Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 358 Chapter 357 Send a letter
The way Xiao Wang expressed his gratitude was simple and unpretentious, just like a movie with "FBI Warning" in the title. There was no need to elaborate on the process. Anyway, both of them were quite satisfied.

When Tang Zhitong watched it for the first time, he was shocked when he saw the title. Does the FBI still care about this? After a closer look, I realized that this was not the case at all.

The next day, September 1959, 9, Monday, the twelfth day of the eighth lunar month, the weather was still sunny.

Dim sum shops are most likely already serving mooncakes.

When Tang Zhitong went to school, he passed by a dim sum shop at the corner of the street. Before eight o'clock, there was already a long queue.

Due to the price of dim sum, even if there were occasional queues in the past, they were not so long.

A few decades later, such long queues will be labeled as shills, scalpers, or hype, but now it is a normal phenomenon, and in the not-too-distant future, there will be queues in front of most stores that offer food. Long queue.

Tang Zhitong left early today to communicate with Gu Mancang in advance about picking up sweet potatoes at the station.

In the case of extreme food shortage, this kind of thing needs to be kept as confidential as possible. Although the telegram is faster, there is a translation process at the destination after the photo is sent.

There is a potential risk here. Although the probability is very small, Tang Zhitong does not dare to gamble, so he still chooses the most ordinary letter to convey the news.

"Teacher Tang, I'll go in first." Gu Mancang was not stupid. He glanced around, wiped away his tears and turned around to enter the classroom.

Today is an ordinary day, but it is destined to be an uneventful day for Gu Mancang. He deserted during class and finished writing the letter.

At the beginning, Tang Zhitong actually thought about directly providing Gu Mancang with national food stamps. Although he could not exchange them at the school, Tang Zhitong could exchange some from other escorts.

Due to work reasons, escorts always have to deal with food and accommodation issues in other places a few days a month, so they can justifiably exchange local food stamps for national food stamps.

"Well, thank you, Teacher Tang!" Gu Mancang thanked him again and wiped his tears.

"Well, well, don't cry." Although Gu Mancang said he wouldn't cry, the tears in his eyes did not stop.

"Go." Tang Zhitong patted Gu Mancang on the shoulder and ended the conversation.

After a big class, Gu Mancang wrote the letter, affixed a stamp, sealed it and handed it to Tang Zhitong.

"Stop crying, people who don't know think what I did to you." Tang Zhitong said helplessly, while someone was already looking over here.

"That's okay. You write a letter today to make sure that your younger brothers and sisters can recognize it and don't need to read it to someone else. Let your family go to the train station entrance at five o'clock in the afternoon next Tuesday, which is the 21st day of the eighth lunar month. Just wait, tie a piece of red cloth around your neck or body, something like a red scarf. Then someone will lead you to the station to collect the sweet potatoes, a total of 120 kilograms, and put them in the envelope as quietly as possible before school in the afternoon. Come on, let me send it out for you," Tang Zhitong explained carefully to Gu Mancang when he saw no one was around.

"Okay, go to class with peace of mind later. I will tell you when it is handed over to your family. Don't worry." Tang Zhitong put the letter away and patted Gu Mancang's shoulder again. For a family like Gu Mancang's For me, studying is the only way out in this life.

So Tang Zhitong directly suggested switching to white potatoes. Although it was more troublesome to handle, white potatoes were more cost-effective and would be more helpful to Gu Mancang's family.

"Well, thank you, Teacher Tang!" Gu Mancang nodded heavily.

As long as Tang Zhitong and Fangyuan asked for a few more days to issue the certificate, it would be easy to exchange more than 20 kilograms of local food stamps for national food stamps.

"Mancang, is anyone at home literate?" As soon as he arrived at the dormitory, he pulled Gu Mancang out of the dormitory.

Tang Zhitong shook his head helplessly. Fortunately, it was now. If "corruption" was popular, the girls watching would probably have already imagined more than 300,000 words of Danmei in their minds.

"Well, my younger brothers and sisters have all read books." Gu Mancang nodded and confirmed.

There were still seven or eight minutes left before the next class. Tang Zhitong hid in the toilet and smoked a cigarette to relieve his depression before going back to class.

"Man, be strong, don't cry." Gu Mancang's cry almost knocked Tang Zhitong out of control. Fortunately, he was not a female student in front of him, otherwise it would be very easy for people to misunderstand him. These days, there are so many people who speak out and draw swords to help. He might get beaten up.

When get out of class was over, Luo Zhiping found Tang Zhitong: "Teacher Tang, you see it has been a while since we started classes. The weather is good these days. Do you want to take the students out for a walk on Sunday?"

