Siheyuan: A master brewer starts with a jar of bone-strengthening wine!

"But I won't take it for free!" He patted his chest. "According to the rules, I'll give you extra currency, no questions asked!"

"Okay!" Liu Dong nodded happily.

Foreign exchange certificates? They sound like foreign currency, but they're actually more effective than RMB!

It's specifically for foreigners—what if they come to China without RMB? They can exchange US dollars or British pounds for foreign exchange certificates and then buy things at designated stores.

What's the biggest advantage? -- No more food coupons, cloth coupons, or meat coupons! Buy whatever you want!

Liu Dong was overjoyed: With this, I can buy imported watches, coffee beans, and leather shoes with impeccable integrity, and no one can find fault with it!

"Little Liu!" Factory Director Yang tilted his head and smiled, his face saying, "You know what I mean."

"From now on, the matter of generating foreign exchange is in your hands!"

"Oh dear!" Liu Dong waved his hands in fright. "Factory manager, please spare me! This time it was just pure luck. How can you expect to run into foreigners giving you money for medical treatment every time?"

"Hey!" Factory Director Yang raised an eyebrow. "Won't that old man have to come back for the medicinal wine?"

"Medicated wine!" Liu Dong quickly corrected.

"Alright, alright, the medicinal wine!" Factory Director Yang waved his hand. "He can't leave empty-handed if he comes again, can he? The tip is up to you, take it or leave it; but the medicine payment must be settled!"

He winked at Liu Dong: "The factory's annual target is two thousand US dollars, and we've only reached 220 so far. How much more are we short?"

Deputy Factory Director Li answered immediately: "1780!"

Secretary Luo quickly added, "Converted to crowns, that's 16,020—I suggest we just charge 20,000! Exceeding the target will make the factory proud!"

Liu Dong said with a bitter face, "Leaders, I'm happy to take the money, but what if the higher-ups say 'No medical fees allowed'? What am I supposed to do then?"

"What's there to be afraid of!" Factory Director Yang slapped his thigh. "If his old boss comes, I'll personally block the entrance! I refuse to believe he can control how my factory collects registration fees!"

"Alright!" Liu Dong slammed his hand on the table. "With you protecting me, I'll not just take 20,000, I'll squeeze 30,000 crowns out of him on the spot!"

"Oh dear—no, no, no!" Secretary Luo's legs went weak, and his voice trembled. "My goodness, take it easy! If we accept too much, the embassy will come knocking on our door, and our whole factory will have to write self-criticisms!"

5:00 PM —

Liu Dong happily accepted the few thin foreign exchange certificates.

At that time, the exchange rate between the RMB and the US dollar was fixed: 1 US dollar = 2.46 RMB.

$220, which is equivalent to 541.2 yuan, not a penny less.

Of course, they were given foreign exchange certificates, not ordinary banknotes.

Although this thing is issued by the bank, you can't spend it casually: you can only use it at one place—Friendship Store.

The Friendship Store is exclusively for foreigners. It offers a wide variety of high-quality goods at reasonable prices. As long as you have foreign exchange certificates, you can buy anything, regardless of whether you're a foreign visitor or not!

Where is the shop? It's on the north side of Jianguomenwai Street, east of it, less than six kilometers from Nanluoguxiang, but much farther than Qianmenlouzi.

"Ahem—Pay attention! Pay attention!"

Liu Dong grabbed the loudspeaker and his voice echoed throughout the entire factory:

"Good afternoon, leaders and colleagues! This is the steel rolling mill's publicity department broadcasting station. I'm announcer Liu Dong! Now, I have some good news to share—"

"Our factory's publicity officer, Comrade Liu Dong, has successfully secured $220 in foreign exchange earnings for the factory! We hope everyone will learn from Comrade Liu Dong, proactively seek solutions, dare to try new things, and work together to contribute to the factory's foreign exchange earnings!"

Even Liu Dong himself got goosebumps listening to it:

This isn't a broadcast; it's clearly him calling himself a loser!

Moreover, this isn't the first time...

"Oh dear—"

In the workshop, Liu Haizhong abruptly threw down a wrench: "Why? How come he, who just reads from a script, earns more foreign exchange than us sledgehammer-wielders?"

