Chapter 8 Going through the back door

"Who said it's impossible?" Xu Qiang also interjected at this time, saying, "As long as you have money and ability, you can marry any girl. Why don't you work hard, and if you become a millionaire in the future, you can pick any girl from the villages. Even girls in the city will look at you differently!"

Xu Qiang still did not forget to make big promises at this time. He only had these two soldiers under his command, and he had to make them work hard for him wholeheartedly.

"Ten thousand yuan household..." Upon hearing these three words, Liu Jun couldn't help but smacking his lips.

To Liu Jun, "ten thousand yuan household" is a very significant term. It means how rich one is. Even if we look at the entire county where they live, there are probably not many ten thousand yuan households.

"My uncle is right. As long as I have money, I will marry a beautiful wife to show those snobs in our village that I am a capable person!"

"Okay, stop talking nonsense and let's get down to business." After Xu Qiang finished speaking, he put down the tea bowl, wiped his mouth and was about to get up and leave.

Seeing this, the other two also followed Xu Qiang and left.

Xu Qiang seemed to have no interest in the various things and local specialties at the local market, and went straight to the largest supply and marketing cooperative in the county.

During the planned economy era when material supplies were scarce, families had to go to the supply and marketing cooperatives to buy everything from small items like salt, vinegar, needles, thread, kerosene and gloves to big items like blue cloth for making clothes and production tools.

At that time, the supply and marketing cooperatives were the whole of the villagers’ daily lives, and they never had to worry about not being able to sell their products.

Fruit candy, a piece of cloth, a needle, a pair of shoes... In the 1980s, the supply and marketing cooperatives were the main channel, or even the only channel, to solve the supply and marketing problems in China's rural market. Below the county level, the supply and marketing cooperatives almost "dominated the world". From buying a candy to selling an old umbrella, it would be impossible without the supply and marketing cooperatives.

The most crowded place in the supply and marketing cooperative is where candies are sold. A group of local children are looking at the colorful candy jars on the counter with their eyes shining. The younger ones just start crying to their parents. The scene looks very funny.

As for the place with the most adults, it is the place where bicycles are sold. As one of the "three major items" these days, it is the dream of many villagers, especially young guys. If you have such a bicycle, you will definitely be the coolest guy in the village.

Looking at the crowded counter, Xu Qiang couldn't help but feel a little emotional. In the later life, he hadn't seen such a lively shopping scene for many years.

However, to Xu Qiang's disappointment, after going around the supply and marketing cooperative twice, he still didn't see the laboratory supplies he wanted to buy. The only chemical material available was caustic soda, but that also required a ticket.

In fact, this is a very normal thing. After all, the commodities sold in rural supply and marketing cooperatives nowadays are mainly daily necessities. For example, few people in the local area need chemical products. Even for enterprises, they obtain them through other channels. Therefore, the chemical tools on Xu Qiang’s list cannot be bought here at all.

"Uncle, is there anything we want to buy here?"

Liu Jun, who had been following Xu Qiang, said.

"It seems that the supply and marketing cooperative in the county doesn't have it. If all else fails, we can only go to the department store in the city to have a look." Xu Qiang said helplessly.

"Uncle, if it really doesn't work, I'll find someone for you, but it'll cost money to ask him to do the job..." Erhu interrupted.

"Looking for someone? Who are you looking for?"

"He's the director of this supply and marketing cooperative. I know him quite well."

"You also know the director of the supply and marketing cooperative?" Xu Qiang was somewhat surprised. You know, working in a supply and marketing cooperative these days is definitely something that people envy, and being the director of a town supply and marketing cooperative is even more remarkable.

Even if he was just the director of the supply and marketing cooperative in the village, he was still the object of everyone's flattery. If a family needed brown sugar eggs for a birth, or needed to buy big items such as watches and bicycles for a wedding, they had to have the approval of the director of the supply and marketing cooperative before they could buy them.

Erhu was extremely poor and often had no food to eat. It was really beyond Xu Qiang's expectation that he could know such a person.

"Not only do we know each other, we also deal with each other frequently." Erhu showed a hint of pride on his face.

"Just brag!" Liu Jun said with disdain.

"Seriously, I really know him..." Erhu was afraid that Xu Qiang would not believe him, so he quickly said, "I knew Director Wang a few years ago. At that time, his mother was seriously ill and needed a blood transfusion. I went to the blood donation station several times. This pair of urea pants was given to me by him at that time..."

It turned out that Erhu did know the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. At that time, his mother's blood type was somewhat rare. After checking at the blood station, it was discovered that Erhu also had this blood type, so he came to the director for help.

At that time, Director Wang brought some cakes and meat to Erhu. When Erhu saw that there was meat to eat, he readily agreed. Afterwards, he was also given a urea bag, which was a useful thing in those days. The pants made from it were quite durable. This became Erhu's most precious piece of clothing.

Although this happened several years ago, Director Wang is a man who values ​​friendship, and as long as Erhu wants to buy three big items for the villagers, Director Wang will be happy to help. Of course, cigarettes and alcohol and other things must still be given, and using connections and backdoors to give gifts are necessary, and Erhu must be able to get some benefits from it.

"Then can you call him out?" Xu Qiang suddenly felt that Erhu didn't seem to be bragging, and his heart suddenly moved.

"It's okay to ask him to do the work, but it might cost us some money..." Erhu pondered for a moment, then continued, "That guy particularly likes to smoke Phoenix cigarettes and drink a little..."

"Where is the best restaurant here?" Xu Qiang interrupted and asked.

"If we talk about the highest-end restaurant, it would be Wuzhou Teahouse. The chefs there are famous for their cooking skills. I've eaten steamed buns there before..."

"Then let's go to Wuzhou Teahouse at noon!" Xu Qiang said straightforwardly, and then said: "Go and invite the director of the supply and marketing cooperative over. Even if you have made a great contribution, I will take care of the rest."

"Sure!" When Erhu heard that they were going to have lunch at the most expensive restaurant in the county, he was immediately excited and said quickly, "I'll go and invite Director Wang over right away."

In the past two years, it has become popular to give gifts, run around and use back doors, especially in small places like this, where it is basically impossible to get things done without spending money.

Moreover, Chinese people usually discuss business at the wine table. Normally, they talk about business with each other without any communication, but after a few drinks, it is common for them to call each other brothers.

"wait!"

"Anything else?"

"You are like this..."

Xu Qiang whispered in Erhu's ear and explained carefully, then said, "Remember, just say that I went to college in the Northeast and now work at Shengli Machinery Factory. Don't let anything slip."

(End of this chapter)