A little madman moved into the courtyard house next door.

Today is Xiao Sanfeng's third day living in Nanluoguxiang. He woke up this morning to find Master Lei and his workers already there to start work.

He gave Master Lei 50 yuan and the permit for purchasing materials, instructing him to buy the other necessary materials. Xiao Sanfeng then temporarily stopped worrying about the house renovation.

After thinking it over for a moment, Xiao Sanfeng picked up a cloth bag and went out. He needed to first handle the matters of connecting water pipes to his home and installing a separate water meter.

The water company processed the approval from the neighborhood committee very quickly. Xiao Sanfeng paid the material and installation fees and arranged for them to come and install it in five days. Then he left.

Xiao Sanfeng went to the state-run grain store again. Taking advantage of the fact that there weren't many people there, he chatted with the staff and learned about the current supply of commercial grain.

There is no famine yet, and the food rations are generally sufficient to ensure that people don't go hungry. However, the ration standards vary from person to person.

First and foremost, manual laborers.

Those engaged in special heavy physical labor are rationed 59 jin of grain per month. These people are like furnace workers in steel mills or cold storage workers in refrigeration plants, people who expend a great deal of physical energy.

Manual laborers were rationed 49 jin of grain per month. Examples include fitters and forgers at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, and porters in other factories. These were manual laborers.

Those engaged in light physical labor are rationed 39 jin of grain per month. This includes people like Xiao Sanfeng's neighbors, Lin Dabing and Huang Shuwei.

Staff members of government agencies and organizations, as well as those engaged in mental labor, are all entitled to a monthly grain ration of 32 jin (16 catties).

University students, high school students, and vocational school students are all given a monthly grain ration of 36 jin (18 catties).

Ordinary residents and children over 10 years old are all given a monthly grain ration of 28 jin.

6到10周岁的儿童‌每月粮食定量23斤。3到6周岁的儿童‌每月粮食定量17斤。 ‌3周岁以下的儿童‌每月粮食定量11斤。

The grain supply quota includes 30% refined grains, namely rice, millet, and wheat flour. This wheat flour is made by grinding wheat directly into powder, which also contains dark yellow bran.

70% of it is whole grains, which are: sweet potatoes, white potatoes, sorghum rice, mixed grain flour, and cornmeal.

Cornmeal is made by crushing corn kernels, including the cob, which are usually in chunks. It's crunchy in your mouth and sticks up your anus when you go to the toilet.

Each person is allotted half a pound of pork and half a pound of cooking oil per month.

Prices at official grain stores are very cheap now.

国营店的猪肉每斤7毛8，鸡鸭鹅肉带骨头算三等肉每斤5毛8，鸡蛋每个3分钱。

At state-run grain stores, rice cost 23 cents per pound, millet 20 cents per pound, flour 18 cents per pound, and cornmeal 3 cents per pound. Cooking oil cost 70 cents per pound.

State-run grain stores also sell a type of grain sold at negotiated prices, which is for people whose family rations are insufficient. This type of grain is a bit expensive.

Rice costs 70 cents a pound, flour costs 60 cents a pound, and cornmeal costs 11 cents a pound.

Vegetables at the market cost between 5 cents and 20 cents per pound, and various fruits cost no more than 1 yuan per pound.

Xiao Sanfeng is the only one in his family who receives a grain ration. He is 10 years old this year and just meets the minimum requirement. He receives 23 jin of grain per month, including 6 jin and 9 liang of refined grain and 16 jin and 1 liang of coarse grain.

Although his storage space contained thousands of tons of various grains, Xiao Sanfeng didn't care about such a small ration. But wouldn't someone who didn't buy grain for an extended period become a prime suspect?

Xiao Sanfeng said, "Comrade, please weigh out my grain and cooking oil for me. For refined grains, I'll use rice."

The grain store clerk took the ration book, glanced at it, and asked, "Young man, is your ration only for one person?"

"Yes, I am a family member of a martyr. I also have a maternal grandmother, whose household registration is in the countryside and there is no quota for her."

"Young comrade, there's an unwritten rule at the grain store that requires voluntary rounding down, meaning you only weigh grain by the pound. You're a martyr's family member, so you can give me your martyr's family member certificate, and I'll go to the director to get a note to cancel your rounding down."

Xiao Sanfeng thought for a moment and said, "Comrade, since you've put it that way, there's no need for me to go through all that trouble over a pound or two of grain. Just handle it the usual way."

「小同志，你的觉悟真高。那就是6斤大米1块3毛8，16斤棒子麵4毛8，食用油3毛5。一共2块2毛1。」

Xiao Sanfeng pulled out a large black ten-dollar bill, the staff gave him change, and then went to weigh the grain.

