Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Nuo and Qi Dawu met at the village entrance. Qi Dawu was dressed quite neatly; before he got married, his clothes were always tattered and worn, as if no one cared about him.

Now it's clear that the Zhou family treats Da Wu very well.

Qi Dawu smiled:

"Brother Nuozi, I brought the basket from home, just in case I need to put something in it."

Lin Nuo nodded, and the two boarded the bus to the county town. The bus swayed and rattled, the roar of the diesel engine echoing in their ears the whole way.

Qi Dawu leaned against the car window, looking outside.

After getting off the bus in the county town, I took another bus to Beihe Township.

Beihe Township is a bit larger than Liujiagou. The main street is paved with gravel, and there are several shops on both sides of the road. The sign of the supply and marketing cooperative is the largest, with white background and red characters, and the paint is a bit peeling off.

When you visit someone's home, you're always welcome to bring something as a token of your hospitality.

Lin Nuo led Qi Dawu to the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative. Just as they were about to push the door open, Qi Dawu suddenly grabbed his sleeve, pointed with his other hand to a wooden sign hanging next to the door, and lowered his voice:

"Brother Nuozi, look..."

Lin Nuo followed his finger and looked over. Nine large characters were written in red paint on the wooden sign: "Salesperson is prohibited from assaulting customers."

Lin Nuo paused for a moment, a vague impression flashing through her mind. She seemed to have heard in her past life that the sales clerks at the Beihe Township Supply and Marketing Cooperative had quite a temper and it was common for them to get into fights with customers.

He was well-known throughout the county.

There was no other way; back then, being a sales clerk was a secure job. Whether you sold a lot or a little, it didn't matter, and whether your attitude was good or bad, it didn't matter. Some of them, when they got angry, would actually push and shove customers.

Lin Nuo's heart skipped a beat. He should have just bought the things in the county. He had forgotten about this. Oh well, he would just go in and buy a bottle of wine. He couldn't possibly shortchange them.

Lin Nuo gritted his teeth and led Qi Dawu inside.

The supply and marketing cooperative wasn't large. The shelves were filled with daily necessities, and a mixed smell wafted out: the alkaline smell of soap, the pungent smell of kerosene, and the greasy smell of lard from pastries. All of these smells were mixed together and made one feel a little dizzy.

This is much sloppier than the supply and marketing cooperative in town.

Behind the counter sat a large, fat woman, around forty years old, with a fleshy face, wearing a wrinkled blue work uniform with two buttons undone at the collar.

She was sitting with her legs crossed, eating sunflower seeds, leaving the shells scattered all over the floor.

An old woman stood before her, her hair white, her back hunched, clutching a blue cloth bundle in her hand. The old woman's voice was cautious:

"Comrade, I'd like a pound of steamed rice cake..."

The fat woman rolled her eyes, slowly stood up, opened the glass cabinet, picked out a few scraps and burnt pieces from the pile of cakes, and threw them on the parchment paper.

The old lady stared at the few pieces of broken cake, her lips trembling.

"Comrade, could you exchange these for some better ones? I bought these for my grandson..."

"That's all, take it or leave it."

The fat woman pushed the oiled paper aside, sat back down, and continued eating sunflower seeds without even lifting her eyelids.

The old woman was so angry that her hands trembled, and she pushed the oiled paper back, her voice shaking:

"Then...then I won't buy it."

"Take it or leave it."

The fat woman glared at her, grabbed the broken cake, and threw it back into the cupboard with swift, practiced movements. The old woman turned and walked away, her steps unsteady.

Lin Nuo watched this scene from the doorway, feeling a little apprehensive. But since he was already there, he had to buy something; he couldn't go to Han Dechun's house empty-handed. He steeled himself and walked to the counter, trying his best to make his voice sound natural:

"Comrade, bring two bottles of wine. And two jin of rice cake."

The fat woman looked up, about to roll her eyes, but her gaze fell on Lin Nuo's face, and she froze.

Hey.

The fat woman looked Lin Nuo up and down several times. He had thick eyebrows, a high nose, and his eyes seemed to hold a hint of a smile even when he wasn't actually smiling.

The fat woman's fleshy face looked as if it had been ironed flat, and she forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

Lin Nuo got goosebumps all over.

"Hey young man, which village are you from?"

She stood up, moving much faster than before, and took out some steamed rice cakes from the cupboard. This time, she didn't pick out the broken pieces; she specifically chose a few of the largest, shiny pieces, arranged them neatly, wrapped them in oil paper, tied them with red paper, and then tied them with a paper string.

"Two and a half jin of rice cake, I'll charge you for two jin. Remember to come again next time!"

She handed over the package, pressing her finger on the paper wrapping as if hinting at something. Her gaze was fixed on Lin Nuo, like a fly drawn to blood, unable to look away.

Lin Nuo quickly handed over the money, took the items, turned around and left, as if he had wheels of fire on his feet.

