Reborn in 1985, starting from a machine factory

Your presence is a great honor!

Upon hearing Secretary Liu's words, the first word that popped into Chen Mo's mind was this one.

Beiyang Heavy Industry is a large, key state-owned enterprise, and this factory director is at least a deputy director-level cadre.

He was going to visit the home of an ordinary worker, which was definitely significant.

However, Chen Mo's thoughts shifted, and his expression unconsciously became more serious: "Brother Liu, what's the factory manager's business tomorrow?"

Secretary Liu smiled as he organized the documents without looking up or answering.

"Brother Liu, is it about yesterday's newspapers and television?" Chen Mo continued to ask.

"Snapped!"

Secretary Liu placed the organized documents aside: "Don't make wild guesses. It's just responding to the call from higher-ups to go deep into the front lines and understand the workers' production and lives."

"What's wrong? Are you busy?"

"Convenient, convenient!" Chen Mo replied.

From the moment Secretary Liu uttered those words, it was no longer a discussion, but a notification.

If it's inconvenient for you, then overcome it yourself.

The leader won't choose a time when a junior soldier has free time to come.

"Chen Mo, I remember the factory director really likes watching the news broadcast on CCTV-1 from 7:00 to 7:30. I wonder if we'll be able to watch it tomorrow?" Secretary Liu asked.

"No problem!" Chen Mo replied.

Secretary Liu's words were clear, and Chen Mo felt a little relieved.

I understand!

The news broadcast wasn't the main point; the main point was the television set and the antenna I had told Secretary Liu about yesterday.

It seems he's truly fallen for her!

That makes sense.

Upon hearing Chen Mo's reply, Secretary Liu nodded slightly: "Go ahead, go and prepare now."

Chen Mo nodded and walked out of the office.

It was almost noon, and Chen Mo was too lazy to go to the office. He walked along the factory road and out the gate.

Not knowing whether it was good or bad, he glanced back at the main building.

...

"Woof woof woof!"

Zhao Degui's dog let out a heart-wrenching howl, tugging at its leash and desperately lunging forward.

Chen Mo dared not step forward.

"Who is it?" Zhao Degui asked as he walked out of the room with a bowl in his hand.

Upon seeing Chen Mo, his eyes lit up: "Xiao Mo, come in and sit down!"

"Yu Mei, serve Xiao Mo a bowl of rice!"

"No, no!"

"Uncle Zhao, I've already eaten!" Chen Mo hurriedly waved his hand.

"Eat some more!" He Yumei walked out of the kitchen.

"No, ma'am."

"Uncle Zhao, you still have work this afternoon, right?" Chen Mo asked, turning his head.

"Yes, what's up?" Zhao Degui put his rice bowl aside.

"I'll come get the antenna and try it out tonight. I'll also need to borrow your bicycle," Chen Mo said.

"Take it, take it!"

"I told you last time that Yumei doesn't like riding a bike, but you still insisted on bringing it to me!" Zhao Degui said.

"It's different!" Chen Mo asked, "Uncle Zhao, how's it going with the neighborhood committee?"

"We arranged to meet tomorrow night. I have a comrade who works there, and I asked him to help us."

"However, I also asked a friend, and they said it should be at least this much!" Zhao Degui held up five fingers and waved them.

"Five thousand?"

"right!"

"We'll know the exact price the day after tomorrow," Zhao Degui nodded.

Chen Mo's heart sank!

Five thousand!

That's an astronomical figure.

That would require at least another three thousand.

Without even uttering them, those words weighed heavily on my chest.

He forced himself to speak, "Okay, Uncle Zhao, I'll figure something out. You eat first, I'm going back now."

"Really not going to eat anything?"

"Don't worry about it, we'll figure out a way to solve the money problem together," said Grandpa Zhao, staring at his rice bowl.

"good!"

Chen Mo responded softly.

...

The farmers' market opens very late in the afternoon.

Chen Mo was not in a hurry.

He forced a smile, strolled to the post office, exchanged his manuscript fee, and then went into the farmers' market.

There are usually more people selling vegetables in the morning, and there are also more people buying vegetables.

By the afternoon, things weren't good; the vegetables weren't fresh, people were too lazy to buy them, and the vendors were too lazy to sell them.

