Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

In the 1980s, rice cultivation in Northeast China was limited, and the region relied heavily on grain transfers from the south to the north.

The town's residents are rationed to only one or two kilograms of rice per month. If they want more, they have to pay five or six cents per kilogram for negotiated grain.

Without connections, it's impossible to get one.

State-run restaurants naturally used rice that was sold at negotiated prices; four ounces of rice cost 35 cents, making it even rarer and more precious than braised pork.

The combination of the two is considered a luxury, far exceeding the spending power of ordinary people.

Listening to the discussions around me.

Lang Qiuping dared not move at all, lowering his head as if he were about to crawl under the table.

Zhang Fengxia wasn't much better off.

The glistening braised pork and the fragrant, snow-white rice were right there, their aromas filling my nostrils, yet I just couldn't bring myself to pick up my chopsticks.

Zhang Wenshan pushed a bowl of rice in front of Lang Qiuping.

"To celebrate the establishment of the fishing and hunting group, you don't need to pay anything. This box is for the three of you to share. You can decide how to eat it and who gets to eat it."

Lang Qiuping raised his head, a thoughtful look on his face.

In this way, he effectively ate more braised pork and rice.

Because of that?

Or do you think he needs to be taken care of?

Zhang Wenshan stretched out his chopsticks, picked up a piece of braised pork that was covered in sauce and kept shaking, and put it into Lang Qiuping's bowl.

"The number of positions in the fishing and hunting team is limited, but that doesn't mean we can't hire people. My primary criterion is that they must be obedient and hardworking."

Lang Qiuping stared at the small bowl piled with rice and meat in front of him, and his breath hitched.

After hesitating for a moment, he picked up his chopsticks with trembling hands, carefully peeled off a piece of braised pork, and stuffed it into his mouth with rice.

The aroma of rice mixed with the rich flavor of meat fat explodes in your mouth.

Having only ever eaten coarse grains since childhood, he was momentarily dazed and unconsciously licked his lips.

delicious.

Not harsh, doesn't strain the throat...

"The rice smells so good, a hundred times better than cornbread." Zhang Fengxia swallowed her food, licking her lips repeatedly. "The meat is so tender, a hundred times better than my mother's!"

"Does Mom know how to make braised pork?"

"No, it definitely wouldn't taste good if she made it."

Zhang Wenshan chatted idly with his older sister, and finished a whole bowl of rice with just two pieces of braised pork.

Seeing that Lang Qiuping was still gnawing on that piece and didn't take any of the rest from the plate, I noticed that Lang Qiuping was still eating the piece and didn't bother to pick up the rest.

He pushed it directly in front of the other person: "It's all yours, eat it all."

"Shan, team leader, that's enough." Lang Qiuping subconsciously held up his bowl and dodged.

"I wouldn't even dare say I've had enough meat?" Zhang Wenshan scoffed, pulling out the receipt from the state-run restaurant and slamming it on the table.

The number 12.74 yuan was particularly eye-catching.

Lang Qiuping stared wide-eyed.

"Ge Ergui and Lin Cuihua, they can get more than three yuan each," Zhang Wenshan tempted. "Of course, as the number of people increases, the amount they get will naturally be less."

Do you want a share of the money?

"think!"

Lang Qiuping raised his head and answered without hesitation.

"I invited you to dinner because I think you're worth it and I want you to do things for me. Do you think I made the wrong choice?" Zhang Wenshan asked deliberately.

He made no mention of the life-saving grace, nor did he make any promises for the future.

Judging from the other person's experience and behavior, they are probably a sensitive and insecure child who lacks recognition and respect.

Lang Qiuping choked up, stopped talking, and buried his head in the rice and meat in his bowl, shoveling it into his mouth.

"Young man, where do you work?"

A well-mannered diner, seeing that they had finished talking, took the initiative to come forward.

"We are the Chishongtun fishing and hunting group," Zhang Wenshan said loudly, his eyes darting around as he immediately put on a different face.

"A collectively owned enterprise? Then I won't bother you any longer."

The expectant light on the man's face vanished instantly. He muttered something sullenly, then turned and walked away.

But soon, more people came up to them.

Zhang Wenshan welcomed everyone and quickly greeted most of the diners, chatting and laughing as if they were old friends.

The eldest sister was used to this.

Lang Qiuping was dumbfounded.

He can still chat and laugh with the well-dressed, secure townspeople without any fear; no wonder he can make money.

After dinner, Zhang Wenshan, as usual, took a stroll around the supply and marketing cooperative, the market, and the black market.

While researching prices, we purchased coarse iron wire, tung oil-soaked hemp rope, etc.

Zhang Fengxia was already used to this, but in Lang Qiuping's eyes, it was simply incomprehensible.

