Chapter 373: A hidden trade organization in the city
Night had not yet fallen, and a group of people from Yanjing City arrived at the gate of Beihai Park early.
Since the large-scale lantern festival in Beihai Park was officially opened, the Tourism Bureau, which originally only wanted to earn a sum of foreign exchange, unexpectedly received a sum of RMB.
Faced with lantern viewing tickets priced at 2 yuan for foreign guests and as much as 50 cents for domestic guests, the people of the capital and international friends still flocked in without fear.
In 1980, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Beijing had soared to 23,000 per month.
This sudden way of making money day and night in Beihai Park really opened the eyes of the tourism bureau.
"This is really unintentional,"
Lu Xuzhang, who was sitting in the ticket office, looked at the ticket queue outside the window with great satisfaction:
“Originally, these lanterns were just for the propaganda department to shoot an advertisement, but we never thought they would make us a lot of money.”
"Who says it's not?" Hou Xijiu, director of the Tourism Bureau, strongly agreed with the director's point of view: "The main reason is that this lantern show is so beautiful. I have never even heard of some of the styles in it."
"Don't say it's you," Lu Xuzhang looked at the other party and said with a smile: "This is the first time for me, the head of the government, to meet him. I don't know where he heard the news about Xiao Jiang. Each one is more strange than the last."
"Xiao Jiang is a reporter himself, and that guy has heard everything..."
Suddenly, Director Hou stopped talking: "Bureau Lu, look at who is that at the window?"
"Huh?" Lu Xuzhang quickly turned around and said, "Hey!"
The young man standing outside the ticket window at this time is the Jiangshan they just mentioned!
"Comrade,"
Holding a piece of paper with a sign of unity, he stretched his head and asked, "Does the child want a ticket?"
"Hello comrade,"
Today's conductor had a particularly good attitude: "As long as your child's height is less than one meter, you don't need to buy a ticket."
Jiang Shan nodded, assuming that it was not up to standard: "Then give me five cards if you are bothered."
"Xiaojiang?"
Suddenly, two heads popped up behind the conductor: "It's really you!"
Jiang Shan, who was hanging up his waist, took a closer look and saw that it was Lu Xuzhang and Hou Xijiu.
At this moment, the two of them were looking at him and laughing.
"Director Lu?" Jiang Shan was shocked: "Director Hou? Why did you two get here?"
"This silly boy," Lu Xuzhang smacked his lips and cursed: "When he is smart, he is better than a ghost, and when he is stupid, he is stupider than a pig."
"Xiao Jiang," Director Hou said with a smile and a wink: "Hurry up and get the change, go in and look at the lights!"
"okay!"
After receiving the instructions from the conductor, Jiang Shan said hello, turned around and went about his own business.
But just this gorgeous turn has already dazzled the surrounding people.
Looking at what the other party was wearing today, Hou Xijiu at the ticket office couldn't help but ask: "Why did he come here wearing this? Is there still some unfinished footage?"
"It shouldn't be,"
Lu Xuzhang also frowned: "It is said that the film is almost finished...Besides, it is full of people, so he can't even if he wants to."
After talking about this, the two of them looked at Jiangshan who had gone away.
Among the crowd, several comrades in strange clothes walked into Beihai Park under the watch of Director Lu and Director Hou.
At this moment, not to mention the two leaders of the Tourism Bureau, all the people passing by Da Jiangshan and his party were looking at them curiously.
Jiang Shan and Jiang He, who were dressed in Ming Dynasty costumes, took their two children and walked straight to their destination after entering.
Gradually, Huang Yongyu and Wang Shixiang, who were dressed normally, began to distance themselves from them.
"How did they do it so naturally?" Wang Shixiang admired the courage of the Jiangshan brothers as they walked.
"Ask me and I'll ask who to go to," Huang Yongyu looked at the people chatting and laughing in front of him: "As long as they are happy, it's good that we keep our distance."
"You have to keep a certain distance." Wang Shixiang looked at the eyes of the crowd and said, "It's almost attracting crowds to watch."
After returning home on the day of filming, Xiaoyu and Xiaobai expressed their aggrieved requests to see the lantern festival again.
After that, as long as time permits, the second uncle and the third uncle will take their two children to Beihai Park to visit the night market.
However, compared to before, this was the first time that we were dressed up like today for visiting the park.
Although the sky was still bright at this time, Beihai Park was already a sea of lanterns.
Exhibiting lighting groups from Yanjing, Zigong, Pujiang, Nanjing, Cangzhou... many cities have been gathered to decorate every corner of the park.
Every step brings a scene, a lantern, and even the lake is decorated with colorful floating lanterns.
Facing this scene, not to mention the tourists with sparkling eyes, even Jiang Shan, who was accustomed to seeing the big world, felt that Beihai Park at this moment was as beautiful as the world.
He was not the only one here, many foreign guests who lingered here also felt like he was visiting again.
Red satin embroidery, unicorn on the shoulder, brocade flying fish, lotus leaf trim...
At this moment, in front of the glazed nine-dragon wall in Beihai Park, two brothers from the Jiang family were dressed in flying fish suits and unicorn robes.
