Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 572 Chapter 571 Golden Leek

Excluding the stockpiled supplies, Tang Zhitong now has about 4000 yuan in cash, the bulk of which was from the money he earned from selling Spanish mackerel to the forest farm. The rest came from "friendly" gifts from the Koreans, as well as from his mother-in-law, classmate Xiao Wang, and Lu Jian when he went to Dandong.

In addition to the two big yellow croakers that he got from the Koreans for free, and the six small yellow croakers that he "friendly" helped to keep when the Koreans went "swimming" in the river, there was a total of 812.5 grams of gold. According to the current price, this batch of gold is worth 3380 yuan.

The two items added up to more than seven thousand. Tang Zhitong felt that it was enough for his family's current use, because they could not be short of money now, but the money was indeed not very useful.

On the surface, Tang Zhitong earns 80 yuan a month and Xiao Wang earns 55 yuan a month. After deducting miscellaneous expenses, the couple can get nearly 130 yuan a month.

This salary income is definitely not the highest in the city, but in the flower market, it is definitely one of the best.

Therefore, when many neighbors learned that the Tang family had bought two new bicycles and a sewing machine, they said a few sour words with red eyes, but they did not think that the couple had gained anything greedily.

Tang Zhitong thought that he was quite sensible and spent most of his time with legitimate income.

Now I live in a house with its own entrance and yard, my food is guaranteed, I have work clothes, and all my daily necessities are prepared in advance.

Tang Zhitong felt that he and his classmate Xiao Wang were both cadres with regular jobs and their incomes were traceable, so there was no need to create unnecessary trouble and lose the big picture for the small.

It is for this reason that Tang Zhitong plans to stop temporarily.

But no matter what Tang Zhitong planned, Tong Wang knew that with the blessing of seafood, the family had a very comfortable life recently, as if they had returned to the period before liberation.

From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality.

Having been used to a life of luxury, neither Tong Wang nor Tong Xiangsong wanted to eat coarse food anymore.

"Good brother, I know you are a man with supernatural powers. These two are not for you, but for you to manage." Tong Wang naturally knew what happened in the vegetable store yesterday. There was a long queue. His step-wife wanted to buy vegetables, but she waited in line for a long time and didn't buy anything, so she was fooled and went home.

“Second Master, if the vegetable supply is insufficient, we have to supplement it with fish.

Our transportation capacity is limited. If we give more to the people of this city, we will be left with a lot less and won't be able to deliver the goods at all.

It’s really not about the money.”

Tang Zhitong still shook his head. Tong Wang said he wanted to make arrangements, but Tang Zhitong didn't believe a word of it. This was just a simple transaction.

Besides, I don't need anyone to help me. I just said it myself.

"Don't worry, don't worry." Tong Wang judged Tang Zhitong's words based on his own experience. It was either about money or there was not enough money.

So he put the two small yellow croakers on the bed of the tricycle, turned around and closed both doors, then walked back, faced the direction of the stove, bent down, and used a fire hook to fiddle with the air inlet under the stove.

After a while, Tong Wang hooked out another big yellow croaker.

Tong Wang touched it tentatively with his hand, and after confirming that it was not hot, he picked it up and knocked it twice on the car board to knock off the ash on it. When it touched the small yellow croaker, it made the unique crisp sound of a gold bar.

After cleaning it up, Tong Wang handed it forward and said, "Little brother, keep it."

"Second Master, you don't have to do this. I heard that food coupons are sold in Dongdan Park, one yuan for a pound. A small fish can feed your family for a month." Tang Zhitong was a little envious, but still didn't want to continue working. It was winter vacation, and he might have to go on a business trip in a while. How could he have the time to deliver fish in such a cold weather?

"Hey, I have bought it. But the food coupons are inconvenient to use. Every household has a quota, and I go to buy food with the food coupons. If I have an extra three or five kilograms, the food store will turn a blind eye, but if I have too much more, they won't buy it at all." Tong Wang saw that Tang Zhitong didn't want to buy it, so he didn't rush. He put down the big yellow croaker first, swished his hands, and took out a box of cigarettes from the sleeves of his gown.

"Second Master, if you can't buy it from the grain store, you can always buy it from those breakfast stalls, steamed bun shops, sesame cake shops, and small joint-venture restaurants, right? Buying ready-made ones saves you the effort, and you don't lack that little money for food. Don't you think so?" Tang Zhitong glanced at the goldfish on the tricycle and continued to persuade.

Tong Wang just smiled and did not answer Tang Zhitong immediately. Instead, he unsealed the Peony cigarette and handed it to Tang Zhitong: "Come on, good brother, have a cigarette first."

Since entering this yard, Tang Zhitong has never pulled the scarf off his nose.

Now the gate to the yard was closed. Tang Zhitong scanned the area with his phone and didn't see anyone else. He then took off his scarf and smoked a cigarette.

