The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 154 One after another, adding to everyone's possessions

Qian Jin organized this arrest operation with the intention of bringing honor to himself and the brigade he led.

Of course, it is also important to apprehend a group of robbers to protect state-owned assets.

But he didn't expect that the arrest operation would be so helpful in motivating the workers.

The foremen returned to their respective teams and immediately informed the porters of the important information. The porters were extremely excited to learn that they had participated in such an important capture operation and had succeeded.

An invisible force was injected into the group.

It has greater cohesion.

They are more combat-ready.

Yang Shengzhang came again the next day, this time accompanied by a vice president.

If their president and party officials hadn't gone to the capital for the year-end summary meeting, those two high-ranking leaders would probably have come to offer their condolences.

The deputy director was very pragmatic. In addition to praising Qian Jin, he directly asked him, "I heard from Minister Yang that you just got married, Qian? Is there anything in your life that your unit can help you with?"

Qian Jin said, "Reporting to the leader, I personally don't have any needs, but the small collective enterprises in our street have an important need, and we hope that your unit can provide assistance."

Yang Shengzhang introduced him: "Comrade Qian Jin holds several positions."

"He was the captain of their Tai'an Road Labor Commando Team, and he also organized the team members to establish a small collective enterprise called the People's Mobile Canteen..."

"Oh," Vice President Jiang Mao exclaimed in surprise, "the People's Mobile Canteen is an enterprise you organized and set up?"

Qian Jin said, "Yes, sir."

“There are many members in our street’s labor commando team, and many of them are educated youth who have returned to the city. They are unemployed, and I was worried that they would put pressure on society, so I came up with a way to start this enterprise.”

"But it won't affect my main job," he added, "Please rest assured, boss..."

Jiang Mao laughed heartily: "No need to explain, no need to explain, you did a great job, Lao Yang reported everything to me clearly."

"Furthermore, I must say that Xiao Qian, you are a capable young comrade. Our supply and marketing cooperative needs talents like you."

"Tell me, what kind of assistance does your mobile canteen need from our unit?"

Qian Jin took out the motorcycle he had prepared and showed it to the two men: "Our company is doing well, but we have a weakness now, which is transportation."

"A colleague in the company went to great lengths to get this ticket from a relative, hoping to help the company purchase a motorcycle."

"But there are too few motorcycles available right now, we can't buy any!"

The market price of a Qingqi 15 motorcycle is 1700 yuan.

The price is very expensive.

Even if a worker earning 50 yuan a month didn't eat or drink, it would take him three and a half years to save up enough to buy such a car.

However, supply cannot meet demand...

Currently, the main buyers of motorcycles are large organizations, which have plenty of money.

Jiang Mao was a man who had seen a lot. After glancing at the motorcycle and buying the ticket, he nodded directly to Yang Shengzhang:
"Old Yang, write this down and go talk to Old Chen in the purchasing department. Ask him to help Xiao Qian resolve this issue."

Qian Jin hurriedly thanked him.

Jiang Mao asked with interest, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Qian Jin rarely needs help from his employer; the main problem is that his two companies under his management require a lot of assistance.

But people should know how to be content.

The All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives had no responsibility to assist the enterprises under his jurisdiction.

So he said everything was fine and he didn't need any more help from his workplace.

Yang Shengzhang shook his head and made a request on behalf of his capable subordinate:
"Xiao Qian just registered his marriage with his wife last month. At that time, President Wei gave special permission for the two of them to stay in room 401 of our unit in the Yintan Park Guesthouse for a few nights."

"Comrade Xiaoqian's wife really likes the environment here. I was wondering if we could help Xiaoqian apply for another accommodation opportunity?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin couldn't help but slap his forehead.

He'd completely forgotten about it!
But the leader hadn't forgotten.

How could this not be moving?
Jiang Mao said, "It should be fine. The ladies will definitely like the interior design. But Xiao Qian, you can't let the sweet talk inside defeat you."

Qian Jin stamped his foot and declared that he was determined to carry out the revolution and would never be corrupted.

Jiang Mao laughed and said, "Leave this to me. However, the leaders from Shanghai are staying here now, so I'll have to wait until they leave before making arrangements based on their schedules."

We respectfully saw the two leaders off.

Qian Jin was full of energy.

Since the leader has been so good to me, there's no question I must repay the leader's kindness in nurturing me.

Taking advantage of his current high prestige, Qian Jin began to make adjustments to the moving team.

First, we must strengthen mutual assistance among team members in each team.

