Chapter 85

"Make sure to ask around these few days and collect as much as you can."

Li Dong whispered, "You can also collect mountain goods; the supply and marketing cooperative is buying everything now."

"Alright, we'll follow your lead."

The young men all wanted to earn more money to get married. They couldn't rely on the work points from the production team this year, as there wasn't much money to be made. A few dozen yuan would be considered good.

"Be careful."

Although the regulations on rural side businesses weren't as strict now, who knew if someone might have bad intentions? It's better to be cautious.

"It's your turn, Weiguo."

"Ah, Li Brother, you go first, I have more."

"Alright, I'll go first then."

Li Dong took out the cigarettes and lighter from his pocket and threw them to Han Weiguo.

"Have a smoke."

"Good cigarettes."

Han Weiguo, who usually smoked the kind of cigarettes that cadres smoked, thought Li Dong was being quite extravagant. The old and young men around him pursed their lips, thinking that this kid had gotten a bit too cocky since he started driving the tractor.

If Li Dong knew what they were thinking, he would definitely argue that he used to smoke the same brand before he started driving the tractor.

"This lighter is really nice."

Han Weiguo and a few others gathered around to play with the windproof lighter, a good item that cost a few yuan each. They all wished they had one.

Li Dong waited for Chunlan Auntie, who was the previous one to use the stone mill, to clean the grinding plate. In those days, every grain of rice was precious, and rice bran was excellent pig feed. In the past, rice bran was even considered good food, and most families had eaten rice bran cakes during hard times.

Although it was hard to swallow, it could save lives during difficult periods, and eating rice bran cakes was considered a luxury compared to going hungry.

"Alright, you can go ahead."

Wang Chunlan swept a few times but couldn't find anything more, so she stopped.

Although it was Li Dong's first time using the stone mill in practice, he had learned how to use it a few days ago when the farm was setting up the stone mill and stone roller. Chunlan Auntie had cleaned the grinding plate so thoroughly that Li Dong didn't need to do anything.

Li Dong evenly poured the rice into the grinding plate and slowly pushed the stone roller to spread the rice.

He really should have a cow or a donkey to pull the stone roller. As he pushed, he thought to himself. Xiaojuan followed behind, sweeping the rice that had been ground into the center. Grinding rice was very time-consuming and pushing the stone roller was quite tiring.

"This is too slow." They weren't afraid of the work, but it was too slow.

No wonder the queue was so long. It would take at least an hour to grind rice, and that was only if there wasn't much rice. Li Dong's family had a small amount, about twenty to thirty pounds, and it took about an hour to finish.

It was very time-consuming. Some families had already pounded their rice, which made the grinding process much easier.

Even so, it took at least an hour to grind a batch, and if there was more than a hundred pounds, it would take at least two hours. It was all done by human power, and although it wasn't too tiring, it was only done a few times a year.

"I'm going back now."

Xiaojuan swept the rice bran and rice, and went back to sift out the rice bran. The new rice could then be cooked.

"Red-braised pork would go perfectly with it."

Li Dong thought about making red-braised pork with the new rice. "Xiaojuan, help Dad wash the rice, I'll cut the meat."

The meat was hanging from the beam. Li Dong took it down to prevent rats. He cut off a piece, about a pound, and sliced it into large pieces, marinating it with seasonings.

The rice was cooked, and he started frying the meat, adding water and seasonings to stew for about half an hour. When the red-braised pork was ready, the aroma filled the air, and the neighbors couldn't help but be tempted.

"Damn, that smells good." Han Guodong slapped his thigh. "Go, start stewing the wild boar meat we have at home."

Wang Chunhua hesitated but, seeing her grandchildren, children, and daughter-in-law all looking at her with anticipation, she bit her lip and cut off half a pound of pork, adding it to the stew with mountain powder and extra radishes.

After eating, Li Dong went out to digest and found Han Guodong's family squatting at their door, each with a bowl. Surprised, he noticed that Han Guodong's bowl had two large pieces of meat, quite noticeable. This usually frugal man was being quite generous.

"Li Dong, have you eaten?"

"Just finished, you're eating now."

Han Guodong put a piece of pork in his mouth, savoring it. "Ah, eating too much pork isn't as fragrant, what do you think?"

"Grandpa, the pork is really fragrant."

Xiaojuan, his granddaughter, was staring at the pork in Han Guodong's bowl, her mouth watering. Her grandmother had only given her a small piece, which she had already finished.

Han Guodong immediately gave his pork to the little girl, saying, "I've eaten too much, I don't want it anymore."

Li Dong muttered, "Eating too much pork isn't fragrant, what a lie. The more you eat, the more fragrant it gets." In the afternoon, they would work on digging the reservoir sediment, and each family could transport two wheelbarrows back to fertilize their own plots.

The plots were supposed to be borrowed, but everyone knew it was like Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou—once borrowed, never returned. Han Guofu had held several meetings about this. The plots could be on the mountain, by the river, or on wasteland, and needed to be approved by the team.

Li Dong chose a wasteland plot next to his house, which needed to be cleared of shrubs and weeds, and leveled. He could use the soil from the high slopes to make bricks for a pigpen, which he had been planning for a while. The materials were ready, and now it was time to start construction.

Since many people were busy working on their own plots, fewer people were going to work. Li Dong decided not to go and stayed home to level the plot and build the pigpen.

"Xiaojuan, let me do it."

The little girl was making bricks, sweating all over.

"I'll stomp the mud."