The sound behind him was still chasing him:

"Young man, you still haven't said which village you're from."

Qi Dawu couldn't hold back any longer. He came out of the supply and marketing cooperative, squatted against the wall, clutched his stomach, and burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face, and he was breathless.

"Brother Nuozi...that woman...hahahaha..."

Lin Nuo glared at him, her ears burning slightly, and lightly kicked his leg:

"What are you laughing at! Next time, remember to remind me to buy your things in the county before you come."

Qi Dawu laughed so hard he couldn't squat down. He wiped away the tears that came out of his eyes, his voice trembling slightly:

"Brother Nuozi, you're so good-looking, I'm no match for you. If she saw me, she'd probably beat me up..."

Lin Nuo said irritably:

"Alright, alright, let's go. If you laugh again, go back home."

Qi Dawu quickly got up, patted the dirt off his bottom, and followed behind Lin Nuo.

The two asked around and walked for about the time it takes to eat a meal before finally finding Han Dechun's house at the far east end of the village.

The courtyard was quite large, with blue brick walls and a grapevine trellis hanging above the gate, its bare branches yet to sprout. Several piles of hay were stacked at the entrance, and the air smelled of chicken manure.

The gate to the courtyard was open, and a woman was sweeping the yard. She was wearing a dusty gray cotton-padded jacket and an old headscarf. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw two strange men standing at the gate, and paused for a moment.

Lin Nuo stepped forward and greeted them with a smile:

"Sister-in-law, is this Brother Han Dechun's house?"

The woman put down the broom and called out into the house:

"Master, someone's looking for you!"

A man in his forties came out of the house, wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing a section of his tanned forearm.

He wasn't tall, but he had broad shoulders and thick hands; he looked like someone who would do hard work. His gaze swept over Lin Nuo and Qi Dawu with a hint of wariness, but he didn't say anything.

Lin Nuo quickly handed over the wine and steamed rice cakes he was carrying, his attitude sincere:

"Brother Han, I was referred by the veterinary station. I'd like to ask you about chicks."

Upon hearing the words "veterinary station," Han Dechun's wariness vanished instantly, replaced by a smile.

He took the things, saying, "Look at you, you're already here, why did you buy anything?" But his hands were quick. He put the wine on the table, handed the rice cake to his wife, gave her a wink, and she took it and went into the kitchen.

"Come inside quickly, it's cold outside. Honey, fry some eggs!"

Han Dechun ushered Lin Nuo and Qi Dawu into the main room.

A square table stood in the main room; the lacquer was worn and scratched, but it was wiped clean. Han Dechun poured hot water for the two of them.

"Brother, what's your surname?" Han Dechun sat down, took out his cigarette case, and handed one to Lin Nuo.

"My surname is Lin, Lin Nuo. I'm from Liujiagou. This is my brother, Qi Dawu."

Lin Nuo waved his hand, refusing the cigarette. Han Dechun lit it himself, took a drag, and exhaled smoke from his nose.

"Brother Lin, how many chicks do you want to buy?"

Han Dechun flicked his cigarette ash and got straight to the point.

Lin Nuo put down the jar, his voice firm:

"I'll buy fifty to try first. Brother Han, this is my first time raising chickens, could you give me some advice? Which is more cost-effective, chicks or young chickens?"

Han Dechun put the cigarette in his mouth, not holding back at all, and said earnestly:

"Chicks are cheap, costing three to five cents each, but they need to be taken care of carefully. The first month is the most crucial; temperature, disease prevention, and feeding are all essential."

"The temperature in the chicken coop must be kept at around 30 degrees Celsius. It should not be lower than 32 degrees Celsius in the first week, and then it should be lowered by two degrees each week until it stabilizes at 20 degrees Celsius. Someone has to keep an eye on it at night. If you're not careful, the chickens will be crushed, frozen, or have diarrhea. Not 70 or 80 percent of a batch will survive."

He paused, then took another drag of his cigarette:

"Since you've never raised chickens before, I suggest you buy young chickens first. They're a bit more expensive, around 1.2 to 1.5 yuan each, and they've already survived the most dangerous stage. You can raise them for a little over a month and they'll start laying eggs. The risk is low."

Lin Nuo nodded, calculating in his mind: fifty young chickens, at one yuan and fifty cents each, that's seventy-five yuan. Adding the cost of building the chicken coop and feeding, he definitely had enough money. He then asked another question:

"Brother Han, what are the main things to watch out for in the spring epidemic prevention?"

Han Dechun glanced at him, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. To ask so many questions meant he genuinely wanted to do a good job. He stubbed out his cigarette and counted on his fingers:

"Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, and fowlpox are the three most important. The chicks need to be vaccinated on the day they arrive, and then checked every ten days to two weeks. The vaccines are available at the veterinary station; they're not expensive, and one dose can vaccinate dozens of chicks."

Lin Nuo kept all of this in mind and then followed Han Dechun to the chicken coop in the backyard.

