Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

The piece of meat Zhang Quanyou picked was a three-layered pork belly. As a purchasing agent, he was often out and about, entertaining people, so he naturally knew which meats would taste best when stewed.

The butcher didn't hesitate at all, neatly slicing off the pork belly that Zhang Quanyou was pointing to and placing it on the electronic scale. "Comrade, two pounds and three ounces, is that alright?"

Zhang Quanyou glanced at the electronic scale; he'd never seen one like it before. Seeing some English markings on it, he asked, "Sir, is this scale accurate?"

"Don't worry about that. The scales in our supermarket are all imported from Hong Kong. They won't shortchange you. If you're still worried, as long as the seal isn't broken, you can take it elsewhere to be weighed again. If it's short, our supermarket promises to compensate you tenfold!"

As the butcher spoke, he deftly packed the pork belly into a plastic bag and sealed it with tape. Seeing this, Zhang Quanyou hurriedly asked, "These plastic bags, you don't need them?"

"Free admission for the first three days!"

"Three days later, each bag will cost one cent!"

"Could I have another bag? Hehe!"

In the early 1980s, China's plastics industry was underdeveloped, and the plastic bags that are now ubiquitous are not cheap today.

To produce something as inconspicuous as a plastic bag requires a complete chemical industry chain. In the 1980s, a plastic bag was a commodity, not a cheap freebie with purchases.

Therefore, it was perfectly reasonable for many department stores at the time to ask customers in advance if they needed a bag and charge a few cents for it.

At that time, when Chinese people went to supply and marketing cooperatives or department stores to shop, they would bring their own net bags or woven bags. They did not have plastic bottles, which are common in later generations. When buying soy sauce or cooking oil, they would bring their own bottles.

Zhang Quanyou happily carried the sealed plastic bag and continued browsing the supermarket. He came to the tobacco and alcohol section, having just run out of cigarettes, and wondered if the supermarket allowed customers to buy cigarettes without coupons.

When I arrived at the tobacco and alcohol counter, it was already crowded with people, mostly men, but also quite a few women who had come with them, all stopping to watch.

Zhang Quanyou glanced at the tobacco and liquor cabinet. Although there weren't many brands, it was packed full, creating a strong visual impact. Rows of Daqianmen Hongshuangxi cigarettes were neatly arranged, and bottles of Changchun medicinal liquor from Tuocheng were stacked up in orderly rows. Zhang Quanyou was delighted to see this.

"Comrade, can I buy a whole carton of these cigarettes?" Zhang Quanyou asked the saleswoman at the counter.

As Zhang Quanyou strolled around, he noticed that only the tobacco and alcohol section had a counter and sales clerks. He asked, just like he was at a supply and marketing cooperative, and the female saleswoman nodded. "Sure, sir, what kind of cigarettes would you like?"

Zhang Quanyou glanced at the labels: Daqianmen (a type of traditional Chinese medicine) was 3.5 cents a pack, Mudan (another type of traditional Chinese medicine) was 4.9 cents a pack, Hongshuangxi (another type of traditional Chinese medicine) was 2.1 cents a pack, and Huazi (another type of traditional Chinese medicine) was 1.1 yuan a box. The prices were not much different from those at the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Could you get me a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes?"

"Comrade, if you buy the whole carton of Daqianmen cigarettes, it'll be two cents cheaper, three yuan and forty-eight cents a carton!"

"Okay," Zhang Quanyou said without hesitation when he heard that he didn't need a ticket and even got a discount. He picked up the cigarette, thinking it was the same as buying pork, and paid at the cashier. Just as he was about to leave, the saleswoman called him back.

"Comrade, you need to pay for cigarettes and alcohol here before you can take them away," the saleswoman hurriedly reminded.

"Oh, okay, I thought I'd pay at the cashier too. Sorry!"

Zhang Quanyou took out his money and paid. The saleswoman took the decoding gun, shone it on the cigarette, and then handed the receipt and change to Zhang Quanyou with both hands. "It's okay, keep the receipt safe. When you leave, just show it to the security guard at the door."

"You can also use this receipt to collect five eggs at the entrance, but you'd better hurry, or they'll probably all be gone in no time!"

"good!"

Zhang Quanyou took the receipt but wasn't in a hurry. He continued looking at the glass counter next to the tobacco and alcohol section and discovered that there were even Shanghai-brand watches for sale, along with a sewing machine and a bicycle.

"This can be bought without a ticket?"

"Yes, they are all in stock."

"Comrade, I need one!"

Zhang Quanyou immediately pointed at the sewing machine and said to the saleswoman, then took out the money he had on him, counted out fifteen bills, and slapped them on the counter, "Comrade, please issue me a receipt!"

His son has a girlfriend and is about to get married, but the supply and marketing cooperative has been short of stock. Zhang Quanyou originally planned to see if he could find some connections to get one, but unexpectedly, Huaxingsheng Supermarket just left it there.

No tickets needed, we have it in stock, so what are you waiting for!

After the saleswoman finished writing the receipt, she smiled and handed it to Zhang Quanyou, saying, "Comrade, for large items like sewing machines, our supermarket offers delivery service. You can leave your address, and we'll deliver it to your door!"

"It's free, right?"

"It's free. Just show the receipt to the delivery driver, and he'll give you a delivery slip to sign. Once you've checked it and found no problems, you can accept the delivery as normal!"

When Zhang Quanyou bought the sewing machine, curious onlookers witnessed the entire process. When the saleswoman announced that she could deliver it to his door for free, a murmur of discussion immediately arose.

"This service is great, they even deliver it to my door!"

"Damn it, if only those old men at the supply and marketing cooperative had this kind of service attitude!"

"You're overthinking it. If she doesn't yell at you and give you a dark look when you go in to buy something, you should be grateful!"

"Hahaha!"

"Just based on their service attitude, I'll shop at Huaxingsheng Supermarket from now on!"

"Yeah, the saleswoman at our supply and marketing cooperative acts all high and mighty. If you ask her even one question, she'll yell at you and start cursing. If it weren't for the fact that only the supply and marketing cooperative sells it, I wouldn't go there to make a scene!"

"Now that Huaxingsheng Supermarket is open, who would bother buying anything from the supply and marketing cooperative!"

Listening to the whispers around him, Zhang Quanyou knew that with the opening of Huaxingsheng Supermarket, the days when sales clerks in supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores could leisurely drink tea and read newspapers and casually lash out at customers were numbered.

At this crucial moment when the wave of reform is gradually sweeping across the country, Zhang Quanyou believes that supermarkets like Huaxingsheng will not be the last, but will continue to spring up like mushrooms after rain.

Those sales clerks at the supply and marketing cooperatives used to abuse customers at will because of their secure jobs. With the impact of private supermarkets and convenience stores, they will likely be among the first to be laid off.

Times have really changed!