After buying the grain, Xiao Sanfeng headed home. In a secluded spot, he took out a pheasant and a rabbit from his spatial storage and carried them in his hands.

When Xiao Sanfeng reached the Jiaodaokou Supply and Marketing Cooperative at the entrance of the alley, he went inside.

……

A saleswoman saw a boy carrying pheasants and rabbits, her eyes lit up, and she quickly pushed open the counter and came out.

The saleswoman said, "Little brother, did you catch these pheasants and rabbits from the mountain? How about you trade them with me for an ice pop?"

Xiao Sanfeng scoffed, "Do you really think I'm a child? This wild rabbit weighs five or six jin, and a pheasant weighs about three jin. How many popsicles are you going to trade with me for it?"

"Um, um, I'm sorry! Young man, it was my fault."

"No need for an apology, I want to see your director."

"Young man, please! Let's talk this out. I'll treat you to an ice cream, and we won't talk about this with the director, okay?"

"I'm here to discuss a deal with your director; I have some game to sell."

"How many prey are there?"

"That's none of your business. Just help me find your director, and then you'll be able to buy meat inside the supply and marketing cooperative."

"Okay, okay, I'll go find the manager for you right away." The sales clerk said and went to the back.

After a while, a middle-aged man with a Mediterranean hairstyle came out with the sales clerk.

He walked up to Xiao Sanfeng and said, "Hello, young comrade. You said you have a large quantity of game to sell. How much is it?"

"Who are you?"

"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Song Chuncai, the director of the Jiaodaokou Supply and Marketing Cooperative. What's your name, young comrade?"

"My name is Xiao Sanfeng, and I live in Nanluoguxiang. I have a gyrfalcon, and I can catch more than a dozen prey every day. Pheasants and rabbits are no problem, and larger prey like muntjacs, wild sheep, and wild boars, as long as the prey weighs less than 100 jin, is no problem for me."

The saleswoman exclaimed in surprise, "What? You're the person from courtyard number 93 who keeps gyrfalcons?"

Xiao Sanfeng smiled and said, "I didn't expect my fame to spread so quickly!"

Song Chuncai quickly said, "Comrade Xiao, production capacity is low right now, and meat supply is insufficient. We definitely need to collect these game. We'll collect as much game as you have."

"Director Song, I don't have time to clean these animals. I'll sell them skinned and furred. How much will it cost?"

「小肖同志，现在国营店的鸡鸭鹅兔肉是5毛8一斤，猪肉7毛8一斤。野鸡出肉率在6成左右，野兔出肉率不到4成，野猪出肉率在5成半左右。带皮带毛的话，给你你的价格：野鸡3毛5一斤，野兔两毛5一斤。麂子、野羊、野猪给你4毛3一斤。」

Xiao Sanfeng thought for a moment. It wasn't famine time yet, so he figured he might as well lower the price.

In order to get tickets to buy things for the house, they had no choice but to trade these hunted animals.

Although you can sell them on the black market now, and you can also exchange them for tickets on the black market, it would be troublesome if you bought too much stuff and someone reported you.

Selling these items to the supply and marketing cooperative is selling them to the government. It's a legitimate and legal sale, and you won't be charged with speculation or profiteering.

Xiao Sanfeng said, "I have my father's inheritance and pension, as well as government-issued child support, so I don't lack money. But I need tickets."

"Comrade Xiao, what kind of tickets do you need?"

"I've just arrived in Beijing, and I have nothing at home. I need to buy so many things: a big iron pot, a steamer, bowls and plates, soap, clothes, shoes... I need all the daily necessities. I also want to buy a radio for my grandma so she can listen to music to cheer herself up, and a wall clock so she can tell the time."

"These things are all sold at our supply and marketing cooperative. As long as you can sell us a dozen or so game every day for more than a week, I'll take care of the vouchers. You can just pay for the items you need."

"Alright, it's a deal then. I'll deliver the game to you twice a day, at noon and in the evening."

Song Chuncai happily said, "Okay, okay, it's a deal."

"I happen to need a bag. How about I trade these pheasants and rabbits for a Liberation bag? Is that possible?"

The saleswoman quickly said, "I happen to have a brand new bag that I haven't used yet, I'll exchange it with you." Then she ran off.

After a while, the salesperson brought over a brand-new Liberation bag and traded it with Xiao Sanfeng for pheasants and rabbits.

Looking at the unused Liberation bag, Xiao Sanfeng strongly suspected that the salesperson had just bought it on short notice.

Once the matter was settled, Xiao Sanfeng took his things and left the supply and marketing cooperative.