Chapter 80

Returning to the woods, Lidong hurriedly squatted down to check the tiger whip wine jar. Fortunately, only the seal had cracked, leaking a bit of wine, but the jar itself was not broken. It was really a relief.

"The sky is about to brighten; I need to hurry back."

Lidong tidied up the jar, cradled it in his arms, and pushed his bicycle out of the woods. He didn't encounter anyone on the way back to his courtyard. Lidong secured the bicycle and let out the piglet.

"Oink, oink, oink." The piglet grunted and circled around Lidong, showing affection.

This little piglet can't be getting smarter, Lidong muttered. He didn't have time to think about it now. He first moved the fabric inside. The noise in the courtyard woke up Xiaojuan, who opened her eyes and watched Lidong carrying the fabric.

"Did you come back, Dad?"

"Sorry to wake you up."

Lidong said with a smile.

"Quickly help Dad. I bought some fabric in town this time and will find someone to make you a couple of autumn outfits later."

The two bundles of fabric were not light. Lidong placed them on the bed, and Xiaojuan's face lit up as she touched the fabric. With so much fabric, Dad could easily find a good wife.

Xiaojuan's thoughts started to shift. Do city girls only get one new outfit a year?

Xiaojuan's standards for Dad's future wife were becoming more flexible, and her expectations were rising. Lidong packed the miscellaneous items into a cardboard box and stored it under the bed.

"Xiaojuan, don't just focus on the fabric on the bed. I also brought a little piglet and put it in the yard."

"Really?"

Xiaojuan immediately got out of bed and ran outside. Sure enough, a little piglet was competing for food. The new piglet was quite strong, making even the little "Oink" step aside.

"Don't bully Oink."

"Oink, maybe we should call this one 'Haha.'"

"Haha and Oink, the two generals."

Lidong laughed. "Haha, be smart. We'll keep you as a breeding pig later."

"Okay."

"Wait a bit, Dad will take you to school and then go to the supply cooperative to buy some feed."

Wheat bran, rice bran, and corn bran were all available at the supply cooperative, and the prices were not high. Of course, selling a fat pig to the state next year would earn forty pounds of low-cost pig feed.

For breakfast, Lidong made steamed buns, cooked sweet potato porridge, and stir-fried a small dish with a few slices of beef. He also boiled two eggs for Xiaojuan, one to take for lunch, a few slices of beef, and some vegetables.

This meal was quite good. Just as they finished eating, the sound of a bicycle bell came from outside. Han Weihé rode over with Han Xiaohao.

"Weihé, you go ahead. I have some business at the commune and will take Xiaojuan there."

There was a new bicycle in the courtyard. Weihé was quite surprised, nodded, and rode away. Soon, Lidong and Xiaojuan set off.

After dropping Xiaojuan off at school, Lidong rode his bicycle to the supply cooperative, where Gao Min was on duty. He parked his bicycle and walked in quickly.

"Sister-in-law."

"It's Lidong. What do you need?"

Gao Min greeted Lidong with a smile, her attitude much better than with other customers.

"Sister-in-law, I have something to ask you." Lidong deliberately lowered his voice.

"What is it?"

Gao Min was puzzled. Lidong whispered, "A relative of mine went on a business trip to Shanghai, and the factory gave him some alarm clocks as gifts. He brought some back for relatives and friends, but there are still over ten left. Sister-in-law, can you help me sell them? I'll tell him to give you a 20% cut."

"Alarm clocks from Shanghai?"

"Yes, they can be a bit cheaper. After all, who needs ten alarm clocks at home?"

Lidong said, "Sister-in-law, what do you think? If it works, I'll bring them over."

"Sure, bring them over for me to try."

Gao Min wasn't sure if she could sell them. After all, Lishan was just a commune, and alarm clocks were considered luxury items, costing ten to twenty yuan each.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law."

"Don't be so formal."

