Chapter 63

He Yuzhu went to the cafeteria in the morning to check things, then rode his bike out to make contacts. Although he had the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to rely on behind him, some things still needed to be contacted.

The Supply and Marketing Cooperative was just his last resort.

Moreover, accumulating some connections now will be useful later; in the 1980s, when starting a business, one still relied on personal relationships.

For example, back then those who had relatives in the city could bring agricultural products purchased from the countryside to sell in the city, which allowed them to stay for many days and also guaranteed safety.

Those without connections could only try to go early and return early.

Arriving at a small tea stall on the street corner, He Yuzhu ordered two large bowls of tea; after waiting less than five minutes, a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit came out of a factory.

"Is this Director He? Welcome." This person was very enthusiastic, "Old Dian has told me before, this matter is no problem. However, I heard you have a grocery shop, and your stock is quite good."

Old Dian was that friend of the factory director, who had bought quite a few things from the grocery shop before.

This time he came mainly for a batch of pillowcases; this item is not currently available at the grocery shop, and his own wholesale department actually doesn't have a suitable one either.

After all, there are aesthetic differences between generations.

Red mandarin ducks are more suitable for this time, so he used connections to find this factory.

"That's just a tiny shop; how could it possibly supply us?" He Yuzhu shook his head. "Director Jin, we still have to rely on you."

Getting pillowcases here certainly isn't free, but Director Jin said their factory has many female workers and little grain consumption, so they hope to trade for something else.

"We mostly have steel here; are you trying to build something? Just say what you need."

"Women aren't easy either; they have to manage the food, clothing, housing, and travel of several households, so they want something special." Director Jin said quietly, "Could we trade for some soybean paste? This stuff is impressive whether you eat it yourself or take it to visit relatives."

Soybean paste is indeed a rarity, made by grinding sesame and peanuts.

Moreover, it has become part of the city's various dishes—exploded tripe, hot pot, Qianlong cabbage—none of which can do without it.

Now each person is supplied only two taels per month.

"Soybean paste is hard to come by; we don't produce it here." He Yuzhu pondered, "We also lack it badly, so we probably can't make much."

"There's no set amount; just see what you can manage. If you can get five catties, we'll have a deal."

"I can't get the coupons, but the goods are about the same—only the quality differs slightly."

All seasonings have long been open; getting five catties of sesame paste from the wholesale department is still easy, only the taste differs slightly.

"No problem." Director Jin smiled, "By the way, you're well‑fed in logistics; could you help pull someone out? It's Xu Damao from the Street Cleaning Squad."

He Yuzhu smiled and asked how he knew that person.

A thousand leather straps lie down and wail.

"You lot have no ambition at all; you just know how to sleep. In a few days I'll leave this place, and then you'll see what I'm capable of—I'll be a leader in a month."

Everyone let out a unanimous hiss, and Xu Damao angrily left the resting area.

Qin Huairu, however, wore a thoughtful expression; Xu Damao's methods have always been rather wild, so maybe he really has a way.

"Brother Xu, what connections are you digging up this time?" Qin Huairu asked curiously.

It's basically impossible at the Steel Rolling Mill; most leaders don't want to offend the Lou family, and even the few who aren't afraid still have to give the factory director face.

"Want to know? First help me dump this bucket of trash; I'll be waiting for you in that little hut over there." Xu Damao took out a slightly wrinkled cigarette, lit it, and started smoking by himself.

Qin Huairu huffed and puffed as she finished the work, then hurried over to gather information.

Xu Damao chuckled twice, then pulled Qin Huairu's hand and began rubbing it.

"Hurry up and speak." Qin Huairu's face flushed a little, and she strained to pull her hand free.

Seeing Qin Huairu's flushed face, Xu Damao became even more itchy with desire; he leaned in close to her neck and lightly sniffed, a garbage smell shooting straight up his nose.

Xu Damao didn't mind; after all, he smelled the same himself.

"You're asking to die." Qin Huairu shoved Xu Damao hard, "In broad daylight inside the factory you dare do bad things—if you get caught, just wait to die."

"It's fine; this place is so remote, who would come? Besides, I'm about to promote someone, so probably no one will cause trouble."

Qin Huairu pressed on, asking how it was done, and whether she could also be reinstated.

"I have lots of friends and unconventional connections; this time I went straight to a leader at another factory." Xu Damao edged closer, "Now the Lou family can't throw their weight around anymore—it's not their call anymore."

"Then which person can that leader get to act?"

Xu Damao said that as long as he could be gotten out, it didn't matter who pulled the strings; once he left the Street Cleaning Squad, he would definitely take back everything he had lost.

Qin Huairu nodded; that sounded like a decent plan, but she lacked such connections, so did she have to rely solely on Xu Damao?

After looking at the already tanned Xu Damao, plus the smell on him that could attract flies, Qin Huairu also said she couldn't bring herself to eat with him.

"What are you two doing? The eastern toilet needs cleaning—hurry up." The Street Cleaning Squad team leader shouted, "Don't just loaf around all day."

"Yes." Xu Damao replied loudly, then spat under his breath.

The sunset slowly sank below the mountains; Xu Damao changed into fresh clothes and went to a small liquor store not far from the Courtyard House. Since he joined the Street Cleaning Squad, he has often come here to get drunk.

"Boss, give me a nickel's worth of liquor and a plate of side dishes, make it meaty."

The liquor was cheap baijiu; one sip made his whole body feel hot.

The dish was a small plate of sausage, probably dried by the boss himself.

Xu Damao usually drinks on an empty stomach, but feeling that something happy should happen today, he specially ordered a plate of food.

"Old Xu, you're drinking this early?"

"Director Jin, hurry up and sit; let's order a few more good ones."

Director Jin smiled; he also knew what news Xu Damao wanted to hear.

"Old Xu, I've always kept your matter in mind; today I happened to run into your factory's leader, so I brought it up especially." Director Jin took a sip of Xu Damao's liquor, "In a few days you'll be able to drink Lotus White."

"Which leader did you find?" Xu Damao asked cautiously.

"This person is a red‑top in front of your factory director, holds real power, and every leader at the Steel Rolling Mill has to give him some face."

"Hmm." Xu Damao's face filled with hope.

"His name is He Yuzhu."