I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

The first batch of potatoes was loaded onto a train and sent to Beijing.

There was no need for anyone to accompany them. Once the potatoes arrived in Beijing, Commissioner Pu sent the logistics department to bring them back. All the payments, totaling 23,400 yuan, were deposited into a special bank account of the Ministry of Agriculture.

After deducting all expenses, the Ministry of Agriculture made a net profit of 10,000 yuan.

The second batch of potatoes was transported to Shanghai by truck, with Gu Quan and Zhao Jintao escorting the truck.

Accompanying them was the purchasing department of the provincial supply and marketing cooperative, who were going to Shanghai to purchase potatoes. The purchasing department of the supply and marketing cooperative would cover the fuel costs for transporting the potatoes, as well as the hard work expenses for the drivers and escorts.

The Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Procurement Department warmly received Gu Quan and Zhao Jintao, accepted the potatoes, and settled the payment, which was then taken back by Zhao Jintao and Gu Quan.

It cost a total of over 25,000 yuan. There were no other fees this time, so we made a net profit of half.

Holding a letter of introduction from Committee Member Pu, the Minister of Purchasing of Shanghai Municipality, accompanied by comrades from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, visited the Shanghai Watch Factory, Bicycle Factory, Rice Cooker Factory, Sewing Machine Factory, Electric Fan Factory...

Shanghai is indeed a major city that is in line with international standards; it has everything that you can't see in other places.

The comrades from the supply and marketing cooperative regretted not bringing enough money. Fifty thousand yuan filled several trucks; if they had gone to the provincial capital, they could have made fifty thousand yuan in profit. The head of the purchasing department generously offered to send Zhao Jintao and Gu Quan the same scarce goods. Zhao Jintao hesitated to accept, but Zhou Zhonghai called to say, "Accept it, we'll give you the purchase price; it won't be considered bribery."

So Zhao Jintao used the 100 yuan subsidy to buy a sewing machine and a bicycle.

Gu Quan bought a rice cooker and a bicycle.

No wonder purchasing is such a lucrative job; they can get their hands on in-demand goods at bargain prices.

A bicycle costs over a hundred yuan in a store in the provincial capital and requires a ration coupon, but at the factory, you can buy it for fifty yuan without a coupon.

Unfortunately, all supplies could only be obtained through government channels; otherwise, I don't know how much money I could make by opening a small shop.

Zhao Jintao remembered what Uncle Zhou had said: commerce also needs reform, and individual businesses will be legalized in the future.

If you can really start your own business, it would be great to set up a shop for Fenglin.

Finally, led by the purchasing department, we visited a well-known garment factory in Shanghai, where all kinds of shirts and skirts were on display.

Clothes were everywhere—on the floor, on the machine tools.

Zhao Jintao was truly amazed. The dresses in Shanghai were so beautiful, all the latest styles, leading the fashion trend across the country.

Zhao Jintao ran out of money, so he borrowed money from Gu Quan and bought a dress for Fenglin and Qiaoqiao, and a white shirt for Uncle Zhou, Yang Zheng, and Professor Dong, whom he had never met.

Having come to Shanghai, it was natural to visit Yang Zheng. Since Zhao Jintao didn't have any money, he decided to give Yang Zheng a piece of clothing instead.

Zhao Jintao kept this in mind and asked the clothing factory's salesman for his phone number. In case Feng Lin wanted to do business and came to him to get goods, wouldn't that be much more convenient?

The purchasing staff of the supply and marketing cooperative really didn't want to miss this opportunity, so they contacted Minister Zhou by phone and borrowed the money they needed to sell potatoes, promising to repay it when they got back.

Finally, everything was taken care of, and all that was left was to ship the goods home the next day.

Zhao Jintao went to Professor Dong's office wearing a white shirt.

Yang Zheng was diligently making the mold when Professor Dong nudged him, asking, "Yang Zheng, is that person outside looking for you?"

A tall, dark-skinned man stood at the doorway, looking nervously into the office.

"Excuse me……"

Yang Zheng turned his head and saw Zhao Jintao. He dropped what he was doing and exclaimed in surprise, "Jintao, why are you so late?"

Zhao Jintao smiled modestly: "I've been here for three days. I'll go take care of the potatoes first."

After looking at each other for a while, Yang Zheng introduced Zhao Jintao to Professor Dong: "Master, this is Zhao Jintao, my best friend."

Professor Dong extended his right hand in a gentlemanly manner: "Hello, my student often mentions you, saying that you have an extraordinary passion for agriculture."

Zhao Jintao also extended his right hand: "Professor Dong, hello. Yang Zheng mentions you every time he writes; he admires you very much."

