Reborn in 78, I made my fortune by working in the mountains, supporting three families on my own.

Qin Changlin occasionally hunted more game, but he only dared to exchange it for some money or grain coupons at the supply and marketing cooperative.

He wouldn't dare to do what Zhao Lei and his brothers did, selling the harvest they got from the mountain.

Zhao Lei explained, "Uncle Changlin, I know you're worried about us being labeled as speculators, right? But don't worry, we sell them to the supply and marketing cooperative or other specific places at the normal market price."

Hearing this, Qin Changlin finally felt relieved.

Because he privately suspected that Zhao Lei must have connections.

Otherwise, he had hunted over a thousand catties of wild boar meat in Qingshuigou and sold it for quite some time without anyone coming to cause trouble.

He didn't know it, but Zhao Lei knew it in his heart.

It is now the end of June 1978. In July, the household contract responsibility system was already being implemented in a certain place, and it will be promoted nationwide around the end of the year.

The following year, the clarion call for reform and opening up was sounded.

Therefore, during this transitional period, behaviors that were previously considered speculative and profiteering have begun to loosen up.

In many places, people turn a blind eye, because the economy needs to flow so that everyone can live a better life.

Therefore, Zhao Lei had no such worries, as long as he didn't go too far, he wouldn't be suppressed by his superiors.

His behavior of taking his brothers to catch fish and wild boar to sell was completely within acceptable limits.

Zhao Lei genuinely wanted to recruit Qin Changlin, the veteran hunter, into his team.

Therefore, without any concealment, he also mentioned the fish order that the brothers had negotiated at the Jinxiu Textile Factory.

Qin Changlin was deeply shocked after hearing this.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Lei was able to connect with the factory manager of Jinxiu Textile Factory, who regularly wanted to buy several hundred kilograms of fish.

This is a big deal!

Qin Changlin became more and more excited as he listened, and suddenly realized that being with several young people made him feel more energetic.

He said excitedly, "Lei Zi, I think I understand now. So, if we can catch several hundred kilograms of fish every day, even Factory Director Li would want them?"

"Yes, Uncle Changlin, but it's unrealistic to expect to catch hundreds of kilograms of fish every day, isn't it?"

"What's unrealistic about it? As long as we have the tools, a good location, and no one interferes, it'll work. Didn't you say that Director Li recommended a place to borrow tools?"

"Yeah, but where do we get it?"

Speaking of this, Qin Changlin said with some difficulty, "Well, our Heping Brigade only has a small section of the lower reaches of the Qingshui River. If we could go to the upper reaches of the Qingshui River, catching several hundred catties of fish every day would not be a problem at all."

Qin Bowen perked up immediately: "Then let's go! The Qingshui River belongs to everyone, what's wrong with going fishing there?"

"Oh, Bowen, you're still young. The upper reaches of the Qingshui River are under the jurisdiction of the Qingshuigou Brigade. We from the Heping Brigade have no right to go there..."

Zhao Lei interrupted, "Wait, Uncle Changlin, perhaps I really do have that authority."

"Oh? Lei Zi, what do you mean?"

Zhao Lei then told Qin Changlin about Zhao Chenglong's guarantee that he could go hunting and fishing in Qingshuigou, and that Zhao Chenglong would take responsibility if anything went wrong.

Upon hearing this, Qin Changlin was overjoyed and slapped his thigh: "Wow! Lei Zi, you're a genius! I didn't expect you to get Zhao Chenglong's approval? That makes things much easier! Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

"Where?"

Zhao Lei and Qin Bowen asked in unison.

As Qin Changlin led the way, he said to the two brothers, "I know a place, in Qingshuigou. This place is also part of the Qingshui River, but it is also connected to a tributary of the Qingfeng Reservoir."

"Didn't it rain heavily a few days ago and the reservoir released water? Although the main stream flows towards Sanhe Township, a lot of fish must have flowed into the Qingshui River along this tributary. Let's go there; I guarantee we'll find something!"

Zhao Lei and Qin Bowen were also extremely excited when they heard this.

As the three talked, they quickened their pace considerably.

Before long, they arrived at the place Qin Changlin had mentioned.

Sure enough, the two brothers took a closer look.

This river is part of the Qingshui River, but another river flows into it from the west, which is the tributary of the Qingfeng Reservoir that Qin Changlin mentioned.

At first glance, you can see a lot of fish splashing and churning on the river.

Moreover, the abundant aquatic plants nearby demonstrate that the fish population in this area is in excellent condition.

Qin Changlin smiled smugly: "How about it? Was I right about this place? This river is six or seven meters wide. If we can get a boat, it would be best if we could fish both upstream and downstream."

Zhao Lei seemed to see a pile of money beckoning to him, and said to Qin Changlin, "Uncle Changlin, can you estimate what tools we need for the three of us plus Wang Zongbao and Qin Dashan, making a total of five people? We'll go to Sanhe Township this afternoon to borrow the tools, and tomorrow we'll go all out."

"Great, Lei Zi. I think one boat is enough for the five of us. We'll also need one or two fishing nets, preferably nets that can be spread out across the river for six or seven meters, blocking the waterway below. We can then drive the fish from above, and they'll dart right into the net. Let alone a hundred or two hundred pounds, with a bit of luck, we could catch several hundred pounds!"

Zhao Lei nodded repeatedly: "Okay, Uncle Changlin, I've got it all figured out."

Qin Changlin added, "We also need to prepare several more large buckets for the fish, as well as waterproof tarpaulins and other such things... Just as Lei Zi said, once we've negotiated the supply with Director Li, we can catch the fish and take them directly there. Otherwise, it's troublesome to raise them ourselves and bring them back, as this place is quite a distance from our home."

"Okay, Uncle Changlin, let's do it this way."

The three of them then walked along the river for a while to check the situation in the river.

Qin Changlin was even more certain that there must be plenty of fish in this place.

After finding a suitable location, Zhao Lei noticed it was getting late and suggested that the three of them go home separately and meet at Zhao Lei's house in the afternoon to go to Sanhe Township together.

After parting ways with Qin Bowen and Qin Changlin, Zhao Lei returned home.

When I passed by the supply and marketing cooperative in the commune compound, I bought some brown sugar on the way, and was preparing to go home to cook and brew medicine for my two sick wives.

But as soon as he arrived near his home, he saw a plump middle-aged woman leaving her house...

The two met briefly on the road, one after the other.

Upon seeing Zhao Lei, the other person appeared quite reserved and quickened their pace.

Zhao Lei took a deep breath and looked thoughtfully at the other person's back.

hiss.......

Why does this person look so familiar?

How did she get out of my house?

Zhao Lei was in a hurry to get home and cook, so he didn't think much of it.

Upon entering the courtyard, he saw Su Wanqing sitting at the entrance with a frown, and suddenly he remembered!

That plump woman from earlier had a big mole on her face...

Zhao Lei's heart skipped a beat.

wrong!

That person just now seemed to be talking about the matchmaker, Qin Sufeng!