The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 169 Enthusiastic Service Makes Friends

Although they are only 80 kilometers apart, the daytime temperature in Yuezhou County is higher than that in Haibin City.

At this time, the locust trees in Haibin City were just sprouting green leaves, while the locust flowers in the backyard of the supply and marketing cooperative had already begun to bud.

Qian Jin squatted in front of the coal stove, fanning the fire. The smoke rising from the iron pot, carrying the aroma of oil, drifted into the street, making Jin Hai's mouth water and prompting him to quicken his pace.

The commune had a tofu workshop, and soybean dregs were worthless. Jin Hai was a local and worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, so he had a lot of face and easily got two aluminum lunch boxes full of soybean dregs.

These soybean dregs are of excellent quality. After the money is received, they are placed on the cutting board and the soybean dregs that come out are white, soft, and shiny, like clouds reflecting the moonlight.

Qian Jin exclaimed in admiration, "Great job, Brother Jin, you've got some good stuff."

Jin Hai carefully examined the boiling oil in the hot pan.

Next to it was a plastic jar filled with solidified white grease, which was undoubtedly lard.

When the solidified oil falls into the iron pot, it turns into a golden stream when heated, creating an enticing color on the bottom of the pot.

He couldn't help but ask, "So much lard, and so little money, did you bring it from the city?"

Qian Jin nodded: "I have a lot of friends in the city. When they found out I was going to work at our store's supply and marketing cooperative, they gave me some things."

As he spoke, he poured the soybean pulp into the pot and began to stir-fry it with a crackling sound.

Seeing this, Jin Hai tried to stop him: "No, you, you, you pour out the pickled vegetables first—alas, what a pity, what a pity."

"You have to let the pickled vegetables absorb the oil first, then they'll be fragrant. Soybean dregs absorb oil very quickly, so you have to let them go down first, otherwise the pickled vegetables won't be able to absorb the oil."

The moment the soybean dregs hit the pot, white steam rose up, and Qian Jin's wrists flicked like he was practicing Tai Chi.

Seeing Jin Hai's regretful expression, he laughed and said, "Stir-frying the pickled vegetables first is the common way to do it, but my method is different because the pickled vegetables I use are different."

Because the pickled vegetables I used were soaked in oil.

A large plate of glistening, oily pickled vegetables.

This is a batch of pickled vegetables with eight kinds of sauce that he just bought from the mall. It contains dried radish, ground bean curd, cowpeas, peanuts, cucumbers, garlic, and of course, small chili peppers.

The eight-treasure savory sauce is delicious on its own; it's already been braised in oil and water, making it incredibly fragrant.

It would be even more fragrant if you stir-fried it with soybean pulp and lard.

Jin Hai had never seen such pickled vegetables before. When he saw them, he said in surprise, "The pickled vegetables you city people eat are different from those in the countryside. This looks delicious."

After frying the soybean pulp in oil, Qian Jin added the pickled vegetables and started stir-frying them quickly.

Soaked soybean dregs roll in the oil like golden snowflakes, eight-treasure pickled vegetables are like colorful rain, and small red chilies are like dancing sparks.

The iron spoon and the iron pot clattered together, creating a crisp, rhythmic sound, as if keeping time for the twilight smoke.

“My brother is the head chef of the kitchen at a state-run restaurant in the city. He taught me cooking skills. I learned how to stir-fry pickled vegetables from him. It’s three stir-fries and three fryings, and you can’t do it without any of the ingredients.” Qian Jin said, beads of sweat glistening on his nose.

He rolled up his blue overalls to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms honed from years of carrying goods.

The pickled vegetables curled into small hooks in the hot oil, and the aroma of the fried soybean residue wafted straight into people's nostrils.

Someone passing by asked directly, "Who's cooking that? It looks so delicious!"

Jin Hai chuckled.

He wasn't looking forward to it when he first heard he was going to eat stir-fried bean curd residue with pickled vegetables, but now that he saw the pickled vegetables that Qian Jin had cooked, he was really looking forward to it.

Especially after Qian Jin stopped the fire and took the iron pot off the stove, he even took out a bottle of wine!