One hand is holding an embroidered spring knife, and the other hand is holding a child in plain clothes.
With its stylish pace and fancy accessories, as the most handsome civil servant uniform in history, it blends in with the royal garden without any doubt.
"Sisi,"
Jiang Shan picked up Jiang Xiaobai, who was wearing a golden python robe: "Here, take a picture of us two."
Yu Sigui, who was following him, immediately picked up his camera: "One, two,"
Jiang Shan, Jiang Xiaobai: “Eggplant!”
After taking one picture, the second uncle and Xiaoyu were replaced.
The family was laughing and joking, and after exchanging several combinations, a group of foreign guests gathered around finally couldn't bear it anymore.
"Excuse me," one of the American people smiled very friendly: "Can I take a photo with you?"
They didn't expect that Chinese classical costumes could be so dazzling and noble.
Especially against the backdrop of colorful lights, it's so handsome that it's almost unbelievable.
After hearing the other party's proposal, Jiang Shan said nothing.
The next second, the fake model made several gestures with the embroidered spring knife in his hand.
Even though none of them are regular soldiers, there is still no problem in fooling foreign guests.
Sure enough, after a few tricks were played, they were effective immediately, and several foreign guests who were already ready to make a move came over.
He also made a request to Jiangshan for a group photo.
“Ladies and gentleman,”
At this time, Yu Sigui took out an A4 square notice board from his bag:
"Artistic group photo is 5 yuan per person. Which actor you like can sign up with me..."
As soon as he finished speaking, many foreign guests gathered around him.
Daqing is still a paid item, why didn’t you tell me earlier!
In 1980, compared with my country's per capita GDP, which was 140 times higher, this small "5 yuan" was nothing to the American people.
Therefore, Yu Sigui, who was busy collecting money and taking photos of customers part-time, soon became overwhelmed.
Seeing this scene, Huang Yongyu and Wang Shixiang, who had been standing not far away, looked at each other in surprise.
"It costs 5 yuan to take a photo, and there are actually people willing to do it?"
Wang Shixiang stood on tiptoe and looked: "The key business is quite prosperous!"
"In this case," Huang Yongyu took a step forward: "Let's not be idle anymore."
"Walk!"
Soon, after the two old comrades joined the business, the costume photo business in front of the Nine Dragon Wall grew in an orderly manner.
Facing the overseas tourists who kept coming for new things, Yu Sigui and Wang Shixiang were like two bus conductors, holding money between their left fingers and writing down names with their right hands.
The two of them exchanged Japanese, English and German at will, without any delay.
On the other side, Huang Yongyu, who had just made tofu and popsicles for Jiangshan, was using Cantonese to educate tourists in Hong Kong about the history and culture of Jin Yiwei and not eunuchs.
Seeing this posture, Director Hou, who had just rushed over to watch the excitement, was stunned: "Are there any people like this who can't do it? This is too outrageous!"
"There are experts among the masses." Director Lu also did not expect that this team of comrades could deal with foreign guests so smoothly: "The key is that these people can work in the hall and in the kitchen, and they can earn any amount of money with ease."
After his reminder, Director Hou noticed the money in the hands of Yu Sigui and Wang Shixiang.
Xu really can't take it anymore.
The next second, a stack of dazzling foreign exchange coupons was put into a small leather bag.
Director Hou was shocked when he saw this scene: "Bureau Lu, why do I feel that this money is more profitable than Wenhui Popsicles?"
"I think so too." Lu Xuzhang felt that this plan was very good: "It even saves costs."
Labor is not considered a cost to them.
"Organize more manpower and find more costumes," Director Lu thought quickly: "Not only here, we can decorate several spots in the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace..."
While the two officials from the tourism bureau were observing the study, Jiang Shan, who was wearing a flying fish suit, led his group to the next scenic spot.
"Let's go," Lu Xuzhang pointed forward: "Let's follow closely."
At the next stop, Jiang Shan, who was already familiar with the routine, arrived at 7 o'clock at the place where large box lights were hung next to Yong'an Bridge.
"Third uncle," Jiang Xiaobai loves to look at this lamp: "I want to raise it high."
Xiaobai yelled that he was holding him high, but he was actually riding on his third uncle's neck.
Soon, when Jiang Shan and Jiang He picked up the two children, the most exciting box light show in the audience finally began.
Layers of colorful lanterns bloomed, creating a wonderful show amidst the exclamations of the crowd.
Journey to the West, The List of Gods, The White Snake, God’s Blessing, Goddess Scattering Flowers...the content was as exciting as opening a blind box, attracting the foreign guests who were watching around and quickly raised their cameras.
Although they had watched it many times, Jiang Xiaoyu and Jiang Xiaobai still stared hard with their eyes wide open.
"Is it fun?" Jiang Shan pinched Xiao Bai's cheek.
"It's fun," Jiang Xiaobai nodded vigorously: "Uncle Third, can I still buy a bunny today?"
“You still want to buy a rabbit lantern?”
Jiang Shan really couldn’t understand why Xiao Bai loved rabbit lanterns so much: “What does sister want today?”
