Qian Shulan stood outside the yard again. She had already expected Qi Huimei to bring her here.
She had just walked around this alley several times, and this was the only empty house.
"This house used to be occupied by a capitalist. Ever since he was arrested, the house has been empty." He took out the key and unlocked it.
What comes into view are rectangular green bricks, then an empty living room, several round columns and a long staircase.
This house has not been occupied for half a year, so apart from a layer of dust, it doesn't look very dirty.
Qi Huimei took Qian Shulan around the house. There were very few pieces of furniture in the house, only a few inexpensive tables.
Each wall was hung with a portrait of the president and some of his quotations. Qian Shulan was a little surprised. Wasn't it said that it was only during the Cultural Revolution that things were so exaggerated? Why was it being done like this now
Nowadays, every household has a portrait posted on their door, but it is only one. It is a bit too scary to have it posted on every face.
"This house was scratched all over before, so we repainted it and used it to host you who came to the Canton Fair. How is it? Not bad, right?"
Qian Shulan nodded with satisfaction and said to Qi Huimei, "How much does it cost to rent this house for a month?"
Qi Huimei must be asking for money to say this, otherwise why would she spend money and effort on painting.
"There are fourteen rooms in total. Are you renting half of them or the whole of them?"
Qian Shulan thought for a moment and said, "How much does it cost to rent the entire place? We brought a lot of stuff that takes up a lot of space."
Qi Huimei held up three fingers. Qian Shulan raised her eyebrows and guessed, "Thirty dollars?"
Qi Huimei nodded, and seeing that she was dressed so simply, she added, "This price is already very reasonable. We rented it for fifty yuan last year. If it weren't for your honesty, I would definitely not ask for such a cheap price."
Although it sounded nice, Qian Shulan didn't quite believe it, but she still agreed, "Okay! We'll rent them all."
Qi Huimei was very happy to see that she was so straightforward, so she handed her the key and told her to pay the rent later since she couldn't run away anyway.
When he left, he reminded Qian Shulan, "This house is only rented to you temporarily. I will come to check it before you leave. Don't take any valuables."
Qian Shulan was speechless. She glanced around the empty room. What else could be lost here? There was nothing valuable.
Seeing her puzzled look, Qi Huimei glanced at the portraits of the presidents and said, "I bought them at a high price. You must not dirty or damage them."
Qian Shulan was very embarrassed. It turned out that the thing was valuable. She seemed so vulgar! She hastily promised, "I will protect it well and will never take it away."
After seeing Qi Huimei off, Qian Shulan immediately closed the door and went out to look for someone.
When they arrived at the agreed place, Wang Shouquan and Qian Weihan had already returned, but Qian Weihan looked a little strange.
Qian Shulan didn't want to ask him in front of so many people, so she said to everyone, "I found the place, let's go!"
Everyone asked where it was and how much it cost.
When they heard that it only cost thirty yuan, everyone started to do the math in their minds. The guesthouse just now cost two yuan and twenty yuan per room per night, and if they wanted four rooms, it would be eight yuan and eighty yuan, and thirty days would cost two hundred and sixty-four yuan. At only thirty yuan, this was already a much better deal.
Most people could still accept this price and were very happy. There were only a few exceptions, such as the accountant Wang Ligui, who was also in the team and his craftsmanship was also one of the best in the village. He felt so bad about spending 30 yuan just for accommodation that his face wrinkled. But since everyone was satisfied, he couldn't say anything more.
When they arrived, they found that it was such a nice house. Everyone was a little hesitant. He Cuilan was a little afraid to go in. She looked around cautiously and asked Qian Shulan timidly, "Third sister-in-law, can we live here? These are places where bad elements live, right? Don't let them get us into trouble!"
Qian Shulan patted her chest and assured, "Don't worry, I rented it from the neighborhood office. It's absolutely safe. They allowed it." Seeing that everyone was still a little hesitant, Qian Shulan added, "They also rented it to others during the Canton Fair last spring and autumn, and nothing happened."
After hearing this, everyone felt better, but they were still a little nervous.
Qian Shulan also knew that they were frightened by the movement a few years ago, so she took the initiative to walk in front and divert their attention. "It's very dusty here. Let's put our things outside first, clean this place up, and then move in."
Everyone didn't have time to think too much and took off the things on their shoulders and put them outside.
Everyone started cleaning.
