Back to 1979: Sending the Educated Youth’s Wife Back to the City

Chapter 142: Progress
Chen Zhiqing looked at the main office where work was in progress, and followed Fang Mingche to sit down in the small hall in the east wing where an eight-immortal table was set up.

This small hall is actually a small space in the bedroom separated by an old screen. You can sit at the eight-immortal table to eat, or use it to entertain guests.

There was no way, this small side yard was not a formal yard to begin with, and naturally there was no formal large living room.

But it is enough for now. Nowadays, the living area of every household is not large, and many families don’t even have this. There is not enough room for the whole family, so why would they set up such a functional hall?

Even the 52-square-meter apartment in Tuanjiehu Community that Fang Mingche once wanted to buy had no living room or dining room, only two rooms, a kitchen, and a toilet.

So this small side courtyard can only be a transition. I have to buy a regular courtyard house and tidy it up so that I can live comfortably.

Chen Zhiqing said, "I've heard that among the group of educated youth who returned to Beijing, Lin Yan was the most successful. Seeing her today, it's true. I heard that this small courtyard belongs to you. But, you openly put your office in the open?"

Of course, everyone was actually mumbling behind their backs, saying that it was Fang Mingche who was doing well, and Lin Yan was just taking advantage of him. This kind of saying already existed in the countryside. They were jealous of Lin Yan, an outsider, teaching in the village primary school, which was much easier than working in the fields.

It would be fine if Lin Yan had a higher education than the other educated youth, but she was only a junior high school graduate. Among the educated youth, there were high school students and even junior high school students.

But, they are a couple! It is normal for Lin Yan to rely on her man's light.

Fang Mingche said: "Our travel agency is involved in foreign affairs, mainly entertaining foreign guests and overseas Chinese. We can go to the Bank of China to exchange some foreign currency every month. So all aspects have given the green light."

In fact, they are enjoying the treatment of foreign exchange earning enterprises in advance. In the previous life, foreign exchange earning enterprises can also keep some foreign currency for their own use, and the audit will not trace the whereabouts. If the water is too clear, there will be no fish, and the upper level will not be too strict. As long as they can exchange foreign currency on a monthly basis, it will be fine.

As he spoke, he went inside and took out two oranges, placing them on the table and motioning for Chen Zhiqing to eat them.

A Yan likes to eat this orange, so he asked Sister Cui to buy some more.

Chen Zhiqing understood immediately after hearing what he said. The foreign travel agency they were running was exactly what the country needed most at the moment! Moreover, Fang Mingche must have someone behind him if he dared to get involved in such a business.

No wonder they dared to put so many people in front of her. She only saw three people, but there were still several empty desks in the two rooms.

She said, "I'm here to send wedding invitations to Lin Yan and you."

Most of the educated youth who returned to the city had lived in the countryside for ten or eight years. Some of them are just at the end of their youth. After returning to the city, they must settle down and complete this lifelong event.

Fang Mingche also knew that the concept of single nobles was not popular these days. If you were not married, you would be regarded as a monster, and people around you would do some ideological work on you until you found a partner and got married.

Oh, even in later generations, the insulting term "leftover women" was used to refer to unmarried women.

On the contrary, what Grandpa Gu said before, "female comrades who missed their blooming period", is a somewhat elegant expression, without any derogatory meaning. The old man was probably educated as a gentleman, and he respected women quite a lot.

He said, "I heard from Ah Yan that Chen Zhiqing, you went to work in the fertilizer factory?"

"Yes, it was a job that my mother vacated for me after retiring early. When I was in the countryside, I missed out on several job openings in the city. I also took the college entrance examination twice, but failed both times. Fortunately, just when I was about to despair, there was a policy of unconditional return to the city." At the end, Chen Zhiqing showed a relieved smile on his face.

Those who were able to return to the city through recruitment in those ten years had very strong connections. As for the first two college entrance examinations, the admission rate was less than 4%, so it was normal not to pass. At that time, I was in the countryside, and I was getting older, and I really felt powerless. Fortunately, I came back!
Fang Mingche felt a little sad when thinking about her experience. From 18 to 28 years old, it is the best time of life!
"Why is there a saying that goes 'When you are at the end of your rope, there is always a way out'? The hardship is over, and we should just live a good life from now on. So which unit does your wife work for? Come on, have some oranges, don't be shy."

