Chapter 51

"Uncle Guobing, I'll come to hitch the cart early tomorrow morning."

"Alright."

Han Guobing hurriedly stopped Li Dong. "I'll go around to the other families to check on their work points and see if they need anything. I'll write it down for you later."

"Will it be a bother for you?"

Li Dong thought Uncle Guobing was really a good person, helping him out like this.

"It's no problem, Uncle. You write it down, and I'll bring everything later."

It's a small matter; everyone is busy with their own things, and they can take a leave to help bring some daily necessities. What's the big deal?

When he got home, Han Xiaohao and a group of little kids were playing with tin frogs in the courtyard. They glanced at the pile of stones in the corner and started using the stones to exchange for toys again. "Xiaojun, go get some candies."

This kid, you can't be stingy. Xiaojun pouted, but she gave the toys to the kids. "Alright, alright, we're not being stingy."

"Uncle, you're so nice."

The group of little kids, including Erfei and Erya, saw the candies and drooled. In those days, children didn't get to eat candy very often. "Play for a while and then go home. It's getting dark. Xiahei, I'm going to the commune with the mule cart tomorrow. Get up early and come with me."

"Really, that's great."

Li Dong planned to buy some pork tomorrow. Although the commune was not very big, the pork stall wasn't open every day. Even if there was pork, if he arrived late, he might not get the good cuts, or he might only get lean meat.

Li Dong didn't mind, but if he was hiring people to work, lean meat and ribs wouldn't do. He needed fatty meat, which was more satisfying.

Li Dong sent the kids out of the courtyard and saw a few of them run out through a gap in the wall. He thought he should fix the roof and the courtyard, plugging the gaps. "Xiaojun, did the teacher assign any homework?"

"No."

This teacher is not up to standard, not even assigning homework. Li Dong muttered. "Then go to bed early."

Fishing for turtles, Li Dong wasn't tired at all. He took his fishing rod and went out. Today, his luck was good; he caught three softshell turtles and a grass carp. "I'll make some boiled fish later."

"Who's there?"

"Brother Li?"

"Wei Guo, what are you doing?"

"Trying to catch some pheasants."

"How's it going?"

"I caught a weasel and was about to let it go."

A weasel, Li Dong thought. What luck, he didn't know what to say. "By the way, I'm going to the commune tomorrow. Do you need anything?"

Han Weiguo wanted to get something, but he was short on money. "Forget it, next time."

"Okay."

Li Dong looked at the weasel and thought, if it were a rabbit, that would be great. He hadn't eaten wild rabbit in years, and it would be delicious braised.

When he got home, Li Dong put the softshell turtles in a wooden bucket, which might cost a thousand or two, and needed to be well cared for. He put the grass carp in a basin to prepare for making boiled fish.

The next morning, around five, Li Dong got up, hitched the mule cart, and took the list and money from Han Guobing.

"Five Grandma needs two pounds of salt and a box of matches."

"Third Aunt needs a pound of soy sauce and half a pound of loose liquor."

"..."

Mostly oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, along with some daily necessities like matches, needles and thread, a yard of cloth, a comb, and some insecticide, among other things.

Along with the list was a stack of paper money, the largest being fifty cents, and some one and two cent coins, as well as food and oil coupons.

"Don't forget to buy anything."

"Don't worry, Uncle Guobing."

The mule cart was hitched, and he threw a bundle of hay on the cart. Without hay, the mule would be hungry after the trip, and there were no inns at the commune.

Back home, he packed the mosquito net to take to Gao Min. "Xiaojun, get ready to go."

At the village entrance, Han Xiaohao and the group of little kids were already waiting. When they saw the cart, they quickly ran over and climbed on. "Alright, sit down, let's go."

Waving the whip, Li Dong felt like a real driver. By the time the mule cart reached the commune, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

"Be careful getting down."

These kids, they jumped off the cart before it had even stopped.

"It's fine, Uncle, we're going."

"These naughty kids."

"Let's go buy the meat first."

The commune had specific days for selling meat, and even on those days, if you arrived late, you might not get the good cuts.

With ten pounds of meat coupons, Li Dong didn't hesitate and bought it all, choosing only fatty meat. A pound of meat cost eighty-two cents, so he spent eight yuan and two cents. Many people glanced at the neatly dressed Li Dong, wondering who would buy so much meat in those days, as most people only bought half a pound to satisfy their craving.

After buying the meat, Li Dong took the list to the supply cooperative.

"Sister, you're here, that's great."

"Li Dong, so early."

"I'm here to bring some things for the villagers."

Li Dong handed the list to Gao Min, along with the food and oil coupons and the loose change. He bought everything for the villagers first, then took out his own coupons to buy rice, which was free, and a hot water bottle.

"Why are you buying so much?"

"I'm fixing the roof, and I need to feed the workers."

Li Dong packed the items into the baskets and then took out the mosquito net. "Sister, here's the mosquito net. My relative brought it for you. Does it look good?"

"Really, so fast."

Gao Min took it, unfolded it, and saw that it was beautiful. "How much do I owe you?"

"Ten yuan."

Li Dong didn't know the price, so he just said ten yuan.

"Alright, I'll get the money for you."

Gao Min didn't have that much money on her, so she went out to gather ten yuan and gave it to Li Dong. "Thank you. Take these candies for Xiaojun."

