Reborn in the red age

Chapter 255 Domestic Price Rise
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Qingfeng Li's family celebrated the New Year and packed their luggage to return to Sijiu City.

Before leaving, Qingfeng Li went to the company headquarters building and met with sixteen engineers who were about to leave for the United States.

Ever since he was preparing to sell his PC business and specialize in software engineering in the future, Qingfeng Li had begun to consider setting up a computer network research center in the United States. He would first accumulate experience focusing on instant messaging software so that he could later launch the World Wide Web and Wireless networks are two top projects in the Internet field.

At this time, Xiangjiang had not yet been connected to the Internet, and there was no research ground for computer networks in Xiangjiang.

In the world, only laboratories in Europe and the United States have computer network connections. Qingfeng Li does not have the scientific research strength of Japan, so he got a modem from the United States and worked on his own computer network behind closed doors.

Therefore, if you want to engage in computer network research, you can only go to the United States.

After half a month of preparation work, we received news from Little Mixed Blood two years ago that the Stanford Board of Trustees agreed to provide Lemon Technology with a laboratory on campus that is connected to the computer network, so that Lemon Technology can conduct computer network research.

That’s why today’s engineers set out for the United States.

After sending sixteen engineers on the plane, Li Qingfeng held a simple meeting with Fang Wanzhen and the company's technical director, instructing them to cooperate with IBM as soon as possible to complete the handover of the PC business. After IBM's acquisition money arrives, the company will increase the company's research and development departmental input.

After finishing their business at the company, Li Qingfeng's family of three boarded the plane to the mainland without anyone seeing them off.

Hearing that this girl was making clothes for others, Li Qingfeng was startled and glanced up and down at this girl's small figure. How old was this little girl? I think you're still in school, right? Why did you go out to be self-employed?

In the end, Hu Jiabao still didn't agree to go home while he was on the bus. First, he was worried about the money, and second, he still had to take an hour's train ride to Suzhou.

Qingfeng Li had just pushed his bicycle out when he heard a crisp female voice from behind greeting him enthusiastically.

Looking at the two dimples on the little girl's red face, Li Qingfeng also smiled: "It's Su Yatou. I have nothing to do and am going to ride a bicycle around Sijiu City. What are you doing pushing the sewing machine?"

All his classmates and friends were at work. Li Qingfeng, who had nothing to do, pushed Hu Jiabao's bicycle that had been placed in the corner for a long time and planned to go out for a ride around Sijiu City.

"It's okay. It's only a few dollars. Our family can afford a plane. We don't need this little money." As soon as Li Qingfeng opened his mouth, a strong aura of nouveau riche hit his face.

There were more than twenty seats in the front cabin, and only Qingfeng Li and his family were empty.

During the flight, the flight attendants frequently passed by Qingfeng Li's family and secretly looked at the family who bought so many tickets at once.

"Teacher Li, what are you doing here?"

When he was about to arrive in Shanghai, Hu Jiabao kept looking outside through the window of the plane. Qingfeng Li immediately understood that Hu Jiabao was homesick.

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Back in Sijiucheng, Hu Jiabao couldn't care less about rest. The next day, he took the first grade of junior high school to the hospital to cancel his leave and start working again.

Hu Jiabao looked through the window in the direction of his home in Gusu and was silent for a long time. He slowly shook his head: "Let's wait until the child is older. We have spent so much money. If we go home now, wouldn't it be wasted? ?”

It was still some time before school started, and the researchers at the institute were working on video and audio compression and decoding technology without sleep or food. Li Qingfeng didn't know much about chip hardware, and he had nothing to do in the past, so he didn't intend to fill in this mess.

Returning to Sijiucheng this time, in order to avoid inhaling the second-hand smoke of other passengers on the plane, Qingfeng Li made a big move and emptied all the tickets in the front row of the cabin.

When the family returned to Beijing, they did not notify anyone to pick them up. They took a taxi at the airport with foreign currency and returned to their home in Qianliang Hutong.

There are no private jets in the country these days. Otherwise, Qingfeng Li would build a private jet for fun, and the main thing would be to be a tyrant.

I cursed in my heart why I forgot about this, so I said, "I'm going to transfer flights in Shanghai later. Would you like to go back to Gusu? You haven't been back for two years."

Since the last time he fell ill after taking the train in the first grade of junior high school, Hu Jiabao was a little worried about taking the first grade of junior high school to crowded places. During this time in Xiangjiang, the most he did was take the first grade of junior high school to bask in the sun in the yard, not the first grade of junior high school. Once out.

