Chapter 408: Different from the past
On February 12, 1983, New Year’s Eve came just as it was said to be.
This year's Spring Festival is obviously more festive than last year, and the people also feel more interested.
Why is this happening?
The first reason is because this year’s New Year’s goods are more abundant than last year’s.
During the Spring Festival, each Beijing resident can buy one pound of rice, four taels of peanut oil, and two pounds of fish as usual.
The government rationed another three kilograms of Fuqiang powder.
Compared with standard flour, Fuqiang flour has higher gluten content, is finer and has less impurities.
And among the things on offer, in addition to pork, there are also eggs and japonica rice.
In addition, as the vegetable planting area in Beijing has expanded to 19,000 hectares, vegetables from other places are also supplied to the capital in large quantities.
Therefore, in the winter of this year, not only was the supply of Chinese cabbage abundant in the capital, but there was also a corresponding increase in fine vegetables.
Things like winter bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and leeks were rare and expensive in the past.
On the counters of the four major vegetable markets in Beijing this year, not only the supply has increased, but the prices have also become much more affordable.
Even many ordinary people can afford it with gritted teeth.
Fruits are similar to vegetables.
This year, the apple area in the suburbs of Beijing reached 172,000 acres.
The fruit supply before the Spring Festival this year has become a situation where oranges, apples, hawthorns and persimmons complement each other.
People not only have cheap and high-quality fruits to satisfy their cravings, but also get rid of the dilemma of monotonous varieties.
Finally, there are snacks.
Although the purchase restrictions on melon seeds and peanuts have not changed, many flavored foods have been restored.
For example, plum blossoms, hawthorns, candied fruits from "Xinyuanzhai" and Qiuli paste from "Tongsanyi", etc.
There is no doubt that the more abundant material supplies, the more abundant the New Year will be. Can you guys not be in high spirits?
As for the second factor that makes people feel that this Spring Festival is more interesting than previous years, it is that a new model of family gatherings has been established.
Due to this year, the number of TV sets owned in our country has doubled compared with last year.
So on New Year's Eve, people naturally began to gather in front of the nearest television, preparing to watch the Spring Festival Gala, which was broadcast live to the whole country on national television for the first time.
You must know that before the reform and opening up, "changing customs" had abruptly severed the continuation of tradition, and our traditional customs during the Spring Festival have almost disappeared.
In this way, in fact, with the arrival of the television era, many traditional customs are also in the process of recovery.
For many people, since tradition and television are both new things, there is certainly no resistance or sense of disobedience in accepting both at the same time.
It was precisely from this year that the Spring Festival Gala evolved into a folk custom and became a consistent New Year habit for people across the country.
Thus, the most important night has been standardized, the Spring Festival has been assimilated into a program that is increasingly losing its local characteristics, and the traditional New Year pattern has been rewritten.
For example, Courtyard No. 2 of Shan'er Hutong.
Everyone turned on the TV when the New Year's Eve dinner was put on the table.
It's just that there was a little disharmony in the Bian family.
At the same time as Aunt Bian brought a whole braised carp to the table.
Her youngest son Bian Jiangong was actually adjusting the Peony black and white TV at home that day and kept complaining.
"Oh my god, I'm not telling you that. Why do you insist on holding on to the money? It's such a big holiday, why should we watch a colored TV to cheer up? Those people's faces have all been painted flesh-colored, watery Everything is green and the sky is white, just like in the movie..."
Aunt Bian didn't like hearing it.
"Okay. With your father's retirement money and my neighborhood committee subsidy, it's not easy for the two of us to raise you both. What happened to the black and white TV? We are also in this courtyard. The first one I bought was the TV ticket that your dad got lucky with in 1976. At that time, whether it was your dad’s colleagues or the whole alley, who didn’t envy us for having so many more color TVs? How much does it cost for the color? Is it worth it?"
Of course Bian Jiangong was not convinced and immediately pointed back to the TV at home.
“Oh, my God, please don’t say this outside. It will make people laugh. Why are you envious? That’s all old time. Now black and white are long out of date. How fake, the screen is still small, who doesn’t want to watch a color TV? And let me tell you, the color TV that Weimin gave us is imported and the price is almost the same as in the store. You can earn more than a thousand if you take out a hundred yuan. This is money for our family. Why don’t you understand how many people are crying and wanting to buy it?”
Who knows that the director of the neighborhood committee is not very principled, but Aunt Bian is even more stubborn.
"Hey, if you say so, I can't even buy it. Why should we take advantage of the people who defend the people? A thousand yuan. You really dare to open your teeth. We can't do this. If you want to do it, who will you become?”
Bian Jiangong inevitably felt the pain of the generation gap.
"You are really confused. Why can't I explain it clearly to you? Isn't it because Weimin has his own way? Besides, he took the initiative to greet us and said that we should go to him if we want to buy a color TV. Yeah. They are afraid that we will spend money in vain. If you don't go to him, you will betray their kindness. Don't forget, he helped buy the Mi family's color TV. "
Let him. What's more, he didn't expect that it would be better if he didn't say these words. When he said this, even Uncle Bian became angry at him.
"Asshole! Why are you talking to your mother? How old is this person? You are still so worthless. Oh, you don't want to take advantage of me, right? Is this what you compare to the Mi family? You have to be content when you are a human being. How much have you helped us with? They even helped us buy a double-cylinder washing machine this year. We don’t know how to pay it back. How cheap is enough! If someone takes the initiative, you have to refuse. "Oh, my dad, why are you so confused? I know how to deal with things, and I don't say anything. Are you taking advantage of others? I'll pay it back later. I'm so kind. Think about it, I wouldn't be able to take advantage of my family if I didn't watch the factory. I think the color TV is good, why should I set it up at home? I just want you to enjoy it as soon as possible.” With one against two, he immediately felt that he was outnumbered, and his tone was extremely aggrieved.
