Reborn in 1979, with a female educated youth lying next to me.

Upon seeing Liu Jia, Li Zhenhe showed no signs of awkwardness, and while talking, he pulled Liu Jia toward the direction of the tractor.

After that experience of helping repair the tractor, Li Zhenhe truly regarded Liu Jia as a brother.

Although he has an enviable "iron rice bowl" job as one of the eight key positions, Li Zhenhe doesn't look like a clean and honest city dweller at all.

The coarse cloth trousers were faded from washing, and both knees were patched.

The cloth shoes will soon have a tear at the edge.

But Li Zhenhe is a true city dweller.

In Li Zhenhe's words, he benefited from his father's success. If his father hadn't had a job, he probably would have gone to the countryside as an educated youth like everyone else a few years ago.

He was one of the people who stayed in the city.

At that time, the policy stipulated that families with urban household registration could only have one child stay, and the others had to go to the countryside.

If both husband and wife have jobs, they can keep two children and wait for the parents to retire and take over.

In other words, it's one radish per hole; no more than one is allowed.

Liu Jia understood that these policies were also aimed at solving the problem of food security.

Guo Xiaoyan's family is an exception.

Even though Guo Zhiyuan and his wife both had jobs, Guo Zhiyuan was arrested and his wife lost her job, leaving the family without income and struggling to feed the four of them.

Therefore, Guo Xiaoyan and her two siblings were assigned to different rural areas.

"It's a quiet day. When I came in this morning, I thought I would have to unload the truck, but the meeting just now changed the policy."

Li Zhenhe chuckled, as if he had gotten a bargain.

"So what are you doing today?" Liu Jia couldn't help but ask.

"We'll wander around and help out whichever area needs restocking, but we're not usually needed. Those new apprentices are very diligent!"

Nowadays, it's common for mentors to teach apprentices. Newly assigned supply and marketing cooperative members are unfamiliar with different areas, so they need to be mentored by experienced members for a period of time.

Therefore, tasks such as serving tea and water, moving goods and replenishing stock all fell to the new supply and marketing cooperative members.

Some apprentices, eager to get closer to their masters, try their best to perform well.

When Li Zhenhe isn't out shopping, he's always this free.

"Brother Li, you're doing pretty well, living a comfortable life."

Seeing Liu Jia say this, Li Zhenhe smiled sheepishly again.

"Don't laugh at me, it's not exactly luxurious, but I really did benefit from my dad's influence."

"After taking over the job, it just so happened that the supply and marketing cooperative was getting tractors, and it just so happened that I was the youngest among that group of people."

“They said I had potential, so they let me learn to drive a tractor. And that’s how I ended up driving a tractor, and I also had purchasing work to do.”

As they talked, Li Zhenhe brought up the topic of benefiting from his father's influence.

When Li Zhenhe arrived at the tractor, he suddenly stopped, as if he had remembered something.

"By the way, stop talking about me. What brings you here today? Sit down, sit down. It's more comfortable to talk while sitting on this tractor."

Li Zhenhe pointed to the tractor bucket.

Liu Jia didn't stand on ceremony and sat in the tractor bed with Li Zhenhe.

"Brother Li, I came to ask you if your supply and marketing cooperative sells bamboo baskets?"

Li Zhenhe was taken aback.

"A bamboo basket? Yes, I do. Why, are you buying one?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll take you to the warehouse now, and you can pick whatever you want!"

Li Zhenhe hadn't even warmed his seat before he wanted to stand up again.

Liu Jia quickly waved his hand.

"No, Brother Li, let me finish. I'm not buying baskets, I'm selling baskets!"

"We're not just selling baskets, we're also selling bamboo mats and bamboo crates!"

"I just want to ask if you can stock my products?"

Fearing that Li Zhenhe wouldn't understand, Liu Jia revealed the purpose of his visit in one breath.

Li Zhenhe then realized what was happening.

"Oh, I see. The supply and marketing cooperative gets its bamboo products in bulk. Judging from the amount of stuff you've described, the scale must be quite large, right?"

