In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 99, Section 98: Another Transaction, A Great Gain, First Acquaintance
After standing there for a moment, Yang Guangming composed himself, turned around, and walked steadily back to the Tang family's house on the second floor.

Upon entering, one could see Tang Jianhong facing the doorway, his face bearing a lingering sense of helplessness and a hint of complaint—a habitual reaction to Gu Yongkang's unapproachable manner.

"Gone?" he asked, his tone tinged with resentment.

"Yes, Director Gu has left," Yang Guangming replied, his expression having returned to calm.

"Sigh, my cousin!"

Tang Jianhong shook his head, gestured for Yang Guangming to sit down again, and then took a big gulp of the lukewarm jasmine tea, as if trying to suppress the frustration he had just felt.

"Look at them, they've been like this for decades! So rigid! They don't understand any social niceties at all!"

You are a guest and Hongtao's classmate. You have helped us so much, and he just comes up here to do his job and leaves without even having a sip of water!

What kind of situation is this?! It's really...inhumane!

He complained, his tone revealing both long-standing resentment towards his cousin's personality and a desire to distance himself from Yang Guangming, emphasizing his stark contrast to Gu Yongkang and demonstrating his superior understanding of human relationships.

Zhai Cuilan chimed in, trying to smooth things over for her husband: "Yes, that's just how his cousin is, very stubborn and opinionated. Guangming, don't take it to heart, it's not directed at you."

"Guangming, don't take it to heart. He's spent his whole life dealing with medicinal herbs; he's become like the 'medicine' himself—hard and inflexible! He doesn't understand human relationships!"

Tang Jianhong waved his hand, as if to dispel the unpleasantness from before, and his face quickly regained its warm smile. The topic suddenly shifted to business as if springed back to a spring:
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about him anymore. The medicinal herbs have been identified, and the weight is clear: 5.3 grams. The quality is absolutely top-notch! Director Gu's words are authoritative, harder than gold. My friend has complete confidence in them!"

He leaned forward, crossed his hands on the table, adopting a business-like posture, and his tone became enthusiastic and carried an undeniable "briskness," attempting to seize the initiative:
"Guangming, thanks to your help with Xiaobao's matter last time, as for the price, you said 120 per gram, and I didn't hesitate, right?"

That was life-saving money, it was the right thing to do! It was worth it no matter how much it cost! And this time…”

He paused, observing Yang Guangming's expression, then quickened his pace, his words carrying a hint of sincerity:

“The situation is a little different now. My friend’s family is much better off, and this time he’s mainly looking for something to have, so he can feel at ease.”

When you helped me with the last adjustment, you mentioned that the tickets could be converted at the black market price; that was your generosity.

My friend said, "This time we'll do it the normal 'affordable adjustment,' so you won't lose out!"

He emphasized the words "affordable adjustment," his face showing an expression that said, "I'm doing this for your sake, to fight for you."

"Don't worry," Tang Jianhong patted his chest and assured him, "I definitely won't let you suffer this time. Friends are friends, but things should be done fairly and sustainably, right? You agree?"

He specifically emphasized the phrase "fairness and longevity," his eyes carrying a knowing look, as if to say:

This was a normal transaction, and I even offered to pay a lower "flat price" discount. Pretty generous, right? I was really good at being generous this time!
The sunshine illuminates the mind, making everything clear.

Whether Tang Jianhong's "friend" actually exists, or whether this "friend" actually made such a statement, is not important.

The important thing is that Tang Jianhong himself, or the people behind him, want to use the guise of "affordable prices" to deepen the connection between the two parties!

Yang Guangming nodded, with a hint of gratitude: "Uncle Tang is right. With you and your friend being so generous, your business will surely last a long time."

My relative also told me that the things are just sitting there anyway, and as long as they help someone, that's fine. The price should be fair, and we shouldn't put Uncle Tang in a difficult position; we still want to be friends in the future.

Upon hearing "let's be friends forever," Tang Jianhong's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Guangming, you're so straightforward and understanding! Okay! I'll count them now, I've prepared all the tickets, I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

He was clearly prepared, and immediately took out a bulging brown paper envelope from the drawer of the chest of drawers next to him, and poured all the tickets and warrants inside onto the table with a clatter.