Jin Hai kept rubbing his earlobe: "Comrade Qian Jin, no, no, this bottle of wine is good stuff. You should keep it to entertain leaders and distinguished guests. We can't drink it."

Qian Jin smiled and said, "Brother Jin, you are my honored guest."

Jin Hai was an honest man. He went up and grabbed his arm to take the bottle away, saying, "Please don't do that. It would be a waste for me to drink this wine."

"We don't need to drink. How about I go get a pound of 70-cent Daqu (a type of Chinese liquor), you provide the food and I'll provide the liquor, okay?"

"Seven Mao Daqu" is a nickname.

The supply and marketing cooperative sells three types of bulk liquor, namely high, medium and low grades.

The high-end liquor costs 1.2 yuan per jin (500g), and it is called Twelve Special Qu.

A mid-range liquor sells for seven cents a pound, hence the name "Seven-Cent Daqu" (Seven-Cent Daqu).

Low-end liquor is cheap; it's a type of inferior liquor that costs two cents per pound. You don't even need liquor coupons to buy it; it's called "two-cent liquor."

Twelve Special Grade liquor is sold in very small quantities; only well-off families would buy it to entertain distinguished guests.

Normally, 70 cents Daqu is a high-class wine for entertaining guests, while 20 cents Shao is a wine that farmers use to satisfy their cravings.

Qian Jin pushed him away and said, "Brother Jin, stop messing around. If we break this bottle, we'll be committing a crime."

"As our leader said, corruption and waste are both extremely serious crimes!"

Jin Hai really didn't dare to try and snatch it too hard.

Qian Jin seized the opportunity to unscrew the bottle cap, took out a glass, and poured him a full glass.

Jin Hai chuckled and kept saying, "That's enough, that's enough," but he didn't object to the drinks being poured to the brim.

Qian Jin invited him inside to sit down.

Unfortunately, the commune lost power.

"That would be even better, let's have a candlelight dinner." Qian went to the counter, took out a red candle, and threw a dime into the drawer.

The glow of the candlelight enveloped the large, rough porcelain plate.

The oily pickled bean curd residue was piled up like a small mountain, with oil droplets forming golden rings on the rim of the bowl.

The sound of Jin Hai's Adam's apple bobbing was so loud it could drown out the wind outside the window.

Qian Jin greeted him, "Eat, Brother Jin. It's just the two of us here, no outsiders. Don't put down your chopsticks or your wine glasses, eat and drink as you please."

Jin Hai chuckled.

He shakily picked up a piece of bean curd residue with his chopsticks, stared at it for a full ten seconds before stuffing it into his mouth.

The crispy outer layer instantly encases the soft interior, and the crunch of the pickled vegetables, the spiciness of the chili peppers, and the richness of the lard create a bountiful dance on the tongue.

Jin Hai squinted hard, then shook his head and sighed.

Qian Jin asked in surprise, "It doesn't taste good?"

He took a bite and said, "It's alright."

Jin Hai waved his hand: "No, no, how could it not be delicious? This is so delicious!"

"To tell you the truth, Brother Qian Jin, I'm 42 years old this year, and I've never eaten stir-fried pickled vegetables like this in 42 years."

"That's really awesome!"

Qian Jin invited him to drink.

With a slurp, the mellow liquor slid down his throat, and Jin Hai's eyes reddened slightly.

This wine is good.

Qian Jin wiped the grease from his mouth and poured Jin Hai another glass of wine.

Night falls.

Moonlight spilled over the mottled walls of the supply and marketing cooperative, and the soybean residue stuck to the bottom of the rough blue-rimmed porcelain bowls glistened, reflecting the shadows of two men.

The strings of dried chili peppers hanging by the door swayed gently in the night breeze, adding a touch of everyday life to the drinking session.

After Jin Hai finished his first glass of wine, Qian Jin immediately poured him another one.

Raising his glass, Jin Hai looked at the clear wine and exclaimed, "This is truly fine wine. Alright, Xiao Qian, you must have some conditions for treating me to food and drinks tonight, right?"

Qian Jin chuckled: "It's just some soybean dregs stir-fried with pickled vegetables. You even brought the soybean dregs yourself. What kind of conditions could I possibly ask for?"

Jin Hai shook his head: "Around the beginning of last year, the city sent a salesperson to our community to investigate some matters."