Although this is very convenient for mailing, Tang Zhitong considered that after receiving the national food stamps from Gu Mancang's hometown, he might not be able to exchange one pound for five pounds of sweet potatoes like in Sijiucheng.

"Okay, I have no objection." Tang Zhitong is no stranger to this. When he was in college in his previous life, he had organized many kinds of team building and social gatherings, but only in his freshman year.

When we first arrived in a strange city, everyone was still feeling fresh. After two years, everyone would be busy with personal matters, including those who fell in love, those who took postgraduate entrance exams, those who prepared for college entrance exams, and some even prepared for GRE and TOEFL. The levels gradually opened up. .

"Where to go? Does Teacher Tang have any recommendations?" Luo Zhiping asked again.

"I really haven't thought about this problem. How about asking everyone for their opinions? I can do it." Tang Zhitong shook his head.

"Okay, let's have a class meeting, I just have something else to do." Luo Zhiping was very enthusiastic about things in the class.

"Okay." Tang Zhitong naturally had no objection. Although he didn't want to get involved too much, he wouldn't let anything slip.

Luo Zhiping did what he said and called everyone into the classroom after class in the afternoon.

"Students, let's have a class meeting today and talk about two things." After Luo Zhiping had gathered everyone, he walked onto the podium enthusiastically.

The students in Class 593 were quietly waiting for Luo Zhiping's next words.

"The first thing is that we have been getting along day and night for more than half a month. In order to increase understanding and friendship, and to let everyone know more about Kyoto, I discussed with Teacher Tang and prepared to organize our class's first autumn outing this Sunday. Everyone. Don’t have a place you want to go? You can speak freely.” After Luo Zhiping announced, he gave the choice to the students.

"Can the synagogue be used? From the newspaper, it has been completed." Some students raised their hands and suggested.

"I don't think this will work. I passed by it when I was going home yesterday. There are still many places under construction there, and the synagogue is currently not open to the public." Luo Zhiping rejected this proposal when he came up.

"Where is the Red Building? Can you go and pay homage?" Another student suggested.

"I can keep it. Are there any other suggestions?" Luo Zhiping nodded and continued to ask. Then everyone spoke up one after another. Some wanted to go to the city to visit the park, some suggested going to Xiangshan, some suggested seeing the Great Wall, and some even wanted to go to Zhoukoudian to see the Ape Man Exhibition Hall...

Generally speaking, female students tend to go to parks, while male students are more likely to visit great rivers, mountains, holy places, etc.

Luo Zhiping recorded the students' suggestions on the blackboard one by one, and in a short time he listed several options.

In view of the disagreement, Luo Zhiping once again proposed that the decision should be made by the majority.

Of course it's not a vote, but students stand up one by one and say where they want to go, and then Luo Zhiping draws the word "正" behind the destination.

The lack of material does not only refer to food and drink, but also pen and paper. Tang Zhitong can feel the changes in the paper these days. In the past, the two sisters' homework books were relatively smooth paper, but now they are a little rough.

"Hey, where do you want to go?" Lu Jian happily watched a group of younger brothers and sisters discussing and voting. He had never spoken, but now he touched Tang Zhitong's elbow and asked.

"I don't want to go anywhere. If possible, I would rather lie at home and sleep." Tang Zhitong said truthfully.

"Comrade, your thoughts are very dangerous. We need to unite," Lu Jian joked.

"Haha, there are a lot of boys, so they probably know how to climb mountains." Tang Zhitong guessed as he watched the progress of the voting.

After a while, the results came out. Everyone's choices were beyond Tang Zhitong's expectation. Honglou ranked first, Xiangshan second, and Badaling third.

"Okay, everyone, please remember this order. You have been at the College of Posts and Telecommunications for a long time. We can slowly browse through it from most to least." Luo Zhiping thought he had completed one thing and announced happily.

"Um, monitor. I heard that you need a letter of introduction to pay homage to the Red Mansion. I'm afraid I won't be able to visit this time." Tang Zhitong raised his hand to speak. When he was training in the nursing home a while ago, he knew that this place required a certain level and also needed a letter of introduction. , I thought I wouldn’t be selected, so I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t expect it to be on the list!
"Can't we just ask the department to open one?" Luo Zhiping didn't think too much and casually gave a solution.

"I don't know if they recognize it or not. It's best to confirm with the unit over there first." Guarding a group of classmates, Tang Zhitong couldn't easily say that he was not allowed to enter because he was not of a high level, so he could only say vaguely for the time being.

"Okay, I'll get in touch later." Luo Zhiping didn't hear the implication of Tang Zhitong's words and followed his own train of thought.

"Well, how can we get transportation for our trip this time? We can't get close by walking." Tang Zhitong had no choice but to adopt a roundabout tactic of outflanking.