These men, who were used to being the bosses at home, picked up brooms and swept the floor.
The eight people quickly cleaned the house.
Everyone started to choose rooms. Qian Shulan and He Cuilan shared one room, and the others shared two rooms. Qian Shulan had other plans for the remaining rooms, but she couldn't tell everyone yet.
It was already dark, and Qian Shulan was worried that Qi Huimei would go home after get off work, so she asked Wang Shouquan to take the things and go with her to pay.
When the two arrived at the street office, Qi Huimei was packing her things, apparently preparing to go off work.
"Comrade Qi Huimei, this is Comrade Wang Shouquan, the director of our Zhuyixuan."
Wang Shouquan felt a little ashamed. When he first set up the factory, he just registered his own name as the factory director in order to get it done as soon as possible. He thought it was just a figurehead, but who would have thought that one day he would become a de facto factory director.
It was the first time that Qi Huimei saw such a young factory director. She thought he had some extraordinary ability, so she warmly invited him in. "Comrade Wang Shouquan, come in and sit down. By the way, I forgot to ask you just now, what does your factory produce?"
Qian Shulan smiled and said, "Rattan baskets, baskets, fans and the like." Then she took out the advertising fan she had made before and said, "This is for you. Do you like it?"
This fan is very small and fits perfectly in her pocket.
It was the first time that Qi Huimei saw such a beautiful fan. The fan handle was made of bamboo, and the round fan head was about as long as a woman's hand in diameter. I woven it with strips of bamboo, and it was very delicate.
There is a line of small red words on it, which is Zhuyixuan.
She took it eagerly, fanned it twice, and said, "This thing is really good! You will definitely be able to sell it for a lot of money this time."
Qian Shulan also smiled and said, "I'm borrowing your good words!"
After chatting for a while, Wang Shouquan took out his letter of introduction, Qi Huimei registered the detailed information, and after receiving 30 yuan, he gave them a receipt and stamped it. For those who came out in groups like them, they must have a receipt.
Qian Shulan took the opportunity to ask Qi Huimei, "How should people like us who have no food and no coupons eat?"
Since someone has lived here before, she should know about it, right
Qi Huimei received the gift and was in a good mood. She touched the handle of her fan and said with a smile, "Some people first exchanged food coupons with others and then ate at the state-owned restaurant, while others went to the neighboring family to eat together. It's up to you."
Qian Shulan asked her about the department store again. Qi Huimei didn't mind her and gave her directions in detail. "Turn right when you go out the door and you'll see it in about three or four minutes. But you have to go early because there are many limited items in the department store. You have to line up early in the morning."
After expressing her gratitude again and again, Qian Shulan took Wang Shouquan out.
Qian Shulan wanted to find an excuse to take the things out of the space, so she said to Wang Shouquan, "You go back first, I'll go find someone to exchange some things."
Wang Shouquan knew that she wanted to exchange for food.
This time, because they had too much stuff to bring, they couldn't take the food they brought with them. But they couldn't afford to buy food at a state-owned restaurant, so they could only exchange some food for food.
Wang Shouquan was worried that she would be in danger alone, but Qian Shulan waved her hand nonchalantly and said, "There are too many people here, and others won't feel comfortable trading with me. Don't worry, I can run faster than you!"
Wang Shouquan was a little embarrassed when he heard this. Who knew what they were eating was so powerful
Qian Shulan arrived at the entrance of the department store and went to the nearby alleys to see if she could find any scalpers, just as she had done in Liuguan County before.
Fortunately, she actually met one.
Qian Shulan asked Huang Niu for 40 kilograms of fine grain coupons.
The price is a little higher than in Liuguan County. Fine grains are 0.12 cents per pound, and coarse grains are also not available with coupons.
After buying the food coupons, Qian Shulan wanted to go to the state-owned restaurant to buy some food. When she asked for directions, someone introduced her to an old restaurant that made delicious braised pork. The passerby almost drooled when he described it, and Qian Shulan was so curious.
I didn't mind the distance, I walked two more streets to buy it. When I got there, I was surprised to see so many people in this public-private joint-owned restaurant.
There must be ten people, right? Qian Shulan didn't want to wait. But she had a vague idea in her mind. So she continued to wait. After waiting in line for more than an hour, it was her turn.
Qian Shulan specially packed it in an aluminum lunch box. When she was about to reach the alley, she took out another fifty kilograms of rice from the space.
