Life 1984

Chapter 52 Lipsticks
Shen Xiulan's pretty face was filled with anger, and she glared at the male colleague: "Ma Jianwen, don't shout! Please call me by my full name!"

She introduced again: "This is my boyfriend Li Yunhai!"

That Ma Jianwen smiled and stretched out his hand towards Li Yunhai: "Hello, I am Ma Jianwen. Shen Xiulan and I both work in the computer room."

Li Yunhai nodded.

Ma Jianwen's handshake was very firm, as if he wanted to squeeze Li Yunhai's penis with ulterior motives.

Unfortunately he miscalculated.

The strength of Li Yunhai's hand was enough to make him cry for father and mother!
Fortunately, Li Yunhai was merciful and did not use the wrong hand, otherwise the pain would make him cry on the spot.

Ma Jianwen let go of his hand, shook it a few times, and smiled sarcastically: "Let's talk! I'm leaving."

He rides away.

Shen Xiulan pouted and said: "Yunhai, Ma Jianwen is like this kind of person. He likes to joke with every woman in our office!"

Li Yunhai said calmly: "You and I are both very outstanding young people. It is normal for other men and women to admire us. The important thing is not how many people choose us, but who we choose."

Shen Xiulan was slightly surprised by these words, and she said firmly: "Yunhai, we chose each other, right? So I won't give others a chance! I believe you will do the same as me. Right?"

Li Yunhai nodded and said: "Well! We all have the right to make friends freely, and we definitely need friends in life. Of course, you and I don't have to act narcissistically when meeting a person of the opposite sex, regardless of whether others have a good impression of you or not. Announcement: I have a lover, please don’t come near me! Isn’t that the same as being mentally ill?”

Shen Xiulan chuckled and said, "Yeah! Yunhai, what you say is so good! I like it so much!"

She rode her bicycle and walked side by side with Li Yunhai and said, "The work in the computer room is actually very hard! I have been working overtime every day these nights, either typing materials or copying documents."

"Oh! Is there any big move?"

"There are a large number of ministerial regulations and normative documents that have been announced to be abolished, such as measures to appropriately reduce the power of cotton cloth; the fertilizer supply agreement between the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the General Produce Corporation; the Interim Regulations on Price Work; hundreds of documents. ! These are all documents from the 50s, and now they are all invalid. Our computer room has to print them out one by one, make several copies, and distribute them to various subordinate units. Even stamping them makes my hands sore!"

Department stores, non-staple food, petroleum, food, catering and other departments, as well as the sales departments and processing plants affiliated to these units, are all under the management of the Commerce Bureau.

When it comes to work, Shen Xiulan has endless things to say.

She told Li Yunhai that the Commerce Bureau would issue a document, "Notice on the Trial Implementation of the Operation Contract Responsibility System in the State-owned Small Retail Business and Catering Service Industry", and decided to first implement the operation contract responsibility system in 16 retail business departments and catering, hairdressing, bathing, and laundry services. Four dyeing industries will be put into trial contract operation.

Li Yunhai thought that this was a good thing, indicating that the private economy was getting more and more attention.

Shen Xiulan thought of something and smiled: "Yunhai, let's go shopping at the night market!"

Li Yunhai asked: "Does Xizhou also have a night market street? Isn't it just the Triangle Garden?"

Shen Xiulan pursed her lips and smiled: "You are behind the times! The first night market in our city has opened!"

Li Yunhai smiled and said: "You are better informed than me because you work at the Commerce Bureau? Then let's go to the night market to find food!"

Shen Xiulan let out a string of laughter like silver bells.

The two came to the night market street and were shocked by the huge crowd.

People in Xizhou are famous for their love of nightlife. Unexpectedly, this fine tradition has been around since the 80s.

In 1984, the two or three miles long street from Xizhou May Day Square to the south gate was bustling with people and brightly lit, and the first night market street opened for business.

This night market street consists of more than 100 state-owned and collective stores and nearly [-] self-employed stalls, covering all kinds of food, clothing, use and entertainment products.

The Wuyi Square area has been the city center of Xizhou since ancient times.The area where Night Market Street is located is the main commercial district of Xizhou City.There are many famous, high-quality, old and special products, including food, clothing, use and entertainment products.The famous signature restaurants such as Yuloudong, Yinyuan, Yang Yuxing, Deyuan, Huogonggong and Gan Changshun all occupy a place on this night market street.

The night market street is packed with people, and you have to wait for a table to eat snacks. There are still a lot of people waiting for a table!

Most of the people who come here to shop are young people. They come in groups and ride bicycles. Hundreds of bicycles are parked in three or four rows densely in front of each store.

Cold dishes, braised dishes, steamed buns, canned dishes, stews, fried noodles, fried noodles, hot pot, bread, steamed vegetables, porridge, and other common delicacies are almost all served on the night market tables.

As soon as Shen Xiulan entered the night market street, she felt as free and happy as a dragon entering the sea. She did not look for food and went to visit various stalls first.

Various stalls abound on the streets of the night market, selling everything from clothes, accessories, cosmetics, and small items.Most of the items were purchased from Huacheng, especially clothing. The most fashionable styles at that time were only available in Huacheng.Most of the items sold at night markets are mid-range Hong Kong products, with prices ranging from 50 yuan to 100 yuan.

One advantage of spending money in the night market is that you don’t need any tickets.

Anything you can buy here, as long as you have the money, you can complete the transaction.

Of course, prices are not cheap either. Ordinary citizens have limited wages and can visit night markets every day, but their spending power is average.

The grain and oil stamps of most citizens can be used until the end of the month if they save a little on food. At most, in the last few days to fight the famine, they can only spend money to buy food outside without stamps.