Tang Zhitong thought that Tong Wang was his client after all and also an old man, so he should show some respect for the elderly and love for the young. So he took out a match from his pocket and lit it for Tong Wang first, and then for himself.

"Oh, when I heard you say that, I knew you had never eaten out." Tong Wang took a puff, exhaled the smoke, sighed and said.

“Although the places you mentioned can use food coupons now, there are many people lining up, and there are purchase limits.

I can't have my whole family queue up together just for a bite of food, right? That would be embarrassing!

Even if I sacrifice my reputation, I may not be able to get a place in the queue. Getting up early and freezing all night?
Even if my old bones can bear it, my granddaughter can't!

The canteens of some units can open meals on time and there is no need to queue, but we can’t get in!
Besides, can that be called a meal? The steamed bread and rice can even be squeezed to make water!
To be honest, even when the Japanese were here, I never suffered this much!"

Speaking of this, Tong Wang started to complain more, and his words were full of dissatisfaction.

"Second Master, Mencius said, 'When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a man, it will first test his mind and will, toil his muscles and bones, starve his body, and deprive him of all poverty.' You see, maybe this is God testing you. You can get through it by gritting your teeth. At least you're better than other people, right?" Tang Zhitong understood, but he couldn't empathize with Tong Wang. Now his family doesn't even dare to eat fish and shrimps!
"Are you kidding me? I'm already buried in the earth up to my neck, and I still have the luxury of taking on such a big responsibility." Tong Wang was somewhat dissatisfied and rolled his eyes at Tang Zhitong.

"Hehe, who can predict what will happen in the future?" Tang Zhitong glanced at the goldfish on the tricycle again, talking nonsense, but he was thinking in his heart that there was no point in making small moves. If Old Tong's side was like a forest farm, a one-time deal, it's not impossible to consider.

With the goldfish in front of him, Tang Zhitong's thoughts began to waver unconsciously, even he didn't notice it.

“Hey, even though what I said may not be accurate, I can see it clearly.

What was the situation like ten years ago? What was the situation like in 56? What is the situation like now?
It's like cutting meat with a blunt knife. I don't even dare to imagine what kind of life I'll be able to lead in the future.

Now, I can enjoy life day by day." Tong Wang seemed to be complaining, but he was actually telling Tang Zhitong that he had plenty of money. "Hehe, Second Master is very insightful." Tang Zhitong took another look at the yellow croaker on the tricycle.

Tang Zhitong knew all about the time points that Tong Wang mentioned. It was nothing more than preferential treatment for capitalists at the beginning, then joint ventures, and now they have money but no power.

Strictly speaking, many things are not directed at capitalists, but at the will of capital.

Capital has no entity, but it will seek rent. In a few decades, many people will rush to represent it for their own or their family’s benefit…

“Thank you for the compliment, I accept it with a smile.

Just now you talked about what buying food coupons could do, and I knew that you hadn't eaten out in a restaurant for a while.

I'll be frank with you. If you don't go, there are only two possibilities. Either you have enough food at home, or you buy food coupons and eat in the canteen.

Am I right?

Don’t look at it anymore, just take these.”

After Tang Zhitong glanced at the goldfish on the tricycle for the third time, Tong Wang smiled cunningly and felt that the time was almost right. He then pointed at the yellow croaker next to him, like a weasel that had stolen a hen.

"You just want to say that I can still get the goods?" Tang Zhitong was speechless and touched his nose. He thought it was his own inconsiderateness and failure to control his eyes.

"To be honest, I have no shortage of money. I smoke Mudan not because of my financial constraints, but because I can't buy anything better." Tong Wang flicked the ash off his cigarette, as if asking Tang Zhitong to name a price quickly.

Tang Zhitong believed what Tong Wang said.

Although it is the coldest time of the year, Tong Wang is wearing a gorgeous gown today. I don't know if it is made of silk or satin, but it is definitely not cotton. It looks like it was custom-made for winter because it is bulging with other clothes inside.

Tong Wang saw Tang Zhitong's eyes glued to his clothes. He took a last puff of his cigarette, flicked the butt onto the ground, and rolled up his sleeves to reveal the fur underneath. "The coat is cheap, see? It's made of otter skin. Three large yellow croakers can barely buy one."

Tang Zhitong felt mixed emotions when he saw Tong Wang showing off his wealth. It felt like he had worked so hard for a year, but he still couldn't earn enough to buy two coats? Who could he complain to?
"I rely on it when I go out in winter. Good brother, do you want to buy one too? Consider it a gift from me." Tong Wang rolled up his sleeves and picked up three yellow croakers, one big and two small, and stuffed them into Tang Zhitong's hands.

