Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

Fishermen from all over the island were very excited that the kelp and seaweed that no one wanted could be exported to the capital. Even some fishermen were willing to try even if they were unsure. Under such circumstances, Su Yuanhang's father still thought that one truckload of goods was too big and did not dare to strongly object. But he could not help but pour cold water on the idea.

Su Yuanhang was worried that something might happen if he was late, so he asked the captain to go with him to find a transport team and get the goods out as soon as possible.

There used to be a transport team, but later the vehicles were assigned to various factories and the transport team was abolished. The team leader was discouraged: "What should we do?"

The biggest setback Su Yuanhang encountered in his life was the suspension of the college entrance examination. At that time, everyone was the same, so it was not a setback for him. He excitedly went ashore, but the transport team was covered with knee-high weeds. Su Yuanhang was discouraged, but suddenly he cheered up: "Let's go to the cannery."

"A cannery?"

Su Yuanhang: "I am the director of the food factory, and I am a brother unit of the canning factory. When the mountain is full of oranges and yellow peaches, we will inevitably have to deal with the canning factory. If we open up sales channels, they can also benefit from it. We only have canned yellow peaches and oranges, but they may not."

The leader of the Lotus Brigade suddenly woke up: "No wonder Accountant Ye wants to open a food factory. Let's go to the cannery now."

When Su Yuanhang saw the factory manager, he told him that he rented a truck to transport goods, but there were only oranges and yellow peaches on the island, so he would not compete with the cannery for business. If their oranges and yellow peaches had a chance to be sold directly to the capital, the share of canned goods would be given to the cannery.

The factory's performance has improved and the factory director has a chance to be promoted. He said that the first time he did this he would just help a fellow unit.

The captain returned to Hengshan Island and still couldn't believe it: "We can use it for free?"

Su Yuanhang nodded: "Once."

"Even once is fine. Didn't the city say that it wouldn't cause any trouble to add an extra train car, and we can use it until the end of the year, and then talk about the rental fee next year? Isn't this a business with no capital investment?"

Su Yuanhang: "The round trip for three people, including transportation, food, and accommodation, will cost at least fifty yuan."

"You're the factory director. You're on a business trip, so the guesthouse must be cheaper." The captain patted him on the shoulder. "I didn't expect that a food factory with 13 men and women would be so useful."

The transportation was agreed upon, and Ye Fan was in charge of the sales route. Su Yuanhang plunged into the various brigades, so much so that the day after Geng Zhiqin received Ye Fan's letter, Su Yuanhang had already counted the goods that were squeezed across the island.

Su Yuanhang went to Su Duofu's house and asked Su Duofu to help him calculate how many cartons and wooden boxes he would need. Su Duofu asked Su Yuanhang to ask Ye Fan for money and go to the paper mill to order wrapping paper and cartons with the words "Hengshan Food Factory" on them.

When Ye Fan heard that there was no need for transportation fees for the time being, he gave Su Yuanhang two hundred yuan.

When Su Yuanhang got the money and went to Su Duofu's house, he had already calculated it. Cardboard boxes are expensive, but wooden boxes can be reused. Su Duofu used wooden boxes as much as possible, and in the end, the packaging only cost a dozen yuan.

Su Yuanhang came back from the city and went to see Ye Fan again, and gave her a hundred yuan. Ye Fan sighed, "Su Duofu has been on the island for too long and his brain is not working well. Where to put a truckload of goods without boxes? Did he say that the boxes cannot be left to the supply and marketing cooperative, otherwise new ones will have to be made?"

Su Yuanhang nodded: "That's what Brother Duofu said."

Ye Fan rubbed his forehead and said, "Don't they pack the goods for you when you get them from the Capital Food Factory? If they pack them in boxes, where will we put our wooden boxes when we get back?"

"This—but I have asked the carpenter to do it."

