I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 30 continues to be a hit.

September 1, 1986, Beichuan Department Store.

Early in the morning, Lan Baojun arrived at Beichuan Department Store. His brother-in-law, Zhang Dequan, was tidying up the counter, while Cuicui sat obediently on a small stool next to the counter, washing a rag with a bucket.

Zhang Beichuan, who had just woken up, was standing at the backyard gate yawning.

"Brother-in-law, Brother Xiaochuan, good morning!" Lan Baojun walked in cheerfully, carrying a bag of freshly baked guokui (a type of flatbread). "Haven't had breakfast yet? I bought some guokui, eat them while they're hot."

"Baojun is here." Zhang Dequan took the guokui (a type of flatbread), gave one to Cuicui, and then handed one to Zhang Beichuan, "Little one, you have one too."

"I'm starving." Zhang Beichuan took the guokui and took a bite. He said to Lan Baojun, "You've come at the right time. Today should be a bit less busy than yesterday. I'll take Cuicui back to register later."

Lan Baojun's eyes lit up. "Going back today? That's perfect!"

Zhang Dequan looked up at him. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Lan Baojun rubbed his hands together and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"Brother-in-law, I... I sent a letter to my eldest sister as soon as I got back, but I haven't had a chance to visit her at home. How about I take Cuicui back and visit my sister on the way?"

Zhang Dequan thought about it. Baojun had returned but hadn't gone to Shihe Village to see his sister. It was only natural for a younger brother to miss his older sister.

"Alright."

Zhang Beichuan paused for a moment, then said, "Since Baojun is taking Cuicui back, I'll go to the post office to check. The nylon stockings that were sent from the provincial capital should have arrived. I'll go pick them up."

"Nylon stockings?" Lan Baojun looked at him in surprise.

"Yes, I took some last time, but it was inconvenient for me to carry it back by myself, so I mailed it back."

Zhang Beichuan made up an excuse to get away with it.

"How much is there? Can you handle it by yourself? Why don't you let Baojun go with you to get the goods back first?" Zhang Dequan suggested.

"Yes, yes, we'll take Cui Cui back to register. It won't matter if it's just for a little while."

It wasn't actually mailed back. Zhang Beichuan just made an excuse to go out for a trip and then brought the goods back.

"No need, no need, I can manage on my own. It's just a little over a thousand pairs of socks, they're not heavy."

Seeing this, Lan Baojun stopped arguing with him.

After Cui Cui finished breakfast, Zhang Beichuan gave Zhang Dequan some instructions and then went out with Lan Baojun.

"Let's go to the place selling school bags near the school gate and buy one school bag for each of the three of them, and then buy a set of stationery for each of them."

This is something Zhang Beichuan promised his mother and the others last time, and he has to keep his promise.

Upon hearing this, Lan Baojun, who was holding Cuicui's hand, immediately had an idea.

He plans to buy two bottles of good wine and some meat on his way back with his older sister and brother-in-law.

I was just wondering what to buy for my three nieces, and here it is!

"Xiao Chuan, how about I buy the schoolbag? It's been a few years since I've seen my niece, and I, as her uncle, can't go empty-handed, can I?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Beichuan realized that there was some truth to it.

"Alright, I won't fight you for it this time."

"Alright, alright, then Cui Cui and I will head back to Shihe Village first. If the shop is busy or needs any help, have your brother-in-law go to the Lan family to find Baoqiang and Baohong."

"it is good."

"Goodbye, Uncle." Cui Cui looked up and called out with a smile.

Zhang Beichuan smiled and said, "Okay, go back and listen to your mother. In a few days, when your uncle is done with his work, he will bring you some good food when he returns to Shihe Village."

The three parted ways at the end of Jiefang Road, and Zhang Beichuan turned and walked a few steps toward the post office.

Once he was sure Lan Baojun was out of sight, he turned and went into an alley. After confirming that no one was around, he ran back to 2026.

He couldn't just carry plastic bags to 1986, so he went downstairs and bought a few clean and inconspicuous delivery boxes from an old man who collected recyclables.

After repacking his things, he returned to the room where he had slept in 86.

Slightly pushing open the door, Zhang Beichuan glanced at Zhang Dequan, who was introducing lighters to someone in front of him.

After staying inside for a few minutes, he took advantage of Zhang Dequan's inattention to run to the back door, threw the box on the ground, and began to disassemble it.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Dequan glanced back.

"You're back so soon?"

Zhang Beichuan clapped his hands. "We went early, so there weren't many people at the post office, which meant we got back faster."

Zhang Dequan nodded, then turned and continued to introduce the lighter.

Zhang Beichuan picked out a variety of socks and placed them on top of the box, then moved the box directly to the front counter.

After seeing the customer off, Zhang Dequan put the money in the drawer and locked it. He then walked over and picked up a pair of socks, examining them from all angles.

"These socks look really nice. They even have embroidered patterns on them and are wrapped in cellophane. How much would a pair cost?"

"Two yuan a pair!"

"Two yuan a pair?" Zhang Dequan asked with a worried look. "Youngest brother, even the most ordinary pair of nylon stockings costs three yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative."

"These socks are so well-made, and they even come in individual cellophane wrapping. Two yuan? Can you even make a profit?"

Zhang Beichuan smiled and nodded, his tone resolute.

"Third Brother, do you think I'm the kind of person who works for nothing?"

Zhang Dequan thought about it and agreed. His youngest son had been doing business in the provincial capital for so many years; he certainly wouldn't do something that would lose money.

"Isn't it unsafe to put them all on the counter? What if it gets crowded later and someone tries to take advantage of the situation? Or, how about putting them inside the glass display case?"

"Alright, then Third Brother, you can handle the packing, and I'll write down the price."

Just as Zhang Dequan finished packing the socks into the glass display case and arranging them neatly by category, a group of customers came into the store.

Zhang Beichuan originally thought that since it was a weekday, people willing to spend money would be at work, and business would be so-so.

Unexpectedly, the first pair of nylon stockings he had just received were bought by a woman, and half an hour later, this woman brought him more than a dozen customers.

"Aunt Wang, I bought my nylon stockings from them. They were cheap, and the quality was pretty good too. They were even individually wrapped in cellophane—definitely high-end stuff!"

Until two or three in the afternoon, Zhang Beichuan and Zhang Dequan hadn't even had a bite of lunch.

In just one morning, more than 150 pairs of shoes were sold, not counting the lighters and watches that were sold in small quantities.

By 6 p.m., Zhang Beichuan, who had only eaten breakfast, was already starving.

"Third Brother, let's get ready and go eat. I'm starving!"

Zhang Dequan, who was standing on tiptoe looking outside, was surprised to hear that the door was closed so early.

The money came in like water. He had lived for decades and never dreamed that doing business could be so profitable.

"Wait a little longer, it's not dark yet. Let's sell a little longer, maybe more customers will come!"

Zhang Beichuan smiled wryly, "Third Brother, no matter how profitable this business is, you can't do it this way. How can you make all the money in the world? We're not closing down tomorrow."

"Just ten more minutes, just ten minutes."

Zhang Beichuan: "......."

Ten minutes later, still no one came, and Zhang Dequan reluctantly closed the door.

"Third Brother, can we go eat now? If we wait any longer, all the restaurants next door will be closed."

"No rush, let's settle the accounts first, then we'll go eat."

Zhang Dequan chuckled, opened the locked drawer, and scooped out several large handfuls of money, instantly piling them into a small mountain on the glass counter.