if there were postmen available, the director might not be willing to give them commission.
"Besides selling newspapers on behalf of others, can you also promote newspapers to residents and increase the number of annual subscribers?"
"Of course we can. The more newspapers you sell, the higher our commission will be. This is a win-win for both of us!"
Huang Li thought for a moment, then got on his bicycle and said, "Go back and wait for my news. I'll go talk to the director about this after I deliver the newspapers."
She wanted to take advantage of the good harvest and get pregnant as soon as possible. The supply of materials in the past two years was sufficient, which could at least ensure the nutrition of pregnant women and children.
If she waited until the famine was over before giving birth again, she would be over 30. Giving birth to her first child at 30 was considered advanced maternal age.
If we could really get the service station to sell newspapers, we could buy more milk powder and cotton cloth to stockpile.
Especially for fabric, everyone's quota will be cut by more than half, making it difficult to even make clothes.
[In case the child doesn't have food or clothes, it's better to prepare in advance.]
When Ye Manzhi talked to Wong Tai Sin, she had learned to try not to look her in the eye.
Because she found that Wong Tai Sin was a little hypocritical. On the surface, he was a serious person, but his mind was always thinking about things that were not suitable for children.
Ever since she saw Wong Tai Sin pondering his sexual intercourse with his third brother with an expressionless face, she could no longer bear to look at Wong Tai Sin's inner thoughts.
She had already kissed Wu Zhengrong by then, so she had some understanding of adult matters.
She felt a little embarrassed to see her brother and sister-in-law's privacy.
The two parted ways at the door of the post office. Ye Manzhi thought that Huang Daxian had a good idea. She could also buy some milk powder and cloth to stock up.
If she has a child, she can use it for the child. If she doesn't have a child, she can enjoy it herself.
However, 15 feet of cloth per person per year is already too little. If it is cut in half, then she and Wu Zhengrong will have to spend a year to buy a new set of clothes, right?
Ye Manzhi was full of sorrow and went to work sighing.
She secretly decided in her heart that she would urge Wu Zhengrong to maintain his figure and not get fat or thin.
Existing clothes should also be well cared for and preserved.
If the fabric quota is really halved, let Wu Zhengrong wear existing clothes and military uniforms.
Then make her a new set of clothes every year.
whee.
*
Since we want to increase the business categories of the service station, the more the better.
After Ye Manzhi mentioned this new idea to Zhang Qinjian, he was told to go ahead and do it.
Old Zhang has been busy recently inviting leaders from the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Bureau of Education to give lectures in the classroom, and has no time to take care of her small service station.
So, Ye Manzhi really gave it his all.
She is now the deputy director, with several subordinates under her, and she no longer has to do everything herself like before.
So, she asked three young men in the office, Gao Xiaoguang, Liu Jinbao and Zhao Erhe, to go to insurance companies, bookstores and banks respectively to negotiate agency service business.
She went to the Electricity Bureau and the Water Company to contact the meter readers in the military industrial compound area.
The electricity and water bills for each household are collected uniformly by the resident group leader, but some residents will delay payment for various reasons. After the fixed collection time, they have to go to the city to pay the bills themselves.
Ye Manzhi wanted to set up a collection point at the service station to save everyone from having to run to the city again and again.
Gao Xiaoguang's skills seemed to be all in studying, and he felt a little overwhelmed when it came to soliciting business from insurance companies.
"Director Ye, how do we negotiate this insurance company deal? What if they don't agree to give us a commission?"
Gao Xiaoguang heard what she told Liu Jinbao, that she would take a commission from the book sales.
Ye Manzhi smiled and said, "If they don't want to give it to me, then don't give it to me. You can ask them to send a salesperson to our service station every month. As long as they can hang a sign saying 'People's Insurance Company Sales Outlet' at the door of our service station, that will be fine."
She mainly wanted to make the service station more lively, and it didn't matter whether she sold insurance or not.
