National Tide 1980.

Chapter 480
Glass grapes are also called feeder grapes.

The Chang family who pioneered this handicraft product is called "Grape Chang".

However, "Tao Chang" was not originally named Chang, but a Mongolian family.

It was about 1850, and a Mongolian tribal princess was selected into the palace by the Qing imperial family.

There was a Mongolian woman named "Fugui" who followed into Beijing, and she also married a soldier in the Mongolian barracks in the Zhenglan Banner of the capital as his wife.

The couple's daily life is maintained by the salary issued by the palace.

In the third year of Xianfeng, that is, in 1853, due to the emperor's decree, some bannermen were exempted from money and food.

When he was at a loss for his livelihood, Fugui had to learn to knead melons and fruits with clay, dry them and paint them, and sell them on the streets.

Later, she kneaded clay into beads, and made grapes from the clay beads, which was more novel than other mud melons and fruits, and gradually gained the favor of buyers.

Fugui's son, Han Qiharib, also kneaded mud grapes from elementary school.

When he was an adult, he tried to make grape beads out of glass frit, saved them into dulu and sent them to the market for sale.

The glass material was very fashionable and fresh at the time, and this innovation was very popular, and it was quickly sold out.

Since then, there have been glass frit grapes in Beijing.

In the 20th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, that is, in 1894, the tenth day of October in the lunar calendar was the [-]th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi.

The palace sent people to search for handicrafts everywhere, and also ordered people in the Beijing Banner to distribute a birthday gift to each household, regardless of whether they were rich or poor.

Officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs selected some of the high-quality goods from these offerings and displayed them in the Summer Palace for Empress Dowager Cixi to enjoy.

The tenth month of the lunar calendar in Beijing has come to the "light snow" solar term. Cixi suddenly saw glass grapes with green vines and round pearls hanging in the withered vegetation. She thought it was real and wanted to pick a few bunches to taste.

When she learned that it was made by a Mongolian woman named Fugui and her son, and also heard about Fugui's life experience, the Empress Dowager named Fugui as permanent on a whim. .

In addition, she also wrote "Tianyichang" in her own handwriting, which originally meant "Tianyichang" to reward rich mothers and children.

Afterwards, the palace made these three characters into a one-meter-long, half-meter-wide plaque with gold characters on a black background and gave it to the wealthy family.

From then on, this imperial title made Fugui's family change their surname to Chang, which was called "Gao Chang" by the people of the capital.

There is no shortage of people who rub hot spots in any age.

Seeing that the Chang family became famous overnight and the business was booming, the same industry in the capital inevitably rushed to imitate their family's feeder grapes.

It's just that no matter which family makes the grapes in the feeder, it is not as exquisite as the Chang's.

People say that the Chang family has a "unique trick" in making grapes, which is kept secret, which is true.

Because only Chang's grapes are hollow, unlike others who are dead.

In this way, the material is saved, and the texture is good.

But the most important thing is that the Chang family can create the effect of hanging frost, which is almost to the point of deceiving the real.

For this reason, "Grape Chang" has even become famous overseas.

In 1914, Changjia won the first prize at the Panama International Exposition in the United States.

Since then, the Chang family has grown rich, and there is a lot of traffic at the door. Even the "foreign village" of foreigners comes to the door to rush to buy.

At that time, how popular was Chang's feeder grapes?

After one month, the Chang family can almost receive 24 advance payments in five foreign currencies.

So later, the Chang family added glass melons and fruits, wine cups, flag tops, etc., and exported them in large quantities to Europe and the United States.

At that time, Zhendexing in Xihuying, Beijing, Renli in Wangfujing, and Hansen in Maojiawan were all distributors of the Chang family.

But this kind of life also makes the third-generation men of the Chang family indulge in pleasure.

None of them touched the handicraft handed down from their families, they only wanted to carry the cages and raise the birds, and became young masters who did not do their jobs properly.

Needless to say, once the habit of eating, drinking, whoring and gambling is absorbed, no matter how big the family business is, it will come to naught.

Just after the head of the family, Han Qiharibu, passed away, and hadn't lived a good life for a few years, the Chang family owed a huge debt because of the young masters, and they were in danger.

But the men of the Chang family couldn't afford the creditor's son to come to the door, and all of this was pressured by the actual handicraft inheritors, the daughters of the third generation of the Chang family, Chang Guifu, Chang Guilu, Chang Guishou, and the granddaughter of the fourth generation. On Chang Yuqing and Chang Yuling.

In order not to lose their own craftsmanship and support the family, they made a joint decision with tears in their eyes—not to marry for life.