"Hey, forget this question, just take the bus." Survivor bias, Luo Zhiping's financial situation is not bad, plus he often commutes by bus between home and school, so the unreliable advice comes out easily .

Tang Zhitong knew that this suggestion was unreliable. The only buses near the College of Posts and Telecommunications were No. 14 and No. 31.

Route 14 goes into the city and costs cents one way. To go to most scenic spots, you need to back up again. The round trip cost is no less than cents per person.

Bus No. 31 to the Summer Palace costs 33 cents one way. To go to Xiangshan, you need to take bus No. , which costs another cents one way and one yuan round trip.

The above prices do not include admission tickets. These days, college students are given preferential treatment, but transportation and attractions are not half-price, they are all full-ticket tickets.

Due to Luo Zhiping's face and prestige, Tang Zhitong chose to sit down and shut up for the time being, planning to tell him alone after the class meeting was over.

Next, Luo Zhiping announced the second thing: "The celebration is coming soon. The department plans to hold a party to celebrate. Please show your talents and actively sign up to participate!"

This time it won't be as lively as before. Without it, a child from the countryside can't do it. He can't sign up to see who can dance the hoe well, right?
Fortunately, some classmates signed up so that Luo Zhiping could do the work.

After the class meeting, Tang Zhitong went to Luo Zhiping alone and expressed his thoughts: "Squad leader, the place you have chosen is very good, but you need to be at a high level to get in. Just having a letter of introduction is not enough."

"Alas, this happened." Luo Zhiping was a little annoyed. Everyone's first choice was gone. Should they vote again?
"There is also the issue of transportation. I just noticed it. You said that after taking the bus, some students had hesitation on their faces. They probably feel bad about spending too much money and will probably not go." The college students are not worried yet. It was so deep and the expressions were not well managed. Tang Zhitong did see several classmates' faces collapse at that time.

"You can't walk, right?" Luo Zhiping has a concept of distance. The scenic spots in the city are about eight kilometers away from the school. If he walks there, not to mention whether his legs can bear it, at least half of the day will be wasted on the way back and forth.

"There are too many of us, so the bus may not be able to pull us. We should consider taking the train. You can take the train at the nearby Xizhimen Station." Tang Zhitong didn't want to walk out to play. In order to take care of most of his classmates, the only way to go was by train.

"Where can the train go?" Luo Zhiping really didn't know this, so he asked humbly.

"Badaling. Get on the bus from Xizhimen Station in the morning and go straight to Qinglongqiao Station. Not far from the bus is Badaling." Although Tang Zhitong has never been there, Xiao Wang mentioned it when he took his sisters to play there last time. How to get to Badaling and what to pay attention to. The ticket price is also affordable.

"Okay, then I will go to the station to ask about the round trip time first, and then I will discuss it with everyone during self-study in the evening." Luo Zhiping scratched his head. This time, he had a better memory, so he investigated first and then discussed.

"Okay, if you really go to Badaling, remind everyone to bring dry food. There are no restaurants there. It's best to bring some water, at least a cup. You also need to wear more clothes, because the altitude over there is high and the wind is strong." Tang Zhitong proactively reminded .

"Hey, it has to be Teacher Tang. You are worthy of being a life committee member. You are so thoughtful." Luo Zhiping extended his hand to praise Tang Zhitong.

"Stop praising me. This is all my experience of being cold and hungry. Let me know where you are going, I can go anywhere." After Tang Zhitong finished speaking, he waved goodbye to Luo Zhiping and stopped studying. There are still things to deal with.

Tang Zhitong came out of the College of Posts and Telecommunications, rode his bicycle and went straight to the Escort Department.

The escort train from Sijiucheng to Gu Mancang's hometown runs once a week. In order to ensure that someone can pick up Baishu next week, the letter must be delivered to his family this week.

Tomorrow morning will be the day when Xie Qu and Yu Fuyin set off for escort, which means that Gu Mancang's letter must arrive at the escort department for sorting today.

In order to ensure nothing goes wrong, Tang Zhitong did not let Gu Mancang deliver it directly. Instead, he chose to go to the Escort Department himself, deliver the goods from the Escort Department, and let the sorting unit sort them directly.

After arriving at the Escort Department, Tang Zhitong bought a four-cent stamp from the train post office and turned the letter into a registered letter.

Now it costs 4 cents to send a letter to the local port, 8 cents to another location, and 12 cents to register a letter. Even though it is only 4 cents more, it is more secure.

The delivery priority of registered mail is higher than that of ordinary mail, and each link of transshipment and delivery requires the signature of each handler, so it can be delivered to the recipient faster and more accurately.

(End of this chapter)