A colorful array of receipts were spread out, instantly covering half the table, exuding a strong sense of the era.

"Look, the light."

Tang Jianhong enthusiastically pointed out the details, his tone carrying a hint of boasting, "The cloth coupons, clothing coupons, cotton coupons, wool coupons, shoe coupons, and industrial coupons you mentioned last time are all here!"

And the quantity is absolutely sufficient! Guaranteed to last you a while!

He picked up a stack of light blue cloth coupons. "Here, nationally valid cloth coupons, fifteen feet! Local cloth coupons..."

He picked up another stack of papers printed with the words "Shanghai" on them, "I also managed to get ten feet of them!"

Then he picked up several special tickets printed with the words "shirt" and "overcoat," showing them off like treasures, "One shirt ticket, two overcoat tickets! Cotton tickets..."

He pulled out a few bills, "Five jin! Wool coupons..."

He picked up a few light pink tickets. "Three and a half jin! And two shoe tickets!" He showed them off, "One men's and one women's shoe ticket! Industrial coupons..."

He counted out a small stack of industrial coupons printed with different designs and denominations, making a rustling sound. "Here, twenty of them! You'll need them to buy thermos flasks, enamel basins, and sewing machine parts! They're very useful!"

He counted each item one by one, and then began to calculate based on the "affordable price":
"The national cloth ration coupon is 15 feet, and each foot is worth 40 cents, so it's 6 yuan."

Local cloth ration coupons were for ten feet, with each foot costing 35 cents, totaling 3.5 yuan.
One shirt coupon, worth 80 cents;
Two coat tickets, one for 1.5 yuan, three for 3 yuan;
Five jin of cotton coupons, one yuan per jin, five yuan;
Three and a half jin of woolen yarn, one jin is worth one yuan and fifty cents, so five yuan and twenty-five cents;

Two shoe tickets, each worth two yuan, totaling four yuan;
Twenty industrial coupons, each worth three cents, six dollars…

He muttered to himself, his fingers tapping rapidly on the table, adding up the results quickly:

"Six yuan plus three yuan and fifty cents is nine yuan and fifty cents, plus eight mao is ten yuan and thirty cents, plus... the total is thirty-three yuan and fifty-five cents!"

He looked up, a relaxed smile on his face as he finished his calculations, and asked Yang Guangming, "Guangming, am I right? Let's calculate the fare at thirty-three yuan and fifty-five cents. Can you count it?"

Yang Guang remained outwardly calm, only glancing briefly at the tickets piled on the table. The quantity and types matched Tang Jianhong's report, and none of the tickets had expired.

“Uncle Tang is clearly a meticulous person. He’s definitely better at doing accounts than I am. No problem.” He nodded readily, showing great trust in the other party.

"Great! That's awesome!"

Tang Jianhong slapped his thigh, looking very happy; the successful transaction put him in a great mood.

He immediately pulled a thick kraft paper envelope from the inside pocket of his Zhongshan suit and pushed it in front of Yang Guangming:
"Five and a half grams of rhinoceros horn slices, according to the agreed-upon price of 121 grams, totaling 636 yuan. After deducting the 33.55 yuan converted from the coupons..."

He took out a pen and paper and quickly calculated, "The cash is... six hundred and two yuan and forty-five cents!"

He looked up, appearing very "generous," and said, "I'll give you six hundred and two yuan and fifty cents! The extra five cents will be rounded up to a whole number, so keep the change!"

He opened the envelope, inside was a thick stack of crisp, brand-new banknotes, still smelling of ink, and a small stack of one-yuan and a few mao coins.

In front of the bright sunlight, he deftly counted out sixty brand-new ten-yuan bills, then two one-yuan bills and five brand-new one-mao bills, neatly stacking them on the table like a small mountain of money.

"Count it, it's exactly six hundred and two yuan and fifty cents. Keep the receipts safe."

He gathered the pile of colorful tickets and certificates on the table and pushed them in front of Yang Guangming.

This time, Yang Guangming didn't stand on ceremony. He carefully counted the cash, one bill at a time, the thick stack of ten-yuan notes making a crisp sound in his hands.

