Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

The Canton Fair that followed went uneventfully, and He Lai and Zhang Zhiwen sat together chatting.

"He Lai, do you think we should come up with something new? Otherwise, it seems like we have nothing to do in this Canton Fair."

Zhang Zhiwen said with emotion.

"Haha, then go ahead and do it. What's the use of telling me? You are the deputy director of the Red Star Lighter Factory." He Lai said with a smile.

Zhang Zhiwen is worthy of being the second generation of a high-ranking official. In less than eight years, he has risen from a technician to the deputy director of a factory. It is estimated that in a few years, he will be the factory director.

But fortunately, he is not the factory director. Fortunately, the factory director is from Li Huaide’s faction, so he probably won’t be implicated.

"No, I know you have a lot of ideas, help me think of a solution. I don't have your brains, if I did, I would have done it a long time ago."

Zhang Zhiwen said.

He Lai rolled his eyes. A plastic lighter is nothing more than a change in the ignition method from flint friction to piezoelectric ceramics, which is the creation of a sparkler.

However, although piezoelectric ceramics are now available, their structure is still relatively complex. Even if He Lai could make it now, it would be difficult to produce it on a large scale with China's current industrial level. After all, the cost of a spark maker is estimated to be much higher than that of a grindstone.

So instead of going through the trouble of getting a lighter, it’s more cost-effective to get plastic products.

How great it would be if this could become a OEM factory. Everything is cheap in China now, including cheap space and labor. Unfortunately, this idea is doomed to be impossible. After all, China is now under national management, and even people cannot buy and sell freely.

There is no need for many changes to plastic lighters. After all, they are used by ordinary people, so no matter how many changes there are, that’s it. As for metal lighters, I have many styles in my mind, but I’d better just let nature take its course.

"What are you thinking about? Do you have any good ideas?" Zhang Zhiwen pushed He Lai and asked.

"No, you should pay more attention to foreign industrial products. There must be a lot of things you can learn from them."

He Lai replied.

After all, there are already many industrial products abroad, such as washing machines, televisions, and at a lower level, ceiling fans, ovens, and so on.

"You mean that I should learn from you and go to Hong Kong more often, right?" Zhang Zhiwen said in a low voice.

"Why do you only have that small place, Gangcheng, in your eyes?" He Lai said speechlessly.

"Hey, I can't go anywhere else. You know what's going on in China right now. Even Big Brother doesn't want to associate with us anymore."

Zhang Zhiwen complained.

He Lai thought so too, it was difficult, it seemed that the Canton Fair had become an important channel for China to open up to the outside world.

"Oh... let it be, everything will be fine in the future." He Lai sighed and said.

In fact, He Lai really wanted to tell him: Just stay quietly in the position of deputy factory director. When the Cultural Revolution begins next year, everything will be quiet. I hope you don’t get involved.

However, He Lai thought that nothing would happen to Zhang Zhiwen. Although the Red Guards dominated for a while, the police soon turned the situation around and regained control of social order.

"Xiao Laizi, are you planning to go this time?" Zhang Zhiwen asked curiously.

"Yes, I have to go." He Lai nodded and admitted it. After all, he couldn't hide the fact that he was going to Hong Kong City from Zhang Zhiwen.

"Then buy me a camera. Song Xue's camera is broken and no one can repair it."

Zhang Zhiwen said.

"What? Aren't there any cameras in the country?" He Lai asked puzzledly.

"It's not that there isn't. You know, our domestic products are not as good as those from foreign countries. Moreover, foreign products are a little expensive in our country! The same product will definitely not be too expensive in Hong Kong."

Zhang Zhiwen explained.

"Uh... okay, I'll buy it for you when I have time." He Lai nodded in agreement.

It is indeed as Zhang Zhiwen said, although China already had its own cameras at that time, they were not common, and their performance was far inferior to those of foreign countries, especially the Soviet Union and Germany. The cameras of daily life were already very good at that time.

The two were talking in low voices when suddenly another person appeared beside them.

He Lai turned around and saw that it was Mr. Zhou who had returned.

"Grandpa Zhou, you're back." He Lai stood up and said with a smile.

