Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 792 Aftershocks and Undercurrents
Siheyuan.

"Too late! Too late! Oh my god, we've lost a fortune! We've lost everything!"

Yan Bugui stood with his hands behind his back, spinning around in his house like a top, his brows furrowed in a deep frown, muttering to himself.

He received the news in the morning and rushed to the supply and marketing cooperative, only to find a line of people thicker than a city wall and a salesperson waving a hoarse voice shouting, "Sold out! All gone!"

He didn't even get a decent bar of soap, let alone the thermos he wanted to buy for his home.

At that moment, all he could think about was the joy on the faces of those who had taken the thermos before him.

"Honey, stop wandering around, you're making me dizzy!" The third aunt sat on the edge of the kang with a gloomy look on her face, holding a needle and thread but not in the mood to sew.

"Who would have thought the news would spread so fast? We rushed as fast as we could, but we were still too late! Now, we'll need extra coupons for everything we buy next month, this is going to be the death of us!"

"Cloth and cotton coupons were already so stingy, and now there are industrial coupons too! It's like an old lady celebrating the New Year, getting worse every year!"

Just as the Yan family was shrouded in gloom, a sharp, piercing wail, tinged with sobs, pierced through the thin wall and exploded in the courtyard:

"Damn it! Who was the wicked person who stole everything?! They didn't even leave me a bar of soap! They're not letting us orphans and widows survive!"

"Old Jia! Dongxu! Open your eyes and see! These people outside are bullying our Jia family! They're taking advantage of us immensely!"

It was Jia Zhangshi.

She slapped her thigh, sat on her own doorstep, and her voice was so shrill it could lift the roof off.

She arrived even later than Yanbugui, and by then, not only were the scarce goods gone, but even the dust in the corner of the counter had been almost swept away by the crowd.

The immense sense of loss caused her unbearable pain, as if the whole world owed her a mountain of gold and silver.

Her howl instantly ignited the already despondent and anxious atmosphere in the courtyard.

"Stop howling! Who stole it from you? Whose fault is it that you're slow?"

"Exactly! The supply and marketing cooperative isn't owned by your Jia family! It's common for people to arrive late and not be able to buy anything. Who are you trying to fool with your wailing!"

"She's just jealous because she saw others buy it!"

"Hmph, always trying to take advantage, always feeling bad when they're at a disadvantage!"

The buzzing of voices was mixed with dissatisfaction towards Jia Zhangshi and frustration at not having managed to snatch anything.

The courtyard wasn't too far from the supply and marketing cooperative; it usually only took about ten minutes to walk there. But today, those ten minutes felt incredibly long.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves, and everyone at home couldn't help but complain a few times.

"Useless! Two grown men, and you couldn't even get a thermos back! You're all so big, what a waste! Useless!"

Liu Haizhong, with his pregnant belly protruding, held several greasy tickets in his hand and scolded his two sons with a stern face.

The brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu hung their heads, not daring to breathe.

They did go and squeezed in, but there were too many people and they couldn't exert their strength. They could only manage to snatch back two slightly better packs of cigarettes for Liu Haizhong.

"You two stay at the supply and marketing cooperative for the next three days! Come back when you've bought everything!"

With a three-day holiday for National Day, the two brothers have plenty of time. If we don't send them, are we going to make them do it themselves?

"Who are you cursing? Who are you cursing!" Jia Zhangshi's temper flared up immediately after being scolded by everyone.

Everyone was angry and naturally wouldn't tolerate her!
"So what if I curse you! You old fool, you never get the benefit you want and you always end up losing out, you're such a greedy pig!"

Just as chaos and resentment filled the courtyard, several figures hurriedly entered the yard.

Leading the group was Director Wang from the subdistrict office, followed by several clerks, all with solemn expressions and sweat beading on their foreheads.

Clearly, they had already searched more than one courtyard.

"Quiet!" Director Wang stood in the center of the courtyard: "Everyone, come to the central courtyard for a moment, there's something urgent!"

While Jia Zhangshi was arguing with someone, she was suddenly interrupted by Director Wang and dared not say a word. Everyone gradually arrived at the Intermediate People's Court.

All eyes were on Director Wang, filled with resentment, doubt, and a glimmer of hope that perhaps there would be some turning point.
"I bet everyone went to the supply and marketing cooperative early this morning, right? I know many people didn't get what they wanted, and they're feeling anxious and resentful!"

Director Wang went straight to the door to meet him.

"I know you have many questions and complaints about this 'daily industrial goods purchase voucher'. Today, I'm here on behalf of the neighborhood committee to explain the policy to you, and I also ask everyone to calm down!"