Next, he carefully checked the types, quantities, and expiration dates of the large pile of tickets on the table. After confirming that everything was correct, he carefully placed the cash into the inner pocket of his clothes and the pocket of his pants.

The large stack of tickets and certificates was carefully arranged and placed in a thickened inner compartment inside the canvas bag.

"The number is correct, Uncle Tang. Thank you for your hard work."

Tang Jianhong let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. A completely relaxed smile spread across his face, and he patted Yang Guangming's arm warmly.

"Good, good! The deal is done! I can finally give my friend an explanation! Guangming, you're really reliable! My friend can rest assured now! If he needs anything in the future, just let me know!"

He looked up at the clock on the wall; the hour hand was pointing to eleven.

"Oh dear, it's already this late!"

He seemed to have just realized how much time had passed, and said with a slightly exaggerated tone, "Come on, let's go, Guangming, we absolutely have to have lunch together! The place is all booked, it's the 'Gongnong Restaurant' outside the family compound, the food is pretty good, it's state-run and clean!"

Just as Yang Guangming was about to politely decline, Tang Jianhong, with a mysterious yet irresistible enthusiasm, added without allowing any further explanation:
"Don't refuse! I already have plans! I made those plans especially for you!"

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of smugness:

"My old classmate, Wei Hongyu. He's the head of the housing management department at your Red Star State-Owned Cotton Mill. We've known each other since we were kids, we're really close!"

"You'll be dealing with the housing management department a lot in the future since you work in the factory office. This is a good opportunity to get to know them; having more friends means more opportunities!"

He paused, his smile revealing a stark reality, "Once you're eligible for housing allocation and your housing number is assigned, with Lao Wei involved, you'll definitely get some preferential treatment. You won't be at a disadvantage, right?"

This statement is extremely straightforward, highlighting the core value of this meal—expanding one's network and paving the way for housing issues that may determine one's quality of life in the future.

In an era of extreme housing shortages, where eligibility for housing allocation and the order of waiting in line can almost determine a person's quality of life for half their life, the head of the housing management department wields considerable power.

Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat. He had heard of the name Wei Hongyu before; he was one of the heads of the "real estate tigers," a powerful department in the factory, but he had never dealt with him.

Tang Jianhong's move was clearly intended to solidify the "connection" built with rhinoceros horn slices, while also demonstrating his "power" and "connections." This was indeed an opportunity not to be missed.

He no longer declined, and his face showed just the right amount of gratitude and expectation: "Uncle Tang has thought of everything so carefully, you've really gone to a lot of trouble. Then I will respectfully accept your offer."

"That's more like it! Let's go!"

Tang Jianhong stood up happily, as if he had accomplished something great, and called out to his wife who was busy in the kitchen:
"Cuilan, don't wait for me at noon! I'm going out to eat with Guangming!"

After saying that, she warmly put her arm around Yang Guangming's shoulder and they went out the door.

The two walked for a few minutes, crossed the road lined with sycamore trees at the entrance of the residential compound, and arrived at the "Gongnong Restaurant" diagonally opposite.

The store is larger than "Xinfeng Restaurant", and its red sign with yellow lettering is very eye-catching.

It was lunchtime, and the place was bustling with noise, filled with the aroma of food, the clinking of cups and plates, and the lively atmosphere of loud laughter.

Tang Jianhong was clearly a regular customer. He greeted the waiter in a white apron at the door familiarly, then walked straight through the noisy lobby and into a relatively quiet private room with a half-curtain hanging inside.

There was already a person sitting in the private room. He was around forty years old, slightly plump, with a slightly protruding belly. He was wearing a crisp, dark blue "dika" Zhongshan suit, the buttons fastened tightly, and his hair was combed slicked back without a single strand out of place.

His round face was adorned with a habitual, slightly worldly smile, and his eyes were bright and alert.

He was Wei Hongyu, the head of the housing management department at the Hongxing State-owned Cotton Mill.

The teacup in front of him was half empty, indicating that it had been a while.

"Hey, Lao Wei! You're here early! Sorry to keep you waiting!" Tang Jianhong said loudly as he lifted the curtain and went in, walking over enthusiastically with a booming voice.