Liu Jia nodded, and then spoke out what was on her mind.

Finally, Liu Jia emphasized.

“Our Xili Village has many skilled craftsmen, especially in basket weaving, which is unparalleled.”

"I was thinking of buying a few popular items from the supply and marketing cooperative as samples, and then having them compile and try them out."

"If it works, I'll have to ask Brother Li to put in a lot of effort."

Li Zhenhe raised his head.

"What are you talking about? Your business is my business. If we can't make decisions about the sewing machine and watch, then I'll take care of those baskets and crates!"

As he spoke, Li Zhenhe exuded confidence, almost as if he were patting his chest to assure everyone.

The weight that had been hanging over Liu Jia's heart finally lifted.

Today is a good day; things are going incredibly smoothly.

However, Liu Jia did not expect that helping Li Zhenhe repair a tractor would bring such a great opportunity.

Li Zhenhe always says that he was the one who helped him a lot.

Actually, meeting Li Zhenhe can be considered meeting a benefactor.

"Okay, now that we've finished our business, how about we go for a walk?"

"Brother Li, are we able to leave now? Don't let anyone catch us."

Liu Jia deliberately lowered his voice while speaking, and at the same time, he did not forget to look around.

Even if Li Zhenhe doesn't have anything to do right now, it's probably during working hours. It's not good to blatantly slack off like this.

Li Zhenhe winked at Liu Jia and patted the two large patches on his knees.

"Look at my outfit, anyone who sees me would think I've been working a lot of work!"

Liu Jia was speechless.

To be honest, Li Zhenhe actually looks quite convincing in this outfit.

Liu Jia secretly gave Li Zhenhe a thumbs-up, barely managing to suppress a laugh.

"Let's go for a walk outside, and then we'll pick out a basket after we finish eating."

Liu Jia looked up at the sky and immediately agreed to Li Zhenhe's suggestion.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, the two strolled down the street.

It's not even noon yet, not the hottest time of day, but there are still quite a few people on the streets.

Some were dressed neatly and rode bicycles, while others, dressed like Li Zhenhe, walked.

Liu Jia felt a surge of emotion.

At that time, the city had not yet developed, but in two more years, it would definitely become so prosperous that people would be amazed.

Upon reaching the moat, Liu Jia suddenly stopped.

You were so busy talking, how did you end up here?

Liu Jia glanced at the small bridge in front of him and frowned slightly.

After crossing the bridge, continue walking forward and you'll find several narrow alleys. At the end of each alley is a grove of trees.

Most people wouldn't go very far; they'd think it was a desolate wasteland.

But those in the know understand that once you pass through the small forest, it's a completely different world!

Many daring people dabble in this business there. At other times, farmers from nearby villages would also exchange their home produce for tickets and money.

In the past, the regulations were strict, and people wearing red armbands would arrest anyone they saw.

Now, as long as you leave within the designated time, the people wearing red armbands won't make things too difficult for you.

But if they act recklessly, they will not let them off easily.

Seeing Liu Jia standing still, Li Zhenhe suddenly asked mysteriously, "Brother, have you been to that place?"

Li Zhenhe pointed in the direction of the black market.

Liu Jia had been there, but only in his previous life.

Liu Jia really didn't know what the black market was like right now.

So when Li Zhenhe asked this question, Liu Jia only replied, "I've heard of it, but I've never been there."

"Then...shall we go take a look?"

"Will it work? What if we get caught?"

Liu Jia's words revealed his unease.

Li Zhenhe's face was filled with excitement and agitation.

"Don't worry, that lousy government office is like a rat hole, every crack is a passageway. As soon as someone shouts, everyone takes off running in all directions, and they can't catch up with them."

"Besides, the regulations are loose now; you won't find anyone if you go there at dawn."

"Let's be careful, nothing will happen."

Liu Jia stopped and looked Li Zhenhe up and down.

"Brother Li, how do you know so much about this? Looks like you've been there quite a few times!"