National Tide 1980

February 12, 1983, New Year's Eve came just as it was said to be.

This year's Spring Festival is obviously more festive than last year, and the people also feel more interested.

Why is this happening?

The first reason is because this year’s New Year’s goods are more abundant than last year’s.

During the Spring Festival, each Beijing resident can buy one pound of glutinous rice, four taels of peanut oil, and two pounds of fish as usual.

The government distributed an additional three kilograms of Fuqiang powder.

Compared with standard flour, Fuqiang flour has a higher gluten content, is finer, and has less impurities.

Moreover, in addition to pork, eggs and japonica rice are also included in the open supply.

In addition, as the vegetable planting area in Beijing has expanded to 19,000 hectares, vegetables from other places are also supplied to the capital in large quantities.

Therefore, in the winter of this year, not only was the supply of Chinese cabbage abundant in the capital, but there was also a corresponding increase in fine vegetables.

Things like winter bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and leeks were expensive and rare in the past.

This year, on the counters of the four major vegetable markets in Beijing, not only the supply has increased, but the prices have also become much more affordable.

Even many ordinary people can afford it with gritted teeth.

Fruits are similar to vegetables.

This year, the apple area in the suburbs of Beijing reached 172,000 acres.

The fruit supply before the Spring Festival this year has become a situation where oranges, apples, hawthorns and persimmons complement each other.

Not only do people have cheap and high-quality fruits to satisfy their cravings, but they also get rid of the dilemma of monotonous varieties.

Finally, there are snacks.

Although the purchase restrictions on melon seeds and peanuts have not changed, many flavored foods have been restored.

For example, plum blossoms, hawthorns, candied fruits from "Xinyuanzhai" and Qiuli paste from "Tongsanyi", etc.

There is no doubt that the more abundant material supplies, the more abundant the New Year will be.

As for the second factor that makes people feel that this Spring Festival is more interesting than previous years, it is that a new model of family gatherings has been established.

Because of this year, the number of TV sets owned in our country has doubled compared with last year.

So on New Year's Eve, people naturally began to gather in front of the nearest television, preparing to watch the Spring Festival Gala, which was broadcast live to the whole country on national television for the first time.

You must know that before the reform and opening up, "changing customs" had abruptly severed the continuation of tradition, and our traditional customs during the Spring Festival have almost disappeared.

In this way, in fact, with the advent of the television era, many traditional customs are also in the process of recovery.

So for many people, since tradition and television are both new things, there is certainly no resistance or sense of disobedience in accepting both at the same time.

So precisely from this year, the Spring Festival Gala almost instantly evolved into a folk custom and became a consistent New Year habit for people across the country.

This has standardized the most important night, assimilated the Spring Festival into a program that is increasingly losing its local characteristics, and rewritten the traditional New Year pattern.

For example, Courtyard No. 2 of Shan'er Hutong.

All the people, when the New Year's Eve dinner was put on the table, they also turned on the TV.

It's just that there was a little disharmony at Bian's house.

Just as Aunt Bian brought a whole braised carp to the table.

Her youngest son Bian Jiangong was actually adjusting the Peony black and white TV at home that day and kept complaining.

"Oh my god, I'm not telling you that. Why do you insist on holding on to the money? It's such a big holiday, why should we watch a colored TV to cheer up? Those people's faces have all been painted flesh-colored, watery Everything is green and the sky is white, just like in the movie..."

Aunt Bian didn't like hearing it.

"Okay. With your dad's retirement money and my neighborhood committee subsidy, it's not easy for the two of us to raise you both. What's wrong with the black and white TV? We were the first to buy one in this courtyard. That was the color TV ticket your dad was lucky enough to grab in 1976. At that time, whether it was your dad’s colleagues or our entire alley, who didn’t envy us? Give us back the color TV? How much more would it cost to have more colors? Where is the money? Is it worth it?"

Of course Bian Jiangong was not convinced and immediately pointed back at the TV at home.

