Seventies Sweetheart: From Breakup to Billionaire-Chapter 148: New Bicycle

Chapter 148: Chapter 148: New Bicycle
"Hmm, and then?"
"Doesn’t your brother send an allowance back every month? I’m planning to save five yuan each month for him, and that will be his future bride price. In a year, it’ll be sixty yuan. If he stays in the military for three to five years, he’ll have enough saved for the bride price."
Lin Xiang turned over, propped her head with her right hand, and looked at Mrs. Lin like that.
Originally, it was Mrs. Lin who wanted to probe Lin Xiang, but being stared at by Lin Xiang like this made Mrs. Lin embarrassed instead.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Comrade Zhao Xiuli, I realize you’ve really changed. Now you’re not only concerned about Lin Yun’s situation, but you’re actively saving for his bride price. This change is very good, and I’m very satisfied."
Mrs. Lin rolled her eyes at Lin Xiang with exasperation and slapped her on the arm that was holding her up, causing Lin Xiang to lie down on the bed again without support.
"The family conditions were bad before; we both were used to being lazy and gluttonous. Lin Yun is the son and brother; he’s the only male in the family. If he doesn’t do the physical labor, who will? Besides, with just that little grain at home, didn’t we also not have enough to eat? He was picked up; just giving him a meal was good enough!"
But the situation is different now. Let’s temporarily not talk about Lin Xiang receiving bonuses from both the cotton spinning factory and the food factory. Just selling sweet potato starch during this time has also made quite a bit of money.
Life at home is better now; there’s no shortage of food. Giving Lin Yun a bit more doesn’t hinder anything.
As for the bride price, it’s originally saved from Lin Yun’s own allowance, so it’s like taking wool from the sheep, and there’s nothing she’s unwilling to give.
"Do you have any opinions?"
"What opinions can I have?"
"Shall I really save for your brother’s bride price?"
"Yeah, as much as possible, since bride prices will only get higher in the future."
Lin Xiang touched her chin and couldn’t help but think, the male lead has been gone for more than half a month, does the female lead know he’s left?
Regardless of the trajectory of this lifetime or the previous one, the male and female leads have not confessed their revolutionary feelings to each other.
Lin Yun hasn’t fallen for Shi Lemeng yet, so he naturally won’t tell her he’s leaving.
The two are so far apart now; how can they develop a romantic storyline?
According to the hints in the dream, it’s only when the male and female leads are paired together that her task can be considered half complete, and she can return once she has earned enough goodwill.
But the current situation is truly a bit tricky.
Seeing Lin Xiang silent, Mrs. Lin watched her.
Lin Xiang sometimes frowned and sometimes smiled, and occasionally dazed, Mrs. Lin’s hanging heart finally settled.
The next morning, Fifth Uncle came over, and Lin Xiang explained that she would be late today.
"No problem, we three can manage. You go ahead with your business."
Lin Xiang and Fifth Uncle packed up all the things on the handcart. After Mrs. Lin, Fifth Uncle, and Chunya left, she returned to the room, lay on the bed still warm, covered with a cozy quilt, and had a delightful nap.
Upon waking, it was only about eight o’clock. She quickly cooked some noodles to fill her stomach and then headed to the brigade office to borrow a bicycle.
Accountant Xu asked Lin Xiang to make a registration, then brought out a brand new bicycle.
"Accountant Xu, why a new bike?"
"Remember the industrial ticket you gave last time? That’s not an ordinary industrial ticket; it can be used as a TV ticket and bicycle ticket!"
Tickets have a lot of intricacies, which Lin Xiang didn’t understand. At that time, Director Chen gave her a stack of tickets, among which were two industrial tickets different in color from the usual ones.
Lin Xiang gave one to the brigade and kept the other for herself.
After signing Wilson’s order later, Director Chen gave another stack of tickets, which also included two different industrial tickets.
Therefore, Lin Xiang had three industrial tickets that could be used as TV tickets and bicycle tickets.
"TV sets are too expensive; our brigade can’t afford one, but the commune wants to buy one and has the money but no tickets, so the brigade leader gave the ticket to Director Qian."
Originally intended to be a gesture of goodwill, it unexpectedly brought back a bicycle from Director Qian.
"A bicycle costs over a hundred, right? Did Director Qian just give it away?"
"A TV set costs at least five or six hundred, and those with more channels can be seven or eight hundred. TV tickets are scarce, so exchanging one for a bicycle didn’t leave the commune at a loss."
Lin Xiang hadn’t been here long, and no one had specifically told her about ticket matters, so she didn’t know Director Chen’s industrial tickets had such value.
Such industrial tickets probably weren’t that numerous even in the cotton spinning factory.
But compared to orders worth tens of millions in foreign exchange, a ten-thousand-yuan bonus and a stack of tickets truly are nothing.
Lin Xiang accepted them calmly.
She deserved them!
"Accountant Xu, do these tickets have an expiration date?"
"Only tickets linked to food, like grain, meat, and sugar tickets, have expiration dates. However, some tickets have regional restrictions; they can’t be used outside the province."
Lin Xiang planned to sort through all the tickets at home after lunch and use those with time or regional restrictions promptly.
But she wouldn’t use them all up; she’d save a few inconsequential ones, which might fetch a good price in a few decades.
"Today, why don’t you ride this new bike? Since it came through the ticket you provided, you’ll always borrow the new bike for free."
Lin Xiang refused repeatedly, "Better not. If the villagers find out, they might gossip behind my back."
She had given the industrial ticket to the brigade, not for free bicycle rides.
Now she’s at least a ten-thousand-yuan earner and has tickets; she can easily buy a bicycle.
But considering she will change cities after next year’s college entrance exam and because she doesn’t want to be too conspicuous, she hasn’t planned on buying one.
She can afford the fifty cents rental fee and won’t let such a trivial amount give others a chance to criticize her.
Lin Xiang rode the new bike to town, withdrew the thirty yuan that Lin Yun had sent back with the remittance slip, and sent two pairs of insoles and gloves to Lin Yun.
Upon leaving the post office, Lin Xiang was contemplating selling two of her three industrial tickets when she heard someone calling her from behind.
"Comrade Lin Xiang."
Lin Xiang turned and saw it was Qiqi, Chen Ruqi, who she had once met.
"Comrade Chen Ruqi, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you here."
Chen Ruqi smiled gracefully, "I was just accompanying my mother to buy some things, and unexpectedly saw you. Comrade Lin Xiang, is Comrade Lin Chunya doing well? Has she been affected by Zhao Chunshui?"
This matter had troubled Chen Ruqi for a long time, but she didn’t want to get involved, so she hadn’t dared to call Lin Xiang.
Lin Xiang recounted everything that happened afterward to Chen Ruqi, truthfully and without embellishment, telling the whole story.
"Ah?" Chen Ruqi exclaimed in shock.