Back to 1979: Sending the Educated Youth’s Wife Back to the City

Chapter 223 Shift in Mindset
Fang Mingche was too lazy to say more to Lin Yi, and only said, "You only see that your brother-in-law and Qiming have made money. Have you ever seen how they do business? Take some time to go and see. Back then, your sister and I were serving tea and water to people in the square, being ordered around by them."

Just then, Lin Yan was picked up by her driver and brought back. She had gone out shopping.

Seeing the two brothers-in-law talking here, Lin Yan asked, "What's wrong now?"

Fang Mingche said, "Lin Yi envies Qiming and his brother-in-law for making money, but he's too ashamed to do it. That's working for the RMB! Making money isn't shameful!"

Lin Yan didn't bother to say anything more, "Yes, go and take a look."

If it weren't for her brother, and she couldn't help but interfere, Mingche would definitely not even bother talking to him. She certainly wouldn't go on and on, patiently trying to persuade him.

She turned to Fang Mingche and said, "Yesterday, our school asked each department to go and get their ID photos. Did your school send them?"

Fang Mingche nodded, "I was talking about it a few days ago. But there's only one instructor, so everyone has to wait in line. I'll wait until the last day of the English department's deadline to go. Or I can go over there around lunchtime sometime. If it doesn't look crowded, I'll go in and take pictures."

I don't have the time to wait in line for one or two hours for this.

After New Year's Day in 1982, the process of taking ID photos for people across the country began. However, given China's vast territory and large population, the process started with universities, government agencies, and public institutions in the capital. It was later expanded to state-owned and collectively-owned factories and mines, and then neighborhood committees would arrange for residents within their jurisdictions to have their photos taken.

After the capital, other regions were issued ID cards one by one. This process took more than ten years to complete. On July 1, 1995, anti-counterfeiting resident ID cards were fully implemented, using a holographic transparent plastic seal for anti-counterfeiting.

Lin Yan nodded, "Yes, we also had a long queue. I haven't gone yet."

Fang Mingche went inside; he still needed to study. He would study from now until dinner time. After dinner, he would return to the Overseas Chinese Apartment and then study again until bedtime. It wasn't as easy as it had been three years ago when he was running a large tea stall while simultaneously preparing for the college entrance exam.

Although the acceptance rate was low back then, the competition was also more competitive. To get into Peking University's School of Economics and Management, applicants definitely need to have a certain level of ability.

Lin Yi said, "Sister, your husband is already in such a situation, is it still necessary for him to go through so much hardship to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

He knew about the college entrance exam; back then, the crackdown on migrant workers was strict. If he failed and someone reported him, he wouldn't even be able to stay in the capital. He could only slink back with Yan Yan in disgrace.

But my brother-in-law is now a student at a prestigious university, and he'll definitely get a good job after graduation. My older brother, Wang Dexian, even said that if my brother-in-law wanted to work for a ministry, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Commerce, or even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be very welcoming.

Moreover, he's already incredibly wealthy. Don't let his sister and brother-in-law's constant talk about being 30 yuan in debt fool you. Their two apartments in Beijing and Shanghai alone are worth far more than that. And their businesses, especially their travel agency, are still generating a steady stream of profits, enough to last generations.

Lin Yan said, "If you want to be successful in public, you have to suffer in private. Don't just envy his ability to make money; you also have to see that he has endured a lot of hardship and toil. What exactly do you want with your brother-in-law?"

Lin Yi said awkwardly, "He said he's already on a trial basis for unpaid leave. I just wanted to ask him for advice on how to make money like Qiming and the others."

Lin Yan said directly, "You're no good! With your service attitude, customers won't want to patronize us. These days, individual businesses are encouraged; anyone can start a business if they want. But if one business makes money, there will be endless competitors. With your service attitude, people will definitely go to places with better service. Go wash your car; you have to finish this job before you can leave this morning. And that's not overtime pay! Don't think you can get away with this just because you came to talk to me and your brother-in-law. If you come here and ruin the atmosphere of the travel agency, I'll fire you on the spot!"

Lin Yi had no choice but to go back and continue wiping the car. He couldn't go out and lead tours, otherwise he wouldn't get his commission.

After a while, Han Mei came out to see, "Why haven't you finished washing yet?"

"I talked to my brother-in-law for a while. Don't worry, I'm not trying to get overtime pay."

Han Mei thought to herself: I guess I won't make it!

Those part-time tour guides don't want to work with you. They go to great lengths to get tourists to buy souvenirs or something, and you drive around with a long face. When tourists ask you to help them put their things away, you're still very reluctant.

