Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1073: The Spring Breeze of Reform Blows Across the Land

The winter of 1981 was colder than usual, but along with the cold came the spring breeze of reform.

As reform and opening up entered its third year, many policies were relaxed. The cotton spinning mill where Song Ying and Huang Ling worked was a large state-owned enterprise and was included in the pilot program for state-owned enterprise reform.

The factory leaders used a series of management methods to improve production efficiency, but the sales channels and sales volume of the planned economy were fixed, and products that exceeded the plan were piled up in the warehouse and could not be sold at all.

At the same time, the factory has been continuously accepting the children of educated youth who rebelled against the city in recent years. There has been no outflow, and the efficiency of the cotton mill has not only failed to increase, but the more reforms it has carried out, the greater the losses have been.

Therefore, after a meeting of the factory leadership team, it was decided to implement the two measures of "breaking down walls to open stores" and "suspending employment without pay."

The so-called "breaking the wall to open a shop" means demolishing the factory wall and renting it to individual business owners to open shops. Once it was launched, it received unanimous praise from individual business owners and the majority of cotton mill employees.

Various small shops have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, offering services such as haircuts, breakfast, and shoe repair. Factory workers can enjoy all kinds of conveniences without leaving their homes. Moreover, the service attitude of these small shops is beyond the reach of state-owned stores.

As for "suspending employment without pay", the call was loud and clear, but few people responded.

To use Song Ying's words.

"Although the factory wages are low, they are stable jobs with iron rice bowls and medical expenses are reimbursed. Only a fool would give up a good job to become a self-employed person."

"Anyway, we don't mind the low wages the factory gives us, and the factory shouldn't mind us being lazy. It's best if everyone can live in peace."

That day, Li Yiming suddenly came to the courtyard and called Lin Wufeng who was about to go to work.

When Lin Wufeng was feeling somewhat puzzled, Li Yiming took out a framed industrial and commercial business license from behind him. This was the first batch of business licenses for individual businesses in Suzhou. Li Yiming could be said to be at the forefront of the times.

After congratulating and praising Li Yiming, Lin Wufeng was in a hurry to go to work and didn't talk to him much. He just got on his bike and left.

A few minutes later, Li Yiming walked into the courtyard. Song Ying and Huang Ling were in the middle shift today, so they were both at home. Li Yiming took out a magazine with many fashionable sweater styles and specific knitting methods.

Under the "persuasion" of Li Yiming and the Five Great Unitys, Song Ying and Huang Ling decided to take on this part-time job of manual work and earn some pocket money after get off work every day.

Song Ying is quick and nimble, and is good at knitting small items such as coasters and scarves, which require a short production period. Huang Ling has superb skills and likes to knit large items such as sweaters and waistcoats. Over time, both of them have made a lot of money from Li Yiming, and they both smile more often than usual.

"Thanks to Yiming, otherwise, with our Tunan's appetite, the salary from the factory wouldn't be enough for him to eat."

Song Ying paused and said, "Teacher Zhuang has been promoted to Dean of Studies. Didn't he get a raise?"

"Although my salary has increased, I have lost subsidies for marking the college entrance examination papers. Moreover, Chaoying's parents called him back home right after he got his salary increase. I know without a doubt that they must have targeted his extra salary. I just pretended not to know. It's useless to ask for it anyway, and I won't offend anyone. I have a salary now and can earn extra money by knitting sweaters. I can support Tunan and Xiaoting by myself. As for the rest, let him do whatever he wants."

Song Ying felt sorry for Huang Ling: "Teacher Zhuang usually seems quite normal, but why is he so confused when it comes to family matters? His parents are his family, and Sister Ling, aren't you, Tunan, and Xiaoting his family?"

Huang Ling tried to comfort Song Ying: "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Your family is much better off than ours. Why don't you take risks with me to earn some extra money?"

"Our family's situation is indeed better, but our expenses are also high. Lin Dongzhe is greedy, and I like to buy beautiful clothes. Who would complain about having too much money?"

"Besides, this way I can have a companion with Sister Ling. It's so boring to knit alone. It's great if we can chat while knitting together."

Huang Ling was touched. She knew that Song Ying was comforting her. The combined salary of Lin Wufeng and Song Ying was enough to support a family of three. Qin Hao received a subsidy of 20 yuan a month, and the school also provided meal allowances. He could win a championship from time to time. The Suzhou Sports Bureau and the Jiangsu Sports Bureau would give out bonuses, which he could never spend all. Song Ying came mainly to accompany her and to make some money at the same time.

Just when Huang Ling's tears were about to overflow from her eyes, a loud "boom" startled them.

When Lin Dongzhe heard the noise, he immediately ran into the house.

"The popcorn maker is here."