Chen Zhiqing was naturally surprised to see the bright oranges at this time of year. Seeing his sincerity in greeting him, he said, "Cut it up and eat it. Lin Yan hasn't come back from school yet, so where's Yan Yan?"

She certainly couldn't say to cut it up and share it with Fang Mingche. Since Lin Yan wasn't around, she could only ask Yanyan to share it.

"She's playing in the alley, I can't call her back. Don't worry about her, just eat. Really, you're welcome!"

Chen Zhiqing then picked it up and peeled it. The skin was quite easy to peel.

"My wife works at the meat processing plant. She is also an educated youth who returned to the city to take over the business. We were classmates for four years in high school. We met by chance at the social gathering arranged by our company last time."

These educated youth who returned to the city not only had difficulty finding jobs, but also had problems with marriage. Many factory trade unions and women's federations organized workers to participate in social gatherings at several factories, so that they could meet people of the same age through multiple channels.

Both of them have formal jobs, which can be considered a good match. Well, such social gatherings would not invite people without formal jobs to attend. So before, unemployed vagrants like Hu Yong could not find a partner.

Fang Mingche smiled, "Then this marriage thread is still a little long in the tooth. When is it?"

"Sunday, February 2rd." Chen Zhiqing peeled a slice of orange and fed it into his mouth.

Fang Mingche nodded, "We will definitely be there."

When he and A Yan got married, Chen Zhiqing and others also sent gifts.

Chen Zhiqing sat and chatted with Fang Mingche for a while. After finishing an orange, Lin Yan had not returned yet. So he stood up and said, "Okay, I'll leave the invitation for you. I'll leave first."

Fang Mingche said, "You will be a bride in more than half a month, and I guess you will be very busy. I won't keep you any longer." He said as he sent Chen Zhiqing out.

"Stay, stay, no need to see me off."

When Lin Yan came back later, she learned that Chen Zhiqing had sent a wedding invitation, and Fang Mingche even treated her to an orange. He couldn't help but ask, "You have a good impression of her, right?"

Fang Mingche nodded. "Yes, I respect her a lot. There were people in the village who wanted to marry her, but she was always very determined."

Chen Zhiqing was good-looking, down-to-earth, steady and honest. The villagers actually had a good impression of her. Even among the male Zhiqing, there were a few who liked her.

But she was determined to return to the city, and her attitude was very clear. It had been the same for ten years, and she hadn't changed. I don't know if she had ever wavered. Anyway, until she left last January, she had never accepted anyone's confession.

Lin Yan nodded, "She is indeed a very determined person. Fortunately, the hardships are over now, and everyone is gradually getting back on track."

Fang Mingche nodded. Workers had a pretty good life in the 1980s.

He remembered that in his previous life, Chen Zhiqing wrote a letter to Lin Yan after returning to the city. The couple was allocated a house by the company, and later the property rights belonged to them. After being laid off, the two of them relied on the snack business to support their son to go to a good university.

The two of them agreed to go together when the time comes.

Lin Yan said: "I will definitely meet a lot of old friends by then." She was still a little excited, after all, they were 'comrades-in-arms' who had gone through a special period together.

At this moment in Dazhalan, several craftsmen surrounded Song Quan at the stall of the handicraft cooperative.

"Song Tou'er, you have a good relationship with Teacher Fang. Go talk to him and ask their travel agency to bring foreign tourists to our place."

Song Quan almost sneered. Why?
"Xiao Fang did a great job for our cooperative by setting up a stall in Tiananmen Square. He also helped us raise prices and communicate with foreigners. But after Wang Dexian left, how did we treat him? He even wanted to take over his tea stall in early May. I don't have the face to do that."

"That was Xiao Xu and his gang, right? They were also punished. And we allowed him to keep the tea stall until the end of August."