"Oh my god, please don't say this outside. It won't make people laugh. What else are you envious of? That's all old history. Now black and white are long out of date. How fake. The screen is still small, who doesn't want to watch a color TV? And let me tell you, the color TV Weimin gave us is imported and original, and the price is almost the same as in the store. Don't look at the two thousand two hundred yuan. But you can earn more than a thousand by changing hands. This is to give money to our family, but there are so many people crying and shouting that they can't even buy it. Why don't you understand?"

Who knows that the director of the neighborhood committee is not very principled, but Aunt Bian is even more stubborn.

"Hey, according to what you said, we can't even buy it. Why should we take advantage of the people who defend the people? One thousand yuan. If we are going to do this, who will we become?"

Bian Jiangong inevitably felt the pain of the generation gap.

"You are really confused. Why can't I explain it clearly to you? Isn't it because Wei Min has his own way? Besides, he took the initiative to greet us and told us to come to him if we want to buy a color TV. They are afraid of us. It's a waste of money. If you don't go to him, you will be betraying his kindness. Don't forget, he helped buy the Mijia color TV."

But what he didn't expect was that it was better not to say these words. When he said this, even Uncle Bian would be angry with him.

"Asshole! Why are you talking to your mother? How old is this person? You are still so worthless. Oh, you don't want to take advantage of me, right? Is this what you compare to the Mi family? You have to be content when you are a human being. How much have you helped us? Even your job was given by others. This year, they bought us a double-tub washing machine. We already owe too much to others. We don’t know how to pay it back? You are still planning to take advantage of people? How much cheaper is enough! If someone takes the initiative? You have to decline if you take the initiative."

"Oh, my dad, why are you so confused! I know how people are and everything has to come and go. I didn't say that I took advantage of others? I will remember to repay this favor in the future, no? That's it! I have really good intentions. Think about it, I live in a factory and I don't get the spotlight from my family at all. If I don't think it's good to watch the color TV set in the factory, why do I have to encourage my family? Isn't this I want you to enjoy it as soon as possible."

Bian Jiangong was already having a headache one on one, but now he felt outnumbered when he was one against two, and his tone was extremely aggrieved.

"Enjoy it? I think it's a shaobao! Oh, buy another color TV, let's have two TVs at home? Do you want to do evil or not?"

Uncle Bian felt his son's filial piety, and his expression became more relaxed, but he still refused to relax.

After all, a color TV these days is about the same as a Mercedes-Benz twenty years from now.

Buy two? That was something he didn't even dare to think about.

But don't say it, there is a reason for doing meritorious service while doing it.

"Oh, what are you doing? Isn't it better to buy a color TV and everything will be happy for your family? Dad, you like to watch Peking Opera, my mother likes to watch Ping Opera, and my brother and sister-in-law like to watch TV dramas. We need two TV sets at home. TV, you two watch in color, and my brother and sister-in-law watch in black and white. Won’t you all watch it in the future? And my little nephew, when he grows up, he will definitely watch "The Jungle Book". Can you think about it carefully? Is this the actual need of our family? What’s more, we are not pretending to be fat. Since I started selling clothes for the Wei people, my brother, my sister-in-law, I, and I have extra money. Just this year, I already have a thousand yuan, don’t you? If you guys put some money together, wouldn’t you be able to buy a color TV?”

Looking at his younger brother's eyes, he was afraid that he would misunderstand that he was unwilling to pay, so Bian Jianjun, the older brother, could no longer remain silent.

"Jiangong, your sister-in-law and I have to thank you for your thoughtfulness. But on the other hand, as relatives, we also have to think about you! In fact, the main reason why we don't buy a color TV at home is to consider your life-long events. You see , I'm already married, and it's your turn later. Your sister-in-law and I are still working together. We can't help you with anything else, but we have to get you a brand-name radio. As for the other big items , then I’m afraid you have to rely on yourself and your parents to save it for you. How much does it cost? To put it bluntly, your marriage is the most important priority in our family. The money at home should be used for your wedding first. , wait until you get married, and then we can talk about the rest..."