But Gao Xiaoguang felt that his trip to the insurance company was doomed to fail.
After receiving the task, he learned about the situation of the insurance company.
They are engaged in corporate business and currently mainly sell three types of insurance.
The first is compulsory property insurance to prevent loss of state property. State agencies, state-owned factories and larger cooperatives are required to purchase this insurance.
The second is compulsory insurance for passengers. Passengers taking trains, planes, and ships are required to purchase accident insurance, but this insurance is purchased on their behalf by the competent authorities.
The third is livestock insurance, which is insurance for the majority of farmers.
None of these three types of insurance is aimed at urban residents, so why do they set up sales outlets on the streets?
He told Ye Manzhi about his concerns. He felt that there was no need to bring in an insurance company just to save face.
Ye Manzhi shook his head and said, "Livestock aren't just found in rural areas. There are quite a few animal-drawn vehicles on our street, and they're probably not insured. And many residents living in bungalows raise pigs in their yards, and those livestock are definitely not insured either. The insurance market on Guangming Street has a bright future!"
Gao Xiaoguang: “…”
It seems to be true.
Ye Manzhi imitated District Chief Mu and encouraged him in a leadership-like manner, "Comrade Xiaoguang, just go for it. Try to get some commission, but it doesn't matter if you don't. Our service station doesn't rely on the insurance company's commission to survive."
As for what to rely on for living, it is of course the catering service!
After sending all the male comrades out to discuss business, Ye Manzhi began to prepare for recruitment.
They plan to recruit 4 pastry chefs, 2 waiters, 1 cashier and 1 buyer.
The rest are easy to deal with, as long as they can read and do math and are not illiterate.
But the chef still has to choose carefully.
The women in the compound have always been well-informed about news. Many of them can tell you which daughter-in-law makes the best cakes and which aunt makes the most beautiful dumplings.
Those who are called out by name by women are those who have real talents and are generally recognized by everyone.
Therefore, after discussing with Yu Ziyang and Lang Qinghong several times, Ye Manzhi decided to make the recruitment of pastry chefs more public and recruit talents in a high-profile manner throughout the street.
Organize a white case skills competition.
On the one hand, this activity can spread the news that the street will soon open a service station.
On the other hand, it also tells everyone that the top four in the street noodle competition are all pastry chefs from the service station, and the noodle-making level of the service station is definitely the best in the street.
This can be considered as indirectly attracting customers for the service station that has not yet opened.
Ye Manzhi posted the recruitment information and asked the neighborhood committee director and resident group leader to help with publicity and mobilization.
The first step is public recommendation.
All female comrades whose names are mentioned will be recorded.
The top 20 were ranked according to the number of recommendations and were personally invited by street officials and neighborhood committee directors to participate in the competition.
Except for nine women who already had formal jobs, all other female comrades accepted the invitation to participate in the competition.
Ye Manzhi was originally a little skeptical about these recommendations, but since everyone was willing to participate in the competition, it showed that they were very confident in their skills!
This is a very good signal!
The second part is the official competition!
The competition venue is set at the door of the service station that has just been cleaned. The contestants are required to bring their own tools, and the raw materials are provided by the street office.
It is made on site and residents are invited to taste it.
But the tasting is not free.
The noodles made on site will be divided into dozens of portions, each of which will include the works of 11 contestants.
All items will be sold at cost price, only cash will be accepted, no tickets required.
The competition was scheduled for the weekend, and since it had been promoted among residents in advance, there were a lot of people watching the fun on the day.
The service station entrance was packed with people.
Some people saw the commotion from a distance and thought that the folk art troupe had come to the street to perform again.
"Director Ye, do the food they make really not require a ticket?"
Ye Manzhi held up a loud speaker and shouted, "You don't need a ticket for the food tasting competition, but after our service station opens, you will need a ticket! Everyone, please don't crowd, today's food tasting spots are full. Residents who have numbered tickets should line up in front, and those without numbers can only watch enviously!"