Currently, many industries in China are not professional enough. Take the moving team for example; the movers are like casual laborers, not united enough, and do not exert collective strength when doing work.

He set up mutual aid groups, allowing physically stronger team members to help the relatively weaker ones.

Therefore, he directly convened a meeting with the eight foremen and the party members in the transport team.

Regarding the mutual aid group, he said, "Our Jiagang team is a big family, and we can't let any family member fall behind."

“In the past, the brigade had a slogan: ‘Working together to move things, the port is stable and guaranteed.’ Now we can add a line: ‘Helping each other and loving each other with one heart, the Jiagang Brigade has made great contributions.’”

The foremen nodded quickly after hearing this.

Liu Jinshan shook his head seriously: "Captain Qian, I would like to offer a small suggestion here."

Qian Jin was stunned.

He hadn't expected Liu Jinshan to object to his proposal, so he asked, "Then, Deputy Captain Liu, what are your thoughts?"

Liu Jinshan, looking quite spirited, said, "To be frank, I actually have some brilliant ideas this time..."

"Come on, what's wrong, Lao Liu? Did your wife give you some iron yam? Why are you so hard today?" Hu Shunzi said casually.

Liu Jinshan sneered, "Then why don't you wait until I finish speaking before you raise your questions?"

"My brilliant idea is that this slogan should be changed to 'Mutual assistance and love, one heart; Jiagang Brigade moves forward; Jiagang Brigade moves towards—money!'"

Qian Jin was stunned.

You're a real talent!

Is this considered flattery?

The key is that the flattery was very effective!

After Liu Jinshan finished speaking, the foremen couldn't help but applaud.

He looked at Hu Shunzi with a smug expression.

Hu Shunzi slammed his hand on the table and stood up, then huffed and puffed, "I have to admit, Lao Liu, you really did give a good suggestion this time."

Liu Jinshan said to Qian Jin, "Captain Qian, I suggest that the captain change the slogan to this."

After studying it, Qian Jin agreed.

It's not that he's willing to be flattered.

The main thing is that the revision was really good; it's about moving forward with one heart, and it rhymes!

Qian Jin continued to implement reforms.

Forming mutual aid groups is beneficial to the group, but it's unfair to the strong porters.

Therefore, he decided to establish a reward system within the brigade.

He said, "I will ask our company to give the movers extra rewards. In the future, we will select honors such as 'Best Mutual Assistance Team Member' and 'Moving Efficiency Star' every month and give them some rewards."

"Material rewards are definitely all good stuff!"

The foremen were even more inclined to support his reforms after hearing this.

Who doesn't like material rewards?
Wei Xiongtu asked Qian Jin worriedly, "Will the head office support your application? Material rewards aren't so easy to get."

Qian Jin nodded.

He is quite confident in this regard.

Yang Shengzhang called him today, saying that the unit has decided to allocate a special fund to the Jiagang Brigade to improve the facilities and equipment at the wharf.

The amount of funds is 10,000 yuan, which is managed by Qian Jin's designated person.

Needless to say, this is a material reward from the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative for Qian Jin leading the Jiagang Brigade to capture the Xiashanhu gang.

But Qian Jin will not withhold a single penny of this money.

He already has specific plans on how to use it:
First, he needed to use some of the money to repair the lighting system at the work dock, replacing it with brighter and more durable bulbs.

Secondly, signal lights should be installed at some key locations on the dock to help the porters work in a more organized and orderly manner.

Then he also needs to use some of the money to make materials for simple loading and unloading racks and tracks.

This is his new invention for tools on the work site, following his invention of the four-wheeled vehicle.

He wants to design a batch of detachable tracks that can be used with special trolleys to further free up labor.

All proposals passed unanimously.

No one objected, because Qian Jin had indeed done all of this for the sake of his company and the porters' collective.

Every proposal can be described as 'utterly selfless and dedicated to the benefit of others'.

However, the implementation of these proposals will have to wait until after the new year.

New Year approached.

When Qian Jin was about to go home after get off work that day, Zhang Aijun suddenly rode his bicycle up to him.

Seeing his colleague, Qian Jin breathed a sigh of relief: "Where have you been these past two days? I thought you were lost!"

When he met with the Tiger Down the Mountain gang on the eve of the Lunar New Year, he arranged for Zhang Aijun to be his backup.

As a result, the backup disappeared.

The reason he dared not make the arrest rashly when he was about to capture the gang of tigers coming down the mountain was that Zhang Aijun was not there and he did not have any spies.