It's just that although sacrifice is great, it's good fortune.

Due to years of wars and changes in the world, the society's demand for extravagant decorations is decreasing day by day.

All kinds of exorbitant taxes and extortion are increasing day by day.

Soon, the grapes of Chang's family could no longer be sold, and their downfall was inevitable.

The aunts and nieces had no choice but to make a living by selling roasted sweet potatoes, sugar snap peas, candied gourds and fried oil cakes, collecting cinders, and unpacking and washing bedding according to the changing seasons.

It was not until 1949 that the Chongwen District government in the new society approached the Chang family, mobilized and supported them to restore the glass grapes of the "Tianyi Chang" brand as soon as possible, and the five daughters of the Chang family resumed their old business.

In the early summer of 1952, the first batch of glass frit grapes to resume production came out, and they were sent to the National Materials Exchange Conference held in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

A refined "May Fresh" feeder grapes attracted all the audience's praise for its "exquisite craftsmanship".

In this way, there was a bulk order, and the market quickly opened up.

Later, during the handicraft cooperative movement, out of consideration of keeping the secret recipe, the five daughters of the Chang family did not join the Beijing Material Utensil Factory.Instead, he joined the first velvet and silk flower production cooperative in Beijing and formed the first independent professional production group for self-produced and self-marketed products.

Chang Guilu has the best workmanship, and his monthly salary is 130 yuan, while others range from 70 yuan to 80 yuan per month.

Not only did the agency keep their promise, but they were allowed to stay at home and work.

Moreover, in order to expand production and improve labor efficiency, two furnace workers for burning glass beads were transferred from Tong County for them, and four female apprentices were recruited for them from other places.

In 1956, the five daughters of the Chang family led a few apprentices, and the annual output value of grapes alone reached 8000 yuan.

There was even a foreign businessman who asked for [-] grapes when he ordered.

With this order, they couldn't make it through the whole year, and they were both happy and worried.

This summer, Chang Guilu was also named the only female "veteran artist" in the handicraft industry in Beijing, and was elected as a member of the Women's Federation.

It's a pity that flowers don't have a hundred days of success, and manpower can't compete with the general trend of history.

Since 1966, Chang’s feeder grapes have disappeared from the market again.

Since then, Chang Guilu, Chang Guishou, and Chang Yuqing among the five daughters of the Chang family have passed away one after another.

In 1977, even Chang Guifu left.

So far, the grapes in the feeder of "Grape Chang" have completely disappeared not only in the market in Beijing.

The real successor is only the last of the five daughters of the Chang family - Chang Yuling of the fourth generation.

It was not until June 1979, in order to help the street solve the employment problem of unemployed youths, that San Yuling, with the support of the Donghuashi Sub-district Office, used an old warehouse as a blank blowing workshop and brought a few unemployed youths to restore the material. The handicraft production of grapes.

However, since glass grapes are purely handcrafted, there are many procedures.

At the beginning, the apprentices were unskilled and the output was low, resulting in very poor economic benefits.

As a result, in the autumn of 1980, the production cooperative finally announced its dissolution due to poor management and lack of funds.

After all, the craftsmanship of "Gaochang" failed to stand up.

The above was introduced by Ning Weimin and Qiao Wanlin in detail after Ning Weimin and Qiao Wanlin found Donghuashi Street, Chongwen District, where Chang Yuling lived, to learn more about the situation.

Not only that, but even this director Niu was very honored to show them the two bunches of grapes produced by the street production company under the guidance of Chang Yuling a few years ago.

It should be said that the fame of "Putao Chang" is quite legendary, and it sounds like a wonderful storytelling.

If the novel is made into a film and television drama, its excitement should not be much worse than that of "The Mansion Gate" with the background of Sinopharm.

And the physical effect of the grapes in the feeder is also extremely amazing.

Whether it is purple grapes or horse milk grapes, they are full of texture. I am afraid that no one will believe that these are fake grapes.

So for these, Ning Weimin and Qiao Wanlin who opened their eyes didn't make this trip in vain.

However, no matter what, after all, there is no way to offset the frustration of not getting things done.

Like Qiao Wanlin, after listening to it, he couldn't help but sigh, feeling very discouraged by the decline of "Grape Chang".

"Wei Min, it's a waste of time for us to co-operate. The 'Gaochang' is gone, and we can't buy it even if we want to. What do you think next? Shall we go back to the Beijing Material Equipment Factory? Or simply Just give up using the feeder? You have to follow me, no, let’s go to the jade factory, no matter how expensive the jewelry and jade bonsai are, it’s better than nothing, isn’t it? Less is less, and smaller is smaller..."