"Enjoy it? I think it's Shaobao! Oh, let's buy another color TV. Two TVs for our house? Do you want to do evil or not?"
Uncle Bian felt his son's filial piety and his expression changed. It feels better, but my mouth still refuses to relax.
After all, a color TV these days is about the same as a Mercedes-Benz twenty years later.
Buy two? That was something he didn't even dare to think about.
Don't say it, there is a reason for doing meritorious service while doing it.
"Look what you said, what sin have you done? Isn't it better to buy a color TV and everything will be happy for your family? Dad, you love to watch Peking Opera, my mother loves to watch Ping Opera, where is my brother and sister-in-law, love Watch TV series. There should be two TVs in our house. You two will watch the color one, and my brother and sister-in-law will watch the black and white one. Then you will all be able to watch it, and my little nephew will definitely watch it when he grows up. I want to watch "The Jungle King". Please think about it carefully. Is this the actual need of our family? Besides, we are not pretending to be fat. My brother and I are selling clothes. My sister-in-law has extra money. Just this year, I’ve got a thousand yuan, right? If you guys put some money together, can’t you buy a color TV?”
Looking at my brother’s eyes, I felt deeply Afraid that his brother would misunderstand his refusal to pay, Bian Jianjun, the elder brother, could no longer remain silent.
"Jiangong, your sister-in-law and I have to thank you for your thoughtfulness. But on the other hand, as relatives, we also have to think about you! In fact, the main reason why we don't buy a color TV at home is to consider your life-long events. You see , I'm already married, it's your turn later. Your sister-in-law and I are still working together. We can't help you with anything else, but we have to get you a brand-name radio. As for the other big things. , I’m afraid you have to save it yourself and your parents. How much does it cost? To put it bluntly, your marriage is the most important thing in our family. We should focus on your wedding first. , we can talk about the rest after you get married..."
Bian Jianjun's words were heartfelt, and Bian Jiangong couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.
On this issue, he still couldn't agree with his family's plan.
"Brother, I also thank you and my sister-in-law for your kindness. But if you want to put it this way, our family has to buy a color TV. You think, if I want to have a girlfriend, I have to bring it home, right? But if you want to watch our TV in black and white, it might be pornographic.”
“You don’t know, girls today are different from those in the past few years, but it doesn’t matter. A color TV is a must. But logically speaking, if you don’t even like a color TV, it’s not my turn, right?”
"People don't know that our family saves money but doesn't spend it. Maybe they think how much debt we owe to the outside world. So listen to me and buy one as soon as possible. Only if you buy a color TV can I find a partner and ask for it from the work unit. House. Our unit is building a building now. It is not for cadres. Only dual-employees can apply. Do you think that for my happiness, should I buy this color TV? "
Don't say this. The truth that looks like a fallacy can actually make sense.
As a result, the whole Bian family was speechless. They were all stunned by Bian Jiangong.
And I watched my parents, brother and sister-in-law look at each other in confusion.
Bian Jiangong smiled and couldn't help but feel proud.
He simply climbed along the pole and started playing cymbals with his own mother.
"However, I really didn't expect it. Our old lady is really shaking. Going home to celebrate the New Year today, it just scares me. I never dreamed that there would be a time when my mother would receive gifts. Look. There are so many cans, fruits, snacks, and teas. Are you going to move the grocery store soon? Given my mother's ability, I think I will bring my girlfriend back today. Even if there is no color TV at home, people will definitely think that my mother can do it. No matter how old an official is, he can do something unhealthy..."
Indeed, what he said is also the big difference between the Bian family this year and the past.
The sewing club that Aunt Daganqingbian is in charge of is directly related to the livelihood of the self-employed people nearby.
So the old lady also became the grandma, the God of Wealth with a golden body.
In order to make more money next year, self-employed people take advantage of the festival to curry favor and burn incense.
In just these two days, a lot of new year's goods have been delivered.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t want it. Some people are afraid of being refused, so they simply put the things at their door, knock on the door and run away.
What does this look like in the eyes of the neighbors?
Needless to say, Aunt Bian has been angry and anxious these past two days, and she has never been able to feel at ease.
The old lady has been innocent all her life, how could she be willing to ruin it like this?
How can I return it? It’s also a sad thing!
No one expected that Aunt Bian, who was still worried in the morning, unexpectedly appeared calm and composed at this time.
"Hey, don't talk nonsense with your mother. I'm not in a hurry now, I have a solution. As for your mother, her power is really not small, and she can approve thousands of people with just one sentence. Hundreds of goods. How can you be the director of a small factory? But how can your mother be easily corrupted? She can eat the sugar coating and make the bomb completely useless." >
Of course Bian Jiangong didn’t believe it, “Oh, mom, are you a bit loud?”
In fact, let alone him, even others had the same thought. Uncle Bian thought that his wife was pretending to be calm.
"Am I loud? Not at all."
Looking at everyone's surprised expressions, Aunt Bian was really happy now.
Just like Bian Jiangong just now, she also showed off her air and finally revealed the answer to the mystery.
"To tell you the truth, I met Minzi just now. He gave me a good idea."
"I was told that after the Chinese New Year, I would take all these things to the neighborhood committee and sewing club. Then I would gather everyone to sit together and have a tea party, and let everyone in the neighborhood committee and sewing club share and eat them."
< br>"Tell me. Can this be said to be an unhealthy trend? Those guys don't care, who are they interested in? Just them? With me, the old lady, it's all in vain."
(End of this chapter)