Song Quan said: "Xiao Fang is not a comrade of our cooperative, so we cannot take it for granted that he should consider the overall situation and act in the interests of the collective. Yes, at that time only Xiao Xu and a few others were quite aggressive, but who among us stood up and spoke for Xiao Fang?"

"You." The person who spoke was also a little embarrassed.

At that time, except for the person who jumped the most and Song Quan, everyone else remained silent. They all thought that if someone stepped forward and grabbed the benefits, I would have a share. Even if it didn't work out, I wouldn't lose much. Moreover, when others were fighting for power, most people still wanted to protect themselves and didn't want to get involved.

At that time, no one expected that Wang Dexian would directly change the candidate recommended for succession, promoting Song Quan and suppressing Xiao Xu. At that time, everyone thought Fang Mingche was weak and could be bullied, so they selectively forgot the benefits he had brought to everyone.

It just so happened that the square was being reorganized and was about to move to Dazhalan. Rumors had spread. As an individual business owner, he had to rely on the cooperative to continue to run a tea stall. Who would have thought that now they would ask for it to be under his name?
Since we moved out of Tiananmen Square, our business has been much worse. We still have to pay rent here. This has caused everyone to lose a lot of money. If it weren't for the tea stalls, it would be even worse.

I heard that the restaurants near the travel agency have benefited from this, and foreigners often go there to eat. Now it has even become famous, and people from far away places come here specifically to see it.

Someone in the cooperative thought, why not let the tour guides bring people here to visit. They are likely to buy things after seeing them. I heard that they receive several groups of foreign guests a week. This can be developed into a stable sales channel.

So during this period of time, someone has been talking about this matter to Song Quan.

Song Quan didn't want to go. Fang Mingche had said before that he didn't want to cooperate with the cooperative anymore. Moreover, the last time they cooperated, they could help him attract traffic and give him a few square meters to set up a car stall. What could they give him now? According to what these people said, it would be best to let the travel agency do this for nothing.

But as far as he knew, Mr. Cui had lent 5000 yuan to the travel agency and charged a 2% interest reduction. He also heard that there was a commission for the meals he took foreigners with him.

Besides, Boss Cui usually cooks for the travel agency, which shows how much he cares about it. To put it bluntly, when he cooks a dish of meat for the travel agency, he gives more meat than he does for others. Boss Cui cooks personally.

These people just want to ask for help with good words, without asking for any bribes or anything like that. Why should they help?
He didn't want to mention the bribe, so as to avoid being accused of colluding with Xiao Fang later.

Xiao Fang made so much money that the tea stall was owned by the cooperative. As a reduction in tuition fees for English learning, the three-month rent of 90 yuan was actually waived, but some people still complained about it later. With so many people, it was really hard to reach a consensus!

Song Quan didn't want to care about this at all. Even if they sold more things, they wouldn't be grateful to him. He wouldn't make any more money because of this.

But, he is the one who is in charge of this mess after all. Everyone is talking about it, and has been talking about it for a while, so he can't help but respond. Otherwise, it would go against public opinion, and if he can't make more money in the future, it will be his responsibility.

"Okay, I'll go ask, but I can't guarantee success. Xiao Wu, come with me after work, so you can be a witness. But, is this really just ordering people around for nothing?"

Someone whispered, "By selling our products, we can also earn foreign exchange for the country."

Song Quan sneered, "Xiao Fang is not a member of our group, so why should he help us? I won't go too far. This tea stall is owned by the group, so everyone should pay attention to it. But ask yourself, many people are indifferent to it. There are only a few people working in the logistics department, but everyone gets a share when the money is divided. How can people who work like this be motivated? If our own people are like this, do you want the travel agency to bring tourists to the cooperative for free? Will the tour guides be motivated?"

Someone said, "Song Tou'er is right. Teacher Fang is not from our cooperative! The King of Hell will not send hungry soldiers."

Song Quan looked at the person who was talking. This person used to be one of the silent majority, the type that could not speak. However, he has made progress!
Someone took the lead in saying this, and the majority who had been silent before nodded, saying that some benefits should indeed be given.

They hesitated for a moment, "Then, then Mr. Song, how much do you want to give?"

Someone nearby muttered, "We even waived his rent for three months."