Most of them are shops selling dried goods, peppercorns, and star anise.

Chen Mo was unaware of these things; Li Guihua had given him detailed instructions before he left.

Don't buy vegetables!

If radishes are available, you can buy them.

But you absolutely must try the pork hock and pig's trotters.

Chen Mo didn't dare to hesitate and went straight into the market.

Soon, the words "Old Zhang's Pork" appeared before Chen Mo's eyes.

These four characters were written with a brush, and they were covered in oil stains.

This meat stall is very famous, claiming to be the first individually owned business in Beiyang City, and it's hidden in the most remote corner of the market.

Unfortunately, with more money comes arrogance and envy.

I heard that the stall owner has changed three times, and the current one doesn't even have the surname Zhang.

However, when it comes to business, the third one is still the best.

Chen Mo had arrived early enough; there were already four or five people in line ahead of him.

The reason is simple: this boss is generous. If you buy meat, he'll give you bay leaves and Sichuan peppercorns for free.

If you buy bones and pork hock, he'll give you the braising sauce for free!

It was by offering freebies that he managed to take over three stalls in the surrounding area, as well as a cooked food business.

When it was finally Chen Mo's turn, he stepped forward and said, "Boss, six pig's trotters and one pork knuckle!"

The stall owner was a clean-cut young man with some stubble on his face: "Do you have any tickets?"

Upon seeing this person, Chen Mo instinctively looked down and said, "I forgot to bring it!"

"Okay, remember to bring it to me next time. I'll charge you as usual this time, even if you have a receipt." The stall owner didn't seem to care and picked up some pork from the side.

"Okay!" Chen Mo smiled, but turned his head to the side.

"Hey, you look kind of familiar."

The stall owner tied the pork knuckle and pig's trotters with rope and looked closely at Chen Mo.

"You've met a lot of people, so it's normal for them to look familiar!" Chen Mo said.

"Stop pretending, didn't you used to have a crush on my sister?"

"Nonsense!" Chen Mo blushed. "Why don't you say your sister pursued me?"

"I see!"

"Then I won't give you a discount. Show me the ticket."

"I forgot to bring it!"

"Who are you kidding?"

"Erpang, your sister isn't married yet?" Chen Mo couldn't help but ask.

He recognized this person; they were best friends from junior high and high school.

I can't remember his full name, but his nickname is Erpang (Second Fatty).

He was a little chubby back then, and he was often laughed at. To avoid suspicion, no one wanted to hang out with him.

Except for Chen Mo!

Chen Mo wasn't incapable of avoiding suspicion; it's just that he couldn't understand it in junior high, and he was unwilling to understand it in high school.

We've had less contact in recent years, and this person looks drastically different; they've lost a lot of weight and become much paler.

If he had known this guy was the stall owner, Chen Mo would never have come over, even if it meant his life.

"Hey kid, why didn't you say anything after school?"

"Yes, I know. They said you started working at the factory!"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd smuggled yourself into the Soviet Union!"

Erpang muttered to himself as he added two more pig trotters to the plate.

"Don't even mention it!"

"The factory's so busy!" Chen Mo turned his head. "Hurry up, check how much it costs, we're waiting to be cooked."

"one thousand!"

"Go ahead and rob it!"

"Eight hundred!"

"I'm staying in Jianshe Village now. I'll come see you around noon in a few days, and we'll have a few drinks!" Chen Mo said.

"That's more like it!" Erpang pulled the rope tighter. "Want some pig's head meat?"

"Give me some!"

"Do you have any alcohol?"

"Got it!"

"How much is it in total?"

"Are you obsessed with money?"

"Ten yuan it is, if that's not enough, it's your treat!" Chen Mo said.

"Tsk tsk, I won't return any more than that!"

Chen Mo grabbed the pork, hopped on his bicycle, and said, "Erpang, you've lost weight."

"Of course! Meat sellers are all thin," said Erpang.

Chen Mo turned his head away with a look of disgust.

"By the way, my sister is still not married!"

"Stop it! I'm busy!" Chen Mo tossed his hair and started pedaling his bicycle.

"Really!" Erpang's voice wasn't loud as he looked at Chen Mo's back.

Chen Mo waved without turning his head.