The atmosphere was instantly ruined, Huang Ling's tears immediately stopped, Song Ying gave Lin Dongzhe a cold look and took out a few bills from her pocket.

"Go to the kitchen and get a bowl of rice. Don't fry too much. Eating too much will make you get irritated."

"Okay." Lin Dongzhe happily took the money and went to the kitchen to get rice, and called Zhuang Xiaoting to come along.

The sound of popcorn soon attracted the children in the alley. A group of people lined up in front of the popcorn stand, staring at the old man's movements. Some were so anxious that they wished they could turn the popcorn machine instead of the old man.

She happened to meet Wu Shanshan and Xiaojun who were also queuing up for popcorn. After waiting in line for a long time, it was finally Lin Dongzhe's turn. Zhuang Xiaoting suddenly heard the sound of a bicycle bell coming from outside the alley and immediately looked over.

"My brother and Hao are back."

Wu Shanshan's eyes lit up, and as she watched Zhuang Tunan approaching from afar, a smile gradually appeared on her face.

"Brother Hao, make some popcorn. It'll be our turn soon." Lin Dongzhe approached Qin Hao as if he was presenting a treasure.

Qin Hao stopped his bicycle and handed him a copy of "Legends of the Past and Present", a magazine that was just published this year. It caused a sensation as soon as it was released. Lin Dongzhe was itching to read the serialized novel "Legends of Wudang Mountain" and never missed a single issue. He even had the urge to go to Wudang Mountain to learn martial arts.

"Brother Hao, you are my real brother. No, you are closer than my real brother."

Zhuang Tunan, who was standing by, also handed Wu Shanshan a copy of "Sprout".

"Where's the latest issue? I couldn't find it anywhere I tried."

Zhuang Tunan: "The library of No. 1 Middle School, but only high school students can borrow books. Junior high school students can only read in the library..."

At this point, Zhuang Tunan seemed to remember something and looked at Qin Hao: "Except him."

Lin Dongzhe was not interested in "sprouts" at all. He held up Legends of the Past and Present with disdain and said, "What's so good about sprouts, harvests, and October? A man was walking a dog in the village talking to himself, and you cried. It's inexplicable. It's not even one percent as good as my Legends of Wudang Mountain."

Wu Shanshan did not refute, but smiled expectantly: "I never thought about taking the high school entrance exam before. Ever since I read the magazines that Zhuang Tunan and Qin Hao borrowed from the school, I feel that No. 1 Middle School is really different. The books in them are not available outside, and the things discussed are things I have never thought about. They are very profound."

Zhuang Tunan nodded: "Yes, war and peace, turmoil and reflection, there is a wider world in the book."

Lin Dongzhe pouted: "What victory and peace, turmoil and reflection, only by winning can there be peace. In the future, I want to become a martial arts master and help those who are injustice!"

Qin Hao laughed for a while. Lin Dongzhe always made unreasonable words sound reasonable. However, his dream of becoming a martial arts master might be difficult to realize, because when Lin Wufeng checked his homework at night, he found a picture book from his schoolbag. So the long-lost mixed doubles scene of the couple reappeared in the courtyard.

During the conversation, Song Ying said to Lin Wufeng sincerely, "Lin Wufeng, I have developed a new love for you during the class struggle with Lin Dongzhe."

Unfortunately, Lin Dongzhe became the catalyst that stimulated his parents' love and silently endured everything.

The situation at the Zhuang family next door was also not peaceful. Huang Ling and Zhuang Chaoying chatted after dinner and talked about some love affairs between men and women in the middle school attached to the cotton mill, which again aroused Huang Ling's worries.

Although Zhuang Tunan shows no signs of being in a relationship now, Wu Shanshan has been coming to the courtyard more frequently recently, either to borrow magazines or notes and exercises. She comes at least several times a week.

"That doesn't necessarily mean it's for Tuanan, right? I saw Shanshan also asked Haozi to borrow magazines for her?" Zhuang Chaoying said indifferently.

Huang Ling immediately retorted: "How can they be the same? Shanshan has obviously borrowed magazines from Tunan much more often, and how old is Haozi this year? He is only twelve years old. What can he understand?"

"Not necessarily. Although Haozi is young, he is precocious and growing fast. He will soon be taller than Tunan, and he doesn't look like a twelve-year-old at all."

Huang Ling was speechless for a moment.

"You don't know what Zhang A-mei is thinking. She is planning to let Xiao Min get close to Haozi. Shan Shan is very smart. She won't compete with Xiao Min."

Zhuang Chaoying looked bewildered: "When did it happen? How come I don't know about it?"

Huang Ling was completely speechless: "Anyone in this alley who is not stupid can see it, but you don't know."

