My 1978 Hotel

The news of sending desks to the city spread in Hanjiabao within the morning. People came to take a look at the furniture factory, which was not very busy to begin with.

Several brigade officials convened a special meeting, and the issue of timber exchange was brought up again. Han Futian stated that the timber issue would be settled today, and if any family refused to cooperate, he would personally visit them.

This was no small matter, as production team cadres were no jokes these days. Every family had heard about the desks being delivered to the city tomorrow, and except for a few who really needed wood, some people even contributed coffin boards.

"Now we won't have to worry about lumber in the short term."

At least if you order this batch, you don’t have to worry about the wood for the next batch. It will be almost done once the new wood is baked.

"We have the wood, now it's up to you."

Li Feng discussed with brothers Gao Ju and Gao Cheng and decided to expedite the process. These eleven sets of desks and bookshelves were key to opening up the market and gaining advertising influence. Therefore, these desks needed to be delivered to the writers who had ordered them as quickly as possible.

"Don't worry, I've made a few sets now, and once I get more familiar with it, I'll definitely be able to progress faster. Next weekend will be no problem at all," Gao Cheng said. "By the way, my second brother and I decided to make some small stools out of some leftover scraps. They'd be great to give away as gifts later."

"That's a good idea."

Li Feng said with a smile. "Do we have it now? Yeah, both sets will be sent to the Public Security Bureau tomorrow."

"Have."

"Look at it."

The stool is quite sturdy, though a little small, but it's quite suitable for washing clothes and picking vegetables. "Great, make more of these. Next Mid-Autumn Festival, hold a tea party and give them to everyone as souvenirs."

"no problem."

Gao Cheng nodded. These were made of scraps, so it wouldn't waste any wood. It was a good favor. "The captains' families?"

"Uncle Fuguo and the others should be sent away."

"You fight first, and I'll talk to Uncle Fuguo and the others later."

Li Feng said with a smile, "These little stools are perfect for picking vegetables or washing clothes. I think Aunt Chunhua and the others will like them."

This is true. When Li Feng went to the furniture factory at night, he saw five or six of them beaten up. He simply took two of them to Han Fu's house.

"What is this for?"

Han Anmin was puzzled when he saw Li Feng carrying two small stools. "Anmin, the furniture factory made a few stools out of scraps. I think they're okay. I'll give you two. They're perfect for my aunt and sister-in-law to sit on while they wash clothes or pick vegetables."

"That won't work. This is the brigade's stuff, how can we take it home?"

"It's made of scraps, what's the value of it?"

Li Feng put it down as soon as he spoke. "Uncle Tomita's family also has some. You can give them to your aunt and sister-in-law to try out first. If they work, you can get more. After all, waste materials can only be burned as firewood. If they are useful, we can give them to the buyer of our desks and bookshelves as a small gift."

"alright."

After Shi Chunhua and Han Anmin's wife used it, they found it was quite suitable. Han Fuguo frowned slightly when he saw it, but when he learned that it was waste and was about to be given away as a gift, he didn't say much.

"This Li Feng is quite thoughtful."

Shi Chunhua said with a smile, "Although it's not a big thing, it's well thought out. It would be a great gift for someone."

"You, stop speaking for him. This kid thinks too quickly. I'm afraid he will lead the other people in the team astray sooner or later." Han Fuguo took a puff of his pipe.

"You're not smart, are you? Without this child, this year would be very difficult."

That's true, Han Fuguo sighed. "In today's world, you have to rely on the weather for your livelihood. If the weather changes, you'll be left hungry. The brigade should have a few smart people, otherwise we'd be helpless if we encountered a disaster."

"Tomorrow, Anmin, when you get to the city, listen to that kid more."

"Don't worry, Dad, I know."

Li Feng, on his part, was trying to figure out if he could get some benefits by going into the city. "Wine requires a wine ticket. He wants to buy Moutai, but I'm afraid the county might not even have it. And antiques, curios, those things aren't sold in the county."

"Oh, it's hard to figure out what to do."

To buy antiques, I'd have to find a reliable person who'd been around the county year-round and was definitely a local. "Forget it, let's avoid getting into trouble." The policy wasn't stable yet, so I'd have to wait a few years. Li Feng wasn't in a rush.

Let's deliver the desk first and make some money later. You know, a 10% kickback is more than 60 yuan. It's always easier to get things done with money. At the very least, take some money back with you. As long as you keep a part of it, it will be no problem to sell it for at least tens of thousands of yuan.