"Jinbao, get me a number!" An old man in the crowd called Liu Jinbao.
"Uncle Si, I don't even have a number myself, how can I get one for you? Wait until the service station officially opens, and come back to eat! The first four comrades in today's competition will be responsible for cooking then!"
"Comrade Xiaoye, when can we eat it? I can smell the aroma of scallion pancakes!"
"Hold on a minute, everyone. Get your rice bowls and change ready. Fifty cents per serving. Once the dumplings are out of the pot, our judging will officially begin!" Ye Manzhi shouted, holding up a loud speaker. "Don't just focus on eating, don't forget to vote for our noodles. Each person has four votes. Just vote for the dish you think is delicious!"
On the other side, the dumplings were finally out of the pot. Under the guidance of the street cadres, 35 people who had received number plates in advance came forward one by one to pay and get their meals.
Some people couldn't wait to take a bite before they even walked out of the crowd.
"Old Qian? How do the sesame cakes taste?"
"Delicious! This sesame bun is made with sesame paste, how could it not be delicious? It's just that the amount is too small, only half a piece for each person."
"Eleven kinds of noodles, with noodles and meat, all for fifty cents, no ticket required, and you still want a whole sesame seed bun?" the man asked again, "What about the steamed buns?"
"It's okay, similar to the ones in our factory cafeteria, but the wrapper is too thick. The dumplings are pretty good, with thin wrapper and large fillings, and they even use sesame oil to season the filling."
Dozens of people tasted the entries one by one on the roadside. Some people even discussed them with others, and then they hesitated, thought over and over again, and cast their votes on the four plates.
Ye Manzhi silently counted the votes on the plate. Fourth sister-in-law Shen Liangmei made dumplings this time. Judging from the current number of votes, she would probably be ranked third.
Before coming to participate in the competition, Chang Yue'e had a detailed explanation with her fourth sister-in-law.
Tell her to be generous when making dumplings, add more meat and sesame oil. After all, they are not made with the same ingredients, so just make them as delicious as you can.
She must ensure good taste to attract everyone to vote for her.
Ye Manzhi just went to the kitchen to taste a dumpling made by her fourth sister-in-law. The fourth sister-in-law was really generous this time. The dumplings she made had thin skin and large fillings, with less vegetables and more meat. Her job as a pastry chef should be secure.
After everyone had voted, Ye Manzhi asked Zhao Erhe, the tallest and loudest person, to read out the votes in front of all the contestants and onlookers.
The four finalists are:
First place, Kong Shulan, Straw Hat Scallion Pancake, 21 votes.
Second place, Du Chanjuan, vegetable spring rolls, 18 votes.
Third place, Shen Liangmei, pork and celery dumplings, 15 votes.
Fourth place, Clove, Dumpling Soup, 14 votes.
The first three were fine, but Ye Manzhi was really surprised that Gedatang was chosen and got 14 votes.
Almost every family can make dumpling soup, but it is really difficult to make it amazing.
Dingxiang is only 20 years old, the youngest among all the contestants.
Ye Manzhi went up to her and asked her if she could make other pasta dishes.
Ding Xiang nodded repeatedly and said, "I can also make buns, dumplings, steamed buns, and pancakes. When the director came to my house, he asked me to cook my specialty. My mother said I made dumpling soup the best, so she asked me to make it."
"It's enough if you can make other noodles." Ye Manzhi smiled, "Your dumpling soup is really good. I can make a pot for breakfast in the future. It's more convenient than making tofu pudding."
She announced on the spot that the top four contestants would be hired as official employees of the "March 8th Convenience Service Station."
Why is it called a tentative recruitment? Because everyone still needs to undergo a physical examination.
Only comrades who have passed the physical examination and have no infectious diseases can officially take up their posts and serve the residents.
