1983 Small Island, Starting From a Large Farmer

 Under normal circumstances, export procedures are quite cumbersome and require many departments to operate and coordinate.

It is not as simple as the Dandan Island farmers see. A big ship from the island country can just weigh it and take it away.

 In fact, there are many procedures and links in the process, and the Fisheries Bureau has helped to complete them. After all, this export was led and dominated by the Fisheries Bureau.

 Under normal circumstances, farmers cannot get foreign exchange coupons even if they export.

Due to the particularity of exporting live eels, fishing boats must go to the breeding areas to haul fish and cannot go through normal customs terminal channels.

 In this era, many policies are not very perfect, and there is a lot of room for maneuver. In addition, now is the period of earning foreign exchange.

 As long as exports are used to earn foreign exchange, if the relevant departments take the lead, they will have a green light all the way.

  It is a principle anyway.

 At this stage, whoever can export and earn foreign exchange is the master. Not only is everyone letting you, there are also various subsidies.

As the first official export led by the Rongcheng Fisheries Bureau, Director Wu attached great importance to it and even personally visited many departments to ask for instructions from leaders and finally finalized the subsidy plan.

 That is to provide part of the foreign exchange coupons to farmers who export agricultural products as export subsidies.

 This year.

 Overseas remittance coupons and foreign exchange coupons are absolutely delicious.

 Overseas remittance coupons have been around for a long time.

 As we all know, it is the remittances and family support payments made by overseas Chinese to their family members in China.

 The only person in their village who had overseas remittance certificates before was Lin Shanshan’s husband, Xiao Weidong.

 It’s because they have relatives abroad who send some money to support them from time to time.

 Foreign exchange coupons were created after the reform and opening up. They were issued on April 1, 1980, with denominations of 1 jiao, 5 jiao, 1 yuan, 5 yuan, 10 yuan, 50 yuan, and 100 yuan.

 According to regulations, foreign exchange coupons are not for Chinese people, but mainly for foreigners and overseas Chinese coming to China.

 Since the market supply is still very tight after the opening up, daily necessities (such as grain, oil, meat, cloth, etc.) for domestic residents are still rationed.

 But at this time, more and more foreigners came to visit and returned overseas Chinese. In order to entertain them, the country built a number of hotels and stores specifically for their shopping and accommodation.

 In these specific occasions, as long as you use foreign exchange coupons, you can purchase unlimited amounts of grain and oil.

 As long as you have enough foreign exchange coupons, you can even buy imported cars.

Li Duoyu built a house before because he had no tickets and could not buy the building materials that were in short supply. In the end, he found a relationship with Zhao Jialu and bought it.

  But it’s much simpler with foreign exchange coupons. You don’t even need a ticket, you can buy it directly.

 You can even buy imported clothing, cosmetics, various home appliances, imported watches, etc.

　To put it bluntly, this thing is a "privilege coupon". Although it is not legal tender, it is much easier to use than legal tender in the country.

Li Duoyu remembers that when it first opened, ordinary people were not allowed to enter stores like Friendship Store and Overseas Chinese Store, even if they had coupons in their hands.

He and Agui once obtained a foreign exchange coupon through the black market. They wanted to sneak into the Friendship Store to see the world, but they were stopped by the guard.

But in recent years, the weather vane has changed and it has become less strict. As long as you have a coupon in your hand and show it when you go in, the doorman will turn a blind eye.

 Speaking of which, Shangfeng Town and the Friendship Store and Overseas Chinese Store are still sworn enemies.

A few years ago, when shopping was popular, high-priced imported goods that required foreign exchange coupons to be purchased in import stores were only half price here.

After the illegal goods were eliminated, the business of Friendship Store and Overseas Chinese Store improved immediately, and the foreign exchange certificates also increased accordingly.

 Officially stipulates that the ratio of foreign exchange coupons to RMB is 1:1. It can be exchanged on the "black market" for a 100-yuan foreign exchange coupon, which requires more than 130 yuan in RMB. In the most exaggerated time, people can exchange it at 1:1.5.

One thing that is better about foreign exchange certificates than overseas remittance certificates is that they also have a different function, that is, foreign exchange certificates can be exchanged for U.S. dollars.

Those who go abroad to study or visit relatives, they need to use foreign exchange coupons to exchange for U.S. dollars.

 At this time, there were particularly many people learning English in big cities, and the registration fee for the TOEFL exam also needed to be paid in US dollars.

 The market demand for foreign exchange bonds and U.S. dollars has directly spawned a whole generation of money transfer traders.

