1980 My literary era

Lin Weimin certainly knew that Rong Shihui actually did not have the ability to help him solve work problems.

But he also knew that Rong Shihui was a veteran within "Contemporary" and even People's Literature Publishing House. There is a strong sense of humanity these days. It would be better for him to help open this door than to go to those leaders like me.

Being an editor is the best way out that Lin Weimin has found for himself after careful consideration, at least the best way out in the past two or three years.

After experiencing the treatment and social status of literary workers these days, Lin Weimin's idea of ​​making waves in the tide of reform and opening up cannot be said to be completely gone, but at least it is not that urgent anymore.

The reason is also very simple. He was not a business tycoon before time travel. If he did some speculation, the scale of his business would be small, but if it were big, he would not have confidence in himself.

It is better to take advantage of the conditions of being at the Institute of Literary Studies to lay a good foundation for yourself first.

He came to Rong Shihui with the works of his classmates and proposed to make an album. To put it bluntly, he just wanted to submit a petition.

The next day was the weekend, and Lin Weimin got up early and ran to Yenching University.

"Old horse!" Lin Weimin found the American guy he met at the last exchange and dialogue meeting, Keith McMahon, whose Chinese name is Ma Kemeng.

"Hey! Lin, why are you here?" Mark Meng came up in surprise and gave Lin Weimin a hug.

"Of course I'm here to play with you. Our Literary Research Institute is on holiday!"

"Oh, that's really good news."

"You guys should have a rest today, right?"

"Yes, we are planning to go out to play today. It's great to have you here, let's go together!"

Mark Meng happily pulled Lin Weimin and stood downstairs in Building 25, "We will leave when everyone is here."

A few minutes later, a few more international students arrived, but the only familiar face was Yoko Kuro, whom I met on the day of the exchange and dialogue meeting.

Mark Meng introduced the remaining three people, Yin Geli and Cao Mengde from Austria, and Feng Xiaorong from Federal Germany, two men and one woman.

These people did not participate in the exchange and dialogue meeting that day, so they did not know Lin Weimin.

Hearing Mark Meng say that Lin Weimin is a very famous writer in China, he couldn't help but become curious about him, and even looked at him differently.

Lin Weimin looked at Mark Meng speechlessly. When it comes to bragging, I can't even compare to you Americans.

There were four men and two women in the group, and all of them rode bicycles, except Lin Weimin.

Mark Meng asked: "Lin, aren't you riding a bicycle?"

"No, I am only studying in Yanjing for a short time, but I can buy one."

"Buy one?"

Mark Meng glanced at him unexpectedly. Although they had not been in China for a long time and could not speak Chinese well, they still knew a thing or two about the domestic income level. A bicycle was not cheap for ordinary working-class people. .

But then Mark Meng thought of Lin Weimin's other identity - a writer.

In the United States, as long as someone can be called a writer, their income is usually much higher than that of ordinary working-class people. I think this is also the case for Lin.

"However, I don't have a bicycle ticket..." Lin Weimin said with difficulty.

Ma Ke waved his hand and said, "We can go to the Friendship Store."

"That would be too much trouble for you."

"It doesn't matter, our foreign exchange coupons can't be spent anyway."

Lin Weimin nodded, "Okay, I'll exchange RMB for your foreign exchange coupons."

"No problem." Mark Meng said cheerfully.

After finalizing the matter with a few words, the group of people rode their bicycles and headed straight to the Friendship Store.

Domestic friendship stores emerged in the 1950s in the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, mainly supplying scarce and high-quality goods to foreign envoys, sailors, overseas students, and overseas Chinese.

Yanjing's Friendship Store was built in 1964 and is located along Chang'an Street, on the bustling Jianguomenwai Street, adjacent to the embassy district.

In these days, Friendship Store only accepts foreigners and overseas Chinese, so it has always been prohibitive for ordinary people.

It is difficult to use RMB in the Friendship Store, so you have to use overseas remittance coupons or foreign exchange coupons. The most important thing is that you have to have a foreign face. If Lin Weimin came by himself, he might not even be able to get in.

But today is different. Among the people in Mark Meng, except for Xiao Hei Yoko, who has an East Asian face that is difficult to distinguish, the others all have the appearance of standard foreign devils.

Therefore, Lin Weimin entered the Friendship Store without even stopping at the door.

Lin Weimin wondered if this was a fake act.

Yanjing Friendship Store is a four-story building, and its scale is no less than that of the large and medium-sized supermarkets of later generations. Even from the perspective of future generations, the shopping environment is no less impressive, spacious, bright, comfortable and elegant, with complete supporting facilities.

Lin Weimin and others walked around and found that the variety of products was much richer than in supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores outside, but compared to later generations, it was much worse.

But there are also benefits. Lin Weimin saw many extremely exquisite handicrafts for sale, all aimed at foreign friends.

Mark Meng and the others were not in a hurry when they entered the Friendship Store, they just looked around and shopped.

Yin Geli and Xiao Heiyoko were still chatting with the salesperson at the counter. Women have no resistance at all to things like shopping.

Lin Weimin and Mark Meng came to the bicycle counter, where there were bicycles from major domestic bicycle manufacturers, including Phoenix, Forever, Feige...

Among these bicycle brands, Phoenix is ​​undoubtedly the loudest and the one most recognized by young people.

Lin Weimin did not hesitate and chose a Phoenix brand black 28-inch bicycle.

Mark Meng took the initiative to pay, the salesperson's attitude was so friendly, and the shopping process was extremely smooth.

Coming out of the Friendship Store, Lin Weimin paid for Mark Meng.

These days, according to official regulations, the exchange ratio of RMB and foreign exchange certificates must be 1:1.

However, rules are dead and people are alive. In terms of the degree of shortage, RMB cannot be compared with foreign exchange coupons. This also results in the ratio of RMB exchanged for foreign exchange coupons on the black market being higher than the official price.

Lin Weimin gave it to Mark Meng at the black market price, but Mark Meng refused. He had lived in China for a while and he knew something about it.

However, for him, a foreigner, the exchange rate of foreign exchange certificates has no impact. He is purely doing a favor to his friend today.

After some negotiation, Mark Meng still only accepted RMB 160, which was equivalent to the selling price of the bicycle.

The group of them went out for the weekend without a specific destination.

Lin Weimin bought a bicycle, and they followed him to the vehicle management office to have the bicycle stamped.