Era: Rise from the Wilderness

No one present thought there was anything wrong with it.

What's wrong with the manager?

What's wrong with the boss?

When customers come to see the goods, isn't it only natural to help them move and lift, organize the goods and introduce them?

Sweat soon broke out again, mixing with the dust in the warehouse, leaving deep lines on his face and neck.

The heavy breathing, the rustling of cardboard boxes, and Zeng Honglin's occasional introductions mingled together.

The air was stuffy, but a simple and warm atmosphere, belonging to the hard-working people, permeated the old warehouse piled with goods.

This contrasts sharply with the atmosphere in Li Yunjing's memory, where, more than a decade later, some places would become extravagant and act like "boss" once they achieved a little success, refusing to "condescend" to do any manual labor in front of customers.

As material wealth gradually increases, social values ​​are quietly changing. Some things, such as the simple spirit of unity and hard work, have indeed faded away without us even realizing it.

Of course, Li Yunjing knew that such changes, from a certain perspective, were not necessarily all bad things. They were often accompanied by increased efficiency, more detailed division of labor, and an overall leap in people's living standards.

However, the scene before him, where people were sweating profusely and working together to "serve" the goods, still evoked in him a long-lost, rough yet warm feeling that belonged to this particular era, a feeling that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

The adults were rummaging through yellowed and fuzzy price lists and sample catalogs on their desks, the paper rustling as it rubbed together, occasionally punctuated by Zeng Honglin's low-voiced introductions and Li Hongfeng's brief inquiries.

Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi then wandered deep into the shelves.

The light here is even dimmer, with only a few rays of light filtering through the high-rise windows illuminating the slowly settling dust in the air.

He needs to see for himself, to confirm it with his eyes and fingers.

Having been away from school for too long in his previous life, his memories of "what students need" had become a blur, and he was afraid of missing something inconspicuous yet crucial.

Purchasing goods is a very troublesome process, requiring a trip to Bincheng to get the supplies, so he had to think things through thoroughly.

This isn't like later times, where you can just make a phone call and have something delivered to you the next day.

Transportation costs are high!

The shelves were made of rough wood, painted with dark red anti-rust paint, and in many places they were already peeling and mottled.

The goods were stacked in layers and arranged by category, creating a sense of order amidst the chaos, despite the crowded conditions.

The air was filled with a complex aroma: the fresh scent of new paper, the slight spiciness of ink, the faint chemical smell of plastic products, and the musty smell of old cardboard boxes that had become damp, similar to that of an old book warehouse. All of these combined to create the unique atmosphere of a wholesale warehouse in the 1990s.

He stood on tiptoe, his fingers brushing against the rough edge of the cardboard box.

I saw stacks of "grid" notebooks and "pinyin notebooks" tightly bound with hemp rope, with simple red grid patterns printed on the kraft paper covers.

I saw bundles of HB pencils, with the word "Zhonghua" printed on the yellow pencil shafts and small pink eraser tips.

I saw neatly stacked "Hero" brand blue-black ink bottles, their dark green glass bottles gleaming calmly in the dim light.

I saw plastic set squares and rulers of various sizes, with clear black markings printed on the transparent rulers.

There's also a metal compass, which, when opened, resembles a silent bird waiting to draw a circle.

Further inside, the goods become even more varied.

There are twelve-color watercolor pens simply packaged in transparent plastic bags, the colors as vibrant as segments of a rainbow.

There was a "fountain pen," which was quite novel at the time. The pen barrel was transparent, and you could see the blue ink core inside.

Tin pencil boxes with various patterns, the lids of which featured popular Transformers or Saint Seiya stickers of the time.

Stacks of hardcover notebooks printed with landscapes or celebrities are a favorite among girls.

There were even paperclips, pins, staplers, and staples for the office, packed in simple cardboard boxes.

Li Yunjing looked at each item one by one, his fingers unconsciously tracing the familiar objects, and the floodgates of memory were slowly pried open.

Oh, right, there are also those white, square drawing erasers that erase cleanly but leave a lot of shavings.

There's also the colored waxed paper for book covers; I always buy a few sheets when school starts.

And there's correction fluid, that little bottle, when you shake it you hear a rattling sound from a small steel ball inside...

Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi flipped through the pages, discussing them constantly. Lü Ruoxi's eyes even sparkled at some of the more attractive items, and she wanted to own them.

"Haha, you'll be a college student after the semester starts, and you still like this kind of pencil case!"

Li Yunjing gently scratched Lü Ruoxi's nose, teasing her with affection.

"Mmm! It looks good, doesn't it?"

Lu Ruoxi rolled her eyes at Li Yunjing, but she still couldn't put it down.

"Sigh... I'll buy you an even prettier one later!"

Li Yunjing shook his head. He knew that Lü Ruoxi was only enthusiastic for a short time; once she bought it, she would forget about it as soon as she turned around.

Li Yunjing has plenty of experience in this area.

"Okay! You have to buy me the best-looking one!"

"Yes! Definitely!"

……

"Boss Li, as you can see, we have a pretty complete selection of products here."

Just as the two were talking about love, Zeng Honglin finally looked up from a pile of documents, holding a blank purchase order with horizontal lines and a sharpened HB pencil. With a relaxed smile on his face after completing the initial search, he walked up to Li Hongfeng and said, "Just check the boxes on this form and fill in the quantities."

"I'll have someone prepare the goods for you according to your order; it'll be fast and accurate."

"Yun Jing, where did you go? Come here!"

Li Hongfeng had no idea what kind of goods to order or how much to order, so he immediately turned to call his son.

At first glance, there was no trace of her son or Lü Ruoxi.

"Here you are!"

Hearing his father's call, Li Yunjing stepped out from the shadows of the shelf, dusted off his hands, and took the blank list and pencil without hesitation.

The white paper is rough; a light stroke of the pencil tip leaves a clear gray mark.

His face was expressionless, except for a focus that seemed beyond his years.

"Uncle Zeng,"

He looked up at Zeng Honglin with clear eyes, "Could you please show us the samples? This is our first time ordering goods, and we need to see and try them ourselves to be sure of their quality."

"Of course, of course! This way, please!"

Zeng Honglin nodded repeatedly, his surprise growing.

This kid isn't just joining in the fun; he's a true expert!

He dared not delay and personally led the way, venturing back into the maze of shelves.

For the next half hour, the warehouse was filled with rustling sounds of rummaging and brief conversations.