Lidong bought two bottles of wine, thinking he would bring the alarm clocks over later and give one to Gao Min.

It was indeed easier to get things done with someone at the supply cooperative. Lidong finally had a new sales channel for the alarm clocks.

"Lidong, when will your relative go to Shanghai again? Can you ask him to buy a set of wedding bed sheets?"

Gao Min's cousin had seen the four-piece set at Gao Min's house and loved it. She had searched all the department stores in the city and even asked relatives in other regions, but couldn't find it.

She asked Gao Min if she could help buy a set.

"No problem, I'll write a letter."

Lidong smiled. "Red with the character for 'joy,' or another color?"

"Are there other colors?"

"There are a few, but they are more subdued."

"Then red, for her wedding."

"Do you want a mosquito net? If so, I can bring it over together."

"That would be great."

Gao Min thought Lidong was very accommodating. Buying this set would make her look good, and her cousin would be very happy and impressed.

Lidong said goodbye to Gao Min and rode back home. Soon, the work bell rang.

In the morning, Lidong was assigned to the reservoir to operate the water wheel. The rice was almost ripe and would be harvested next week, but the paddy fields were too dry and needed to be irrigated. The entire production team focused on this task. In the afternoon, even the women and young women joined in.

The water-carrying team was larger. Lidong, Han Weiguo, Han Weidong, and Han Weichao, led by Han Weijun, continuously operated the three water wheels. Lidong's heart, which had swelled with pride after earning 400,000, was now exhausted.

Finally, they could take a break. Lidong took out cigarettes and passed them around. Even the women smoked in those days.

"Sister-in-law, have one."

"Still with a filter?"

"Hehe, Sister-in-law, I brought the things you wanted."

When the women heard he had brought fabric, they all asked what kind. "Thin or thick?"

"Both."

Lidong smiled. "Not just fabric, but also some soap and face cream."

The women were excited. After work, they all planned to go to Lidong's house to see the fabric and buy some.

Lidong picked up Xiaojuan and returned home, where many people were already waiting.

"Auntie, Auntie Qiujun, you're here. Come in and sit down."

He greeted over a dozen women, parked his bicycle, and carried Xiaojuan inside. The two piglets were very affectionate with Xiaojuan. She glanced at Dad, who had clearly forgotten to feed them. Lidong smiled, too tired to feed them after lying down for a while and not eating much lunch.

"Auntie, Sister-in-law, come in and see. The fabric is on the bed."

Lidong divided the fabric into three parts. On the bed were two types of fabric, twenty meters of thin fabric and ten meters of thick fabric, along with some soap, face cream, osmanthus oil, a few small mirrors, and sewing kits.

"There's quite a bit."

"The fabric is finely woven."

In those days, most fabric was cotton, but Lidong's fabric was not pure cotton; it contained synthetic fibers, making it finer.

"How much per foot?"

"Do you need fabric coupons? I only have two feet left."

"No coupons needed, and the price is the same as the supply cooperative."

Lidong didn't plan to make much profit and didn't deliberately lower the price. The women were pleasantly surprised to hear they didn't need coupons and the price was the same.

"Give me ten feet."

"I want ten feet too."

"I have many children, twenty feet."

"..."

Lidong was overwhelmed for a moment, but Xiaojuan helped with the accounting and collecting money. Lidong just had to measure and cut the fabric. After a while, the women left happily with their fabric.

The second wave came even faster. Lidong quickly brought out the hidden fabric and managed to handle it. When he settled the accounts, he realized he had no money in his hands. He turned around to see that Xiaojuan had collected all the money.

Lidong looked at the little girl counting the money, one cent at a time. He decided not to worry about it; he wasn't short of money.

The fabric and soap sold well, and Lidong thought it was okay. He calculated that he had made about sixty to seventy yuan, which wasn't much but wasn't bad. In those days, only one in ten production teams could feed themselves, and 67% of production teams had an annual per capita income of less than 60 yuan, with 25% earning less than 40 yuan.

