1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 68 Maggie’s Gift

"Inspiration [Tang Dynasty] Progress (0/10)"

"Inspiration [Fruit] Progress (0/100)"

This synthetic sequence seemed much more obscure than the third one. At least Jiang Xian couldn't think of what kind of novella could be formed by combining "Tang Dynasty" and "fruit".

It would be better to change it to "Tangmen" and "Plants".

Before I had time to think about it, I had already arrived at the entrance of the Trust Store in Dongsi. It was a two-and-a-half-story building covered with white tiles and had a sign on it that read "Dongsi Trust Mall."

In that era of low wages, scarce supplies and rationing by coupons, trust stores were a good place to go.

It is divided into two parts: the sales department and the purchasing department. The sales department is responsible for display and sales, while the purchasing department is responsible for purchasing and consignment.

We also do consignment sales and consignment purchase work, acting as matchmakers and bridge builders between buyers and sellers.

For items consigned to our store, the sellers set their own prices. There is no charge within 15 days, but a handling fee will be charged after 15 days.

There are several trust stores in Beijing now, but their business scope is different. Beixinqiao specializes in bicycles, and Donghuamen specializes in furniture.

Dongsi has a lot of miscellaneous items, including cameras, handicrafts, watches, clothing, leather shoes, hats, and clothes.
Even if you don't buy anything, it's fun to just wander around there. If you have a sharp eye and some spare money, you can find some "treasures" there.

As you enter the store, you will see a glass counter facing you, which displays some old watches of different brands, semiconductors, pens, alarm clocks, cameras, and a wall clock hanging on the wall behind you.

The items in the store are not very neatly arranged and the atmosphere is a bit gray, but every item makes you curious and unable to take your eyes away.

Zhu Lin was surprised and looked around, "Do you know what that is?"

“I haven’t seen it.”

Jiang Xian was also unfamiliar with it, but an old man next to them told them, "This is called TV screen magnification. If you have a 9-inch TV at home, put this on it and it can be enlarged to 14 inches."

"Ouch!"

Jiang Xian was just marveling at the magic when an old lady rushed up and bought it. What was seen as a poor man's toy in later generations was now in great demand.

The two of them walked around for a while, and Zhu Lin helped Jiang Xian pick out a corduroy jacket. It was of great quality, new style, and fine workmanship, and it only cost 4 yuan.

Jiang Xian quickly took out his wallet, turned around and took a fancy to a pair of white high-heeled shoes, which were new and cost 7 yuan a pair.

"How big are your feet?"

He looked down and saw that Zhu Lin was wearing a pair of lace-up plastic sandals with a pair of white cotton socks inside, which was a very common way of dressing at that time.

"35."

"That's unfortunate, comrade. Please help me wrap that up."

Zhu Lin understood immediately, "Don't spend money on me. I don't like it."

"Why do you ask me to buy it for you? As long as you wear it for me to see, then I'm buying it for myself."

".Who dares to go out wearing these shoes?"

"No matter whether you go out or not." Jiang Xian said in a petty-bourgeois tone: "Every woman needs a pair of good shoes. They will take you to beautiful places."

Zhu Lin's face flushed, she looked to the side, went over to select a Shanghai brand all-steel watch, asked the price of 20, and paid for it smoothly.

This is the advantage of a trust store. To buy a watch normally, you still need a ticket: "Watch Purchase Certificate". The date is printed on the ticket, and purchases are limited to before the date. If you know someone, you can give them a heads-up in advance and just write "Purchased with this certificate before _ month _, 197_" and fill in the date yourself when the time comes.

"Put it on and see."

Jiang Xian didn't hesitate and took it and adjusted the time.

"Have you read O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi?"

"have not seen."

Jiang Xian briefly recounted this classic novel to Zhu Lin, which is about a couple giving each other gifts on Christmas. In the late 19th century, industrialization, urbanization, and modernization in the United States developed rapidly, and every American sang the "American Dream". However, on the other hand, the United States was also "the country with the deepest gap between the rich and the poor". A large number of middle and lower class people went bankrupt, and the army of unemployed continued to expand.

O. Henry lived in such an era. He was not famous yet and was at the bottom of society. He was impoverished and faced bank charges. He sought asylum abroad. During that time, his wife passed away and he did not even get to see her for the last time.

With such guilt, he wrote "The Gift of the Magi".

"You suddenly say this, are you trying to praise the spirit of self-sacrifice?"

"Isn't this a gift for each other? It just came to mind." Jiang Xian put the watch on his wrist and raised his sleeves to show her, "Besides, we don't need to sacrifice ourselves, and it's a very suitable gift, isn't it?

I have a pair of hands, and you happen to have a pair of feet."

What you said makes sense.

But Zhu Lin still found this statement strange.

It was so frightening that the little rabbit ran around in panic.

Every summer morning in the courtyard, there is always an old man standing at the gate of the courtyard gargling his mouth, and the sound of his gargling like singing can be heard throughout half of the alley.

"This dress is so beautiful!" Jiang Ke was wearing a corduroy jacket, looking so beautiful, and she was sticking to Jiang Xian, "Brother~ you are so nice~"

"How much did it cost?" his mother Rao Yuemei asked from the side.

"Not much, just 4 yuan."

Rao Yuemei felt a pang of pain, "You kid, I could have made her something out of a piece of cloth, but you just wasted your money."

"Look at you, what are you saying?" His father Jiang Guoqing criticized: "Isn't it because his son makes money and loves his sister?"

"It's not like I don't know that." Rao Yuemei's face was full of happy worries, "Jiang Ke, don't be so beautiful, put it away and save it for the New Year."

"It's only been a few months and you're already planning for the New Year!"

"Just let her wear it." Jiang Xian advised.

His father's unit was finally transferred back to the city.

Do you know about the Third Front Construction? Starting in the 60s, a large-scale strategic rear area construction was carried out, including the Big Third Front and the Small Third Front.

The electronics unit where his father worked was part of the Third Front construction project. The factory was located in the mountains of Huairou. Due to its remote location, difficulties in production and living, and water pollution problems, it was finally relocated back to the city this year.

But this presents another problem.

The small house of 30 square meters now has to house four people. Jiang Xian doesn't live at home often and comes back to spend the night occasionally. Besides, her sister is gradually growing up and it is no longer like when they were little, when brothers and sisters could sleep on the same kang without shame.

It's very inconvenient.

"Mom, please help me find out some information about houses and see if there is any suitable one."

"Can you afford it?"

"You take your time to find out, and I'll take my time to make money."

Jiang Xian now has assets of just over 200,000 yuan, and has just completed two-tenths of his goal of becoming a 10,000 yuan household.

You need to be famous and make money.

He drank a cup of tea and tore open a letter from a reader sent by his brother-in-law Bian Huawei.

They are all written to Teacher Chen Qi. They were sent in March and April, and they still express how much they like Teacher Chen Qi's works.

By May and June, it became “even the donkeys in the production team dared not take such a rest.”

"What should Chen Qi write next?" Jiang Xian rubbed his chin.

(End of this chapter)