Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

Chen Yongqiang looked troubled: "Director Yao, this price... is really a bit low. To be honest, I sold it to other places for six cents before."

"You can see the quality of this wild boar meat; it's top-quality mountain meat. And in this weather, it's not easy to hunt."

Yao Lina's formulaic smile faded slightly: "Xiao Chen, you know this is a government-run business, and I can't set the price alone. Fifty-five cents is the maximum I can set. The meat is good, but in the current climate, not many people can afford it."

Chen Yongqiang shook his head and began to rearrange the burlap, carefully covering the corner that had been lifted: "This price is too low, and it's a waste of effort and risk. Please reconsider, I'll go look around elsewhere first."

After saying that, he actually gripped the handlebars of the bicycle and pushed it as if to leave.

Yao Lina looked at the two baskets of meat that were covered tightly, and then glanced at Chen Yongqiang's seemingly resolute back.

Wild game is indeed a great way to attract customers; if you miss this opportunity, you don't know when you'll get another chance.

Just as Chen Yongqiang was about to walk a few steps away, she finally called out to him, "Hey, wait a minute."

Chen Yongqiang stopped and turned around, his face expressionless.

Yao Lina seemed to have made up her mind, quickly taking two steps closer: "How about this, fifty-eight cents, that's the highest I can go. And from now on, if you have any mountain produce, whether it's wild game or anything else, send it to me first, and I guarantee the price will be fair. How about it?"

Chen Yongqiang did some mental calculations and knew that this was probably the best price he could negotiate at the moment.

His expression softened at the right moment, revealing a hint of resigned helplessness: "Alright then, Director Yao, you're a straightforward person. We'll do as you say, fifty-eight cents. I'll definitely send you the best stuff first next time."

Yao Lina then smiled again: "That's right, push the car into the backyard and weigh it."

"Next time, if we can get live wild game or some rare mountain delicacies, we can discuss the price again."

"That depends on luck," Chen Yongqiang replied vaguely, though he did have his own plans in mind.

Some things should be kept in your own hands, or used in more crucial places.

The weighing and payment were done very efficiently. The wild boar meat, including bones and meat, weighed a total of over 360 jin (approximately 180 kg). After rounding down to 360 jin, the price was 58 cents per jin, which came to exactly 208.8 yuan.

The three wild boar stomachs were charged separately. Yao Lina knew her stuff and recognized it as a good item, so she priced it at seventy-five yuan.

The total came to 283.8 yuan. Yao Lina counted out 283 yuan from the counter.

Chen Yongqiang didn't take the 80 cents change, but instead took twenty-eight ten-yuan bills from her hand: "Director Yao, forget about the 80 cents change. Just take care of me next time you have something good."

Yao Lina didn't insist and took the money back: "Then remember, send any good stuff to me first." She personally escorted Chen Yongqiang to the side door of the hotel and watched him leave pushing his bicycle, which was now much emptier.

Chen Yongqiang was thinking about Wang Guixiang. He first went back to the courtyard and had a simple lunch with Wang Guixiang.

During the meal, he naturally gave detailed instructions. After sitting for a short while, he got up and left, heading towards the supply and marketing cooperative in the town center.

He had a big plan in mind: to buy a black and white television.

This is a very important item these days. With it, Lin Xiulian's days at home were no longer so lonely and long.

The supply and marketing cooperative was brightly lit, and the shelves were packed full.

Chen Yongqiang went straight to the hardware and electrical appliance counter. The glass counter displayed radios, flashlights, batteries, and the like, while several large promotional posters hung on the wall.

The television set wasn't displayed openly.

Behind the counter sat a saleswoman in her thirties, knitting with her head down.

Chen Yongqiang approached and knocked on the glass counter: "Comrade, may I ask you something?"

The saleswoman looked up: "What would you like to buy?"

"I'd like to ask about the television," Chen Yongqiang said.

These words made the saleswoman pause in her hand as she looked Chen Yongqiang over a few more times.

He was wearing a worn-out cotton-padded coat and didn't look like the typical factory worker or cadre in town. "A television set?"

Her tone carried a businesslike detachment as she asked, "Do you have tickets?"

"There are no tickets available at the moment," Chen Yongqiang told the truth.

"I just wanted to ask about the options first. What brands do they have? What sizes? How much do they cost?"

Seeing that he was asking seriously and didn't seem to be just asking around, the saleswoman put down her knitting, stood up, and pointed towards the warehouse at the back: "The brands are mainly 'Feiyue' and 'Jinxing,' made in Shanghai, and the quality is good. Most of the sizes are 12 inches or 14 inches."

"The price isn't cheap. A 12-inch one is around 380 yuan, and a 14-inch one is over 400 yuan."

Three hundred and eighty! Hearing this price, Chen Yongqiang considered it for a moment, and realized he could afford it.

He didn't show any hesitation and continued, "So, if I want to buy one, how do I do it? Is money and tickets enough?"

"If you have money, TV tickets, or enough industrial vouchers, then come here to register," the salesperson said, pulling a hardcover booklet from under the counter.

"You'll have to wait. We'll let you know when the goods arrive. It's the end of the year now, so supplies are tight."

"Approximately how long will it take?"

"That's hard to say. It could be as quick as a month or two, or as slow as two or three months," the sales clerk said, looking at him.

"If you're sure you want it, you can register your name and leave your address first. We'll try to notify you when the goods arrive, or you can come and ask about it later."

This was pretty much what Chen Yongqiang had expected; large, in-demand items couldn't be moved as soon as the money was paid.

He needed time to gather the tickets. "Comrade, besides waiting for allocation, is there any other way to get these tickets? Or, could we exchange them for something else?"

The sales clerk looked at him for a moment before speaking, "That depends on what it is. If it's something rare and useful... it's not entirely impossible. But you'll have to talk to our manager about this."

"Is the director in today?"

"It's in the office inside." The sales clerk gestured with her chin towards the back of the room.

"Okay, thank you, comrade." Chen Yongqiang understood.

He didn't rush to find the director. He had the money today, but the vouchers were still nowhere to be seen. More importantly, he needed to go back and prepare the rare items.

He glanced one last time at the empty television display area, then turned and left the counter.

When he arrived at the area selling daily necessities, he followed his original plan and weighed out a pound of brown sugar, carefully wrapping it up.

He bought some other household necessities. After tying the items to the back of his bicycle, he looked up at the sky.

He had to get back before dark. The television couldn't be rushed, but at least he'd figured out the route today.

There are still some good things in the space. Maybe next time I come to town, I can try the barter system.