Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Xu Bei knew that many people were attracted to good looks.

He himself was not immune to the common practice.

People tend to be more impressed by beautiful people.

The little girl, in particular, was dressed differently from her more understated and simple outfit yesterday. She wore a bright red scarf around her neck, which made her face appear even whiter and brighter.

At the same time, it also made the older woman next to her, whose expression was somewhat serious, appear to have a dull complexion, as if she were particularly dehydrated.

Xu Bei smiled broadly and said, "What a coincidence, you're also here to buy something?"

Zhou Qingwan clearly hadn't expected the two of them to meet here.

After a moment of surprise, she quickly smiled and said, "Yes, it is quite a coincidence."

Although they watched half a movie together yesterday, Xu Bei and the others barely exchanged a few words and were hardly familiar with each other.

So, if we bump into each other, we just exchange a few polite words and that's it.

Xu Bei continued walking up to the third floor, intending to check out the television sales counter.

Zhou Qingwan followed her companions down to the second floor and headed to the fabric section.

The latter couldn't help but glance towards the stairs again, then asked, "Wanwan, who was that handsome young man just now? Was he a classmate in your repeat-year class?"

Zhou Qingwan immediately shook her head and replied, "No, Auntie. He's a friend of my female classmate's brother in the repeat class."

Zhou Qingwan's aunt's name is An Yaping. Hearing how complicated that sounded, she pressed on, "So how did you two meet?"

"When we were watching the movie yesterday..." Zhou Qingwan could only give a brief account of what happened, "...I never expected to run into you here by such a coincidence."

An Yaping immediately said reproachfully, "Wanwan, it's not that your aunt is old-fashioned and prone to overthinking, but how can you go to the movies with a complete stranger? Even if your female classmate is there, it's still not okay. What if they see you as pretty and team up with you...? The world is so chaotic these days!"

Zhou Qingwan felt she had the ability to discern right from wrong; neither Song Guomei nor Xu Bei were bad people. However, she put on a humble and accepting-criticism demeanor, saying, "I know I was wrong. Auntie, it will definitely not happen again."

Seeing this, An Yaping softened her tone and patted Zhou Qingwan's shoulder, "Don't blame your aunt for being strict with you. The key is that your mother entrusted you to me for help, so there can't be any mistakes. Otherwise, how will I explain it to her in the future?"

Especially now that you're all grown up and so beautiful, I'm really afraid you'll follow in your mother's footsteps...

The third floor of the department store was much quieter than the second floor, which sold fabrics, clothing, and shoes.

After all, what's sold here are all "big-ticket items" from this era.

For example, there were almost no cheap items such as black and white televisions, radios, sewing machines, bicycles, clocks, and cameras.

In the 1980s, weddings typically involved "three turns and one sound," which referred to a bicycle, a sewing machine, a watch, and a radio.

Although it may seem like only "a few things," Xu Bei believes that the pressure behind it is no less than that of the next few decades.

Furthermore, because the reform and opening up has only been going on for a few years, the channels and avenues for making money are very limited, making it even harder to earn money.

Fortunately, he has a cheat code that allows him to make money through business without any initial investment; otherwise, he would have had to work hard to earn his first pot of gold.

Xu Bei stood at the counter selling televisions and looked for a while at the several 9-inch, 12-inch, and 14-inch black and white televisions displayed in the showcase behind him.

I learned from the short-haired saleswoman, whose attitude was rather indifferent, that the cheapest item cost at least four hundred yuan.

Although it wouldn't be difficult for him to save up that much money.

However, televisions are now a rationed item, and even if you have the money, it's not easy to buy one; you need a ration coupon.

To get tickets, you might have to resort to the black market.

After Xu Bei finished looking at what he wanted to see, he didn't linger in the department store for long and left quickly.

After that, he found his way to a back alley deep in the staff and family residential area.

This place is said to be the legendary "black market".

Any in-demand tickets and supplies currently available on the market may be subject to resale.

However, in order to evade patrols, the office staff constantly changed locations, and sometimes even moved to a different place.

Only those in a small circle or regular customers can really know the details.

Xu Bei came here hoping to try his luck.

And sure enough, he came.

In the narrow alley, a large number of people, all bundled up and covering half their faces, were gathered, their eyes scanning each person who approached like eagles.

There were also some people pushing carts and walking, who were clearly just like me, strolling around shopping.

Xu Bei felt that the sellers here were probably the most perceptive and daring group of people in this era.

They conducted their resale business cautiously, always prepared to abscond at any time.

Because if caught, the consequences range from confiscation of goods and fines to serious charges and severe consequences.

Since it was Xu Bei's first time here, he mostly observed quietly and didn't easily talk to anyone or ask for prices.

As a result, after strolling around for a while, a middle-aged man wearing a sheepskin coat and a dog-skin hat approached them.

"Hey buddy, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?"

The man had a shallow scar across his left cheek, which twitched when he smiled, looking somewhat eerie, but his eyes revealed a shrewd and cunning nature.

Xu Bei knew these salespeople had sharp eyes, so there was no need for a pretentious rebuttal. "Yes, it's the first time. Brother, what do you mean?"

The middle-aged man quickly said, "Young man, don't misunderstand. My nickname is Old Scar. Anyone who comes here often knows that I can get my hands on any hot items on the market. I just wanted to ask what you want to exchange."

Even if Xu Bei really wanted to get the TV tickets, he couldn't possibly talk to someone he'd only exchanged a few words with.

Furthermore, having only been reborn a few days ago, neither the money nor the timing is yet in place to be fully prepared.

Therefore, he can say that he is not in a hurry at all.

There are only a few days left until the twelfth lunar month, and the New Year is just over a month away. I'm thinking I should buy more cloth to make clothes for myself and my family.

So he asked in a low voice, "Do you have cloth coupons?"

During the planned economy era, grain coupons and cloth coupons were essential and extremely important.

At the beginning of each year, urban and rural residents would receive cloth coupons based on their household registration booklets according to their population. These coupons were issued only once a year, and there was a limit on the number of coupons per person.

Some families, with many children, would find that they didn't have enough food coupons, so they would try to exchange their cloth coupons for food coupons.

"Yes, I do." Old Scar leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "Young man, I have both military cloth coupons and remittance cloth coupons."

Xu Bei knew that those special cloth coupons could buy better quality special-supply cloth, such as specially supplied wool.

However, it is an expense that ordinary families cannot afford; it is a luxury that only a very few people with special channels or abundant financial resources can access.

"Let me first explain how to exchange ordinary cloth coupons."