Zhang Aijun's expression was serious, and his eyes kept looking around: "Boss, what is your relationship with that bald guy you asked me to protect on the eve of the Lunar New Year?"

Qian Jin's heart suddenly raced.

Has Zhang Aijun discovered his disguise secret?

He was prepared for this.

After all, Zhang Aijun was very familiar with him, and since he kept staring at Qian Jin's back that day, there was a high probability that he noticed the similarities between the two.

So he chimed in, "That's actually my older brother, we're related by blood, so what?"

Zhang Aijun said in a deep voice, "Tell him to be very careful afterwards."

"The 'Downhill Tiger' gang consisted of five people. When I was tracking them, I discovered that they had someone on the shore keeping watch, and I think this person was the most skilled in their gang."

“I’ve been tracking this guy for the past two days. He’s very slippery. I only broke one of his legs, but he still managed to get away.”

Qian Jin's anxiety subsided.

It fell down with a thud.

I wasn't wrong, the Tiger Down the Mountain gang wasn't just four people!

However, this is not a big problem.

Although it was his own group that captured the "Tiger Down the Mountain" gang, it was he, playing the bald gunman, who betrayed the gang.

If the person who escaped from the Tiger Down the Mountain gang wanted revenge, he would most likely not seek it out on him, but rather on the bald gunman.

Of course, it's hard to say, but he definitely needs to be careful in the future.

There are only a few days left until the Chinese New Year.

Qian Jin started planning for the Chinese New Year.

On the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, there is a temple fair in the southern part of the city called Niangniang Palace Temple Fair, which is very large in scale.

Historically, this temple fair was a city-wide annual event, but it was suspended in recent years.

The temple fair was revived during the Spring Festival in 77, and the people still had great enthusiasm for participating in it.

Therefore, the government plans to hold a large-scale temple fair this year to showcase the new economic landscape of the new era.

The All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives has taken on a huge responsibility in this matter. On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month this year, all supply and marketing cooperatives, department stores, food stores and other supply units are required to set up stalls.

Therefore, recently a large amount of supplies have been arriving in Haibin City from all over the country by sea, where they are transported into warehouses by porters and then sent out by transport teams.

Qian Jin plans to take the mobile canteen to the Niangniang Palace temple fair to join in the fun, and hopefully they can make a big splash.

He plans to sell spicy hot pot and fresh soup, and he also plans to set up a barbecue stall.

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Qian Jin took some time to leave work early.

He first went to the Taishan Road coal station to buy fifty kilograms of charcoal.

The coal station quickly issued him a receipt, and Old Wang, who was in charge of weighing, piled more charcoal onto the scale:
"Chief Qian, just you wait and see. This is all top-quality jujube charcoal. It used to be a special supply for the steelmaking workshop, but now we're using it too. I'll give it to you first..."

That's what prestige is all about.

Qian Jin still remembered when he first came to the coal station to buy coal after transmigrating, the master gave him a hard time because he didn't address him correctly.

As he left the coal yard, he tossed the sacks of coal onto the back of his bicycle.

Fifty pounds is not a light weight.

The steel frame groaned under the strain.

Qian Jin patted the remaining meat and grain coupons in his pocket, then pedaled his bicycle toward the farmers' market.

A long queue formed outside the food company, where several elderly women wrapped in headscarves were discussing the various types of seafood available for the Spring Festival.

Qian Jin walked straight to the familiar sales clerk, and the two exchanged a few words in hushed tones. Xiao Zhang quietly took out an oil paper package from under the counter.

"Chief Qian, this is a freshly slaughtered goat. You can eat it when you get home. The meat is absolutely tender."

Qian Jin handed over the money and the receipt in full.

The salesperson even offered him a discount, but he refused to pay and wouldn't take a single penny off.

Not bad money!
He stuffed the meat into his coat, making it bulge like a cannonball.

In addition, he bought two bags of flatbread, hung one bag on one side of the handlebars, and rode the bicycle back to the community, wobbling along.

The sea breeze, carrying the chill rising from the snow, swept into the old alleys of Taishan Road.

As dusk began to paint half the sky red, Qian Jin returned to the tenement building.

Half a pork carcass was hanging on the handlebars, and dark red bloodstains seeped from the oil paper wrapping the mutton. Charcoal bundles tied to the back seat were shedding crumbs.

He and Zhang Aijun carried their belongings upstairs, where several pieces of clothing swayed in the wind on the clothesline in the corridor.

Wei Qinghuan was hanging up clothes, a maroon woolen scarf hanging in front of her chest, making her neck appear even whiter.