Jiang Xiaoyu touched the necklace pendant on his chest: "I want to eat candied haws."
At this moment, facing the envious looks of the little girls around him, Xiaoyuer was already very sweet even if he didn't eat the candied haws.
"Second uncle, can I also buy a rabbit lantern after buying candied haws on a stick?" Jiang Xiaoyu suddenly thought of a very important question.
"Buy it," the second uncle rubbed his little niece's head: "What else do you want? I'll buy it for you one by one in a while."
Just kidding, the foreign exchange earned by Jiulongbi just now was also due to the contribution of the two children.
When Jiang He thought of this, he immediately took up his stance again.
Sure enough, within a few minutes, another cross-border business came to the door.
But this time, before they could sell their bodies a few times, trouble started.
"Which unit do you belong to?"
Two park rangers with red armbands came over and asked sharply: "What are you doing here?"
"Who gave you permission to charge here?"
Seeing this scene, Director Hou, who was hiding aside, prepared to reveal his true identity.
Just as he reached for his work permit, Director Lu grabbed him: "Don't worry, let's see the boy's reaction first."
When Director Hou heard this, he took back his steps and watched the fun together with the other party.
"Hello comrade,"
At this moment, Jiang Shan, who was wearing Feiyu uniform, had already greeted him with a smile.
"We are from the Propaganda Department," Jiang Shan accepted the two letters of introduction handed over by Yu Sigui in time: "Those two old comrades are from the Ministry of Culture..."
"Are you from the Propaganda Department?" The two administrators carefully checked the two letters of introduction:
"What are your two departments...?"
"Co-working," Jiang Shan said in a low voice with a smile on his face: "We are providing local special services to foreign guests."
The two administrators holding the letters of introduction discussed in a low voice and then returned the letters of introduction to Jiang Shan.
"Pay attention to safety and contact us if necessary."
"Then we'll thank you in advance."
…
Watching the two red armbands leave, Jiang Shan, who was about to turn around, spotted two familiar figures in the crowd.
"Are the two leaders here to experience life among the people?"
"You are so poor." When Lu Xuzhang became a spirit, Jiang Shan still didn't know where he was: "Is this what the government's letter of introduction is for you?"
Seeing Lu Xuzhang pretending to be angry, Jiang Shan also pretended to be frightened: "Conscientious leader of heaven and earth, although we have gained a little bit today, the more important thing is that we are here to find out the truth for our tourism bureau's new revenue project.
"
Lu Xuzhang listened to Jiang Shankou's "A little gain?" while looking at the 5 yuan on the left side of the river, and the 5 yuan on the other side.
"Find out the truth for us?" Lu Xuzhang smiled and glanced at Jiangshan: "Xiao Jiang, just tell the truth, how much extra money can you make... No, is it a way to make foreign exchange?"
"Look over there,"
Jiang Shan pointed at the river that was acting as the background:
"In addition to taking photos with costumes and art, we can also provide posing projects in sedan chairs and rental projects of traditional costumes..."
By the mid-1980s, people could pay to take turns sitting on the throne in the Jinluan Palace.
"When these paid projects are launched," Jiang Shan actively introduced: "You can take some demonstration photos in advance and post them on billboards to take the lead."
Lu Xuzhang: "Then what are you wearing?"
"A month ago, our crew commissioned a craft textile factory to imitate a batch of Ming Dynasty costumes.
Several of them were not delivered in time due to complex workmanship.
In order not to cause losses to the factory, I paid for it myself,"
Jiang Shan pointed to the totem on his sleeve and said, "Look at the workmanship, how good it is!"
Can it be good? These are all hand-sewn jerseys.
Lu Xuzhang, who passed by the silk cloth shop, really touched the material and said, "Well, it is indeed a good thing. You know the goods well."
"Of course," Jiang Shante said proudly, "My father is the workshop director of a garment factory."
"It's no wonder,"
Lu Xuzhang smiled and nodded, then changed his tone in the next second: "Then the news that you want to buy a house in the capital, your father also knows?"
"You...how did you know this?"
"Yesterday when you were at the housing management office with a smiling face and looked at other people's cold butts, my people were watching right next to you!"
"Who? Why didn't I find it?"
"Do you still remember the comrade who reported to the Xu Beihong Memorial Hall?"
"He was there yesterday?"
Director Lu nodded: "He was in the back office at the time."
"I see!"
"Why don't you call me about buying a house?"
Jiang Shan said truthfully: "You are so busy, I can't bother you whenever something happens!"
"I can keep bothering you, why can't you bother me?"
Unconsciously, Lu Xuzhang regarded Jiangshan as one of his own:
"If you encounter this kind of thing in the future, just come to me. It's not like you won't pay the rent."
Jiang Shan quickly said: "Here, you won't pay a penny less!"
"That's it, you can go directly to the housing management office tomorrow to complete the procedures."
Jiang Shan: "Huh?"
"Remember," Lu Xuzhang looked at Xiao Jiang and said seriously: "In the future, you are no longer allowed to ask for help for these things. Come directly to me!"
