The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 149 The Request from Xiamaqiao Production Team

Even though a stove was lit in the brigade office, the two mud-brick houses were still frozen like iceboxes because of the drafty doors and windows.

When guests arrived, Liu Youyu added a brazier and placed a ceramic basin on the open ground, where several people gathered around to keep warm.

The People's Daily pasted on the wall has turned yellow, and the lead type of the 1971 National Day editorial has blurred into gray in the smoke and fire.

Qian Jin, wrapped in a military overcoat, huddled in a corner, watching the old team leader Liu Wangcai poking at the firewood with fire tongs.

He didn't speak, he just kept warming himself by the fire.

It was Sheng Honghu, the lively girl, who noticed the awkward atmosphere. She pulled a paper packet from her pocket and enthusiastically offered it to Qian Jin: "Boss, try our freshly roasted pumpkin seeds, they smell delicious."

Qian Jin grabbed a small handful of melon seeds and thanked her.

Sheng Honghu called to the others, and Liu Wangcai and Sheng Jinshun reached out at the same time.

On each of the two exposed wrists was a watch. Liu Wangcai's watch had a brand new dial, while Sheng Jinshun's watch had a broken dial and a missing link in the strap, showing obvious signs of repair.

Xiamaqiao and Liujia were both in similar predicaments in their production teams, with similar agricultural conditions and economic circumstances.

Sheng Chenggong gave his companion a wink, and Sheng Jinshun coughed and said:

"Captain Liu, we'd like to borrow your space to say a few words to the leader. If there's anything we didn't say well, please help us explain it to the leader."

Sheng Chenggong added, "This is the first time we've dealt with Leader Qian Jin, but the friendship between our Liu and Sheng families has been going on for generations. You know us."

Liu Wangcai nodded silently.

Sheng Jinshun scratched his neck and said, "We had heard long ago that you, Leader Qian Jin, are a capable person, responsible, respectful of farmers, and skilled at bringing scarce goods to the countryside."

Qian Jin smiled calmly and said, "Captain Sheng, you flatter me. I'm not much different from you. I just can do some work and sometimes come over to help the villagers."

“Sometimes, some kind-hearted comrades in the city would ask me to help the villagers carry some grain coupons or something. I’m not a very capable person.”

"Here, boss, have some tea. Let's talk while you drink." Liu Wangcai handed over a cup of tea and added a few pieces of coal to the stove next to him.

The aluminum kettle on the stove was bubbling away, and the steam made the lid bounce up and down.

Sheng Jinshun took a sip of hot water and said, "Leader, Xiamaqiao is only two li away from Hongxing Liu's house. There are no people on these two li of land, and it's all crops. If we didn't use these crops, our two families would actually be one family."

"As the saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Our two families live close to each other, so we don't really have any secrets from each other. If the neighbor in the east farts, the neighbor in the west can hear it."

"I came here today because I heard you were here and I need your help with something. Please lend me a hand."

Qian Jin held the hot water cup handed to him by Liu Wangcai without saying anything.

He observed the two uninvited guests through the rising steam.

Although the two people in charge of Xiamaqiao were about the same age, Qian Jin could tell that their personalities were different.

Sheng Chenggong liked to laugh, but when he spoke, his eyes would narrow slightly, and his wrinkles revealed his shrewdness.

Sheng Jinshun and his daughter Sheng Honghu have similar personalities; they are both straightforward and always look at people with fervent eyes.

"Please feel free to speak if you have anything to say," Qian Jin said, taking a sip of water.

Sheng Jinshun rubbed his hands together and said, "To be honest, we heard that the Liu family in Hongxing can exchange old items for some in-demand goods with you?"

He lowered his voice: "We also have some old stuff in our team, copper coins, silver dollars, old furniture and the like, quite a lot!"

Qian Jin lowered his head and drank water.

The room quieted down, with only the crackling of the fire in the stove.

Liu Wangcai looked somewhat uneasy.

Because Qian Jin had repeatedly instructed them to keep this matter a secret.

He wanted to explain, but he opened his mouth and then closed it again, unsure of what to say.

Qian Jin had foreseen this.

He knew this would definitely spread; in rural areas, as Sheng Jinshun had said, there were indeed no secrets.

