Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

We really have to thank Liu Guangqi for this.

These days, even temporary worker qualifications are very difficult to obtain.

If you have a job, even if it's temporary, you can stay in the city; otherwise, you should be laid off or downsized.

The downsizing began in 1959 because the previous large-scale recruitment had led to too many people being hired, and now, with the added impact of natural disasters, downsizing was necessary, as the cities could not support so many people. In 1959, approximately one million employees were laid off, not including their families.

During the entire policy cycle, from 60 to 64, the total urban population in China decreased by approximately 2600 million (2000 million employees and 600 million family members).

So, at this time, it was a huge deal for Liu Guangqi to be able to get him a temporary procurement permit.

This not only plugged the loophole in his supply chain but also provided him with a legitimate channel to ship his goods.

For a child who has no adults at home, is still in elementary school, has two more years before starting work, and has only 5 yuan a month for living expenses, this is a life-saving grace!

Of course, for Zhang Dabiao, this thing was just a patch to fix the loophole, and Liu Guangqi did not take credit for it.

"You were taken to the security office last night because you weren't home, so I couldn't give you the purchasing permit. And this is what happened when you came back today."

"Da Biao, with your skills, you could probably get a job as a purchasing agent at any factory."

"Brother, I'm just going with the flow. Our factory is pitifully small and doesn't have any permanent positions, so I can only give you a temporary purchasing permit."

"But I assure you, the supplies you bring will definitely fetch a higher price from our factory than the steel mill!"

"If you find anything good, remember me, your brother. I definitely won't let you suffer any losses!"

The factory will buy at a price slightly higher than the price set by the price bureau, but it can't be the same price as the black market, because they couldn't afford that.

The only advantage is that, as a purchasing agent, you can get more for yourself or help relatives and friends buy things, so you can always make a profit.

In addition to the purchasing staff's own salary and benefits, they lived a very comfortable life.

Zhang Dabiao nodded. It's all business with no capital investment. It doesn't matter who you sell to.

Just because Liu Guangqi took such good care of me, I should give priority to supplying goods to their factory.

No wonder he's destined to be a leader; he handles everything flawlessly!

Zhang Dabiao himself was a newcomer and had a bad temper.

He understood that he had to live by the rules of this era, but having been a corporate slave in his previous life, he couldn't suppress the habits and temper of his new life in the 60s.

Making mistakes repeatedly, like with those dozen or so dishes...

Even capitalists wouldn't dare eat like this these days!

But Zhang Dabiao took it out on a whim, and he didn't know why.

He should restrain himself a bit in the future, but in his later years he will be 30 years old, and at the very bottom of his life. His temper and personality are not something that can be changed overnight.

take it easy.

"These are the things you gave me yesterday, and the money my buddy gave me, a total of 25 yuan. Don't think it's too little."

As he spoke, Liu Guangqi took out some money and tried to stuff it into Zhang Dabiao's hand, but Zhang Dabiao immediately returned it, saying, "Guangqi, you've helped me so much, what's a little money compared to that?"

"Aren't you slapping me in the face? Take it back!"

But Liu Guangqi continued to stuff money into Zhang Dabiao's hand: "Let's keep things separate. I won't give you the money for the cigarettes. That stuff is hard to value, so I'll just shamelessly consider it payment."

"Keep the rest. I, Liu Guangqi, always do things properly! What kind of person would I be if I took advantage of a kid like you?"

Xu Damao also advised Zhang Dabiao to put it away, as the Zhang family needed more money to protect themselves in their current situation, and this was not the time to put on a brave face.

Zhang Dabiao stopped insisting and accepted it. Then he went back into the house and took two unopened packs of Yellow Crane Tower cigarettes, giving one to Liu Guangqi and one to Xu Damao.

"Da Mao, Guang Qi, I won't say more. One of you go to the security department to bail me out, and the other helps me get a purchasing permit. Just let me know if you need anything in the future!"

