Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 378 It’s great that Lao Hu let my son invest in it

In the east room, the yellow light bulb was bright, the teapot was refilled with water, Xu Ning and Li Fuqiang were sitting on the edge of the kang, Old Hu sat cross-legged opposite them, and Hu Zhibin sat next to Li Fuqiang.

Liu Shu'e went to the west room to help the children with their homework. She had a high level of education, even a high school diploma, and was capable of teaching the children.

After Xu Ning finished talking about the purpose of his visit, Lao Hu looked across him and asked Li Fuqiang with a smile: "How is Qiangzi doing in the transport team? Is the work tiring?"

Li Fuqiang said: "It's not tiring. I only have two trips a day, and I don't have to do any loading or unloading. It's quite easy."

Old Hu nodded and said, "That's great. Er Ning, have you thought about finding a job?"

Xu Ning said with a smile: "Uncle, I don't like to be bound by rules. I feel uncomfortable working for others. I'd rather run around the mountains and hunt animals and be free."

Lao Hu said: "Then you have to find a job. I heard from your brother Bin that we are going to open a few new venues in Qing'an..."

Hu Zhibin handed Li Fuqiang a cigarette, lit it with a match, and said, "Yes, the city has already passed the meeting on this matter, and we just went to the county to handle the formalities. I don't know where in Qing'an it will be opened, but it will definitely be opened."

Xu Ning's heart moved when he heard this. It turned out that there were people in the city who could help him get things done. If Yang Yusheng was not Li Fuqiang's third uncle, then Xu Ning would definitely not know about this, and it would be even more impossible for him to take such a good thing for himself, because many people were watching!
When he turned to look at Hu Zhibin, he met Li Fuqiang's gaze without saying anything.

All I heard was Lao Hu saying, "Erning, even though we are just starting out, if you call me uncle, I can't hide anything from you.

Your brother Bin has arranged everything in the county. Once the procedures for the Lengchang are completed, our family will rent a Lengchang. Why are you thinking about renting a Lengchang? Isn't it that Zhiyong is injured, and I don't want him to run around the mountains and hunt animals. It's just right to rent a Lengchang to find him a job, and then let Li Ye accompany him...

But there is one thing, Zhiyong is not cut out for business, I am afraid he won't understand, you are here today, Qiangzi is still working in the transport team, he should know everything about the Lengchang, I am thinking of letting you partner with Zhiyong, we can write a contract and share the shares."

Old Hu tilted his head and smiled, "Erning, why don't you consider this? You can earn some money by doing this, and it won't interfere with your usual hiking."

He didn't make something clear, and Hu Zhibin also kept silent about it, that is, why did he buy bear paws for the leader? It was definitely not a gift, but more like a thank you...

The reason is that Hu Zhibin was transferred to the city through various complicated relationships. Before leaving, he thanked the leaders. What would happen to his family when he settled down in the city? Liu Shu'e and the children would definitely have to go to the city, and someone would take over her work in the village, but who would take care of Hu at home?

The answer is Hu Zhiyong and his wife. Although he is not Hu's biological son, he grew up with Old Hu and was raised as his son despite being his nephew. So after Hu Zhibin left, the job of taking care of Old Hu fell on Hu Zhiyong, and finding a job for him was also to help him earn more money.

Old Hu was staring at Xu Ning. In his opinion, he had made his words so clearly that anyone with a brain would surely thank him with a smile. After all, Old Hu was giving him money. You know how many people tried to bribe him but just couldn't find a way.

Xu Ning took a sip of tea without smiling. He looked up and said solemnly, "Master, I have to thank you for this. You thought of me when you had good news."

"Hey, why are you saying those useless things? You found Zhiyong, I owe you a huge favor..."

Xu Ning shook his head: "Uncle, listen to me first, my family is also studying the matter of Baolengchang."

"Ah..." Lao Hu and Hu Zhibin were stunned.