The next morning, two ox carts tied up the desk and the bookshelf and set off early. If we were late in arriving at the county town, we might miss lunch. In the morning, I bought steamed buns at the commune. I was lucky to get the meat buns and arrived in time.

"Meat buns are still delicious."

Han Anmin sighed. "What a shame it requires food coupons."

It's such a waste, but it's really delicious, full of meaty aroma and white flour. This guy almost sucked the skin off his fingers, but they were still stained with some soup.

"That's nothing. When we get richer, we can eat braised pork every day."

Li Feng said with a smile. "It must be served with rice. They won't even look at multi-grain rice."

"Fried meatballs only require meat, no vegetables."

Han Anmin stared at the boss. My goodness, braised pork must be served with rice. How extravagant this guy is! He doesn't even add any vegetables to the meatballs, just meat. What kind of family can eat this? I'm afraid even the big leaders in the capital can't eat this every day while going to school.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Han Fuqiang frowned. This kid's hedonism is unacceptable. He needs to learn, be criticized, respond and be educated.

"Uncle Fuqiang, aren't we waiting to become rich? Maybe then every family will be able to eat meat and celebrate New Year's Day every day." Li Feng was thinking about his own Li Ran. This kid didn't eat any meat or fruit. He was very picky. Usually, asking him to eat one more mouthful of rice was like killing him.

They are very picky eaters. It's not just his family. Li Feng knows many people whose children are like this. Many of them are picky eaters. Some of them are not only picky eaters, but also refuse to eat proper meals. They only eat snacks and junk food. They will make a fuss if they are not allowed to eat.

“I dream of that day.”

Han Anmin sighed, how could it be possible? Everyone had meat to eat, and it was like New Year's Day every day. He would never be able to live that kind of life in his entire life.

"Maybe it will come true someday. There's a saying, 'The bolder the people, the more fertile the land.'"

"Don't say this nonsense."

Han Fuqiang warned Li Feng that this kid was really going too far.

"Let me give you an analogy. As long as we dare to think and act, we will be able to have meat and rice one day." Li Feng would not tell them that in less than forty years, most families would be able to have enough rice and meat to eat.

"It's better not to talk nonsense, especially after entering the city."

Han Fuqiang shook his head slightly. He dared not say anything careless. Li Feng saw that Han Fuqiang was serious. "Don't worry, Uncle Fuqiang, I will say this in front of you. I will never say anything careless after entering the city."

"That's good."

There were quite a few people watching along the way. Fortunately, the ox carts were covered with straw, so they could only vaguely see that they were furniture. Passersby thought it was a dowry for someone's wedding. Two ox carts for dowry, this guy must be a brigade cadre at least.

Of course, this is just a passerby's opinion.

"We'll be in town in a little while."

They had a safe journey, after all, there were quite a few of them, two ox carts with five or six big men, and it was obvious that they were not to be trifled with.

"Where is the Public Security Bureau?"

Li Feng was a little confused. He seemed to have never been here before. He had to find someone to ask this guy.

"I know. I'll show you the way."

Han Fuqiang was a demobilized soldier, and the Public Security Bureau knew about it. He originally had the opportunity to work here, but he couldn't find anyone to talk to at that time, and he wanted to go back to the village to take care of his mother, so he didn't have a strong desire to do so.

Otherwise, Han Fuqiang might have become a team leader like Chen Daguo. After all, his demobilization and meritorious service are enough for promotion.

"Is this the Public Security Bureau?" It was a two-story building with gray exterior walls dotted with gravel. The doors and windows were a bit old and painted dark green.

"Of course not. How about it? It's impressive, isn't it?"

Wow, what a grand place, Li Feng muttered. This was almost the same as when he was in elementary school.

"Huang Public Security."

When the ox cart arrived at the door, Li Feng saw Huang Shengnan waiting at the door from afar, and hurriedly jumped off the ox cart to greet her.

"Come in first."

Huang Shengnan asked everyone to drive the oxcart into the large courtyard. The courtyard was quite nice, with a flower bed that really looked like my elementary school. "Is Team Leader Chen not here?"

"A case just came out."

Huang Shengnan said, "Everyone, come in and sit down."

The desk and bookshelf arrived at the Public Security Bureau compound. Since no one would be so desperate to steal something there, Li Feng and the others didn't stay and went inside to have some tea. "Before we came, we didn't know Team Leader Chen's home address. So we decided to go to the Public Security Bureau first and then take him home."

"I'll take you there."

"That's great."

I'll send it to Huang Shengnan's family first. They live in a two-bedroom apartment in a building with two bedrooms and a living room, which is pretty good. Huang Shengnan has her own room, which is pretty good for most people. The desk and bookshelf are moved to the building and put away. It's quite suitable.