"What can be done, we will definitely do; what can't be done, we will create the conditions to do!"

"Good brother, loyal to the end!"

At today's dinner party, Zhang Dabiao listened to Liu Guangqi and Xu Damao and didn't bring out too much food to avoid attracting attention.

However, Zhang Dabiao contributed—hot pot base!

One serving of Chongqing hot pot base, not much. But he also had Knorr Tom Yum soup base packets, the kind that cost two yuan a small box, and he took out a whole tray of them.

There's also Hubang chili sauce, and Haidilao hot pot dipping sauce.

These are all leftovers from previous purchases.

Then everyone took whatever they had: cabbage, glass noodles, white radish, wild vegetables, dried noodles, dried mushrooms, and some people even bought fresh tofu and frozen tofu...

Liu Guangqi brought out a full ten eggs and two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) from his home.

He can't lose face!

Even if he gets a beating from Fatty Liu when he gets back, he'll still get it out!

Xu Damao brought over a string of cured pork and a dried chicken from his home, along with two bottles of white wine!

He couldn't let Liu Guangqi outshine him.

Zhang Dabiao was a little more low-key this time. In addition to the base sauce, he also took out 5 packs of Chen Keming egg noodles! The kind that comes in a long tub of 750 grams.

Go ahead and make some fun!

Surely no one will say Zhang Dabiao exceeded the limit this time? Besides the base ingredients, he only took 5 packs of noodles, which totaled only 7 jin.

Nearly 20 young people and children devoured all that food in one meal. Yes, Zhang Dabiao had them invite all their brothers and sisters from the family; it was the second big gathering of the young people from courtyard number 95. Last time, they mainly invited Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, and the young men who carried Zhang Dabiao's father's coffin; this time, they invited everyone.

Putting everything else aside, the three Yan brothers of Guangtian Guangfu eat like pigs rooting for food! You can't stop them!

Ah, that smell in the backyard—

The deaf old woman smelled this odor in the house and it made her stomach acid churn!

Yi Zhonghai lay at home, smelling the odor, and groaned weakly.

Sha Zhu wanted to try this soup base he had never seen before, but he was too embarrassed to do so.

He used to live in courtyard number 95, protected by the old deaf man Yi Zhonghai. He acted all high and mighty wherever he went, very smug.

but now……

No one from the younger generation wants to hang out with him anymore?

They had originally planned for everyone to ostracize Zhang Dabiao, but now Zhang Dabiao has become the central figure among the young people, while he, Sha Zhu…

We can't go to those three old men every day to drink tea, chat, and joke around, can we?

We can't get along.

This is so awkward.

He Yushui and Xu Xiaoling naturally enjoyed their meal together. Zhang Dabiao even prepared some milk and nuts for the two of them separately, and gave milk to the children as well, treating everyone equally.

I have several of these at home.

Now that he has the purchasing permit, Zhang Dabiao is safe. Moreover, Liu Guangqi and Xu Damao have told him not to buy low and sell high, otherwise it's not speculation, so don't be afraid of anything!

Even if you go to the pigeon market or the black market, as long as you're buying something instead of selling it, even if you get caught, just mention my name—my workplace's name—and I'll come and bail you out.

These days, if you have supplies, you're the boss. What's there to be afraid of?

Feel free to handle unplanned supplies; that's what purchasing agents do!

If you need anything, come to your brother. My brother is in charge of the purchasing department at the factory!

As everyone ate, they chatted and laughed. Although it was very cold, many people brought coal stoves from their homes, partly to heat the hot pot and cook noodles, and partly to keep warm. The atmosphere in the backyard was quite lively.

We ate from a little after 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., and before we even finished eating, people started coming into the courtyard.

"Yi Zhonghai, which house is Yi Zhonghai in?"

"Zhang Dabiao, is Zhang Dabiao here?"

"And who is this comrade, Sha Zhu?"

The group of young people ran to the Intermediate People's Court and found that it was two police officers.

Wow, this is going to be interesting!