Ye Fan: "Put it in the warehouse to store things. Go to the paper mill again tomorrow. Don't leave yet, help me post a letter. I'll ask the director of the supply and marketing cooperative to ask the cake and mooncake bakery if they can give us a few boxes."

Su Yuanhang said quickly: "I forgot to go to the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative to ask them what they need."

"Don't worry. When the weather gets cooler, the bread and pastries can be kept for ten days or half a month. If you don't want to go to Ningbo, go to Hangzhou." After Ye Fan finished speaking, he went to write a letter.

It was easy for the director of Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative to ask Ye Fan for a few boxes of goods. He only needed a word. This was also a good opportunity to expand his network. On Sunday, the director rode his bike to various food and daily necessities factories and wrote to Ye Fan to tell him what he thought the fishermen might need.

On the day Ye Fan received the director's expedited express letter, he was at the food factory watching four elderly women picking seafood and packing them into boxes. On the same day, Su Yuanhang also got the lists of goods they needed from several supply and marketing cooperatives in Hangzhou and Ningbo.

These supply and marketing cooperatives have thought about getting some new things from the capital to sell. But each company needs four or five boxes, and the profit is not enough to cover the travel expenses. Someone will run the trip for them, and they only need to wait at the station to pick them up. It is reasonable to give them a little "hardship fee".

Su Yuanhang was very excited about finalizing the deal, and told Ye Fan that he had calculated how much money the supply and marketing cooperative could make.

Ye Fan didn't want to pour cold water on him. The supply and marketing cooperative seemed to want a lot of things, but in fact, they didn't make money. For example, among the goods that the Ningbo supply and marketing cooperative wanted, there was a box of soap. A box had 200 yuan, which was not a small amount, but the soap he wanted was three cents a piece. He could only make one yuan per box at most. To make money, he had to buy big items. It was a pity that big items were restricted these days. But overall, he still made money.

Ye Fan waited until he calmed down before saying, "The supply and marketing cooperative has a three-wheeled vehicle. You can see it when you go there. Ask them to lend it to you for two days. You can help them fill up the gas tank. This way, you don't have to rent a car."

Su Yuanhang: "But I've never driven a three-wheeled vehicle."

Ye Fan smiled and said, "The director of the government's stuff wouldn't dare ask you, a stranger, to drive out. He would definitely ask my sister-in-law or someone else to go with you. He would even say that he was afraid that you were new here and didn't know the way."

Su Yuanhang thought, is it really that serious? He is a stranger who doesn't even know where the Great Hall is, and he can't escape from the city. But Ye Fan must know the director of the supply and marketing cooperative better than he does, so it's right to listen to her.

Su Yuanhang: "When will we ship?"

Ye Fan: "The capital is dry and cool, so we can go a few days earlier, but not too early. Nor too late. Do you have a calendar?"

There was no calendar in the food factory office, but there was one in the office of the director of the agricultural and sideline products market. Su Yuanhang went to get it immediately. Ye Fan flipped through two pages and decided: "The day after tomorrow, on the sixth day, we will load the truck and leave in the morning, and arrive at the supply and marketing cooperative on the seventh day in the afternoon."

Su Yuanhang: "Is it too late in such a hurry?"

"You, Su Duofu, and Su Yuncheng are all done, right? Come over tomorrow to pack the products, and they'll be on the ship the day after tomorrow morning. Dabao should be off from school. If he's late, he'll blame me for not keeping my word." Calendar waved to him and headed into the warehouse, "Erbao, it's time to get off work."

Since Dabao started school, Erbao can only play with Ye Fan. Mom is not around, Erbao misses her. Seeing her every day, Erbao is so annoyed. These two days, the temporary worker went to work. There were many fish and shrimps in the warehouse that she didn't recognize. Someone even chatted with her, so she was more active than Ye Fan at work. She stayed in the warehouse for half a day, and didn't mind the strong fishy smell.

Erbao imitated the temporary worker and rubbed his hands on his body a few times to wipe it clean: "Mom, hug me."