"Alright."

Making bricks was a physical job, not suitable for a child, but stomping the mud was fine. After two days of work, the pigpen's frame was finally up.

"Hehe, Haha, come on." The pigpen wasn't complete yet, but it was enough for the two little pigs, Hehe and Haha.

They still needed a feeding trough, which Li Dong would have to buy. He couldn't make one himself. "I'll take a few alarm clocks to Gao Min."

Gao Min had set the price at 18.5 yuan, which wasn't too high or too low. In the past few days, he had sold three or four, and they were doing well.

"Xiaojuan, Dad is going to the commune to see if I can buy a feeding trough. Do you need any stationery?"

"I still have plenty."

Xiaojuan pouted, as the stationery she had bought last time was enough for a year.

"Then Dad will buy you some pastries."

Li Dong set off on his bicycle, arriving at the supply and marketing cooperative. To his surprise, Gao Weimin was there. "Weimin, Sister-in-law."

"Talking about you just now."

Gao Weimin smiled. "How was the medicinal wine?"

"It was great. My relative used it, and his backache improved a lot. He asked me to thank you." He took out an alarm clock and gave it to Gao Weimin. "I've wanted to give you this alarm clock for a while, but I didn't bring a gift, so I didn't feel right giving it to Sister-in-law."

"Too polite." Gao Weimin tried to refuse, knowing the price of the alarm clock.

"No, this isn't from me."

Li Dong had been trying to give the alarm clock away for a while, and this was a good opportunity.

"How can I accept it?"

The alarm clock cost over ten yuan, and Gao Min felt a bit embarrassed, as she had earned a commission from selling a few.

"Weimin, this is a thank-you gift. Without you, I couldn't have gotten the tiger bone wine."

"Right, Sister-in-law, I'll leave these with you."

Gao Min took them, and there were about seven or eight alarm clocks. With a commission of three yuan each, it would be about twenty to thirty yuan, equivalent to a month's salary. "Don't worry, I'll sell them by the end of the month."

"That's great. By the way, Sister-in-law, the bedding set and mosquito net can wait until the end of the month, right?"

Li Dong planned to stay longer this time to see if he could increase his sun value.

"No problem, not in a hurry."

After settling the alarm clock matter, Li Dong bought some daily necessities and a wooden basin for the feeding trough. Gao Min also gave him some milk candies and pastries, not even asking for money.

"Let's go to the mountains after the busy season."

"Good, but I don't have a hunting rifle." Li Dong considered buying one, but it would cost two or three hundred yuan, which wasn't cheap.

Gao Weimin waved his hand. "Don't buy it. I have a gun at home. I'll get more bullets, no need to buy one."

"That's great."

Li Dong liked the gun, finding it more practical than a hunting rifle.

"Alright, let me know when you're ready. We'll hunt some game to supplement Xiaojuan's diet."

"I'll let you know after the busy season."

The militiamen were quite busy with the autumn harvest, planting, and some city matters.

"By the way, the city is buying a lot of vegetables and fruits. Plant more on your plot."

"Got it."

Riding back to the village, Li Dong packed some pastries and milk candies.

"Xiaojuan, I'm going to see Captain Han. Rest a bit. I'll leave the pastries and milk candies on the table, and wash the apples to eat." Han Guofu had asked Li Dong what to plant on his plot, but Li Dong hadn't decided yet.

Li Dong went to Han Guofu's house, where Han Guofu had been worried about the food shortage for several families with many children, who were constantly asking him for help.

"Uncle Guofu, Wei Qun is here too."

Li Dong sat down and took out two apples, waving to Han Xiaohao.

"I just bought some apples at the commune. Xiaohei, wash them and share with your siblings. I also have some milk candies and pastries, don't eat them all yourself."

"Hehe, Uncle, you're so nice."

Han Xiaohao happily took them, but they were immediately snatched by Li Chunhua.

"I'll wash them. Eat one and save one. You can't finish all the good things at once." She left one apple, and Li Dong helplessly shrugged at Han Xiaohao.

I can't do anything, Han Xiaohao winked and went to find his uncle, hoping to get another half an apple.

Han Guofu glared at Li Dong, and Han Wei Qun, seeing his children eating apples, thought of his own hungry children and looked at Li Dong with a bit of resentment.

"What's up?"

"I just heard at the commune that the city is buying vegetables and fruits. Uncle Guofu, I thought we could plant more to earn money and buy food, which would help with the food shortage."

Li Dong took a sip of water and continued. "Brother Wei Qun, plant vegetables on your plot. If you work hard, you might earn enough to buy a few hundred pounds of food, which is better than bothering Uncle Guofu."

"Really?"

Han Wei Qun was worried. "Isn't that considered speculation?"

"No, the provincial policy is almost in place."

Li Dong had just heard from Gao Weimin that the policy was being implemented in the surrounding areas, and the commune was discussing whether to organize a farmers' market.

After Li Dong explained, Han Guofu's eyes lit up.

"Wei Qun, plant first. We'll sell the vegetables under the production team's name and distribute the earnings later." Han Guofu knew Han Wei Qun was cautious and might not dare to plant more vegetables.

"Alright."

With Li Dong's encouragement, Han Guofu felt much better.

"Chunhua, make more food tonight. I'll invite Guobing, Guohong, and Li Dong for dinner." Han Guofu wanted to discuss what to plant on the plots and how to help everyone earn more money for food.

Li Dong, as the new tractor team leader, would attend as an observer.