When he turned around, he recognized the person. She was a little girl from the courtyard next door. Her surname seemed to be Su. Li Qingfeng didn't remember her exact name. He only knew that this girl was in trouble. Her mother was a street sweeper. She was so small. She lost her father when she was young, and she and her mother depended on each other. She has a quite optimistic personality and usually smiles first when meeting people.

"Teacher Li, I am now self-employed in the street, specializing in making clothes for people." The smile on Su Xiaohong's face did not fall, and she talked about her current job.

Perhaps seeing Li Qingfeng's doubts, Su Xiaohong smiled reluctantly, lowered her head and said with a sense of inferiority: "I don't go to school anymore. My grades can't be admitted to college. Every time I start the simulation, my grades are not good. I couldn't pass the exam, I didn't qualify for the college entrance examination, and my family's financial situation was not good, so I stopped wasting time in school. After I agreed with the school to give me a diploma, I went home. I couldn't find a job at home. It’s okay to make clothes, so I might as well become self-employed.”

This situation is normal these days. When universities did not expand enrollment in the 1980s, the admission rate for the college entrance examination was below 30%. If you include students who passed the preparatory exam before the college entrance examination, the admission rate may be only 10%. ten.

Many students with poor grades will voluntarily drop out of school like Su Xiaohong. It can be said that all those who can get into college these days are the best among people in the true sense.

"Well, it doesn't matter if you can't get into college. You don't judge heroes based on their grades. Now that we have reformed and opened up, there is no need to eat the iron rice bowl. There is no shame in being self-employed. If you follow the national policies, self-employed people can earn much more than those in public institutions. "Seeing that this little girl was a little inferior, Qingfeng Li opened his mouth to encourage her.

"Teacher Li, is it really not shameful to be a self-employed person? When my classmates heard that I was a self-employed person making clothes for people, they were not very willing to associate with me."

Nowadays, the slogans "The income from making an atomic bomb is not as good as selling tea eggs" and "The income from a scalpel is not as good as a razor" has not yet been shouted out. The society generally still discriminates against the self-employed. As long as men and women become self-employed, it is not easy to find them. As a target, state-owned enterprise workers are still a hot commodity.

"Don't care about other people's opinions. Over the years, the concept of the big brother of domestic workers has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The long-standing thinking cannot be reversed for a while. As the process of reform and opening up accelerates, the thinking of the common people will be reversed. It will not be long. In this year, society will no longer discriminate against the self-employed and will give them the respect they deserve."

"Is this really the case? Mr. Li, you are a university teacher and have studied in the United States. What do you think of us self-employed people?" After hearing what Li Qingfeng said, Su Xiaohong raised her head and asked seriously.

"I personally support the group of self-employed people, you guys..." Even if he is idle, he is still idle. For this little girl who always smiles at everyone, Li Qingfeng is still very interested in chatting with her.

The two of them stood at the door of their house and chatted about the issue of self-employment. It wasn't until a customer came into the alley to ask Su Xiaohong to pick up clothes that she woke up and hurriedly took the clothes she had prepared from the baggage she carried with her. Take it out and give it to the guest.

"Teacher Li, thank you so much for taking you so long. I still have to do business, so I'll leave first." After thanking Qingfeng Li hurriedly, he pushed his sewing machine and hurriedly walked to the alley. Go by mouth.

Looking at the girl's back, he raised his hand and looked at the watch on his wrist. He found that he had been chatting with this girl for half an hour. Li Qingfeng couldn't help but smile and shook his head. He had been a teacher for a long time, and he actually became a good teacher. problems.

After locking the door and getting on his bicycle, Qingfeng Li started the cycling activity planned for today.

When passing by the alley, I looked for the Su girl's stall and found that there were already several customers in the newly erected stall, lining up in front of Su Xiaohong's stall to make clothes.

It seems that this girl's craftsmanship is really good. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people asking her to make clothes.

He rode his bicycle up Chang'an Street. As soon as he arrived at Tiananmen Square, Qingfeng Li couldn't ride anymore.

I was cold and tired, and my legs felt like they were filled with lead. I couldn’t pedal the bicycle pedals.

"Oh, no, why am I so weak? I remember when I first went to the countryside, I could walk for more than ten miles without being out of breath. Now I can't even ride for a few miles." Li Qingfeng stood at the door of Tiananmen Square, holding his As soon as the bicycle was placed on the side of the road, he sat on the curb, mumbling his sore thighs.

