1980: I have a spiritual spring

Chapter 66 No Unjustified Beating or Scolding of Customers
Inside the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

The argument between the male customer and the female sales clerk immediately attracted the attention of many customers. Qiao Erhe also learned the truth from the discussion among the customers. It was simply that the male customer wanted to buy something, but the female sales clerk sold it to someone behind him in line, and the male customer was so angry that he shouted loudly.

Seeing the female sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative who was even more assertive than the male customers, Qiao Erhe couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "The sales clerks at the supply and marketing cooperatives in this era are really something else!"

The scene before him reminded Qiao Erhe of a short story he had read online in his previous life. The gist of the story was as follows:
Zhang Zhibin, then deputy secretary of a city and deputy director of the city's Revolutionary Committee, went incognito to a store to investigate the supply of vinegar.

He asked the saleswoman if she had vinegar.
The saleswoman said no.

Zhang Zhibin said: The vinegar produced by the city was already on the market the day before yesterday, why don't you have any here?

The saleswoman replied impatiently, "No, we don't have it."

Deputy Secretary Zhang got angry and shouted at the saleswoman, "I am Zhang Zhibin." The accompanying staff member, fearing that the saleswoman wouldn't recognize him, quickly explained: This is Secretary Zhang of the Municipal Party Committee.

To everyone's surprise, the saleswoman was unconvinced. She was even more furious and louder than Secretary Zhang, saying, "I don't care if you're Zhang Zhibin or Li Zhibin, if it's not there, it's not there."

Deputy Secretary Zhang was at a loss, and the accompanying staff were even more at a loss.

Qiao Erhe had no way of knowing whether this little story was true or not, but he believed that it was definitely not unfounded. Salespeople in this era were just that awesome, which was also the main reason why stores put up signs like "Do not beat or scold customers without reason".

The sales clerk dared to be so arrogant mainly for the following two reasons:

First, sales clerks have secure jobs; as long as they don't commit any major mistakes, no one has the right to fire them. That's the source of their arrogance.

Second, stores like supply and marketing cooperatives controlled the supplies that people needed in that era. To put it bluntly, people would go to supply and marketing cooperatives or department stores to buy needles and thread. Under such circumstances, how many people would dare to offend the sales clerks?

Qiao Erhe didn't meddle in this. Taking advantage of the fact that many customers were distracted by the argument, he led Lao Wu, Lao Liu, and Lao Qi to the clothing counter and bought each of them a cotton coat. He also bought coats for San Duo, Si Hai, and Fei Lao Ba.

The six cotton-padded coats cost a total of 120 yuan.

In addition, he bought a pair of Warrior shoes for each of the three girls, Sanduo, Sihai, and the three little ones, spending 100 yuan.

The three little ones were overjoyed to receive the clothes and shoes. The cotton-padded coat was nothing special, but what made them happiest was the pair of Warrior shoes.

In the 70s, Warrior shoes were almost the only symbol of sports and casual footwear. Compared to Liberation shoes, their simple and distinctive design stood out in the homogenized era of the 70s.

In the 80s, owning a pair of Warrior shoes was a symbol of being a very cool and trendy person among teenagers.

Although Qiao Wuhu, Qiao Liuduo, and Qiao Qitan didn't understand fashion trends, they weren't blind. They could naturally see that Warrior shoes were a hundred times better looking than Liberation shoes. They were overjoyed to own such a beautiful pair of Warrior shoes.

While they were shopping, the commotion quickly subsided. Although the male customer felt aggrieved, he knew that continuing the fuss wouldn't do him any good. After uttering a few curses, he left with a sullen face after being persuaded by other customers.

After finishing their shopping, Qiao Erhe led the three children out and said to Su Jinxiu, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Su Jinxiu laughed and said, "It's nothing, I was just watching the excitement for a while!"

Qiao Erhe said, "These sales clerks' good days are only lasting a few years. Things like today will definitely not happen again in a few years."

Su Jinxiu asked in surprise, "Why do you say that?" Qiao Erhe pushed his bicycle and said as he walked, "It's very simple. The country has now lifted the restrictions and individual businesses have been legalized. The number of individual businesses will grow rapidly. When the number reaches a certain critical point, it will inevitably lead to a qualitative change."

By then, with the rise of countless individual businesses across the country, they will absolutely be able to shake the dominance of supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores. Once there is market competition, if the sales staff's service attitude remains as arrogant as it is now, then the supply and marketing cooperatives will either dissolve or undergo a complete transformation; there is no third possibility.

Su Jinxiu's eyes widened as she asked, "Brother Qiao, you're really that optimistic about the development of individual businesses?"

Qiao Erhe nodded and said, "Of course, the country is reforming and opening up and striving to integrate with the world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for individual business owners. As long as the country's development policy of focusing on economic construction remains unchanged, the status of businessmen will definitely rise higher and higher in the next few decades, surpassing any period in history."

Su Jinxiu was deeply moved and said, "After hearing what you said, I even want to quit my job and work for you."

Qiao Erhe laughed and said, "Don't worry. Although the development of individual businesses is an inevitable trend, many comrades' minds are still bound and have not been completely liberated. In addition, there are restrictions on hiring workers, so it will be difficult to grow and expand in a short period of time. They may even face imprisonment."

Therefore, my advice is to wait and see, and resign when the time is right.

Su Jinxiu laughed and said, "I was just saying it. If I were to quit now, I'm afraid my parents wouldn't agree."

The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the egg stall.

At this moment, Qiao Dajiang and Qiao Sihai had sold all their eggs and were sitting there bored, waiting for Qiao Erhe and the others.

"Brother Qiao, Sihai."

"Comrade Su."

"Sister Su."

After exchanging greetings, Qiao Sihai noticed the cotton-padded coats and shoes in the hands of the fifth, sixth, and seventh brothers and asked in surprise, "Second brother, did you take the fifth brother and the others to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy clothes and shoes?"

Qiao Erhe nodded and smiled, "There's only a little over a month until the New Year. I'll buy you some cotton-padded coats and shoes for the New Year."

Qiao Wuhu handed over a cotton-padded coat and a pair of Feiyue shoes, saying, "Fourth Brother, these are for you."

Qiao Sihai's eyes widened when he saw the stylish Warrior shoes. He took them and hugged them to his chest, unable to put them down.

Seeing that the siblings had reunited, Su Jinxiu glanced at the sky and said, "Brother Qiao, it's getting late. Aren't you going back?"

Qiao Erhe nodded and said, "Yes, we're getting ready to go back. Thank you for the cloth coupons today, and thank you for the house design as well."

Su Jinxiu waved her hand and said, "No need to be polite. If there's nothing else, I'll head home now."

Qiao Erhe said, "Okay, then be careful on your journey. See you the day after tomorrow."

Su Jinxiu: See you the day after tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)