Upon hearing this, Wei Hongyu immediately stood up, his smile widening instantly, as if a switch had been flipped, displaying extreme enthusiasm as he strode forward to greet him.

"Old Tang! We agreed on 11:30, but I didn't have anything to do, so I came early to wait for you! We're brothers, no need to be so polite!"

His gaze immediately fell on Yang Guangming behind Tang Jianhong, with a professional scrutiny and just the right amount of inquiry. His smile remained, but there was a hint of weighing in his eyes.

"Come on, let me introduce you!"

Tang Jianhong stepped Yang Guangming forward, patted him affectionately on the back, as if showing off a proud work of art:

"This is the young talent I mentioned to you, Comrade Yang Guangming, who recently joined the factory administration office at Hongxing Factory! He has a very strong writing ability and a bright future!"

He then turned to Wei Hongyu, his tone becoming even more intimate, "Guangming, this is my best buddy from childhood, the head of the housing management department at your factory, Section Chief Wei Hongyu! A man whose every stomp shakes the buildings!"

His words were spoken in jest, yet they also highlighted Wei Hongyu's importance.

"Hello, Section Chief Wei! I've long admired your name, but I've never had the chance to ask you for your guidance in person." Yang Guangming extended his hand proactively, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, with a proper smile on his face, neither obsequious nor disrespectful.

"Oh, Comrade Yang Guangming! Hello, hello! I've heard so much about you!"

Wei Hongyu immediately reached out and firmly grasped Yang Guangming's hands, shaking them vigorously. His face was beaming with a smile that almost overflowed with enthusiasm.

"Don't be so formal, it's too much! Just call me Lao Wei! I've heard Lao Tang talk about you before, you're a promising young man!"

He released his grip, then patted Yang Guangming's arm in a sincere tone:

"You write reports in the factory office, and you do it exceptionally well! Director Han even praised you to me, saying that you're a hardworking and quick-witted young man! You have a bright future ahead of you!"

His words contained a lot of information. He not only pointed out Yang Guangming's position in the factory and his ability to "write materials", but also quoted the evaluation of Han Mingqian, the director of the factory office, which showed that he was not completely unaware of Yang Guangming's situation, and may even have deliberately inquired about it.

"Section Chief Wei, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the guidance of the leaders and the help of my colleagues. I'm still in the learning stage and need to learn more from my seniors," Yang Guangming responded humbly, adopting a very modest attitude.

"Sit down! Don't stand! Waiter, bring the food!"

Tang Jianhong invited the two to sit down, and took the center seat himself without hesitation, becoming the core and link of the dinner.

The waiter came in quickly, and Tang Jianhong took the lead, ordering braised lion's head meatballs, steamed sea bass, poached chicken, shiitake mushrooms and bok choy, and a large bowl of three-delicacy soup, as well as a bottle of local "Qibao Daqu".

The food and drinks were served quickly, filling the air with their aroma.

Under Tang Jianhong's deliberate efforts to liven things up, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

He skillfully steered the conversation back to the time when the rhinoceros horn slices saved Xiaobao, vividly describing the danger at the time, the miraculous effects of the medicine, and Yang Guangming's "righteous help" and "timely assistance."

His words were full of gratitude, and he also made no attempt to hide the fact that Yang Guangming had a "special channel" to obtain rare rhinoceros horn slices from Wei Hongyu.

Wei Hongyu listened intently, occasionally exclaiming "Oh?", "Tsk tsk", and "That was close!" In his eyes as he looked at Yang Guangming, there was a deeper meaning in addition to his enthusiasm.

It was a look that mixed curiosity, a desire to make friends, and a certain underlying assessment.

He proactively raised his full glass of wine: "Comrade Guangming, I've heard about what happened to Xiaobao from the Tang family. It was incredibly dangerous! He almost... It's all thanks to you! This glass is on behalf of Old Tang, and also on behalf of myself..."

He emphasized the words "myself" in particular, saying, "I salute you! Your life-saving grace is like a second birth!"