"This is weird..."

Yi Zhonghai frowned, and Jia Dongxu's lips twitched; their faces were as dark as if they had just crawled out of a boiler room. Actually, everyone was secretly hoping that no one would earn foreign exchange—that way, they'd have a chance at being named "Advanced Individuals," and that bicycle ticket would be theirs!

But now? It's all gone!

Liu Dong spent over two hundred US dollars in one go, directly taking on 11% of the factory's foreign exchange earnings!

Doesn't this mean the "Advanced Individual" award certificate is welded to his forehead?

That Phoenix brand bicycle is definitely going to belong to the Liu family!

Ouch... my teeth are sore!

"Hey—!" Jia Dongxu's eyes suddenly lit up as he leaned closer to Yi Zhonghai: "Master, logically speaking, this ticket should be given to Brother Liu Dong. But his family already has three bicycles, so he doesn't need it at all! Why don't we just pay for his ticket later?"

Yi Zhonghai squinted and pondered for a moment: "Good! That's a clever move!"

The bell rang at six o'clock sharp.

The sky was already a hazy gray, and even the streetlights were starting to doze off.

Liu Dong pushed his gleaming bicycle slowly out of the factory gate.

They bumped right into Jia Dongxu, Yi Zhonghai, and Liu Haizhong, who were standing there like they were waiting for a package.

"Hey—Brother Liu Dong is here!" Jia Dongxu immediately grinned and shuffled forward with small, quick steps.

Liu Dong raised an eyelid: "What's up?"

"Bro! Congratulations! Over two hundred US dollars! That's awesome!"

Liu Dong scoffed, "Don't call me 'brother' like that. You're older than me. If you kneel down and call me that, it makes you look like you're all soft and weak."

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, standing to the side, "Tsk, what a loser!"

"Hey, hey, hey..." Jia Dongxu quickly corrected himself, "Brother! Brother Liu Dong! Teach your older brother how to deal with foreign exchange!"

Liu Dong grinned, got on the bike, and with a turn of the wheel, the hem of his blue cloth shirt fluttered gently in the evening breeze as he headed towards Taoran Road.

The three of them hurriedly chased after the car and jogged to catch up.

Instead of rushing home, he started explaining as he rode: "Dongxu, use your brain—what is foreign exchange?"

"Huh?" Jia Dongxu was stunned.

"The money in foreigners' pockets!" Liu Dong tapped the handlebars. "Dollar! US dollars! A 'knife' that draws blood!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Jia Dongxu nodded vigorously. "I understand!"

"Then let's think again—where's the money? It can't just fall from the sky, can it? Of course, it's with the foreigners!"

"But...where can we find foreigners?"

This time, Jia Dongxu was faster than anyone else to grab the offer: "State Guesthouse!"

"Brilliant!" Liu Dong slapped his thigh. "First, the State Guesthouse; second, the Siwu City Hotel! If you want to see foreign currency, you have to see the real person first!"

"We'll see who it is first, then we'll deal with the rest!"

"Did you understand?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step, nimbly straddled the seat, pushed off with his foot, and the bike shot off.

"Brother! Wait!" Jia Dongxu grabbed the back rack of the car. "Did you really get this from the state guesthouse... while dealing with foreigners?"

"Um."

"Then...why should they give it to you for free?"

Jia Dongxu's question hit the nail on the head.

Liu Dong grinned: "They don't owe me anything, why would they be stupid enough to give me money? Dream on!"

"So I staked out the area! I circled the state guesthouse every day for seven or eight days, and I collected over two hundred yuan just from the loose change on the ground!"

Liu Haizhong: ...

Yi Zhonghai: ...

Jia Dongxu: ? ? ?

"You...found it?"

"Right!" Liu Dong nodded. "Wait until they take out their wallets, drop their money, bend down, and pick it up! Done!"

Before he finished speaking, the car turned and he disappeared into the street corner, leaving only a wisp of smoke-like shadow.

Jia Dongxu stood by the roadside, his face stiff: "Master... is what he said true?"

Yi Zhonghai stroked his chin and chuckled: "Most likely true! Otherwise, where would so many US dollars come from?"