Ye Fan said disdainfully: "I really don't want to hug you. Where's your handkerchief?"

Erbao patted his trouser pocket: "It's here."

Ye Fan asked: "Why not?"

"It's dirty."

Ye Fan was speechless: "If you use a handkerchief, the handkerchief will get dirty. If you rub it on your clothes, won't the clothes get dirty? No wonder your father is worried that you will be cheated in the future. Little fool!"

Erbao shook his head to refuse the title: "Not a little fool."

Ye Fan looked at his watch and realized he had to go: "Okay, Erbao is really smart." He said to Su Yuanhang, "Let's go back soon. The mountain road is not easy to walk on."

Su Yuanhang nodded, and when she walked away, he went into the warehouse to help with packing.

There was a female worker from the brigade next to the Lotus Brigade. She could always see Su Yuanhang when she went to work in the fields digging bamboo shoots. She was the only one of the four who had spoken to him. The female comrade couldn't help asking, "The accountant said the goods will be shipped the day after tomorrow?"

Su Yuanhang nodded: "There must be a reason for this arrangement. Work hard these two days, and I will pay you when I return from the capital." Worried, he reminded again, "Don't tell anyone you ask that you will be paid on a daily basis. That's not how it works out there. We can't afford to pay on a monthly basis since we're just starting out, so we'll say that temporary workers get paid low, seven or eight yuan a month."

The four of them nodded repeatedly, fearing that if their factory went bankrupt, they would be left with nothing but their seven or eight dollars.

At six o'clock, Su Yuanhang locked the door and drove the hand tractor rented from the Lotus Brigade to take four people home from get off work.

The next morning, Ye Fan sent Dabao to school and carried Erbao to the food factory. There was still a quarter of the food left in the warehouse. Su Yuncheng grabbed a handful of seaweed that was not much bigger than a fingernail and said, "Accountant, do you want this too?"

Ye Fan nodded and put Erbao down.

Su Yuncheng looked disgusted and said, "I don't even eat my chicken."

Ye Fan laughed: "But this handful in your hand can make a bowl of soup. Add some dried shrimps and beat an egg, and it will be enough for a family of five to soak in rice. Wrap it carefully."

Erbao picked up a piece of paper with the words "Hengshan Food Factory" printed on it: "Give it to me, Erbao will pack it."

Ye Fan: "Give the paper to uncle, you help everyone get things."

Erbao shook his head: "I can!"

Ye Fan: "You can't wrap them as fast as they do, and they can't take things as fast as you. Erbao, do what you are good at."

Erbao gave the paper to Su Yuncheng, not quite understanding. Ye Fan pointed to a box not far away, and Erbao pulled the box to the female comrade closest to her. Seeing her blushing face, the female worker subconsciously praised her, but realized that she didn't understand after she said it. However, Erbao smiled sweetly and replied to her in the local dialect. Ye Fan didn't understand, and was stunned for a moment, and asked Su Yuncheng: "What did Erbao say?"

Su Yuncheng said without thinking, "Don't thank me." He was stunned after saying it, "Erbao, are you speaking in our local dialect?"

Ye Fan didn't know how to speak, and didn't understand, so he asked Su Yuncheng to say a few words to Erbao. Erbao really could, but only a few words. Ye Fan looked at his daughter who looked like a little bee, thoughtfully.
In the evening, when Geng Zhiye came home, Ye Fan was cooking seafood rice cake soup in the kitchen. She didn't need his help, so she asked Geng Zhiye to teach Erbao Russian. Geng Zhiye suspected that she was too busy: "Erbao is only two years old, Accountant Ye, you are forcing him to grow!" After saying that, she felt speechless again, "Russian is not English. Even tongue-twisting requires talent."

Ye Fan: "You try it first."

Geng Zhiye had nothing to do anyway, so he went to the living room and waved to his daughter: "Erbao, I heard you worked another day? Are you tired?"