"I don't know whose business he was investigating or what he was investigating, but I do know that he was eventually ousted by Director Ma."

Qian Jin understood what he meant.

Jin Hai was subtly reminding him that if he wanted to go against Ma Defu, he should be careful of Ma Defu's underhanded tricks.

Qian Jin popped a peanut into his mouth and asked, "What's the deal with the tofu delivered today? Why did Director Ma have to personally handle the sales?"

Jin Hai glanced at him with a smile that was ambiguous: "Tofu is not a product of our unit; it is a collective industry of the commune. Our supply and marketing cooperative just assists in its sales."

"Goods from sister companies are recorded in their accounts. If these accounts are not kept properly, it can easily lead to disputes. Therefore, Director Ma personally takes charge of the sales and accounting work."

Qian Jin nodded.

This was not unexpected.

The tangy aroma of pickled garlic dispelled the smell of alcohol, and Jin Hai squinted at the flickering flame of the candle wick.

He waited for Qian Jin to continue asking about the secrets of the supply and marketing cooperative, but Qian Jin didn't ask.

You can't rush things.

He raised his glass to Jin Hai and asked, "When is my nephew's wedding?"

Jin Hai said, "April 26th, the 4nd day of the third month in the lunar calendar, I had someone calculate it, and it's an auspicious day, suitable for weddings and setting up a bed..."

At this point, he awkwardly looked up at Qian Jin and chuckled, "You people in the city don't follow this anymore, do you? This is feudal superstition."

Qian Jin said, "This is traditional culture. Not everything left by our ancestors is dross; there are many valuable aspects to it."

Jin Hai laughed upon hearing this: "Let's drink, come on, Brother Qian, let's drink."

There was a lot of soybean residue and pickled vegetables, and the two of them finished off a bottle of wine after eating only a little over half of it.

Jin Hai has a high alcohol tolerance.

Qian Jin only drank two and a half ounces; the rest was all drunk by Jin Hai.

Even so, Jin Hai wasn't drunk, just a little tipsy. He held Qian Jin's hand and kept introducing him to the local customs and culture, as well as the leaders and cadres of various government agencies and units.

This treat was well worth it.

Qian Jin had thoroughly investigated half of the Zidian Commune.

When Jin Hai finally left, Qian Jin gave him the remaining soybean dregs stir-fried with pickled vegetables to take home.

The electrician repaired the transformer, and the dim lights came back on.

This is important to Qian Jin, as it means he can use the electric blanket again.

He was originally planning to buy a silent gasoline generator, but thankfully, he didn't need to go through all that trouble.

He ate dumplings again this morning, frozen dumplings.

After a hot meal of dumplings and a bowl of hot dumpling soup, Qian Jin was full of energy for another day.

He stood behind the counter at the supply and marketing cooperative, tidying up calcium milk biscuits.

The spring breeze in the countryside doesn't carry the salty smell of the harbor, but rather the fresh scent of winter wheat.

As the snow melts, the wheat is growing well, and the fields are a lush green.

However, the smell of the supply and marketing cooperative is always unique, a complex aroma mixed with brown sugar, white sugar, tobacco, and kerosene.

When Ma Defu came out to work, he saw the energetic Qian Jin and his expression became complicated:

"Xiao Qian, didn't you eat breakfast this morning?"

Qian Jin said, "Yes, I haven't eaten."

Ma Defu paused for a moment, then asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

Qian Jin said in a nonchalant tone, "I'm young, it's no big deal if I skip breakfast, I can just tough it out."

Three meals a day is considered a good life for ordinary people. Some families in the city still only eat two meals a day, let alone those in the countryside.

It was common for people to go to work in the production team on an empty stomach.

So he said that his not eating breakfast didn't bother anyone else.

Only Ma Defu cared.

Madford was puzzled.

He was from the city and knew how precious the stomachs of young city dwellers were. Why was Qian Jin different from the others?
The food in the cafeteria is only fit for feeding pigs; to feed it to people is just deliberately making things difficult for them.

The dilapidated dormitory could be used as a doghouse or a cowshed. Let alone cadres from the city, even young people from the countryside would not be used to living there.

Unfortunately, Qian Jin ate and slept well, leaving Ma Defu helpless.

The Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative sent over an old revolutionary this time?

But he doesn't care.

He has plenty of tricks up his sleeve! This morning he gave Liu Xiulan a task:
"Xiao Liu, why don't you ride your bicycle to a brother unit in Waichang Commune to learn from them? Their unit arranged for their model salesperson to go to the provincial capital for training. We don't have the opportunity to go to the provincial capital to learn, so let's go and learn from the model salesperson."

Liu Xiulan said with a troubled expression, "Director Ma, today is the commune market, business will probably be very busy."

"Comrade Qian Jin has only been on the job for two days. If I leave, he may not be able to handle the job as the only salesperson."

Ma Defu laughed: "What are you talking about? Am I not a salesperson?"

Liu Xiulan clicked her tongue in surprise and hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, Director Ma, I misspoke."

Seeing that Ma Defu was willing to come to the front line, she got on her bicycle and set off.

As soon as she left, someone came to greet Ma Defu.

Ma Defu went outside and whispered a few words to someone, then said seriously, "How could such a thing happen? This is absolutely unacceptable. I must handle this personally!"

He casually said to Qian Jin, "Xiao Qian, keep an eye on the business. The acquisition agent has run into some trouble, and I need to go and handle it."

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

Qian Jin smiled and waved goodbye to him.

This grandson's tricks are amazing; he's got one set after another, like an old sow wearing a bra.

Needless to say, after sending Liu Xiulan away, he left again; this was a case of paying someone to dig a pit.

Today is the market day at Zidian Commune.

Although there was no reform and opening up, the social atmosphere became much more open after the downfall of that group two years ago.

In rural areas, the calls to "cut off the capitalist tail" have ceased. Although farmers are still not allowed to engage in trade, production teams are permitted to conduct small businesses in the name of the collective.

So the commune's market was the first to resume, held every five days, and today is the market day.

Farmers will naturally come to buy and sell on market days.

Although private businesses are not officially allowed, farmers can set up stalls as long as they get a certificate and stamp from their team.

At worst, when the authorities investigate, we can just say that we were assigned by the team to set up a stall.

In reality, no one is investigating.

The commune did not want to force the people to their deaths.

From the morning onwards, the supply and marketing cooperative is bustling with people. As the sun rises higher and the weather warms up, more people come to the market, and even more people enter the cooperative.

Qian Jin is unfamiliar with product prices, and he is prone to making mistakes when he gets busy.

He knew that Ma Defu was trying to use this tactic to wait for him to make a mistake so that Ma Defu could report him or find fault with him. So, although he was busy, he was busy in an orderly and methodical manner, without panicking or making mistakes.

After all, he was a proper college student. Although he had forgotten most of his advanced mathematics knowledge, his basic arithmetic skills were still fine.

With a draft paper laid out, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are a piece of cake.

Only the local dialect has a general meaning!
Yuezhou County is almost 100 kilometers away from the city, and Zidian Commune is further north.

The local dialects here are very diverse. It's easy to understand the young people who speak loudly and clearly, but he has a lot of difficulty understanding some of the older people.

"Comrade, give me a pound of Hai'er Sweet white sugar for my family." An old man in a work jacket knocked on the glass, his cuffs still covered with wheat straw.

Qian Jin hurriedly picked up a tin shovel to weigh the sugar, but froze when he heard that Hai'er was sweet.

White sugar is graded, with three grades and three prices. Which grade is Haier Sweet?

Just then, Jin Hai brought over a roll of cloth from the warehouse.

Qian Jin waved to him, and without saying a word, he came over, his army green rubber boots clattering on the blue brick floor: "Uncle wants a pound of premium white sugar, the really sweet kind."

Just as Qian Jingang handed over the kraft paper package printed with the words "Shanghai Sugar," several more women carrying bamboo baskets rushed in through the door.

The plump auntie in the floral shirt pointed at the shelf: "Give me a pack of Harvest cigarettes, and a sanitary napkin."

Qian Jin took out a pack of cigarettes and offered it to her, but the woman refused, looking at him with a puzzled expression on her plump face.

Jin Hai said with a smile, "What she wants is 'a set,' the 'a set' of cooperation, not just 'a box.'"