Liu Haizhong nodded: "Being half-believing is enough."

Jia Dongxu took a deep breath: "Master, I suddenly remembered that I haven't brought in the clothes I hung out to dry!" After saying that, he turned around and ran away without leaving a trace.

Liu Haizhong sneered: "Old man, is your esteemed disciple going to be sweeping the streets near the state guesthouse tomorrow?"

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand: "A complete idiot! His head's been kicked by a donkey eight times—compared to his father back then? He's worlds apart!"

When Liu Dong arrived home, it was completely dark.

"Mom, where is Xue Ru?"

Chen's mother was taking off her apron: "The tavern is doing brisk business, so she'll be minding the shop tonight and won't be home for dinner!"

"Alright!" Liu Dong waved his hand. "You rest, I'll go get something to eat myself!"

Chen Xueru's belly was round and plump. Although she was strong enough to lift a stone mill with one hand and had enough stamina to run ten miles without getting out of breath, Liu Dong was still worried about her because it was dark at night.

I pedaled my bike at breakneck speed, and in less than twenty minutes, I stopped right in front of the tavern.

"Hey—look who's here!"

As soon as Old Niu looked up, holding his wine cup, he immediately stood up and laughed heartily: "Missing your wife so much you've come to the tavern? Hahahaha!"

Pian'erye also raised his glass to join in the fun: "Young man, it's normal to miss your wife!"

"Hey, you've wronged me!" Liu Dong laughed, pointing to his own nose. "That jar of pure wine? It's all gone by now! I'm saving the rest for my wedding banquet!"

The whole room erupted in laughter.

Everyone's here today:

Chen Xueru was wiping glasses at the counter, Xu Huizhen was slicing braised beef, and Fan Jinyou was squatting in the corner mixing drinks—ten small axes gleaming on his head.

Liu Dong's heart skipped a beat:

"Tsk...this bastard, still not convinced by me?"

"Okay, I'll give you some extra 'spice' tonight."

"Two ounces of strong liquor!" He walked up to his wife and slapped a one-cent banknote onto the table.

Chen Xueru raised her chin, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes: "Oh, sir, just giving money isn't enough. Where are your wine coupons? Your food coupons? Do you have any?"

Liu Dong shrugged: "I didn't bring any."

She casually pulled a bill from the drawer: "What a coincidence, I have one—I'll use it to cover you!"

"Hahaha--!"

Everyone burst into laughter, slapping the table: "Are these two putting on a comedy routine?" Old Niu laughed so hard he slapped his thigh, nearly dropping his chopsticks. Two ounces of loose liquor, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a dish of fried peanuts.

Liu Dong brought the food and wine to Uncle Niu and Uncle Pian'er, picked up his cup and gulped down a big mouthful, his face beaming with joy.

"Liu Dong, you really picked a brilliant wife!" Pian'erye stammered, his face flushed. "You two—one swinging a sledgehammer at the steel mill, the other wiping tables at a tavern—you must be making more money each month than Old Wang selling popsicles at the alley entrance, right?"

Liu Dong waved his hand: "Oh, Uncle Pian, don't flatter me! Whether I earn more or less, all I want is rice in the pot and shoes for the kids, right? These days, grain and meat coupons are controlled more strictly than watchdogs. What good is money in your pocket? Can you eat it like steamed buns or exchange it for cloth coupons?"

"Yes, yes, yes..." Master Pian nodded repeatedly, his eyes almost squinting into slits. "You're quite frank..."

Liu Dong casually asked, "Hey sir, how have you been lately? Everything's going well?"

Pian'er immediately slumped his shoulders, shook his head, and sighed, "Don't even mention it... we're almost starving!"

Liu Dong understood immediately upon hearing this.

Going back a year, how did Pian'erye make a living?

Isn't it just visiting each other and telling stories?

Carrying a tattered cloth bag, they would go from house to house, telling stories of "The Generals of the Yang Family" and "The Three Heroes and Five Gallants" to the teenagers, just for the fun of it and to earn a few cents of pocket money—enough to buy two pounds of cornmeal, enough for the old couple to live on for half a month.