Chapter 322 How can this be so embarrassing?
"Leader, the Soviet Union's Davarich means to continue the previous barter trade, using our domestic raw silk or cotton products. In addition, our domestic antiques, jade, and Chinese herbal medicines are also acceptable to them."

"Yeah, very good."

"Okay, go back and work hard. Your position in the Communist Youth League will change at the end of this year, so be prepared."

"Yes!"

Continuing to brave the sandstorm, Wang Deming returned to Xiaojing Factory.

The real boss did not mention the four-courtyard house where Wang Deming currently lives, and no staff from the street office came to demand that the extra rooms be rented out forcibly.

It seems that my current level is enough.
As Wang Deming returned to work, the capital city changed subtly. As the Spring Festival approached, the shelves in major vegetable markets and street grocery stores that were once filled with delicious food were now empty.

Once fish, meat, oil, vegetables, sugar, cloth and other goods are put on the shelves, as soon as the notice comes out, long queues will form immediately from four or five in the morning.

In the biting cold wind, people of all ages and big and small were queuing up anxiously. Everyone stretched their necks and kept looking at the line in front of them, fearing that the things would be sold out by the time it was their turn.

Even so, only a few people can buy the goods.

Although the society has implemented various tickets such as food coupons, cloth coupons, and oil coupons, and stipulated the purchase quantity per person per month, but as the Spring Festival approaches, every household takes out the tickets that have been accumulated for almost a year to make large purchases.

With 180 feet of cloth coupons per person, the children must have a new set of clothes for the New Year, right?
The dumplings on New Year’s Eve have to have some meat, right?
As the Spring Festival approaches, the atmosphere in Beijing becomes more restless. Every household asks around where to buy New Year goods. Which store or grocery store has new goods?
Wang Deming also felt the pressure very much. Before the grain-carrying cargo ship arrived at Tianjin Port, he was often called to the office of the real boss. In front of him, he would pick up the phone to contact Alexei in Hong Kong to inquire about the voyage.

Basically, one phone call requires spending half a day in the office of the real boss. The phone connection from Hong Kong to the mainland requires a long time to be transferred, and the line is often disconnected. After making things clear, you still have to wait for Alexei's reply.

So while waiting for the call, Wang Deming learned a lot of things, such as that China Resources was actively discussing grain imports with Canada, Australia, France and other countries.

In addition, we also learned that in order to achieve industrialization, the country imported technology, equipment, and industrial raw materials from abroad. Since the 50s, the country has exported an average of 250 million tons of grain each year, and the grain exports in the three years from 58 to 60 reached a new peak.
As food supplies stabilized, the unrest in the capital calmed down and people welcomed the Spring Festival with joy.

However, the closer it gets to the Spring Festival, the more guests come to Wang Deming's house, and the old people and young people who still have some money in their pockets come to ask for help.

There are too many good days. How can the poor people live through the hard days?
"Deming, I have a fun thing at home. Can you take a look at it?"

"Oh, that's what I want. I have to learn from you."

"Look at this glaze, it's fine and crystal, the body is thin but hard, and the color is deep and beautiful. This is purple glazed pottery from the Ming Dynasty, a treasure from the Wanli period."

While listening to the explanation of the old man next to him, Wang Deming carefully examined the two-foot-long plate in his hand. This two-foot-long plate was particularly beautiful. It was purple, which made it even more precious. The pattern on it was a Taoist Laozi crossing the Hangu Pass.

He tutted his tongue and said, "Today I have really opened my eyes. I always thought that the pottery from the Chenghua period was colorful and had exquisite patterns, but I didn't expect that the porcelain from the Jingtai period was the same."

The old man and the young man smiled and explained, "Deming, we who collect porcelain generally classify the porcelain from the Xuande to Chenghua period as one stage, which fully developed the celadon and red porcelain from the Song and Yuan dynasties, and even improved them. Therefore, most of the official kiln porcelain treasures from this era are precious."

"So that's how it is. Thank you for your advice!" Wang Deming reluctantly placed the plate on the square table, but kept his eyes on it.

The old man was delighted: "Deming, do you like me to give it to you?"

"How can I do this? A gentleman does not take away what others like. How could I, Wang Deming, be that kind of person?" "No, no, no," the old man said in a row, "Deming, we are also relatives in a roundabout way. You also know that there are many people in our banner family, and now we can't get enough food. I see it with my own eyes and I am worried in my heart!"

"So I can only come to you for help. Fortunately, my family still has some wealth from our ancestors, so I don't have to ask you for help without any reason."

Wang Deming waved his hand solemnly and refused, "You said we are relatives in some way, so I can't take advantage of you. Rongbaozhai in Wangfujing has recently opened a store specializing in antiques. You can go there. If it's too far, Boguzhai in Di'anmen or Wanjuxing on Zhushi Street are both fine."

"Hey, Deming, it's useless to just give money there!"

"Isn't it better to give me money? I don't have that much money to keep your treasure."

"Deming, don't you know that a kilogram of food coupons costs 5 yuan on the black market? This plate of mine can only be sold for 200-300 yuan at most in Rongbaozhai, which is not even enough to buy a bag of food? Deming, we are relatives, and we all know that you have connections. Please help us!"

"This"

"Hey, I bow to you!" Seeing that Wang Deming was still trying to refuse, the old man actually knelt down on one leg and kowtowed.

"Please don't, please don't, then I will keep this treasure of yours?"

"You must stay!"

"That's fine. Then I'll be bold and offer 50 kilograms of flour and 10 kilograms of meat. How about that? I'll give your family some dumplings to eat."

"Oh, thank you so much"

"Hey, we are relatives, come often."

Wang Deming enthusiastically escorted the visitor from the living room to the gate of the courtyard. He watched a few young men come and put a few bags of flour and a piece of meat on a two-wheeled cart and slowly pushed it away.

As soon as the people left, Jin Yuqing's brother Jin Yushu jumped out from the gatehouse, looking very proud. He gave himself a thumbs up and asked for credit: "Deming, tell me what it is! Is it fun?"

"Yes, that's right. I have more than a dozen Chenghua items, but not many Xuande and Jingtai items."

"Haha, what's the difficulty? These old folks have these things in their hands that they can't eat, and they can't sell them at a high price. Who else can they turn to if not you? Are they really going to go to the antique shops outside? They will be ripped off. You have food and meat!"

"Okay, Yushu, you have to help me find more of these delicacies in the future. What do you want to eat today? I'll ask Aunt Zhang to make it now."

"Hey, Deming, um, I haven't had the scallion-fried sea cucumber from Fengze Garden for a while. How about we go there to eat?"

"Isn't this too much of a stretch now?"

"Hey, what's the big deal? Now all the stores are opened by the government. If we don't eat them, it will be a waste. I met Mr. Ma Lianliang when I ate sea cucumbers at Donglaishun last time."

"Okay, then let's go to Fengze Garden and see if there's anything else to eat."

(End of this chapter)