Chapter 102

Early in the morning of the 16th day of the first lunar month, Xu Qiusi borrowed oxen from the production team and put them on a cart, intending to take Xu Man and his family to the train station

Lu Yuanzheng and Xu Man didn’t have much luggage, just a change of clothes for the three of them, all of which were summer clothes There were also some souvenirs

Uncle Lu didn’t have much in the way of gifts either, just a small snakeskin bag

Xu Wen went out for the first time, and brought a lot of things, two knitted bags

There were clothes, bedding, and all kinds of food

Although Zhu Meizhen and Sang Xiaoqing agreed to Xu Wen to go out to break in especially fast, but really to the end, not as generous as Xu Qiusi fast, all kinds of uneasy, pulling Xu Wen repeated instructions

Xu Wen estimated that, if it is not Lu Yuanzheng with the second uncle to go, Zhu Meizhen and Sang Xiaoqing absolutely regret not letting Xu Wen go

As a result, he brought some boiled eggs, peanuts, and squash for them to eat on the way

Xu Wen knew that these eggs were originally intended to be sold in a few days, and now they are made for them to eat on the road, just because of the phrase “poor family rich road”

Xu Che took a string of whips and hung them on the top of the tree outside the gate and lit them

In Weizhuang Commune, the New Year’s period refers to the first month of the year

When a family member goes out of town, he or she will set off a string of whips

I hope the travelers will have a good year and be safe and sound

Xu Qiushi got tired of waiting and shouted, before Zhu Meizhen and Sang Xiaoqing let Xu Wen on the oxcart

Xu Qiushi slapped the cow’s butt The old ox pulled Lu Yuanzheng’s family and Xu Wen and his second uncle, who were traveling for the first time

Zhu Meizhen held Chunsheng and Sang Xiaoqing in her arms and chased them out a long way, chanting, “Be safe on the road!” “Report safe when you arrive!” and so on

It was already four days and five nights later when Xu Man and his group of five arrived in Pengcheng

This special little city had just changed its name from a county to a city

It wasn’t prosperous yet, and there were quite a few outsiders who seemed to be visiting the city

After they found a guesthouse, Xu Wen couldn’t wait to go around

Dongsheng was also very excited, for children, as long as their parents were around, going anywhere was a new experience

Xu Wen actually didn’t know much about this period of history, but she also had a golden finger magic mirror that was better than nothing

When she was at home, Xu Man looked up information related to reform and opening up, especially those related to the land under her feet

This has to start from last year, last year, the rise of a piece of leadership to go abroad to study fever

The leader here refers to the kind that starts with the word “country”

A particularly admired leader, in Japan to visit the other developed industry, tasted the other people with microwave heating food

He was very emotional

Because their own country is too far behind, ninety-nine percent of the countrymen have not used this what microwave oven

Like Wei Zhuang Commune, most of the production teams do not even have electricity

At that time, we were already thinking about economic construction, but where to start?

This leader has also been to another country, a country similar to our country situation is also relatively backward

But this country has carried out investment promotion and attracted many businessmen from developed countries to build factories in their own country

The backward countries provide land as well as the relevant conditions and policies suitable for their plant

And what are the benefits to the backward countries?

First of all, these factories have to pay taxes

Thirty-five percent of their profits will go directly to the backward countries

Secondly, it increases the income of the people

When you build a factory, you have to recruit workers

With the large number of young people returning to the cities, the already saturated state-run units simply cannot accommodate so many unemployed young people

If the investment thing can be accomplished, then so the youth employment problem can be solved in part

Once again, it can also stimulate the local economy

It’s a good thing that the leaders of the country want to try it in their own country, but how and where to try it is also a question

But how and where to try is also a problem

Each country’s national conditions are different, as we have been following a large country to learn from each other’s socialist experience, but, in fact, many policies implemented in their own countries are somewhat incompatible

