I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 21 Seeing Lu Ya Again

"This is the place. It was originally intended for my wife and me to live here." The old man led the way while muttering to himself, "Later, our son established himself in Chengdu, and we had to go there to help him with his business. It just so happened that Old Liu had quit his business and came back to collect the house, and that's when we ran into you."

As he spoke, the old man took out his key, opened the door, and led Zhang Beichuan and Lan Baojun inside.

The shop isn't big, about 20 square meters, but that's perfectly adequate.

Although the wall paint is a bit mottled, it can be easily repaired and will be usable. The floor has been paved with a smooth and slippery finish.

The door facing the street is a double wooden door, and the metal signboard from when bicycle repair was nailed on still remains on the door panel.

Zhang Beichuan walked around inside and out, especially lingering for a while in front of the three old houses in the backyard—all three could be used for sleeping or storing goods, and the back door did indeed lead to a quiet alley.

"Sir, we'll rent this shop." Zhang Beichuan was satisfied and didn't beat around the bush.

The old man nodded with a smile, "Okay, then let's sign a lease, 220 yuan a year, to be paid in full at once."

"it is good."

Lan Baojun took out the rental agreement he had prepared in advance from his pocket—a simple document that he had asked someone from the street office to draft yesterday.

Both parties signed and affixed their fingerprints, and Zhang Beichuan handed over 220 yuan.

The old man carefully counted the keys, put them in his inner pocket, and handed them over.

"For the next year, the shop will be yours to use. You can handle any repairs or maintenance yourself."

After the old man finished speaking, he slowly walked away with his hands behind his back.

"Xiao Chuan, this shop needs some basic repairs. The walls need to be re-painted, and the counter and shelves need to be rebuilt. This afternoon, I'll go ask the Lan family's boys if they have any secondhand ones. It should be done in a few days."

Zhang Beichuan had the same idea; individual businesses value their storefront, and a clean and bright appearance is essential to attract customers.

"Okay, I'll leave this to you. Don't skimp on necessary expenses, especially see how to fix this wall."

As he spoke, he counted out two hundred yuan from his canvas bag and handed it to Lan Baojun, saying, "Take this first, and let me know if you need more."

"This doesn't need to cost that much money. A hundred dollars at most will do."

The counter and shelves were secondhand, and the wall repairs were basically just pasting newspapers, then adding some stickers, and finally putting up a sign. It really didn't cost more than two hundred yuan.

"We can't let people work for free, can we? Consider the extra money as my treat for the brothers to a meal." Zhang Beichuan smiled and stuffed the money into his hand.

Lan Baojun couldn't refuse, so he had to accept the money.

"Alright, then I won't waste any more time with you. Don't worry, I'll go get people this afternoon, and I guarantee the shop will be up and running in three to five days."

The two then carefully planned a row of containers against the wall, with a glass counter in the middle and a sign hanging at the entrance.

The signboard is simply called Beichuan Department Store—a catchy and easy-to-remember name.

With the matter settled, Zhang Beichuan left the shop's affairs to Lan Baojun to handle, and went directly to the county public security bureau.

The midday heat in summer is like an overturned pot, making it hard to breathe, and there are only a few passersby on the streets.

I arrived at the Yingcheng County Public Security Bureau again at exactly 2 PM, and the staff behind the service windows had not yet all arrived.

Zhang Beichuan arrived at the household registration window with practiced ease. Lu Ya, who was covering her mouth and yawning, looked up when she heard footsteps and recognized Zhang Beichuan at a glance.

"It's you?" Lu Ya was a little surprised. Recalling the last time she escorted Zhang Beichuan to the station, and his witty and humorous words along the way, she couldn't help but chuckle. "I thought you had forgotten. It's already the 25th, the sixth day."

Zhang Beichuan smiled along, his expression slightly apologetic.

"I'm so sorry, something came up the other day and I couldn't make it. Can we take photos today?"

"Yes, there aren't many people around right now. I'll take you to the photo studio." Lu Ya got up and led him to the other end of the corridor.