"One box makes a whole case, and when placed on a cigarette pack, it becomes a pack of Harvest cigarettes."

Qian Jin was speechless.

Why is Qin Shi Huang considered the greatest emperor of all time?
Because they were the first to implement the policy of standardizing cart tracks, writing, and ethical conduct for the benefit of the people.

Promoting Putonghua (Mandarin) among all citizens is a top priority for the country's economic development.

It was also a coincidence that buying alcohol and cigarettes required coupons, but just as buying 20-cent liquor did not require coupons, buying Fengshou cigarettes also did not require coupons.

Otherwise, Qian Jin would have known from the ticket that the other party didn't want a pack of cigarettes.

Qian Jin was busy.

A familiar voice rang out: "Comrade, you have too little work experience. Why do you need to do calculations on scrap paper just to sell something? Don't you know how to use an abacus?"

Qian Jin suddenly looked up.

Wei Qinghuan appeared before him with a charming smile.

Behind him is Zhang Aijun.

Zhang Aijun saw some fried peanuts on the counter and reached out to grab them.

Jin Hai, who was helping Qian Jin, hurriedly said, "Hey, hey, what are you doing, comrade?"

Qian Jin hurriedly said, "Let him eat, let him eat, I'll pay the bill. This is my wife who brought my cousin from my hometown!"

Jin Hai had noticed Wei Qinghuan long ago.

As the weather warmed up, the female teacher took off her cotton-padded coat and put on the woolen overcoat that Qian Jin had given her.

This is a light brown long-sleeved wool coat with a lapel collar. It has an elegant lapel and simple double-breasted buttons. It is thick yet slim-fitting, making it stand out among the many women on the street wearing cotton-padded jackets and trousers.

Today, when she came to see her husband, the female teacher was dressed neatly and cleanly, and although she didn't wear any makeup, she was already radiant enough.

Not only did Jin Hai spot her early on, but other customers, especially the young men, also noticed her early on and were secretly glancing at her.

Qian Jin was pleasantly surprised: "What are you doing here?"

Wei Qinghuan habitually rolled up her sleeves: "I just asked the school for leave and came, aren't you welcome? You have a new lover?"

She jokingly picked up the abacus from the counter: "Here, you sell the goods, I'll help you with the accounts."

As a science teacher, Wei Qinghuan's main subject is still mathematics, and she has a clear and efficient plan.

Qian Jin continued working, feeling more at ease and even more relaxed with Wei Qinghuan's help.

When there were fewer people around, Wei Qinghuan explained, "I wanted to come see you today, and it just so happens that Brother Dajun also misses you..."

"No, I didn't mean to," Zhang Aijun said frankly.

Qian Jin shook his hand and said, "Get out."

Zhang Aijun chuckled: "I was just lying, I was just kidding you."

Qian Jin also laughed.

This guy even turned a cheesy pickup line into a meme.

Wei Qinghuan continued, "Brother Dajun can ride a motorcycle, so he rode his motorcycle and brought me here."

"Luckily I have a motorcycle, otherwise it would be difficult for me to come here. It would probably take half a day to take a bus."

Jin Hai dawdled over to greet Qian Jin and asked, "Is this your girlfriend?"

Qian Jin introduced the two of them.

Upon learning that Wei Qinghuan was a teacher in Haibin City, Jin Hai felt immense respect for her, and then he made a request:

“My eldest son will have to have a baby after he gets married. I estimate that his wife will give birth next year. You two should come over then, Brother Qian.”

“There’s a saying in our area that a newborn child will look like whoever they see.”

He also told the two a joke: "It is said that there is a similar saying in Qinghe County in the novel 'Water Margin'. When Wu Dalang and Wu Song were born, Wu Song sat up and saw the wardrobe in the house."

"So he grew up to be tall and strong, like a big wardrobe."

"Wu Dalang's view was blocked by his younger brother, so he looked to the side in a panic, only to find a water vat next to him..."

Qian Jin and Wei Qinghuan laughed.

As he was laughing, Qian Jin suddenly realized something was wrong: "If your daughter-in-law gives birth to a daughter, it would be great if she saw Teacher Wei at first sight. But what if she gives birth to a son?"