"You're back? You're back quite early today."

The female teacher greeted him with a smile. Qian Jin walked past her from behind, and she happened to turn around. The end of her braid brushed against Qian Jin's chin, carrying the scent of jasmine from her face cream.

A moon-white sweater hugged her slender waist, with half of her mauve sweater peeking out from the cuffs. Qian Jin could never get enough of his wife's alluring figure.

Since clothes were already drying in the corridor, Qian Jin had no choice but to set up the barbecue grill inside the house.

He opened the window, and the balcony once again took on the important role of the kitchen.

Upon seeing this, Wei Qinghuan immediately understood his meaning: "Are you going to have barbecue tonight?"

Qian Jin nodded: "Yes, I plan to train a few people to make barbecue. I'll practice on my own for the next couple of days, and when we go to the Niangniang Palace Temple Fair on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, I'll have the mobile canteen make a big splash."

Mala Tang (spicy hot pot), Oden (Japanese stew), and barbecue.

These three items would definitely be culinary stars at any temple fair these days.

Once the triangular iron grill was set up, Qian Jin arranged the charcoal into a pagoda shape.

Wei Qinghuan squatted in front of the enamel basin, mixing sauce. The bright red chili powder mixed with golden sesame seeds in the rough earthenware bowl, and when she poured in sesame oil, a few drops of oil splashed onto her face, prompting her to wipe them off with her sleeve.

"Be careful, thank goodness it's sesame oil. If it were boiling oil or chili oil, you would have suffered." Qian Jin came over and pulled her up to wipe it carefully.

Wei Qinghuan smiled gently, the setting sun casting a warm glow on the young woman's face.

Logically speaking, meat should be marinated properly.

However, Qian Jin discovered that there was no such thing as water-injected meat these days. The fresh meat was of excellent quality, and the aroma of the meat alone was more appetizing than marinating when grilling it.

He asked Wei Qinghuan to cut the meat into pieces and to lay out all the prepared barbecue seasonings.

Wei Qinghuan is very efficient at her work.

When he finished and looked back, the mutton had been cut into even small pieces.

The plump ones resemble jade, while the slender ones are like dark red agate, radiating an alluring luster.

He bought the barbecue skewers at the mall; they were all metal skewers shaped like bicycle spokes.

With the advent of mobile repair shops, the origin of these sticks became easy to explain: they were made from discarded bicycle spokes.

Qian Jin brought out a small stool from the house for Wei Qinghuan to sit on, and let her sit by the grill and learn to skewer meat.

This requires no technical skill.

Wei Qinghuan's slender fingers deftly flipped the bamboo skewers through the meat chunks, alternating between lean and fatty pieces—a standard way to skewer meat.

Several of his close friends hadn't arrived yet, so Qian Jin wanted to grill some meat for his wife.

When the first batch of meat skewers were put on the grill, the charcoal fire was just burning red-hot and smokeless.

The lamb skewers quickly hissed and emitted white smoke as they hit the grill. Oil droplets rolled on the surface of the meat before dripping onto the charcoal fire, bursting into tiny blue flames.

Qian Jin skillfully flipped the meat skewers, occasionally sprinkling on a mixture of cumin, chili powder, and sesame seeds.

The fragrance, almost tangible, quickly spread throughout the cold winter night.

The moon is rising.

The lamb skewers kept sizzling with oil, making a very pleasant sound.

With a flick of his wrist, Qian Jin traced circles on the charcoal fire with the iron skewer, and wisps of smoke rose from where the mutton fat dripped, gradually bringing it to a perfect roast.

People passing by on the street would look up and ask, "What's that smell? It smells so good!"

The four little ones and Tangyuan were as clever as little foxes. They smelled the aroma and chased each other to the second floor.

In the tenement buildings, every household was reluctant to eat meat, so the aroma of meat emanating from the house was naturally from Qian Ru's family.

Qian Jin handed a skewer of meat to Wei Qinghuan: "Eat it while it's hot."

He wiped the skewer tip with a tissue, and Wei Qinghuan parted her red lips slightly, biting off a piece of meat and chewing slowly. The meat juices mixed with the barbecue seasoning exploded on her tongue, and she couldn't help but nod: "Delicious, I think it's even better than what Brother Guan grills."

Qian Jin knew that she wasn't praising him insincerely.

The barbecue seasoning recipes of the 21st century are so sophisticated that they are far superior to those of today's state-run chefs.

Wei Qinghuan happily ate the meat and asked, "This must be lamb from the Inner Mongolian grasslands, right? It's so tender."