Li Fuqiang smoked in silence. He said three sentences as soon as he entered the door. Two of them were greetings and the remaining one was a reply to Lao Hu.

"If Brother Yong is working, I will definitely lend a hand if there is anything I can do, without hesitation. As for the investment... Uncle, if you want me to invest, I will do it. There is no reason not to make money."

"Hahaha...Okay! I really didn't expect you to have already started researching. I thought you didn't know."

Da Laba and Lao Jiang were unaware that the Xu family was going to take over the venue. Only Li Fuqiang, Wang Erli, Liu Daming and others knew about it, but they kept their mouths shut and did not reveal it to anyone.

Hu Zhibin pinched his cigarette and said, "Erning, what did you know the other day?"

"Not long after the Chinese New Year."

Old Hu slapped his thigh and said, "Oh! Look at my memory. I forgot that your family is related to Director Guo and that your brother also drives a car in the city."

Hu Zhibin said: "Not at all! I didn't expect this."

Xu Ning waved his hand and said with a smile: "Master, should I still invest?"

"Go ahead! When the time comes, you can invest less money and we can sign a contract to split the shares. How about that?"

"Okay, then it's settled."

After sitting in the house and chatting for a while, Xu Ning put down his teacup and stood up to leave. Lao Hu spread his legs and tried to get down to put on his shoes, but he felt numbness in his left leg.

"Ouch, why are my legs still numb?"

Xu Ning smiled and said, "Uncle, please don't send me off. Please sit down in the room."

Hu Zhibin stood up and followed Li Fuqiang, "I'll take you two off, Dad, you go back to the room."

"Okay then, Er Ning Qiangzi, come over when you two have time."

"OK."

"it is good."

Liu Shu'e lifted the curtain of the west room and stepped into the outer room with a smile. She bumped into Xu Ning. Hu Zhibin waved his hand and said, "I'll see Er Ning off. You can let the child wash his feet."

"Okay, Er Ning Qiangzi, I won't see you off."

"Don't send me off, sister-in-law."

When they reached the courtyard, Hu Zhibin smiled and said, "Erning, to be honest, I should go to the city in the second half of the year."

Xu Ning turned around and slowed down his pace, opened his eyes wide and asked in surprise: "Promotion?"

"Upgrade half a level... Let me tell you the truth. Your uncle is very cautious in doing things. Don't take it seriously. I originally wanted to tell you straight out."

Xu Ning blinked and pretended not to understand, "What are you talking about?"

"Haha, don't you know what I'm talking about? Since you knew earlier than me that Qing'an was going to open a new venue, you must have someone in the city."

Xu Ning smiled and said, "Brother Bin, I do know someone in the city, but I can't talk to him very well. Otherwise, I would have worked in the forest farm a long time ago, right?"

"Yes, that's what I want to say. When I go to the city, ask your brother to keep in touch with me. Your brother didn't come back last time, otherwise we would have met."

"Okay, when my brother comes back, I'll bring him over to help him get familiar with the place."

"Okay!" Hu Zhibin nodded with a smile.

Xu Ning and Li Fuqiang greeted him and headed west. When they reached the corner, Li Fuqiang suddenly smiled and said, "Brother, this old Hu is really good at chatting."

"Haha, of course. After all, I've been the secretary for so many years."

"Brother Bin is quite straightforward when chatting. I think Old Hu already knows that I know someone in the city."

Xu Ning said: "My brother suddenly went to the city to drive for the leader. Anyone with a discerning eye could see it. Uncle Hu belongs to the older generation. He is too cautious when chatting and doing things. He is afraid of saying something wrong and making a mistake. It's quite normal."

Let's put it this way, Lao Hu must have known that the Xu family knew someone in the city, but he was a little unsure, so he used the Lengchang to throw out a topic. If Xu Ning knew that Qing'an was going to open a new Lengchang, then this matter would be confirmed.

