Chapter 9: Aftermath
Although the Second Production Brigade is backed by mountains and rivers, it couldn’t avoid the natural disasters of the past few years either; which family didn’t survive on those meager rations?
The grass roots and leaves on several mountains were all stripped bare, and only now has a bit of green recovered.
The villagers were already poor and suffering, and encountering heavenly disasters and man-made misfortunes could only make things even harder.
Could Li Dazhu not know that this kind of private transaction carries enormous risks? If it got exposed, losing the Brigade Leader position would be the least of it…
But, no choice!
With the year looking like it’s about to improve, if they can hold on for another year or so, as long as they get through it, everyone’s days will definitely be much, much better.
At this critical juncture, with someone eagerly delivering big money and forcibly pulling everyone ashore with this good opportunity, how could he refuse?
Having lived half a lifetime, Li Dazhu was confident he still had the skill to judge people.
Since the little girl was a good one, and it was a mutually beneficial win-win deal, just risking it this once—to hell with it, why wouldn’t he dare!
Besides, almost everyone in the brigade were Li clansmen from the same ancestor, famous for their unity within a hundred li around, and that was his greatest confidence.
“Go call Li Hui and Big Round over.”
“Got it, Uncle, I’ll go right now!”
Li Dazhu nodded with hands behind his back, and only after seeing the person dash out the courtyard gate like smoke did he turn back to look at the poised little girl standing to the side.
“Qiangzi didn’t explain clearly; girl, tell me specifically what you need?”
“Pigs, cattle and sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese—all of them, best if one male and one female; if there are fish, shrimp, and crabs, those too.”
“Wild things from the mountains, fungi mushrooms fruits, our own vegetables beans melons eggs, as well as grain seeds vegetable seeds fruit tree saplings—these I will all take.”
“That’s, quite a lot.”
Pulling out the tobacco pouch tucked in his waist, Li Dazhu habitually rubbed it, quickly estimating a rough total in his mind.
Even someone usually unflappable was shocked by the calculated amount, drawing in a cold breath, his hand holding the pipe stem trembling slightly.
“Girl, preparing these things and settling accounts will all take time; how about coming to my home to eat something while waiting?”
“No need, Grandpa Li; I also need to go make some arrangements first.”
Which family’s grain isn’t in short supply right now?
No matter how hungry, it wasn’t good to shamelessly go eat; such a hospitable meal might be a whole family’s rations for several days.
To avoid arousing suspicion, she really did need to find a cart and people; she couldn’t just make all those things vanish into thin air.
“Grandpa Li, see if this works: for the things I mentioned, you first vet and collect them for me; I’ll pay some deposit, go back to the city to bring the remaining payment and call a truck to transport them away.”
“If the girl trusts this old man, of course.”
Don’t use someone you suspect or suspect someone you use; for a one-off business deal, what was there to distrust?
The space was her greatest trump card; as long as personal safety was assured, she could afford to lose some money.
Opening the bag slung over her shoulder, Su Ning took out a stack of crisp big black tens, “Also need to trouble you to write a receipt and stamp it.”
“That’s natural.”
Hmm, handles matters prudently, proper procedure.
Even more satisfied with her at heart, Li Dazhu smilingly agreed, “Let’s go, then we’ll head to the brigade office first!”
……
Got the receipt, and conveniently borrowed the brigade’s telephone to call Xu Zixin and Grandpa Fu respectively.
Temporarily parting from Li Dazhu, from the bumpy ox cart to the swaying city bus, Su Ning, hurrying against time, rubbed her throbbing temples, exhaustion all over her brow.
Only after suppressing the churning acid in her stomach did she arrive at the state-run restaurant on wobbly legs.
Glancing at today’s offerings at the order pickup window: steamed buns with meat filling, three-delicacy noodle soup, boiled pork slices, stewed cabbage and tofu.
“Thirty steamed buns with meat filling to go, and one three-delicacy noodle soup.”
“Seven yuan eighty fen plus one jin two liang of ration coupons.”
The server took the money and ration coupons, nimbly packing the steamed buns with meat filling while curiously eyeing her repeatedly: whose girl is this, dressed so stylishly and prettily yet going to play in the mud?
Heh, really wasted that skirt, those leather shoes!
Pretending not to see her strange look, Su Ning calmly sat waiting for the noodles.
Glancing at her watch, half an hour until meeting the person arranged with Grandpa Fu; eating quickly should make it just in time?
“Classmate, hello!”
Two shy-smiling big boys, shoving each other, came before Su Ning; the taller one of the two, face red, spoke up, “Mind sharing a table?”
“Sorry, I do mind.”
There were still several empty tables in the hall, and she wasn’t used to eating at the same table with strangers, so she refused straightforwardly.
Hearing her noodle soup number called, Su Ning stood, nodded to the two, ignored their awkward near-escape state, and went straight to pick up the food.
“I told you, right? Don’t let Su Xuejie look all polite to everyone—she’s actually hard to approach!”
“You and your hindsight? Who was it just now who eagerly agreed?”
“Well, trying doesn’t cost a piece of meat…”
Pretty, good personality, and excellent family background—such a pity…
The two exchanged a glance, both a bit chagrined.
……
After downing a big bowl of noodle soup, Su Ning let out a satisfied sigh like a well-fed house cat.
Hands carrying the two big bags of packed steamed buns with meat filling out of the restaurant, once at an empty spot, she quickly stored them in the space, then continued on empty-handed—extremely easy.
The meeting place wasn’t too far; who knew that when she arrived on time at the side of the road out of the city, a truck was already parked there who knows how long.
“Master Lu?”
“Miss Su?”
“Yes, sorry, made you wait so long.”
“No.”
Lu Fei habitually kept a straight face, looking serious.
Only then remembering this was Old SZ’s precious granddaughter he was repeatedly instructed to take good care of, it was already too late to soften his expression.
Awkwardly twitching the corner of his mouth, Lu Fei lightly escorted her onto the passenger seat, subconsciously slamming the door shut hard.
The loud bang startled Su Ning’s little frame into a shudder; meeting those regretful eyes and the awkwardly turning figure, “Pfft~”
“Heh heh, heh, force of habit!”
“Uncle Lu, Grandpa Fu told you about me, right?”
The inexplicable awkward atmosphere between the two dissipated with the laughter, and they got along naturally and harmoniously all the way with mutual goodwill.
……
Before dark, the truck finally arrived at the Second Production Brigade.
The person squatting by the roadside heard the truck engine stop and immediately stood up fully, craning his neck around.
Seeing the familiar figure get off the truck, Li Dazhu, whose heart had been hanging, also broke into a rare grin.
“Uncle Zhu, is it her?”
“Whoa, this big guy looks really impressive!”
Li Dazhu raised his hand, and the bustling crowd instantly quieted.
Walking forward a few steps, he handed her the notebook in his other hand, “Girl, check the list first then match the goods; if no problem, I’ll have them help load it onto the truck.”
