Chapter 114 Domestic Products
With the use of liquefied petroleum gas, life suddenly became much more convenient.
However, this is only one of Ning Weimin's measures to improve his daily life.
Soon, he bought another thing for himself, and with the help of Zhang Shihui, he used a tricycle to pull it back and move it into his home.
The neighbors were equally shocked and their eyes widened.
It's just that this time, no one praised Ning Weimin. Almost all the feedback was negative.
What's going on?
Because Ning Weimin bought a washing machine from a department store.
There is no doubt that this is the era when the home appliance industry is most enthusiastically pursued by the people.
At the beginning of last year, a magazine called "Household Appliances" was published in Beijing.
In just over a year now, the circulation of this magazine has increased from 70,000 to 200,000.
This can completely prove that household appliances have become the economic focus of this period and touched the excitement of residents' lives. This is an undisputed and undeniable fact.
But we must also know that in order to occupy the market of the Republic, Japanese companies, with their army-like advertising, this craze swept over them all at once, and the speed was too fast.
For a long time, the vast majority of Chinese people's idea of a wealthy life has been limited to the "three turns and one sound" of collecting bicycles, watches, sewing machines, and radios.
Suddenly I discovered that such new and good things appeared in my life. Of course I was delighted.
Everyone felt that their eyes were opened and they had a better yearning for life.
But unfortunately, consumption levels are even more difficult to keep up with.
So faced with the "new rich" who are more expensive than luxury goods in the past, most people have to make a careful comparison even if they want to save money to buy home appliances.
Needless to say, people’s first choice targets must be televisions and radio cassette players.
As for washing machines and refrigerators, they are still too far away from people's lives.
Many people think that these two things consume electricity and are expensive, and are resistant to them. Not many people are willing to buy these two things home.
If there is, the motive is definitely not for use.
Mostly in order to fully imitate the Western families in foreign TV series, I want to buy everything, just to show off for people to watch.
Especially washing machines, in terms of the purchase order listed by the public value standard, they are ranked behind refrigerators.
For no other reason, just because the public value standard always follows The principle is - whether it is replaceable and whether it can make up for the shortcomings that are urgently needed in life.
Of course, televisions and radio cassette players are irreplaceable, and spiritual enjoyment is what the Chinese people who have just lifted the ban lack the most, so they appear to be extremely cost-effective.
As for the refrigeration function of the refrigerator, it still needs artificial ice to replace it, and washing clothes can even be completed entirely by manpower.
These two things are not essential for poor families, and of course they are extremely cost-effective.
At the same time, this also reflects a cruel reality.
As a country where industry has just started and the economy has just recovered, our labor is not valuable.
If we look at it from a global perspective, compared to the Western world, today's republic is essentially a large rural area.
So our entire country has to go through the pain of scissors.
Although no one has ever said it so clearly, and perhaps not many people are even consciously aware of it, this is the fact.
It is understandable why the neighbors made such comments about Ning Weimin’s purchase of a washing machine.
Most people obviously think that Ning Weimin has become indolent and hates work, which is contrary to traditional virtues.
Not only did some people say something about him behind his back, but he also started to squander money and was a bad learner. Compared with foreigners, he became a lavish and wasteful owner of money.
Aunt Bian even began to worry that he had committed bourgeois thoughts and would be completely corrupted.
In short, he could recall all the above-mentioned words, which gave his purchase of a washing machine a lot of extra spiritual meaning.
This is also a common problem in this era. People always like to associate everything with political ideology and moral standards.
Even Kang Shude was disgusted and thought the washing machine was flashy.
So after Aunt Bian came to the house for a "secret discussion", the old man couldn't help but get angry and reprimanded Ning Weimin under the instigation.
“You have money and nothing to do with it? You also need to buy a washing machine. Who doesn’t wash their clothes by hand? What’s the use of this thing...”
“Besides, you can’t even wash it by hand. If it can't be cleaned, just throw it in the machine and let it go around, and it will be cleaned. It will also cost electricity and water, and it will make the neighbors gossip..."
"I'll tell you. He said, this is a crooked idea of a little Japanese devil, trying to trick you young people. Can you please retreat?"
It should be said that Ning Weimin is really sincere about the comments made by his neighbors. Not caring, he even understands.
After all, people on the spiritual level are not on the same level.
Just like having tasted the taste of seafood, you must know that the taste of boiled prawns is different from that of blanched radish in boiling water.
He knows the benefits of washing machines, but of course he can't talk to these families who have been dealing with washboard soap all year round.
Anyway, he didn’t say it to his face. He couldn’t hear what he wanted to do with her, so he just did what he wanted.
But it was different when faced with Kang Shude’s questioning.
He had to explain the truth clearly, otherwise how could he survive this day?
There are only two of them in this family. If the master and the disciple cannot work together, then it will be boring.
Besides, who is he doing it for? It feels unjust to be scolded for this matter. no! If the reason is not clear, then you must argue based on the reason.