"I don't know how to thank you."

Li Dong took the candies and put them in the basket. He then asked Gao Min to help him buy two packs of cigarettes and four bottles of liquor, filling both baskets. "Sister, I'm off."

"Be careful. I'll have Weimin invite you for a drink later."

Gao Min was happy. The mosquito net was beautiful, much better than what was available locally. The thought of hanging a mosquito net from Shanghai in her new house made her very happy.

Li Dong was also pleased. He had bought cigarettes, liquor, meat, rice, and flour, and everything the villagers needed.

He bought some steamed buns at the state-owned canteen, then drove the mule cart back home.

At the commune exit, two old ladies waved at the mule cart.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa."

"Young man, where are you going?"

"Han Village. Where are you going, Grandmas?"

"Bi Village."

"It's on the way. I can give you a ride."

"What a kind young man."

The two old ladies put their baskets on Li Dong's cart. Li Dong noticed that the two old ladies were well-dressed, clean, and without patches, which was rare in the countryside in those days.

"What a strong young man."

"Indeed, he's tall."

"Young man, are you married?"

Li Dong thought, why does everyone ask this? "Not yet."

"Oh, you should hurry up."

Li Dong thought, his daughter was already in school, so what was the rush?

The two old ladies were very enthusiastic, trying to persuade Li Dong. "Young man, what's your name? We can introduce you to someone."

The two old ladies from Bi Village were enthusiastic. They thought Li Dong looked good and was well-dressed. He was kind, strong, and a good farmer. He had bought so many things, indicating a good family background. Such a good young man, and they were good matchmakers in the area, so they were interested.

"Li Dong."

"Li Dong?"

"Are there any Lis in Han Village?"

"I'm an outsider who settled here."

"Are you the educated youth who settled in Han Village?"

Li Dong nodded, and the two old ladies immediately jumped off the cart and ran down the road to the fields. Li Dong was confused, wondering why they ran away so suddenly.

"They ran fast."

"Indeed, if they had caught you, it would have been a problem."

Li Dong was truly confused. Why did they run? They were talking just fine a moment ago, and they were so enthusiastic. What happened?

Li Dong was still puzzled when he got back to Han Village and didn't understand what had happened. It was strange.

"Never mind."

Li Dong decided not to think about it.

"Li Dong is back."

The mule cart had just entered the village when Grandma Wu saw it and shouted. Everyone who had asked Li Dong to bring things came running.

The village was small, and a few shouts could be heard everywhere.

"Everyone is here. The things are in the baskets."

Li Dong smiled and greeted the villagers. It was a good time, just after lunch.

He invited everyone into the courtyard and unloaded the two baskets, checking the list. "Grandma Wu, here are your two pounds of salt and a box of matches."

"Sister, here's your yard of cloth."

As people collected their items, they couldn't help but look at what Li Dong had bought. A large piece of meat, probably seven or eight pounds, a hot water bottle, peanuts, and a bag of something.

"What's this?"

"Rice."

"Rice?"

Amazing, a bag of rice must weigh a hundred pounds. This kid must have a lot of food coupons. His relatives in the city must be important officials.

"Yes, I'm fixing the roof, so I need to prepare."

Amazing, does he plan to serve rice and meat for the workers fixing the roof? Everyone was amazed. This kid was really bold.

"What's this?"

"I bought a few bottles of liquor and two packs of cigarettes."

Li Dong thought it was normal. If people came to help, he should provide cigarettes and liquor. But in those days, no one provided such things for helping with house repairs, especially not rice and meat, and bottled liquor and cigarettes.

This was better than the treatment for in-laws. The women were all thinking, they should tell their husbands to help Li Dong with the roof repairs. Such good treatment was rare.

Not only did Li Dong plan to serve rice and meat, but also cigarettes and liquor, which were bottled and branded.

No one treated their in-laws this well when getting married.

"This kid is too extravagant."

Han Guobing and Han Guofu said.

"Indeed, what should we do?"

"What about other families when they fix their roofs?"

Providing food was normal, but providing cigarettes and liquor was unusual.

"I'll talk to him."

Han Guofu thought Li Dong's relatives were really capable, having all kinds of coupons. He was a supply cooperative official, after all. Maybe he could help the village with some exchanges.

The older generation criticized Li Dong for not knowing how to manage his household, but the younger generation was eager to help him with the roof repairs, especially after hearing about the good cigarettes and liquor.

"Little guys."

"What's the big deal."

Li Dong was boasting. "For a pheasant, I can give you a bottle of liquor."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Li Dong was showing off, thinking he could bring liquor from 2018, like Erguotou, and see if they could handle it.

"Wild game is also fine. As long as it's good, I can exchange it for money or goods."

The young guys were initially skeptical but were convinced when they saw what Li Dong had brought back. They were all interested.

What's the harm in staying up a bit later at night? If they got lucky and caught a wild deer, they could exchange it for liquor and cigarettes, which would be great.

"Little guys, you're not interested. You talk big but don't set traps at night. Pheasants are great."

Li Dong didn't have time to gloat. After sending off Han Weiguo and the young guys, he went home to organize the items and count the money in his pocket.

"My goodness, I'm short." Li Dong looked at the last large note, a one-yuan note, and wondered where his money had gone.

"How can I buy wild game now?"