Erbao nodded: "Dad, Erbao is so tired."

Geng Zhiye held her on his lap and asked: "I heard that you can speak the local dialect?"

Dabao was lying on the table doing his homework and didn't hear clearly: "What can Erbao do?"

Geng Zhiye: “Local dialect.”

Dabao couldn't believe it: "Erbao, who did you learn this from?"

Erbao is very busy now and has forgotten a little. She needs to think about it carefully: "Grandpa, auntie."

Geng Zhiye: "Your mother said that she hired four temporary workers, two elderly people, one man and one woman, and two lesbians in their thirties or forties. Erbao, are they them?"

Erbao nodded: "Does Dad know how to do it?"

Geng Zhiye shook his head: "Dad knows other things, do you want to learn?"

Erbao was very tired from work and didn't want to learn anything. He wanted to go downstairs. Geng Zhiye saw this and immediately said that her mother didn't know how to do it. Erbao immediately wanted to learn and then asked what to learn.

Dabao slapped the table and laughed. When he had laughed enough, he shouted towards the kitchen: "Ye Fanfan, did you hear that?"

Ye Fan put the kettle on the stove and came out with a pot of seafood rice cakes: "I heard it. Not only is mom not as good as Erbao, you are the same. Your dad has to teach Erbao Russian." After the voice fell, Geng Zhiye said that Erbao was like a little parrot, and learned a little bit, but Ye Fan, an outsider, knew that it was not standard. Even so, Geng Zhiye was very shocked and asked in an extremely uncertain tone: "Is Erbao talented in this area?"

Ye Fan nodded: "It seems so now." Considering that his daughter is two years old, "She may not like it in the future. Take the time to teach her a few words, so that you don't forget."

Dabao put away his homework book: "Mom, don't you know how to do it?"

When Ye Fan was in middle school, the country was at odds with Big Brother in the north. She learned English at school: "My mother never learned it."

Dabao: "But grandma, grandpa, uncle and aunt all know how to do it."

Geng Zhiye said: "Your mother's surname is Chen, and the Chen family doesn't have talent in this area."

Ye Fan smiled and nodded: "Yes. Because I don't even know Russian, and they have the nerve to ask me to go back to Shencheng? Dream on!"

Dabao felt that his mother had missed the point. When he saw the rice cakes and seafood handed to him by his mother, he didn't care! Dabao was hungry, so he had to eat first!

At night, after the two children fell asleep, Geng Zhiye said, "If I had known they were so talented, I would have found a way to return to the capital."

Ye Fan: "Are you worried that there is no one to teach them here? One is a little over two years old, and the other is less than five years old. Do you want to tire them out? It's not too late to start learning at the age of ten. The higher-ups don't dare to let you stay here forever."

Staying here for a lifetime is almost like occupying a mountain and becoming the king. Geng Zhiye heard the implication of her words, turned around with a smile and said, "I forgot. Are you tired today?"

Ye Fan held his hand and said, "We'll ship it out tomorrow morning."

Geng Zhiye suddenly lost all thoughts, "So fast?"

Ye Fan: "It sells well during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Geng Zhiye turned on the light and said, "Go to sleep."

After a dreamless night, Ye Fan woke up in a very good mood. Geng Zhiye went to buy vegetables and saw Su Yuanhang leading a group of people to move goods out. Some used carts, some drove hand tractors, and even the people who bought vegetables went to help. When Geng Zhiye got home, he asked Ye Fan to go and see. Ye Fan was shocked when he arrived at the entrance of the food factory: "Why are there so many people?"

Su Yuanhang ran over to explain: "Everyone says that they are idle anyway."

Ye Fan: "Do they know that they can get money for loading onto the truck?"

Su Yuanhang nodded: "I know. They are all helping voluntarily. Tell the temporary workers we hired to go home for dinner and save their energy for the ship to dock and unload."

