Chapter 35: The spring breeze of reform blows everywhere
The winter of 1981 was colder than before, but with the cold came the spring breeze of reform.
Reform and opening up has entered its third year, and many policies have been loosened. The cotton spinning factory where Song Ying and Huang Ling work is a large state-owned enterprise and has been included in the pilot reform of state-owned enterprises.
Factory leaders used a series of management methods to improve production efficiency, but the sales channels and sales volume of the planned economy were fixed. Products that exceeded the plan were backlogged in the warehouse and could not be sold at all.
At the same time, the factory has continued to accept educated youths from the anti-urban areas in recent years. They are getting in but not getting out. Not only has the efficiency of the cotton spinning factory not increased, but the more reforms it takes, the more losses there are.
Therefore, after a meeting of the factory leadership team, it was decided to launch two measures: "breaking the wall to open a store" and "suspension of wages and employment".
The so-called "breaking the wall to open a store" is to tear down the factory wall and rent it to self-employed individuals to open stores. Once it was launched, it aroused unanimous praise from self-employed individuals and the majority of cotton mill workers.
Various small shops have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, offering haircuts, breakfast, and shoe repair. Factory employees can enjoy various conveniences without leaving home, and the service attitude of these small shops is unmatched by state-owned stores.
As for "suspension without pay", there were loud calls, but very few people responded.
In Song Ying's words.
"Although the wages in the factory are low, the job is stable and medical expenses can be reimbursed. Only when you are crazy will you give up a good job and not become self-employed."
"Anyway, we don't dislike the low wages given by the factory, and the factory doesn't dislike us for being lazy. It's best if we all live in peace."
On this day, Li Yiming suddenly came to the small courtyard and stopped Lin Wufeng who was about to go to work.
When Lin Wufeng was a little confused, Li Yiming took out the framed industrial and commercial business license from behind. This was the first batch of self-employed business licenses in Suzhou. Li Yiming was also at the forefront of the times.
After congratulating and praising Li Yiming, Lin Wufeng hurried to work without talking to him much, got on his bicycle and left.
A few minutes later, Li Yiming walked into the small courtyard. Song Ying and Huang Ling were working in middle school today, so they were both at home. Li Yiming took out a magazine, which contained many fashionable sweater styles and specific stitches.
.
Under the "bewitchment" of Li Yiming and Wu Zhang Datong, Song Ying and Huang Ling decided to take up this part-time job as a handicraft to earn some pocket money after get off work every day.
Song Ying was nimble and good at knitting coasters, scarves and other small items with a short construction period. Huang Ling was skilled at knitting large items like sweaters and waistcoats. Over time, both of them made a lot of money from Li Yiming.
There are more smiles on my face than usual.
"Thanks to Yiming, otherwise the salary paid by the factory would not be enough for our Tunan."
Song Ying's hand movements paused: "Teacher Zhuang has been promoted to dean, doesn't his salary increase by one level?"
"Although the salary has been increased, the subsidies such as college entrance examination examination papers are gone. Moreover, as soon as Chaoying's salary was increased, his parents called him back. No need to guess, I knew they were eyeing the extra salary.
Well, I just pretend I don’t know. It’s useless to mention it anyway. There’s no point in annoying people. Now that I have a salary, I can still make extra money by knitting sweaters. Even one person can support Tunan and Xiaoting. Let him do the rest.
Bar."
Song Ying felt aggrieved for Huang Ling: "This Teacher Zhuang usually seems quite normal, but why is he so unclear about family matters? His parents are his family, Sister Ling, you, Tunan, and Xiaoting are not his family.
Human?"
Huang Ling in turn comforted Song Ying: "Okay, let's not talk about it anymore. Your family's situation is much better than ours. Why do you want to take risks with me to make extra money?"
"Our family's situation is indeed better, but our family's expenses are also high. Lin Dongzhe is greedy. I like to buy beautiful clothes. Who would complain about having too much money?"
"Besides, wouldn't this allow me to have a companion with Sister Ling? It's boring to knit alone, but how nice it would be for two of us to chat while weaving together."
Huang Ling was moved for a moment. She knew that Song Ying was trying to comfort herself. The combined salaries of Lin Wufeng and Song Ying were enough to support a family of three. Qin Hao received a subsidy of twenty yuan a month, and the school also provided meal subsidies, and he could also get one from time to time.
For the champion, Suzhou Sports Bureau and Jiangsu Sports Bureau will give out bonuses, which are too much to spend. Song Ying mainly wants to accompany her and make some money on the way.
Just when Huang Ling's tears were about to overflow from her eyes, a loud "bang" startled them.
As soon as Lin Dongzhe heard the news, he immediately ran into the house.
"Here comes the popcorn popper."