Actually, at first he felt that he might not be able to get much good stuff in Liu's production team, so he planned to use Liu's family as a base to expand outwards.

As it turned out, the Liu family was quite a treasure trove. Although they didn't unearth any very expensive antiques or artifacts for him, they provided him with a steady stream of income.

Now that he has the No. 4 Golden Treasure Chest in hand, he is no longer in a particular hurry for the wealth in the mall.

Thus he made his decision:
We can trade with Xiamaqiao, but the trade cannot proceed smoothly, and it is not like when we were in Liujia Production Team, where we could trade directly with the commune members face to face.

He needed to let the Sheng family know how careful this transaction required and how precious the items he brought were.

So Qian Jin put down his cup and said in a calm voice, "Captain Sheng, there must be some misunderstanding between you and Clan Chief Sheng."

"I allocate production materials according to plan and do not engage in private transactions."

Sheng Honghu was about to speak.

Sheng Jinshun quickly kicked her and said earnestly, "Leader Qian, please don't be so formal."

"The New Year is coming soon, and the villagers want to buy a piece of polyester fabric to make new clothes and some sugar to make dumplings. We country folk are honest, so we just want to ask if it's convenient to do this."

Liu Wangcai interjected at the opportune moment: "Shunzi, some things are just rumors, don't listen to the nonsense our team members talk about."

"Leader Qian came to help us with our side businesses. As you can see, our team is doing quite well with our two side businesses now."

"I know, I know," Sheng Jinshun hurriedly said, "but I was just thinking, since Leader Qian can help the Liu family of Hongxing, could he also help us at Xiamaqiao?"

His eyes shone with an astonishing light, and his gaze grew increasingly urgent: "Uncle Liu, you know the situation in our team. It's always a tough year-end battle, and we always have to get through it!"

"Leader Qian, you may not know this, but our team has an old ancestral hall with beams and pillars made of the finest nanmu wood, and several plaques passed down from our ancestors..."

"Captain Sheng!" Qian Jin suddenly raised his voice, then softened it again, "These things can't be said carelessly these days."

Both Sheng Jinshun and his daughter are impatient people. Such people are sincere but also prone to leaking information.

Sheng Jinshun swallowed hard, becoming somewhat restless.

The atmosphere in the room became awkward.

Sheng Chenggong coughed and gave Sheng Jinshun a wink.

The team leader chuckled awkwardly, pulled out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one to each person.

Amidst the swirling smoke, Sheng Chenggong changed the subject: "Leader Qian, please don't mind, my captain has a quick temper. Actually, it's like this..."

He took a drag of his cigarette and said, "Our team had a bumper sweet potato harvest this year, and we'd like to exchange it for some fertilizer so we can plant grain in the spring."

"In addition, Captain Liu knows that our team has a vermicelli workshop that can make sweet potato vermicelli. They make really good ones, and the taste and chewiness are excellent. They are famous throughout the whole commune."

“The county leaders came to the commune for inspection a few days ago. At lunch, they specifically asked for the vermicelli from our team.”

Qian Jin nodded: "Oh, so your team has a golden rooster."

Sheng Chenggong laughed and said, "The leader is too kind to our team. Well, our team makes good vermicelli, that's because we're willing to use the best ingredients."

"I won't lie about this, you should ask Captain Liu..."

Liu Wangcai nodded: "Their team uses good sweet potatoes to make vermicelli, unlike some teams that use whatever junk they can grind into starch."

Sheng Chenggong said, "Our vermicelli is of high quality, and we use high-quality ingredients, so its price is inevitably higher than other brands, which makes it difficult to sell in rural areas."

"So what I mean is, boss, could you see if you can find us a sales channel in the city? See which government agencies or institutions need vermicelli and introduce us to them."

Sheng Jinshun nodded: "Yes, city people are willing to spend money on good food."

Qian Jin smiled after hearing this: "Oh, so that's what it is. Hey, it's simple. There's a small collective enterprise in our neighborhood that needs vermicelli."

“Here’s what we’ll do,” he said, opening his notebook. “Our company will take your vermicelli. I’ll have our company leaders come over to inspect it later, and you can discuss the price.”

Sheng Jinshun and Sheng Chenggong exchanged a glance, their faces beaming with joy.

Qian Jin continued, "I don't know the specifics of Xiamaqiao yet. I was quite busy before the New Year, but I'll go there to do some research after the New Year."

