Chapter 166: Sister's Talent

After waiting for Lu Cheng to leave, Wang Fengshi came in carrying the documents.

"Captain Lei, I just saw Group Leader Lu holding a handgun; that should be yours, right?"

"Yes, I gave it to him."

Wang Fengshi was startled for a moment; others didn't know, but he knew very well that the handgun was Captain Lei's favorite item.

He often saw that, when Captain Lei had nothing to do, he would take it out to play with.

"Captain Lei, you're really generous—giving away the handgun like that."

Wang Fengshi could sense how much Captain Lei cherished Lu Cheng; even though his performance this month was poor, Lei didn't scold him once in the meeting.

Lei Zhan Ge sighed, "Of course I'm reluctant, but this time our Beijing Station can get funding to build a train, and Lu Cheng made the initial contribution; we have to give him some reward."

"Then we could certainly promote Group Leader Lu by one level; with such a great contribution, a one‑level raise is no excess," Wang Fengshi, who also liked the kid, couldn't help but speak praise.

Lei Zhan Ge waved his hand, "We can't promote him further; he's only been here a few months, and he went from intern to regular and already rose four levels, so subordinates might object."

Wang Fengshi understood; from the attitudes of those few group leaders toward Lu Cheng, one could see jealousy, both overt and covert, constantly competing.

Doing so, Lei Zhan Ge considered it for Lu Cheng's good, preventing arrogance and also maintaining internal stability.

…

Today is a good day; wages are being distributed.

Lu Cheng first received his base salary of 49.5 yuan from the accountant, and after various allowances his net pay was 54.2 yuan.

Lu Cheng didn't care much about the amount; with limited supply and no various tickets, even having money left nowhere to spend.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be so generous, giving the money to those Speculative Profiteering elements as travel funds.

Only when he saw the allocated welfare supplies did Lu Cheng's eyes light up.

One box of soy sauce, one box of vinegar—each box containing four bottles; four packets each of salt and MSG; two small bottles of sesame oil; and one bottle of peanut oil.

Red sugar and white sugar were wrapped in kraft paper, each tied with a loop of fine hemp rope, two packets each; these are rare, in‑demand goods.

There are sugar tickets each month, but the quota is very small—only a few taels.

Yet these four packets total a full four jin.

Especially the brown sugar, which is especially suitable for women during confinement to replenish qi and blood, and also good for the sick to drink.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a luxury; steeped in sugar water, even a child licking it feels satisfied.

Besides these, there were some pastries and bread, and then the distributed tickets.

The city's grain tickets, cloth tickets, coal tickets and other common living tickets, plus ten Foreign Exchange Vouchers.

The main item was three jin of Meat Tickets, and with the ones Mom had saved, we won't worry about meat for the New Year.

These tickets are the most precious; Mom and Dad are double‑job workers, and Chen Xianglan is usually frugal, so they manage to save some money, but lack tickets for purchases.

Once these things are taken home, Mom will be overjoyed.

Besides that, they also got a half‑price monthly bus pass, of course only valid from the residence to Beijing Station.

Moreover, that's quite good; the Railway Department advanced the other half, so why not take it.

The welfare has been received, but the key is how to bring it back; sigh, why distribute so many things!

Just as Lu Cheng was happily fretting, he suddenly heard his sister call him.

"Sister, I'm over here."

Lu Ying pushed a bicycle over: "Why are you here? I've been looking for you forever; just now Qing Yan passed the Tea Stall and said you hadn't returned."

"Sister, it's perfect that you came by bicycle; I'm collecting the distributed welfare."

"All these?" Lu Ying was startled, saying enviously, "That's a lot—your railway system's welfare is really good."

Lu Cheng stayed silent, glanced at the bicycle, and couldn't help but kick it: "Sister, whose bicycle are you riding? It's way too shabby."

"Hey, your foot is so low, don't kick around; this is for you."

"What, for me?"

"Ah, didn't I say last time I'd get you a new bicycle? Here it is, swapped back for you. How about it? I didn't break my promise; as soon as I knew you were back, I immediately brought it over."

Lu Ying wore a smug smile, while Lu Cheng wore a look of disgust.

He circled around and saw the bike frame either missing a patch of paint or riddled with holes, and even the seat cover was torn.

Indeed, everything rattled except the bell.

"No, sis, where did you pick this up from a junkyard? Is it even rideable?"

"As you say, how could it not be rideable! I traded a radio for it with Sun Dage from our Hu Tong, just as he wanted a new bicycle."

"Ah, you gave Dad's radio as collateral?"

"How could that be? Dad's radio is brand new; I'm foolish to trade it for a broken bicycle!"

The radio was exchanged for a coal stove with Li Daye from the neighboring Hu Tong; his coal stove was broken, and he needed one.

Lu Cheng, a bit incredulous, asked, "Then where did you get the coal stove?"

The coal stove was traded for a sand pot; that family had a patient who didn't want to buy a new sand pot, but had an extra useless stove at home.

"Where did you get the sand pot?"

"The sand pot was exchanged for an aluminum pot, which I got by swapping a watch, which I got by trading a fountain pen, which I got by swapping a pair of gloves with a high‑school kid."

The gloves, of course, came from the Tea Stall; a pair costs only a few dimes, and although the bicycle is shabby, it could be sold for over twenty yuan.

Trading a few dimes for over twenty yuan left Lu Cheng greatly astonished.

I have to say, sister truly has a business talent; it shines through instantly.

He only mentioned the "Chicken Feather for Sugar" concept to his sister last time, and didn't expect

she perfectly leveraged everyone's needs.

Lu Cheng couldn't help but raise his thumb: "Big sis, you're awesome."

Lu Ying slapped him and said, "Screw you, that sounds terrible."

Impressive indeed—trading a pair of gloves for a bicycle for real; Lu Cheng's admiration is genuine, but he still finds the bicycle a bit unappealing.

"Sis, this bicycle has been tossed around so many times; you say that with such handsome looks, brother riding this bike would be a downgrade."

Lu Ying rolled her eyes: "What level are you talking about! Just riding it is fine! Want it? If not, then forget it, just carry your things back yourself."

"No, no, no, I can't just return it." Lu Cheng hurriedly grabbed the bicycle; it's still better than walking.

With Lu Ying's help, the boxed items were placed behind the seat and tied up with rope.

The other items were also tied with rope, hung on the handlebars and the main bar, packed full, making anyone who saw it envious.

"Sis, you're so awesome, why not swap me for a jeep instead."

Lu Ying rolled her eyes: "You dream too big; getting a jeep is beyond my limit—trading for a bicycle is already my utmost, you have no idea how many times I've worn out my mouth."

"Thanks for your hard work, sis, here are a few cloth vouchers for you." Lu Cheng took out the cloth vouchers, and Lu Ying, excited, snatched them up.

She had long set her eyes on a batch of patterned fabrics, but the family's cloth vouchers were in short supply.

Lu Cheng loaded everything onto the bicycle and asked, "By the way, sis, your Tea Stall has made so much money these months, aren't you giving any benefits for the New Year?"

Lu Ying, busy flipping through the vouchers, said, "We'll give a bit, but not as much as your Railway Department does…"

"Alright, sis, then I'll deliver the stuff home first."

"Then you come back to pick me up after work."

"You take the bus back yourself; when you someday buy me a small car, I'll come pick you up."

Watching Lu Cheng hop on the bicycle and run off, Lu Ying stamped her foot in anger: "So heartless!"