It was at this time that the application of a cadre in Pengcheng reached the top

Long before Pengcheng became a special administrative region, there was another lesser-known event like the butterfly that stirred up the wings of South America

This butterfly was a seaport

In this cadre’s proposal, the seaport was mainly for import and export trade Especially next door to Hong Kong

At that time, Xiangjiang was relatively developed, and the cost of hiring workers was going to be very high, just as the seaport looked at Xiangjiang’s resources, so did Xiangjiang look at the seaport’s cheap labor and other policies

The state word leadership think this can try, but the name does not work, can not be so heavy capitalist flavor can be called free trade zone, and give this cadre to the half of the island to let him try

But according to this cadre, he was not so open-minded, not so bold, did not dare to ask for half an island, as long as a small piece of land

Later, I recalled, but also some regret and regret

However, just because this harbor butterfly moved its wings, it incited a spring wind of economic reform

When Xu Man told Xu Wen and the others about this, he was having breakfast at a certain cafeteria

Both Second Uncle and Xu Wen knew that Xu Man was a university student and had no doubts about her erudition

Lu Yuanzheng knew her roots and only listened quietly, his eyes looking out the window from time to time, as if searching for the future that Xu Man had once described to him

But as far as the naked eye could see, the place was still desolate

Still dominated by fishermen, the town or county was just one big road, not a single car in sight

But there were more and more foreigners and outsiders

Like this teahouse they are in is opened by Xiangjiang people, eating without tickets, not expensive

Think of such a restaurant, there are several others, are considered to be attracting investment to attract

Dongsheng’s favorite is the milky buns and intestinal noodles

He kept shouting, “It’s so delicious!”

Xu Wen looked at Dongsheng, then looked at the plate of lovely milk buns, eyes flashed a touch of sadness

Xu Wen knew that he was thinking of Chunsheng and Sang Xiaoqing

After a while, Xu Wen looked up, his face full of determination, “I will definitely make a name for myself in this place!”

Xu Wen nodded, “Brother, I also believe you can But in the process of reform, there are always many imperfect policies These policies can help people like us start from nothing, but they also make it easy for many unscrupulous people to exploit the loopholes We are all still young, we have plenty of time to take our time, don’t do something desperate just to be greedy for money”

“I know” Xu Wen nodded, “Don’t worry For the sake of Xiaoqing and Chunsheng I won’t mess around either”

After breakfast, the few people strolled around the modest city again

In particular, they looked around a few labor recruiting factories

In the evening, they also saw some vendors who set up stalls

They all rode pedal tricycles, goods were placed on the tricycle, once they saw the wrong, riding the tricycle to run

However, the control here is much looser than in Wei Zhuang, and can almost be said to be a semi-public existence

Xu Wen looked a few more times toward the ground stall, about wondering if he could do it himself

By the next day, Xu Wen helped him rent a room in the busiest place

Second Uncle smacked his lips, “This is too expensive!”

“Expensive yes But the transportation here is convenient There are many big factories nearby, and it’s close to the docks, so it’s convenient for you to find and work”

Uncle Two stopped talking once he thought that was the case

After signing the contract with the landlord, Xu Man and the others checked out and helped Xu Wen and Second Uncle move their luggage over

Xu Man called Xu Wen to one side and pulled out a thousand dollars from his bag, handing it to him

This one thousand dollars included the money he had saved on the island, as well as the five hundred that Sang Xiaoqing had returned to them

Xu Wen quickly waved his hand, “I can’t take this money! Mother brought me a lot, I have enough to spend”

“This is not for you to spend” Xu asked, “This is considered a business partnership between me and you”

“Huh?”