Qian Jin put his arm around her waist, ready to say something flirtatious, but the door was pushed open and Wu Xiao burst in, yelling, "It smells so good!"

Others began to arrive intermittently afterward.

Wang Dong, carrying two bottles of baijiu, twitched his nose and exclaimed, "I can smell this from across the street!"

"Barbecued meat skewers? Good stuff, perfect with the Fenjiu I brought today—the company's New Year's welfare liquor."

Xu Weidong, Zhu Tao, Zhao Gang, Shi Zhentao and others arrived later, and Zhou Shanhu was also called over by Qian Jin this time.

As the year drew to a close, various organizations distributed holiday benefits, so everyone received something in their hands.

Some brought fried peanuts wrapped in newspaper, some brought dried shrimp from work, and others brought sausages, meatballs, and other similar items.

Zhou Shan Lake is the most honest, you can have a big yellow croaker in each hand.

The yellow croaker was about half a meter long, with a bright golden color; you could tell at a glance it was a good catch caught at night.

People living by the sea know that the reason why large yellow croakers are yellow is not because they are good at producing yellow, but because they have a layer of golden skin glands on their bodies.

This substance is easily decomposed and faded by ultraviolet light. Therefore, large yellow croakers caught at night will have a more golden color due to the isolation from light and low-temperature preservation, while those caught during the day will be more grayish-white.

Seeing Zhou Shanhu come in, Qian Jin waved him over: "Come here. You're good with your hands. You'll be in charge of this business from now on."

Zhou Shanhu wiped his nose and asked in a low voice, "Commander Qian, is it appropriate for a new recruit like me to be assigned to the People's Mobile Canteen?"

Everyone knows that the People's Mobile Canteen now provides huge financial and welfare support to labor shock brigades and even neighborhood committees, so entering the People's Mobile Canteen has become an honor for the shock brigades.

Qian Jin said, "That's fine, unless someone is more skillful than you."

"Barbecuing meat is not easy. I'm actually not very good at it. The reason I made an exception and promoted you to be in charge of this job is because you need to study it yourself."

Zhou Shanhu readily agreed, "Leave it to me, Chief Qian. I'll handle it perfectly."

Qian Jin showed him how he grilled the meat.

When the meat skewers were about 70-80% cooked, Qian Jin picked up a brush, dipped it in oil, and brushed it onto the meat.

The moment the oil touches the hot surface of the meat, it immediately releases an even richer aroma.

He explained, "You have to figure out exactly when to apply the oil yourself; I just apply it randomly."

Zhou Shanhu nodded.

The first batch of grilled meat skewers was placed on an enamel plate, and Wei Qinghuan served it to the table. Next, Zhou Shanhu joined in, and the two of them got busy together.

"Don't be shy, everyone," Qian Jin said sarcastically.

Wang Dong and his gang were like animals, completely indifferent, and had already started looting.

The golden-brown roasted lamb chunks steamed, and the moment you bite into them, the crispy exterior and tender interior created a wonderful contrast.

The scalding hot meat juices mixed with spices exploded in my mouth.

The phrase "mouth dripping with oil" has found its most vivid interpretation at this moment.

"Chief Qian's cooking skills are amazing. I feel this is even better than what we ate at the Workers' New Village the other day. Chief Qian's skills have improved!" Zhu Tao said, his mouth glistening with oil.

“That’s right,” Wang Dong said, taking a swig of baijiu. “Captain Qian is really good at cooking. He and Teacher Wei are a perfect match.”

“It’s a match made in heaven,” Xu Weidong corrected.

Wang Dong sneered, "Oh, so Teacher Xu got into university too?"

The two began to bicker.

Qian Jin smiled and placed another batch of meat skewers on the table.

This time it's pork belly; the thick slices of meat curl up over the charcoal fire, and the edges gradually turn into an enticing caramel color.

Wei Qinghuan brought out a stack of flatbreads to put in the pan, but Qian Jin hurriedly said, "No, no, no, these are for grilling. In fact, the barbecue stall of the People's Mobile Canteen will rely entirely on these flatbreads to support its business in the future."

These days, grilled meat is too extravagant and is destined not to become the mainstay of barbecue stalls; grilled flatbread and grilled tofu are the way to go.

Qian Jin started baking flatbread.

As the oil is brushed on, the dough gradually puffs up with small bubbles, and the sweet aroma of wheat is infused with the rich fragrance of cumin.

"Here, try this." Qian Jin handed the grilled pork belly to Wei Qinghuan.

