The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 4: Entering the Black Market
Liu Dajia went to open the door, and a middle-aged man in a gray cloth Zhongshan suit walked in.

The Zhongshan suit he was wearing was washed until it turned white, the trouser seams were ironed enough to cut cucumbers, and there were two pens in his left breast pocket, the red five-pointed stars on the pen caps had been worn black.

Qian Jin didn't know this person.

But Liu Dajia had already given him a hint: "Director Zhang, why are you here?"

"Would you like to have some rice?" Liu Siding asked.

Liu Sanbing said admiringly: "Director Zhang, you have a very sharp nose. You can smell something on the street? I can't do that. I can only smell someone stewing meat..."

Zhang Hongbo pretended not to hear what they said and went into the house to put down the stack of magazines he had brought.

It’s "Red Flag".

He pointed at the magazine and said to Qian Jin, "One copy can be exchanged for a bath ticket at the street bathhouse. A grown man like you will inevitably need it in this hot weather."

Qian Jin thanked him.

Zhang Hongbo added, "I came here today mainly for two reasons. Let me start with the main points."

"Didn't the organization assign you a job? To work in our neighborhood office's construction team. Why haven't you reported in yet?"

Qian Jin remained silent.

According to the diary, the original owner was quite dissatisfied with the work arrangement, but he also planned to report yesterday.

As a result, he happened to travel through time yesterday and didn't dare go out all day, let alone report.

Seeing him silent, Zhang Hongbo said earnestly, "Yes, our street office construction team is a small collective enterprise, and you young people look down on it."

"But the leader said that there's no distinction between high and low in revolutionary work, only different divisions of labor. No matter what we do, we're serving the people."

"Besides, one advantage of small collective enterprises is that if you register, you can transfer your household registration back."

"You've been living in the countryside all your life. You know how valuable a city hukou is these days, right? In Haibin City, one hukou quota can be exchanged for three Phoenix bicycles!"

Liu Eryi looked at Qian Jin, who was still silent, and spoke for the second time:
"Director Zhang, I heard from Master Qian before that if Brother Qianjin comes back, he can take over their job at the Sixth National Cotton Mill, at least as a car stopper!"

Haibin City is a major textile city with National Cotton Textile Factories No. 1 to No. 8.

These eight factories are known as the Eight King Kongs of Haibin's state-owned enterprises. They have good benefits and high status, and the workers working in them are highly regarded.

Zhang Hongbo snorted, "Master Qian is talking nonsense!"

"Let me tell you, taking over the job is a half-hearted revolution and is not encouraged now."

Liu Eryi immediately said: "Nonsense, Brother Dahai in the building was already the best last year..."

"That's different," Zhang Hongbo said impatiently. "The conditions are different. Hu Dahai has a city hukou, and his father lost his right hand when a winch was cut off, leaving him disabled. That's why he can take over."

"Let me explain the policy. In 63, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions issued a policy called 'Report on the Temporary Non-Staffing and Resettlement of Elderly, Weak, and Disabled Employees.'"

He took out a piece of paper and handed it to Qian Jin:

"Look at the regulations yourself. For elderly, weak, or disabled employees who have completely or partially lost their ability to work and need to retire or resign, regardless of whether they are temporarily non-staffed or not, their children and other dependents who meet the conditions and live in urban areas can take their place."

"But you moved your household registration when you moved to the countryside, so you don't meet the policy requirements."

"However, when your father applied for medical retirement, he negotiated with the factory leaders. He gave up his position and asked them to use their connections to bring you back from the countryside and arrange a job for you."

"Otherwise, do you think you can return to the city? How many educated youth want to return but can't? You know this better than me, right?"

Qian Jin shook his head.

He didn't know.

He also looked at the documents in his hand.

This thing from 63, I deliberately prepared it and brought it for myself to see!

The other side comes prepared.

The visitor is not good.

Zhang Hongbo snorted again when he saw this, and said, "Are you deliberately causing trouble for me?"

"Besides, the cotton spinning workshop is hot and humid all year round, and the workers have to work three shifts. The workload is extremely intense. Do you think that's a good place or a good job?"

Liu Eryi said firmly: "It's better to be a car blocker, and it's better to go to the National Cotton Mill."

Zhang Hongbo glanced at him unhappily: "Why are you interrupting when adults are talking?"

He took off his watch to wind it, and earnestly advised Qian Jin: "A car blocker is a light laborer, and the fixed quota is 29 to 39 kilograms. A newcomer will only be given 30 kilograms."

"Construction workers are heavy manual laborers, and their maximum workload is 49 kilograms. If they are rated as special heavy manual laborers, their workload will be even higher than their fathers, reaching 60 kilograms!"

Food is the Liu family's Achilles' heel.

Liu Eryi had nothing to say.

Qian Jin watched with admiration.

What a great empty promise! Why are leaders of every era the same?

But it's a pity that this guy lives in Haibin City. With his singing, reciting, acting and fighting skills, he can sell tickets at Tianqiao in Beijing.

Zhang Hongbo smiled. "I think the organization's arrangement is pretty good. You just came back from forging red hearts in the vast world. After forging red hearts, shouldn't you go on to forge steel bars?"

