The literary era since 1979

Chapter 113 Departure to Hangzhou
In just five days, the sales of the latest issue of "October" exceeded 50 copies, and it is expected to reach 60 copies by the end of the month.

Just when everything was going well, the editorial department of October had a brief break, and Tian Zengxiang went to the Jade Station to "collect materials".

Fang Yan also prepared to go out to collect folk songs. He took the manuscript fee and the printing fee he had just received. With a huge amount of money in his pocket, he made an appointment with Han Yuemin, who had been on unpaid leave, to meet on East Chang'an Avenue.

"Brother Han, is the letter of introduction ready?"

"Okay, I can go to Hangzhou with you the day after tomorrow!"

Han Yuemin asked: "Where are we going now?"

"Let's go buy the train tickets first. Do you have the letter with you?"

Fangyan asked.

The train ticket pre-sale period at this time is 3 days.

However, tickets for three days in advance can only be purchased at the pre-sale offices in Dongdan, Xizhimen, and Qianmen. Yanjing Station only sells tickets for the same day and the next day.

"I have it." Han Yuemin patted his chest pocket.

"After I buy the tickets, I'll go to the Friendship Store."

Fangyan pushed the bicycle and strode forward.

Since the opening up, the number of foreigners, overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan visiting China or visiting relatives has increased day by day. As a result, a number of foreign-related hotels and friendship stores have sprung up in various places. However, due to the inconvenience in using and spending foreign currency, foreign exchange coupons were introduced in 1980.

It is not named and cannot be reported lost; the ticket is recognized but not the person.

Once launched, it was in great demand.

The supply was so tight that when buying eggs at the vegetable market, you could buy twice as many foreign exchange coupons of the same denomination. Even when foreigners used foreign exchange coupons in taxis, the drivers were required to hand them over to the company, but they would rather be punished and keep some of them for themselves.

Because the profits from taking it to the "black market" are much higher than the fines.

But to buy foreign exchange certificates, you don’t have to wait until night or go to the pigeon market.

All day long, there are sneaky and furtive figures in front of the Friendship Store and high-end hotels.

These people are called ticket bugs.

Sit back and wait, when you meet a foreigner, he will ask “Do you want to exchange for RMB?”, when you meet ordinary people, you will ask “Do you want foreign exchange coupons?”.

"You want foreign exchange certificates?"

The man who called himself "Wen San" took Fang Yan and Han Yuemin under a tree, and only started talking after making sure that there was no one around.

Fangyan asked: "What's the price?"

Wen San said 120 yuan could be exchanged for foreign exchange certificates with a face value of 100 yuan.

"how much do you have?"

Fangyan thought it was fair. The exchange rate for foreign exchange certificates on the black market could reach 1.5. Of course, that was in the mid-80s.

"No more, no less, 1250 yuan."

Wen San opened his briefcase, which contained a pile of foreign exchange certificates.

"That's it?"

Fangyan frowned. This money was only enough to buy an appliance.

"That much?"

Wen San was stunned. "No one in this area has more foreign exchange certificates than I do, and you still think it's not enough. What do you think, buddy? Can you take them all?"

"Yes, I want them all." Fangyan nodded.

"Don't make fun of me, I don't have the time..."

Wen San looked at the young face and didn't take it seriously. Suddenly, bundles of big bundles appeared in his sight.

"300 per bundle."

Fangyan didn't waste any time. He took out five bundles of foreign exchange coupons from his bag and asked Han Yuemin to count them. After confirming that they were correct, they could exchange them.

Wen San's face changed drastically, and he grinned, "May I ask who you are, brother, and where did you make your fortune?"

The dialect said jokingly: "I am Zhang Mazi."

Wen San was stunned, "But buddy, you don't have any pockmarks on your face."

"Is there a wife in wife cake?" Fangyan said with a smile.

One hand hands over the money, the other hands over the coupon, clean and neat.

Han Yuemin followed the dialect and said as he walked:
"My goodness, it's really profitable to trade foreign exchange certificates. I can earn almost a year's salary just from this!"

"Brother Han, don't be envious. When you come back from Hangzhou, he will envy you instead." Fang Yan waved his hand.