Why rice? Because Guangdong grows almost all rice, with two crops a year, early rice and late rice.
It was already dark at this time. Street lights had been turned on on both sides of the road. Most of the households in the alley had turned on the lights, but this family had not. Only a faint candlelight shone through the window.
Qian Shulan opened the door carrying a bag of food. A square table was placed in the empty living room, with a candle lit in a corner and a bamboo thermos next to it. In the dim candlelight, Qian Shulan realized that everyone was eating dry food.
"Where did this come from?" Qian Shulan looked at the thermos with some curiosity.
Wang Shouren glanced at He Cuilan and said, "It was rented by the lady next door."
"Third Aunt, what's that in your hand? It smells so good?" Wang Shouquan sniffed. He held a multigrain steamed bun in his left hand and a black pickled cabbage in his right hand, stuffing them into his mouth alternately.
Maybe it tasted too bad, so he ate very slowly, and the same was true for others.
After hearing what Wang Shouquan said, everyone sniffed around.
Qian Shulan put the lunch box on the only table in the room and scolded with a smile, "You have a very sharp nose, kid!" Then she called everyone to come over for dinner, "We have worked hard for three days, this is a snack for everyone. After eating, we will start working."
Hearing this, everyone gathered around.
"Wow! It's actually meat! And it's braised pork! Third Aunt, you are so generous!" Wang Shouquan was so excited that he almost cried. His family didn't have such good food during the Chinese New Year.
The others also kept swallowing their saliva.
Qian Shulan was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. "I just exchanged the food coupons from someone else and bought it at the state-owned restaurant. We will only be extravagant this time. Everyone must eat and drink well, strive to complete this task, and bring honor to our Liuguan County."
Everyone agreed, "Bring glory to Liuguan County. Create income for our Wangjia Village Production Brigade!"
After everyone made their bold statements, they all turned around and took out tools from their bags.
Qian Shulan was stunned. Why was he using tools if he wasn't eating? She soon found out.
They quickly pulled out a bamboo stick of moderate thickness from the bundles of bamboo sticks and cut a pair of chopsticks for themselves. After polishing it with tools to make sure there were no thorns, they gathered around the table and waited for dinner to start.
Wang Shouren carved an extra pair for Qian Shulan. Qian Shulan tried them out and found them to be quite good, although a little crude.
After everyone had a pair of chopsticks in their hands, Wang Shouquan immediately said, "Let's eat!"
Then eight people started grabbing!
There wasn't much meat, only two pieces per person, but we hadn't eaten meat for a long time, so we were all very satisfied.
After dinner, Qian Shulan took out the fifty kilograms of rice she had carried.
The price Qian Shulan quoted was not high, only 1.8 yuan per pound. On the black market, such rice would cost at least 2.8 yuan per pound.
But these country folks are new to the city and think everything is expensive. If she charges 28 cents per pound, they will probably only drink a bowl of porridge a day to save money. It will be bad if they collapse from exhaustion.
Others can still accept this price. After all, this is Guangzhou, not the countryside, and you need a ticket to buy it.
Wang Ligui thought it was too expensive, "Why don't you buy sweet potatoes?"
Qian Shulan was getting angry because she was being picked on all the time. She said unhappily, "Why don't you go and exchange some sweet potatoes and see if others will give them to you?"
Wang Ligui was a little unconvinced and glared at Qian Shulan, "I don't believe it. I have to change it for you to see." After that, he ran out excitedly.
Qian Shulan crossed her arms, looked at his back, and waited to see his performance.
As a result, Wang Ligui didn't sleep the whole night. Because of the language barrier, he spoke and wrote at the same time. He ran three streets but couldn't find anyone willing to exchange with him.
Even if he used a two to one ratio, he couldn't exchange it for sweet potatoes.
The last time I asked, I found out that almost all the crops here are rice, and very few are sweet potatoes.
The food rations distributed to the urban population include rice, cornmeal, and dried sweet potatoes in a fixed ratio of 70:20:10.
Among them, cornmeal and dried sweet potatoes were transferred from other provinces by the Grain and Oil Bureau, and they were very limited.
Think about it, there is not enough food in your own family, how can you share it with others
After this blow, Wang Ligui never dared to find fault with Qian Shulan again. It was too embarrassing.
The author has something to say: Thank you for your rewards, muah
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