“I know you don’t want to go to work, thinking that working is the same as farming, earning dead money But doing business requires capital I’ll put up the money and you’ll put up the effort, so let’s do business as a brother and sister”

Xu Wen thought for a moment, but shook his head, “I just want to set up a stall like them, I can’t use this much”

“You take it first There may be a lot of money to be made in business, but the risks are just as great Your first time doing business, there is no guarantee that the goods coming in will be liked by the buyers There’s no guarantee that you’ll sell them all without pressing your capital Trial and error requires capital”

Xu Wen still didn’t pick it up, “Does Lu Yuanzheng know about this? You can’t always take money from home It’s not good for two people to live together, and if you take money to the family three times, it’s not good if it causes conflicts again”

“Why are you so pedantic?” Xu Man rolled his eyes, “First, Lu Yuanzheng knew, I didn’t hide it from him, he agreed Second, I didn’t take money to the house three times I only helped out when you were building your house This time doesn’t count, this is a partnership between the two of us, it’s not a freebie”

Only then did Xu Wen reach out and take the money, “I’ll take the loss, and we’ll split it in half if we make a profit”

“Said the partnership business, which only earn not lose? If I make a profit, you will get seven and I will get three, after all, I only contribute money but not labor If we lose, we’ll split it in half”

Xu Wen didn’t fight with Xu Wen, just as the second uncle came back, Xu Wen collected the money first

Uncle and nephew, before because of the two aunts of the matter is not thick, harming people’s hearts can not have, but preventing people’s hearts can not be

Besides, the money is not exposed

Xu Wen secretly made up his mind, and so earned money, and Xu Wen half

The second uncle and Xu Wen settled down, Lu Yuanzheng and Xu Man should depart back to Rainbow Island

Lu Yuanzheng’s vacation is in a hurry, he has to report back to the island on time

Before leaving, Xu Man repeatedly instructed Xu Wen, “Second brother, even if you want to do business, don’t be in a hurry Find a job first, even if it’s carrying big bags at the pier If you don’t work at night, go to the stalls more often to see and listen to what is popular with the people and sells well And what time of day do the law enforcement agencies patrol the area? What are the consequences of being caught? It’s not too late for you to figure these out before you start trading”

Xu Wen rubbed the top of Xu Man’s head, “Got it! Obviously last year you were still a little girl, now you’re like our mother, nagging about this uneasy energy”

“Of course, you were brought up by me Whether you make money or not is a small matter, I have to bring you back”

Xu Wen and his second uncle, two outsiders who had just arrived in Pengcheng, took on the role of hosts and sent Xu Man and the others to the train station

Lu Yuanzheng wrote Xu Wen a phone number on his way out, “If your life is at stake, call this number and say it’s my brother, someone will keep you safe”

Xu Wen pinched the note and nodded, “Brother-in-law, thanks!”

When they were in Wei Zhuang Commune, snowflakes still drifted in the sky from time to time

All the way south, the clothes on his body decreased layer by layer, and by the time he arrived in Pengcheng, he was already wearing only a single coat

When we arrived at Rainbow Island, the sun was baking people again, so everyone changed into half sleeves

There are fewer sisters-in-law on the island, about the same as she followed her man back to his hometown on vacation has not returned

There are also a few more new-faced sisters-in-law who have come a long way to visit their relatives

Lu Yuanzheng and Xu Man did not go to the island empty-handed, and bought a lot of melon seeds and peanuts snacks, part of which Lu Yuanzheng took to the battalion headquarters to share

The rest of the part, Xu asked to stay for the guests

Lu Yuanzheng said, New Year’s family building is also popular here, “visiting relatives”, in fact, is the string of doors

Today I invite you, tomorrow you invite me

“But now that the year is over, there is still a need to invite?” Xu asked

“The New Year’s portion is skipped But you and I just came back from our hometown, we still have to invite a circle, and we will also be invited aside”

Xu asked, “”

She shook her head, “The ubiquitous relationships ah!”