Song Quan heard this and shook his head, saying, "In this matter, the minority obeys the majority. I only have one vote."

Finally, everyone discussed it and said, "How about giving him a 5% commission? If we can't agree, we can raise it a little bit."

Song Quan insisted on asking, "How much is the increase?"

He does not have the prestige of Wang Dexian. He was pushed to the position by Wang Dexian and Fang Mingche.

For several months, these people only wanted him to serve, but they didn't really trust him. He became a little disappointed and too lazy to bother. No matter how well he worked, he wouldn't get paid more.

"At most, maybe 10%. We have to eat too."

So after get off work, Song Quan brought Xiao Wu, who had made the suggestion, back to the compound and asked Xiao Wu to be a witness.

When I got back, I heard that the courtyard was quite lively, with many people talking and laughing in the courtyard. I looked again and saw Xiao Fang and his daughter were there, also in high spirits.

Song Quan asked Hu Yong, who was smiling happily beside him, "What's going on?"

Hu Yong said, "Aunt Yuan went to the street office for a meeting, and our compound was selected as the model compound for 1979. Look, everyone is passing around the certificate."

Before, they were a little unsure about doing business. Could it be that they were engaged in speculation, and the slum was not eligible to participate in the selection?

Now, they are role models! The award also said that their compound is a model of self-employment and a happy life. Oh, it also mentioned that there were three college students in the compound. This ratio is quite high! However, it did not mention that Teacher Fang and his team earned foreign exchange for the country.

Hu Yong thought about it and realized that the government explicitly supported the return of educated youth to the city to set up stalls. Not to mention going to college, it was absolutely the right way!

Although opening a travel agency can also solve many employment problems and generate foreign exchange, Teacher Fang has hired people!
Even if the three of them were considered as working students, there were still more than ten people. So for now, let's not talk about this matter.

However, Mr. Gao gave another explanation, "The travel agency officially opened in December. The commendation should be given next year."

"Well, then we will also be models next year!"

The model compound was established, and the people who set up stalls and traded goods were relieved. Didn't you see Zhu Dahai smiling happily? To be honest, since he started his own business, I haven't seen him so happy for a long time.

The neighbor who rented the tricycle to him a few days ago also wanted to raise the rent, saying that Zhu Dahai earned so much money, but only gave him five yuan a month, which was too little.

Zhu Dahai said that how much I earn is my business, and your car rental has always been this much. How much did you buy it for? Isn't 60 a year's rental enough?
After a while of arguing, Zhu Dahai asked Boss Cui to get a ticket and bought a tricycle. This immediately proved that he had made a lot of money. Some people even jokingly asked him if he could afford to buy a house soon.

Zhu Dahai said he couldn't afford it! I heard that he was drunk and told people that if he had known Liu Qingfeng could earn more than 100 yuan a month, he would have stayed at the scrap yard. Liu Qingfeng is very worry-free. He doesn't have to worry about vegetables not selling well, he doesn't have to deal with so many people, and he doesn't have to get up so early to transport vegetables.
No one knows whether Liu Qingfeng has made hundreds of dollars. But it is true that the Liu and Geng families now eat meat regularly, and the family members are dressed better. On the contrary, Zhu Dahai, a small boss, dares not spend much money he earns, for fear that he will not be able to pay if something unexpected happens.

However, the purchase of the tricycle also proved that his worries were justified. If he had not saved up money, would he have been able to buy the tricycle just like that?

Well, Hu Yong and his family also eat meat from time to time, and buy a lot of good things for their partners.

As for Fang Mingche's family, they were even more enviable. They bought a small side courtyard. Only the fact that they were heavily in debt made everyone feel a little more balanced.

But it will surely take a few years for them to pay off all the debts owed to travel agencies and individuals. Otherwise, how dare they owe so much?

Thinking of this, those people who don’t do business in the slum can’t help but feel a little jealous.

However, the award of the model compound is not without benefits for those who do not run a business. In the past few years, people in the model compound were able to take on some profitable manual work from the street office to supplement their family income.

Nowadays, many people are doing business, so it is not so rare. But in the past few years, these jobs were rare. Now, those who do business should not come out to compete with them for these benefits.