"The top four winners of today's competition will have their noodles sold at our service station. I think everyone already has an idea of the quality of our noodles! Our Guangming Street March 8th Convenience Service Station provides residents with affordable, high-quality, clean, and hygienic food services! The service station is about to open, so please support our work!"
"Support, support! Officer Xiaoye, when will the service station open?"
"Don't worry, everyone. Once the staff and equipment are in place, we'll open immediately!"
After all the chefs for pastry were gathered, Ye Manzhi asked the women's director Yu Ziyang to recommend candidates for other employees.
It would be best if someone could serve as the stationmaster of the service station, and then all the trivial matters of the service station would be left to the stationmaster to worry about.
Moreover, the first month's grain must be bought on credit. Only after collecting the money and receipts from the customers can the grain station be settled, so it is best for the purchasing agent to have some connections.
*
The service station was just waiting to open, but Wu Zhengrong's task of buying a camera was not going smoothly.
There are no large camera manufacturers in China. I heard that there is only a small public-private joint venture factory in Beijing that imitated the Leica camera and produced domestic cameras.
But their annual output is less than 100 units.
The products were sold out in Beijing and could not be exported to other places.
Wu Zhengrong used a lot of connections but still couldn't buy a camera because everyone was queuing up.
Don’t even mention the disappointment in Ye Manzhi’s heart.
She didn't say anything in front of Wu Zhengrong, and even kissed him several times to comfort him.
But when she was in front of her biological mother, her true colors showed up and she sighed at home.
"Why are you sighing? I think you two just have money to burn! That camera is such a valuable thing, who in a good life would clamor to buy a camera?"
"Well, since this is my first time out, I want to take some pictures!" Ye Manzhi listlessly tugged at Lihua's tail and added, "I'm the deputy director now. When I go to other cities, I have to observe and learn from other people's achievements! If I can establish a partnership with a street in faraway Guangzhou, I'll definitely take some pictures and bring them back for the people of Guangming Street to see! District Chief Mu also told me not to forget to learn during my travels and record other people's advanced experiences!"
"It's hard for you to come up with so many excuses." Chang Yue'e grumbled, "You didn't know how to live in the first place, and now you've married someone who's even worse at it. You two are really, ah..."
Long before her two children got married, she often delivered things to No. 16 Courtyard.
She had long seen clearly what kind of person her brother-in-law was.
Not to mention how much money the room full of books would cost, after all, they were used for work and study. Just the big items in her brother-in-law's house were enough to make her astonished.
Nowadays, people have all four major items except for the sewing machine.
Not only did she wear a watch for herself, she also bought one for her daughter.
She silently calculated in her mind that the bicycle, radio, and two watches would cost at least seven or eight hundred yuan.
What can't you do with this money?
Therefore, although her son-in-law Wu Zhengrong is good in every way, in her heart, he is a man who is not good at living.
Ye Lai Ya has always been a person who wants to do whatever he wants. He has been like this since he was a child. He always shouts for any good things he sees.
This time he met Wu Zhengrong, who was even less capable of living. It was like a blind bear falling into a honey pot.
Chang Yue'e nodded and said, "Let's just forget about the camera matter. Don't mention it to Zhengrong again when you go back. The reason you got this vacation was to visit family, not to travel!"
"Wu Zhengrong said it was just tourism."
"You're still stubborn!" Chang Yue'e warned, "You're a new bride. This is your first time meeting his parents and brothers and sisters, so you should prepare some presentable gifts for them. You're a good dressmaker, so why don't you make something for her parents?"
Ye Manzhi had just learned from Wong Tai Sin that the cotton cloth quota would be reduced by half. How could she bear to use her quota to make clothes for others?
He only said vaguely, "I don't make clothes, I have other things to give them."
"What are you sending? Tell me and I'll give you some advice."
"Give me and Wu Zhengrong's books. Our books aren't cheap. Even though we're the authors, we still have to pay for so many books. One of mine, plus his three, let's just say it's two. Military dictionaries are too expensive. Three of our books cost more than one yuan!"