However, when Lao Hu talked about this kind of thing, he liked to beat around the bush and was very unspeakable. People with a poor brain would not be able to understand it at all. Even Xu Ning only reacted when he heard Lao Hu slapping his thigh in a pretentious manner and saying that he had forgotten that the Xu family and Guo Xingmin were relatives.

Old Hu's ultimate goal was to confirm whether Old Xu's family knew anyone in the city. In addition, he wanted Hu Zhibin to contact Xu Long more often. More friends means more opportunities. After all, they are all from Qing'an, and the two villages are not far from each other. They can take care of anything. He didn't have any extra ideas, and even if he did, he couldn't show them now, because that would make him look too eager for success. However, in Xu Ning's opinion, Hu Zhibin did have some shortcomings. He and Guo Xingmin were the same type of people. They had a strong desire to be officials, but it was unknown whether he could do something practical for the people.

Hu Zhibin also has his strengths. He is very honest with his friends, unwilling to lie, and always speaks his mind.

"Hey, brother, why don't you let Brother Bin help look for the four-wheeler on the street first?"

Xu Ning said: "I wanted to tell him just now, but this matter has to wait. It will be too much to say it now. He is talking about feelings with us and even giving us money. It would be too much to make any more demands."

"That's right. Next time when Dalong comes back, you can mention it again."

"kindness."

When Lao Hu said he wanted to book the entire venue, he could definitely do it. Asking Xu Ning to pay some money to get a share was also a way of giving him money. It was also a favor. Why did Xu Ning agree without hesitation? The reason was that since others gave him face, he had to accept it, otherwise how would he be able to move around in the future.

There were some things Xu Ning did not tell Li Fuqiang. There was a special reason why he helped Hu Zhibin so much. He knew that Hu Zhibin would reach a certain height in the future. As for what practical things Hu Zhibin had done, he didn't know.

"Brother, I think Brother Bin will be transferred to the city, so there must be someone there."

"That's for sure, otherwise how can we transfer them at will?"

When they returned home, it was exactly eight o'clock. Liu Daming and Wu Qiuxia were about to walk to the gate of the courtyard. Xu Ning said hello, and Yang Shuhua, seeing Li Fuqiang coming back, also called the two children to go out, so Li Fuqiang went home without going in.

After entering the house, Xu Ning sat on the edge of the kang and chatted with Xu Laonian about family matters. Although these two usually seem to be at odds with each other, they are still father and son at critical moments.

After hearing what Lao Hu and Hu Zhibin meant, Xu Laonian frowned while holding a cigarette in his mouth: "Lao Hu wants Hu Zhibin to meet your third uncle through your brother, right?"

Xu Ning smiled and said, "Dad, you are still very clear-sighted."

"Stop talking nonsense. He said he wanted to renovate the place and asked you to buy shares. Did you agree?"

"I agree. I'll invest a thousand or eight hundred dollars less. I can get as many shares as you want. Even if it's 5%, I can get my money back in a year."

Xu Laonian said: "There is nothing wrong with Lao Hu's character. I have never heard anyone say a bad word about him, but the most taboo thing in doing business together is money."

Xu Ning didn't think so. He said, "What's the taboo about this? I won't be involved in the daily management of the business and the accounts. I just want to be a shareholder and get dividends at the end of the year. If there's something going on in the business and Hu Zhiyong can't figure it out, I'll help him out."

Basically there is nothing major going on in the workshop. It mainly involves management and organization, as well as conflicts between workers, which are all relatively minor matters.

Xu Laonian narrowed his eyes and said, "Just keep in mind that Lao Hu can't give you less shares. What does your uncle Guo do?"

Xu Ning smiled and said, "Dad, I'm glad you thought of this..."

"Get lost! Give me five bucks later."

"Why?" Xu Ning was stunned.

"Is it not a favor for me to make you a lead bullet mold? You have to buy your uncle Qiu two packs of good cigarettes. Hurry and bring them here."

Xu Ning covered his forehead and said, "Why is it so difficult to ask you to do something?"