In the mid-80s, in big cities like Xizhou, you could buy most food if you had money, but when you went to a designated grain store to buy staple food, in addition to bringing money, you also had to have a grain book and food stamps.

The most materially stressful period was in the 70s and [-]s. People who had money but no money could not buy staple food.Especially those who are on business trips to other places. If they don't have national food stamps, they can't buy staple food in state-owned restaurants and can only stare at them.

Shen Xiulan rarely visited such a lively street, so she was very excited. Her pretty face was flushed by the heat of the summer night, and there was a layer of fine beads of sweat on her white forehead.Seeing how happy she was, Li Yunhai smiled and said: "Xiulan, please take a few days off and I'll take you to the Flower City for a stroll. That's the real world of flowers and dazzling products!"

Shen Xiulan looked back and smiled: "Really? Okay! But not now. I just joined the job, so I can't ask for leave. I have to leave a good impression on the unit leaders."

She is indeed very suitable for development within the system.

Shen Xiulan came to a stall selling cosmetics.

She has grown so old and has never used cosmetics.

Now that I'm working and dating a boyfriend, of course I want to put on a little makeup, because women want to please their appearance.

She picked up a lipstick and curiously asked the stall owner: "What is this used for?"

The stall owner was a young woman. She wiped her lips with her fingers: "Mei Miao, this is lipstick. Just apply a little bit and it will be as beautiful and colorful as the stars on the calendar!"

She pointed to a lipstick on the stall: "Mei Miao, you buy this pink one, it looks great."

Shen Xiulan picked up the lipstick.

This is Qiuyue tobacco powder. The tube has a Chang'e pattern printed on it and is covered with a glass lid.

Shen Xiulan didn't know how to use this lipstick. She was holding the glass lid in her hand, and the lipstick underneath was too heavy and fell directly to the ground.

"Yeah!" The stall owner hurriedly ran out from behind the stall, bent down to pick up the lipstick, turned the knob, and said, "It's over, you broke it! Why can't you even hold a lipstick steady for such a big man?"

Shen Xiulan said aggrievedly: "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was so easy to lose."

The stall owner kept complaining: "What do you mean it's easy to fall off? You have to take the base below, rotate it here, and the lipstick will come out of the tube. This glass is the lid! If you pinch the lid, it will definitely fall off!"

Li Yunhai said in a deep voice: "If you drop it, drop it. Isn't it just a lipstick? How much does it cost? I'll just buy it."

As soon as the stall owner heard this, he immediately put on a smile: "Brother Man, this lipstick is from Huacheng. It costs 10 yuan a piece. Please pay for it!"

When Shen Xiulan heard that it cost ten yuan, she quickly waved her hands and said, "It's too expensive! We won't buy it!"

The stall owner pushed the lipstick into Shen Xiulan's hand: "Mei Miao, it's okay if you don't want to buy it. Please help me sell it!"

Shen Xiulan knew she was in the wrong, bit her lip and said, "I only have three dollars in my pocket."

The stall owner sneered: "Mei Miao, you broke my stuff and you don't pay for it, then I'll call the patrol police to come over! You only brought three yuan, why are you here to visit the night market? You can eat whatever you want here." Everything costs several dollars!”

Li Yunhai took out the money, took out a big solidarity card, and handed it to the stall owner: "Okay! You don't need to say more! What a big deal! Are you being unreasonable? My friend didn't mean it."

The stall owner took the money, looked at the big bag of banknotes in Li Yunhai's pocket, and said with a smile: "Hey, Brother Man, I didn't see it, you are a rich man! Can you buy some other cosmetics for your girlfriend? I also have a lot of good Hong Kong editions here.”

Li Yunhai waved his hand and said to Shen Xiulan: "Let's go! If you want to buy it, don't buy it from her!"

Shen Xiulan pursed her lips, as if she might cry at any time: "Yunhai, ten dollars, just wasted!"

Li Yunhai stretched out his hand and gently scratched her face, teasing her and saying, "I'll buy another oil pot!"

"What are you buying an oil pot for? Do you want to start a meal?"

"Hehe! Yes, but I don't have a shelf to hang the oil can in my house. How about hanging it on your mouth?"

"Huh? You hate it, you're making fun of me again!"

Shen Xiulan burst into laughter and beat Li Yunhai on the chest with her small pink fist.

Li Yunhai grabbed her hand and said warmly, "Don't be angry, okay? Things that can be solved with money are nothing."

Shen Xiulan held up the lipstick and was about to cry: "If my mother knew that I spent ten yuan on a bad lipstick, she would definitely beat me to death. I am so stupid!"

Li Yunhai took the lipstick, tried to twist it, and said: "This lipstick can actually still be used, but the knob may have become loose. When you return to the store, I will help you repair it!"

When Shen Xiulan heard that it could be repaired, she wiped the corners of her eyes and said with a smile, "You can even do this?"

Li Yunhai nodded: "Yes! Let's go find something to eat first!"

"Don't eat! Ten dollars have been wasted. My heart hurts so much. I want to punish myself by starving myself for a whole day."

"Are you stupid? I'm treating you! I have money!"

"You have money, you have money! Why do you always talk about money? Let me ask you, when will you go back to work?"

Li Yunhai pointed to a restaurant in front: "I was just about to talk to you about this. Come on, let's talk while eating."

　A few words about the update.Before it is put on the shelves, there is a long process of accumulating readers, so I update it twice a day. In fact, the number of words I update is not too small.After it is put on the shelves, it will definitely be updated.Readers who have followed my last book should know that the speed of my updates can be described as terrifying. Please prepare your wallets and come to the original version to support me.Thank you for your concern.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)