“I didn’t hear you clearly; I thought you said to grab my hand.”
The customer rubbed his burning cheek.
“Alright, quickly take your purchases and move aside, don’t hold up my work.”
The salesclerk waved her hands repeatedly.
As for apologizing to the customer?
Heh, that wasn't happening.
The customer didn't continue arguing with the salesclerk, swallowed the injustice, and left with the purchased goods.
Chen Jianye was greatly enlightened.
What the hell.
If he were in that situation, he would have slapped the salesclerk back, making her spin like a top.
After some thought, Chen Jianye decided to stay in his original line.
Although the salesclerk in front of his line had a fiery temper, at least she wouldn't hit people.
After five or six minutes,
Chen Jianye reached the front.
“Hello, I’d like to buy a bicycle.”
Chen Jianye said to the salesclerk.
“Young man, do you have a ticket?”
The female salesclerk, in her thirties, looked at him with skepticism.
“I do, and I brought the money too.”
Chen Jianye reached directly into his pocket and pulled out the bicycle ticket he had just acquired.
“What kind of bike do you want to buy?”
The salesclerk’s attitude immediately became much more enthusiastic.
To be able to buy a bicycle at such a young age, he must either be a Leader's child or exceptionally outstanding.
Either way, Chen Jianye was worth her showing a good face.
If it were a stinky country bumpkin, the salesclerk would definitely put on a grimace.
“I want to buy a Phoenix Brand bicycle, the latest model, a men’s bicycle.”
Chen Jianye had already decided on the way there.
Bicycles were divided into two types: men's and women's.
The men's model had a long crossbar in the middle, a very tall and large frame, and 28-inch wheels, so it was also called a “28-inch big bar.”
The women's model was more compact, without a long crossbar in the middle, making it more comfortable for a single rider.
If it came to cargo capacity and transport ability, the men's bicycle was definitely superior.
As for the brand, Chen Jianye’s goal was very clear.
Naturally, it was the famous Dangdang Phoenix Brand.
This brand originated from the Shanghai region, where light industry was extremely developed at that time.
In the 1960s, many industrial products from Shanghai were popular throughout the country.
For example, Bee & Flower soap, Pechoin hand cream, White Rabbit candy, Shanghai brand watches, Phoenix and Permanent bicycles, Hero fountain pens, Bright Dairy ice cream, Twin Sister daily chemicals, Zhonghua cigarettes, and so on.
The strong light industrial production capacity made Shanghai's light industrial products almost deified, even leading the public to believe that if something was made in Shanghai, it must be good.
Phoenix, Permanent, and Flying Pigeon were the three most renowned bicycle brands.
If you're going to buy, buy the best, buy the leader.
Most importantly, it wasn't his own money being spent anyway.
He had reeled in over nine hundred yuan from Granny Jia; why not spend it instead of letting it sit there to grow interest?
“Young man, a Phoenix Brand bicycle starts at one hundred and eighty yuan. Do you have enough money in your pocket?”
The salesclerk couldn't help but remind him.
“I do, look.”
Chen Jianye pulled out a stack of “Great Unity” banknotes from his pocket.
That thick stack had at least twenty bills.
“Young man is really impressive.”
“Two hundred-odd yuan worth of stuff, and to you, it’s like buying cabbage.”
The salesclerk couldn't help but praise him, beckoning to Chen Jianye: “Come in.”
“Can I go in?”
Chen Jianye asked, making sure he hadn't misheard.
Lest he end up like that guy just now, getting slapped for nothing.
“If I say you can, you can. I’ll take you to pick out a bicycle, hurry up.”
The salesclerk scoffed.
Chen Jianye quickly walked into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, following the salesclerk’s steps.
The Supply and Marketing Cooperative had more than one floor, but the sales area for customers was on the first floor.
Following the salesclerk, Chen Jianye walked straight up to the third floor.
“All the latest Phoenix Brand bicycles are in here. Pick one yourself.”