On his way to the photo studio, Zhang Beichuan glanced back to make sure no one was watching, then took out the chocolates he had brought from 2026 from his canvas bag.

"Officer Lu."

"Hmm?" Lu Ya turned around and looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

"Here you go." Zhang Beichuan stepped forward and opened the chocolate in his palm.

Lu Ya's gaze fell on Zhang Beichuan's outstretched palm—it contained several small, square objects wrapped in silver tin foil.

She had never seen packaging like this before and blinked curiously.

"This is... the local specialty you mentioned?" she asked instinctively, her voice carrying a barely perceptible softness.

"Uh... sort of, it's chocolate, I brought it back from the provincial capital." Zhang Beichuan maintained the gesture of handing it over, his smile open and honest. "Thank you for your help the other day, this is just a small token of my appreciation, please don't mind."

Lu Ya looked at him; his forehead was still damp with the fine sweat from his journey, but his eyes were clear and sincere, unlike the fawning she was used to seeing at the service window.

But this natural yet clumsy expression of affection made her heart skip a beat.

"This...isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"It's just a snack, it's not worth much." Zhang Beichuan offered it to them again, his tone relaxed. "Besides, aren't we friends? A little something between friends isn't a mistake."

These words came out so naturally that Lu Ya couldn't help but smile, her fingertips lightly brushing across his palm as she took the chocolates.

"Then... thank you." She held the chocolate in her hand, and when she looked up at him, the smile in her eyes was even more genuine than before. "Let's go, the photo studio is just ahead."

Paying the fee and having his photo taken were all done in one go, and Zhang Beichuan got up from the stool.

"After the photos are developed, I'll have a colleague deliver them to our household registration office. I can pick up my ID card in three months."

"Okay, thank you."

After Lu Ya finished speaking, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Those people from last time, they haven't bothered you again, have they?"

"With the kind and beautiful Officer Lu personally escorting us, who would dare to cause trouble again?"

Lu Ya's cheeks flushed slightly after he praised her like that.

"It's all part of my job. Just call me Comrade Lu Ya in private. It sounds weird to keep calling me Officer."

"Okay, Comrade Lu Ya." Zhang Beichuan readily agreed. He happened to have something he wasn't sure about, so he asked her for advice. "By the way, I'd like to apply for a sole proprietorship business license. Do you know anything about the process at the Industry and Commerce Bureau? Do they only require a household registration booklet or an ID card, or both?"

When Lu Ya heard that he was going to do business, her eyes lit up with curiosity.

"A self-employed individual? What are you planning to do?"

"To be honest, I'm planning to open a department store and sell lighters, watches and the like. I happen to have some acquaintances in the provincial capital who can get goods from the coast. This is encouraged by the policy, so I'm thinking of contributing to the country's economic development."

Lu Ya nodded slightly. "That's good. I know a bit about the Industry and Commerce Bureau. You only need one of your documents: your household registration booklet or your ID card. You also need the front of your rental contract or property deed. That's all the documents you need."

Zhang Beichuan listened attentively and had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Thank you so much.

Lu Ya smiled slightly, "It's nothing, just a small favor. By the way, where is your shop located?"

"No. 26 Jiefang Road, the old Liu's Auto Repair Shop," Zhang Beichuan said simply, then glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late, so I won't disturb your work. I still have to go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau."

"Okay." Lu Ya nodded and saw him to the lobby. "Take care on your journey, and I wish you great success in your business."

After saying goodbye, Zhang Beichuan turned and left the Public Security Bureau.

The distance between the Industry and Commerce Bureau and the Public Security Bureau is not too far, about ten minutes' walk.

After completing the formalities at the Administration for Industry and Commerce, I learned that I could get the certificate in a week.

Zhang Beichuan calculated that the time was about right. The shop still needed a few more days to be tidied up, plus some preparations for the opening, so it was just right.

Lan Baojun is handling things at the shop; the necessary permits and licenses are being processed.

With nothing much to do in the afternoon, he figured he might as well go back to Shihe Village.