He looked at the house again: "Just a reminder for you, we need to check the empty households in October."

"If you don't have a household registration in Haibin City, the street will have to take back this house."

Qian Jin heard the threat in his words and sneered: "Is this the second thing?"

Director Zhang shook his head: "No, the second thing is a small matter."

"Last night, the street patrol officer said you left the lights on all night. What's going on? The leader said that waste is a grave crime!"

Qian Jin didn't sleep last night. He studied his diary over and over again, so naturally he didn't turn off the lights.

He didn't expect that the neighborhood committee would be in charge of this.

However, Zhang Hongbo didn't dwell on the matter and continued, "Tomorrow, Sunday, the street office is closed. Come here at 8 a.m. on Monday with your household registration transfer certificate."

He put on his watch and walked out, leaving behind two serious words: "If you miss this opportunity, you'll miss it forever."

"Many people on the street are eyeing this house. Someone from your building has been asking for it time and again!"

Needless to say, this person is Du Daozui from 204.

When he was seeing Zhang Hongbo off, Du Daozui came out and asked, "Director Zhang, this house..."

"It's from the street." Zhang Hongbo left without looking back.

Du Daozui snorted coldly: "Still making trouble!"

The door closed and the room became quiet.

The sound of the postman's car bell was heard in the community.

"Sha Jia Bang" was playing intermittently on the radio next door.

The smell of food wafted through the corridor.

Qian Jin fell into deep thought.

This house is really a problem.

In fact, his family did not originally live in this old and dilapidated building, but lived in the workers' new village. The conditions there were better, with running water in every household and a toilet.

However, his father Qian Zhongguo retired due to illness after living in the workers' new village for only two years, and many people in the factory were dissatisfied with this.

It just so happened that Qian Zhongguo's apprentice Bai Dongfeng was getting married. He was an advanced worker in the factory, so he negotiated with the old man to exchange houses with his family.

Qian Zhongguo, who has been strong all his life, could not stand the rumors. Considering his apprentice's urgent needs and the fact that his apprentice took care of him when he was sick, he agreed to the Bai family's request to change houses and moved to their current house.

This incident is recorded in the diary.

The original owner was very resentful about this. He thought there was something fishy about this matter and that the Bai family had used any means to seize his house...

There are so many things to do, it’s really overwhelming!
He considered the most urgent matter and asked, "Dajia, do you know if there is anyone selling or exchanging gold on the black market?"

After thinking it over, he still felt that he had to see what the booklet was used for.

No matter what it is used for, it should be related to his time travel.

Qian Jin wanted to try to use it to travel back 27 years.

For a loser like him, 1977 is like hell compared to 2027.

"Gold? Gold bars?" Liu Dajia scratched his head. "What is that? I've only heard of it when I was in the production team, but I've never seen it before."

The golden age of this era is too far away from minors.

Qian Jin asked them to continue eating and made an appointment with Liu Dajia to go to the black market tomorrow.

The food was eaten up.

The Liu brothers each scooped water into a bowl and started washing.

Qian Jin said, "Go to the bathroom and wash the dishes."

Liu Sanbing said, "I'm not ready to wash the dishes. I'm just watering the rice stuck in my teeth."

As he spoke, he lifted up the bowl and drank all the dishwater...

No waste at all!

He didn't sleep at night and stayed up until midnight.

Then he stared at the material purchase and sales certificate.

It’s the time when one day ends and the next day begins.

The time on the certificate became September 2027, 9!
Qian Jin confirmed it.

He must get the gold to activate this certificate.

It's weird!
Since Sunday is the only day off in a week, the black market is often the busiest on this day.

You have to go to the black market early.

Liu Dajia got up early to find Qian Jin, but Qian Jin was still dreaming about Reba.

After waking up, he was secretly surprised.

Both are young men, both named Qian Jin, but the energy contained in this body is far beyond what the one from 27 years ago!
His stomach was growling with hunger, but he didn't even dream of eating anything, just sleeping!

In order to circumvent jurisdiction, the black market starts early and ends early.

The money comes in before I can cook.

These days, breakfast is only served in state-owned restaurants or canteens of various units. If you get up too early, people won’t be at work.

Even if he has tickets and money, he will still go hungry.

However, Liu Dajia was well prepared and handed him two pieces of dried sweet potatoes.

In 27, Qian Jin liked to eat dried sweet potatoes very much. They were chewy and sweet, so he happily took a big bite after receiving the gift.

Then: "Ahhh!"

Are dried sweet potatoes so unpalatable these days?
Take a look by the light.

The dried sweet potatoes are not red or moist at all, but white and dry.

Before dawn, Qian Jin walked out of the corridor door, and the humid sea breeze wrapped in a salty and fishy smell penetrated his nostrils.

It was still quite cold in the early morning of early autumn, so Qian Jin raised the collar of his blue work clothes a little higher.

Liu Dajia led him around the old city area with ease and familiarity, and finally whispered, "Brother Qianjin, once you enter this alley, you'll find the black market."

(End of this chapter)