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

Ah Xiang's eyes lit up.

"Yaoyang, if you keep asking me to do things, the tea stall doesn't earn much a month, it's not worth it."

Zhang Dabiao smiled and said, "I often have to go out to sketch and paint, and my time is not fixed, so I still need a local to help me look after the shop."

"We're from the same village, I trust you."

Ah Xiang was very touched. Everyone said he was dull-witted and would never amount to anything, but Da Biao said he trusted him!

"Yaoyang, I can't speak for the others, but the accounts are definitely accurate!"

"If you trust me, I'll work for you!"

"Good brother, loyal to the end!"

Zhang Dabiao was speechless. This wasn't a gang, so why was he talking about loyalty?

However, he nodded.

I also told Ah Xiang to call me Brother Biao from now on. Yao Yang is too awkward to pronounce, and since we're new here, it's okay to give him a more imposing nickname, right?

You can call yourself Brother Crow if you want.

Ah Xiang scratched his head—

"Aren't you younger than me? You should be calling me Brother Xiang, shouldn't you?"

Zhang Dabiao was speechless, unsure how to explain himself to Da Congming.

Never mind, I won't explain.

Then Zhang Dabiao brought some gifts and a 50-yuan red envelope, and went with A Xiang to find Old Man Chen. They hadn't yet given him the money they had spent on the Taoist priest's ritual.

I opened a shop on the main street. Although it's not within the area of ​​Agongyan Village, I still wanted to let them know. Also, I had to inform Axiang, who works for me, as well.

Zhang Dabiao was unfamiliar with the local customs, but being a newcomer, he wanted to make sure to inform the clan elders beforehand.

------------

After tidying up in the evening, Zhang Dabiao returned to the courtyard house and asked Qin Jingru to cook him some more food. He was eating two packs of instant noodles a meal there... not enough to fill him up, and cooking for himself was too much trouble.

Watching Qin Jingru bustling about, Zhang Dabiao suddenly had an idea: wasn't this a perfect little cook? And she didn't have classes in the afternoon!

So we discussed it and moved out the room in the side room where people lived. One of the two side rooms became the kitchen, and the other became the bakery.

It is specifically used for making bread and baking.

This way, the tea stall won't need to buy bread anymore, mainly because all the pineapple buns there taste the same. Although they're cheap, they're not particularly special.

Qin Jingru makes various small cakes and breads every afternoon, paying for as many as she makes, and Zhang Dabiao then takes them to sell.

As for wages, Qin Jingru was previously given 5 yuan a month for pocket money. In addition, she could earn more than 10 yuan a month by helping the Youth Mutual Aid Association and the food processing plant make cookies and the like.

But later the steel mill's orders disappeared, and now Qin Jingru has less to do.

So I'm going to pay her 20 yuan a month. She can do as much as she can, and once she's done, she can put it in the bakery in the side room. Just don't overwork yourself. Zhang Dabiao will come and get it himself.

Zhang Dabiao also gave her several recipes—pineapple buns, butterfly pastries, donuts, croissants, and egg waffles.

Also, make some extra cream and honey cupcakes.

Since I didn't buy butter and was short of winter melon paste, lotus seed paste, coconut paste, etc., many Hong Kong-style breads and pastries are difficult to make, so I made these to test the waters first.

Then Qin Jingru jumped up happily. She could go to the city, study, and get a salary. After graduation, she would have a town household registration, a job, and a house waiting for her. She could also learn so many cooking skills and eat delicious food every day.

Why can't we do it?

As long as you don't die, fight to the death!

Zhang Dabiao painted the signboard in the cabin until midnight, while Qin Jingru made the cake until midnight!

I just can't stop!

While cooking, she also secretly ate some food—Zhang Dabiao allowed her to try it herself, as long as she didn't eat too much and get stuffed.

Just like a happy little hamster!

The entire courtyard was filled with a sweet aroma until the early hours of the morning, keeping most people awake.

