My 1978 Hotel

Chapter 69: Li Feng's house was renovated and the whole village rushed to hire him

"The Seagull 4 is priced at 168 yuan now. These two are knockoffs of the 75 model, so they're probably three to four years old," Li Feng said, laying out the two cameras. "If these used cameras were sold in the future, even at % off, let alone %, I'm afraid no one would buy them."

"It's different now. Because of the industrial coupons used to buy new cameras, the prices of second-hand cameras are not much cheaper than new cameras. In some cases, they are even higher than the prices of new cameras." These are what Li Feng found in some information.

"Then how do we decide the price?"

"First, we have two extra cameras, and second, since we're in a hurry to sell them, we have to set the price low, maybe a little over a hundred, to cover the cost of the house," Li Feng said. "That way, no one will think we're speculating, after all, the goal is to profit from the high price difference."

The three of them discussed it and decided not to overthink the plot, so as to avoid any drama. They kept it casual, so Wu Shengnan wouldn't overthink it. They wouldn't underestimate the keen observation skills of a police officer.

"I told you that one camera is enough. It would be great if you could give yours to Sister Ling. That way we'd have more money."

The two of them were sitting in the yard fiddling with the camera when Wu Shengnan passed by and took a look.

"Why should mine be transferred?" Gao was unhappy.

"If we don't transfer it, what's the point of keeping it? The film we brought is almost used up."

Gao Cheng muttered. "Besides, one camera is enough. There's nothing worth taking pictures of normally."

"Okay, okay, whatever you say is fine now."

Gao was not happy. "It's my fault that I ran out of film."

"There's film for sale in the county town."

Wu Shengnan said it casually, not taking it too seriously.

"forget it."

Gao fiddled with his camera. "I don't have much money to begin with. If I buy more film, I'm afraid I won't even have enough to eat."

"Let it go first."

"I'm sorry."

Gao Cheng started mumbling again. "I told you not to listen to me, and now you're in trouble. You used to be able to spare 150 or 60 yuan in Shanghai, but I'm afraid you can't even spare 100 yuan here."

"I still can't believe it. I can't even spare a hundred dollars."

Gao snorted, and the two brothers got a little angry. "When I have time, I'll go to the county town to take a look. I still don't believe that such a good camera can't be spared for a hundred yuan."

"Why are you arguing about such a small thing? There are guests here."

Li Feng said to Wu Shengnan embarrassedly. "Wu Gongan, you've made a fool of yourself. You two are like children who never grew up. Come on, we're not going out to play in the countryside, but you're bringing two cameras to the countryside. Seriously."

"Everyone has a hobby."

Wu Shengnan simply glanced at the camera in Gao Jue's hand and said nothing else. Li Feng and Gao Jue exchanged a glance and nodded. This was enough; it was better not to overdo it. "Public Security Wu is right, but the conditions don't allow it right now. Okay, you two, stop fiddling with it and help me add fuel to the fire."

"coming."

The two of them hurriedly put away the cameras and hung them in the bedroom like treasures. Wu Shengnan took a glance and saw that the two cameras looked quite new. It was no wonder that cousin Li Feng said that the hundred yuan could definitely be shared out, as her master already had one.

That was brought by his old comrade-in-arms, who spent more than one hundred and fifty yuan on it. It was new to the two brothers before it was even taller. Even so, his master treasured it so much that he wouldn't let anyone else touch it.

"One hundred dollars isn't too expensive."

"Boss, how's it going?"

"good."

Li Feng gave Gao Ju and Gao Cheng a thumbs-up. He hadn't realized they were quite good at acting, worthy of being the gossip-busting experts. He was a little disappointed, however, that Wu Shengnan didn't seem too keen on the camera.

The camera hadn't been mentioned once all afternoon. Could it be that he already had it? Li Feng muttered. This was a bit difficult. He had already made a promise to Uncle Fuguo. "Payment, payment, hurry up and give me the money. Otherwise, I'll have no way to make ends meet."

"Really not interested?"

After watching Wu Shengnan leave Hanjiaba on her three-wheeled motorcycle, Li Feng and the other two exchanged glances. They'd been acting for so long, but the problem wasn't there to watch. This was a waste of effort. "Forget it. Let's think of another way."

"How about we go back to carpentry for a few more days?"

Carpentry work pays five dollars a day, and working for ten days or half a month will be enough.

"Wait a bit, maybe the payment will come in a couple of days."

I don't know how the communication and discussion on postpartum care for sows are going. They won't still be waiting for me, right? If so, then it will probably take two or three months to be published, and I don't know when I will get the royalties.

The system is cheating me. What's with postpartum care for sows? Why not write something literary? It's so hard to get published on agricultural technology. "Okay, forget about it. Just focus on tamping the soil."

"There's no more meat to eat."

“There’s no room for expansion on the house.”

"Forget about furniture."

Li Feng sighed. This Public Security Officer Wu was completely clueless. Don't girls all like taking pictures? In those days, when there were no cell phones, cameras were the first choice. "It's just the generation gap. I'm taking things for granted."

"Okay, I'll go and ask Uncle Fuguo if I can borrow some money first. If the brigade doesn't lend me money, Uncle Fuguo himself can lend it to me." He returned to the yard and continued to help transport loess and tamp the courtyard wall. It's different from making earth bricks, so loess that is neither dry nor wet is best.

"Ding-ling-ling." After working hard for an hour or so, Li Feng stretched.