"Director Wang, what's going on with these coupons? Isn't this just a way to strangle ordinary people like us?"

"Yes, Director Wang! We already have enough tickets, and now they're adding coupons! Aren't they trying to drive us crazy?"

Hearing everyone's complaints, Director Wang raised his voice to quell the commotion: "Everyone, let me explain!"

"The fundamental reason for implementing these industrial vouchers is to address the current shortage of supplies! The country is facing difficulties, and the production of light industrial products cannot keep up with demand!"

"If we don't control it and let the panic buying run rampant, the market order will be disrupted, and those who really need it may not be able to buy any at all!"

"What we're working on now is these coupons, which are designed to supply limited goods to everyone in a more equitable and planned way."

Director Wang, following the spirit of the document, tried his best to explain the policy intentions of "balancing resources" and "ensuring basic needs".

"Think about it, if someone hoards and speculates like today, buying several thermos flasks at once, what will happen to the people who come after? Won't they be even less able to buy them?"

"The purpose of this coupon is to give everyone the opportunity to buy what they need most."

Director Wang's explanation sounded weak and ineffective to the neighbors who had experienced the frenzied buying spree at the supply and marketing cooperative and the harsh reality of "first come, first served," and even seemed somewhat like someone talking without understanding the situation.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai, one of the oldest residents of the courtyard, stepped forward.

"Director Wang, what you say makes sense, but reason is reason, and life is life!"

"Everyone's scared! They're scared that starting next month, the industrial vouchers will be stuck, and they won't be able to buy anything! They're grabbing them today just to have peace of mind."

Yi Zhonghai had already fired, so Liu Haizhong naturally couldn't be a step behind.

"Exactly! Plans, plans, can they feed us? Can they clothe us? We ordinary folks just want what's in front of us!"

Seeing that the commotion was getting bigger and bigger, Jia Zhangshi, feeling that the excitement wasn't enough, chimed in with a few words.

"Who are these people who managed to snag these coupons today? Are we, the old and the young, just supposed to starve to death? Is this supposed to be fair?"

"I think whoever has the ability to get coupons will benefit! Life is getting worse and worse!"

Director Wang was rendered speechless by the barrage of questions and emotional outbursts.

But a policy is a policy; she can only implement and explain it. She doesn't have much time to stay here, as there are other courtyards to discuss as well.

"Anyway, that's the gist of the matter. This month, everyone must remain calm! Don't engage in blind panic buying! And don't believe the rumors and try to resell tickets at inflated prices! That's illegal!"

"The police are cracking down hard. If you get caught, it's not my problem. Okay, everyone, go home!"

After saying that, Director Wang left with his men.

The group was left looking at each other, still dissatisfied.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai didn't want to persuade everyone while he was still angry, so he left first.

Compared to the other people in the courtyard, he earns 99 yuan a month. At an average of 20 yuan per bill, he would have at least four bills.

Compared to the average person who earns only twenty or thirty yuan a month and only has one bill, he earns significantly more.

While others might need two or three years to accumulate industrial vouchers, he only needs one or two years.

He didn't care about the industrial vouchers at all; to him, they were just a bit of a hassle to exchange for things. But for him and that old lady, having so many vouchers was pointless.

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai had left, Liu Haizhong didn't want to stay any longer, as his situation was similar to Yi Zhonghai's.

If everyone hadn't been so angry, he would have even wanted to announce his salary and benefits in a grand way, so that everyone would be envious.

But he knew that doing so would definitely provoke everyone's resentment.

only!
"You two go and keep watch at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative! Keep an eye on things! If anything is restocked, buy it as soon as possible, regardless of whether you have it at home or not!"

"Especially the thermos, you must buy it for me. Soap, towels, washbasins, anything that can be purchased with industrial coupons, buy it all!"

"Did you hear me? If you can't buy it back, don't even step foot in this house!"

"Okay," the two brothers replied listlessly.

Liu Guangfu cursed the old man's domineering ways under his breath, but he also knew that he couldn't fight city hall.

He went home, grabbed his ticket, and headed straight to the supply and marketing cooperative.

We don't know when the supply and marketing cooperative will restock the goods.

the other side.

Liu Lishun, his heart still pounding, clutched the bulging inner pocket of his hand. The cold sweat on his back felt chilly in the wind.

The scene of the police rushing in just now filled him with lingering fear, but it was followed by immense elation and an even stronger sense of greed.

"Damn it, fortune favors the bold! With this wind blowing today, it's a waste not to let it blow!" He spat and quickly calculated in his mind.