Bian Jianjun's words touched his heart, and Bian Jiangong couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.

But regarding this issue, he still couldn't agree with his family's plan.

"Brother, I also thank you and my sister-in-law for your kindness. But if you want to put it this way, our family has to buy a color TV. Do you think, if I want to have a girlfriend, I have to bring it home? But if someone wants to see us If the TV at home is black and white, it might be pornographic."

"You don't know, but girls today are different from those in the past few years. You can have nothing, but you must have a color TV. That is a necessary prerequisite for marriage. But logically speaking, even you don't like it. If it’s a color TV, it’s not my turn, right? Isn’t that right?”

"People don't know that our family saves money but doesn't spend it. Maybe they think how much debt we owe to the outside world. So listen to me and buy one as soon as possible. Only if you buy a color TV can I find a partner and ask for it from the work unit. House. Our unit is building a building now. It is not for cadres. Only dual-employees can apply. Do you think, for my happiness, should I buy this color TV? "

Not to mention, this seemingly absurd truth actually makes sense.

So the whole Bian family was speechless all of a sudden, and they were all stunned by Bian Jiangong.

And he watched his parents, brother and sister-in-law look at each other in confusion.

Bian Jiangong smiled and couldn't help but feel proud.

He simply climbed along the pole and started playing cymbals with his own mother.

"However, I really didn't expect it. Our old lady is really shaking. She went home to celebrate the New Year today, which shocked me. I never dreamed that my mother would receive gifts. Look at so many cans, fruits, For snacks and tea, are you moving the grocery store here soon? Because of my mother's ability, I think I will bring my girlfriend back today. Even if there is no color TV at home, it can be done. People must think how big an official my mother is. , can even engage in unhealthy trends..."

Indeed, what he said is also the big difference between the Bian family this year and the past.

The sewing club that Auntie Daqingbian is in charge of is directly related to the livelihood of the self-employed people nearby.

So the old lady also became the grandma, the God of Wealth with a golden body.

In order to make more money next year, self-employed people take advantage of the festival to curry favor and burn incense.

In just these two days, a lot of new year's goods have been delivered.

Even if you don’t want it, some people are afraid of rejection, so they simply leave the items at their door, knock on the door, and run away.

What does this look like in the eyes of the neighbors?

Needless to say, Aunt Bian has been angry and anxious these past two days, and she has never been able to feel at ease.

The old lady has been innocent all her life, how could she be willing to ruin it like this?

But how can you go back? It’s also a sad thing!

But no one expected that Aunt Bian, who was still worried in the morning, unexpectedly appeared calm and composed at this time.

"Hey, don't talk nonsense with your mother. I'm not in a hurry now. I have a solution. As for your mother, she has a lot of power. She can approve hundreds of goods with just one sentence. Why? You can become the director of a small factory. But how can your mother be someone who can be easily corrupted? Sugar-coated cannonballs, huh, mom can eat the sugar-coating and make the cannonballs completely useless."

Of course Bian Jiangong didn't believe it, "Oh, mom, are you talking too loudly?"

In fact, let alone him, even others had the same thought. Uncle Bian thought that his wife was pretending to be calm.

"Am I being loud? Not at all."

Seeing everyone's surprised expressions, Aunt Bian was really happy now.

Just like Bian Jiangong just now, she also finally revealed the answer to the mystery with a bit of showoff.

"To tell you the truth, I met Minzi just now. He gave me a good idea."

"I was told that after the New Year, I would take all these things to the neighborhood committee and sewing club. Then I would gather everyone to sit together and have a tea party, and let everyone in the neighborhood committee and sewing club share and eat them."

"Tell me about it. Can this be said to be an unhealthy trend? Those guys don't care, who are they interested in? Just them? With me, the old lady, it's all in vain."