Chen Yang put away the money given by Accountant Hu and hurried the donkey cart towards the large department store.
Chen Yang was thinking about the great business of a big boss in Liuhe County from his previous life.
That person started his business in Liuhe County from this era, earned his first pot of gold, then went to Shenzhen and finally became a major figure in Shenzhen's business circles.
The status of that wealthy man in the business world was comparable to Chen Yang's peak period.
By chance, he learned that Chen Yang had gone to the countryside in Liuhe County back then. During a convivial chat, the wealthy man spoke of the hardships of his early entrepreneurial days. It was then that Chen Yang discovered this business opportunity. It was likely that the magnate never imagined that Chen Yang would be reborn into the era of his entrepreneurship.
Chen Yang also wanted to get involved in the business that made that magnate rich.
After all, he only started his business after graduating from university and studying abroad. Compared with the opportunities to make big money in Liuhe County during this era, Chen Yang felt that the wealthy man's original business was not necessarily better.
"Brother Da Gang, I'm Chen Yang. Isn't Comrade Wang Xiue working today?"
When Chen Yang arrived at the department store, he searched carefully but couldn't find Wang Xiue. Seeing the other unfamiliar sales clerks, he chose Zhao Da Gang, whom he had met once before.
"It's you. Xiue has something to attend to at home today and won't be coming. What do you want to buy? Just tell me directly."
"Xiue considers you a friend, so you are my friend, Zhao Da Gang."
To Chen Yang's surprise, before he could even speak, Zhao Da Gang was very loyal and offered his help.
This made Chen Yang even more determined in his thoughts. This fellow really seemed to have feelings for Wang Xiue. However, thinking about Wang Xiue's waist, which was almost as thick as Shen Xue's two, he still couldn't quite understand.
Given Zhao Da Gang's status as a department store clerk, in this era, even girls with jobs in the city would be highly sought after. Why was he so fond of the large and sturdy Wang Xiue?
"Brother Da Gang, you are truly righteous. When I next meet Wang Xiue, I must thank you in front of her."
"I'm here today because I have a private matter to ask you about. You have extensive connections in the department store. Do you know where I can get cigarettes and various ration coupons?"
Chen Yang whispered into Zhao Da Gang's ear.
"You, you're quite brave to ask this in the department store."
"Fine, seeing as you're so sensible and willing to put in a good word for me with Xiue, I'll tell you. But you must not spread it around."
"Go to the small alley in the west gate. Look for someone called Master Liao Er. He should have what you're looking for."
"That person has some background behind him. Be careful when you deal with him. Of course, he's also well-known, and generally, he won't bully newcomers."
Zhao Da Gang said mysteriously. Chen Yang nodded earnestly and thanked him.
He had no other choice. For some less important goods, Wang Xiue could probably help him get them. However, for highly sought-after items like the "three turns and one bell," or cigarettes and famous wines, there were strict restrictions. Without ration coupons, they couldn't be bought in the department store.
Since Chen Yang wanted to get a share of that magnate's fortune, he naturally had to be prepared. He couldn't just go with two turtles like he did to the aquatic products station last time.
Driving the donkey cart all the way to the small alley in the west gate of the county town that Zhao Da Gang mentioned, Chen Yang indeed noticed something unusual.
The people coming and going here were all in a hurry, even with a hint of vigilance.
Chen Yang didn't make a fuss. He observed silently and finally found a small teahouse where people were coming and going with noticeable frequency.
Having found his destination, Chen Yang wasted no time. He tied up the donkey cart and entered the teahouse.
"Hello, honored guest. Would you prefer Maojian or Tieguanyin?"
As soon as he entered, a man with a sweat towel draped over his shoulder smiled and spoke to Chen Yang, like a waiter in an old-fashioned teahouse.
"I'm looking for Master Er."
Chen Yang didn't know the specific rules. After all, Zhao Da Gang probably only heard it from someone else, let alone told him. So, Chen Yang didn't overthink it and got straight to the point.
"Esteemed guest, you must be here for the first time. You probably don't know our rules yet."
The waiter still had a slight smile, but Chen Yang could tell that the old fellow was sizing him up.
"Since we're doing business openly, what is there to be afraid of? It's like we're stealing. I've come to get some supplies from Master Liao Er."
Chen Yang smiled faintly and took out a few large ten-yuan bills from his pocket. Sometimes, pretending to be a bit slow could avoid a lot of trouble, even if it meant being overcharged.
Anyway, he just wanted to buy things. As for the price, he would know once he saw the goods and wouldn't be truly fleeced.
"Brother, you're a straightforward person."
"Master Er is on the second floor. I'll take you up."
Seeing the large ten-yuan bills in Chen Yang's hand, the waiter's demeanor immediately changed. Chen Yang didn't mind.
In just a moment, in a rather elegant room on the second floor, a middle-aged man with a goatee appeared in front of Chen Yang.
"Master Er, two cartons of Da Qianmen cigarettes and one bicycle ration coupon. Name your price. If the price is reasonable, I'll take them."
Chen Yang didn't beat around the bush. He wasn't so idle as to play along with the secretive methods of a ticket tout.
"Straightforward."
"Da Qianmen is four yuan per carton, so two cartons are eight yuan. The Phoenix brand bicycle ration coupon is twenty yuan each."
Master Liao Er put down his teacup and said calmly. Chen Yang's mouth twitched. This old fellow was really trying to swindle him.
"Master Er, I'll be direct. You're not the only one who has these goods. I've also inquired about the market price. Da Qianmen is thirty-five cents per pack, so three yuan and fifty per carton.
A bicycle coupon is ten yuan each. Even for a Phoenix brand, it shouldn't double in price. Fifteen yuan is the maximum."
"Twenty-two yuan. If it's acceptable, I'll take them. If not, forget it."
Chen Yang took out two large ten-yuan bills from his pocket, added two yuan, and placed them on the table, then glanced at Master Liao Er.
"I misjudged. I thought you were just starting out in business, young man."
"Agreed."
Master Liao Er glanced at Chen Yang, said no more, and directly took out two cartons of Da Qianmen cigarettes and a bicycle coupon from the cabinet behind him.
After getting the goods, Chen Yang drove the donkey cart towards the county's large restaurant.
He still remembered when he married Shen Xue, they came to the county town, and Shen Xue passed by the big restaurant, smelled the aroma of roasted chicken ordered by others, and held his arm saying to him.
"Chen Yang, if I could eat roasted chicken from the big restaurant with you in this life, that would be enough."
Chen Yang had always remembered the look of infatuation on Shen Xue's face as she gazed at the roasted chicken in the big restaurant.
Ten yuan for a roasted chicken!
You must know that at that time, they could only afford one roasted chicken a year with their earnings without eating or drinking.
He and Shen Xue could only look enviously at the guests eating roasted chicken in the big restaurant, not even daring to step across the threshold.
"Master, give me a roasted chicken, wrap it in kraft paper."
Stopping the donkey cart, Chen Yang spoke to the master chef behind the glass display. It was the same chef, the same bright red roasted chicken hanging on the hook.
Even through the glass, the aroma of roasted chicken wafted.
"Ten yuan each."
It was still the same price as that year. The chef took the roasted chicken off the hook, quickly wrapped it in dried lotus leaves, then tied it with kraft paper and a string, and handed it out from the small window of the glass display, taking a large ten-yuan bill from Chen Yang.
Carrying the roasted chicken, Chen Yang's steps felt lighter.
Eating roasted chicken had been Shen Xue's long-cherished wish. Now, he could finally help her fulfill it.