Xu Man’s family of three had just gotten to the island, and the first thing they did was definitely not treating anyone

Lu Yuanzheng had to report to the battalion headquarters

Xu Man and Dongsheng, on the other hand, washed and dried the family’s bedding and clothes

In the north, everyone builds a house facing south in order to maximize the sunlight

In the south and on Rainbow Island, there is no such need, the sunlight is too abundant, and very often people build houses to avoid the sun as much as possible

Adequate sunlight does not mean no humidity

They have only been away for a month or so, and the quilts in the house are so damp that when they open the closet a musty smell comes to their nostrils

The sheets that have not been slept on for more than a month can be wrung out of water when twisted with force

Dongsheng embraced the clothes, Xu Wen embraced the bedding, all to the yard to dry on

Then the home inside and outside cleaned up once, the fence withered dry flowers are thrown away

Sweeping and mopping the floor, a busy work

By midday Xu Wen couldn’t even be bothered to cook, and had Dongsheng go to the cafeteria to beat some meals back

Lu Yuanzheng had accumulated a lot of official business and didn’t come back to eat at noon

In the middle of the afternoon, Xu Man took the sun-dried bedding back to the bedroom and redried the freshly washed clothes

This was the end of the house cleaning

Hearing Xu Man say that the cleaning was finished, Dongsheng took the gifts he had prepared for Doudou and ran out

Xu asked, “”

She smiled and shook her head, went back to the house, took out the ice that had just been made and replaced it with new water, made a new small refrigerator out of the ice that had been made, and went around the homestead with her basket

Xiao Bai was well taken care of by everyone, fat and strong

Xu Wen milked the milk and put it in the basket

The vegetables in the field were also cleaned up, no bugs or weeds

There seemed to be no work for her to do

When she left, she looked at the leafy durian tree and swallowed her saliva

She left the field and picked some more wild fruits and headed for home

On the way, she bumped into a sister-in-law wearing glasses and a low ponytail, who was in her thirties or forties She had just come from the beach, and when she saw Xu Man, she took the initiative to greet her: “You’re Xu Man’s sister-in-law, aren’t you?”

Xu Man gave an ah, “May I ask who you are?”

“My name is Song Baoying, I’m Shi Lei’s lover”

Xu Man busily wiped his hands on the hem of his coat and extended his hand, “Hello, sister-in-law! I heard Instructor Shi say you’d be coming years ago I wasn’t able to wait for you because I had to take an exam”

“I know Our old Shi always praises you After I came to the island, I heard your name everywhere I went The soldiers praise you, your sisters-in-law praise you, and even the children praise you” Song Boying softly said

Her voice was as gentle as her person

Xu Wen was a little embarrassed, “I’m grateful for everyone’s favor How did you recognize me, sister-in-law?”

“They all said that you’re the best to recognize on this island The prettiest one is you Old Shi said you guys are returning to the island today, and when I saw you from afar just now, I guessed it was you They weren’t exaggerating, you really are the best looking on the whole island” Song Baoying said with a smile

In fact, not only on the whole island, I’m afraid that among all the sisters-in-law in the whole army, Xu Man’s looks were among the best when it came to schooling

Xu Wen: “”

She didn’t expect Song Baoying to recognize herself that way, and busily said, “Which is it? As soon as I saw sister-in-law just now, I felt special We have few cultured people here, and there are very few sisters-in-law who have such a good temperament and are so knowledgeable”

Xu Wen was telling the truth, Song Baoying was also quite pretty, but she couldn’t go on praising Song Baoying for being pretty when she was praising her for being the most beautiful on the whole island, otherwise it would be a bit like cursing

Moreover, Song Bo Ying was not tall and had a small bone structure, very typical of southern people’s looks

It did carry a bookish air

“Sister-in-law is not only pretty, but she is also particularly good at talking” Song Boying covered her mouth and laughed lightly, saying out loud, “Let’s not compliment each other I stopped you because I want to invite you to our home for the evening Our old Shi always said that he was embarrassed to eat and drink at your house He has been instructing me to bring some of our hometown’s specialties for you and Lu Ying to try when I come”