"Then let him see you first, Brother Qian," Jin Hai said, elevating the discussion to a whole new level.

Qian Jin clapped his hands and said, "It's settled!"

Wei Qinghuan secretly pinched him: "You actually believe it? If someone's grandson really looks like you, see what I'll do to you!"

More customers came in, and Qian Jin continued working.

Jin Hai helped with translation and product introductions, while Wei Qinghuan helped with accounting, significantly reducing Qian Jin's workload.

There were no problems with the work this morning.

Accountant Zhao Dazhu happened to come to the lobby and was quite surprised to see Wei Qinghuan.

He carefully examined Wei Qinghuan's jewelry and clothing, and then his gaze towards Qian Jin was full of meaning.

When he saw Jin Hai helping Qian Jin, he hesitated for a moment and then came over to lend a hand.

Qian Jin's work is even less stressful.

He is enthusiastic in his service and generous in his spending.

It's not easy for farmers to go to the supply and marketing cooperative; they have to be very careful about every penny they buy.

Therefore, Qian Jin always generously gave customers a higher weight whenever weighing items, and he always picked out the highest quality items for his customers, no matter what they bought.

The customers were very satisfied and praised him highly.

Jin Hai and Zhao Dazhu exchanged a glance, wanting to say something but finding it inconvenient to speak while keeping an eye on the customers and the two strangers, Wei Qinghuan and Zhang Aijun.

The market has just reopened, so there are few stalls and few goods. Unlike the rural markets of the 21st century that lasted until noon, the market usually starts to close around 10 a.m. and by 10:30 a.m., there are hardly any people left.

Seeing this, Zhao Dazhu returned to his office, and Jin Hai went to the warehouse to continue his work.

Qian Jin unlocked the dormitory door and let Wei Qinghuan in to rest.

He took out an abacus and carried it to Zhao Dazhu.

Zhao Dazhu is an accountant, so he always needs to do calculations.

And he was just an ordinary accountant, whose personal abacus was already quite worn out.

Not only were the plates mottled, but the beads were also cracked, and even some of the pillars were faulty, so he replaced them with wooden pillars to make them usable.

Qian Jin handed over the new abacus and said, "Master Zhao, thank you for your help earlier. This is a gift that my girlfriend brought from home. Please accept it."

He naturally bought the abacus from the online store.

Compared to ordinary abacuses, the one he purchased was of much higher quality.

Both the plate and the beads are made of solid wood, specifically Burmese rosewood, also known as big-fruited sandalwood.

This type of wood is sturdy, dense, heavy, and resistant to corrosion and impact. The beads make a crisp and pleasant sound when they collide.

The plate is made using mortise and tenon joints, making it sturdy and secure with tight fit. It is coated with wood-colored lacquer, and at first glance, it appears to be a single piece.

The bead rod is made of brass, which is unique, simple, and durable.

Zhao Dazhu was an expert; he could tell at a glance that this abacus was a high-end product. He immediately stood up, then spread his hands, unsure of what to say.

Qian Jin said earnestly, "Please forgive me, Master Zhao. I inquired about your character in private and was moved by your integrity and self-respect."

“I happen to have an abacus at home that a friend gave me. My wife is a math teacher, and my friend thought she would find it useful.”

"But she doesn't actually need it. Keeping this abacus in my house is a waste of its potential. Giving it to you, Master Zhao, is the best place for it!"

Zhao Dazhu coughed and said, "Xiao Qian, you're too kind. I wasn't much help just now. Please take this back..."

“It won’t look good if I take it back, Master Zhao, please keep it.” Qian Jin said earnestly.

"I'm not giving you a gift, but rather a tuition fee. A student gives a tuition fee to a teacher because I will inevitably need your help in the future and will be learning from you. I hope you will be kind enough to give me your guidance then."

After saying that, he put down the abacus and left, closing the door behind him.

Zhao Dazhu stared blankly at the beautiful abacus, then looked at his own broken old mortise and tenacious abacus.

This is the difference between a beautiful concubine and a haggard housewife!
He looked out the window and sighed.

This gift is not easy to accept, but perhaps I can accept it.

Qian Jin may seem like an ordinary young man, but his wife is anything but.

So, it seems that Ma Defu won't get through this so easily!
(End of this chapter)