"You two little brats are not doing your work, but chatting away! This is not a good work attitude." Old Master Zhou said in a serious tone.

"Okay, Grandpa Zhou, you are so old, and you are still joking with us young people. Please sit down and I will massage your shoulders."

He Lai smiled and pulled Mr. Zhou over, pressed him down on the chair, and started to pinch his shoulders.

"Well, you are still the best at giving massages. Xiaojun and Ke'er are still too weak and need to learn more."

Mr. Zhou closed his eyes and enjoyed it.

……

Then there was some more chatting, and after the massage, He Lai was taken away by Mr. Zhou.

There were already several people sitting in Grandpa Zhou's house. He Lai knew at a glance that they must be Grandpa Zhou's old comrades-in-arms.

"Oh, this is the Xiao Laizi that Old Zhou mentioned, right?" an old man said with a smile.

"That's him. Isn't he much more handsome than those guys in your family? Haha..."

Mr. Zhou laughed loudly.

"Well, you look good, but not as impressive as you say. You are well-known in the army for bragging. What do you think?"

The old man continued.

As soon as these words were spoken, several elderly people nearby responded. Some of them began to talk about the bragging that Grandpa Zhou had done in the past, such as he dared to say that he had more than a dozen cannons after capturing a homemade cannon; he dared to say that he had driven away a whole regiment of Japanese devils after driving away more than a dozen Japanese devils; and so on.

"Haha...you old guys, how good are you!" Old Master Zhou sat down and took a sip of tea, then laughed and continued, "Don't underestimate my Xiao Laizi, he is really capable. Have you forgotten that the things I gave you some time ago were all given by Xiao Laizi."

"Really!" The old man's eyes lit up instantly when he heard what Grandpa Zhou said. He turned his head and continued to look at He Lai and asked, "Little guy, Grandpa Zhou said that those Ganoderma lucidum, deer antlers, and ginseng were all given by you. Is that true?"

"Ah..." He Lai was a little confused and looked at Mr. Zhou, wondering why he sold himself out so directly.

"Haha, Xiao Laizi, it's okay, it's okay. They are all your Grandpa Zhou's comrades-in-arms. There's no need to hide it."

Mr. Zhou smiled brightly.

"Oh, grandpa, these things were indeed given to Grandpa Zhou by me." Seeing this, He Lai admitted it directly.

"Good boy, you can do it. If you have any more, give some to your Grandpa Fu as well. Don't worry, it's not for nothing. If you have any problems in the future, come to your Grandpa Fu and I promise to do it for you."

When the old man heard that it was really He Lai's thing, he immediately asked for it.

"Ah..." He Lai was a little embarrassed and could only turn around and continue looking at Mr. Zhou.

"What are you thinking about? No, no. You, Fu, dare to rob my grandson. You are not qualified. Xiao Laizi, don't worry, we won't give it to him." Old Master Zhou continued.

"Tsk, what are you two pretending for? Old Zhou has been in the city for too long, your eyes are so long that they are out of sight. You are the only one who treats a few broken ginseng and a few pieces of deer antler as treasures. These things can even give birth to a baby if you keep them!"

Mr. Fu said disdainfully.

"That's right, Old Zhou, hurry up and give me yours first. Don't force us to unite and fight against the local tyrants. Do it yourself, or we'll tear down your shabby house."

Another old man also spoke up.

"Dig it up! Dig it up as you like. You're awesome if you can find my stuff." Old Master Zhou said generously, do as you please.

……

After a while of boasting, Mr. Zhou also introduced his old comrades to He Lai.

One’s surname is Fu, one’s surname is Shi, one’s surname is Zhu, and the last one’s surname is Zhang.

He Lai called out "Grandpa" over and over again, almost confusing him.

Fortunately, the old men did not make things difficult for He Lai and sat down to drink with Mr. Zhou.

The old people got together, drank happily, talked about everything, and reminisced about the past and the glorious years.

There was always endless talk between comrades, and they didn't stop until late at night when they were all drunk.

Thanks to He Lai's presence, who helped them with acupuncture in time to sober up, these elderly people did not get hurt from drinking too much, and they were all arranged to rest.