My Lord, you need to stand up!

Chapter 25 My last name is Rang, which means "to accept"
In fact, at this time, you can see how cost-effective it is to rent a house.

Eating a hotpot meal outside for ten yuan is already a luxury. If you have a house and cook for yourself, it will be cheaper.

The room in the military station guesthouse behind the hot pot restaurant costs only five yuan.

Originally, it would be enough for Weidong and Goudan to live in one room in Shanghai. Anyway, he would never live in a large room that accommodates more than ten or twenty people.

I vaguely remember that there were several thieves in guesthouses in the 1980s. They killed people living in the same room in the middle of the night and stole their money.

So now the girls have to open another room to avoid attracting the police to arrest them at night.

While waiting in line to register at the hospital, the older kid mentioned that their eldest sister ran a black dance hall where sleeping in large groups of people was punishable by death!

So the ten yuan I spent on accommodation is almost enough to cover one month's rent there.

If Weidong had not decided to develop in the factory area on the south bank of the Yangtze River, he would have returned to renew the lease of the small room next to the hospital long ago.

Just experience life now.

Erfeng had no intention of taking her man to sleep with her at all. Everyone was still very conservative.

She tossed and turned in the room all night in excitement. Even though this was just a guesthouse at the military material transfer station in the city center, she was already amazed that there was such a clean bed.

Compared with the dim life in the adobe house in the countryside, I truly understand what the phrase "worlds of difference" means.

Anyway, for her, this is already a heavenly feeling.

The next morning, Weidong was not in a hurry to take the ferry.

Instead, he went to the somewhat modern post and telecommunications hall in the city center and made a long-distance call to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Nonferrous Metals Factory to inquire and discuss the matter.

Whether it can handle a ton of titanium ingots and how to deliver the goods by water.

In fact, this private factory adds pure titanium to some special components to ensure that pipes, joints, etc. are more durable under extreme conditions.

It can be used in satellites and spacecraft, as well as various petrochemical pipes, pumps and containers.

So this pure titanium is like Viagra. Adding a little bit to ordinary materials can make them much harder, and the price will skyrocket.

Pure titanium is indeed in short supply in the market now. Small private factories like these have no chance to get imported titanium smelted from rutile, and the little quota they have has been divided up in Shanghai.

So when I heard there was a ton of pure titanium, I agreed without hesitation with surprise.

When I heard that the goods would be delivered by water this time, I proposed a new plan, which was to deliver the goods directly to Shanghai.

Because after getting pure titanium, they still have to go to the professional workshop at Shanghai Iron and Steel Plant to smelt titanium alloy.

Small factories cannot perform these high-end steps and can only cut titanium alloy plates bit by bit to manufacture components.

When the departure time is agreed upon, they will send people to the Shanghai Port to wait for the goods.

Weidong suppressed his excitement and hung up the phone.

He spent half a year accumulating money bit by bit to become a millionaire, and then suddenly there were several millionaires.

It’s still more useful to follow the masters.

Even though the master is a bit flashy and stubborn, he still proves that only by relying on others can you get on the platform.

The bacon can only guarantee the lower limit, the upper limit must follow the master.

Two country bumpkins came out and sat at the door of the post office, watching intently.

This is the most bustling and prosperous area in the entire city center. Since morning, there has been a constant stream of people of all kinds, appearing in department stores, foreign-related shopping malls, theaters, and there are also endless performance groups and children's activities.

There were even some rare traffic jams.

Weidong was indifferent. The county town thirty years later would be more lively than this, and the buildings would be taller and more beautiful. Let's go.

After being taken to a well-known old snack shop to eat rice dumplings and braised pork dumplings, Erfeng could now tell that the taste and ingredients were much better than those in the snack shops on both sides of the riverside steps yesterday.

When Weidong came out in a swagger, he pointed to the sign next to him. This was the place frequented by dignitaries since the Republic of China.

This city served as a temporary capital and was a gathering place for celebrities from all over the country.

Erfeng must have wanted to take a photo next to the sign, but she didn't know how to express her excitement.

But when they passed by the photo studio, they still asked for money: "Just take a couple of pictures. Goudan said you took pictures in other places too!"

Goudan, who felt cautious and not full, nodded quickly.

They didn't realize that the photo studio next to this famous snack from the Republic of China must also be a time-honored brand that became famous during the Republic of China.

The receptionist at the door was inevitably arrogant, looking down on the country bumpkin's ignorance: "We specialize in artistic portraits, and we are also the designated photo spot for standard portraits for people going abroad. This is not an ordinary photo studio where you can just take a few photos."

It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned this, as it made Weidong's eyes light up: "I'll take this photo, a standard photo for people going abroad!"

He even resorted to his cigarette-scattering technique to inquire, "What are the procedures for going abroad?"

Really, at this moment, his forty years of past life experience were useless.

As for this disabled old security guard who has never left Shangzhou, he only knows that after the new century, there was a sudden wave of going abroad in the compound, and almost all the retired old men and women went to Southeast Asia, and even Japan, Europe and the United States in groups.

He just watched quietly, feeling a little envious but also knowing that that was not his destiny.

Anyway, he had no idea how difficult it was to leave the country at this time, and everything was in preparation for changing planes.

Aren’t retired cadres supposed to apply for passports and visas first? Some people didn’t have time to do so and missed the opportunity to travel with their old friends. They were so regretful that they came to the guard room every day to ask about the express delivery.

That's all the details he knows.

So I have to do it first so that I can stand up when needed.