In general, everyone can get practical benefits from this honor, so the whole compound is very happy.

Aunt Yuan was naturally the happiest. The leader of the subdistrict office said that their slums were quiet last year and most of the young people were living and working in peace and contentment.

At that time, Aunt Yuan felt a little guilty. Xiao Fang's family was almost robbed, but he gave her face and didn't make it public. It can be said that family disgrace should not be made public!

Well, Xiao Gao also encountered trouble. But the school came out to clear up the matter for him afterwards.

There was also Zhu Dahai, whose uncle and cousin came to his house and demanded a share of the profits. Fortunately, the quarrel did not get out of hand.

Overall, the compound was doing pretty well last year. Several returned educated youths have settled down and are now living happily, thanks to the leadership of Xiao Fang and his wife.

Other shanty towns have had some bad situations to some extent. Well, it’s all thanks to the other shanty towns that they serve as a foil!
Song Quan listened to everyone's excitement for a while, and saw Fang Mingche leading his daughter back to the small side yard. He quickly called him, "Xiao Fang, are you busy? I have something to discuss with you."

Fang Mingche looked at him and Xiao Wu beside him, "Then come with me."

Yanyan walked ahead with her short legs, and Fang Mingche matched her pace. Song Quan and the others had no choice but to slow down and follow, as they needed help. Fang Mingche had a rough idea in his mind. When they arrived at the eight-immortal table in the east wing of the small courtyard, he picked up the teapot and poured tea for the two of them, "Sit down, and tell me what you want."

He and the cooperative had a relationship. After all, the cooperative brought him business at the beginning, although they got more benefits. Later, they allocated a car stall to him. Although it was only for three months, he got his very profitable stall for free. But that was because there is no such thing as a transfer fee for a popular shop nowadays.

Therefore, if they come to cooperate with him again, as long as the benefits are enough, it is not impossible to negotiate. Business is business! He has already put aside other things. Let's just talk about benefits, after all, the friendship has long been worn out.

Seeing that he was still easy to talk to, Xiao Wu gave Song Quan a look. There's hope!

Song Quan said: "Xiao Fang, it's like this"

He told the story in a babble. Fang Mingche picked up the tea in front of him and blew on it without saying anything.

Song Quan looked at Xiao Wu and said, "What we mean is that if we make a deal, we'll give you a 5% commission."

Fang Mingche remained silent and took a sip of tea. 5%? In later generations, when taking tourists to buy things, the commission is 30%! Moreover, he was leading a group of foreign guests and overseas Chinese. If these people were satisfied, they would give tips.

Boss Cui has received it several times. He showed it off to himself, and they gave it to him in US dollars!

Looking at Lao Song's expression, we know that he doesn't want to come here because he knows that this money can't move him. However, he can't arbitrarily increase it to 30%.

Many craftsmen would definitely be confused. Why should they be given so much?

These people don't think about it. On the first day of setting up the stall, they doubled the price for them. It is not impossible to increase the price for them first and then let the foreign tourists pay for it.

Alas, there are still too few smart people like Wang Dexian! Most of these people can only see the immediate benefits.

Fang Mingche drank the tea and put the cup down.

"It's not like foreign tourists can just go wherever I tell them to go."

Seeing that Song Quan didn't say anything, Xiao Wu couldn't help but said, "Didn't you take it to Boss Cui's place?"

Fang Mingche nodded, "Yes. But that's because they ate at a century-old restaurant for a few days and wanted to try home-cooked food. The tour guide just went along with it! If they don't want to go, we dare not make the decision. If the travel agency manipulates tourists at will, it goes against the original intention of the service. If it makes people disgusted, it will affect our business."

Lao Cui also offered to give a 20% commission on the meal fee, but he was only willing to pay in RMB. After receiving the foreign currency, he would pay the travel agency according to the exchange rate of the Bank of China. Of course, he charged foreign tourists and overseas Chinese times the usual meal fee.

Since Old Song brought people here and acted as if he was doing business, Fang Mingche didn't tell the truth and just played Tai Chi. In the end, after much persuasion and even a 10% commission increase, he still didn't agree.