Two yuan, just like that, gone so easily?

Even after returning to the village, the shock on his face had not faded.

"Hey, put your things down." Lin Cuihua came forward and took the basket from his back, her face full of suspicion. "What are you thinking about?"

"..." Lang Qiuping opened his mouth, but he didn't know where to begin with his many words, and finally let out a sigh.

Ge Ergui also cast a curious glance at him.

Seeing that no one followed him in, Zhang Wenshan called out, "Come on over, let's divide the money."

Lin Cuihua and Ge Ergui could no longer care about anything else and rushed into the house, their four eyes fixed on the large ten-yuan bill on the table.

"Look carefully... Each person gets three dollars and eighteen cents, and the change is considered your meal payment."

Zhang Wenshan pulled out the receipt from the state-run restaurant and made a joke.

They returned home late, having missed their mealtime; Lin Cuihua and Ge Ergui had already asked their mother to leave them some food.

However, no one answered.

"Are you really selling these old things?" Xu Xiulian couldn't help but ask.

"Didn't you calculate it at home?" Zhang Wenshan turned his head and asked.

"that is……"

Before Xu Xiulian could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a crisp slap. Lin Cuihua had actually slapped herself hard on the left cheek.

"Wow, this isn't a dream."

She covered her face, wincing in pain, but her eyes were filled with excitement and joy.

"Isn't this too much?" Ge Ergui spoke slowly, a hint of fear in his eyes. "Fengxia and Qiuping have done just as much, I..."

"You are members of the fishing and hunting team, so you get what you're entitled to. Don't worry about them."

Zhang Wenshan cut Lin Cuihua off.

The two of them had likely experienced constant criticism and developed low self-esteem.

Without saying anything more, he took out the rolled-up change and stuffed it into Ge Ergui and Lin Cuihua's hands. Then he quickly laid out carbon paper and wrote down the receipt.

"Look carefully, if you have no objections, put your fingerprints on the paper and you can get the money."

"real?"

"Of course."

Without hesitation, Ge Ergui pressed his fingerprint on the paper.

"Uncle Ergui! At least take a look!" Zhang Wenshan tried to stop him, but it was too late.

"What are you looking at? You think you can rip off a penniless guy like me? Besides, I can't read."

"You must know this, right?" Zhang Wenshan stopped Lin Cuihua, who was about to imitate him, and said, "Read it aloud."

"Received..." Lin Cuihua finished reading with a wronged expression, almost grabbing the fingerprint as she pressed it down, then carefully unfolded the stack of loose bills and kept stroking them.

"Is it all done?"

At this moment, Zhang Fengxia walked in carrying two aluminum lunch boxes and a rough porcelain bowl.

A serving of braised pork in a state-run restaurant costs only seven or eight pieces, which is not much to begin with. When divided into three portions, it becomes even more meager and pitiful, with only two or three pieces of meat lying in each box, soaking in a thin layer of sauce.

"This is..." Lin Cuihua instinctively opened her mouth, then realized something was flowing out and quickly turned her head away.

"Today is the founding day of our fishing and hunting group, and we should have celebrated properly, but unfortunately, due to limited resources, we won't go through with any fancy celebrations."

Zhang Wenshan handed the two lunchboxes to Lin Cuihua and Lang Qiuping respectively.

"Uncle Ergui, please make do."

The lunchbox was a supply issued to my father when he went to repair the irrigation canal.

"No, I can't..."

Ge Ergui instinctively refused, but as soon as he spoke, his gaze swept over Lin Cuihua and Lang Qiuping, who were staring excitedly at the lunchbox.

He glanced at Zhang Wenshan again, seemingly lost in thought.

"Well, then I'll shamelessly accept it. I'll work for you from now on and I'll never have any second thoughts."

Seeing this, Lin Cuihua tentatively picked up the lunchbox and said in a trembling voice, "Me too."

"Me too," Lang Qiuping said, straightening his back as well.

A satisfied smile appeared on Zhang Wenshan's face as he personally saw the three of them out of the courtyard and arranged to meet again in the afternoon.

As soon as I turned around, I saw my little nephew following me to the door, drool hanging from his chin.

"Uncle, is the braised pork delicious?" Zhao Qiang asked eagerly.

Xu Xiulian, who came out next, rolled her eyes at her eldest daughter: "You're only thinking about eating yourself, don't you know to leave a piece for the child?"

How did you know I ate it?

"Don't you even know to wipe the grease off your lips?"

"Oh." Zhang Fengxia touched her mouth and chuckled, "No need to keep any, there's still one left."

Xu Xiulian paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and turned to look for her son.

But all that could be heard was Zhang Wenshan's voice coming from afar.

"I'm going to the brigade leader's house."