Ye Fan took a look at the fishermen who were busy and sweaty but very excited, and decided to pay them as soon as Su Yuanhang came back: "Sleep and eat in the car. This is not a one-time deal."

Su Yuanhang nodded: "We know. Our family prepared a lot of food for us, and we can't finish it all when we get to the capital."

Ye Fan: "Keep the address and phone number I gave you."

Su Yuanhang was worried that he might have messed it up due to carelessness, so he copied two more copies, one for Su Yuncheng and one for Su Duofu. Just as Su Yuanhang was about to tell her, Su Yuncheng ran over and said, "Brother Yuanhang, it's done."

Ye Fan was surprised: "Have you finished moving?"

Su Yuncheng nodded: "We can sail now. Everyone is waiting impatiently." Ye Fan: "Then let's go to the dock."

Behind the agricultural and sideline products market is a small pier built by the fishermen themselves. Ye Fan saw several large fishing boats within a few minutes. Su Yuanhang explained: "I originally wanted to comfort everyone that even if it was not easy to sell, there would not be much loss if we pulled it back, because the transport trucks were free. Everyone said that we couldn't let outsiders outsell us, so they helped us transport it for free."

Ye Fan nodded: "In the future, we will have to pay as much as we should. If you talk about favors every day, your business will not last long. If you are embarrassed, wait until you get to the capital and listen, see and ask more. We will plant what they need."

Su Yuanhang thought of something: "Do you know why our brigade is called the Lotus Brigade?"

Ye Fan: "There is a low-lying area in the Lotus Brigade where rice can be grown, but it rained continuously during the Qingming Festival and the water level was too high to plant rice. The area is too large and it is difficult to drain. It would be a pity not to grow anything. Now there is a field of lotus roots over there."

Su Yuanhang was shocked: "You even know this?"

Ye Fanxin said, "You think my gas money is for free? You want to sell lotus roots? That's unrealistic. There are people growing lotus roots in the capital, and in the surrounding areas. In addition to keeping enough for your own consumption, you can switch to growing lotus seeds. Let those who are good at growing these think more about it. If you can grow better than others, you won't have trouble selling them."

Su Yuanhang wanted to say that no one was full, so who would have the heart to drink lotus seed porridge: "We can make lotus root powder."

Ye Fan: "You have a machine?"

Su Yuanhang shut up. He remembered something else: "There is a teacher in the next village, who seems to be from an agricultural college."

Ye Fan nodded: "Then let's give them a more comfortable environment and improve their food."

Su Yuanhang: "You don't seem surprised?"

Ye Fan: "I've heard and seen a lot in the past few years. Don't be too flattering. He has real skills and was sent to the island, so he shouldn't be a flatterer. When you ask him for advice, don't mention the food factory. Bring along the old man who has worked hard for half his life growing fruits and vegetables."

Su Yuncheng was carrying the luggage behind the two of them. Hearing this, he couldn't help but ask, "Accountant, what's the point?"

Ye Fan: "Most people will let down their guard when they see a weak person, and they can't help but feel sympathy for him, which is more useful than your flattery with good cigarettes, good wine and good meat."

Su Yuanhang immediately believed that he could also collect lotus seeds by following her.

Seeing that all the goods were on board, Ye Fan said, "If you need anything, you can talk to Chen Xiaohui or Geng Zhiqin."

Su Yuanhang paused, got on board and waved to her, then went to see if the goods were put away. Su Yuncheng followed with his bag and whispered, "Brother, isn't Chen Xiaohui that person?"

The two brothers often come to the vegetable market these days. They heard that Ye Fan's original surname was Chen. Su Yuanhang was worried that the Capital Supply and Marketing Cooperative would change its mind because of this. But now that things have come to this, he must try it once, otherwise he will regret it for the rest of his life.

As a result, Ye Fan brought it up himself.

Su Yuanhang was confused: "We'll know when we get to the capital."