When the industrial vouchers are issued next month, and you need to combine "tickets + vouchers + money" to buy things, how will the value of these tickets fluctuate?

Will it go up or down? Nobody knows!
But it is precisely this enormous uncertainty that contains the potential for huge profits! He wants to quickly turn the money he has just earned into more tickets and gamble on something even bigger!

On his way back, he saw many police officers patrolling the streets. He realized that he couldn't sell tickets like before; he had to do it covertly.

Moreover, the police had just raided that area, and things were tense; it would be too risky for me to go there myself.

But the huge demand is there; if he doesn't do it, plenty of others will.

"If it doesn't work, we'll attack one place and move on; we won't stay any longer!" Liu Lishun decided to break the large operation into smaller, more manageable parts.

"Go back and bring all the tickets first, then go buy some more while you're at it."

Where to buy tickets? Naturally, it's from your fellow traveler.

First, withdraw all the bank vouchers from the bank and hide some of the money on your person.

These were all ordinary industrial product coupons, but today they seem to have become a level of value.

Then he went to find his colleagues.

They found a fellow traveler, "Old Nian'er," who was equally shaken and counting his "spoils of war."

Old Nian'er was timid and would disappear at the slightest sign of trouble. But because of this, he didn't earn as much as Liu Lishun, but at least he was safe.

"Old Yan, do you still have any tickets?"

"Yes! We have plenty. How much do you want? Which ones?"

Seeing that it was an old acquaintance, Lao Yan'er was not so wary.

"Nonsense! Fairy, industrial tickets are so valuable. What else would I want if I didn't want these tickets? How many do you have? Give me some, and my Jia family will take 10%!"

"Only a 1% increase? No way, that's too little, it needs to be at least double!"

"1x? You're crazy for money, wanting that much? 2% at most."

"Old Liu, that's really unfair of you! You know how crazy the demand for these tickets is right now, and you're only offering 2%? Do you think I'm that easy to get tickets for? It should be at least 8%!"

“You’re the one who’s crazy!” Liu Lishun retorted without hesitation. “The police are patrolling the streets now, so I’m taking a risk selling tickets too! At most, I’ll sell 3%.”

"If you're not going to sell, then forget it, I'll find someone else!"

Liu Lishun was certain that Lao Yan'er would sell it to him, after all, that was his personality; he was too timid.

Sure enough, after thinking it over, Lao Yan realized that although selling individual tickets was more profitable, it was also riskier. Rather than taking the risk, it was better to make money steadily.

"Okay! But 3% is too little."

After some haggling, the two finally settled on a 5% price.

"By the way, do you have any vouchers for bicycles or sewing machines? I'll pay extra for them!"

"No, no!" Old Yan denied it outright.

It was obvious at a glance that there was one, and Liu Lishun knew he couldn't get the ticket.

Large tickets are always large tickets; they're never hard to sell.

With his initial victory, Liu Lishun's confidence soared.

He then followed the same method, visiting several ticket scalpers, some familiar and some not.

Some are timid and cautious, like old wilters, and ship out large quantities of goods.

Some, like him, are ambitious speculators who not only don't invest but also want to take his money back.

After several twists and turns and much haggling, Liu Lishun almost emptied his pockets of cash, but in return, he received a thick stack of scarce industrial vouchers.

When I arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative again, there was still a long queue.

Even though the autumn wind was chilly outside, everyone was unfazed by the cold and was even having a heated discussion and cursing.

"It seems that tickets won't be sold anytime soon."

Liu Lishun wasn't in a hurry at all. There was still a long time until the end of the month, so he wasn't worried. He figured he would eventually use up all the tickets.

Seeing police officers patrolling the area, it was a pipe dream to try and sell things here. It would be good enough if they weren't seen, let alone if they got caught.

"We need to find a new way." Liu Lishun stroked the stubble on his chin, his eyes darting around.

"The black market is a good place, but be careful, you might run into trouble!"

He vividly remembered how the police used to wait for criminals to come to him.

"The factory gate? That's a nice place! But I'll have to wait until I start work."

As for other places, Liu Lishun didn't feel safe and didn't consider them.

"But for now, we can sell some goods to our regular customers first!"

Having been in this business for so long, Liu Lishun naturally has some familiar individual customers, so it's safer to sell tickets to them.

They can sell some tickets to recoup their costs, no matter how many.

Jin Jianxian, far away in the countryside, was enjoying his 'family bliss' at the moment, completely unaware of everything that was happening in the city.

If he knew, he would definitely choose not to know, since he doesn't have many votes himself. It's better not to know than to add to his troubles.

(End of this chapter)