Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 164 Pillar, where did you buy this fish?

After wandering around all day, He Yuzhu didn't go home for lunch. He mainly wanted to check on the market situation and the changes in Beijing. After looking around, He Yuzhu discovered that the food shortage problem was beginning to emerge.

He vaguely remembered that there were policies like the Great Leap Forward in steel production and the "iron rice bowl" system this year, but his family hadn't mentioned them, so they probably hadn't started yet.

When Chen Lanxiang got home in the afternoon, she asked, "Zhuzi, where have you been all day? What did you eat for lunch?"

The reason for asking about food is that He Yuzhu didn't have any food coupons, and even state-run restaurants wouldn't sell them to him.

"I just randomly picked a small shop to eat at."

"You silly child, if you don't come home for lunch in the future, remember to take some food coupons home. You're lucky, otherwise you wouldn't have anything to eat."

"I know mother."

"You don't need to cook dinner tonight; dinner will be simple."

"Okay, got it."

"By the way, Mother, how much grain do we still have in our reserves?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I took a walk around the city today and found that there are very few people eating in restaurants and grain stores. I don't think that's right."

"What's wrong with it? Hasn't it been like this for the past two years?"

"Something feels off. Do we still have any food stored at home?"

"Not much left. Our family always replaces old grain with new grain, and we eat the old grain first. We have about a third of the grain we used to have now."

"Why is there such a big difference?"

“You child, these days we all have to buy food with ration coupons. Our family is large, and we’re not the kind of family that saves food from our children’s mouths, so we have to live off our savings.”

"Okay, I get it now."

"Let me tell you, you can't do anything reckless. These days, dealing in grain can land you in jail."

"I know, Mother. I was just asking."

"I don't believe you at all. What were you whispering about with your dad this morning?"

"Nothing much, just asking about the situation at the factory."

"Humph."

Dinner was very simple, consisting entirely of vegetarian dishes. Even the food He Daqing brought back was vegetarian. He Yuzhu asked He Daqing about bringing boxed lunches, and He Daqing said that he bought them himself. Now that he is the director, he wouldn't undermine the company.

He only came to this realization in the last few years, mainly because there are still people who are envious of his position.

The children kept glancing at He Yuzhu while eating, especially He Yushui, as if to say, "Why isn't there any meat today?"

In her memory, when her brother was home, there was never a shortage of meat at home. But when she came home at noon today and saw that her brother wasn't there, she knew there was no hope. When she saw the table full of vegetarian dishes again in the evening, her pouting lips almost made Chen Lanxiang hit her a few times with her chopsticks.

After dinner, He Yushui was sent to wash the dishes, while He Daqing pulled He Yuzhu to the east wing.

"Zhu Zi, do you have any on your end?"

"What's wrong, Dad? You're even lacking beans and vegetables? It can't be that bad."

"How could it not be? Soybeans can be pressed for oil, and fewer vegetables are being delivered from outside the city these days."

"I have the information, but you'll have to come out and pull it, and you'll have to prepare the warehouse yourselves."

"No problem. I asked Director Li from logistics today, and I got the warehouse keys back."

"So fast?"

"Of course, that's their achievement."

"Don't you have any achievements to show?"

"If you get me a few thousand kilograms of meat, I'll have a sales record."

"Several thousand kilograms? I have about a hundred kilograms of your son, do you want him?"

"Get out of here, I was just giving an example."

"Okay, give me the key. What's the address?"

He Daqing gave the key to He Yuzhu and then gave him the address.

When will the goods arrive?

"If things go smoothly, tomorrow."

"So fast? The goods are already in the city?"

"Then don't ask. By the way, between you and Da Mao, who has more flexible working hours?"

"They're all pretty free, so what?"

"Forget it, I'll contact Da Mao myself. He can notify you when the goods arrive."

"Can't you just tell me directly?"

"You didn't tell anyone that I did it, did you?"

“How could that be? My son has a bright future and is capable of doing this.”

He Yuzhu sighed, realizing that his father was also a power-hungry official, and it wasn't just him who was obsessed with it.

"Why wouldn't I look for you? If I go to you and say I'm your son, then everyone will know."

"That's true, Da Mao's mouth is a bit big, you should tell him that."

"Don't worry, he never dares to talk about my affairs."

"That's true. Alright, I'll wait for your letter. It would be even better if there was meat in it."

"If I have meat, why would I bring it home? Why would I send it to the factory? What a waste of time."

"You don't know anything. How much can you take from home? Come back, the factory will have enough, and most families in our compound will be able to afford food. If we eat meat again, who can say anything?"

"How much meat would it take to ensure everyone in your factory has enough to eat?" He Yuzhu exclaimed.

"It must weigh at least several thousand kilograms."

"Then forget it. I don't have the ability to handle several thousand kilograms. What kind of era is this? I went to ask today, and people outside the city raise pigs according to regulations and have to hand them over."