Finally, I hit a wall. The arrogant receptionist at the photo studio, full of superiority, said, "This year, only sixteen people have taken photos with us and then processed the procedures for going abroad. You need organizational approval for an overseas mission to be eligible to take photos. What's your rank? Are you a professor or scholar, or a national team athlete?"

He even blocked the cigarette with his hand: "No smoking in the photo gallery." This made Weidong more accustomed to it and put it away, saving it.

Now he was a little shameless, and he kept asking: "I don't smoke either. I just want to know, if I want to go abroad for business, how do I get a passport and a visa?"

The other party must have had the same strange feeling as the previous doctor. This young man, dressed in ordinary clothes, spoke with a politeness and calmness that was rare in this era.

He said he didn't understand, but he could clearly say that a passport and visa were needed. Just these two relationships alone, 99% of people born in the 1980s didn't know what they meant.

He turned around and instructed his companions: "You two take a single portrait first, something nice, with some flowers and plants, and then finally the three of us take a group photo, and I will take this standard photo."

After giving him enough performance, he smiled and turned back to continue, "How much money will you give us to issue the invoice for payment? We may need to do business in Russia... Eastern Europe and Su Lian. We want to sell Jiangzhou Shudu's specialties there, so we want to find out how to go abroad, at least to be prepared..."

Finally, he gave a thumbs-up and added a smug, slightly spit-filled sentence: "Spicy shredded chicken!"

Russian is indeed a common joke nowadays.

This is to praise the high-end quality of the photo studio.

The other party, who had seen many people, put away his attitude and smiled.

While arranging the invoices at the counter, he thought carefully: "I definitely have to go to the police station to handle it, but whether it's a government-sponsored study tour or a business exchange, the quotas are extremely rare. If you have a foreign guest invitation, it should be much easier. The situation you described... seems to be related to the foreign trade department. In this case, it should be much easier with a foreign invitation. It's too difficult to get a government-sponsored study tour unless you have relatives overseas."

This sentence alone made Weidong feel that the ticket was worth it.

In this era where the key to making money is information gap, he is now very confident that he can make use of this information gap.

Every link can serve the business.

Finally, we changed the aircraft.

I quickly smiled and thanked him: "Can you give me your business card? If there is any important photography work, I can pay you to do it, such as shooting some products or some company projects."

Now everyone is convinced that this young man can accomplish things.

Because I know clearly what I am doing.

I can use these things as tools at will.

I couldn't help but ask when I handed over my business card: "Do you have a business card?"

Perhaps in his perception, such an outstanding lower-class appearance with extraordinary temperament can only appear in families with overseas connections.

This kind of situation is more common in Shanghai, but it is still amazing in Jiangzhou.

In fact, Jean Weidong was unconsciously revealing his social confidence forty years later.

Smiling, he wiped off his fashionable green military uniform and took it with both hands: "I'm still a nobody and I'm actively learning. Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhang. My last name is Rang, which means "accepting."

Anyway, after a long time, Manager Zhang still remembered the young man with this special surname.

There is neither the repressed restlessness common among intellectuals of this era, nor the ignorant excitement of the proletariat; it is simply very optimistic, positive and enthusiastic.

Although it was said to be a concession, there was a sense of sudden enlightenment as both sides gave way.

So we specially arranged for a famous artist in the store to take this standard photo for him.

I didn't change any clothes. I took off my coat and sweater, adjusted the collar of a white shirt, put on a little makeup, and combed and fixed my hair with some hairspray. I mainly relied on the light to shape my appearance.

It only left behind an artistic photo of a successful person, similar to the kind that insurance brokers and real estate consultants later loved to take.

Against the velvety and elegant dark background, he is wise, calm, and extraordinary.

In 1983, it was definitely an image that surpassed the era.

Erfeng and Goudan, who were standing nearby, were stunned. Was the person sitting there still Dongwazi?

Weidong smiled as if it was normal. Even though he hadn't seen the effect of the film, he agreed to pick it up in a few days, paid and left.

Now even the old photographer gave Manager Zhang a thumbs up.

Artistic photos are a rare thing. Many famous and advanced people will appear a little embarrassed and at a loss in such unfamiliar scenes.

This young man is so calm.

In fact, to people forty years later, this is nothing.

Which family doesn’t take wedding, work, or school photos? Not to mention the light and shadow art creation that is like photoshopped pictures, which everyone can do on their mobile phone.

What makes Weidong think is that if I were given a mobile phone, I would be able to take pictures with filters.

He had never used a camera before, so he really didn't take it seriously.

Only the ignorant are fearless and can adopt such an informed attitude.

He deliberately procrastinated and wandered around, delaying the time until after eleven o'clock before taking the ferry across the river. Erfeng admired his styled hair all the way, like a typical infatuated girl.

Then when we went to the non-ferrous metals store separately, we found a Dongfeng truck parked at the door.

Weidong's eyes lit up. This was the same model of vehicle he learned to use in the transportation company. This vehicle was much better than the training vehicle that was used to transport river sand and cement to the countryside all day long.

So when he met the other party, he first offered cigarettes and then invited them: "Let's go eat hot pot to warm up, it tastes really good."

Even the driver was called along.

Erfeng and Goudan had of course already gone around to book a table.

Thanks to his hairstyle, he actually looks like a young and handsome man.

Nowadays, people don’t care about brand-name clothing, high-end watches and other pretentious tools.

It all depends on temperament to win.

　I wish you all a happy New Year, a smooth New Year, and good luck in 2025
　　
　
(End of this chapter)