On January 15, 1985, five days after returning to Jingzhou from Qijia Village, Qi Tongwei opened a recycling station. Having obtained a temporary permit from the Municipal Bureau, he used his connections to get on friendly terms with the various local police stations. He also arranged an installment plan with Zhao Lifu to acquire a Dongfeng Big Glass truck, valued at 60,000 yuan.
With channels for resources, mechanical transport, and trade all set up, he erected a wooden sign at the entrance reading "Qi Family Recycling Station." Qi Tongwei, accompanied by five clansmen and a driver, began his great enterprise of making money.
First, Qi Tongwei took Wang Liang to greet Li Gang. After a warm embrace to solidify their brotherhood, they loaded up the plastic bottles they had collected over the previous three days and sold them to Zhao Lifu for 428 yuan. By this time, Qi Tongwei had nearly a thousand yuan in hand.
Chapter 54