Chapter 75: Foreign Exchange Coupons! (Please Subscribe!)

On the surface, he still kept his composure, carefully finished the payment, then turned to Ye and said, "By the way, Ye, you have Foreign Exchange Coupons here, right? I want to exchange them for 5,000 yuan."

"Got them, go ahead and exchange."

Inside the suite, Ye Tianrong stood up, opened a drawer, took out a stack of light‑green tickets, and handed them to Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin gave him 5,000 yuan in cash, put the Foreign Exchange Coupons into his Book Bag, and took a taxi rushing home.

The moment he stepped through the door, Xu Yuexin's emotions finally burst out! "Are you back?"

At that moment, Qiao Qiao was sitting at the table eating, and when she saw Xu Yuexin enter, she stood up, intending to serve him a bowl of rice.

"Qiao Qiao, look what this is!"

Xu Yuexin hurried to the table and, in front of his wife, with a zip opened his Book Bag!

Qiao Qiao was stunned by what she saw inside the Book Bag.

Inside were piles upon piles of Great Unity, stacked together so numerous she couldn't count them.

So much money—she had never seen so much before…

Under the huge impact, Qiao Qiao felt a wave of dizziness.

"Where… did all this money come from?"

Qiao Qiao's heart pounded wildly as she covered her chest and asked.

"The Flower Wreath Under High Mountain is about to be published in Xiangjiang; this is the royalty."

Xu Yuexin shook the Book Bag twice, wrapped his arm around his wife's fragrant shoulder, and said, "The total is 26,666 yuan."

Over 26,000…

Qiao Qiao was shocked again.

She and the people around her had never measured money in ten‑thousands before.

Making that much from publishing in Xiangjiang! "You must never tell anyone outside."

Overcome with delight, Qiao Qiao whispered, "I'm afraid it's not safe."

"Don't worry, only you and I know; maybe later they'll tell Mom and Dad."

Xu Yuexin planted a kiss on Qiao Qiao's forehead and said, "Isn't tomorrow Friday? Let's go buy something."

"Mm!"

Qiao Qiao nodded obediently, gently leaning on Xu Yuexin's shoulder, enveloped by immense happiness.

26,666 yuan…

Her parents' total monthly income is just over a hundred, which is more than their ten‑year wages combined! The sudden joy of becoming rich left Qiao Qiao at a loss for words to express her happiness.

Mm! My own husband is truly amazing!

His excellence in every way! The next day, Xu Yuexin slung his Shoulder Bag over his back, and early in the morning he and Qiao Qiao headed to Xidan, where they ate a bowl of lamb soup for breakfast.

After the meal, Xu Yuexin rode a bike with her straight to Dong Chang'an Street, finally stopping at the entrance of the Friendship Store near the embassy district.

"Let's go in and have a look."

After getting off, Xu Yuexin said to Qiao Qiao,

"Huh? We can't buy anything here, can we?"

Qiao Qiao asked, puzzled.

The Friendship Store caters specifically to foreigners, overseas compatriots, and officials of a certain rank. Ordinary people who lack Foreign Exchange or Foreign Exchange Coupons cannot shop there at all.

"Why can't we buy?"

Xu Yuexin smiled faintly, took the still‑bewildered Qiao Qiao by the hand, and walked leisurely into the store.

The moment they entered the Friendship Store, Qiao Qiao was stunned by the dazzling array of goods inside.

Swiss Plum‑brand watches, imported tape recorders, Color TV…

There were also many appliances whose names she had never heard of and didn't know what they did.

Each was priced steeply and marked as requiring Foreign Exchange, Foreign Exchange Coupons, or a special supply certificate to purchase.

Compared with ordinary state‑run shops, this place was like another world! Qiao Qiao was dazzled by the endless goods, and Xu Yuexin was also very satisfied with the items on sale.

In terms of product type and grade, this was roughly equivalent to the domestic market of the late 1990s, and better met his needs than the generic goods outside.

After several comparisons and selections, Xu Yuexin decided to prioritize his own entertainment needs.

"Comrade, I'd like to buy a 21‑inch Color TV."

Xu Yuexin stopped at a counter and said to the female sales clerk.

The female sales clerks here are carefully selected. Everyone wears light makeup, their attire is meticulous down to each hair strand, and their looks surpass even the boutique salesgirls of later luxury brands.

Their way of addressing customers and their attitude differ greatly from those in ordinary shops.

"Sir, good day. May I ask whether you are using Foreign Exchange or Foreign Exchange Coupons?"

The sales clerk smiled gently and asked in a warm, friendly tone.

"Using Foreign Exchange Coupons,"

Xu Yuexin took off his Shoulder Bag, unfastened its clasp, and said.

Qiao Qiao's eyes were drawn to what was inside the Shoulder Bag.

She saw that besides stacks of Great Unity, it also contained piles of green tickets she had never seen.

So this is the legendary Foreign Exchange Coupon? "Alright, the total is 2,000 yuan. Would you like us to deliver it to your home?"