"Don't worry, Second Master. Let's talk it over nicely. You tell me a quantity and I'll see if I can get it for something." Although Tang Zhitong was envious, he was still sober and was not dazzled by this thing.

It's the same as fishing, the bait tastes good but is hard to swallow.

Tang Zhitong never thought that this group of people were easy to deal with. If he really pissed them off, he would inevitably get into trouble.

Seeing Tang Zhitong's relenting attitude, Tong Wang smiled and said, "After the New Year or before the Lunar New Year, let's get another 400 kilograms. Before the 69th day of the lunar calendar, the weather will be warmer and we won't be able to keep it."

"Four hundred kilograms? Can you finish it?" There was plenty of time and enough goods, but Tang Zhitong managed his expression, showing a look of surprise and embarrassment to avoid being discovered by Lao Tong.

"Oh my~ I wish I could sleep with the Spanish mackerel in my arms. Spanish mackerel tastes good when fried, pickled, grilled, or even stewed. I pickled and smoked the extra part and saved it to eat slowly." When talking about food, Tong Wang was no longer sleepy and became energetic.

"Okay. It's just that the weight is a bit too much, it's hard to handle." Tang Zhitong didn't really care about how Tong Wang ate. Two yellow croakers, one large and one small, cost 1560 yuan, 400 jin, or yuan per jin. After arguing for a long time, he used this to test the cadres? Who are you looking down on?
"Then how much can you give?" Four yuan per pound, which is not cheap. Tong Wang wanted to see Tang Zhitong's offer.

"Well, I'll help you get 200 kilograms from others. There won't be any more if you want more." Tang Zhitong frowned, pondered for a while, gritted his teeth, and looked quite embarrassed.

"It's a bit too little." Tong Wang picked up the big and small yellow croakers and weighed them in his hands. It was true that he was rich, but he didn't want to be slaughtered like a fat pig. There were 200 kilograms of fish, and one kilogram of fish cost eight yuan.

"Second Master, since winter has come, everything is in short supply, and the price of seafood has risen sharply. I'm helping you get the goods from others, and it will cost at least five yuan per catty. But you don't need to divide these two hundred catties into batches, I'll give them all at once.

We are old friends. I can’t eat so many of you, one big and two small.

Give me a big one, I can't let you suffer a loss, right?

I'll find a way to get you a whole pig's head and a full set of equipment.

If you think it's okay, I'll contact you when I go out today.

If you think it's not worth it, then I thank you. In the middle of winter, I don't want to rush around for a few small things."

Tang Zhitong drew the lines, and the price he asked for was indeed a bit high, but Tong Wangdu had lost so much wealth, and it would be unfair to others if the sickle for cutting leeks was blunt. Only if the knife was sharp would the leeks not hurt.

If Tong Wang refuses, that's fine. After all, it's not the best time to ship yet. In another ten months, the price I just asked for will have to double! It's a seller's market, you have the final say!

As for the pig head, Tang Zhitong had this idea completely on impulse. The pig head has fat on it and the pig intestines are full of fat, which is a rare source of fat in the second half of the year.

It doesn’t matter if Tong Wang disagrees. Just leave it as a button. When he’s hungry and suffering in the second half of the year, he will naturally come to find me, but by then the sickle will only be faster!

"I, Tong, have never taken back the yellow croaker I handed out." The moment he heard about the pig's head, Tong Wang went all in and stuffed three goldfish into Tang Zhitong's hands, and made two requests: "Now that you mention it, I'm really greedy. It has to be a pig's head, with two and a half fingers of fat from the back trough. My granddaughter loves to eat shrimp, 200 kilograms of it, half fish and half shrimp, and no abalone this time."

"Second Master is straightforward! I can tell you love your granddaughter. Don't worry, I will definitely do everything for you! Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow... the day after tomorrow is Little New Year. I will try to throw it in the yard for you in the afternoon of Little New Year so that you can have a good new year." Tang Zhitong did not refuse this time. He weighed the goldfish and gave a timetable.

"Brother, please be generous! Can you get some food?" Tong Wang asked tentatively, just as if he was trying to catch rabbits by sniping at straws. He had no channels to get food, and if he had some connections, he would even be willing to treat all of this as the cost of handling the matter.

"No, if I had, I wouldn't deal in fish. That thing is so simple, one-time delivery, no need to consider the season." Tang Zhitong shook his head decisively. He had food in his own space, but he would definitely not sell it to people like Tong Wang.

The food can be stored and the unit price is not high. I can sell 500 kilograms at one time. Then who should I sell the fish, shrimps and meat in my own space to?
As for leeks, especially golden leeks, they need to be cut in a corresponding way so that they can grow long and steadily.

Although they are both making money by cutting leeks, Tang Zhitong feels that he is much more conscientious than the stock market. After all, he and Tong Wang are willing to do so and each gets what they need.

(End of this chapter)