sjar Chapter 132 Buying a car with a ticket, happily acquiring Phoenix 28
Chapter 132 Buying a car with a ticket, happily acquiring Phoenix 28
Li Ju'an left the seemingly "high-class" bank, stepping out of the bank's doors that made him feel "really uncomfortable." In that era, and in later years, he was used to the attitude of the bank staff and didn't find anything wrong with it.
He had just reached the bank counter and deposited 200 yuan, keeping 303 yuan close to his body. He opened his savings account book, watching the female teller meticulously stamp it, and felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction as he looked at the growing deposits in his account.
Money is a good thing; it can embolden a man.
He estimated that at this rate of saving, he would reach the 10,000-yuan mark next year. Being a 10,000-yuan household was quite an achievement, enough to warrant a banner of commendation in the village, but for him, humility was a blessing. Old Qian's boastful son-in-law, well, he got his money stolen, and no one even knows who did it. Old Qian's life savings of leather, exchanged for money, were all stolen, leaving everyone sighing in dismay.
He handed over Song Desheng's 201.3 yuan, thinking that Song Desheng would carefully count the money and then quickly go home to hide it. Unexpectedly, Song Desheng said boldly, "No need to count it. Don't I trust my brother? Let's go pick up the car now."
Song Desheng, with 201.3 yuan in his pocket, mysteriously handed over two bicycle tickets.
The ticket, printed in large black characters on a pink background, reads "Purchase Ticket," followed by a code. Below that, it says "Supply of one Phoenix brand bicycle," along with the model number and the name of the bicycle factory, and then a blue stamp is affixed.
Li Ju'an's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "You've already changed it so quickly?"
Bicycle tickets in the 80s were incredibly difficult to obtain. Because bicycle production was limited at the time, similar to later purchase restrictions, bicycles were sold using a voucher system. These vouchers were distributed to various work units according to the number of employees. In those days, being eligible to buy a bicycle was a source of pride. Therefore, bicycle tickets could sell for 100 yuan each on the black market.
Song Desheng's family all worked at the textile factory. In the residential compound, every household owned a bicycle, mostly ordinary ones. He had asked his mother to get this Phoenix brand bicycle coupon from her workplace.
Song Desheng, beaming with pride, excitedly pulled him towards the Friendship Store: "Come on, let's take the bus to the Friendship Store now, and we can pick up the car tonight. By the way, Brother Li, can you ride a bike? You probably can't. Hey, I can! I've sat on the crossbar of my dad's bicycle before."
His family got a regular bicycle five years ago. Back then, his father rode it, and he was only 15 years old. He sat on the crossbar, gripping the handlebars tightly with both hands. Seeing him trembling, his father would occasionally cheer him up with the clear sound of the bicycle bell. He still remembers that feeling of surprise and joy. At that time, he would curiously touch the ringing bell and ask his father what it was.
The time he spent learning to ride a bicycle was memorable and very enjoyable. He only knew how to ride with the "crotch-down" technique, so he eagerly anticipated owning his own bicycle. More importantly, he could ride it to show off! He could flaunt his brand-name bicycle in front of his wife.
Li Ju'an's desire for a bicycle was much more practical. He remembered that in his previous life, after the New Year, the village hired bulldozers to clear roads in the mountains to make it easier for villagers to go to the market. A wide dirt road was thus created.
If he remembers correctly, after the snow melts in the spring, he can ride his bicycle along the wide dirt road to the county town. If he misses the forest farm's mini-train, he'll have another way to get to the county town, which is better than walking and wearing out his shoes.
The two went to the Friendship Store and bought a car with their tickets.
The Friendship Store floor was packed with people.
Back then, a Phoenix car cost 168 yuan, and a Forever car cost 164 yuan, but you could only buy one if you had a ticket. My monthly salary was about 30 yuan, so if I wanted to buy a luxury car, the whole family had to make a decision and save for several months. The hardest part was getting the car ticket; you had to ask for favors and give gifts. All of that cost money.
Song Desheng held the ticket in his hand, staring wide-eyed at the rows of bicycles in the Friendship Store.
He spotted three famous brands: Forever, Phoenix, and Flying Pigeon bicycles! Phoenix bicycles even came in both single-bar and double-bar models, while Forever only had single-bar models. He wiggled his elbow and asked Li Ju'an which model he wanted to buy.
Li Ju'an glanced at the area with Phoenix brand bicycles. Compared to later generations, Forever Phoenix was like BMW, Flying Pigeon, Hongqi, and Santana. Golden Lion and Five Rams were like Lada, and Baishan Bridge and Dacia. Of course, he had to buy a Phoenix 28 bicycle. What a prestigious thing that was! He wouldn't even ride it down the dirt road, afraid of getting muddy.
He could then show off by getting on his sister's good side, letting her friends watch her move forward with pride.
"That one, the Phoenix 28 with the single bar."
The saleswoman at the Friendship Store was very pretty. She glanced at Li Ju'an with her bright, watery eyes and smiled with her lips pursed.
In the past, he would have blushed and lowered his head, not daring to look at the pretty female comrade or meet her gaze. But now, as his eyes swept over her, he naturally returned a smile, nodded, and said, "Miss, that's the one we'll take. Thank you for your trouble."
The saleswoman lowered her head, embarrassed to look at him. She took the money he handed her, counted it, and then called out, "I need a bicycle ticket." He handed her the ticket, and the saleswoman gave the money to the finance lady, wrote out a receipt, and let him take his bicycle.
Her voice was pleasant and melodious: "Thank you, I'll come again next time I buy a car."
The two of them each carried a Phoenix brand bicycle and pushed it along the main street of the county town.
The more Song Desheng thought about what the saleswoman had said, the more interesting it seemed: "No, Brother Li, do you think that pretty saleswoman might have feelings for you? Her words, her eyes, she's definitely interested in you."
Li Ju'an bluntly stated, "If you carried a huge sum of 168 yuan every day and went to pick up your car with the receipt every day, even the saleswoman would be interested in you. Let's go!"
After he finished speaking, he swung his leg back in an arc, straddled the bicycle seat, and rode off.
After thinking it over carefully, Song Desheng suddenly slapped his forehead and said to himself, "Of course. She's just a saleswoman, of course she sees everyone who goes to pick up the car as a god of wealth."
He sighed inwardly, realizing he was being delusional. Women's hearts are unfathomable, but how could he possibly win over a saleswoman? It was like the God of Wealth had come to him.
He quickly hopped on his bicycle and tried to give chase. As he kept up with Li Ju'an's speed, he sensed something was wrong and shouted, "Li Ju'an! When did you learn to ride a bike? Damn! It took me three months to learn from me. How come you can just pedal like that?"
Li Ju'an rode ahead at breakneck speed, racing against the bus, while Song Desheng followed behind, panting heavily like a bellows, utterly baffled as to how Li Ju'an had learned to ride a bicycle.
Li Ju'an slowed down a bit to let him pass, then laughed and said, "How can I take a girl on a date if I don't ride a bike? I've known how to ride a bike since I was born."
Song Desheng made sarcastic remarks, and suddenly felt that the bicycle he had just acquired was not so exciting. He said, "Pah, you're just bragging. You don't go on blind dates or dates. Even if you can ride a bike, no woman will be willing to get on your bike."