I sat on the curb and rested for a while. I bought a roasted sweet potato from a vendor selling roasted sweet potatoes on a tricycle nearby to replenish my energy. I turned around and decided to go home and rest. It would also be good to watch TV.

When returning to the alley, Li Qingfeng saw the Su girl from the corner of his eye who was seriously making clothes at his stall. He thought for a moment that she was the little girl from the neighbor next to him. If he saw her, he could go over and take care of the business.

When he came to the Su family girl's stall, Li Qingfeng nodded and looked at the neatly written sign that said, "Cut for customers, process with supplied materials." The handwriting was pretty good.

Hearing some movement next to her, Su Xiaohong, who was busy, stopped what she was doing. She looked up and saw that it was Qingfeng Li. She said curiously: "Teacher Li, aren't you going to go around the Four-Nine City? Why are you so fast?" Just come back?"

"Ah, well, I suddenly remembered that something happened at home, so I came back." Qingfeng Li felt a little embarrassed when he mentioned this, but he still said calmly.

"That's it, then why did you come to see me?"

"Isn't school starting soon? I want to make a white shirt, so why don't I come to you?"

Hearing Qingfeng Li's words, Su Xiaohong was a little surprised: "Ah, Teacher Li, you want me to make clothes?"

Li Qingfeng is a teacher at Peking University and has also studied abroad. He drives an imported car every time he comes in and out. He is recognized as the richest family among all the residents nearby.

He and his wife usually dress well, and the materials looked good. In Su Xiaohong's mind, Qingfeng Li, who was not short of money, should buy ready-made clothes. She never expected that Qingfeng Li would make clothes from her.

"What? You choose people to do business here? Don't want to do my business?" Looking at Su Xiaohong's shocked expression, Qingfeng Li made a joke.

When business comes to her door, Su Xiaohong will not refuse. She quickly picks up the soft ruler used to dry clothes for customers: "How could it be possible? It's just a bit unexpected. Teacher Li, I will take your measurements right now."

Qingfeng Li took off his thick coat, stretched out his arms, and cooperatively asked Su Xiaohong to measure himself.

"Teacher Li, what material do you want your clothes to be made of?"

"Cotton cloth, haven't we canceled the cloth ticket now? Let's buy it directly from you. Please bring your handicraft fee for the cloth. How much is the total?"

"Okay, this ticket was canceled when it was said to be cancelled, and there was no notice. My mother saved so many tickets, and they were all invalidated at once."

This topic involves policy and is somewhat sensitive. Qingfeng Li smiled and did not answer the question.

After taking the measurements, Su Xiaohong quickly calculated all the expenses, raised her head and said: "Teacher Li, your clothes are made of seven feet of cloth, and each foot is seventy-five cents. The total is five yuan and two-five cents. My handicraft fee is one yuan." For money, just give me six yuan and two cents."

"Hey, I haven't bought cloth in the past two years, and now the price of cloth has increased so much." Qingfeng Li took out six yuan and two cents from his pocket and handed it over, sighing at the current price of cloth.

Su Xiaohong took the money and sighed about the impact of the rising prices in the past two years on her family: "Yes, I don't know what happened in the past two years. Prices have continued to rise, and pork has risen to 1.3 yuan. I When I was in school last year, our family didn’t eat pork more than once a year.”

He didn't usually buy groceries, either Hu Jiabao went to buy groceries or went to a restaurant. Li Qingfeng was secretly dumbfounded when he heard that the price of pork had increased to one pound and three pounds.

In Li Qingfeng's memory, pork was only 80 cents per pound two years ago. Good guy, it has increased by more than half this time. Fortunately, the salary was adjusted a few years ago. Otherwise, ordinary people would not be able to afford it.

It's like this now. If we wait a few more years for prices to break through, the lives of ordinary people will really be difficult to live by.

After chatting with Su Xiaohong for a while and agreeing on a time to pick up clothes, Qingfeng Li rode his bicycle home.

When Hu Jiabao returned home in the evening, Li Qingfeng chatted with her about the current rise in prices.

Hu Jiabao, who was coaxing her children, joked that Li Qingfeng had been away from the grassroots for a long time, and she only discovered the rising prices now. She had already discovered it.

The increase in prices is nothing, only 20 to 30 percent. In the two years since she started working, the registration fee has increased from 10 cents to 30 cents, and the cost of various hospital examinations has also doubled. of rising.

(End of this chapter)