Han Yuemin nodded, not quite understanding what was going on. When he arrived at the door of the Friendship Store, he saw a row of iron fences at the entrance:

"Yanzi, it seems we can't go in?"

"Brother Han, the rules have changed now. Foreign exchange coupons are the pass. Anyone can enter Friendship as long as they have foreign exchange coupons!"

Fangyan patted him on the back and climbed up the stairs.

Han Yuemin saw him walking with great vigor and strides, looking very domineering, and he straightened his back as well.

When it was first established, the Friendship Store only received foreign guests.

You must show your passport, overseas Chinese certificate, or foreign work permit before you can enter.

Ordinary people can only stop and look, unless someone with a license is willing to take them in.

But with the issuance of foreign exchange coupons, it began to be opened to ordinary people, and foreign exchange coupons became a special pass for people to enter.

The variety of goods is overwhelming.

Canned food, four famous embroidery styles, carpets and tapestries, precious seafood, famous Chinese and foreign wines and cigarettes, precious medicinal materials, household appliances, bicycles, mid- to high-end furniture, fashionable clothes, woolen fabrics and silks, photographic equipment, clocks and watches, glasses, gold and silver jewelry...

At that time, there was a slogan in Youyi: "We want the best products on the market; we must have products that are lacking in the market; we must also have products that are popular in foreign countries!"

"Oh my God!"

Han Yuemin was as shocked as Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

Fangyan is not like the car owners in later generations who were preparing to buy a BYD Qin. They went into a 4S store and ended up paying the full amount instead of the down payment.

The purpose is very clear, go straight to where the home appliances are.

I looked around at the washing machines, Panasonic, Sanyo, Hitachi, all of which are Japanese products, and all of which are single-cylinder washing machines, that is, they consist of a washing tub and a impeller, and can only wash, not spin. The salesperson told me that they will import double-cylinder models from Germany in a while.

After weighing the pros and cons, I chose a color TV.

14-inch Peony brand, 1050 yuan.

With the remaining two foreign exchange coupons in his pocket, Fangyan carried the TV and walked out. Han Yuemin gave him a hand, and he walked lightly.

Especially when he reached the door, passers-by cast envious glances at him. He looked very proud and tried hard to hold back his smile.

"Brother Han, if you want to laugh, just laugh. Don't hold it in."

Fangyan put the box containing the TV on the frame, then took out ropes and tied it up tightly one by one.

"If you want to laugh, you should be the first to laugh. But Yanzi, why do you look so calm?" Han Yuemin asked in surprise.

Fangyan turned his head, puzzled.

“This is a color TV!”

"And I bought the color TV from the Friendship Store!" "Imagine that if I go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a bottle of soy sauce and come to the Friendship Store to buy a bottle of soy sauce, the feeling inside must be different."

Han Yuemin danced with joy, saying that this bottle of soy sauce seemed like a reward for his progress, and that the taste was different, it was sweet.

"Hahaha, Brother Han, don't look at me like this, I'm actually secretly happy in my heart!"

Fangyan suddenly realized that these days, buying a TV is not a trivial matter, but an extremely prestigious event.

"That's what I told you. Look, you're so happy that you're walking in the wrong direction. We should go this way."

Han Yuemin gave a reminder.

Fang Yan said, "I have to go to the photo agency. The second-hand Seagull camera I bought from the Trust Store a few days ago is being repaired there."

Han Yuemin was surprised and said, "You want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to travel to Hangzhou and take some photos, right?"

"That's not the point."

Fang Yan persuaded: "If you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools. Think about it, Brother Han. Among those participating in this Golden Rooster Awards are Zhu Shimao, Liu Xiaoqing, Zhang Yu and other popular actors."

"I see. Do you want to take a photo with them?"

"It's not important whether you take a photo with me or not. What's important is taking a photo with you."

"I?"

"Yes, think about it. If you show these photos on the first day of your stall opening, what will the customers' reaction be?"

"Hey! Why didn't I think of that!"

Han Yuemin slapped his forehead and vaguely understood.

"This is called the 'star effect'."

Fangyan smiled and said, many companies, especially restaurants, like to hang photos of celebrities and star artists from all walks of life.

