Chapter 63

"Hey, President Zhao, Section Chief Liu, why are you both here?"

The speaker, the third in command of the farm, was a minor leader. Seeing the two main guests at the table get up, he came over to check.

"Huh, Section Chief Liu, that's not right, isn't there still wine?"

He leaned in and saw the Wuliangye on the counter, reaching out to grab it. He could recognize the characters for Wuliangye.

Scared, Li Dong quickly stopped him. "No, this wine isn't suitable to drink."

"What do you mean, that's strange?"

Is there something wrong with this boss? He was unhappy. "There's wine that isn't suitable to drink? What's the reason? Is it fake?"

"Old Zhang is right, Boss Li, is there something special about this wine?"

Li Dong was helpless. "These bottles of wine I got with great difficulty from a friend, it would be a pity to drink them."

This statement made the few present unhappy. Why would it be a pity to drink your wine? Are we not worthy of your wine?

"I don't like hearing that. What wine would be a pity to drink, President Zhao, Section Chief Liu, tell me, would it be a pity for us to drink?"

Zhang Gan, the official, was unhappy.

"Reasonable."

Zhao Donglai nodded slightly. What's the big deal about a few bottles of wine?

Liu Mingdong frowned, realizing something. "Is this old wine?"

"1975 Wuliangye."

Li Dong smiled bitterly, realizing his words might have been a bit harsh. "I apologize, I'm not good with words. Please bear with me."

"What does 1975 mean?"

Zhang Gan was confused, but Liu Mingdong was genuinely surprised. "Are these two sealed bottles not Maotai?"

"These are two bottles of 1975 Kuihua Maotai."

Zhao Donglai shuddered. "1975 Kuihua Maotai, genuine?"

"It should be fine, the supply cooperative's invoice is still there."

Zhang Gan muttered, "What, I haven't heard of Kuihua Maotai. Is this fake?"

"You're too young."

Goodness, a small farm in the mountains actually has 1975 Kuihua Maotai. If it's real, that's quite something.

Liu Mingdong thought, this might be true. The last time President Tian gave me two bottles of Gujing Laoye, I bought them, and they were genuine. Now they're treasures.

But 1975 Maotai isn't cheap, it might cost over 100,000 yuan. It would be a pity to drink it, and who would drink it for 100,000 yuan a bottle?

Goodness, after hearing Liu Mingdong and Zhao Donglai, Zhang Gan realized even the cheapest Wuliangye costs 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a bottle, and Maotai over 100,000. This wine is almost as valuable as gold. We can't afford it.

"Alright."

Liu Mingdong laughed. "President Zhao, let's drink next time. I'll make it up to you, I'll make sure you drink well."

"Section Chief Liu, what are you saying? I wonder if Boss Li has any intention of selling this wine?"

Zhao Donglai was interested in the Kuihua Maotai and planned to buy it, but the Wuliangye didn't matter.

Li Dong was conflicted about selling the wine. If he sold it and they opened it, someone might taste it and realize it's not from 1975, which would be troublesome. "President Zhao, may I ask, what do you plan to do with it?"

"Does it matter?"

"If you plan to drink it, President Zhao, I must say, it would be a pity. It's better to keep it here."

"Hahaha, I didn't expect Boss Li to be a wine connoisseur. Don't worry, I'll collect it."

"Alright, since President Zhao likes it and is a wine lover, I'll part with it reluctantly."

Li Dong looked reluctant, but his words pleased Zhao Donglai. "Thank you, Boss Li. Can I have someone check it?"

"Of course."

As long as it's not opened, there's no problem. After a while, a middle-aged man arrived, and Li Dong placed the two bottles of Maotai on the counter.

"Very well preserved." He examined them carefully and nodded at Zhao Donglai. "No problem."

"I'll take it for 200,000 yuan."

Zhao Donglai offered 200,000 yuan, which is less than an auction, but the auction might not yield 200,000.

Li Dong was very reluctant. Sigh, I need to buy two more bottles from the region. I'm helpless, 200,000 yuan, but it's hard to find such a generous buyer again, and too many transactions might draw attention.

It's tough, making money is easy, but I'm always worried about problems. No one has it harder than me. I really envy young people who work hard, how solid and reliable they are.

"President Zhao, wait a moment, I'll take some photos."

Li Dong's reluctance made Zhao Donglai more convinced that Li Dong was a genuine wine lover. "President Zhao, keep it, don't let it get damaged."

"Boss Li, you have many good things here. Why don't you prepare some nice gift boxes?"

"Section Chief Liu, I didn't plan to sell them. If not for President Zhao, I wouldn't have considered it." Li Dong smiled bitterly, which made Zhao Donglai even more appreciative. "Thank you, Boss Li, for parting with them."

"Section Chief Liu, I insist on treating you to this meal."

"That's not right, we agreed I would treat you."

Liu Mingdong was actually happy. Zhao Donglai was in a good mood after buying the wine, and Liu Mingdong's goal was achieved.

"That's not right, I got two treasures, so I should treat you. Next time, Section Chief Liu, you can treat me. This time, it's my turn." He handed the money to Li Dong, all in cash. The 200,000 yuan was brought by the man who checked the wine.

Goodness, Li Dong had never seen so much cash before. Even Han Weiguo was shocked. What's going on? How much is this? Han Weiguo was amazed.

"Let's not argue, I'll treat you."

Li Dong smiled. "Section Chief Liu, President Zhao, please take care of my small business in the future."

"Hahaha, it's rare for Boss Li to treat us."

Liu Mingdong joked, having never seen Li Dong be so generous before.

"I have no choice, it's a small business."