One day and one night plus half a day, dozens of hours, sounds very long. The three people who were visiting Beijing for the first time were extremely excited. They felt that they had not seen enough of the scenery along the way. How could they arrive so early?

Just as Ye Fan said, I went to Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative that afternoon.

Since Ye Fan left, discounted goods have become fewer and fewer every day, and the neighbors are very dissatisfied, but they dare not provoke the purchasing station responsible for purchasing agricultural and sideline products. They can only wander around the supply and marketing cooperative when they have nothing to do, hoping to welcome Ye Fan back one day.

This weekend, there were many people near the supply and marketing cooperative. Seeing that many things were being brought in, it was obvious that they were not from the purchasing station. A neighborhood auntie who was familiar with Geng Zhiqin squeezed past Su Yuncheng and the other two and asked, "Comrade Geng, what are these things?"

Geng Zhiqin: “Seafood.”

The aunt was very disappointed because she couldn't afford it.

The director inadvertently caught a glimpse of this scene and immediately shouted, "There is no purchase limit for these things outside the door. Don't panic and don't stock up. Accountant Ye asked someone to deliver them. There will be more in the future."

Everyone was scrambling to buy items that were subject to purchase restrictions, but as soon as it was announced that there were no purchase restrictions, the old men and women who had been trying to secretly open the cartons immediately stopped.

The director and accountant of the Xicheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative were also there at the time. They were worried that northerners would not be used to southern seafood, so they did not dare to agree to the director of the Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative to take half of the seafood. They said they would take a look at what was available first. The director of Xicheng asked the director of the Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative to open a box and take a look.

The director of the Haidian store whispered, "We haven't discussed the price yet, why are you in such a hurry?" He waved to Su Yuanhang and the other two, "Come to my office and have some water."

The two people from Xicheng followed in and poured water for the three people. The manager of the Haidian store took out the price list that had been prepared long ago. Su Yuanhang's face changed slightly after seeing it. The manager wanted to say something, but Su Yuanhang hurriedly said, "Okay!"

Su Duofu immediately wanted to hide away, it was simply unbearable to watch.

The director's price was not high, but it turned out to be too high. But when he saw Su Duofu's expression, he knew he was knowledgeable, so he changed his words and said that this was the external price. The director turned over a blank page and took a pen: "Then let's weigh it?"

Su Yuanhang stood up quickly, fearing that the director would regret it.

The director wanted to laugh: "Don't worry, I can't run away. Show me the ID."

Su Yuanhang: "I am——"

Director: "I know you are the director of the food factory. Let me see the issuing unit. If they ask about it later, I can ask them to find your leader even if I can't convince them."

Su Yuanhang quickly handed the document over. The director saw that it was indeed the same as the food factory that usually delivered goods to them, and he felt relieved. When he got outside, he asked Geng Zhiqin to weigh it and Chen Xiaohui to keep the accounts.

An auntie who was born in Jiangnan and came to the capital for various reasons asked: "Director, when will it be sold?"

Director: “Let me take a look first.”

Geng Zhiqin weighed everything, and the director looked at it. After the things were weighed, the director had a rough idea in his mind.

When the fishermen packed the goods, they marked the three categories of high, medium and low on the outside of the boxes, so the director didn't have to ask his people to pour out the goods and then set the prices. He read it again from the beginning, and this time he wrote the prices in the notebook while reading. After about ten minutes, the director thought about it again and again to make sure there were no omissions, and then pointed to the boxes and told everyone which ones were the cheapest and which ones were the most expensive, including kelp, seaweed and abalone.

When the old men and women heard the word abalone, they all said they couldn't afford it.

The director calmly explained that abalone was not expensive, and mentioned the price. Su Yuanhang's face changed slightly, because it was 50% higher than the price he was given. Su Yuanhang lowered his voice and asked Su Duofu: "Is anyone going to buy it at such a high price?"