He paused, his tone becoming even more earnest:
"If you need any help at the Hongxing Factory in the future, just let me know!"
I dare not speak for other things, but although our housing management department deals with trivial matters like housing, we will never hesitate to help whenever we can!

Whether it's assigning rooms, changing rooms, fixing leaks, or patching tiles, you can always at least have a few words to say!

His words were impeccable, expressing gratitude, hinting at intimacy, clarifying his own sphere of authority, and finally extending a substantial olive branch.

His smoothness and sophistication were evident throughout.

"Thank you, Section Chief Wei. You're too kind. It was nothing, I don't deserve it." Yang Guangming raised his glass in response.

The three of them gently clinked their glasses together, producing a crisp sound.

Yang Guangming obliged and took a big gulp, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat.

At the dinner table, Tang Jianhong and Wei Hongyu quickly got into the swing of things, reminiscing about the fun they had as children, such as raiding bird nests and catching fish in the river. They teased each other about their embarrassing moments back then, laughing constantly, which showed that the two were indeed very close and shared unforgettable memories.

Wei Hongyu also took the opportunity, speaking in a tone of "someone who's been there" and "one of us," to introduce some of the "situation" in the factory to Yang Guangming, especially some "tricks" and "tricks" regarding housing allocation.

"Guangming, you're new here, so you might not be familiar with our factory's housing allocation rules."

Wei Hongyu picked up a piece of poached chicken, dipped it in ginger and soy sauce, and said slowly:

"Scoring and queuing may seem simple, but there's a lot more to it than meets the eye."

Seniority, professional title, family size, dual-income households, special contributions... all have different weightings.

For example, seniority is calculated in points, one year at a time. But if you're a model worker or a technical expert in the factory, you can get five points at once! That's equivalent to five years of seniority!

He gestured with his greasy fingers, "For example, having elderly relatives living with you, or having children of marriageable age, can also earn you extra points. Here..."

He gave Yang Guangming a meaningful look. "There's always room for maneuver, the key is to comply with the policy framework, prepare solid materials, and provide sufficient reasons."

Our housing management department follows the policies, but there's always room for flexibility in interpreting policies, right?

His words carried a subtle implication that only "insiders" would understand, both upholding principles and leaving room for maneuver.

Most of the time, Yang Guangming was a quiet listener, with a humble and eager-to-learn expression on his face, occasionally interjecting with a well-timed question at a crucial moment:

"Oh? So, for a high school graduate like me who's just started working here and has a short tenure, wouldn't it take a long time to get a place in the housing system? And what exactly does 'special contribution' refer to?"

Yang Guangming was humble and polite, and his questions were all to the point, which made him seem very knowledgeable.

He keenly grasped the information and subtext in Wei Hongyu's words, and clearly sensed the mercenary and shrewdness beneath the seemingly warm exterior of this housing management section chief—his nimble eyes were constantly measuring the value of each person.

He didn't eat much during the meal, focusing mainly on listening and observing, but he gained a lot.

What he got in return for the rhinoceros horn pieces, besides the heavy six hundred yuan in cash in his pocket and a pile of ration coupons that were valued at "flat price" but whose actual value was greatly reduced, was...
There was also a connection to Wei Hongyu, the head of the housing management department and a powerful figure in the factory. Although still superficial, a preliminary link had been established.

Although it is currently only a casual acquaintance based on Tang Jianhong's relationship and a "helping a friend" incident, in the small society of Hongxing State-owned Cotton Mill, where personal relationships are deeply entrenched and resources are extremely scarce, this is undoubtedly a very valuable start.

Outside the window, the midday sun of early summer shines brightly, illuminating the road under the shade of plane trees. Pedestrians hurry by, bicycle bells jingle, and the city is filled with the busy yet resilient vitality unique to this metropolis.

The road ahead is long, and risks and opportunities are like two sides of a coin, always coexisting.

Yang Guangming must be more clear-headed and more steady, walking cautiously as if on a tightrope.

The sense of security brought by the cash and ration coupons in his pocket, as well as the connections he had just made that led him to powerful departments, were the capital and confidence for him to continue moving forward in this era of change.

The wind still blows through the dense sycamore leaves, rustling softly, as if whispering stories unique to this era.

(End of this chapter)