A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

"Old Liu, isn't this inappropriate?"

Jiang Xia looked at the prescription that the old Chinese medicine doctor Liu had given him, pointing to the ginseng and lingzhi on it, his lips trembling slightly.

The ginseng was specifically labeled as being over ten years old.

Old Liu waved his hand dismissively: "What's there to be afraid of? Your deputy factory director said he'll cover all your medical expenses."

Then he bent down and said, "A secret recipe from the previous dynasty, guaranteed to make you vigorous and powerful."

"Strategist, get me a three-year-old one!"

The strategist gave a thumbs up: "You have a good eye, but the medicine's effects only last for six months. You can eat the rest like candy."

"Alright, can the strategist be discharged from the hospital?"

"Find a place to rest yourself; wards are in short supply. Don't stay up late these days. If anything happens, let your mentor handle it; wait until everyone else has died before you step in."

Hearing the old rascal's rather rebellious words, Jiang Xia gave him a thumbs up.

"Strategist, how about some salted fish?"

Jiang Xia raised something resembling an imperial sword and slashed it with a flourish.

Ignoring the stench, the old strategist grabbed it and handed it to the young doctor behind him.

"That's a bit short, is there any more?"

Then he looked at Wang Kui and said, "You can't have brought back this little bit, can you?"

Wang Kui wore a wry smile. The old commander had practically stuffed a truckload of salted fish into his hands, and he couldn't refuse. He'd said it wasn't for him, but for the designer.

The An-2's small cabin was half full. The pilot grabbed him by the ear and dragged him all over before letting him leave.

That pile of salted fish is currently sitting on the little jeep.

Yesterday I was rushing back to my old hideout to report on the situation and forgot to take it off. Now even the "soda bottle" hidden under the car smells like salted fish.

Wang Kui waved to the young doctors and led them to move the truckload of salted fish.

Jiang Xia nudged the old doctor: "Strategist, are you familiar with Old Wang?"

"Not familiar!"

"Then how do you know he has a lot of fish?"

The old doctor pointed to the window, and Jiang Xia peeked out.

The parking lot at Concordia Hospital is quite large, but there was only one small Jeep and no other cars around it.

"That smell, it hits you right in the head!"

……

After enjoying the specially made salted fish porridge, Wang Kui led Jiang Xia to prepare to go home.

The old strategist waved to Jiang Xia and mysteriously told him to come and have a bowl of porridge every noon.

The two, one big and one small, looked at each other and chuckled.

After going downstairs, Wang Kui planned to take Jiang Xia back to his master's house so that he could rest and recuperate.

But Jiang Xia seemed to have been enlightened by the old strategist and insisted on going to the department store.

They said they wanted to buy some furniture and experience the spirit of the times.

A department store?

Wang Kui thought for a moment, and realized that during the meeting, someone seemed to have mentioned that they were going to the department store, but he was too sleepy to hear clearly at the time.

Oh well, whatever. This kid finally got out of the steel mill for some fresh air. As long as he's happy.

Since the distance wasn't far, the two decided to walk.

Actually, Jiang Xia didn't want to be pickled; just by smelling Wang Kui, she knew what the consequences of riding in his car would be.

On the way, Jiang Xia gestured and discussed with Wang Kui what kind of furniture to buy and how to decorate the house.

He looked very longing.

Wang Kui echoed this sentiment and suggested that he go directly to the trust store to buy some old furniture.

But Jiangxia rejected it outright.

The main reason is that he feels uncomfortable using things that other people have used.

All things have spirits. Although it's forbidden for spirits to become sentient after the founding of the People's Republic of China, what do you do if a thing with a braid crawls out of the closet in the middle of the night?

They're from the previous dynasty...

This absurd argument left Wang Kui both amused and exasperated.

Fortunately, the square-shaped Wangfujing Department Store building had already come into view, so the two of them didn't continue this awkward topic.

Even though it was a weekday, the department store was always packed with people.

Who told him to call himself "Xinhua's No. 1 Store!" and "He even said that if you can't buy something at a department store, you shouldn't go anywhere else."

Wow, that's how extravagant they are.

Stepping into the inner hall with several large pillars, a row of waist-high iron railings encloses a passageway for people to move around.

On both sides of the iron fence, there are rows of glass cabinets.

Rice, flour, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea—everything is available.

Next to them was a pork stall, but instead of pork, it displayed cans of meat.

Half a pound of meat coupons plus 65 cents in cash can be exchanged for a can of meat.

Wow, that's expensive!

What Jiang Xia didn't know was that as early as July of this year, there was no fresh meat available for residents in the market, and all the meat was replaced by aged canned meat.

What? You mean Jiang Xia ate braised pork a while ago?

Make sure you see the words written clearly: "Supply to Residents"!

So people take the civil service exam and try to get a job.

Organization is the end of the universe!

Further along, you'll find the newly added upscale candy section. This counter is unusually crowded.

The crowd applauded the salesperson, as if watching a street performer put on a show.

Jiang Xia looked over curiously and saw a young man with a buzz cut casually grabbing a piece of meat after listening to the customer's weight.

Then put it on the scale.

Hey!

Exactly perfect! Incredible!

After passing the grocery section and turning a corner, you'll reach the stairs.

Go up the terrazzo staircase to the second floor, where the textile section is located.

Neither of the two grown men showed much interest. However, a bright red dress did catch Jiang Xia's eye.

If the fourth and fifth kids wear these, the little ones should be happy all year round.

They decided against going in; the place was full of young women and wives, with very few men. Not wanting to be a laughingstock, the two went straight up the stairs to the third floor.

The third floor sells high-end goods.

Large items like cameras, steel watches, radios, and bicycles.

Perhaps because of its high value, the entire floor was nearly deserted, so the two of them strolled around aimlessly.

Jiangxia first looked at the shiny watch, then touched the radio placed on the counter.

His saliva was three feet long.

I really want it.

Unfortunately, he had neither money nor tickets, making him truly the weakest protagonist.

Jiang Xia looked at a pure steel Shanghai watch and really wanted the salesperson to take it out for him to see. But then he remembered the legendary rule that "customers must not be beaten without cause."

I gave up on that idea.

However~~~

The sales clerk actually smiled and walked over, taking out the watch for Jiang Xia to look at.

Despite Jiang Xia's repeated insistence that he didn't have a watch ticket and didn't need to go through all that trouble.

"Serving our comrades is no trouble at all!"

Listen to this!

No wonder it's the number one store in China, their awareness is truly high!

After chatting with the salesperson for a while, Jiang Xia's eyes lit up when he saw a bicycle hanging in the air.

We have tickets!

But it seems like I don't have much money on hand. Oh well, I'll buy the furniture first and then see how much I have left.

With Wang Kui pulling him along, the two prepared to go up the stairs to the fourth floor.

Halfway there, they were stopped by people wearing red armbands.

Hey! What are you doing?

"A customer? Buying something?"

The man in the red armband curled his lip and muttered, "Country bumpkin," before loudly proclaiming, "The bottom three floors are for business; the top floors are offices."

Hearing the impolite words from the red armband, Jiang Xia shrugged, apologized, and turned to leave.

Jiangxia isn't a firecracker that ignites easily. Good young people of the new era shouldn't stoop to the level of an old lady, and besides, what she said isn't wrong.

Jiangxia, who stayed at the steel rolling mill and never left his house all year round, truly deserved the description of a country bumpkin.