"Hey, I don't have any money. I asked your mom for it, but she didn't give me any. She even gave me two sticks."

"Who told you to buy an air rifle without my permission? My mom will know you bought it yourself at a glance, so she will definitely cut off your pocket money."

"Stop wasting time and give me five dollars."

Xu Ning took out some loose bills from his pocket and handed them over, saying with a smile, "How about my old son?"

"it is good!"

Xu Laonian stretched out his hand to grab it, but Xu Ning quickly took it back. He asked, "Who is good?"

"Hello, my old son!"

"Hahaha, I wasn't listening. Speak louder."

"Get lost, if you don't want to give me a chance, forget it!"

Xu Laonian gnashed his teeth and stared at him with squinted eyes. Seeing that his goal was achieved, Xu Ning handed over the money. Xu Laonian quickly put the money in his pocket because he heard some noise in the outer room.

Liu Lizhen lifted the door curtain and entered the house. "Hey, I heard you making noises outside. What's wrong with my son? I gave you money, didn't I?"

Xu Ning grinned: "Look how well my mother knows you."

Xu Laonian lowered his head without saying a word. He turned around and crawled into the kang, pulled open the kang piano cabinet and covered himself with the quilt.

"Hahaha……"

"You should also go back to your room and go to bed."

"Feng lives with my sister-in-law?"

"Well, since she won't come back no matter how hard you try, it's fine for her to sleep with her sister-in-law. The two of them can still keep each other company."

"..."

After two days of running in the mountains, the dog gang's performance became increasingly sluggish. Why? Now the wild grass has sprouted, and the wild animals in the mountains have revived. For example, the black bear has just come out of the warehouse and needs to find food. It digs tree holes and digs in the ground, basically eating whatever it sees, so the wild boars, deer and roe deer have all run away.

They only hunted three wild boars in the past two days, but the traps they set in Nanshan and the old forest caught many pheasants, catfishes, and even two greyhounds.

This greyhound is a good thing, and its meat is edible. There is a dish called stir-fried squirrel, the texture of which is similar to that of a rooster, but with a nutty flavor of walnuts and pine nuts.

Xu Ning didn't catch any greyhounds during the whole winter, but unexpectedly he caught two in the spring. That night, everyone tasted the greyhounds and found them delicious. However, there was not enough meat, not even enough for everyone to fill their stomachs.

There were three wild boars. Xu Ning kept one and asked Lao Jiang to sell the remaining two. All the profits were shared among the three of them.

That night, Xu Laonian returned home and took out two palm-sized rectangular copper blocks from his pocket. There were four rows of holes on the surface of the copper blocks. When closed, there were lead filling holes and ventilation holes.

This thing is the mold for making lead bullets. Because the hole is convex, it is very difficult to make. Master Qiu grinds the drill bit into a concave shape to make a convex hole, and it is also necessary to make a clip to put two copper plates together, otherwise it cannot be fixed.

After dinner, Xu Ning took Wang Hu, Wang Biao and others to boil lead water and fill lead bullets...

The next day, Wang Biao and others went to school, while Xu Ning and Wang Hu were still loading lead bullets at home. He wanted to take the air gun to Dongshan and shoot greyhounds for fun when he was free, and he could also earn some money.

In the afternoon, Wang Hu checked the lead bullets that had been loaded. There were almost a thousand of them. He put them in a small cloth bag, which was quite heavy to carry.

Liu Lizhen and Han Fengjiao found quilts and mattresses for the two of them. Xu Ning found three tarpaulins from the lower rooms of the two houses. The tarpaulins were waterproof. It must be very humid to live in the shacks in the mountains at this time. The waterproof tarpaulins could keep out rain and fog and keep warm.

Xu Ning went to the store and bought a lot of things, such as wine, caozi cakes, and various seasonings. Liu Lizhen also gave him two bags of rice and flour, three pounds of soybean oil, and a can of bear oil.

(End of this chapter)