Li Dong bowed. The meal cost a few thousand, but compared to the 200,000 yuan deal, it was nothing.

Wild boar, pheasant, rabbit, fresh game, Liu Mingdong and Zhao Donglai took some with them, including vegetables, especially black rice, which Zhao Donglai bought all of.

Great, most of the store's mountain goods and game were bought by the two. Liu Mingdong left 5,000 yuan. "Thank you, Boss Li."

"Section Chief Liu, you're too kind."

"Right."

Li Dong slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory. Section Chief Liu, you mentioned an elder with a stomach problem. By chance, I met a villager who hunted a wild boar. I kept the stomach."

"Wild boar stomach, from the mountains?"

"Exactly."

"Boss Li, you have many good things here."

Wild boar stomach, Zhao Donglai thought, is a good thing. Although not expensive, it's hard to get, especially since wild boars are protected now.

Liu Mingdong bought the wild boar stomach for 2,000 yuan, a fair price for a genuine wild boar stomach.

"Boss Li, don't just think of Section Chief Liu for good things."

"President Zhao, what are you saying? Let's exchange contact information?"

"I was just thinking about that."

Li Dong and Zhao Donglai added each other on WeChat. Before coming, Zhao Donglai hadn't planned to exchange contact information with a small farm owner.

After seeing them off, Li Dong quickly put away the money, over 200,000 yuan. He drove to the city to deposit some and kept some for daily use.

"Now the farm won't go under for a while."

Li Dong felt a weight lifted. With 200,000 yuan, he didn't have to worry about the farm's lease for two years.

"My daughter is coming to visit on the 11th. Should I prepare something? After all, I have some money now."

"How about a 1978 experience trip?"

Li Dong thought it was a good idea. His daughter is a prodigy, making him lose the joy of tutoring her. In the future, how empty it will be to recall not having tutored her. How can a father who doesn't tutor his child be a good father?

If he can't tutor her in studies, he can help in other ways, like physical activities. "Plowing, picking, mowing, pushing a wheelbarrow, fetching water. Oh, there are quite a few things. Learning to drive a donkey cart, even grinding flour, can be interesting."

Skills are always useful. Li Dong imagined his daughter's clumsy efforts, which would be delightful. "I'll check the village for wheelbarrows and sickles."

What a good father. If Li Jingyi knew, she would be thrilled. Li Dong found an old wheelbarrow in the village.

"It's broken, Uncle Weiguo, can anyone in the village make one?"

"There is someone."

"Xiaotao's father in the east of the village can make one."

Han Weiguo thought for a moment. "Why do you need it? No one uses it now."

"For decoration, it looks nice."

Han Weiguo shook his head, reminiscing about the old days. Pushing a wheelbarrow was tiring but fulfilling. People had simple lives, working for points, and the year was filled with simple joys like eating and getting married.

Now people have too many thoughts, are lazy, and don't like hard work. How can they not be tired?

"Uncle Weiguo, who has water wheels, grinding stones, pestles, sickles, and baskets? I want to buy them for decoration."

"Who has them? But Wei Hai can make them. As for grinding stones, most families still have them. You can take the one in my yard."

Li Dong thought it was good. He decided to get several grinding stones, which would be interesting. Originally for his daughter's learning, now he could use them for decoration, even as a fence or a path.

Li Dong worked on this for a few days, getting five pairs of grinding stones, some loose stones, and several wheelbarrows. For National Day, Gao Jia and Gao Lan might come, so he wanted them to experience it too.

Especially Gao Lan, as a district leader, should always remember to stand with the working people.

For his daughter's visit, Li Dong spent about 30,000 yuan, ordering various farm tools, some old and repaired, some custom-made, and some bought online.

He got five sets of water-fetching tools. Li Dong thought his daughter would have fun, and he would be a good tutor. If Li Jingyi knew, she would run away.

"Is the delivery to the town?"

Thinking of what else to add, he considered having his daughter build a small thatched hut.

"Focused on making her happy, I forgot about the delivery."

He drove to get bicycles, books, and a box of alarm clocks. Clothes business is tough now, but alarm clocks are not produced locally and are expensive, 15 to 20 yuan for cheap ones, 30 for good ones.

Now, vintage alarm clocks online cost about 20 yuan. Li Dong thought selling alarm clocks was a good idea. Many rural weddings include alarm clocks as gifts, which in 1978 was like getting a gold bracelet.

"Two sets of autumn and winter clothes, bicycles, alarm clocks."

He also got some windproof lighters and a copper hot pot. Adding it up, it was quite a lot. Li Dong wondered if it was too much. "Oh, I forgot the piglets."

What to do? He needed more sun exposure. He had only increased by 20 in the past few days, and he needed 200 more hours.

"Indeed, people get lazy after 18."

"Tomorrow, I'll go out to work and finalize the outdoor activities for my daughter."

"Ahchoo, who's talking about me?" Li Jingyi often sneezed, muttering about doing math, the only thing that matched her cute backpack. Other books belonged on the desk.

"Sun exposure, making mud bricks, more molds, learning with my daughter. I'm a good father, building a thatched hut with my daughter is tough, but I'll leave some mud bricks for her to make."

Li Dong was proud of his fatherly love. A loving father does so much for his daughter's memories.

"I need to learn more in 1978, not let my daughter learn everything at once. At least before college, I'll keep her learning, learning all 36 rural skills."

"Daughter, do you know I've fought for you?" Li Dong was moved while building the 1978 experience center.

"Finally, 200 sun points." It was tough, nine days, and only 50 hours of sun points.

"I'll go back tonight, learn more, and enrich my daughter's activities." Li Dong smiled like a loving father. "I'm a good father."