Chapter 10

In the evening, Li Dong prepared a little alcohol, feeling comfortable. This meal, apart from the cost of the chicken and Han Weijun's labor, was almost all profit, with a gross margin of no less than 1,800 yuan.

The two turtles were practically a freebie, and the bighead carp from the reservoir had no cost either. If he could make this much every day, life would be absolutely leisurely. One table a day, Li Dong thought to himself, not tiring and still making money, not bad at all.

Just as he was enjoying his drink, the phone rang. Li Dong saw it was Tian Liang calling. "Boss Tian, what's up?"

Tian Liang called because of the wild turtles. In the afternoon, while chatting with some friends, one of them heard that Tian Liang could get wild turtles, which were quite large and considered a delicacy.

It just so happened that this friend was asking for a favor, and the other person didn't need anything, but this person was a food lover, and wild turtles would be perfect.

Tian Liang, feeling proud, boasted and said it was easy, just a word from his brother. By the time he got home and sobered up a bit, he regretted it. He was also scolded by his wife, but when it came to wild turtles, Tian Liang's wife was also a bit interested. It was almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she could take a couple back to her parents' house.

Tian Liang thought about the Mid-Autumn Festival and decided he should also show his appreciation to Director Liu. Others might not find it special, but wild things would be just right.

"Turtles?"

Li Dong looked troubled. "Boss Tian, you know, wild turtles are really hard to get. I have a friend who helped me, and it took a lot of favors to get just two. He only gave them to me because he couldn't refuse."

"You want ten, and that's really putting me in a difficult position."

"Brother, I know it's hard, but I won't shortchange you. How about 800 yuan each?" Tian Liang offered 800 yuan each, which was not cheap, much higher than the market price.

But for Tian Liang, this amount of money was nothing. As long as the goods were good, it was all fine. Li Dong swallowed and sat up straight. 800 yuan each, ten would be 8,000 yuan. "Boss Tian, I need to check. You know, these things aren't easy to get and depend on luck. Farmed ones are easier to get."

"Brother, I need wild ones."

Farmed turtles, how could he give them as gifts? That would be insulting.

"Alright, for your sake, I'll try. I'll get you a few."

"Brother, I'll treat you to a meal later."

Li Dong hung up, thinking, "Well, something that people in the countryside didn't eat forty years ago is now in high demand. I need to prepare well. I'll get more turtles, 800 yuan each, pure profit."

The next day, Li Dong started preparing. This time, he needed to bring more food and supplies. Xiaojuan liked White Rabbit candies, so he bought ten pounds. The cooking oil was running low, so he bought a bucket. The rice was almost gone, so he bought a 100-pound bag. He also bought a hind leg of pork.

He also needed seasonings, which he couldn't forget. It would be a waste to cook wild fish without good seasonings. He bought all the seasonings he could. And clothes and shoes. Li Dong wanted to go to a specialty store, but he realized that the clothes from that era would look strange. They were too unusual. He found some的确良 (polyester) clothes and retro clothes on Taobao and ordered ten shirts.

After all this, Li Dong started seriously sunbathing. In four or five days, the numbers were full.

100:25:45

200

1978.8.22

However, Li Dong was puzzled because the time seemed to have changed. When he returned, it was the 21st. "Never mind, let's see what happens." It was just getting dark, and Li Dong tied up the items he needed to bring, covering them with a flower-patterned quilt that fit the 1970s background.

This time, he brought a lot of things. Li Dong was afraid they would scatter, so he pressed the start button. But something was different this time. Li Dong felt himself being tossed around, and the numbers on the screen changed frighteningly, as if the machine was malfunctioning.

Li Dong was stunned. "No way, it's broken." His head felt like it was hit by a hammer, and he fainted.

"Ouch, that hurts."

After a while, Li Dong woke up, rubbing his head. What happened? The numbers on the screen had changed. He rubbed his eyes and looked several times.

00:00:00

250

2018.8.21

The time was correct, but the first line was reset, and the second line became 250. What was going on? However, looking around, Li Dong realized that although something had happened, he was back.

"I'll figure it out later."

It was just getting light. Fortunately, the time was right, or it would have been hard to explain with so many things. "Wait, something's wrong. My things, why are they so light?"

Something was off. Li Dong quickly untied the flower-patterned quilt and was stunned. "What happened?"

"Where's the rice?"

The rice was gone, but the cooking oil was still there. Li Dong quickly checked. "The flour is still here, but the seasonings are gone. The ten pounds of candy are down to a handful. Where's my fishing rod and net?"

The fishing rod and net were gone. These were what Li Dong had brought to catch turtles. They were all gone, but the pig liver was still there. He had read online that pig liver was good for catching turtles.

Well, the fishing rod and net were gone, so he would have to rely on luck.

"The clothes are still here, but the shoes are gone."

Li Dong muttered, "That's not right. Some of the clothes are missing too. A lot of things are missing. I brought a box of canned food, over ten pounds of cured meat, and a fresh pork leg. The fresh meat is gone."

The cured meat was still there, and the iron pot was still there, but the spoons and other utensils were gone.

"What's going on?"