"I thought you didn't know. Turns out you really went to find out the market. I was just kidding. The meat processing plant can't give us more than a few thousand kilograms at a time. If we want more, we'll have to treat them to a meal."

"I didn't take it seriously either."

"You little rascal." He Daqing raised his hand, but then lowered it again, thinking that his son was too old.

"By the way, don't let it slip when my mother asks you."

"I know, okay, I'm going back now."

After He Daqing left, He Yuzhu went to Xu Damao's house again.

"Brother Zhu, wanna have a drink?"

"What are you drinking for? With your alcohol tolerance, I could knock out a whole platoon."

"Keep bragging. My alcohol tolerance isn't bad."

"Only you think that way."

"Hehe, you see through me but don't say anything? What do you want from me?"

Here's what happened, He Yuzhu explained the whole story.

"Brother, my dear brother, you still have this kind of connection? Could you help your younger brother get some meat, chicken, duck, or fish would be fine too."

"What do you want to do?"

"I just want to improve myself, don't I?"

"Progress? Relying on chicken, duck, fish, and meat? Who are you going to give them to?"

"Who else could we give it to as section chief?"

"No, you don't even know how to give gifts. Giving them to you would be a waste. You might as well eat them yourself."

"No, no, no, my brother, what do you suggest we do?"

"No way. You've only been working here a short time and you've already been promoted. So many people are envious. If you want to advance further, where will you go?"

"Well, I... I didn't think that much about it. I was just worried that you'd fall too far behind since you got promoted every time you came back. Nobody told me about the ins and outs in between."

"How can that be the same? We risk our lives, what do you have?"

"Oh!" Xu Damao said listlessly.

"Alright, don't act like this. Just do what I asked you to do, and you'll benefit from it later."

"Really? Shouldn't we prioritize my master's needs?"

"Your master could forget you?" He Yuzhu kicked the kid directly, not hard, and Xu Damao didn't dare to dodge.

"No, no, that's my own master."

"There's something else. I need to get some grain for my family. Do you have a place to store grain?"

"Yes, it's quite big, but it's empty now."

"You ate them all?"

"How could that be? My dad took a lot with him when he left, saying he had enough to eat. But these past two years, we haven't had any oil or fat in our meals, so my appetite has increased." "Okay, let me see how big it is."

Xu Damao walked to the octagonal table in the main room, moved the table aside, picked up a partition, and then went to get a flashlight.

He Yuzhu shone his flashlight on it and estimated that it was about three cubic meters, which would be enough to fill a pile of several thousand kilograms of grain.

"Brother Zhu, is that enough? If not, I'll dig some more."

"That's enough. Do you think you're the only one who has it?"

"hey-hey."

"Let me tell you, if you dare to sell it after I bring it back, I'll break your legs, you understand?"

"No, no, at most I'll send some to my parents. Xiaoman can eat it now."

"That girl must be in school now."

"Brother, what's wrong with your memory? You're already in fourth grade."

"Yeah, time flies."

"By the way, how do we settle the money?"

"what money?"

“You’re buying grain, right? You certainly don’t accept coupons, but you can’t buy it at the grain station’s price.”

"Just give me whatever you think is appropriate."

"Okay, bro, can't you really get some meat or something?"

"I'm fine with eating it myself, but I won't give it away."

"Eat it yourself, eat it yourself. Why would I cook it for you? I'll just cook it for you at home."

"How could I possibly accept that? Meat is so expensive these days."

"If you don't want to eat it, fine."

"Eat, eat! Wouldn't it be stupid not to eat meat when there's meat available!"

"Okay, I'll get a few fish tomorrow."

"You're not going fishing, are you? Bro, let me tell you, there are anglers all over Beijing now. You can't catch any big fish at all. Old Yan from the front yard goes fishing almost every week, and he usually only catches small fish weighing two or three ounces."

"Fishing my ass! If I knew how to fish, would I have dragged you to the river to fish for fish in the first place?"

"I just thought you'd been studying abroad these past few years."

"I don't have that kind of free time."

"By the way, can I borrow your bicycle tomorrow?"

"No problem, the car isn't locked. I'll hitch a ride with my master tomorrow morning."

"gone."

"I send you."

"What's the point of sending anything? It's just a short walk."

He Yuzhu left the backyard but didn't go home. Instead, he went to the west wing of the middle courtyard and knocked on the door.

"Who?"

"Aunt Ping, I need to talk to you."

"come in."

"it is good."

When He Yuzhu went inside, he saw Wang Siyu reading a comic book. Now that electric lights have been installed, they wouldn't let her read it after dark in the past.

"Zhu Zi, come in and sit down."

"Aunt Ping, let's talk in the main room."

"Okay." Wang Cuiping knew from He Yuzhu's words that he didn't want Wang Siyu to hear.

Once inside the main room and seated, Wang Cuiping said, "Speak, what is it?"