Two large hands clasped together.

"Really? I might not admire you, I'll probably just call you a difficult old man..."

"A strict teacher produces outstanding students. Yang Zheng's rapid growth is inseparable from your strictness."

"Haha, I'll treat you tonight. Let's go eat some famous Shanghai dishes," Professor Dong readily suggested.

"Master, how about we forget about it? I'll just take Jintao to the cafeteria."

"Isn't it a joy to have friends coming from afar? How can we eat in the cafeteria?"

"Master..."

It wasn't that Yang Zheng was stingy; it was just that the food at the state-run restaurant was so sweet that even the cabbage was sweet, far inferior to what he could find in the canteen.

Zhao Jintao took out a white shirt and said, "Professor Dong, I bought two shirts for you and Yang Zheng."

Zhao Jintao's first white shirt was a gift from Yang Zheng. Today, Zhao Jintao is finally able to buy Yang Zheng a shirt.

"Hey, it's a silky fabric, smoother and shinier than my shirt. Jin Tao, is this a new style?"

Professor Dong examined the shirt closely and was very satisfied.

"I... I don't understand either."

"Thank you, Jin Tao, I really like this outfit."

Yang Zheng wasn't picky about clothes, but everything Jin Tao gave him was the best.

"Young man, thank you, I like it very much too." Professor Dong expressed his sincere gratitude.

Zhao Jintao smiled shyly. He was very poor and couldn't afford anything more presentable. He had to borrow the money to buy clothes from Secretary Gu.

"Let's go, Jin Tao, let's go to the cafeteria for lunch."

Yang Zheng pulled Jin Tao to leave, but Professor Dong exclaimed anxiously, "Didn't we say we were going to eat out?"

"Master, Jin Tao and I need to catch up, so we won't go. You should go home and have dinner."

"Hey, you guys are catching up, I don't have to listen."

"Master, your wife is waiting for you at home."

Yang Zheng pulled Zhao Jintao away, and Professor Dong was furious: "What kind of child is this? He thinks he's all grown up and doesn't care about his master anymore?"

"Here you go, Jintao, braised pork belly, this sweet one is okay. Shredded potatoes, loofah soup, sweet ones are also fine."

Yang Zheng placed several dishes in front of Jin Tao.

The two sat down, and Yang Zheng smiled and said, "Last time we ate at a state-run restaurant, they put sugar on it for free, and I almost threw up. The fish, braised flounder, had bright red chilies on top. One bite and it was like the sky was falling; it was so sweet it tasted bitter. So, I absolutely cannot let Master treat us, in case you don't get enough to eat."

"The food we ate at the guesthouse wasn't sweet at all. Could it be that the purchasing department specifically requested that?"

"The food in the cafeteria isn't very sweet either, they probably can't afford that much sugar. Eat up, Jin Tao."

Zhao Jintao picked up a piece of braised pork. It was delicious, a little sweet, but not too sweet.

"Fenglin gave birth, right?" Yang Zheng asked Zhao Jintao while eating.

"No, Fenglin miscarried," Zhao Jintao said sadly.

"Miscarriage? Fenglin is so healthy, how could she have a miscarriage?" Yang Zheng was shocked.

"If Qiaoqiao hadn't gone to find her, perhaps she wouldn't be here anymore. Yang Zheng, I'm the one who wronged Fenglin."

"This... Jintao, I'm sorry, Qiaomei has been helping with the wheat harvest back home, and we haven't spoken in a long time, so I don't know anything about your situation. But you're still young, there's still a chance."

"Fenglin has injured her body and may find it difficult to conceive again. Fenglin doesn't know she can no longer have children; she longs for a son and a daughter." Jin Tao smiled bitterly.

"Jin Tao, is Feng Lin too tired?"

"Yes, Uncle Zhou relaxed the economic regulations in Tonggang County, allowing the raising of chickens, ducks, and pigs. Fenglin raised two pigs and thirty Angora rabbits. I wasn't home, so the burden fell on her shoulders, and she fainted from exhaustion."

"Jin Tao, you can't let Feng Lin fall out of your way. She's had such a tough time."

"Uncle Zhou found Fenglin a temporary job in the provincial capital. We're together now, and I won't let her work so hard anymore."

"Take good care of yourself. Medicine is advancing, there will always be a chance," Yang Zheng advised.

"After arriving in the provincial capital, Fenglin's spirits improved significantly, and she had endless new stories to tell every day. If we don't have children, we can adopt one. I will never leave Fenglin; she was a good girl, and it was I who ruined her life."

"Yes, Jin Tao, you're great."