What delicious food is Zhang Dabiao up to now?

Could you share some with the neighbors?

------------

The next morning, just as Zhang Dabiao was preparing to go to Hong Kong, a group of people arrived in the courtyard with gongs and drums.

It turns out the ministry came to present Zhang Dabiao with a banner, and the street office also came to join in the fun—Dabiao has earned foreign exchange for the country!

Previously, the department had to hold meetings to discuss the lighter and instant noodle issues, and hadn't had time to deal with these matters.

Looking at the banner that read, "Pioneer in Foreign Exchange Earnings, Comrade Zhang Dabiao has earned 8 US dollars for the country, as encouragement (small print)," Zhang Dabiao's face twitched repeatedly...

Are you trying to make sure everyone doesn't know?

If this happens during a strong wind, who else but me will die?

Nobody cares whether I'm helping the country or whatever; all they know is that I have connections with foreign countries, sold patents to capitalist countries, and made $8, which is nearly 20 RMB…

Dead!

【No, you guys completed your foreign exchange earnings target, and I made money. Can't we keep a low profile?】

Why must we go through all that fanfare, like gongs and drums, and present a banner?

Zhang Dabiao's face was really quite dark.

Director Zhao noticed his worry, patted him on the shoulder, and laughed, "Zhang Dabiao, don't worry, you're generating foreign exchange for the country, that makes you a hero!"

"As long as you don't break the law, with this banner around, no one will dare to touch you!"

Zhang Dabiao gave him a helpless, wry smile—[As long as I don't break the law, no one dares to touch me...]

Hearing your words is like hearing a whole new set of wisdom...

What's the point of this?

[When the wind blows, I become a sitting duck; many of these accusations have absolutely nothing to do with the law!]

I honestly can't handle this!

Besides presenting the banner, I also have some good news to tell Zhang Dabiao.

Representatives from the French company BIC also approached the Ministry of Foreign Trade, specifically requesting to meet with Zhang Dabiao to discuss the purchase of the patent.

Also accompanying them were Yingjili and a very attractive sales representative, who were supposedly there for an inspection.

Zhang Dabiao was baffled—What are you investigating? What's there to investigate?

However, he still went to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation with Director Zhao.

After all, Zhang Dabiao is now affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Trade at the Hongxing Daily Necessities Manufacturing Plant.

Hongxing Daily Necessities Factory – Part-time Designer/Researcher, Monthly Salary: 60;

Temporary purchasing agent – ​​monthly salary is around 20, but it has decreased recently;

Foreign Trade Department – ​​Part-time/nominal designer, no salary, but can help Zhang Dabiao handle foreign exchange related matters, which is mutually beneficial.

These are the only units where Zhang Dabiao is currently "on secondment," so if there's anything going on at the factory or department, they have to give him face and go there.

After meeting in the ministry's conference room, the other party was BIC, a French ballpoint pen manufacturing company, which actually wanted to buy his patent license?

The other two are Cati from England and Zippo, both of which are present.

Zhang Dabiao had no recollection of the English brand Cartier. The only lighter brand he knew was Zippo; he had never heard of any others. In China, he only used Zippo once to show off during his university years.

The three companies offered a 20-year license to their domestic production patents for $5.

Furthermore, there is an exclusive agreement that prohibits Zhang Dabiao from authorizing other countries.

Zhang Dabiao rolled his eyes, and seeing the expectant and cautious expressions on Director Zhao's and the others' faces, he understood what was going on.

I guess they must have agreed to some conditions from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, or maybe they couldn't agree on a price during negotiations in Hong Kong, so they came to me.

Zhang Dabiao laid his cards on the table: "Gentlemen, I don't know how much this thing is worth, but the patent has been fully handled by Mr. Lou Yufan of the Lou Family Trading Company in Hong Kong."

"So if you want to talk, go talk to him. I'm just a middle school student, don't mess with me!"