"No...Old man, why do you think the wind is like the rain? Whoever said this shouldn't you say this?"
"Other people's family is other people's family, and our family is our family, so how can it be the same? The biggest difference is that other people's families have women, but in our family, you and I are all men."
"Who does the washing and washing in our house? It's not me. Let's not talk about quilts and mattresses. I just change these clothes every week, and when I get to the rest day, it's all me. I wash it from eight o'clock in the morning to two or three in the afternoon. "It's winter again. It's too painful to wash it with a washboard. Not only does my whole arm hurt, but my waist hurts." Now I am just afraid of my rest day.”
Don’t mention it, Kang Shude also realized that his back hurts when he stood and talked.
The old man blushed, his tone immediately softened a lot, and he made a suggestion.
"This... that's true. Otherwise... from now on, we'll wash each other's hands?"
But Ning Weimin immediately rejected it.
"Put me down. You don't feel sorry for me, but I feel sorry for you. In winter, my hands are so cold that they can crack. Even a young man can't bear this crime. Can you bear it?"
“I’m also telling you that others think this thing is flashy, but in our house, this thing is more affordable than any electrical appliance.”
“Yes, this thing may not be as good as washing clothes. The hands are washed clean, but rubbing them so hard might ruin the clothes.”
"But then again, isn't this just a matter of spending two bucks in exchange for less suffering? I would rather wash it twice more and spend money to buy a few more sets of clothes than suffer this pain again."
Kang Shude pondered again, and his attitude wavered a little.
"What you said makes sense, but...but even the electricity and water meters are public. Over time, the neighbors will be charged for electricity and water..."
Ning Weimin You can't help but smile.
"Old man, what's wrong with you? Isn't this just like when I raised fish last year. At worst, I will pay for the water and electricity in the future."
"I'm also telling you, actually, don't care too much about other people's opinions on this matter. Because to put it bluntly, we are just like the grandfather and grandson riding the donkey in the story. In the eyes of others, no matter what we do, everything is wrong. No one can understand our embarrassment.”
“As long as we don’t hinder others, how can you satisfy everyone? "
"If I keep my words here, sooner or later the neighbors will have to change their minds, just like the LPG thing."
The old man sighed at this time. , finally expressed the last bit of grudge.
"Then if you buy this thing, the money will be earned by the Japanese. I...I feel unhappy in my heart. Let me tell you, I didn't even wear Japanese cloth in the past, you... …You actually let me use a Japanese washing machine?”
Ning Weimin never expected that Kang Shude would have the consciousness to boycott Japanese goods.
Perhaps this is the unique emotional persistence of people who experienced the Anti-Japanese War.
"Hey, it seems that you hate little devils deeply. Then according to your intention, I will give you a Japanese color TV set for free, and you won't watch it?"
The old man responded flatly.
“If you don’t watch it, I can’t control others. I can still make my own decision. If I want to watch it, I’ll watch domestic ones. Black and white ones are better than Japanese color ones, and they’re cheaper.”
"Okay, I trust you. But you are really wrong. Because this is not a Japanese product, but our domestic product."
"Huh?"
"If you don't believe me, come here. Take a look. This brand is the Bailan brand II single-cylinder three-speed washing machine. It is made in Beijing."
Ning Weimin pointed at the trademark of the washing machine and introduced it in detail.
“And because no one recognized it, the market retail price has dropped from the original 298 yuan. I bought it for 232 yuan. The price in Japan is less than 500 yuan. . You said, should I support domestic products? If we don’t buy it, won’t this factory suffer even more?”
At this time, Kang Shude finally solved the knot in his heart.
I was even surprised and quite happy.
“Ouch, I didn’t even notice. What? We produced this ourselves? It doesn’t look any worse than Japanese stuff. The appearance and the spray paint are so beautiful, and it’s so cheap? Well, not bad... ”
Look, otherwise, it’s my own child.
When he heard that it was something from the capital, the old man’s attitude completely changed.
Ning Weimin was even more excited now, and he lit a cigarette carelessly.
"How is it? Are you feeling better?"
"Let me tell you, let's be objective. You are not as good as me when it comes to washing clothes, and I am not as good as a woman. , It’s just such a thing.”
“Let’s spend some money to say goodbye to the age of hand washing and move to a new level of life.”
“Unless you find a wife. Only after I came back did I admit that this washing machine was of no use to us..."
What does it mean to get carried away?
It was good at first, but this last sentence almost made Kang Shude angry.
So he slapped him in the face and gave the boy a crook in his neck.
And Ning Weimin was still smoking happily.
I was photographed while I was sucking it in.
Hey, let alone the pain, it was followed by a good cough.
This kid came out with runny nose and tears.
In short, even though it is all subtle, even though it is subtle, the lives of the families in No. 2 Courtyard of Shan'er Hutong did happen quietly little by little because of Ning Weimin. With new changes...
(End of this chapter)