No one dares to stand out these days. Even if you have money and want to eat, you dare not be the first to step forward.

Chen Xiaohui wanted to say something, but the director pulled her back. This girl looked smart, but she only looked smart. The director loudly reminded everyone that the Mid-Autumn Festival was coming, and it was just the right time to entertain the new son-in-law or future daughter-in-law. Abalone can also be used to honor the elders.

As soon as this reason came out, the wealthy men and women immediately asked the salesperson in the house to bring a scale to weigh one pound.

Seeing this, Chen Xiaohui understood why the director did not ask her to speak. She did not expect that she could speak like this. Chen Xiaohui was too embarrassed to ask the director, so she asked Geng Zhiqin: "How much do you sell those kelp?"

Su Duofu opened the cartons containing kelp, dried prawns and dried shrimps and told the old men and women how to make them and how much they cost per pound.

Most people are reluctant to buy abalone. When these elderly people heard that the price was half the price of last year, they immediately bought abalone like cabbage.

Su Yuncheng's eyes widened as he murmured, "The people of the capital are really rich..."

There are many dual-income families near the Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Some families where both parents are still alive have three or four children who eat commercial grain. Besides, after soaking, a piece of kelp the size of an adult's palm can be used to make a small dish. There is also a saying that eating kelp can prevent goiter, so every household does not mind buying a few kilograms.

Half an hour later, the golden crow set in the west and all the kelp was sold out.

The well-informed Su Duofu had never seen people buying things in this way. It was as if he saw the scene twenty years ago when everything was in ruins and everyone was full of energy.

The director of the Xicheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative pulled the director of the Haidian store back into the store and said, "We can't sell any more."

The seafood store manager said, "I'll keep the big eels and dried abalone for you."

Director Xicheng was speechless: "Who should I sell it to?"

The manager of Haidian: "Are you afraid that no one will buy it in the imperial city? The people over there are richer than the people over here."

Director Xicheng sneered: "You are close to the factory, but my side is all slums!"

"Are there no workers in the compound?"

"Who would live in a slum if they have money? You must leave me some kelp, shrimp skin, seaweed and other small things."

The store manager refused to give in. “Let’s wait and see. If they can sell out today or tomorrow, we’ll ask them to go back and get another truckload.”

Director Xicheng asked, "Are there any more on the island?"

There are still some on the island. Many fishermen supported Su Yuanhang at first. But when they heard that the secretary was not optimistic, they did not go when Su Yuanhang received the goods at the brigade headquarters. Su Yuanhang wanted to ask these people what was going on, but Su Duofu said that something might have delayed them. If they all came, one car would not fit, so it was just right that they did not come. In fact, he was unsure, and was afraid that Su Yuanhang and Ye Fan would not be able to sell them and would not be able to close.

When the director of Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative accompanied the director of Xicheng to ask Su Yuanhang how many seafoods were left on the island, Su Duofu answered for Su Yuanhang, "There are still half a truckload left." Then he said that the fishermen had been going out to sea every day recently and had a good harvest. The island was hotter than the capital, and many large fish and shrimps could be dried in a few days.

When the two directors heard this, they knew it would not be difficult to get another truck, so they asked them to go back tomorrow morning and deliver another truck before August 13th.

Several people were behind Geng Zhiqin. When Geng Zhiqin heard this, she asked her colleagues in the room to help her watch over the baby. She went home to get Dabao's picture books, as well as the clothes, shoes, toys, etc. that her mother had made for Dabao and Erbao.

The next morning, Chen Xiaohui and Geng Zhiqin went to the guesthouse where the three of them were staying. After they left, Su Yuncheng looked at a large bag of clothes and a small bag of food and couldn't help asking, "Didn't they say that the Ye family and the Geng family don't like Accountant Ye?"

Leaving the oppressive environment, Su Duofu couldn't help but reveal his true nature: "Bullshit! Who would dare to do such a thing if they are disliked by their natal family or in-laws? If you are not careful, you will have to stay in jail for a few years."