The chicken coop was in the backyard, a converted few large brick houses with open windows for ventilation and dry straw spread on the ground. A flock of half-grown chickens ran around in the coop, their yellowish-brown feathers and red combs clucking.

The air was filled with the smell of chicken manure and hay, mixed with the fragrance of sun-dried hay.

The Han family's own home is a bit shabby, but the chicken coop is very tidy. No wonder the veterinary station said the chicks here are good.

Han Dechun squatted down and showed Lin Nuo a handful of chicken feed:

"This is cornmeal mixed with wheat bran, plus some vegetable leaves. We can't just feed them grains; the chickens need to eat greens too."

He then pointed to the water trough in the corner:

"Change the water frequently, as chickens like clean water. It's best to use water troughs made of sheet metal or stone; chickens will peck through plastic ones."

He then pointed to a wooden box in the corner of the chicken coop:

"This is a brooder box, used for raising chicks in winter. It has a small light bulb hanging on top to keep it warm. If you want to hatch your own chicks in the future, you'll need to get one of these."

Lin Nuo followed behind, memorizing everything. Qi Dawu also squatted down beside him, listening attentively, nodding occasionally, and muttering "cornmeal, wheat bran, vegetable leaves, water trough, brooder box" as if he were reciting a text.

These are all experiences; raising three or five chickens is different from raising a hundred, even though Lin Nuo said they were about the same when he advised his parents.

That's to put their minds at ease. Taking care of three is always easier than taking care of a hundred. You have to remember these things.

Back in the main room, the dishes were already served: a plate of scrambled eggs, a plate of peanuts, and a dish of pickled vegetables. Han Dechun's wife then brought out a pot of stewed chicken; the chicken pieces were stewed until tender, glistening with oil, and the aroma wafted straight into their noses.

"Brother Han, you're too kind."

Lin Nuo quickly stood up.

"Sit down, sit down. You've come all this way, it wouldn't be right not to have a meal."

Han Dechun poured the liquor, bulk baijiu, into a coarse porcelain bowl; the liquor was slightly yellow.

Lin Nuo was a major client, and he even brought gifts when he came to visit. Han Dechun felt it would be unreasonable not to treat him to a meal.

After a few rounds of drinks, Han Dechun's face was flushed, his slurred speech became slurred, and he talked even more. He held Lin Nuo's hand, his voice indistinct:

"Brother, to be honest with you, if you want fifty, I can pick the best for you. But if you want to raise more later, I can help you get them from other farms. In this business, reputation comes first."

Lin Nuo picked up her bowl and clinked it against his:

"Brother Han, don't worry. I'll build the chicken coop as soon as I get back. Once it's finished, I'll come and collect the chickens. As for the price... could you possibly lower it a little?"

Han Dechun was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, slapping the table:

"Brother, you're really good at bargaining. Okay! One dollar and twenty cents each, I'll pick the biggest one for you. Let's be friends!"

Lin Nuo did the math in his head: fifty pieces, one yuan and twenty cents, sixty yuan in total. Fifteen yuan less than he'd budgeted. He picked up the bowl:

"Brother Han, thank you so much! I'll definitely need your help in the future."

The two of them downed their drinks in one gulp. Qi Dawu sat beside them, but didn't drink; neither of them could get drunk.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to go home.

As they left Han Dechun's house, the sun was already setting. Qi Dawu walked beside Lin Nuo, his hands always in his pockets.

"Brother Nuozi, are we really going to raise chickens?"

"Okay. Go back and build the chicken coop first. Tomorrow I'll go to town to buy timber. Go find my older brother and ask if he's free so we can work together."

Qi Dawu nodded vigorously.

After taking a few steps, he leaned closer again, a mischievous smile on his face:

"Brother Nuozi, if that fat woman from the supply and marketing cooperative finds out you've made a fortune raising chickens, will she come all the way to our village?"

Lin Nuo glared at him irritably and gave him a feint kick:

"You've really gone astray, haven't you? You always bring up things you shouldn't discuss!"

Thinking of that fat woman, Lin Nuo almost got goosebumps. He must have forgotten to check the almanac before going out today. Had he gone too far in bullying Wan Qing last night?

Qi Dawu dodged forward, grinning from ear to ear.

These days, it's easy to succeed at anything, but Lin Nuo thinks raising chickens is the safest option, since they haven't introduced the white-feathered chickens of later generations yet.

Chicken and egg production is not yet that high, and market demand is also large. Once that kind of chicken is introduced on a large scale in the future, he will stop raising chickens and start raising black pigs or the like, focusing on quality.

Thinking of this, Lin Nuo's lips curled up slightly, and his steps became lighter.

Qi Dawu called out from behind, "Brother Nuozi, why are you walking so fast?"

Lin Nuo didn't even turn his head: "Go home! Work tomorrow!"

Qi Dawu exclaimed "Hey!" and jogged to catch up. The two walked side by side in the twilight, their shadows growing longer and longer.