This way you can take advantage of the celebrity halo and quickly become famous.

"What is the star effect?"

Han Yuemin understood a little, but also didn't quite understand.

"You'll know the answer after you open the store, Brother Han." Fang Yan smiled mysteriously.

...............

After retrieving the camera from the maintenance department of Huaxia Photo Agency, I returned home just as dusk was falling and the clouds were covered in a golden color.

When the neighbors saw Fangyan bringing back such a big item, they couldn't help but ask about it. When they learned that the box contained a TV, they exclaimed one after another, echoing in the alley.

The news that Fangyan's family bought a TV spread quickly.

"Why did you suddenly buy a TV?"

When Yang Xia saw Fang Yan and Han Yuemin carefully carry the TV to the main room, she scolded them a few words but was very happy in her heart.

"Mom, this trip is all thanks to Brother Han's help."

Fangyan said, "I bought some food. Please cook something sumptuous tonight. I want to invite him to dinner at my home to thank him."

"This is what I should do, what I should do."

Han Yuemin glanced at Fang Hong and scratched his head with a silly smile.

"Yaya, come with me to the kitchen."

Yang Xia agreed readily and pulled Fang Hong outside.

Han Yuemin was overjoyed and excitedly thanked Fangyan for his help. He immediately ran to the public telephone station to inform his family.

Fangyan was adjusting the TV. The color picture was not clear and there was snow from time to time. It was obvious that the signal was not good.

"Brother, are you done? Are you done?"

Fang Yan was jumping up and down on the side.

"Just set the table and you'll be able to see it when the time comes."

Fangyan had prepared the outdoor antenna rack early, installed it with a pole, and with the help of Han Yuemin, tied it up on the roof.

The effect is outstanding and immediate!
"Oh, let's watch TV! Let's watch TV!"

Fang Yan shouted excitedly, holding a bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, and ran to the backyard, then to the front yard, calling out all the friends in the yard and even in the alley.

This is true for children and adults alike.

The entire yard, the entire alley, whether people had eaten or not, or even those who were eating, all came to Fangyan's house with their bowls in hand to join in the fun, staring at the TV.

For a moment, the food didn’t taste delicious anymore!

Soon the main room was crowded with people, and the aunties and grandmas who were close to Yang Xia, such as Wang Meili and Zhao Hongmei, came to the kitchen:
"Sister, your family really makes great strides every few days!"

"That's right. A while ago, Yanzi bought a Phoenix brand car. Today, he brought back a TV. I heard that he bought it from the Friendship Store with foreign exchange coupons. Your Yanzi is really promising!"

"I've always felt Yanzi was something special since he was little."

"Yes, your family has been very lucky since Yanzi returned to Beijing. You now have three Phoenix brand bicycles!"

Listening to their words, Yang Xia couldn't stop smiling.

"Colorful! Colorful!"

"It's not black and white, it's a color TV!"

Suddenly, there was an uproar in the room.

"Brother! Brother! Louder, louder!"

Amid the chaos, Fang Yan shouted at the top of her lungs.

I saw the footage of "Eighteen Years in the Enemy Camp" appearing on TV, and the theme song, "Dawn Ahead", was playing.

"Oh comrade, you disguise yourself and go behind enemy lines to fight,"

"Ah comrade, you are resourceful and agile in fighting."

"........."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, everyone ran back to their homes, planning to move some chairs, benches, and stools. However, the main room was not big and could not accommodate so many people, so they moved the TV to the yard.

Soon, the yard was full of people.

There were people even climbing on the walls, it was quite lively.

Everyone stared at the TV intently. Yang Xia just stood there motionless, like a statue. Her expression changed with the changing pictures on the screen, with smiles and frowns, joy and anger.

"Mom, I'm going to Hangzhou the day after tomorrow."

Eat steamed corn bread with shredded potatoes in dialect.

"Ah, what did you say?"

Yang Xia held a half-eaten steamed bread and said, "Don't talk for now. Wait until mom finishes watching this episode."

Fangyan touched his nose, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Well, I forgot about this after I got a TV!

　At that time, the only domestic washing machine was Little Swan, and its quality was average.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)