Ning Weimin was in deep thought, but Director Niu answered rashly.

"Hey, Comrade Qiao, it's not me who refuted you. What you said just now is still a bit problematic. 'Taochang' doesn't make grapes anymore. As long as there are people who know the technology, they can do it if they want to. If Chang Yuling If people are gone, the unique skill of "Gaochang" will be declared dead. As for now, if our district gives some policy support and approves some loans. As long as the Chang family is rekindled, you How many grapes do you want?"

"To tell you the truth, our street strength is limited, and there is really no market for foreign trade. This is the reason why we failed to set up a production company last time. But the things are really good things. You two came here especially. Disappointed?"

"Isn't the comrade who wants to buy grapes from Pierre Carton? If a foreign company as big as yours can sell our grapes abroad, it will be a trivial matter. Then, from now on, your company will make a lot of money from it. The craftsmanship of 'Gao Chang' can still be passed on. Isn't this a good thing that kills two birds with one stone."

"It's really not that I'm bragging for Mrs. Chang. What she really has is a craftsmanship that has been praised by our great leader. If it weren't for the fact that she insisted on keeping the secret recipe, her family would have entered the capital material utensil factory. A sixth-level mechanic. It's a pity that this person has no hindsight, so he can only recite words. No, now I want to hand over the secret recipe, and it's not rare for other material utensil factories..."

After a few words, Director Niu not only inadvertently pointed out the discord between the Jingcheng Material Utensil Factory and "Gaochang".

Let Ning Weimin and Qiao Wanlin understand.

And his hidden thoughts are also exposed.

That is to think that the crying child will have milk to eat, and wants to take the opportunity to cry a few times to see if the production cooperative can be reopened with the strength of the district.

Otherwise why treat each other so warmly and introduce so patiently?

Obviously, it's too early for no benefit.

Needless to say, if he can really achieve his goal, then Donghuashi Street can earn more income, and the few alleys in the area can reduce the number of unemployed young people.

But the question is, the life of the grassroots units is not easy, so is the life of the higher-level units in the district easier?

There is a lack of funds everywhere now, otherwise why would the service bureau be interested in Ning Weimin's proposal if there are so many catering companies under its command?
Isn't it because foreign companies have strong capital, he has the ability to make a lot of money, and he also wants to follow suit and get some living money from a small treasury.

So Qiao Wanlin refused without even thinking about it.

"I said, Director Niu. You are really good enough to lay an ambush with us. We are here to buy things. Oh, just because we didn't sell them, we have to invest money to support you? Is it reasonable? It's not that I don't want to help you, nor that I don't want to help you, the key is that I can't even report to my superiors. What should I say?"

"Besides, you haven't figured out who is responsible for this matter. Arts and crafts production companies like yours should be managed by the Light Industry Bureau. Our Service Bureau can't control this section. We have to If you give money to support you, the District Light Industry Bureau will have to sue us."

"Also, you want to simplify the export channels. That's under the management of the foreign trade company. Don't think that Manager Ning belongs to the Peel Carton Company. He has no right to sell domestic handicrafts abroad. What's more, they It’s a clothing company, how can you sell glass grapes for someone who sells clothes? Do you think it’s possible?”

Director Niu blushed when he was told, and only then did he realize that he was indeed ignorant everywhere and reckless in every sentence.

But the matter is still so desperate, before he can explain it aloud.

Ning Weimin, who was sitting on the side, pouted Qiao Wanlin's face.

His response was beyond everyone's surprise.

"Hey, Wan Lin, you can't say that. In fact, I think Director Niu's thoughts are understandable. It's what parents and officials should do to benefit the residents of the street. He's doing his duty. What a good cadre! , It’s not that I haven’t cooperated with the street before. The sewing club on Meishi Street used to have only about 60 people, but now it’s a small sewing factory with [-] people. Isn’t that just my help…”

"No, you... what are you talking about? You didn't take the wrong medicine, did you? You didn't buy pork and you wanted to raise pigs yourself?"

Qiao Wanlin was stunned, he didn't expect Ning Weimin to be against him.

A stern warning followed.

"Let me tell you, we don't care about that, just talk about buying the feeder when we come here. If you can't buy it, leave! Can you save me a little time, so I don't keep making fools..."

Ning Weimin hurriedly passed the cigarette over, forcing Qiao Wanlin to take it.

While lighting him up, he persuaded him.

"Don't worry, don't worry, I think this feeder grape is really good. If it can really be placed in our restaurant, and the scorpion shit is the only one, it will definitely be shocking."