Su Yuanhang really saw clearly this time that those women on the island were just talking nonsense.

Last night, Su Duofu was teaching Su Yuanhang. The first offer the director gave was actually the lowest price. He may have prepared several. Su Yuanhang said that since they were on someone else's territory, they must listen to them. Su Duofu said that with Ye Fan's relationship, the director would not be able to make things difficult for them. Su Yuanhang pretended to be embarrassed and shed two more tears, and the director had to increase the price by at least 10%.

Even though Su Yuanhang didn't believe it, he felt that Su Duofu knew more than him, so he said, "Will you two come over later?"

Su Yuncheng nodded: "Okay. I'm not tired at all."

Su Duofu: "You can't be tired even if you want to. Yesterday's sales were good because it was almost the holidays, and friends and family gathered together to buy. From now on, it may be once a month. By the end of the year, I can make more trips."

Su Yuanhang remembered something: "The goods from the supply and marketing cooperatives in Ningbo and Hangzhou."

Su Duofu: "The car won't leave today."

Su Yuanhang couldn't help but ask: "Why didn't you say it yesterday?"

Su Duofu: "The two directors are in high spirits. If I say we can't go back, they will definitely feel uncomfortable. Yuncheng, you stay here and look after the things. Yuanhang and I will go to the supply and marketing cooperative to settle the bills and buy things. We will leave early tomorrow morning after we pick up the goods."

Just as Su Duofu said, when the two of them arrived at the Haidian Supply and Marketing Cooperative, the director said that he had forgotten that the bus they followed would leave tomorrow. Su Duofu took the opportunity to ask for some special products from the capital, and the director asked Geng Zhiqin to drive the three-wheeled motorcycle to accompany them.

Su Yuanhang thought it was the same as what Accountant Ye said.

Therefore, I admire Ye Fan even more.

The next morning, the three of them boarded the train heading south as if it were a dream.

The next morning, after getting off the train, Su Duofu called the supply and marketing cooperative. In the evening, when the three of them returned to the island, Su Yuanhang went directly to Ye Fan's house and gave her all the money he had hidden on his body.

Ye Fan took it, and Su Yuanhang collapsed on her parent's bench, sighing: "I didn't dare to blink all the way."

Ye Fan returned the cloth bag to him and said, "Go home quickly. Notify all teams to come to the office to get the money tomorrow morning."

Geng Zhiye: "You're not going to sleep at night?"

Ye Fan: "It looks troublesome, with the temporary workers, boat fees, renting a hand tractor, and their travel expenses. But it's actually not much. It can be done in an hour."

Geng Zhiye didn't understand and suspected that Ye Fan said that to comfort Su Yuanhang. However, he managed to settle the account before the lights were turned off in the family area.

Geng Zhiye sighed: "My Ye Fanfan is really amazing."

"My captain Geng doesn't trust me very much."

Geng Zhiye hugged her and said, "I'm just worried that you'll be too proud of yourself. You haven't slept well these past few days, have you?"

Ye Fan knew the director well and was not worried that he would go back on his word. Ye Fan was worried that someone would cause trouble during this special period.

"It's the first time after all. Go to sleep. I think someone will be hanging around our door early tomorrow morning."

Geng Zhiye nodded: "Maybe quite a lot."

However, the couple didn't expect to see many people chatting outside the fenced yard when they opened the door. Geng Zhiye was still holding a spittoon in his hand, and hurried to the toilet before they noticed.

Ye Fan rubbed his eyes to make himself look like he hadn't just woken up, cleared his throat and opened the door: "Why are you up so early?"

The homes of these fishermen outside the door were not far from the family quarters, and Ye Fan's chimney could be seen from his own home. A group of people said that they were out for a walk and told Ye Fan not to worry, as they would be gone soon.

(End of this chapter)