Ye Manzhi is quite willing to give books to others.
She has bought more than 50 books for herself.
It can be given as a gift and can also help boost your sales.
If the quota of 10,000 copies is exceeded, she will receive another payment!
Chang Yue'e asked with a frown, "Just sending books?"
"Ah, it's so hot, the food you send me won't stay here!"
"Listen to me, let Zhengrong bring some cigarettes and alcohol to his father and brother. It's a gesture after all. Who would just give books when meeting for the first time?"
Ye Manzhi has always believed in her mother's wisdom.
So when Ye Lihua was smuggled back home that night, Comrade Chang Yue'e's intention was conveyed to the military representative.
Wu Zhengrong nodded and agreed to bring some cigarettes and alcohol to Old Wu.
Ye Manzhi thought he would prepare some good cigarettes and wine, at least two bottles of Moutai or something.
As a result, he saved up some money and bought two bottles of Binjiang's local Laobai Gan, which was far less generous than when he first visited his father-in-law.
"You're only taking these two bottles?" Ye Manzhi was dumbfounded. "How about taking two more bottles of Moutai? I haven't even finished the one you gave me yet."
"Why bring Moutai on a long journey? If it breaks on the road, won't you feel bad?"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
What he said makes a lot of sense.
Wu Zhengrong's train ticket has been bought, and after get off work these two days, the couple has been busy packing their luggage.
It was Ye Manzhi's first time traveling far away, and she had to pass through several cities before reaching her parents-in-law's residence. She was so excited about the upcoming trip that she was excited and excited every day.
After being taught a lesson by Chang Yue'e, she no longer had any hope for the camera.
She could only comfort herself that her eyes were her cameras and she could remember all these sceneries in her mind.
However, on the second day after the street's March 8th Convenience Service Station officially opened, Wu Zhengrong suddenly came back with a portable camera.
Ye Manzhi immediately asked excitedly: "How did you buy it? How much did it cost?"
"I didn't buy it, I borrowed it from my grandfather."
"Grandpa has a camera. How could he be willing to lend us such a valuable thing?"
She had really wronged that old-fashioned man before.
Wu Zhengrong remained calm and said, "He didn't know I took the camera away. Grandma helped me get it."
Ye Manzhi helped him translate: "Grandma stole it for you?"
She glanced at the camera and asked doubtfully, "Is this a camera from his workplace?"
"No, he bought it with his own money and uses it at work."
"So if we steal the camera, what will he use it for?"
Wu Zhengrong tutted and asked, "Why do you have so many questions? Just take this camera, do you want it?"
"think."
The leaves on the branches have become obedient.
Wu Zhengrong drank the tea his wife had made and, like a great hero, enjoyed the shoulder massage. Then he remembered something and said, "Give me some money. I'll go to the store tomorrow and buy some more film."
“Okay, okay!”
Ye Manzhi ran to the chest of drawers like a happy little bird to get money for him.
"By the way, I made you a new pair of pants so you can wear them on the road."
Ye Manzhi handed him the specially made shorts, then turned her back and said, "Put them on first to see if they fit. If not, I'll make some alterations."
Wu Zhengrong saw a zippered pocket on the front of the shorts and knew it was used to hold money and prevent theft on the road.
So he stood up, took off his pants, and tried the new pants on.
Poor at home, rich on the road. Ye Manzhi planned to carry all the cash in the house with her. Seeing that he had changed his pants, she handed him the wad of cash and said, "Put the money in and feel it to see if it's uncomfortable."
Wu Zhengrong paused slightly and looked at her face for a few seconds. Seeing that she did not look fake, he took the money as he said and put it into his front pocket.
Ye Manzhi glanced down.
“…”
She covered her face with her hands and laughed for a while, then said with a blushing face: "Forget it, don't wear these pants, they don't seem to fit, let me wear them..."
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