"Anyway, we are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on feeders. Who is it not to buy? The money is simply given to the street. If it can help the 'Grape Chang' resume production, it will be offset by goods. Why not do it?"

"Furthermore, we are backed by the Temple of Heaven, so we can't afford foreign tourists. Although we don't have a way to do foreign trade in batches, we can still sell the grapes in our hands and retail them to individual customers..."

Director Niu is so beautiful now, and he slapped excitedly beside him.

"Oh, I just said that I saw a magpie on the branch today. Manager Ning, you are not an ordinary person when you open your mouth. Your method is really grand. I sound reliable. If you can really give us tens of thousands, our production company can really do it again Get up. Good for individual tourists, our grapes are difficult to produce in batches. It is just right to sell tourists according to the method you said."

Ning Weimin immediately handed him a cigarette, but he held on.

"Don't stop, Director Niu, don't get excited. Although things are good, it depends on the overall cost. Tell me about it first, how many people will be needed if a production company is set up in the street again? How much investment? This one How many qualified feeder grapes can you produce per month? If we completely buy out your goods, what price will you sell us for?"

This question was on point, and Director Niu didn't dare to fool him in the slightest.

Especially when he saw the unhappy face of Qiao Wanlin next to him, Director Niu recalled it carefully, and began to introduce the situation more cautiously.

"You don't need too many people, six or seven people are enough. The investment is not too much. The traditional equipment is very simple. We still have some. The factory buildings can be found on the street, so it doesn't cost money. The main cost is raw materials and workers. The wages have been increased. If we reopen this stall, it will be enough for about [-] in the early stage.”

"Output. In the past, when our sub-district office was established, the technology was unfamiliar at the beginning, and it was only about 200 strings per month. After about half a year, the output increased to more than 15 strings per month. For external sales, we sold on the basis of raw materials. With doubled profits, each bunch of grapes costs about 30.00 yuan. But after subtracting raw material costs, workers’ wages, coal fires and taxes, we are left with a [-]% profit. We have to sell them all.”

"Anyway, the output value is more than 3000 yuan per month. The key is to control the scrap rate and find a market. When the scrap rate is high, the cost will be high. If there is no market, there will be a backlog of products. Then the input of raw materials and wages will be indispensable every month. We can’t take it anymore. If you can really buy out all of them, we won’t have to worry about sales. We can give you 13 yuan, or even 12 yuan. In fact, the street can earn a rent and be content.”

Ning Weimin's brain is full of calculations, and after a brief review, he comes to a conclusion that this matter is a big advantage.

So all of a sudden, the "thorn edge" guy, he stood up.

Of course Director Niu was very surprised.

"What? Manager Ning? What do you think is dissatisfied? Let's talk about it..."

Ning Weimin waved his hands uncontrollably.

"Director Niu, don't get me wrong. I think the key depends on the attitude of the Chang family. The old man is over 70 and has suffered so much. It stands to reason that it is time to take care of his life. People should be careful. I'm disheartened, and I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's useless for us to say anything, right? So let's pause, let's go to meet the old man first, and talk about the conditions there. Only when he agrees, can we go here Go to the next step, isn't it? Is it convenient for you now?"

Director Niu stood there for a while, and jumped up as soon as he realized it, more eager than Ning Weimin.

"It's convenient, it's convenient, let's go right away. Don't worry, Mrs. Chang will never be unhappy. Just because she is a person of this age, her biggest wish is to pass on the unique skills of the Chang family. Conditions? Being able to bring 'Tao Chang' back to life is the condition. Do you believe it or not? She can even ask for no reward..."

But it is different from Ning Weimin, and also different from Director Niu.

Qiao Wanlin, who was at the end, lowered his head and smoked a stuffy cigarette.

After going out, he grabbed Ning Weimin's arm through gritted teeth.

Just walking all the way, I started muttering to him, begging for nothing and trying to persuade him.

"I said you boy, with our little funds, you really plan to buy thousands of bunches of grapes. Can you be calm and calm! No matter how good things are, they won't last much! Too many are worthless!"

"What's the matter, you? I've never seen you so troublesome! You sing the red face yourself and let me sing the bad face, right? It's not a matter of opening a factory in a day or two, and you will be tied to it in the future. Every day You have to worry about how to sell these glass grapes!"

"I know, you must have said that you should go find other funds to top it up first. That money is also money, you are not afraid that the hole will be big, and you will not be able to make it up. You forgot how you promised me, good guy, Instead of buying junk from other people's warehouses, you plan to build it yourself..."

Qiao Wanlin was really worried about Ning Weimin, his eyes were red with anxiety.