"Then what are you going to do? You can't tell Shanshan not to come to Tunan to borrow magazines in the future, right? It will hurt the child's self-esteem." Zhuang Chaoying felt a little embarrassed and started to change the subject.

Huang Ling said with a bitter face: "This is what I am worried about. Tunan just entered high school and will graduate in the second half of next year. I am afraid of him..."

Just when the couple was at a loss, the next day, Zhuang Chaoying and his wife were invited over by Wu Jianguo. Zhang A-mei also flattered Zhuang Chaoying and praised him to the sky, and then she started to talk about business.

This time, Zhuang Chaoying was invited to help with the children's college entrance examination, as Xiao Min and Wu Shanshan will face the high school entrance examination when school starts again.

According to Zhang A-mei's idea, Xiao Min should study at a textile technical school, so that she can take over Wu Jianguo's class directly after graduation. However, Wu Jianguo only has one vacancy, and Xiao Min will not be able to enter the cotton mill if she uses Wu Shanshan. Zhuang Chaoying knows very well what a stable job means in the 80s, but this is Wu Jianguo's family affair, so he can't say anything.

Huang Ling couldn't bear to watch: "What about Shanshan?"

Zhang A-mei had no choice but to say, "Shanshan is a good student and doesn't need this quota."

Wu Jianguo meant to let Wu Shanshan go to a technical secondary school, and choose between a nursing school and a normal school, so that she would have good employment prospects after graduation.

"But why did I hear that Shanshan wanted to apply to No. 1 Middle School?"

"Hey, what's the point of taking the high school entrance exam? Even if you get in, you may not be able to get into college in the future. It's safer to go to a technical secondary school."

Huang Ling now understood that Wu Jianguo and Zhang A-mei had actually discussed it long ago. They invited them here just to tell Wu Shanshan through this conversation not to have any more illusions.

When Huang Ling got home, she felt more and more uncomfortable the more she thought about it, but Zhuang Chaoying said, "This is exactly what you wanted. Shanshan is going to a technical secondary school, so there is no chance for her to be with Tunan."

"I just don't want Tunan's college entrance exam to be affected. I have no problem with Shanshan."

Zhuang Chaoying shook her head: "What if Shanshan goes to a technical secondary school and Tunan is admitted to university, and they get together in the future, would you be willing to accept such a daughter-in-law?"

Huang Ling remained silent. She had worked so hard to send her son to college, and she must have wanted her son to find a wife with better conditions in all aspects and start a family.

It's the Spring Festival again. During this year's Spring Festival, not only state-owned stores in Suzhou opened up for supply of pork, but many small individual stores also started selling various New Year goods. Items like Lu Gaojian's braised meat and Huang Tianyuan's cakes became popular.

While Song Ying was happy that there were now more supplies for the New Year, she also couldn't help but sigh: "Now I have less and less money to spend. I want to buy more and more things, but my salary remains the same."

Huang Ling has the same feeling: "Yes, a few years ago, I felt sorry for Yiming when I saw him running a stall as a self-employed business owner, hiding from others. But now, he earns as much in a month as we do in a year."

"Then I'm not envious. That was all earned by Yiming himself. I can't bear that kind of hardship anyway."

The two of them continued chatting while frying the meatballs.

"By the way, I heard that Uncle Haozi came back a while ago. Did he cause any trouble?"

Song Ying lowered her voice and said, "No, Qin Jianjun seemed like a different person when he came back this time. He looked at least ten years older. He moved away some of the furniture that he had bought when he was here, and he didn't even stay to have a meal with his parents before leaving."

"So Haozi is still spending the New Year at your house this year? His grandparents didn't make a fuss?"

Song Ying shook her head: "Haozi has the right ideas. He pretends not to hear anything the old couple says. They are still living in Haozi's house now, so they dare not make too much noise."

"Oh, if only our Chaoying could be half as decisive as Haozi..." Huang Ling sighed.

Song Ying didn't know how to comfort Huang Ling for a moment. She had never seen a husband like Zhuang Chaoying who put his parents first. She said he was wrong. He was quite filial and had a good reputation outside. Everyone thought Huang Ling had married a good man, but in fact, only she knew the pain in his heart.

"Mom, are the meatballs fried?" Lin Dongzhe appeared from nowhere, scaring both Song Ying and Huang Ling.

"When did you come in?"

"Just when you were saying that Uncle Zhuang would be half as good as Brother Hao."

Song Ying's face turned dark. She took out a basket full of fried meatballs that had just come out of the pan and was about to bribe Lin Dongzhe.

As a result, Lin Dongzhe said something that made them both laugh and cry.

"Brother Hao is the most powerful person in the world. It's normal that Uncle Zhuang is not half as good as Brother Hao. Aunt Huang, please don't be sad." (End of this chapter)