The salesclerk pointed with her hand.
Chen Jianye looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a dazzling array of bicycles, parked on the ground, their shiny paint reflecting brilliant light.
“Oh my goodness, they all look good, every bike is great.”
Chen Jianye quickly walked towards the Phoenix Brand bicycle he had been longing for.
“If you have the ticket and the money, you can buy all these bicycles.”
The salesclerk joked.
“Haha, if a whole line of bicycles went out on the street, it would be quite spectacular.”
Chen Jianye chuckled, selecting a brand new, gleaming Phoenix Brand bicycle.
“That’s right, if the Public Security were to mobilize, the bicycles would be whirring.”
“This newly arrived one costs two hundred and thirty yuan. Young man, is this the one you’ve set your heart on?”
The salesclerk asked.
“Yes, I’ll buy this one. It’s just over two hundred yuan, I’ll buy it.”
Chen Jianye said grandly.
“Then carry the bicycle down, and we’ll go downstairs to pay.”
The salesclerk instructed.
Chen Jianye gripped the frame and steadily walked downstairs.
After they went downstairs, Chen Jianye began the bicycle purchase process.
According to the salesclerk, it was actually very simple.
All you needed was the ticket and the money.
Chen Jianye counted the bicycle ticket and the two hundred and thirty yuan, then pushed them towards her.
The salesclerk checked the ticket, counted the money, and issued a handwritten purchase receipt.
Then she let Chen Jianye push the bicycle away.
She specifically reminded him: “You have to go to the Public Security Bureau to pay tax and get a steel stamp on the bike; only then will it be completely yours.”
“It’s a must-do, don’t forget!”
“Thank you, I’ll go now.”
Chen Jianye pushed the bicycle, waving to the salesclerk.
The people queuing to buy goods at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative saw Chen Jianye pushing a brand new Phoenix Brand bicycle out, and envy appeared in their eyes.
In those days, there was a saying about “three turns and one sound.”
It referred to a bicycle, a watch, a sewing machine, and a radio.
Among them, the bicycle and sewing machine were the most important large household items.
In terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation, the bicycle represented ‘transportation,’ and the sewing machine represented ‘clothing.’
Most families, even if they saved enough money for these two big items, could only sigh in despair if they couldn't get the tickets.
A brand new Phoenix Brand bicycle, in the 1990s, would be like a Santana.
In the 21st century, it's comparable to a luxury car costing half a million.
The national annual production was less than one million units, while the country had over six hundred million people.
Roughly, the per capita ownership was one bicycle per six hundred people.
It was considered a relatively high-end consumer product.
Something that could make one stand out in a crowd at a glance.
Chen Jianye pushed the bicycle out, enjoying the attention of the onlookers, and couldn't help but feel a little smug.
If it weren't for his series of actions, legally owning a bicycle would have been truly difficult.
Leaving the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Chen Jianye got on his bicycle and headed straight for the nearest Public Security Bureau.
On the way,
The brand new, gleaming Phoenix Brand bicycle attracted the attention of many passersby.
The head-turning rate was basically one hundred percent.
“Holy cow, a Phoenix Brand bicycle!”
“That kid can even ride with no hands, he’s got some skills.”
“If I rode that bike, I’d be even cooler than him.”
Accompanied by exclamations and jealousy, Chen Jianye arrived at the Public Security Bureau to get the steel stamp.
The first tax payment for buying a car was five yuan, and then two yuan fifty fen annually.
Getting the steel stamp also cost five yuan, thankfully it was a one-time fee.
After paying ten yuan, Chen Jianye received the tax receipt, got the steel stamp on the bicycle, and then rode straight to the Security Section.
That’s right, he had no intention of returning to the Siheyuan (Courtyard).
Anyway, the agreement signed between Jia Zhangshi and the Security Section was on him.
As for the agreement he himself signed with the Security Section, it was naturally in his personal space; he would just tell Yan Kun it was at home when he returned.