Chapter 11: First Meeting with Zhou Yuanchao

Hai Zhuang Town was just an ordinary small town under the jurisdiction of Pingchuan County, with a total population of no more than 100,000. This was largely due to the presence of the Qinxī Pressing Equipment Factory, which had been relocated from Northeast China. If the income from the Qinxī Pressing Equipment Factory were excluded, the per capita income of Hai Zhuang Town would rank at the lower end in Pingchuan County. The town had two main streets, with the rear street being the main street before the Qinxī Pressing Equipment Factory moved in. The Hai Zhuang Post Office was located on this rear street. A small entrance hall of only a dozen square meters, along with three meager service windows, made up the face of the post office.

In the scorching heat of July, although it wasn't as unbearable as in later years due to global warming, the lack of air conditioning and the reliance on a simple fan made it difficult to dispel the indoor heat. Zhou Yuanchao, sitting in his office, was soon drenched in sweat, feeling irritable and drowsy. He could only put down his book and slowly walk to the entrance hall of the post office. Apart from the drowsy staff behind the windows, the hall was empty. Zhou Yuanchao sighed inwardly. Hai Zhuang Town was not an industrial powerhouse, with a weak industrial base. Although the Qinxī Pressing Equipment Factory, a major national enterprise, had moved in, the town government had no real control over it. The mail and correspondence of the Qinxī Pressing Equipment Factory and its workers were largely handled directly by the Pingchuan County Post Office, leaving the Hai Zhuang Post Office with only a small share of the business. The low income of farmers and the relatively isolated environment further limited the annual performance of the Hai Zhuang Post Office. For Zhou Yuanchao, achieving success in such a place was extremely difficult.

From his distinctive name, one could tell that Zhou Yuanchao was born around the time when names like "Yuan Chao" (Aid Korea), "Yuan Yue" (Aid Vietnam), "Yong Jun" (Support the Army), and "Yue Jin" (Leap Forward) were common, reflecting the political climate of the era. He was 29 years old, from Pingchuan County, and one of the few in the Pingchuan County Post Office with a high school education. In early 1983, he came to the Hai Zhuang Town Post Office to serve as deputy director for a year of on-the-job training. As an ambitious young man, he naturally wanted to achieve something during this period to add to his resume. When he first arrived in Hai Zhuang, Zhou Yuanchao was full of enthusiasm, but after half a year, the sparse business had frustrated all his plans. He now only hoped to get through the remaining six months safely and return to Pingchuan County.

Standing at the door, Zhou Yuanchao idly observed the pedestrians on the street. It was summer, and the bright sunlight shone on the empty street, emitting a stifling heat. Suddenly, he noticed two people walking from the east side of the street. A boy who looked about six or seven years old was pulling a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties, mumbling as they approached.

"Xiao Yuan, what exactly are you doing? It's so hot today, why do we have to come now? Can't we wait a couple of days and come when it's not so hot? Besides, what are you doing at the post office? Do you want to collect stamps or something?" The young man's voice faintly reached Zhou Yuanchao, immediately catching his attention.

"I want to come today. If you're not happy, I'll go by myself!" Fang Mingyuan's attitude was extremely firm, leaving no room for refusal. He remembered that the first wave of the monkey stamp market was just a few years away, and if he waited any longer, it would be too late.

"Go by yourself? That's easy to say!" Fang Bin muttered. If they went back now and the old man found out that he had left Xiao Yuan alone on the back street of the town, he would surely scold him severely.

The two men, who had not noticed Zhou Yuanchao, entered the post office. Fang Mingyuan ran to the window in two quick steps and called out loudly, "Auntie, I want to buy stamps!" Sweet-talking and cute children were generally well-liked, and Fang Mingyuan was no exception. The bored and idle post office staff immediately took a liking to him. A middle-aged woman in her forties poked her head out from behind the counter and smiled, "How much do you want to buy?"

Fang Bin lifted Fang Mingyuan, who was too short to reach the counter. "I want to buy monkey stamps. Do you have any, Auntie?"

"Monkey stamps?" The middle-aged woman was slightly taken aback and didn't respond immediately. Most people who came to the post office to buy stamps were there to send letters, and few specified which stamps they wanted.

Then someone inside the counter laughed, "Sister Dong, he's talking about the zodiac stamp issued a couple of years ago. I remember we still have some, probably in the warehouse."

Fang Mingyuan was immediately overjoyed. "Oh, thank goodness! Do you have sheets and blocks of monkey stamps?"

This surprised the people in the post office even more. The child spoke with a certain level of expertise, knowing about sheets and blocks. Zhou Yuanchao also became more interested and laughed, "Little friend, we have sheets and blocks of monkey stamps. How many do you want?"

Fang Mingyuan and Fang Bin turned to look at Zhou Yuanchao. Someone nearby laughed, "This is our Deputy Director Zhou."

Fang Mingyuan's eyes lit up. "Uncle Zhou, how many do you have?"

Zhou Yuanchao found Fang Mingyuan increasingly likable. He had a six-year-old son himself, who was with his wife in the county town, not in Hai Zhuang. Every week, he would return to the county town to spend the weekend with his family. This affection extended to other boys of the same age, making him feel more connected. He reached out to pat Fang Mingyuan's head, smiling at Fang Bin, "Is this your nephew? How old is he? Is he in school? This child is really cute."

"Don't touch my head, I have dignity too!" Fang Mingyuan dodged Zhou Yuanchao's hand in Fang Bin's arms, looking displeased. "Uncle, you're so old, don't you know that you shouldn't touch a man's head or a woman's waist?"

The post office fell silent, then burst into laughter.

"This child, he talks like a little adult! Listen to him! Even children have dignity, that's not something a child his age would say." Sister Dong laughed so hard her face was almost splitting. The others in the office also chimed in.

Zhou Yuanchao wasn't angry. Children speak without reserve, and his own son often said things that made him laugh and cry. He was used to it. However, his son's words were undoubtedly those of a child, only making him laugh and cry. The words of the child in front of him, however, were quite reasonable and refreshing.

"Haha, Director Zhou, don't mind him. My nephew often says things that make my brother laugh and cry," Fang Bin said, trying to hold back his laughter.

"It's fine, it's fine, he's just a child," Zhou Yuanchao laughed, waving his hand. "I have a six-year-old son too, and he sometimes says things that surprise me. I'm used to it. You're here to buy monkey stamps, how many do you want?"

"I want to buy at least thirty yuan worth!" Fang Mingyuan said loudly, and the post office fell silent again.

---

End of Page AD

Start of Page AD