 But this is in a big city.

 Rongcheng’s foreign exchange certificates have another use and are in great demand. In places where “wire routing” is popular, people often whisper on the roadside:

 “Want to change money?”

  “Want U.S. dollars?”     This kind of scalpers specializing in exchanging foreign exchange has been going on for decades. Li Duoyu even encountered him on the roadside when he came back from the island country.

 At the village committee, each farmer shouted excitedly:

 “I want foreign exchange coupons.”

 “I also want foreign exchange coupons.”

The kelp farmers in Chenjiacun also shouted: “We also want foreign exchange coupons.”

Seeing everyone asking for foreign exchange coupons, Director Jin suddenly said seriously: "According to the regulations, I can't give you this thing, but considering that everyone has made a huge contribution to exports, plus our Director Wu's strong request, so This special approval will give each of your farmers a coupon of one-quarter of the export amount.”

 Lao Lu, who was standing at the front, asked:

“Leader, can’t you exchange all the exports into foreign exchange certificates?”

Director Jin nodded and said, "No, this is a special case. Under normal procedures, even if you export, you will only get RMB."

Seeing that he could only exchange for one-quarter foreign exchange coupons, old man Mi, who was a little knowledgeable, quickly said: "Boss, can you give us the yen used to buy kelp, and we can exchange it ourselves."

Director Jin frowned and said: "This is even worse. The foreign exchange earned from exports is managed by our bureau. We cannot give those yen directly to you."

 After hearing this, the farmers said: "In that case, wouldn't we suffer a great loss?"

Seeing that the farmers had objections, Director Wu on the side quickly said:

“Folks, although we can’t all exchange for foreign exchange coupons, the country will not treat you badly. This year, we have an export subsidy policy, and you will be subsidized for the part that has not been exchanged for foreign exchange coupons.”

 Lao Lu frowned and asked, "How much is the subsidy?"

Director Wu replied: "Five percent."

 “Only five percent.”

 Everyone knows that 100 yuan of foreign exchange coupons can be exchanged for 130. If subsidies are given, 100 yuan will only be 105, which is a direct difference of 25 yuan.

 “This subsidy is too small.”

 “It’s better to give us foreign exchange coupons.”

Seeing everyone making a lot of noise there, Li Duoyu took a loudspeaker and shouted:

 “Get in line and don’t make any noise. This kind of benefit is only available this time, and it may not be available next time.

“By the way, the leaders of the Administration of Foreign Exchange did not bring that many foreign exchange coupons this time. If you are so lazy, I will exchange them first. When the time comes, you will have none, so don’t come to me.”

Just after Li Duoyu finished speaking, Lao Lu and Old Man Mi immediately became "behaved", licking their faces and saying with a smile: "Leader, one quarter is one quarter, let's exchange for foreign exchange certificates."

Li Duoyu glanced at the two people with disgust, and then shouted:

“If you have a passbook, go get the foreign exchange coupons first. If you don’t have a passbook, go home and get your household registration book first. Then wait in line and ask Comrade Gao Jing from the credit union to apply for a passbook for you.”

Under Li Duoyu’s organization, the originally noisy farmers instantly became orderly.

Zhao Jialu on the side couldn't help but admired: "You are the most powerful village director. These people all listen to you."

Li Duoyu rolled his eyes and said: "They didn't listen to me because they were afraid that I would redeem all the foreign exchange certificates."

Lao Lu, who was the first to get a foreign exchange coupon, was like holding a treasure. He held a hundred-yuan coupon with the Great Wall printed on the front, put it under the sun and observed it, and couldn't help but smell it.

“Brand new, the ink smells really good.”

The stone on the side said enviously: "Old Lu, is this one hundred yuan? Can you show it to me?"

"In your dreams."

 “Damn, give me a look and you won’t die.”

 Lao Lu said with a smile: "I still have many more. If you want them, just ask my Yanyan, and I can give them all to you."

Stone's face was dark: "Can you stop mentioning Yanyan to me all the time? I've told you a long time ago that I like skinny ones. Forget it, I'll give Brother Yu money to exchange for two later."

Hearing that Shitou wanted to exchange for foreign exchange coupons, Lao Lu said with a smile: "You don't have to wait for Duoyu. I want a few. I can exchange them with you first, just at the market price, 1:1.3, what do you think?"

“We are so familiar with each other, so you can sell me two at a low price, 1:1.”

 “You might as well just go and grab it.”

 (End of this chapter)