"Yes, deliver it to Keyuan Community,"

"Okay, we'll arrange a courier for delivery. The warranty is three years; you can claim repairs with the invoice when needed,"

During the conversation, the sales clerk took the Foreign Exchange Coupons from Xu Yuexin, quickly tallied the amount, and issued an invoice for him.

Qiao Qiao stared dumbfounded beside them.

A full 2,000 yuan—enough for an ordinary person's living expenses for over a decade!

My husband took it out so easily; it was a rare Foreign Exchange Coupon.

At this moment, Xu Yuexin appeared in Chen Qiaoqiao's eyes as exceedingly dashing and exceedingly handsome.

Soon, two moving masters helped them carry the TV outside and delivered a yellow van.

Such vans were common in Jingcheng in the late 1980s, colloquially called the yellow ones, though they are not many now.

After delivering it to the place, the master also helped them carry it upstairs, connected the wires, and completed the setup.

At this time there was still no cable TV network; the TV receives analog signals via an antenna on the roof, so once connected it can be watched.

"Wishing you a pleasant use, and welcome to visit again."

As they were leaving, the master said politely.

Until this moment, Chen Qiaoqiao still felt as if she were in a dream.

Is this the shopping experience of the Friendship Store? The attitude is worlds apart from other shops! For the first time she realized that money is not only for buying goods, but can also buy a completely different consumption experience.

"What a beautiful TV."

After the masters left, Chen Qiaoqiao surveyed the brand‑new 21‑inch imported Color TV on the cabinet and exclaimed.

"Come, let's watch a program for a while."

Xu Yuexin sat down on a chair, took the remote, and turned it on.

A colored picture instantly appeared on the screen.

"I think, the meaning of buying the monkey..."

"... and its importance, let me talk about it for everyone."

Ma Sanli and Penggen were vividly performing "Buying the Monkey" on stage.

Chen Qiaoqiao, for the first time in her life, saw a colored picture on the screen and stared without blinking.

Xu Yuexin also watched with great interest, feeling that having this Color TV instantly raised the quality of life by several levels.

The two sat in front of the TV for an afternoon, until their parents returned home in the evening.

"TV? Did you buy it?"

Xu Qiang, upon entering, asked with some surprise.

"It's the colored one, too."

Wu Yan, equally startled, leaned over the TV, ran a hand over its case and said, "How many inches is this huge thing? It must have cost a lot, right?"

"21 inches. Not expensive, only two thousand yuan."

Xu Yuexin said lightly, reminding his mother, "Also, Mom, could you move a bit? You're blocking the screen."

"Two thousand isn't much."

Wu Yan exclaimed, "The child's tone is getting bigger and bigger, huh."

"Surely he's making big money writing novels."

Xu Qiang stared at the screen with curiosity, smiling as he said.

"He's made some," Xu Yuexin said, "so he thought of buying a TV to improve our family's entertainment life."

"Still too expensive."

While captivated by the colored picture, Wu Yan shook her head and said, "Next time before spending money, discuss it more with Qiaoqiao; she definitely won't support you being extravagant."

"Oh…"

Chen Qiaoqiao watched with full concentration, not knowing what her mother‑in‑law was saying, and merely responded twice when she heard her name mentioned.

Xu Yuexin patted the chair beside him: "Mom, you don't need to say anything. Aren't you watching without blinking right now?"

"Besides, money is a bastard; when it's gone you earn more, no need to feel sorry about it."

"You little brat, you've even learned to talk back to Mom now."

Wu Yan said, unable to laugh or cry.

Honestly, she truly felt that this Color TV was different, much more comfortable to watch than a black‑and‑white one.

"Our son has grown up, and both my husband and I are basking in his glow."

Wu Yan sighed as she sat beside Xu Yuexin.

That evening, the Xu family ate very simply, because everyone was completely captivated by the Color TV and no one wanted to bother cooking.

……

Early the next morning, Xu Yuexin yawned awake and found the space beside his pillow empty.

In the living room outside, the TV was sounding.

Xu Yuexin put on his clothes and went out; lo and behold, together with his sister Xu Yanran, the whole family was sitting in a circle, intensely focused on the TV, and no one even noticed him.

Is this the power of Color TV in the late 1970s? Xu Yuexin intended to slip away quietly, when Wu Yan noticed the movement.

"Got up? I'm going to make breakfast."

Wu Yan glanced at Xu Yuexin and said, then, as she got up, she still lingered, eyes fixed on the TV screen.

"Mom, be careful not to trip over the stool."

Xu Yuexin deliberately reminded loudly.

Wu Yan snapped back to reality, looked ahead, and found there was no stool.

"Good kid, daring to tease Mom like that."

Wu Yan also laughed at herself, unable to hold back, and said, "Quickly wash your face and brush your teeth."

"Make breakfast a bit slower; I'll go down for a moment."

Xu Yuexin instructed, then turned and entered the bathroom.

After finishing his wash, Xu Yuexin went downstairs for a round, looking for any of his letters.

He had previously written letters to Yan River, Shanghai Arts, Contemporary, October Magazine, and Duck Green River, expressing intentions for publishing cooperation.