"I am a junior cadre in the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. The mission of our unit and our staff is to serve the people."

"I'll see how things go then. If we need anything, we'll follow the procedures. I'll coordinate with you two team leaders and then I'll leave, okay?"

"That's great!" Sheng Jinshun perked up again. "Our team is slaughtering the New Year's pig during the first month of the lunar year, and Leader Qian must come!"

Liu Wangcai jokingly asked, "Shunzi, are you asking the leader to go to support agriculture or to a banquet?"

"Yes, yes!" Sheng Jinshun grinned, revealing a row of teeth stained yellow by cigarette smoke.

"To be honest, boss, we still have a few old craftsmen who can do traditional wood carving..."

Others gave him meaningful glances.

Sheng Jinshun hurriedly explained, "No, I didn't mean old objects, I meant wood carvings. I heard that city people don't appreciate these, do they?"

Qian Jin said, "I'll definitely go and take a look then." The conversation gradually turned to preparations for spring plowing.

Qian Jin agreed while observing the two leaders of Xiamaqiao.

Sheng Jinshun was straightforward, and his every sentence revolved around "improving the lives of the commune members"; Sheng Chenggong, on the other hand, was much more shrewd and always managed to steer sensitive topics within the bounds of policy.

The two sang in perfect harmony, their voices complementing each other flawlessly.

The two were delighted to receive Qian Jin's promise, and after drinking two cups of water, they got up to take their leave.

Liu Wangcai tried to persuade the two to stay and eat braised pork, but the two were well aware of the situation and refused to stay no matter what. However, Sheng Jinshun repeatedly invited Qian Jin to come and eat meat during the New Year.

Qian Jin agreed, and said he would braise pig's head and offal for them for free.

The three were very happy, and when they left, their eyes were full of eager anticipation as they looked at the bags of grain on the truck.

They were especially envious when they saw that there were quite a few eggs on the truck.

After seeing the three people off, Liu Wangcai closed the door and added a handful of coal to the stove.

"I'm sorry, leader, for not disciplining them properly. The villagers' nonsense has implicated you. I'm truly sorry," the old team leader sighed.

"However, I know the situation in Xiamaqiao. They are even poorer than us. Last year, another of their boats was lost at sea. Sheng Jinshun just became the team leader and is eager to give the commune members an explanation."

Qian Jin nodded: "It's alright. Since I chose to make a deal with the members of our team, I was already prepared for the news to get out."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"And what's with the old objects they mentioned...?"

"Hey, which team doesn't have a few family heirlooms?" Liu Wangcai laughed. "Now that we have the chance, we all want to take them out and exchange them for some real benefits."

He lowered his voice, "But there's definitely nothing reactionary; that would be a mistake."

Qian went in to check on the team's fish ball production.

Entirely handmade.

Several quick-witted elderly women and men were in charge of this matter.

Clean the fish, mince the meat, weigh it and season it according to the recipe, beat the eggs, keep the egg whites and remove the yolks, pinch the fish balls and blanch them, then freeze the fish balls after they are cooked...

The process went very smoothly.

The fish ball soup was set aside and divided into two portions. One portion was taken home by the commune members to eat with rice, and the other portion was taken away by the mobile canteen to be used as a soup base.

Qian Jin did not stay for dinner.

The wind was biting cold, so he went home while the sun was still shining.

When passing through the Xiamaqiao area, he deliberately released the accelerator.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly. The Xiamaqiao production team was even more dilapidated than the Hongxing Liu family's. The mud-brick houses were low and crowded, and only the blue brick gatehouse of the ancestral hall looked somewhat grand.

Just then, someone waved from ahead, and a girl wearing a red scarf popped out from the haystack: "Leader!"

Qian Jin drove up and leaned out of the car window: "What are you doing? Why are you crawling into the haystack?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in his words.

He wasn't joking; there's definitely some truth to crawling through a haystack at a rural girl's house.

Sheng Honghu didn't care at all: "I knew you were going to take this road, so I'm waiting for you here. It's cold, but it's warm inside the straw stacks."

Qian Jin asked, "Wait for me..."

"I rode back in your car today, and I didn't bring anything to thank you with, so here you are." She stuffed a bag into the car window. "Don't take it out, or I'll say you look down on farmers."