"Brother Li."

Lidong shivered. Uncle Weiguo, no, Han Weiguo, always sneaked in. He looked very different from the Uncle Weiguo of the future.

"What's up?"

"I want to buy some fabric."

Han Weiguo was embarrassed, and Lidong chuckled.

"Can you make clothes?"

"For a gift."

Lidong understood and laughed. "Do you want soap?"

"Yes, Brother Li, I only have two yuan. Can I owe the rest?"

It was hard to come by money, so Lidong waved his hand.

"Owe it for now. I'll give you ten feet of thick fabric and ten feet of thin fabric. Is that enough?"

"Enough, enough."

This was enough for a set of clothes. Han Weiguo's two yuan, Lidong didn't take.

"Keep the money. Go to the city to watch a movie when you have time. Take the fabric and pay me back later."

"Brother Li, you're a good person."

Han Weiguo was very moved. Lidong thought it would be good to have a reliable guard when he went to the mountains after the busy season.

The evening at Lidong's house was lively. The small items sold well, but the profit was not much. However, it was safe.

The situation in the city was unclear, and Lidong didn't dare to go there for now. He remembered that the current secretary should be Wan Gong, and the Six Provisions had been issued last year, but they hadn't been implemented in Chicheng yet.

He wondered if the discussion on the criteria of truth would lead to some relaxation. Secretary Wan encouraged independent household operations, such as growing vegetables and handicrafts.

"Secretary Wan will soon have full control."

At that time, the countryside would be more free, and handicrafts would be more open. Open markets would allow him to sell tools and other items, all part of the Six Provisions. However, Chicheng's implementation was weak, and some people were not putting in the effort.

"Xiaojuan, it's time to study."

"Huh?"

Lidong was surprised when Xiaojuan handed him the money. What was going on? What was wrong with her today?

"Xiaojuan, are you okay?"

"Are you sick?"

Xiaojuan pouted. She wasn't sick; she was worried that Dad didn't have money. He had bought another bicycle and a piglet, and the items he brought back were not as many as last time. The wine was for gifts, and the mountain goods were less.

"Dad, I'm not short of money. Keep it in your little piggy bank."

Lidong smiled. He still had a couple of hundred yuan in his pocket. Besides, once the alarm clocks opened the market, he would have another couple of hundred yuan in income. This sixty to seventy yuan was nothing to him.

"Ding, ding, dang."

"What's going on?"

"Xiaojuan, Dad is going to the threshing field."

When he arrived, he saw a serious atmosphere. Lidong wondered what was wrong.

"Brother Weijun, what's the matter?"

"Beijia Village harvested rice yesterday, and they got less than 150 pounds per acre."

"Only that much?"

One hundred and fifty pounds per acre was very little. After dehusking, it would be even less. In the mountain village, the average paddy land per person was less than one acre. If one acre yielded only 150 pounds of rice, after paying the public grain and the state purchase, the remaining grain would be very little. Each household would get less than 300 pounds of grain, which was a serious problem.

No wonder Han Guofu and Han Guobing looked worried. The grain shortage was a big issue. Lidong understood Han Guofu's concern. Beijia Village was better off because it was near the reservoir, but other areas were worse, with some places having almost no harvest.

"Ah, what can we do?"

Han Weiqun looked worried. His family had six children, the oldest about ten years old, and the youngest still in his arms. They owed the production team every year, and this year, the production team had no extra grain. His family would go hungry.

Lidong wanted to help, but helping one family was manageable, but there were at least five or six families in the village in a similar situation.

Lidong thought they needed to find a way to earn money to buy grain.

"What can we do to earn money, bring everyone together, and not break the law?" Lidong frowned, remembering a piece of information he had overlooked while searching for medicinal wine.

Herbal medicine. Lidong slapped his forehead. "Herbal medicine!" Everyone looked at him. What was he thinking?