This will definitely discourage customers from buying more things, severely impacting both your and the tour guide's commissions!

Now that they've come, they wipe the car every day, turning from drivers into 'car wipers'.

I heard that my brother-in-law and sister both wanted me to go and see how Zhu Qiming and her brother run their business. Han Mei immediately replied, "Okay, I'll leave right after lunch."

"Then can you lend me a hand?"

"I have my own things to do. Otherwise, let someone else do it. Consider it an absence today." Who told you to dawdle?

"I've already washed half of it." Lin Yi quickly sped up her work.

Lin Yan said to Changchang inside the house, "Don't be like your uncle when you grow up. He can't get enough to eat and he's useless at everything! We should have sent him to the countryside to get some experience back then."

Go to the countryside and see who will still pamper you! If you don't work, you'll go hungry.

Changchang scratched his head, not quite understanding.

Lin Yan laughed and asked, "Do you prefer to drive with your hands on the steering wheel, or wipe the car with a rag?"

This time Changchang understood, because he had actually been asked to clean a toy car himself. The kind that he could sit in and drive.

He quickly made a steering wheel movement.

Lin Yan glanced at Lin Yi, who was hurrying outside, and said, "Come on, let's go see Grandpa and Grandma. Xiao Min, you come with me."

Someone needs to carry this kid in the car. Yan Yan and Fang Fang went to the Children's Palace for class, and Fang Jian and Fang Kang went too. So, only this kid is home right now.

Fang Min was helping her mother sell things. She had also learned some foreign language phrases and everyday conversational skills, and had just finished dealing with a foreign customer.

Fang's mother said, "Ayan, you've taken her away, what am I going to do?"

"Mom, it's okay, those items all have prices listed. You don't need to say anything."

Lin Yan went back and mentioned Lin Yi's work performance to her parents.

“You can ask Han Mei if this is what I said.”

Lin's father said, "Why are you still asking? Do you think we don't know what kind of people you and your brother are? Someone like him can only be a meddlesome person in the pot."

Lin's mother frowned as well. They'd finally stopped gambling and were willing to do part-time work. And now it's turned out like this? The old man said his son-in-law was right; workers wouldn't be able to have the same opportunities they had in their youth. A stable job was a lifelong guarantee. They'd have to take this step sooner or later; it's better to leave sooner rather than later.

Lin Yan said, "He doesn't think that way at all. He asked Mingche for advice, wanting to start his own small business like Han Mei's brother and Qiming. He's interested in that kind of income. I told him to go and see how they do business before making a decision. Luckily, Xiao Gang did a good job at the travel agency, and Han Mei was also very competent. Otherwise, the employees would think that none of my relatives are up to the task."

Lin's mother frowned again. She hadn't seen her daughter-in-law's brother much. But Qiming really seemed like a different person. Now he was so sweet-talking, always smiling before he even spoke.

My sister-in-law told me that many families in that area have started setting up bike sheds to watch over bicycles for people going to the library. But Qiming was the first to do it, and his service was excellent; he's never had a bike stolen. His place is always packed, otherwise, he wouldn't get any business elsewhere.

He was so proud of himself when he said it!

After a quick lunch, Han Mei and Lin Yi each rode a bicycle to the library.

Zhu Qiming was smiling broadly as he gave change to the person who came to pick up their car. He had only eaten half of his lunchbox, so he closed it and put it aside.

When someone else comes, he closes the lunchbox again, then comes over to collect money, give change, or help people move their cars. Some people picked up their cars before mealtime, but others were delayed and left until now.

"Young man, I'm sorry to have kept you from eating."

"It's okay."

Han Mei and Lin Yi were standing a little further away, so Zhu Qiming didn't see them.

Han Mei glanced at Lin Yi but said nothing. "See? You're the only son in the family, the pampered one. But isn't Zhu Qiming the same? He's had his aunt's endless support since he was little."

These days, for a mere five pecks of rice, even my back is broken. If you want to earn money from other people's pockets, you have to do it this way. This isn't a state-run supply and marketing cooperative or restaurant; they won't tolerate your tantrums here.
Those eight high-ranking officials were very arrogant; they could curse at people whenever they wanted, and even hit them if they wanted. The walls of the National Day Hotel were plastered with signs saying, "No hitting or cursing guests without cause!" But if there was a reason, they could resort to physical or verbal abuse.

But during those ten years, people had no choice. Could others set up stalls or open small restaurants?