But the pork belly he handed to others was stuffed into a flatbread: "Try this, this is something I've never had before."

When Wei Xiongtu returned, he went to deliver a New Year's gift to Professor Song Zhiyuan and picked up the professor while he was there.

The old professor, a man who had seen the world, hadn't eaten barbecue in years. Upon receiving it, he exclaimed with great emotion, "The last time I ate this was probably in 62, when I went to Inner Mongolia to help establish a university..."

He sighed, shook his head, and took a bite of the flatbread with roasted meat.

The old man's eyes narrowed into slits: "Brilliant! Who came up with this perfect match?"

"The pork belly is fatty and greasy, while the flatbread is lean and dry. The flatbread absorbs all the oil and moisture, giving the pork belly a grainy flavor. It's a perfect match!"

Then he lowered his voice and said, "If this were a couple of years ago, it would have been considered hedonism."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Xu Weidong raised his wine jar: "So, comrades, let's drink to the day when we can eat meat openly and honestly!"

"Cheers! Cheers!" Adults raised their glasses and shouted, while children raised their orange juice and shouted as well.

Arranging for Zhou Shanhu to do a barbecue is a great idea.

He used to make money quickly and was willing to spend it, and he had eaten barbecue before. In addition, he is indeed skillful with his hands.

He spun the meat skewers in his hands. The first skewer had some burnt parts, but by the time he finished grilling the second skewer, there were no burnt spots left.

After Qian Jin finished get off work, he took control of the grill himself, able to manage dozens of skewers from left to right at the same time.

It was another happy and delicious meal.

As night deepened, the group staggered away, and the charcoal fire gradually turned a dark red.

Wei Qinghuan was cleaning up the mess when the velvet flower in her hair fell out, and her black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall.

Qian Jin carried the kettle to add tea for her, the steam rising from the spout blurring her vision.

The tape recorder in the corner was playing "On the Hopeful Fields," and the song stubbornly soared upwards amidst the static.

"The department store will have TV tomorrow. Bai Jie specifically told me that when I rode my bike there today." Qian Jin added a handful of pine branches to the oven, sparks flying amidst the crackling sound.

Wei Qinghuan leaned against the windowsill, the moonlight gilding the young woman with a silver edge: "Then we'll have a television set in our house tomorrow."

Qian Jin said, "What's a TV? If we're lucky, I'll show you what nice things we can get for our family before the New Year."

Wei Qinghuan instinctively wanted to laugh.

However, her overly happy life also made her a little worried: "We have a tape recorder and a television at home, which is better than the average family of a leading cadre."

"Honey, I feel like we have enough stuff at home, let's not buy anything more."

Qian Jin chuckled: "Don't worry, everything my husband has comes from honest and upright sources, there's absolutely no problem!"

The room had both a fireplace and an oven, making it warm and cozy, while the seaside is humid all year round.

And so, the night took on a touch of spring dampness…

As the last spark from the oven faded into the starlight, the stone slabs of Taishan Road were covered with frost.

Qian Jin went to work as usual. Shortly after he arrived, Yang Shengzhang called and said, "Come to the head office building."

Today it's cold.

The cold wind swept across the street like a knife.

Qian Jin stood in the courtyard of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative's office building, braving the wind. His cheeks were red from the cold, but he looked very happy.

Of course, he was indeed very happy.

Because there was a brand new motorcycle parked in front of him, its bright red body gleaming festively in the winter sun.

To be precise, this was not a motorcycle he was familiar with. The frame structure of this vehicle was somewhere between a bicycle and a motorcycle; it was not as heavy as a motorcycle, but much heavier than a bicycle.

This is the Light Cavalry 15.

The name "Light Cavalry" comes from its image; it is a light-duty cavalry unit.

The number 15 is because this car rolled off the production line on the 15th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Qian Jin did not buy the earliest model of the Qingqi 15. The purchase ticket says Qingqi 15-75, but it is actually an upgraded version of the Qingqi 15 produced in 1975. In 20th-century terms, it is the plus version.

Officially, this motorcycle is also called Qingqi 15, but in order to distinguish it, it is called Qingqi 75 by the public.

Compared to its predecessor, the Type 15, the Type 75 was more robust and heavy, similar to the electric bicycles or electric scooters of later generations.

The Model 15 has low fuel consumption, with a fuel consumption of only 1.5 liters per 100 kilometers and a set speed of 45 kilometers per hour.

The improved Type 75 light motorcycle has a fuel consumption of 2.8 liters and a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour.