Qian Jin was about to be polite.

She added, "Please forgive me for what happened just now, boss."

Qian Jin asked in confusion, "What is it?"

The girl in the red scarf laughed and said, "It's about us asking the Liu family members about you. Don't blame them for being gossipy; our team is poor, and we were trying to find ways to improve our lives, so we went to ask them."

“I understand,” Qian Jin interrupted her explanation. “I’ll visit your team after the New Year and see if there are any difficulties. We’ll resolve them according to policy.”

The girl hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "It's settled then."

Qian Jin was about to take the bag out for her.

Sheng Honghu said, "It's just some peanuts that we roasted ourselves. You can eat them on the way, boss. There's also some vermicelli. Try it when you get back and see if my dad was exaggerating."

Qian Jin couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to accept it.

But before he left, he threw a large ten-yuan note out of the car window.

A bag of peanuts and vermicelli is something everyone likes in the twelfth lunar month, and it's quite valuable.

Sheng Honghu picked up the money and tried to give it to him.

Qian Jin stepped on the gas, and the truck drove off.

He looked in the rearview mirror and saw the girl in the red scarf still standing by the roadside waving at him.

The figure grew smaller and smaller in the mirror until it became a black dot.

Qian Jin knew that Xiamaqiao would bring him considerable profits.

But that's something for the future, at least until the first month of the lunar calendar.

He didn't plan to collect things from Xiamaqiao too early; he couldn't let people think he was eager to collect old items.

He needs something to exchange for money right now.

The No. 4 large gold chest was built by him after he had spent all his money. At this point, his savings were empty, and he only had a few hundred dollars left.

With an online store, making money is easy.

Two days later, Qian Jin decided to go to the black market again.

The Little New Year is approaching.

The city is starting to feel the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

From time to time, the sound of popping can be heard in the streets and alleys; it's children setting off firecrackers.

At night, loud screams could be heard from the tenement building from time to time. This was because adults came home from get off work and found that their children had secretly taken apart strings of firecrackers and were playing with them outside. They were now beating their children.

February 9th, Wednesday, was the day before the Little New Year in northern China, and Qian Jin got up very early.

He pulled back the covers, and the bright moonlight streaming through the window illuminated a beautifully curved and alluring body beside him.

The female teacher was woken up and rubbed her eyes. She felt the warmth of her husband's hand and shifted to a more comfortable position: "Ugh, put the blanket down, it's so cold!"

"You're going to the black market so early? Be careful, things haven't been stable in the city lately."

Qian Jin slapped his hand down with a crisp sound, and amidst the swaying of flesh, he put on his clothes with great composure: "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Actually, it's fine. I already told Wei Dong in advance."

"At worst, I'll get arrested by the voting agency. I'm just exchanging some country stuff for votes, it's no big deal."

Wei Qinghuan nodded groggily, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again.

Qian Jin put on makeup and wore a new leather wig before leaving the house.

In the darkness, the salty, fishy fog hung over Kap Manor like a shroud.

Qian Jin trudged along the icy asphalt road toward the dock, his military flashlight, its bulb wrapped in red cloth, casting a patch of light that looked like a blood scab in the fog.

Upon entering Jiagang, the sound of waves crashing against the seawall could be heard in the distance, mixed with a few sporadic barks of dogs.

By 78, the black market had grown even larger.

Despite repeated orders from above to crack down on speculation and profiteering, ordinary people still need to make a living, so they have to find a place to meet their needs.

Another point is that the authorities are different now than before. They only talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Even if they arrest some people, if they see that the people are exchanging goods for other things instead of selling them for money, they will basically release them.

When Qian Jin went to Xu Weidong to inquire about the situation, Xu Weidong provided him with an important piece of information:
The higher authorities issued instructions during a meeting that bartering would not be a key target of the crackdown, but rather the focus would be on those who hoard and speculate on state-owned assets and essential goods for people's daily lives.

Clearly, the spring breeze of openness is getting closer and closer.

Ordinary people have a strong sense of life and they actually have similar feelings, which is why the black market is becoming more and more prosperous.

Turning past the warehouse piled high with fishing nets, the view suddenly brightened up.

The black market in Kaohsiung is bustling today.

(End of this chapter)