Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1356 Small Station Rice

Dejected, Guo Quangui returned to his office and slumped into his chair.

Tian Yuan leaned closer again: "Brother Gui, what happened?"

Guo Quangui handed the letter to Tian Yuan: "Brother, give me a hand. I've already touched half of that money."

Tian Yuan took a look, her face turning deathly pale. She glanced at Guo Quangui and asked, "Is this real?"

Guo Quangui nodded bitterly: "Damn it, we got ripped off by the Koreans."

Tian Yuan returned to her seat in a flustered state. After thinking for a while, she opened a drawer, rummaged through it, took out a notebook, and left the room.

"Director, I made a mistake. After thinking it over, I realized something was wrong, so I've come to confess to the organization. This was a check that the Korean had tucked into the documents; I didn't touch it. Director, please believe me, I didn't notice it at the time. I was forced into it; Guo Quangui took it, I had no choice."

A few days later, Tian Yuan was transferred from the Foreign Affairs Office. Those who can make it in the city all have some connections. Getting promoted and making money depends on luck, so a transfer is not a big problem.

Guo Quangui was dejected and went to the NGO department. Although his colleagues didn't say anything, everyone looked at him strangely. Tian Yuan tried to clear his name by digging up all sorts of things.

Director Gao called Chen Hui, expressing his apologies for his poor supervision, and also took the opportunity to get to know Chen Hui and Xiao Wei.

With that connection to Gao Shouyun, none of them are outsiders.

Xiaowei's mother returned to Fengtian, while Beibei, Wang Yan, and Chen Xiaohui went to the Kyoto Municipal Bureau Kindergarten, which is a little over a kilometer away from the Prince Gong's Mansion, not too far.

Xiao Wei and Chen Hui drove to Tianjing.

Tianjing was not a port for very long. It was originally a sea, and later it was the mouth of the Yellow River. It was not until the Jin Dynasty, when the Yellow River shifted south and changed its course to the Huai River, that this area finally settled down.

The Jin Dynasty built Zhigu Village here, and the Yuan Dynasty renamed it Haijin Town. The population gradually increased, but it was not until the Yongle Emperor moved the capital that this place was truly opened as a port and a city was built, with the establishment of Tianjing Guard. It served as both a garrison town and a seaport for the capital.

By the ninth year of the Shunzhi reign (1640), Tianjingwei had transformed from a purely military garrison into a county town, and began to establish civil administration and tax collection systems. In the third year of the Yongzheng reign (1728), it was upgraded to a prefecture, and in the ninth year (1739), it was upgraded to a prefecture, becoming an important town. In modern times, its doors were forced open by foreign guns, and it became a concession area.

In the early days of the People's Republic of China, Tianjing, Bayu, Beixi and other places became municipalities directly under the central government. Around 58, Bayu was assigned to Bashu, Beixi to Liaodong, and Tianjing to Yibei. Tianjing was not reassigned to municipality until 67.

In the 90s, like other cities, Tianjing was full of single-story houses and courtyards, with few high-rise buildings, and a huge number of bicycles filled the city. The streets were also narrow, with dilapidated roads lined with tall trees, and red brick buildings and cement bridges were the main features.

In the slightly busier sections of the road, both sides are crowded with all sorts of makeshift sheds and tin shacks, with all kinds of GG signs hanging haphazardly.

State-owned enterprises all have huge iron frames erected outside, with large red iron characters welded on them. At night, when the neon lights come on, they reflect the spotlights on various GG signs.

The sister company acquired two plots of land in Tianjing. One was at the head of Jingang Bridge, where the waterfront hotel building was already built at that time, right across the street. It was not far from Guyi Street, which was Tianjing's commercial district.

The other site is near Shin-eki Street, also in a bustling area. Construction on this site started simultaneously with the one in Kyoto, and they're already working on the interior.

The two of them went for a walk around the construction site.

Nothing much, just came to take a look and get a general idea.