The atmosphere was instantly destroyed. Huang Ling immediately put back her tears. Song Ying rolled her eyes at Lin Dongzhe angrily and took out a few dimes from her pocket.
"Go to the kitchen and serve a bowl of rice. Don't fry too much, or you'll get angry if you eat too much."
"Okay." Lin Dongzhe happily went to the kitchen to serve rice after getting the money, and even called Zhuang Xiaoting to join him.
The movement of popcorn quickly attracted the children in the alley. A group of people lined up in front of the popcorn stand, staring eagerly at the old man's movements. Some of them were anxious and wished they could replace the old man and spin the popcorn machine.
It happened that Wu Shanshan and Xiao Jun were also waiting in line to pop popcorn. After waiting in line for a long time, it was finally Lin Dongzhe's turn. Zhuang Xiaoting suddenly heard the ringing of a bicycle ring outside the alley and looked over immediately.
"My brother and Brother Hao are back."
Wu Shanshan's eyes lit up. She looked at Zhuang Tunan's figure from far away, and the smile on her face gradually bloomed.
"Brother Hao, pop the popcorn, we will be here soon." Lin Dongzhe approached Qin Hao as if he was offering a treasure.
Qin Hao stopped his bicycle and handed him a copy of "Legends of Modern and Ancient Times". This was a magazine just released this year. It caused a sensation as soon as it was released. The serialized novel "Legends of Wudang Mountain" made Lin Dongzhe feel itchy.
I never fell behind in following each issue, and I even had the urge to go to Wudang Mountain to learn martial arts.
"Brother Hao, you are my real brother, no, closer than my real brother."
Zhuang Tunan on the side also handed Wu Shanshan a copy of "Grudge".
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Where did you get the latest issue? I couldn't borrow it anywhere."
Zhuang Tunan: "In the library of No. 1 Middle School, only high school students can borrow books, and junior high school students can only read in the library..."
Speaking of this, Zhuang Tunan seemed to remember something and looked at Qin Hao: "Except him."
Lin Dongzhe was not interested in "buds" at all. He held up modern and ancient legends and said disdainfully: "What sprouts, harvest, October, what is there to see? A man is talking to himself in the village with a dog, you still
I cried when I watched it, inexplicably, it is not 100% as good as my Legend of Wudang Mountain."
Wu Shanshan did not refute, but smiled expectantly: "I never thought about taking the high school entrance examination before. Ever since I read the magazines that Zhuang Tunan and Qin Hao borrowed from school, I felt that No. 1 Middle School was really not good enough.
Likewise, the books in it are not available to borrow outside, and the things discussed are things I have never thought of, and they are very in-depth."
Zhuang Tunan nodded: "Yes, war and peace, turmoil and reflection, there is a broader world in the book."
Lin Dongzhe nuzzled his lips: "What is victory and peace, turmoil and reflection, peace can only come after fighting. In the future, I will become a martial arts master, and I will draw my sword to help when encountering injustice!"
Qin Hao was amused for a while. Lin Dongzhe could always make unreasonable things very reasonable, but his dream of becoming a martial arts master might be difficult to realize, because when Lin Wufeng checked his homework at night, he took out a book from his schoolbag.
In this short story, a mixed doubles match between husband and wife, which had not been performed for a long time, reappeared in the small courtyard.
During the process, Song Ying said to Lin Wufeng sincerely: "Lin Wufeng, I developed a new love for you during the class struggle with Lin Dongzhe."
Unfortunately, Lin Dongzhe became the catalyst to inspire his parents' love and silently endured everything.
The banker next door was not peaceful either. Huang Ling and Zhuang Chaoying were chatting after dinner and talked about the love affairs of some men and women in the middle school attached to the cotton spinning factory, which once again aroused Huang Ling's worries.
Although there is no sign of Zhuang Tunan falling in love now, Wu Shanshan's frequency of coming to the courtyard has increased significantly recently, either to borrow magazines or notes and exercises, at least several times a week.
"That's not necessarily for Tunan, right? I don't think Shanshan also asked Haozi to borrow magazines for her?" Zhuang Chaoying said nonchalantly.
Huang Ling immediately retorted: "How can it be the same? Shanshan borrows magazines from Tu Nan significantly more often, and Haozi is only twelve years old this year, what can he understand?"
"That's not necessarily true. Although Haozi is young, he is precocious and grows quickly. He is about to be taller than Tunan. He doesn't look like he is twelve years old at all."
Huang Ling was speechless for a moment.
"You still don't know what Zhang Amei is thinking. She plans to let Xiao Min get close to Hao Zi. Shanshan is very smart. She won't argue with Xiao Min."
Zhuang Chaoying looked confused: "When did it happen? Why didn't I know?"
Huang Ling was completely speechless: "Everyone in this alley who is not stupid can see it, but you don't know."