"Gentlemen, I really can't help you. I have to take care of the travel agency's business first."

Xiao Wu said anxiously, "You're saying this without even trying."

The smile on Fang Mingche's face disappeared. "Why should I use my own business to test it for you? You can't bear the responsibility for affecting my business? Would you like some more tea, guys?"

He was just serving tea to see the guests off.

Song Quan said, "No need." He stood up and left with Xiao Wu.

As they walked away, Xiao Wu muttered, "We've already given him 10%, and he's still not satisfied! We have to eat, too."

After a pause, he continued, "Maybe he still holds a grudge against Xiao Xu. It's all Xiao Xu's fault—"

Song Quan sent Xiao Wu away at the gate of the compound. After he left, he turned around and went into the small side yard. When he entered, he saw that his teacup was still there, but Xiao Wu's had been put away.

He said, "My personality may not be suitable for being a leader. When Wang Dexian was around, he was quite good at controlling people."

"That's because his stepfather is powerful and has a wide network of contacts. Wang Dexian can get benefits for others."

However, as a craftsman, Lao Song's management skills are indeed inferior to Lao Wang's.

It seems that cooperatives have gradually withdrawn from the historical stage since 1983. The handicraft cooperatives were later merged into relevant government agencies. So it might be more appropriate for Lao Song to be a simple craftsman. Let the administrative affairs be managed by professionals.

Fang Mingche poured another cup of tea and said, "People like you are more suitable to be managed by administrative staff like Wang Dexian."

Song Quan said: "Wang Dexian obviously didn't have the opportunity to display his talents in the past few years. His vision and perspective are not possessed by ordinary administrative cadres."

He has now come into contact with some administrative cadres and really feels that their level is much lower than that of Wang Dexian.

However, "Wang Dexian also made a mistake. He was fooled by the fawning Xiao Xu."

Wang Dexian just stepped in and heard this, saying directly: "Why are you two saying bad things about me here? I just misjudged a villain. How can anyone be so sure of everyone?"

Xiao Xu is so nice in front of him!
Fang Mingche saw Wang Dexian still holding two bottles of military-supplied Maotai, so he quickly stood up and took them. "Tell the truth, it's not like I'm saying anything bad about you."

Song Quan also stood up, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Wang Dexian was the one who promoted him, but he let him hear him talking about his shortcomings.

Wang Dexian sat down and asked, "Why are you talking about me?"

Song Quan followed and sat down. "Those craftsmen want tour guides to bring tourists to our stalls to generate income. Let me talk to Xiao Fang. He said that the starting price is 5% commission, and the maximum he can give is 10%."

Wang Dexian frowned, "This number is a little low, the cooperative's products are not expensive. Besides, if you go back and tell them, they can't raise the price much."

This amount of money is really not worth taking tourists on a special trip.

Song Quan said: "Comrade Wang, I took over your position. Everyone compares me with you. They all say I am far worse than you!"

Fang Mingche also poured a cup of tea for Wang Dexian, and he blew on it. He thought: I was originally trapped in a shallow stall. How can you compare with me?
However, Old Song could see the potential of intellectuals like Xiao Fang and respected him more. This was at least much better than the man surnamed Xu.

He said: "The people in the cooperative will not be willing to sell their meat unless they are almost penniless. Besides, we can do the same business with other craftsmen who are willing to pay."

There must be more than one such handicraft organization in the capital. The cooperative simply set up stalls in Tiananmen Square because it was close to the water. Then, during the rectification, it found a place in Dashilar.

He was certainly highly praised for this, but other brother units were very dissatisfied and indignant about it.

However, it is actually quite smart for those craftsmen to think of hiring a tour guide to take tourists there. But they are just reluctant to pay for it!
Moreover, the unwise point is that they can just raise the price first and then sell it, and let the tourists pay the 30% commission directly.

Song Quan also thought of this when he heard Wang Dexian, and sighed. He didn't expect it! He only thought that if he insisted on giving more commission, someone would definitely complain about it.

Wang Dexian said: "Old Song, from now on, don't seek to achieve anything good, just avoid making mistakes."

