Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 145 Unexpected Gains

Today is the eighth day of the first lunar month. Although the New Year celebrations are almost over, you can't visit someone's home empty-handed.

Having taken this into account, Xu Bei made preparations before coming, bringing local specialties from the forest area, including pine nuts and hazel mushrooms, as well as a small amount of black fungus and dried potatoes.

These things may not be worth much in their hometown, and almost every household has some in stock, but they are considered valuable by outsiders and are perfect and affordable gifts.

As he expected, things went exactly as he predicted.

When Chen Jianguo saw the bags of local specialties, his smile became even more sincere, but he still said politely, "Brother Xu, really, you've come all this way, why are you carrying all this heavy stuff?"

Xu Bei realized that he had hit the nail on the head, and said with a smile, "Brother Chen, it's not heavy at all. I didn't know what to bring you for the New Year, so I thought I'd bring you something to try. I'll mail it to you after you've had your fill."

"Brother, you're really too kind." Chen Jianguo placed teacups in front of the two of them. "Have some hot tea to warm up."

Xu Bei didn't rush to drink the tea. Instead, he opened the bags of local specialties and began to show them off. "These pine nuts were roasted in a big pot by my mom, that's why they taste so good. The hazel mushroom stew with chicken and potatoes is also amazing. I also brought some dried potatoes for you, Brother Chen. Adding these to the stew makes it even tastier than fresh potatoes."

When Zhao Fengying was at home before, she was a little uneasy, worried that people from the provincial capital would look down on the local mountain specialties. Now, seeing the situation, she is much more relaxed and has started talking more.

"And this black fungus, it's made from old oak logs, you can only get a few pounds from one tree. We forestry people are honest, we don't do anything fancy, we pick them out one by one, there's not a single impurity."

Chen Jianguo was moved by the mother and son's simplicity and sincerity, and felt a stronger desire to continue their friendship.

He picked up a dried wood ear mushroom, weighed it in his hand, and then brought it to his nose to smell it. "This wood ear mushroom is so thick and good. You can't easily buy this around here."

Just as the three were chatting enthusiastically, they heard someone coming into the courtyard.

Not only Chen Jianguo looked out the window into the courtyard, but Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying did the same.

Then a person pushing a bicycle came in.

Chen Jianguo said, "It's my brother who's back. Let's talk about our own things and not worry about him." Then they continued chatting.

Xu Bei, however, was multitasking, chatting away and showing some curiosity about Chen Jianguo's younger brother.

Soon, the other person also opened the door and entered the house.

He was stunned for a moment when he saw two unfamiliar strangers sitting in the room, and subconsciously rubbed his frozen red hands.

"Brother, we have guests at home."

Chen Jianguo waved to him, "Yes. Come on, let me introduce you. This is my friend Xu Bei and his mother."

"Brother Xu, Auntie, this is my younger brother, Chen Jianshe."

Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying greeted Chen Jianshe and took the opportunity to observe and sized up his appearance.

I realized they were indeed brothers; although there was a slight difference in height, their facial features were quite similar, clearly from the same mother.

After exchanging pleasantries and chatting for a while, Chen Jianshe took a tool bag and went to the yard, leaving the space to them.

Xu Bei didn't waste any more time and went straight to the point, bringing up the matter of purchasing goods.

"Brother Chen, what kind of goods do you have on hand right now?"

Chen Jianguo flicked the ash from his cigarette in the ashtray. "To be honest, we cleared out almost all our stock before the New Year. The new spring clothes haven't been sent to me from the south yet. If you want to get some clothing, you'll have to wait."

But those small general merchandise items can be brought in anytime. I can take you there later. If you feel that Boss Zhang's selection isn't enough, I know of other things too.

Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying exchanged a glance.

Actually, the weather was still very cold right after the New Year, and even if spring clothes were brought in, they wouldn't sell very well. The main problem was that small general merchandise items were in short supply.

"Then let's wait. It's much colder back home than in the provincial capital, so we're not in a rush to sell. We'll have to trouble you, Brother Chen, to take us to see Boss Zhang and the others."

"No trouble at all, Brother Xu, don't be so polite with me." Chen Jianguo glanced at the time. "Then you and Auntie wait for me for a while. I'll go change my clothes and then we'll set off."

"Okay, no rush, Brother Chen."

Xu Bei watched Chen Jianguo enter the bedroom.

When I looked away, I noticed my mother staring intently at the television covered with a woolen cover.

"Mom, you're thinking of buying a TV too, aren't you?"

Zhao Fengying lowered her voice and said, "How could I not miss it? We listened to the Spring Festival Gala on New Year's Eve and thought it was quite beautiful."

Later, when I chatted with Sister Liu from the tailor shop, she said that the show was on TV at her mother-in-law's house and that it was really exciting.

The actress who played Xiaohua looked so good in that red collared shirt she wore as a host; I'm even thinking of having one made to wear in the spring.

Xu Bei listened to his mother's whisper with a smile, knowing that the red shirt Liu Xiaoqing wore later became known as the "Xiaoqing Shirt." "Then let Sister Liu make one for you, my sister, and my younger sister too. You can all keep up with the times. And this TV, don't worry, we'll definitely be able to buy it this year."

Although Zhao Fengying longed for it, she also had her own principles: "Why buy it? You have to pay your boss first before thinking about the TV. Otherwise, you'll just be someone who owes money and doesn't pay it back, only thinking about enjoying yourself."

Xu Bei, the real mastermind, smiled slightly and was about to say something when Chen Jianguo, having changed into his outdoor clothes, came out of the house.

So the mother and son ended their conversation and stood up.

The three of them quickly left the house while chatting.

yard.

Chen Jianshe, who was working in the woodshed, immediately put down his plane when he saw the person come out, grinned, and said, "Leaving so soon? Why don't you stay a little longer?"

"We'd like Brother Chen to accompany us to run some errands."

As Xu Bei spoke, he noticed that the floor under the counter had been covered with a layer of curled, golden, and translucent wood shavings in just a short while.

He took a few steps closer and asked in a familiar tone, "What are you doing?"

Chen Jianshe subconsciously removed the pencil from his ear. "Hit the table."

Chen Jianguo didn't think much of what his younger brother was doing, but he would definitely praise him a few times in front of Xu Bei and the others.

"After my younger brother finished his apprenticeship, he was able to make tables, chairs, and benches to sell. It's just that good wood is ridiculously expensive here. His craftsmanship is undeniable, but our supply channels are terrible. Unexpectedly, the costs are high; if we sell them too expensively, nobody wants them, and if we sell them too cheaply, we can't even recoup the cost of the materials. That's why I've been telling him to cut back on his work lately. If all else fails, we should consider selling his craft to others for processing fees."

Xu Bei thought to himself that this was truly an unexpected piece of news, something he hadn't anticipated at all before coming here.

Even if his mother didn't give him any meaningful glances or subtle hints, she would still bring it up anyway.

"Brother Chen, to be honest, what we have in our hometown is plenty of good wood. I'm currently helping someone sell finished wooden stools and folding tables. If you're interested, how about we talk about cooperation? I'll help ship the goods from there to here, and you can sell them. It's a win-win situation for us."

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