"pretty good."

Huang Shengnan showed a hint of joy. Not to mention that she thought it was good when she saw it at the time, but she also wanted to help Li Feng. She never expected that the effect would be even better than she expected.

"Hey, Shengnan, you're not at work today."

"Aunt Chen, I have something to do today."

Huang Shengnan said with a smile, "Come back home."

"Oh, what's going on? Do you need help?"

"Nothing much, I just bought a desk and a bookshelf, and they're sending it to my house."

Huang Shengnan smiled and let the woman in. "Hey, can you send a desk and bookshelf to your home?"

"Yes, it's free."

Li Feng smiled and brought a small stool over to Huang Shengnan. "This is a stool made from the leftover material from making a desk, bookshelf, and chair. I'm giving it to you."

"How can this be so embarrassing? How much is it? I'll pay you."

"No, it's a bonus."

Li Feng waved his hand and said with a smile, "Maybe it can be used by Auntie when she picks vegetables or washes clothes."

"Such an exquisite little stool is just an extra."

Chen Li really liked this little stool. "Shengnan, what kind of desk and bookshelf do you have?"

"Aunt Chen, she's in my room, come and have a look."

Huang Shengnan smiled and invited Chen Li into the house to take a look. "My daughter, Xiaorui, has been clamoring to buy a desk lately. Let me take a look."

Li Feng's eyes lit up when he heard this, but he didn't dare to go up and greet her. After all, this was Huang Shengnan's neighbor, and he thought the family was well-off. After all, these houses were only for cadres at the deputy section level and above.

"Hey, this desk is pretty nice."

Chen Li touched it and found it quite delicate. The bookshelf was also quite small and exquisite. Needless to say, it immediately caught her attention. "Is this chair also a set?"

"Yes."

Huang Shengnan said with a smile, "If you order now, we'll even deliver it to your home."

"I'm afraid this set is not cheap, right?"

Chen Li asked Huang Shengnan quietly, and Huang Shengnan smiled. "Fortunately, with the bookshelf, it's only 60 yuan."

"Sixty dollars, not bad."

"No furniture tickets yet."

"Oh?"

Chen Li immediately became interested. "Is he from the commune downstairs?"

"Yes."

Huang Shengnan whispered, "We have it in stock now, and it will be delivered in just a week."

"Is that the young man outside?"

"Ah."

Huang Shengnan nodded. Chen Li looked at it again and touched it. It was really nice. She turned around and left Huang Shengnan's bedroom. "Hey boy, do you have this desk available now?"

"Yes, do you want a set, or just the desk?"

"What's the explanation for this?"

"Just the desk and chair, forty-five, and the bookshelf alone, twenty-five."

"If it's a set, sixty."

“Why is this still expensive?”

"It's not easy. It's not easy to come to the county. It costs a lot of money to eat and drink." Li Feng said. "It's more expensive to make a separate trip."

"Does the whole set also come with this little stool?"

"Ah, this, originally only the first batch was delivered, but if you want it, for the sake of Public Security Huang, I will take the initiative to give you one later." Li Feng gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, which made Chen Li smile.

"Okay then. I believe in Shengnan too."

Chen Li decided on a set and paid a five-yuan deposit. Li Feng wrote down the address. "Thank you so much, Huang Gongan." Li Feng thanked Huang Shengnan as he went downstairs to deliver Chen Daguo's furniture.

"You're welcome."

Huang Shengnan didn't expect that Aunt Chen, who was quite picky, would actually decide on the spot. She thought that the desk and bookshelf must be beautiful and exquisite.

"Ordered another one?"

Han Anmin didn't know yet, but now he found out after listening to the conversation between the two.

"Yes, thanks to Public Security Huang."

Li Feng said with a smile. "Look, the deposit has been paid. I'm afraid you'll have to make two more trips to the county in the next two days."

“I want to run every day.”

Wow, he collected more than 60 yuan in just this time, including a 5 yuan deposit, a balance of 58 yuan from Huang Shengnan, and a balance of 55 yuan from Chen Daguo later. In total, this guy has collected more than 100 yuan.

When we arrived at Chen Daguo's home, his wife was already waiting for us, but her face was not very good. Her husband had bought a set of furniture worth 60 yuan without telling her. This was not just 6 yuan, but 60 yuan, which was most of his monthly salary.

"I wonder if desks and bookshelves are really that good?" Chen Daguo's wife, Wang Qian, muttered to herself. (End of this chapter)