Some of the Qingqi 15 model motorcycles were sold to private individuals, while the 75 model motorcycles were almost all used for public purposes, such as delivering telegrams and film, or for fieldwork by various units.

Yang Shengzhang patted the car seat and said, "It was a special quota approved by the unit. In name, this car should be used by the newspaper, but the leader personally came forward to get it for you. This is the first batch of '75 cars that came from Haibin City in '78."

Qian Jin thanked him, saying, "Thank you very much, leader."

"Alright, stop standing there, give it a try. You can ride a motorcycle, right?" Yang Shengzhang handed him the keys, the metal gleaming coldly in the cold air.

Qian Jin took the keys and smiled, "Why wouldn't you know how?"

"This is the accelerator, this is the clutch, this is the brake. Can't you ride it as long as you have hands and feet?"

He climbed onto the seat, the cool leather feeling seeping through his cotton trousers.

A sudden commotion arose.

Insert the key, give it a gentle turn, and the engine makes a crisp "putt-putt" sound.

Qian Jin felt a strange vibration coming from his crotch, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Since arriving here, he has only ridden meat horses; this is the first time he has ridden an iron horse.

"Drive slowly and be careful on the road!" Yang Shengzhang shouted from behind.

Qian Jin nodded and carefully twisted the accelerator.

He now has a beautiful wife in his arms and a bright future ahead of him, so he is more afraid of death than anyone else.

The motorcycle slowly drove out of the compound and turned onto the street.

In February, pedestrians hurried along the streets of the seaside city, wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes, while bicycle bells rang incessantly.

But when the sound of a motorcycle comes, the sound of a bicycle bell pales in comparison.

"Look! A big motorcycle!" a little boy wearing a cotton hat shouted, pointing at Qian Jin.

"Big motorcycle" is also a common name for the Qingqi 75, while the Qingqi 15 is naturally called a "small motorcycle".

Why were young people in the 1980s willing to ride motorcycles?
Qian Jin understands now.

He was just out testing the car and had absolutely no intention of showing off, but many eyes on him were drawn to him on the street. Whether it was surprise, envy, or curiosity, no one knew. In any case, everyone around him was looking at him.

Some young people on bicycles even pedaled frantically, trying to catch up and see what was happening.

Seeing that the commotion was too great, Qian Jin turned his car around and drove back.

Motorcycles are now rarer than bicycles, and large motorcycles like the Qingqi 75 are the rarest of all.

Qian Jin went back and told Yang Shengzhang about the situation: "Why don't I send the car back first? Otherwise, if we take it to the brigade, how will the comrades concentrate on their work? They'll all come to look at the car."

Yang Shengzhang took a puff of his cigarette and nodded: "Arrange your work properly. You can take the day off today. You'll be on duty on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

Qian Jin was about to readily agree when he heard that he would be on duty on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and his spirits immediately plummeted.

Yang Shengzhang said, "In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, you just need to arrange your work. You don't need to be at the office at other times. How about you take over the shift on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin perked up: "Whatever you say, leader, I'll go wherever your troops point!"

"Get lost!" Yang Shengzhang laughed and cursed, waving his hand. "Truly, those who associate with ink become black, and those who associate with Liu Jinshan learn to flatter!"

Liu Jinshan's flattery skills were renowned throughout the entire warehousing and transportation department.

Qian Jin carried out the order.

Accelerate and get out of here.

What used to take more than 20 minutes by bicycle now takes only a few minutes.

As the motorcycle drove onto Taishan Road, Qian Jin could see several children playing cockfighting in the open space below the tenement building from afar.

They were hopping around on one foot when the sound of a motorcycle came from the road. The game stopped immediately, and all the children turned to look at the source of the sound.

"Uncle Qianjin?! Uncle Qianjin, you've got a motorcycle!" Liu Sanbing stopped his cockfighting and excitedly ran over to wave.

The other children followed suit, like a flock of chattering sparrows.

Qian Jin had to stop the car, afraid of hitting these excited little guys.

"Hey, hey, hey, you can touch it all, you can touch it all—no, don't touch it there, be careful not to burn yourself!" Qian Jin shouted as he turned off the engine.

But it was too late; several little hands had already touched the still-hot exhaust pipe.

"Oh dear!" Both children pulled their hands back at the same time, one of them immediately bursting into tears.

Qian Jin was both annoyed and amused: "You'll inevitably bump into the car when it's parked on Taishan Road, but you can't touch the exhaust pipe. It's the car's stove; how can it not get hot?"