"Whose bike is this?"

An Jun came back. Li Feng clapped his hands and looked over. It was indeed him. "An Jun, why are you back now? Is there something wrong?"

"Hey, did you buy a new bike?"

Li Feng looked at Han Anjun riding a new bicycle. It was beautiful. He thought he had come back a few days ago to discuss buying a bicycle with his family. "It's really beautiful."

"It's okay." Han Anjun was still a little proud of it. It was the first bicycle in Hanjiaba. It was not settled. An Chun even shouted that his sister-in-law came out to see it when she heard that Anjun bought a bicycle.

"So lovely."

"It's better to study, become a cadre, eat the government salary, and buy a new car."

An Chun was extremely envious. This was great. He could even marry the daughter of the deputy secretary of the commune. In the future, his children would have city hukou and eat commercial grain.

In order to move to the city, many girls married old men, lame men, blind men, and sick men, just to have a decent meal. It's really not the girls' fault. This is not about despising the poor and loving the rich, it's a matter of life and death.

Anyone who has not lived through that era will never understand the hunger and despair, a family of ten or so gathered around a pot of wild vegetable soup or a few pieces of tree bark that could light up a person, children crying out in hunger, and the powerlessness of watching their loved ones take their last breath in front of them.

No one has the right to blame or look down on those who are working hard to get into the city at this time. That is their fate.

I envy city dwellers and want to be one myself, but Han Anjun is even more enviable. Not only does he have a city hukou, he's also a commune cadre, a leader, and earns a high salary.

"Shout out to sister-in-law, Li Feng, An Dun, An Chun, you guys are busy, I'm going back first."

"Okay, you can go back."

Buying a bicycle was something worth showing off, so Li Feng couldn't just pull someone over to chat. He felt a little envious as he watched Han Anjun ride his bicycle into the dam. "I have to get a bicycle as soon as possible."

Continuing to tamp the soil, Li Feng could only envy. It was difficult to get a bicycle ticket, unless his article could be published in People's Literature. At that time, there would definitely be rewards from the region, and it would still be possible for him to get a bicycle ticket.

"uncle."

While transporting the loess, a bright voice came from outside the door. "What's up, Mingliang?"

"My grandfather is calling you to eat."

"Call me for dinner?"

Li Feng muttered to himself, "They were probably celebrating An Jun buying a bicycle, but why were they calling me?" "Okay, you go back first. I'll pack up and come over."

"We can't go empty-handed."

Li Feng found a piece of bacon and brought it back, along with some vermicelli. "Second brother, I'm going to Uncle Fuguo's house for dinner. You guys can take care of yourselves for dinner."

"Shout to sister-in-law, Anton, Anchun, it's almost done now, let's do it tomorrow."

"There's still some left. I'll go back after I finish cleaning up."

"Yeah, not much more."

"Okay, don't be too late."

Li Feng was carrying bacon and vermicelli noodles, with a handful of candy in his pocket. These were the last of the remaining White Rabbit candies. "Public Security Wu seemed to really like them. Forget it, I won't leave any for her. It's useless if she eats them."

Arriving at Han Fuguo's house, I was surprised to see quite a few people in the yard. Seeing that all the cadres from the production team had arrived, I had managed to get a seat thanks to my status as a writer. "Auntie, there's nothing here. Can you add some more dishes?"

"Bacon, good stuff."

"Fans, you're still the best kid. You have all the good stuff."

"Uncle Tomita, no, I'm just a fan."

Li Feng smiled and took out a dollar. "It's a wedding gift."

"Don't do these."

Shi Chunhua quickly declined, what a joke, how could a cadre accept gifts? Besides, buying a bicycle, although it was a big happy event, it couldn't be compared to getting married, so it was not appropriate to accept the gift money.

"Put it on quickly."

Before Shi Chunhua could finish her words, Han Fuguo came over. "What's the matter? I have some money to burn, a dollar. You're being so ruthless. Don't let me beat you up."

"Okay, okay, I'll put it away, okay?"

Li Feng thought, this is just to curry favor with you, so that I can borrow money from you later. Otherwise, I won’t bother to give you a gift. “Okay, come in and sit down.”

"An Jun, I just forgot to congratulate you."

"Thank you."

Han Anjun looked over and saw that Han Fuguo and the others had gone to the side room to talk, leaving only him and Li Feng. "Li Feng, I heard your cousin has a Seagull camera and is planning to give it away?"

"Hey, how did you know that this is the case?"

Li Feng said with a wry smile. "Look, these two guys brought two cameras when they came here. You said they can't eat or drink these things, so even if they were taking pictures, they only needed one. Now, they don't have money to buy more film."

"So how much money does your cousin plan to give?"

Li Feng was a little surprised; he hadn't expected An Jun's pockets to be quite bulging. "It's 120, but you know how expensive this camera is when it's new. But I'm in a hurry to share it, so I'll just make it 100."

"Really?"

One hundred isn't cheap, but it's not expensive either. Han Anjun's monthly salary is over forty, and with Wu Xiaofeng's forty-plus, they can buy one in less than two months. "Okay, I'll take this camera."

"An Jun, why don't you discuss this with Uncle Fuguo?"

"No need, get the money from Xiaofeng."

"That works."

Li Feng thought to himself, he never expected that Wu Shengnan would give him such a surprise. No matter whether it was Wu Shengnan or Wu Xiaofeng, as long as they paid, he didn't care who got the camera.

(End of this chapter)