mijobooks Chapter 14 Looking Down on People with Dog Eyes [Please Read Further]
Chapter 14 Looking Down on People with Dog Eyes [Please Read Further]
"Hey comrade, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
"Wait for me? How did you know I'd be coming today?"
"I guessed! Here, look at these three small fish. The flesh is firm and the taste is sweet. You can make fish balls or stew them in soup. I saved them especially for you."
As Li Xiangyang spoke, he opened the sack, revealing three small fish weighing ten pounds each.
Yesterday, on his way home after selling the fish, he thought to himself that the person who could buy four big carp at once must not be an ordinary family.
It's either the kitchen of a certain unit or the purchasing department of a state-owned restaurant.
of course,
The most likely source is state-run restaurants. Back then, they were still living on work points, and the restaurant's profits were directly linked to their year-end bonuses.
The more abundant the ingredients, the more people will dine at the restaurant, the more profit the restaurant will make, and naturally, the larger their share will be at the end of the year.
But in those days, even in the kitchens of state-run restaurants, you needed ration coupons to buy any ingredients you wanted; you couldn't just buy as much as you wanted.
This means they can't take on more customers because the kitchen has no ingredients, and there are no dishes for customers who come to the restaurant.
Therefore,
Some resourceful kitchen purchasing staff will come to the black market to buy ingredients.
Li Xiangyang clearly remembered that when the middle-aged man came to buy fish yesterday, his first question was about the price, and his second question was, "I don't need a ticket, right?"
Therefore, it can be concluded that
He is very likely the purchasing agent for the state-owned hotel.
The middle-aged man picked up the small fish, lifted its gill cover, looked at it, and smelled it.
"Hmm...it's quite novel."
"That's right, comrade, don't worry, these fish were just caught from the lake yesterday, they're very fresh."
Although we run a small business, we believe in honest business practices. We'd rather throw away fish that isn't fresh than deliver it to cheat customers.
Li Xiangyang patted his chest and said.
The middle-aged man rarely smiled, and it seemed he was very satisfied with the attitude of the little fish today, especially Li Xiangyang.
"3 cents a pound, right? And no ration coupons needed!"
"Yes, it's 3 cents a pound. If you take them all, I'll give you four extra crucian carp."
"Fine, give me all three."
Li Xiangyang weighed the three small fish; they weighed a total of 35 jin (3 kg), at 3 mao (10 yuan) per jin, totaling 5 yuan.
Along with several crucian carp, they were all strung together with reeds and handed to the middle-aged man.
After paying, the middle-aged man didn't leave in a hurry like yesterday. Instead, he leaned close to Li Xiangyang's ear and whispered:
"Young man, I think you're a very honest person when it comes to business, and the quality of your fish is also good."
I actually work at the state-run restaurant in our town. How about this? From now on, before you set up your stall each day, come to the backyard of the state-run restaurant first, and I can buy more from you.
Otherwise, it'll be difficult for me to take it back like this, and I won't be able to sell more than I want.
Li Xiangyang raised an eyebrow slightly; he had guessed correctly.
I never expected that he would get on the good side of the state-run restaurant so quickly. I'd rather sell it to him at the original price or even at a lower price, since the fish doesn't cost much, it just takes a little more effort to catch.
"No problem, we come to town every day to sell fish recently."
"Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow, before you come over here, go to the backyard of the state-run restaurant and find me. When you arrive, blow three horse whistles, and I'll know you've come."
"Okay, it's settled then. Uncle, you can just call me Xiangyang from now on."
The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, not expecting Li Xiangyang to even dare to tell him his name, and then he smiled.
I also admire the courage and determination shown by this young man.
Clearly, both sides were very sincere, and the deal was successfully completed.
After the middle-aged man left, Li Xiangyang prepared to pack up his stall. He didn't even bother to take the three crucian carp left in the sack back with him.
I took two bars and traded them with the owner of the soap stall next door for a bar of soap.
Yesterday, Liu Xiulan gave the half bar of soap he gave her to her younger brother Liu Jianguo. Fearing he would be unhappy if he found out, she confessed it last night.
In his previous life, he was immature and his family was poor. He was happy every time he saw his wife's family bringing things home, but he would throw a tantrum when he saw his wife bringing things back from her family.
Looking back now, I really shouldn't have done that.
When he married Xiulan, his parents-in-law, considering his family's poverty, didn't ask for much dowry and only gave him six sheep, which was already a great kindness.
Over the years, his brother-in-law has also helped their family out every now and then, which goes without saying.
Despite having such an understanding in-law, he was still dissatisfied in his previous life. In the end, when his wife left him with their daughter, he repeatedly went to their home to cause trouble.
He's really a beast for turning the two families into complete estrangement.
Having been given a second chance at life, I absolutely cannot repeat the same mistakes.
Once our family's financial situation improves, we must also provide proper support to my wife's family.
In the end, there was one crucian carp left, which I traded with the fruit candy vendor for ten fruit candies.
One cent per piece.
I took it home to feed my nephew. Kids these days don't have much to play with, let alone much to eat, but most of them are very sensible at a young age and are easily satisfied.
If an adult in the family goes to the market, they can bring him a piece of fruit candy on their way back, and he will be happy all day.
今天一共赚了22块钱，加上昨天赚的10块5毛钱，一共是32块5毛钱。
I'm only 17.5 yuan short of 50 yuan, but I should be able to raise the money soon.
However, he would have to spend money today. Last night, he discovered that he didn't have many cabbages left at home, and he knew that as the heavy snow intensified, the prices of these supplies would rise.
Buying and stocking up now is actually a way to save money, and when heavy snow blocks the roads later, even if you have money, you won't be able to get out to buy things.
Back by the carriage, Li Xiangyang told his brother Li Xiangdong about his plan to buy cabbage later.
Li Xiangdong looked at the 20 yuan he had just received and felt a little reluctant to part with it.
But he had experienced too much in the past two days. Although he didn't say it, he had already decided in his heart that Li Xiangyang was more thoughtful than him and that listening to him would not be wrong.
The two brothers quickly arrived at the town's supply and marketing cooperative. Li Xiangdong tied the carriage outside, while Li Xiangyang went in first to check the vegetable prices.
As he stepped into the supply and marketing cooperative, several sales clerks in blue uniforms, seeing his attire as a herdsman, ignored him completely.
These days, anyone who can work at a supply and marketing cooperative has a certain background and status, and they usually look down on people.
Li Xiangyang wasn't annoyed. Things change, and there was no need to get angry with these people.
He walked up to the vegetable stall and asked a slightly plump female sales clerk:
"Comrade, what's the price of cabbage today?"
"Whatever the price was yesterday, that's the price today."
The saleswoman said in a somewhat impatient tone.
"Damn it, is he on drugs or going through menopause? We can't communicate with him at all."
Li Xiangyang cursed inwardly.
He turned to another middle-aged male vendor at the vegetable stall who looked kinder and asked him.
"Comrade, this is my first time in town this month. Could you tell me how much cabbage costs per pound now?"
As Li Xiangyang spoke, he quietly handed over a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes that he had bought for 3 cents before coming.
Although this cigarette may seem less respectable in later generations, it was a genuine national hard currency in the 80s.
Anyone who can carry a bag in their pocket is considered very prestigious.
So, the moment the male sales clerk saw Li Xiangyang hand him a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes...
His eyes lit up.