The views of that group of people are still stuck in the past few years, and they can't be led! Nowadays, it is still the self-employed who have small boats and are easy to turn around. Look how sensible Boss Cui is!
He turned to Fang Mingche and said, "I came to ask about your plans for the New Year."

Song Quan stood up and said goodbye, "I have to go home, otherwise my wife will come to see me again."

Fang Mingche stood up and walked him out. "Old Song, you've been very kind to me. If you have any personal problems, I'm sure I'll be happy to help you. But the cooperative's affairs involve economic interests, so we can't just talk about personal feelings."

Song Quan nodded. Of course he was happy to use his personal feelings for his own benefit. If he used it for the cooperative, those people wouldn't think anything good of him.

Fang Mingche sent the people away and came in and said, "Foreigners celebrate the New Year just like Christmas. So during our Spring Festival, they live a normal life and naturally they may come out to travel. It is unreasonable to refuse to accept tour groups on this basis. However, work one day during the New Year and take two days off later. Those who are willing to work during the New Year will get extra points when they are promoted and get a raise."

Again, there is no rule of giving three salaries in China now, and they can't break the rule. It's only 1979, so they can't take too big a step.

Wang Dexian said: "What if some people still don't want to work? What should we do if we are short of manpower? We can't force them not to go home for the New Year."

Fang Mingche said, "For the one-day tour team, one of my classmates has prepared to spend the New Year in the dormitory, and asked his family to issue a letter of introduction to come to Beijing for a reunion. So we have a tour guide for the one-day tour. As for the driver, can you find someone to take over temporarily?"

Wang Dexian thought for a moment and said, "If you don't require English."

"I know English, but it's just for emergencies. As for the five-day tour team, I've already communicated with them. Sister Qiu and Xiao Shen can continue to work. Xiao Hu and Ning Anan want to go back to their hometown. If that doesn't work out, I can be the tour guide and you can be the driver for a few days?"

Wang Dexian thought about it and decided that it would be better for him to come to the travel agency to take over the work instead of going to his grandfather's house to enjoy the good times during his vacation. This way, his grandfather would have a deeper impression of him running a foreign travel agency.

He nodded, "Okay! Since you're not going home for the New Year, I can certainly spare a few days. But your family must really want you to go back for the New Year, right? You must be the pride of your family and even the whole village."

"I have communicated with my father, and they will follow my cousin to the capital after the New Year. The pride of the whole village, when I resigned, the whole village thought I was crazy."

Wang Dexian said: "Dragons don't associate with snakes, so we won't bother with them. Well, that's fine."

Hearing Fang Mingche say that the whole village thought he was mentally ill for quitting his job as a village primary school teacher and going to Beijing, he couldn't help but grin.

When he was in the cooperative, he sometimes felt that everyone was drunk but he was the only one sober. Some people are really impossible to communicate with!
Fang Mingche said, "I knew you would be coming over soon. So I simply didn't call you and waited until you came over to talk to me."

It was very convenient for Wang Dexian to call the travel agency. He had a phone at his workplace and his grandfather also had a phone at home.

If he didn't call, he must be coming. After all, he would have his final exams in ten days. He must be here to ask about the arrangements during the Chinese New Year.

Wang Dexian nodded, "Since you are not going home for the New Year, we will host a banquet for relatives and friends on the fifth day of the New Year. You can come too."

Fang Mingche was a little surprised. This was the Wang family's New Year banquet. The fact that Mr. Wang thought of asking Wang Dexian to greet him like this showed that he recognized himself and the travel agency very much.

"Okay, I'll definitely be there."

"If I don't have time to pick you up, just tell the guard your name at the door. But I'll do my best to pick you up or go with you."

"Ok."

Wang Dexian went to Boss Cui's house for dinner with the Fang family and the travel agency staff. He definitely had a share of this working meal.

When Boss Cui saw Wang Dexian, he smiled and said, "Comrade Wang, I'll make you a dish of shredded pork with Beijing sauce."

"Okay."

Lin Yan has been in school for almost six months now. She is still in school and it is a bit difficult. Fortunately, the final exam is coming soon.