"Then what are you going to do? You can't tell Shanshan not to borrow magazines from Tu Nan in the future, right? It will hurt the child's self-esteem." Zhuang Chaoying was a little embarrassed and began to change the topic.
Huang Ling grimaced: "This is also what I am worried about. Tunan has just entered high school and will graduate in the second half of next year. I am afraid of him..."
Just when the couple was at a loss what to do, the next day, Zhuang Chaoying and his wife were invited over by Wu Jianguo. Zhang Amei also complimented Zhuang Chaoying for a while, praising Zhuang Chaoying to the sky, and then started talking about business.
The purpose of inviting Zhuang Chaoying this time was to ask him to help with the children's school entrance exams. Xiao Min and Wu Shanshan were about to face the high school entrance exams when school started again.
According to Zhang Amei's idea, Xiao Min should go to a textile technical school. After graduation, she can directly take Wu Jianguo's class. However, Wu Jianguo only has one place. Xiao Min will not be able to enter the cotton spinning factory if he takes Wu Shanshan. In the 1980s, a stable job was
Zhuang Chaoying knew what it meant, but it was Wu Jianguo's family matter and he couldn't say anything.
But Huang Ling couldn't stand it: "What about Shanshan?"
Zhang Amei could only say: "Shanshan is good at studying and won't be able to use this quota."
Wu Jianguo meant that Wu Shanshan should go to a technical secondary school and choose between a nursing school and a normal school. After graduation, she would have good employment prospects.
"But, how come I heard that Shanshan wants to take the No. 1 high school entrance examination?"
"Hey, what's so good about getting into high school? You may not be able to get into university in the future. It's safer to go to technical secondary school."
Now Huang Ling understood that Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei had already discussed it long ago. The purpose of inviting them here was to use this conversation to tell Wu Shanshan not to have any illusions.
After returning home, the more Huang Ling thought about it, the more uncomfortable she became, but Zhuang Chaoying said: "Isn't this just what you wanted? If Shanshan goes to a technical secondary school, it is even more impossible for her to be with Tunan."
"I just don't want Tunan's college entrance examination to be affected. I have no objection to Shanshan."
Zhuang Chaoying shook her head: "Then if Shanshan goes to a technical secondary school and Tunan goes to university, and they get together in the future, are you willing to accept such a daughter-in-law?"
Huang Ling fell silent. She worked hard to support her son in going to college. She must have wanted her son to find a wife with better conditions in all aspects and start a family.
In the blink of an eye, it’s Spring Festival again. During this year’s Spring Festival, not only the state-owned stores in Suzhou are open to supply pork, but also many individual small shops are selling various New Year’s goods. For example, Lu Gaoxian’s sauced meat and Huang Tianyuan’s cakes have become hot sellers.
goods.
While Song Ying is happy that she now has a lot more supplies for the New Year, she can't help but sigh: "Now I can't help but spend more and more money. I want to buy more and more things, but my salary is still the same."
Huang Ling also had the same feeling: "Yeah, a few years ago, I saw Yiming working as a self-employed person setting up a stall, hiding here and there, and felt sorry for him, but now it's good that he earns as much in a month as we do in a year."
"Then I'm not envious. It's all Yiming's earned. Anyway, I can't bear the hardship."
The two of them continued chatting while eating fried meatballs together.
"By the way, I heard that Uncle Haozi came back some time ago. Didn't he cause any trouble?"
Song Ying lowered her voice and said: "No, Qin Jianjun seemed to be a different person when he came back this time. He looked at least ten years older. When he came back, he moved away some of the furniture he bought when he was here. He didn't stay with his parents.
Have a meal before leaving."
"Then Haozi is still celebrating the New Year at your house this year? His grandparents didn't make any trouble?"
Song Ying shook her head: "Haozi has a good idea. The old couple pretended not to hear anything Haozi said. They are still living in Haozi's house and don't dare to cause too much trouble."
"Oh, if only our Chaoying could be half as decisive as Haozi..." Huang Ling sighed.
Song Ying didn't know how to comfort Huang Ling for a while. She had never seen a husband like Zhuang Chaoying who put his parents first. She thought he was wrong. He was quite filial and had a good reputation outside.
Huang Ling married a good man, but in fact only she knew the pain in her heart.
"Mom, are the meatballs fried yet?" Lin Dongzhe appeared out of nowhere, startling both Song Ying and Huang Ling.
"When did you come in?"
"Just when you said that Uncle Zhuang would be half as good as Brother Hao."
Song Ying's face turned dark, she took out a dustpan full of freshly fried meatballs and was about to bribe Lin Dongzhe.
As a result, Lin Dongzhe said something that made both of them laugh and cry.
"Brother Hao is the most powerful person in the world. It's normal for Uncle Zhuang not to be half as good as Brother Hao. Aunt Huang, don't be sad."