The children, however, paid no attention to any of that, circling around the motorcycle and asking one question after another:
"Uncle Qian, how fast can this car go?"

Does it run on gasoline?

Was it a reward from your employer?

As Qian Jin made up some random remarks, he pushed his cart back to the entrance of the tenement building, where the old men and women sunbathing craned their necks to watch.

"Xiao Qian, is this provided by the government?" Master Wang from across the street called out.

Qian Jin nodded: "Yes, it's necessary for work. The moving team often needs to go to the warehouse for inspections, so having a vehicle is convenient."

He didn't say that it was bought under the name of the People's Mobile Canteen.

This is his car.

This vehicle belongs to the People's Mobile Canteen at the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, and it belongs to the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives on Taishan Road.

"Incredible! He's the first cadre on our street to have a car provided with him!" Master Wang's exclamation drew a chorus of agreement.

The children's shouts and the elderly's exclamations attracted many residents upstairs. Some opened their windows to look down and, upon seeing the large motorcycle, quickly came downstairs to join the fun.

Wei Qinghuan also came out, still holding the chives she hadn't finished picking.

Qian Jin went over to find her, and then waved to the others: "Uncles, aunts, grandparents, and other relatives, please disperse. It's cold, don't catch a cold. This car will be parked here from now on, and you can see it anytime you want."

Once inside, Wei Qinghuan closed the door and whispered, "Is this too conspicuous?"

Qian Jin placed the key on the table, making a crisp sound: "It's necessary for work. Our Minister Yang said it was specially approved by the president."

"Besides, we're advocating the 'Four Modernizations' now, so transportation should also be modernized."

Wei Qinghuan still had reservations.

In an era where everyone's living standards are roughly the same, the sudden appearance of such a rare item inevitably attracts envy.

But Qian Jin was well aware that times were changing and life was about to change.

The college entrance examination was reinstated last year, and reform and opening up will be implemented this year. The land of China will undergo earth-shattering changes in the future.

Wei Qinghuan hasn't moved the TV yet; she wants to wait until the department store is about to close in the evening before moving it.

It was getting dark by then, and she wanted to secretly move the TV to the workers' new village and hide it there.

Qian Jin knew she liked television and motorcycles, so he was able to leave work early today and wanted to take Wei Qinghuan out for a drive.

Wei Qinghuan was worried that he would be envied, so she took his hand and said:

"Let's not go for a drive now. It's so cold, and the New Year is almost here. What if we catch a cold while driving?"

"Why don't you park your car in the study room first? We need to be careful it doesn't get stolen."

This is an important point.

These motorcycles are currently a favorite among thieves, and the study room is indeed a suitable hiding place.

After all, that place used to be a large warehouse. The windows were small, and there was only a door for people to enter and exit. As long as the door was locked, everything would be fine.

Qian Jin agreed to Wei Qinghuan's request and parked the car there that night: "But we don't need it during the day. Come on, I'll take you to buy a TV."

“We bought a TV and delivered it directly to the workers’ new village, and then the two of us watched TV there.”

Wei Qinghuan also wanted to watch TV.

But she knows too well how much money has been made, or rather, she has a formula for it now.

Qian Jin + Workers' New Village = Going to bed.

So she specifically warned Qian Jin: "Today is for going to bed—no, I misspoke—today is for setting up the TV. Don't think about anything else!"

Qian Jin was speechless: "What kind of person do you take me for?"

The purchase of the television went smoothly; with the money and tickets ready, Qian Jin loaded the box and left.

The motorcycles entering the workers' new village once again attracted attention.

Qian Jin locked the car, carried the boxes upstairs, and placed the small TV on the bedroom table.

Wei Qinghuan said, "It should be placed in the living room."

Qian Jin explained, "We move it to the living room when outsiders come over, and keep it in the bedroom at other times. How can we look at it when it's so cold in the living room?"

"If we put it in the bedroom, we can watch it while leaning against the headboard in bed, covered by the blanket. That would be so comfortable."

Wei Qinghuan felt something was off, but there was definitely some truth to what she said.

Since there was no way to install an antenna, Qian Jin turned on the TV and turned the knob to tune to a different station.

There was only one TV station, and I don't know if it's because they live on the top floor and the sixth floor is now the highest floor in the residential building, but the picture was still quite clear.

The sculptures of workers, peasants, and soldiers are clearly visible.

Qian Jin went to bed and covered himself with the blanket.

Wei Qinghuan made two cups of tea with great ceremony before going to bed.

then……

(End of this chapter)