Chapter 553: Exporting to Generate Foreign Exchange

Even if Lu Cheng had that idea, he couldn't do it; his sister could, but misappropriating collective public funds on her own would incur criminal liability.

"Seeing you so nervous, I'm not even mixing accounts to this extent!"

Seeing that her brother truly didn't have that intention, Lu Ying said proudly.

"Other community‑run enterprises are always running at a loss and have to rely on state subsidies; ours is different—we don't need subsidies, and there's over ten thousand yuan just sitting in the account."

One could say his sister has a talent for business; nowadays, with community‑run enterprises sprouting everywhere, most small firms struggle to keep staff because they hire too many people while profits are limited.

Yet his sister revitalized the department store, achieved profit, and the profit was substantial.

But Lu Ying also has something to worry about—having too much money is also a hassle.

"What kind of system is this now? On one hand we must Reform to be self‑sufficient, on the other hand the books show plenty of money yet we can't spend it, and I'm getting anxious along with it."

Lu Ying can only apply for more benefits for everyone, and plans to apply for additional bonuses, distributing as much of the money as possible to the staff.

But only a small portion can be spent, and later the account balance will keep growing with nowhere to spend it, which is truly wasteful.

Lu Cheng understands his sister's dilemma; the money is collective, but under the current system salaries follow state‑set standards, not whatever a leader decides to pay.

So Lu Ying, looking at the money idly sitting in the account, feels troubled.

Moreover, we are still in the early Reform stage; even the state is feeling its way across the river, and after policies reach the enterprises below, many people simply don't know how to implement them.

But Lu Cheng, who has lived a heavy life, knows.

"Sis, you can't stay at the department store forever."

Although this department store has high profits and good benefits, many Unemployed Youth want to work here; even as a sales clerk it's better compensated than at a State‑owned Store.

Including his sister's salary, which the Street Office leadership specifically requested from above, securing sixty yuan per month.

But Lu Cheng knows his sister's ambitions go far beyond that.

Lu Ying looked up and said, "Of course I don't want to stay like this, but what options are there now?"

"There is a way: you can invest this money elsewhere, like building a factory, and then you could earn two salaries."

Lu Ying was unconvinced: "Are you kidding? Even if this amount were enough to start a factory, it would still be a community‑run enterprise, ownership belonging to the Street Office, so I'd still only get one salary."

Lu Cheng smiled, "Then don't rely on the Street Office; cooperate with our Railway department."

"Cooperate with your Railway department?"

Lu Ying thought seriously about this; it seemed that way, she could get two salaries.

Because if she used this money to start a factory, ownership would belong to the Railway department, meaning she and the store staff would each be half owned by the Railway department.

"But... would the Street Office agree?"

Lu Cheng said indifferently, "You are now self‑sufficient; the money on the books belongs to your collective, and you only need to remit a portion of the profit regularly. The advantage of being self‑sufficient is that profits can be allocated by the enterprise itself, so the Street Office has no reason to refuse."

Lu Ying nodded, "Okay, I'll discuss it with the Street Office... The key is, your Railway department is wealthy; with just this amount in our account, they wouldn't take notice."

Lu Cheng said casually, "The amount of money isn't the point; the point is that your investment represents your stake."

Lu Ying understood; it's like some community enterprises now need capital, the Street Office contributes a part, the collective contributes a part, representing their interests.

"Hey, that's not right. We've been talking here for ages and it sounds good, but you think just because you tell me to cooperate with the Railway department they'll cooperate? You act like you're the minister!"

Lu Cheng laughed, "Don't worry about that; for the sake of having more pocket money later, my brother will do his best to make it happen."

Lu Ying still thought it was quite difficult, but letting her brother try wasn't impossible.

The main point is that her brother now, unlike before, has Fu Chu Da Yu, at least allowing him to speak a few words to higher‑up leaders.

"Even if we could pull it off, what kind of factory and what product? We can't just produce soy sauce, can we?"

Lu Cheng shook his head, "Soy sauce definitely won't work; to get the Railway department on board, the product must earn Foreign Exchange, otherwise I have no chance to persuade the higher‑ups."

"Earn Foreign Exchange? You mean exporting to foreign countries?"

Seeing her brother didn't deny it, Lu Ying exclaimed, "My goodness, you're too bold; even we can't figure out how to sell it ourselves, let alone have a channel to sell to foreigners."

Lu Cheng knew it was hard, unless they found a product that could earn Foreign Exchange, preferably one that doesn't exist now but will appear in later generations.

Seeing her brother fall silent, Lu Ying assumed he was just teasing her.

Because creating Foreign Exchange through export now only large State‑owned Factories can manage, such as this soy sauce, which would have to be premium grade, plus Jinhua ham, Sichuan cured meat, Meilin brand candied orange, Jingdezhen porcelain, Tianjin carpets, Northeastern goose down and exotic animal furs.

Or renting out giant pandas.

On a larger scale, it means exporting rare non‑ferrous metals, oil, and the like.

And Lu Cheng casually saying to open a factory to create Foreign Exchange is nothing but a pipe dream.

Seeing her brother still leaning on the counter, deep in thought, Lu Ying could only find it amusing.

"Still dreaming about creating Foreign Exchange through export, just to get me another job so you can pocket an extra allowance, right!"

"It's not only about pocket money..." Lu Cheng actually had other motives.

But Lu Ying didn't think this could work at all; first, cooperating with the Railway department is already hard enough, let alone later producing a product for export to earn Foreign Exchange.

"Fine, stop dreaming. What you should think about now is how to persuade your leaders to treat soy sauce as a New Year benefit; then I'll give you thirty yuan, okay?"

Lu Cheng changed the subject, "And a dinner out as well."

Lu Ying was about to explode, accusing her brother of overstepping, when Lu Cheng quickly gestured to the two children.

"At least they're the children of your good friend Qing Yan; they came all the way to Capital City, so you have to show some hospitality. I can only act as a companion at most."

Lu Ying rolled her eyes, looked at the two kids: "Hanghang, Yao Yao, what do you both want to eat? Auntie's treating today."

When the two kids looked up with wide eyes, Lu Cheng hurriedly whispered nearby, "You can say you want roast duck, roast duck, or hot‑pot lamb, that's fine..."

Lu Ying gave a kick, "Looks like you're the one who wants to eat!"