Li Dong was stunned. He had brought a lot of things, but now only a few were left. His food supply was gone. The numbers were reset, meaning he would have to sunbathe for at least 100 hours. At five hours a day, that would be at least twenty days in 1978. "Oh no, I have to work for over half a month," Li Dong thought, feeling miserable. "What happened?"

"Did I bring too much?"

Li Dong was on the verge of tears. What should he do? He had a pained expression. "I'll go home first." Although there wasn't much left, it was still a package. If the villagers saw it, they might think he had stolen or robbed something.

Fortunately, Li Dong lived in a small thatched cottage at the eastern end of the village, where there were few neighbors. No one was around, so he went back to his house, put the things under the bed, and tucked the flower-patterned quilt under the pillow.

"Finally, it's all done."

"Wait, where's Xiaojuan?"

Only then did Li Dong remember Han Xiaojuan. Where had the girl gone? It was still dark. Had she been taken by a wolf? Were there really wolves in the mountains? No, that couldn't be. Li Dong panicked. What was going on? Where could she have gone so early in the morning?

Li Dong thought for a while and slapped his thigh. "I remember, I said I was going fishing at the reservoir and didn't come back all night. She must have gone to the reservoir. If she didn't see me, she might think I drowned."

Li Dong panicked. In those days, many people drowned, especially in winter, sometimes even whole families. They had no food or water, and living was a misery. Li Dong panicked and ran to the reservoir, falling twice on the way. "Please, don't let anything happen to her. Otherwise, I'll never be at peace."

Han Xiaojuan woke up in the middle of the night, feeling the bed and finding her father wasn't there. She was scared and put on her shoes, running to the reservoir. There was no light, and she only had a few matches. She ran to the reservoir and looked around but didn't see anyone.

The little girl sat on the ground and cried. Her father was gone, her mother didn't want her, and now her new father was gone. She cried until she had no more tears and sat dumbly at the spot where Li Dong had been fishing, staring at the reservoir.

"Xiaojuan."

She had been sitting there all night, with no energy left.

Li Dong called out loudly, hoping the little girl wouldn't do anything foolish.

Han Xiaojuan heard Li Dong's voice and came to her senses. She stood up suddenly, but after sitting and crying all night, her body was weak, and her feet were numb. She fell and tumbled towards the reservoir. Li Dong heard the splash and his heart leaped to his throat.

"Xiaojuan."

Li Dong immediately dove into the water. Fortunately, he knew how to dog paddle, and Xiaojuan wasn't heavy, so he managed to pull her out of the reservoir. "Why did you do that, you silly girl?"

"Daddy."

Xiaojuan opened her eyes and saw Li Dong, crying and hugging him. "Daddy, don't jump into the water, I'm scared."

"Don't worry, I won't jump into the water."

Li Dong smiled and patted Xiaojuan's head. "Come, Daddy has something good for you."

Li Dong carried Xiaojuan back home and took out the new clothes. "How about this, pretty?"

New clothes, something Xiaojuan had never expected. Her father, who had been gone all night, had brought her a new set of clothes. "Put them on quickly, don't catch a cold."

Li Dong also needed to change. The clothes from Han Guofu were a bit strange, with big shorts and a T-shirt, which didn't fit in with the era.

After Li Dong changed, he turned around and saw that Xiaojuan had folded the new clothes and put them in the cabinet. "Don't you like them?"

"For the New Year."

Xiaojuan took out a set of clothes with polka dots. They were a bit small, but in those days, people didn't throw away clothes. Even if they were a bit small, they could still be worn.

"For the New Year?"

Li Dong was taken aback. "These are for summer. I'll buy you more for the New Year."

What a good child. Compared to his own daughter, who was picky, Xiaojuan was really well-behaved.

This time, he had brought a lot of good things, plenty of food, and some small items he planned to sell in the city. But something went wrong with the time travel, and he guessed it was because he had brought too much. It must have been overloaded.

It definitely had something to do with the second line of numbers. The 200 must have been the weight. Li Dong thought he would have to be more careful in the future. This time, it was just a few items lost, but if he had been left behind, it would have been a disaster.

Sigh, now he only had a dozen pairs of stockings, a few shirts, some cured meat, ten pounds of cooking oil, half a pound of candy, ten pounds of flour, an iron pot, some seasonings, and two apples.

A flower-patterned quilt, that was all he had left. To make money, the shirts and stockings would be good. Li Dong thought he should find a reason. Yes, he had written a letter to his "relative" in the city a few days ago.

The "relative" should have replied. Li Dong thought he would ask Han Guofu for an introduction letter and go to the city to see if he could trade for some money.

"Xiaojuan, come here."

Li Dong took out a piece of candy and an apple. "Look what Daddy bought for you."

"Candy?"

Xiaojuan had seen it before when her mother took her to the city to buy study materials. She had never seen an apple before. "What's this?"

"An apple."

"An apple, I know. Mom taught me."

Xiaojuan cheered, took the apple, and smelled it. "It smells so good." She looked up at Li Dong and smiled, then tried to put it in the box to save for the New Year. Li Dong couldn't help but laugh and cry.

"Eat it now. I'll buy more for the New Year."

"Don't buy it. Apples are expensive, we can't waste money."