Now that people have a choice, they'll definitely be happy to patronize parking spots like Qiming.

"Should we still go see my brother? He might come home for lunch, since nobody goes to the Summer Palace at this time; everyone's eating. But the hottest time is probably when his fruit sells best. He's always outside tending his stall during that time."

"no need."

Lin Yi had always considered himself slightly better than Zhu Qiming since childhood. He dared not compare himself to others, but he had always looked down on his cousin Zhu Qiming. Now, even Zhu Qiming was better than him.

Moreover, my brother-in-law already has his current wealth and status, and his future is destined to be bright, yet he is still working hard to prepare for the postgraduate entrance examination.

The crucial point is that Han Mei has already moved ahead. This is what makes him feel most threatened.

When Lin's father got home from get off work in the afternoon, he asked Han Mei about Lin Yi's work performance. By then, Lin Yan had already taken Changchang home.

Han Mei opened her mouth a few times but couldn't say a word. If he weren't her man, she would have strongly advocated for his dismissal. The travel agency's wages and bonuses were very attractive, and the people who came to work were all very good at their jobs. But if they saw the boss's brother slacking off like that, they would definitely feel resentful.

Lin's father said, "Just tell the truth, there's no need to cover for him."

"Yes, all the part-time tour guides have subtly indicated that they don't want to work with Lin Yi. Working with him would affect their commissions."

Although I didn't want to offend the boss's wife and Han Mei, the office manager, no one could tolerate having their commission reduced.

Han Mei added, "We went to see how Qiming works this afternoon, and Lin Yi was also very moved by what he saw."

If you don't have that kind of service attitude, don't even think about going solo. Supply and marketing cooperatives used to be so successful, but because their service attitude wasn't as good as private business owners, they've lost a lot of their business.

Lin's father said, "Your line of thinking is correct. If you can really do it well, your brother-in-law will definitely not hesitate to give you advice. But don't bother him until you can do what Qiming has done. I heard from your sister that he is under a lot of pressure to prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam!"

The exam is still a year and a half away, but I'm already in the midst of intensive review.

That evening, Lin Yi practiced her smile in front of the mirror.

Han Mei laughed and said, "Go ahead and practice. I heard that's how Brother Fang started practicing. He was a waiter, which is much harder than being a driver like you."

Lin Yi said, "I heard that their restaurant makes a net profit of three or four hundred a month?"

Han Mei nodded, "I heard him and Uncle Fang say that. I heard that my brother-in-law has agreed to lend them money to buy a suitable storefront or house in the future."

Lin Yi said, "My brother-in-law said they've already started a trial period of unpaid leave, and I'm thinking of playing some games."

They make money driving this! The one in their alley has really gotten rich in the last two or three years.

Han Mei asked, "Open it for another boss?"

That person in the alley is her. After paying his fees each month, he earns about the same as her.

Lin Yi hummed in agreement. What else could he possibly want? He couldn't even afford a bicycle, let alone a car.
His sister and brother-in-law would never lend him 25,000 yuan to buy a car. It's more expensive than buying a house or a shop together. Han Mei has saved a few thousand yuan, but she keeps saying she needs it to buy a house. She certainly won't lend it to him!
Han Mei said, "Then this is a great opportunity. You can practice driving and improve your service attitude at the same time. When you take a taxi, you wouldn't take a car driven by a driver with a bad attitude, would you?"

When these words reached Fang Mingche's ears, he laughed and said, "Hasn't he already made up his mind? What, does he want to ask me if I have any better, easier jobs with higher pay? But..."

Lin Yan asked, "But what?"

"Now everyone knows taxi drivers make money, and criminals will also target them. Driving a taxi has certain safety risks. It would be better to wait until individuals can drive commercial vehicles in the future and buy a minibus to drive. Lin Yi can drive, and Han Mei can sell tickets. The operating routes of minibuses are fixed, so there's no chance that passengers will ask you to drive to some hidden place and then rob or kill them. Besides, the time is also roughly fixed, so you won't miss meal times."

He doesn't remember exactly when he was allowed to drive a commercial vehicle. Xiang Pengfei in "The People of the Alley" was probably in the late 1980s. But actually, it wasn't that many years ago.

Let the couple work at the travel agency first, save up the money to buy a car. Then they can drive their own minibuses. It'll be so much better than their miserable lives after being laid off in their previous life.

Driving a minibus should easily earn tens of thousands of yuan a year. And with the couple together, there's no need to worry about Han Mei having an affair if things go well for her.

(End of this chapter)