After wandering around for a while, the two men came out and contacted the Xiali factory.

Section Chief Han has been promoted to deputy factory director, and Factory Director Li has become Party Secretary Li. Although it has only been a few years, things have already changed a bit. Fortunately, they have both been promoted, which is a great thing.

They agreed on a time and place, parked the car in the hotel courtyard, and went for a stroll. Although they had been there before, they had never really explored the area.

At this time, the city had no urban planning; residential and commercial houses, bungalows and high-rises were all crammed together, exuding a strong sense of daily life. There were U-shaped courtyards, low brick houses, children running around wildly, and elderly people with weathered faces.

Bicycles, motorcycles, and tricycles are the main vehicles on the road.

It was almost lunchtime, and smoke was rising from chimneys in the streets and alleys, with the sounds of pots and pans clattering. Many families had set up their stoves and dining tables outside, and neighbors were busy preparing food and cooking while chatting.

A group of men gathered together to drink, sitting on a small stool by the roadside, eating peanuts, braised dishes, and cold vegetables. An elderly woman passing by was given a chicken leg, which she happily munched on.

Not far away, an old man was drinking alone, with a plate of braised dishes and a bottle of Lao Yan Quan tea on a bench, basking in the sun and watching the street, enjoying himself immensely.

There was a butcher stall on the street selling pork, beef, and eggs, along with some vegetables and bags of rice. The proprietress was squatting to one side, fanning the stove while cooking rice. A pile of honeycomb briquettes sat to the side. She glanced at Xiaowei, Chen Hui, and the others.

Xiao Wei glanced at the prices: pork was 2.7 yuan, beef was 4.3 yuan, and eggs were 2.5 yuan. He said to Chen Hui, "Things here are a bit more expensive than in Fengtian."

Chen Hui glanced at it and said, "It's about the same. It's normal for it to be a little more expensive. Nowadays, ordinary people don't care about a few cents."

Xiao Wei looked to the side again: "Xiaozhan rice, wanna buy some? I heard Xiaozhan rice is delicious. Sixty-five cents, not expensive."

Chen Hui walked over: "Is it expensive or not? I don't know if it's genuine or not, and I don't know anyone here."

The proprietress stood up: "Buying rice? Our Xiaozhan rice is the real deal. You should check it out, everyone around here knows us."

Chen Hui grabbed a handful of rice from the bag, looked at it, and shook his head: "I don't recognize it. Just buy it if you want, it should be about the same quality. This shop sells to the neighbors, so they can't be selling fakes."

The woman wanted to sell her goods but also had to tend to the pot on the stove. She turned and shouted into the house, "Husband, come out! It's time to sell rice! What's bothering you in the house?"

A man came out and said, "Stop arguing. We're just taking a break and having some water. How many of you are buying rice? We're selling regular rice from our small shop, and we'll weigh it for you generously."

Xiao Wei said, "Then let's buy it. Boss, how much rice do you have left?"

The shop owner paused for a moment, then said, "Yes, we just received three packages yesterday that haven't been opened yet."

Right now, the rice is in sacks, each weighing two hundred pounds.

In 93, the grain market was fully liberalized and the use of ration coupons was no longer required. The price of grain and oil decreased due to negotiation, and grain stations in various places were merged. People no longer had to calculate when buying grain; they could buy it freely once they had enough to eat.

Chen Hui said, "I'll buy them all; 600 jin isn't much. Boss, could you deliver them to the hotel?"

The boss nodded in agreement, found a tricycle, and sold some of the bag of rice, totaling about 700 jin (350 catties). Xiao Wei paid the money and asked Hou Qiang to go back to the hotel to put the rice in the tricycle.

……

Han Ke, the factory director Han booked a place called Cheng Gui Western Restaurant, located in Gedalou. It is an old restaurant that opened in 84, and the building it uses is said to be the former residence of Ma Lianliang.

Around 5 o'clock, Xiaowei and Chen Hui arrived here.

(End of this chapter)