I don't know whether their letters have arrived.

When he opened the mailbox, Xu Yuexin saw that inside it was, as usual, empty.

Perhaps it's within these few days.

Xu Yuexin thought.

From then on, each morning he went downstairs to check the mailbox, and finally received letters from Contemporary and October Magazine.

Both are publications within Jing, and among them Contemporary is the most enthusiastic, with the Chief Editor personally replying to him.

It makes sense, since Contemporary was only founded in June, and at this time it surely hopes to obtain quality content resources.

Xu Yuexin collected the letters, went to the Dianbao Fang to send telegrams to both, inviting them to come later to meet at Keyuan Community.

Yan River, Shanghai Arts, and Duck Green River should have also replied, but being far away the letters are still on the way.

If he can seal deals with all these, it would be a rather substantial income.

Adding the money previously received from Ye Tianrong, he could consider turning his attention to the housing market, looking for suitable targets.

When leaving the Dianbao Fang, Xu Yuexin thought to himself.

After contacting Contemporary and October Magazine, Xu Yuexin rode his bike to the Cultural Troupe; he still remembered that he had arranged to meet Chen Yixue today.

When he arrived at the Cultural Troupe, he saw Chen Yixue standing at the entrance waiting for him.

Today Chen Yixue wore a pure white knit top; beneath the thin garment rose two towering peaks, and below was a water‑blue matte long skirt, paired with high heels, making her demeanor especially striking.

Seeing him approach, Chen Yixue waved and said, "You've come really early."

"Aren't you even earlier."

Xu Yuexin stopped his bicycle.

"I just arrived a moment ago. Come, let's find a place to sit and talk."

Chen Yixue smiled faintly and, staying beside Xu Yuexin, walked forward together.

"Let's go here."

When they reached the gate of the North China Machinery General Plant, Chen Yixue stopped, pointed inside, and said to Xu Yuexin, "Their workers' club has very good conditions."

"Can we go in?"

Xu Yuexin stopped and said.

"Yes, our Cultural Troupe has a cooperative relationship with the plant."

Chen Yixue said as she walked forward, and the Security Officer at the gate indeed let her in.

Xu Yuexin pushed his bicycle beside Chen Yixue, locked the bike in the bike shed, and then walked with her deeper into the factory.

Brand‑new red‑brick factory buildings, a massive smokestack spewing white smoke outward, and the rumbling of machines echoing from the workshop…

Workers passing by occasionally had to speak loudly to hear each other.

Everything was so noisy yet full of vitality.

Only when the two entered the club did the surroundings quiet down, as if stepping into another world.

The exterior of the workers' club displayed Soviet‑style architecture, likely built with Soviet assistance back then.

Inside, the club was carpeted in red; signs indicated it housed a billiard room, cinema, reading room, beverage room, and other leisure facilities.

These days the difference between state‑owned big factories and small ones lies here; the former offers far better welfare. It's said that in some especially well‑equipped plants, the water tap dispenses not tap water but genuine soda.

Xu Yuexin and Da Yizi went up to the second‑floor beverage room, found the décor excellent, with a large wooden counter facing them, cabinets against the wall outside the counter, and inside a dazzling array of drinks.

At the counter, Chen Yixue spent six mao to order a bottle of milk, then asked Xu Yuexin, "Is there anything else you'd like to drink?"

"I'll have a bottle of beer."

Xu Yuexin thought for a moment and said.

The club was self‑service; after paying, the two fetched the milk and beer from the wall cabinets and found a table to sit at.

Xu Yuexin helped Da Yizi unscrew the milk bottle's cap and handed the bottle back to her.

"I spoke with the plant the day before yesterday."

Chen Yixue inserted a straw into the milk bottle, calmly said to Xu Yuexin, "Just as you said, retain the position without taking a salary, and from now on go out alone to make a name for yourself."

"Congratulations, you've taken the first step."

Xu Yuexin cracked the beer bottle cap, slammed the frothy bottle onto the table, and asked, "Do you plan to play around for a while, or jump straight into the grind?"

"Jump straight into the grind. If I have idle time, I'll feel uneasy."

Chen Yixue said without hesitation, "What style do you think my first song after coming out should be?"

"A military song. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the nation, surely a big year for mainstream songs."

Xu Yuexin analyzed for her, then stood up, fetched a cup, and poured one for himself.

"I agree with what you said."

"How about we cooperate? You write, I sing, fifty‑fifty split."

Chen Yixue sincerely invited.

"Well, four, I still have my main profession of writing books."

Xu Yuexin took a big gulp of beer, modestly said, "Money is the courage of heroes; you just came out, earning a bit more will give you confidence."

"Thank you for considering me so thoughtfully."

"First song, four."

Chen Yixue, full of gratitude, picked up the beer bottle and refilled it for him.

"We'll discuss the rest later."

Xu Yuexin, holding the beer glass, said, "I have an idea now; I'll write it down for you to see."

"If there's no problem, we'll sing this one."

(End of chapter)