"Could you help me get a gun license?"

"What do you want that for?"

"When I have free time, I go for a stroll in the mountains."

"You know how to hunt? There are wild boars and tigers in the mountains."

"Yes, we fought them quite a bit in the Russians."

"You have a gun? Oh right, I forgot you have a handgun."

"Could you get me a long spear?"

"Let me ask, but it might not work. By the way, I heard from your mother that you came back in your military uniform. Did you go back to the army?"

"Not really, the place I went to before coming back was rather unusual."

"Oh, then I won't ask. You can't just say they didn't give you a gun license or anything, can you?"

"No." He Yuzhu shrugged.

"Alright, don't get your hopes up too high, the city management in Sijiu is strict."

"I know, I was just asking, if it doesn't work, then forget it."

"That's the right way to think. I know you want your family to have more meat, but everyone's in the same boat these days. Just hang in there and it'll pass."

"Okay, Aunt Ping, I'll head back now."

"Alright, don't go up the mountain empty-handed, understand? Don't think you're something special just because you know a few tricks. The wild animals on the mountain are no joke."

"understood."

He Yuzhu got up and walked out, while Wang Cuiping pondered whether this matter could be accomplished.

He Yuzhu asked casually, and it was possible. He said that if he went out to get some things and brought back some smuggled goods, it would be easier to get things done.

If we can't do it, we'll think of another way. A living person can't be killed by holding in their pee.

The next morning, He Yuzhu rode Xu Damao's bicycle out the door. He first went to the warehouse that He Daqing had mentioned, took a look, and found that there were people around during the day. He locked the warehouse and left.

Then he rode his bike around Beihai Park, Shichahai Park, and the city moat. There were quite a few anglers there, mostly old men.

However, very few people actually managed to catch any. Given his attire and the fact that he was riding a bicycle, no one found it strange. Many organizations come here to buy fish, so it's not unusual.

On his way back, he found a secluded spot, and when he came out again, there were two fish on his handlebars: a carp weighing over three pounds and a grass carp weighing over five pounds. It looked like he had bought them or caught them.

The two fish on the way home certainly attracted a lot of attention, but when He Yuzhu arrived at his doorstep, he found that the door gods were already in place.

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up when he saw the fish hanging on He Yuzhu's car, but the light dimmed a bit when he saw that there were no fishing rods or anything behind He Yuzhu's car.

"Zhu Zi, those two fish of yours are quite big. Where did you get them?"

"You bought it? Or did I grab it with my hands?"

"Where did you buy it? I went to the morning market, but they didn't sell fish there."

"Would it be possible to tell you where I bought it?"

“You silly child, this fish looks like it was just taken out of the water not long ago. Where did you buy it? I’ll go buy one too.” Yan Bugui’s eyes darted around.

He didn't want to buy fish; he wanted to know where such a big fish came from so he could go fishing.

"Teacher Yan, don't you go to work? You're always blocking the gate of our college. You should become a security guard. Our college doesn't pay salaries."

"How can you talk like that, child?"

"How about I talk to your school leaders and ask them to transfer you to a different position? I know your principal."

"No need, no need, you should go in quickly." Yan Bugui hurriedly stepped aside.

He Yuzhu smiled gently and pushed the cart into the yard.

Just after turning the corner of the screen wall and taking only a few steps, He Yu heard a child shouting, "Grandma, Grandma, fish, big fish, two big fish, I want to eat fish too."

"Good boy, I'll have your dad buy you fish tomorrow." Jia Zhangshi had already stood up; she was thinking of getting one fish back, but when she saw it was He Yuzhu, she sat back down.

"No, no, I want to eat fish, I want to eat fish!" Bang Geng refused and sat on the ground, wailing.

"Qin Huairu, why aren't you taking your son inside?" Jia Zhangshi, unwilling to discipline her grandson herself, directly called out to Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu came out of the house, glanced at He Yuzhu who had already pushed the cart into the moon gate, picked up the stick and went into the house, and then slapped him twice.

Bang Geng started yelling and screaming. He had basically never been beaten at home. Qin Huairu had wanted to teach him a lesson many times but never had the chance. This time, however, she finally got her chance.

"Grandma, Grandma, my mom hit me! It hurts! Grandma, please save me!"

Qin Huairu wanted to continue fighting, but Jia Zhangshi went inside.

"Who gave you permission to hit my grandson?"

"Mom, didn't you tell me to bring the skewer back to discipline it?"

"I told you to bring him inside. Who told you to hit the child? It's all He Yuzhu's fault, always bringing things home for no reason." She pulled the child into her arms and comforted him.
Qin Huairu wanted to argue with Jia Zhangshi, but he lowered his head and went back to work, thinking to himself, "Why blame her? Why don't you let your son buy it? Oh well, I won't be able to eat it even if you buy it. Whatever."

(End of this chapter)