But the due date is in May, and she has no way of making it through the second half of the next semester. Now it depends on whether she can make it through the first half of the semester when school starts.

Fang Mingche suggested that he should just take a year off after the final exams. Next year, when the child is weaned and his body is almost recovered, he can go back to school for the second semester of his sophomore year.

They just took advantage of the time difference. The new marriage law, which will be issued in September this year, will prohibit college students from getting married. The legal age of marriage will also be 9 for women and 20 for men. If you get pregnant during college, you will be expelled even if you are married.

In the last life, in 1980, which was the year when the census began, the total population had reached one billion! The total population had reached a point where it had to be controlled. The "New Marriage Law" was introduced for this purpose.

Wang Dexian looked at Lin Yan and mocked Fang Mingche, "Xiao Fang, you are such a jerk. You made Xiao Lin go to school with a big belly. How hard it must be!"

Fang Mingche looked at him. You still can't get any woman pregnant legally, isn't that unbalanced?
Seeing his contemptuous and teasing look, Wang Dexian slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you that I'm getting married on March 3rd."

Lin Yan smiled and said, "You chose the Shangsi Festival to get married. How romantic. Is your partner also studying Chinese?"

"A medical family."

Fang Mingche raised his eyebrows. Is it that simple?
Wang Dexian smiled and said, "Her grandparents worked in the battlefield hospital in Yan'an and just retired from 301. She also went to the front line as a military doctor in February and joined 2 after she came back."

That makes sense! With such a family background, it is not in vain that Lao Wang waited until the age of 26 to get married. I guess the girl herself is also quite outstanding.

Wang Dexian was talking a lot at this moment, and he seemed a little excited. "I will bring it to my mother before the New Year. Then I will bring her to the travel agency to have a look."

Fang Mingche said: "Welcome, welcome, warmly welcome. No, you already have a partner, how can you come to pick me up that day?"

"It means that I value love over friendship!"

Next, the final exams will be held in major universities.

Fang Mingche was worried that Lin Yan couldn't hold on, so he told her to report to the invigilator immediately if anything went wrong. Even if she had to give up the exam!

Lin Yan said: "During the college entrance examination last year, there was a woman in our examination room who was older than I am now. She took five subjects at once."

Fang Mingche exhaled. Yes, people of this generation are all educated by iron girls.

The university exams are different from those in middle school. They are not concentrated in a few days. They are all one day, one to three days off, and then the next exam. There is no other way. Normally, everyone takes turns to use the classroom for classes. For this exam, you also have to take turns to use the classroom for the exam.

Therefore, Lin Yan felt that it was difficult to take the college entrance examinations consecutively.

Fang Mingche and Lin Yan's exams didn't overlap. But he usually had to multitask, so now he needed to cram. He could only ask Master He to pay more attention when picking him up.

As for Mr. Gao, he and Lin Yan are not in the same department. The final exams rarely overlap. Sometimes Lin Yan has an exam and he doesn't have one. Sometimes he has an exam and Lin Yan doesn't have one.

So, after two months of hitchhiking, he could only ride a bicycle to and from work. Fortunately, Xiao Xie knitted him a complete set of scarves, gloves, etc.

Well, after his income increased, he had been paying back Fang Mingche and Lin Yan the 240 yuan in installments. He paid back 120 yuan last month! After he paid it back, he gave Lin Yan a new IOU and tore up the previous one.

Lin's mother still followed Lin Yan to school, and she also sat in the cafeteria waiting for the exam. She also used Lin Yan's food coupons to buy some soy milk and buns to eat.

As for Yanyan, the Yuhong class had its holidays earlier than the university, so she had already gone on vacation.

But Lin Yan's belly was so big that her mother was worried about her going to school alone. So Lin Yan went to take the exam, and Yan Yan stayed in the travel agency office with Lingzi and others.

However, the TV was still not allowed to be turned on during the day. She could only sit there and listen to the radio or read picture magazines. And she had to listen to the radio at a low volume.

Lingzi didn't dare to let her stay alone in the east wing. She had to be loyal to the person who entrusted her with the task. What if she ran away and something happened?
But Yanyan thought this was not fun.

(End of this chapter)