Chapter 29: The Gift

  The village to the county town only has one bus per day, Lu Zhengdong and Wu Zhonghe arrived at the county around 4 pm, Wu Zhonghe handed over to him and let him go home first.

  Lu Zhengdong passed by Lin Donghe's dormitory and Lin Donghe stuck out his head and said:

  "Zheng Dong, why didn't you come back until the weekend? Yun Auntie went to the city for a meeting and won't be back until after dinner."

  Lin Donghe leaned against the door, having just taken a bath, her hair still wet, Lu Zhengdong smiled and nodded:

  "Going to the county to handle some things, are you going to work?"

  "Ah, but I'm on duty for someone else, and I still have to continue working tonight... Zheng Dong, I heard that Wang Li has fallen from power, is the village going to repair the road?"

  Lu Zhengdong was slightly stunned, Wang Liben's downfall would be just a matter of one or two days, Lin Donghe actually knew about it in the city, and smiled:

  "Can't see Winter Lotus's message, it seems quite lively."

  Lin Donghe also smiled sweetly:

  "My brother told me yesterday when he came to town."

  Lu Zhengdong nodded:

  "It's true that Wang Liben was removed from his position, the village has already decided to repair the road and has started doing some preparatory work, aiming to start construction in November."

  "That's great, then it will be more convenient for me to go home in the future."

  Lin Donghe was delighted upon hearing this:

  "I heard that the money for repairing the road was found by you, and it was also your suggestion to repair it. You're so capable, if you were made secretary, you'd definitely be much better than Wang Liben. That scourge Wang Liben should have been dismissed long ago."

  Lu Zhengdong smiled, Lin Donghe obviously didn't know that the party and government departments were hierarchical, he was not even a member of the party committee, let alone the head of the township, wanting to sit in the position of township party secretary was almost impossible.

  Then smiled and said:

  "You can't go around saying things like that, or outsiders will think I'm arrogant..."

  "I'm just chatting with you, anyway, you're capable, and you've even been to the special zone... our factory director hasn't even been there... what's the special zone like? Is it really possible to build a floor in three days?"

  Lin Donghe looked excited, Lu Zhengdong smiled and said

  "It's true that in three days they can build a floor, the special zone is indeed developing faster than us, now it's more prosperous than our mainland."

  The media once reported extensively on the SAR's three-day renovation of a high-rise building, which was completed in 37 months and became one of Asia's top-ranked high-rises, becoming synonymous with the SAR's speed and widely known to the nation.

  Such reports have an irresistible attraction for many people who have never been to the special zone. In addition, going to the special zone requires a unit to open a certificate, and you need to apply for a border defense certificate and go through border defense checks. This makes the special zone even more mysterious. At that time, many places in the mainland could make a trip to the special zone, which was even more unusual than traveling abroad later on. It's no wonder Lin Donghe is so curious.

  "Oh, right! I brought something for you from the special zone last time, come and get it..."

  Lin Donghe's question reminded Lu Zhengdong that he had also brought a gift for Lin Donghe when he returned from the special zone, but after returning, he hadn't met Lin Donghe yet and hadn't had a chance to give it to her.

  Lu Zhengdong opened the door and took out a delicate box from the room, handing it over to Lin Donghe.

  "Try it and see if it fits..."

  Lin Donghe curiously took over the box and opened it. The things inside were more exquisite than the box. Looking at the things inside, Lin Donghe's eyes sparkled brightly:

  "This watch is really beautiful..."

  Lin Donghe couldn't help but stare lovingly at her, then raised his head and asked.

  Lu Zhengdong smiled and said nothing, letting Lin Donghe try it on. The snow-white skin and the silver-white shell complemented each other, very suitable for Lin Donghe. Seeing that Lin Donghe seemed to like it too, Lu Zhengdong thought this gift was well-received.

  Lin Donghe liked it, but still had some hesitation on her face, she reluctantly looked at the watch for a few more seconds before returning it.

  "This table must cost at least several dozen yuan? It's too expensive, I really can't afford it."

  Lin Donghe apparently thought these were slightly better domestic watches, but in fact this watch is a Swiss Tissot ladies' watch, and the strap alone would cost tens of dollars.

  Lu Zhengdong smiled and said:

  "It doesn't matter how much it costs, as long as you like it. I spent a lot of effort to buy it from the Friendship Store and give it to you, it's my little thought..."

  This is indeed what Lu Zhengdong has in mind. Not to mention the care Lin Donghe has shown his mother over the years, but also when they were in Shan and Xiang, Lin Donghe accompanied him to Dong Yangsheng's home despite being ostracized by the whole village, it was a kind intention that even the most valuable things given to Lin Donghe would be worth it.

  "Did you buy it at Youyi Shopping Mall? It must be ridiculously expensive, I couldn't afford it..."

  Lin Donghe didn't think that Lin Donghe was listening and bought it at Youyi Shopping Mall, so he took the watch as if it were hot in his hand and wanted to return it to him.

  Lu Zhengdong thought for a moment and finally understood why Lin Donghe was like that. ——Lin Donghe's husband's family was also a cadre family, and Lin Donghe might have heard of Friendship Stores and other foreign-related shops.

  The Friendship Store at that time was like the IAPM (Yansha) Pacific Department Store of later years, a synonym for high-end products. However, to shop at Yansha Pacific, all you needed was money in your pocket and you could buy whatever you wanted. But back then, stores like the Friendship Store that dealt with foreigners were places where people would bring large amounts of renminbi, but there was nothing to buy - unless you had foreign exchange coupons.

  In the early days of reform and opening up, more and more foreigners came to China. In order to facilitate these foreigners, Friendship Stores and other specialized stores for foreigners emerged, mainly selling imported and exported special goods. At that time, foreign currency circulation was prohibited in China, so a non-circulating foreign exchange certificate was issued to make it convenient for them to buy goods and pay fees in these places, which was different from domestic residents.

  Due to the inability to circulate, foreign exchange coupons are only qualified for a very small number of people to hold. Without certain relationships and channels, it is difficult to get them in hand. In addition, since these foreign-related shops can buy goods that are not normally available on the market, such as imported or exported goods, foreign exchange coupons become even more scarce. As a result, speculators who resell foreign exchange coupons naturally become arrogant.

  This amount of money is indeed nothing to Lu Zhengdong, but in order to get these foreign exchange certificates, Lu Zhengdong has run a lot of miles, and it's really his heart's desire.

  Lu Zhengdong saw Lin Donghe like that, Lu Zhengdong couldn't help but put the watch into Lin Donghe's hand. Lin Donghe's hand was warm and soft, with a faint fragrance floating over after bathing, which made Lu Zhengdong's heart also ripple with excitement. There was a kind of impulse in his heart, and Lu Zhengdong couldn't help but think that when people encounter happy events, their spirits are lifted, and hormones seem to surge. Fortunately, Lu Zhengdong still had some self-control, although he had an impulse in his heart, he quickly let go of Lin Donghe's hand and said:

  "You think Friendship Store doesn't have anything cheap? It's just a little more expensive than domestic watches. Just take it, if you really feel uneasy, hurry up and cook dinner to treat me..."

  Lin Donghe still felt that she shouldn't accept his gift, but seeing how resolute he was, she finally accepted it in the end...