But Ning Weimin laughed out loud. "Brother, buddy, don't get so angry! No way! Wanlin, don't you believe me? Have I ever done a business that lost money?"

Following him, he also lowered his voice to explain the tricks inside.

"You have to think about it this way. If we didn't suffer from the feeder factory, we could buy everything smoothly. Then why would it cost 5 yuan? You still can't buy such awesome feeder grapes. Right? But Now, according to Director Niu's introduction, two hundred bunches of grapes cost less than 3000 yuan."

"What does this mean? This not only means that the grapes of 'Grape Chang' are cheaper than we expected, but also means that the cost of its feeder factory is also very low. We started to burn glass here, so we have feeder equipment, Then I can invite the master craftsman from the feeder factory to come here to make what we want! Do you still need to look at the face of the feeder factory?"

"Thinking about the first few days, we foolishly sent the money to the feeder factory. Dude, it turned out that the feeder factory left us alone, and we saved a lot of money!"

"Understood? We are not going to set up a 'Grape Chang' production company, but a real production company that can produce any high-end feeder. It's only tens of thousands, and it's not cheap enough? If we do it, we will benefit from it all year round. If it fails, it can also solve our current needs and buy what we want."

"I'm even thinking, can the master craftsmen of the feeder factory cooperate with 'Grape Chang' to burn real grape leaves for the feeder, instead of the kind made of cloth commonly used by grapes. Use copper wire instead of beaded iron wire. In this way, it is truly transparent, gorgeous, and upscale. Although the cost is high, it may make the 'Grape Chang' out of the category of folk playthings, but it is worth it..."

Qiao Wanlin is not a fool, so he quickly figured it out.

Immediately became very excited, "Hey, Weimin, what kind of brains do you have. I have to say, you still have more recruits!"

At this moment, they had already reached the place without knowing it.

Hearing a shout from the front, Director Niu had already crossed the road first, and ran to a popsicle cart on the opposite side.

He was turning around and waving his hands to beckon Ning Weimin and the others to pass.

Then he pointed at Ning Weimin and the two of them for the old lady, as if introducing their identities.

Looking at the old lady with a pair of glasses and a kind face, who was selling popsicles to passers-by with a smile.

Qiao Wanlin couldn't help but widen his eyes again.

"Ah! No way? This is 'Grape Chang'? It's actually a popsicle seller! Hey, this guy with the surname Niu is out of line! Weimin, be careful! What! Look, they are so difficult How dare he say that people don't want to be paid? I don't believe it..."

Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin said, "I believe it. Let me tell you that this old lady is so downcast, but she can maintain such a calm and indifferent energy. After we pass by, you have to be respectful. I am now I am more confident. This is really a master, if this thing is done, maybe it will be done."

"Ah? Why? Why are you so sure?"

Qiao Wanlin looked at the traffic on the road, and crossed the road in a hurry, but also questioned Ning Weimin's judgment in disbelief.

However, Ning Weimin said something intriguing with confidence.

"My Uncle Kang told me that it is not easy for a person to be rich without arrogance, and it is even more difficult to be poor without complaint. Especially rich and poor people like Mrs. Chang, who can do To not be happy with things, not to be sad with oneself, to live in peace and happiness. The realm is already much higher than ordinary people. It is true to find such a person to do things..."

Qiao Wanlin looked at the last successor of the "Grape Chang", and gradually developed respect in his eyes.

Precisely at this moment.

The director of the Jingcheng material equipment factory is asking the business section chief for information related to Ning Weimin and Qiao Wanlin.

"A few days ago, you received the people from the service bureau in the district?"

The business section chief took a step forward, "Director, I've sent them away. I didn't promise to make high-end products for them, so I sold them eight mid-range feeders from the commissary."

"Oh, I heard that there are two young people here. They are full of vigor. Are you not unhappy that you are perfunctory with them?"

The chief of the business section smiled contemptuously, "Oh? Come and beg us, they still have the spirit? Then don't come! In fact, if they are not from the district, I dare to mention the "grape" to them in our factory. We won’t even sell those few pieces to them, so let them go away empty-handed. Our high-end feeders are too labor-intensive, and of course we have to prioritize political tasks, so where can we sell them so many good feeders?”

The factory director scratched his head, "Let's do it. Anyway, we don't live by high-end products, we still focus on industrial production. Ah, by the way, have you arranged the wholesale card for shipment to Shandong? Don't forget to tell those Shandong People, if you come to our factory to pick up the goods next time, if you want [-] more, you can give them another eight cents for each piece..."

The chief of the business section nodded vigorously, "Yes, I understand, I have written it all down."

(End of this chapter)