Reborn in the ’80s as a Group Favorite Bigshot – Chapter 152

Chapter 152: You Still Care About This?

After waiting for about twenty minutes, the dishes were brought to the table one by one, all local specialties.

Several of them were definitely not available in state-run restaurants.

Song Chu also knew that without connections, it was impossible to eat here, and the restaurant owners were probably afraid of being reported.

Xu Ting saw that most of the dishes had arrived and said, “Let’s start, see if it suits your taste.”

Song Chu nodded, smiled, picked up her chopsticks, and tasted, “It’s quite good.”

She had eaten these dishes many times when she visited in her modern life, but she felt that they were not as delicious and authentic as they were now.

The others also started to eat. Song Lao Si and the others, in order not to embarrass Song Chu, ate more reservedly.

The tastes of the two provinces were different, but because the food was well prepared, everyone enjoyed the meal.

Especially Song Lao Si and the others, it was their first time eating at such a private restaurant, and the experience felt particularly exciting.

Xu Ting was very generous. The eight of them ordered a total of twelve dishes, half of which were meat dishes.

Tang Youhua and the others had previously thought Song Chu was extravagant, but now they realized there were people even more profligate than her.

After these experiences, their mindsets had also changed greatly.

Nowadays, people didn’t adhere to the “no talking while eating” rule, but rather believed that eating and talking at the dinner table could bring people closer.

Xu Ting also had someone open a bottle of wine, “Men, have a little, just don’t get drunk. We won’t force the ladies.”

Song Lao Si and the others were all drinkers and readily agreed, “Okay.”

Although Gu Yue had a cold personality, he had no problems with socializing and also had a little.

Song Chu and Song Ping mainly focused on eating.

After a round of drinks, they became more familiar with each other. Xu Ting’s friend, An Dong, was very sociable and outgoing, and he got along well with Song Lao Si.

From the dinner table, Song Chu also learned about their jobs.

An Dong was a driver at the transportation company, which was definitely a very good work unit at the time.

Being a driver was a profession with perks, and Song Chu gathered from their conversation that An Dong’s father was a leader in the transportation company.

As for Xu Ting, he worked in the Foreign Affairs Department, responsible for some foreign relations, and even frequently dealt with other countries.

Song Chu had an idea and asked Xu Ting, “Do you also participate in the Import and Export Trade Fair?”

Xu Ting smiled and said, “Yes, I was responsible for quite a bit of work at the last Import and Export Trade Fair.”

“You still care about this?” he asked with a smile.

Song Chu replied, “Our county produces a type of down jacket that is very light, thin, and warm. It’s better looking and warmer than cotton-padded coats, and it’s also not available abroad yet. So we want to participate in next year’s Spring Import and Export Trade Fair.”

“I didn’t expect you to be involved in the Import and Export Trade Fair. I’ll have to trouble you to tell me the process for participating in the exhibition selection.” Sure enough, more friends meant more opportunities.

Xu Ting smiled and waved his hand, “No problem, as long as the product is qualified, I can help you submit it and get you a good booth.”

As long as it wasn’t a fraudulent application, he could help make it happen.

“Our product is definitely good. In two months, when they’re produced, I’ll send you some to try on,” Song Chu said with a big smile.

It was easier to get things done with acquaintances. Many procedural issues would be easier to understand, and getting a good booth would be even better.

Xu Ting was also a straightforward person and didn’t refuse, “Okay!”

He felt that Song Chu was someone worth befriending, and that maintaining contact would help build a stable and deeper relationship.

Song Chu would send them down jackets, and they could send some local specialties back in return.

After eating, Xu Ting asked, “Do you still want to watch TV?”

“Yes, is it far from here?” Song Chu asked.

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“It’s just over a ten-minute drive, not far at all,” Xu Ting said while having someone settle the bill.

You didn’t need ration coupons to eat here, just money, but the price was several times higher than at a state-run restaurant.

Seeing this, Song Lao Si couldn’t help but say to Song Chu, “When we get back, you should talk to Second Brother and tell him to learn cooking properly. If he can open a shop like this in the future, it seems very profitable.”

Song Chu realized that her fourth brother indeed had a talent for business. He saw things differently from others.

For example, when Tang Youhua and the others saw the high prices, their first reaction was to exclaim how expensive it was. Song Lao Si, on the other hand, thought about how profitable this private restaurant was.

“Okay, when we get back, you give him a good brainwashing. When it’s possible to open a shop, let him open one too,” Song Chu also planned to develop Song Lao Er in this direction.

The group got into the car and went directly to another place.

Xu Ting took them to a large courtyard, which also required knowing someone to enter.

Song Chu found that this place didn’t seem like a black market, so it should be a more high-end private trading place.

The courtyard was very large, and they were not the only ones there; there were also some other people.

“Xiao Xu, Dongzi, long time no see,” the middle-aged man who opened the door said with a smile.

Then his gaze swept over Song Chu and the others, and finding nothing unusual, he opened the door.

These people had very sharp eyes. If there were any police officers mixed in, they could quickly identify them and signal to the people inside.

An Dong was obviously familiar with the middle-aged man, “Uncle Wei, some friends of mine came from out of the province and want to buy some things to take back, so I brought them here.”

He emphasized that Song Chu and the others were from out of the province, so there couldn’t be any problems.

Uncle Wei closed the door and asked with a smile, “What do you want to buy? We have a pretty complete stock recently.”

An Dong asked with a smile, “Can you get a TV?”

Uncle Wei was stunned for a moment and said with some difficulty, “They want to buy a TV? That’s a bit difficult to get.”

An Dong put his arm around his shoulder, “A bit difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Uncle Wei, please help us out.”

He had already heard from his brother that Song Chu saved Old Lady Pang’s life, so they had to help with this favor.

Uncle Wei thought for a moment, “We don’t have any now, but there will be a shipment from outside in a while, and we can get a few sets.”

Now, besides domestic TVs, most were imported from the Soviet Union and Hungary.

“Since you put it that way, I’ll try my best to keep one, but the price is not low, are you sure you want it?”

An Dong asked, “What’s the price?”

Uncle Wei mentioned two sizes and made two gestures.

An Dong understood immediately and then asked Song Chu, “A 14-inch TV here costs six hundred yuan, and a 12-inch one costs four hundred, no tickets needed.”

Song Chu had previously asked about the price of TVs in the department store. The price here was about 100 yuan higher, but no tickets were needed, and there was no need to queue up at the department store for who knows how long. This price was acceptable.

“I want the 14-inch one. I can confirm that the price is no problem,” Song Chu thought if she was going to buy one, she might as well buy a good one.

Uncle Wei saw that the person buying the TV was a beautiful young girl. Seeing her wearing a Buraji dress, leather shoes, with fair skin and an outstanding temperament, he guessed that she might also have some background.

He said with a smile, “If the price is okay, we’ll notify you when the goods arrive.”

Song Chu nodded, “Okay.”