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

"We need to ask for more money for the land; this job is too daunting."

Mrs. Wang squinted, staring intently at the only road leading into the village.

Before seeing the basket of snails, she hesitated. Old Li's family only leased the land for a year at a high price, and it was hard to say what would happen after that.

After seeing it...

What a load of bull! Several families split the money, how many cents do you actually get per person?

They're still selling worthless snails.

Why would that thing need to work with you guys?

"Look, Zhang Wenshan is back."

Someone shouted, and everyone looked up to see Ge Ergui driving a horse-drawn carriage, swaying along the bumpy dirt road.

The Zhang siblings sat in the back, holding up fish baskets to shield themselves from the sun.

"The sun was really strong in the 1980s, I should have bought a straw hat."

Zhang Wenshan fanned himself irritably with his hand; two buttons on his coarse cloth jacket were already undone, and sweat dripped down his neck.

"No way, we have some at home, we can make those ourselves," Zhang Fengxia quickly stopped her.

I can fool her about other things, but if I buy her a straw hat, I'll really beat her up.

"That's true." Zhang Wenshan wiped his sweat, realizing he was just overheated, and that the culprit was the coarse cotton clothes that weren't breathable.

Zhang Fengxia breathed a sigh of relief, and then heard her younger brother say...

"Not only do I need a straw hat, but I also need to change my clothes. Dacron should keep me cooler."

Zhang Fengxia's lips twitched, and she was about to offer some advice when a voice called out to her.

"Shanzi, come over and chat for a bit!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, under the shade of the banyan tree, several elderly women were waving vigorously, and sure enough, Old Mrs. Wang's mean face was among them.

"Little brother, we can't go." Zhang Fengxia immediately became vigilant. "If we make a move, we'll be at a disadvantage."

At home, my mother can help me.

Now, facing a group of older women, I'm the only one who can take action.

Ge Ergui didn't say anything, but with a flick of his wrist, he raised the whip and was about to speed away.

"It's alright, let's go over and chat." Zhang Wenshan stood up, jumped off the carriage, and strolled over, full of confidence.

In people's eyes, fishing and hunting are ultimately an unstable livelihood.

Even if you make 120 dollars, let alone 120, once the initial shock wears off, people will just think you were lucky and it won't last.

Only by generating profits over a sustained period of time can the dissenting voices be silenced and actions made easier.

The snail orders from state-run restaurants undoubtedly accelerated this process significantly.

This will allow him to better carry out subsequent plans.

"Hey everyone, what's up?"

Zhang Wenshan strolled over to the well, casually scooped up a handful of cold water from someone's bucket, and splashed it hard on his face.

Water droplets splashed everywhere, and the heat dissipated.

Comfortable!

The surroundings were completely silent. The women looked at each other, hesitant to speak.

Mrs. Wang is right.

The relief for impoverished households was provided using the grain that everyone had contributed to the collective. The impoverished households used less of it; the grain was used to repair bridges and roads, rent agricultural machinery, and fight disasters...

These public affairs can be handled more efficiently.

Zhang Wenshan led the team through a busy day, but they didn't make any money, and the work in the fields was also delayed.

Isn't it just about using up everyone's old capital?

But it's not easy to say this out loud, because asking it would be tantamount to questioning the collective decision.

"None of them can handle things."

Mrs. Wang's gaze swept over the crowd, who looked like quails, with disdain on her face.

Just as he was about to step forward himself, he suddenly caught sight of Zhang Fengxia and Ge Ergui approaching.

He immediately sat back down.

Fortunately, a boy couldn't hold back any longer: "Brother Shanzi, are you really going to collect snails to sell for money?"

"real."

"Is...is that thing valuable?" The boy's eyes suddenly lit up, and he fiercely pulled his toes back from his cloth shoes.

"Can you read?" Zhang Wenshan asked instead of answering.

The boy didn't understand, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Come on, read it aloud." Zhang Wenshan took out the acquisition agreement and handed it to the child.

The boy quickly rubbed his hands on his clothes, took the agreement, and began to read it haltingly.

"In response to the national call to develop rural sideline industries and ensure the supply of ingredients to state-run restaurants... a snail supply agreement was signed with the Chishongtun fishing and hunting group..."

The boy's voice trembled more and more.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.

State-owned hotel?

That's a place only cadres and city people can get into; you have to pay cash to get in!

"Shanzi, you've really made something of yourself! You're even doing business with state-run restaurants now?"

Suddenly, an older woman jumped out from the crowd, grabbed a freshly washed towel, and pressed it against Zhang Wenshan's face without saying a word.

"Quickly wipe yourself dry, don't catch a chill."

"Did I hear that right? From now on, we'll be delivering snails to the state-run restaurant every day?"

"No way, that's absolute nonsense. What kind of place is a state-run restaurant? Would they need that kind of thing?"

"It's real; it's stamped with a red seal."

In an instant, everyone crowded around, craning their necks to stare at the acquisition agreement, looking at it again and again, but no one dared to touch it.

"So, we can sell the snails we harvest to state-run restaurants from now on?"

"Dream on! They're buying goods from the mountains, and there seem to be some standards involved."

"What standards?"

"I don't recognize them all."

Zhang Wenshan reached out and took back the agreement, then coughed lightly twice.

The noisy crowd immediately quieted down.

"The purchase price for state-run restaurants is divided into two grades: five cents for the large ones and four cents for the small ones..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

The scene erupted in chaos once again.

"What the heck, four points, five points?"

"Shanzi, you can't be fooled, can you? This is something nobody would want even if it were given away for free!"

"This is a business transaction between government and government entities! It's a state-run restaurant responding to the call to provide special assistance to the impoverished households in our village." Zhang Wenshan cleared his throat and raised his voice, "They want processed snails..."

He briefly explained a few standards, and everyone looked enlightened.

"Such high demands! Where can you find so many big ones?"

"It's just like how we find easy jobs for people in need in our village!"

"Shanzi, can you help me sell some of my catch?" someone shouted eagerly.

Zhang Wenshan didn't even glance at the person who spoke: "The state-run restaurant has a limited number of seats, so it will definitely prioritize the fishing and hunting team. If there are any extra seats, we will notify everyone as soon as possible."

After saying that, he left.

There's still a lot of work to be done.

……

When Mrs. Wang returned home with a droopy eyebrow, her daughter-in-law was leading her grandson in chopping firewood.

I saw her.

Chunhua quickly put down her axe and ran over in a few strides, her face beaming with a smile: "Mother, how is it?"

"Someone from Old Li's family just came and told us to hurry up, because they can give us this much for four mu of land."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and made an eight, her excitement barely concealed.

This price is already at its absolute limit.

If I work hard and do more odd jobs, plus the subsidies from the team, I might be able to afford meat for the New Year.

However, instead of the expected joy, the old woman's face suddenly widened in surprise: "You didn't take the money, did you?"

"No!" Chunhua shuddered in fright and quickly said, "What kind of people are the Li family? How could they possibly pay first?"

"That's good, that's good." Old Mrs. Wang breathed a sigh of relief, swaying as she sat on the woodpile used for chopping firewood, her eyes vacant.

"Mother, go inside and rest. What are you doing here?" Chunhua hurriedly tried to help her up.

Mrs. Wang waved her hand weakly and said, "I never thought that after living my whole life, I would misjudge someone at the very end."

Upon seeing this, Chunhua couldn't help but feel nervous.

Just as I was about to ask more questions, I heard voices outside.

"Aunt Wang."

"Ergui?" Old Mrs. Wang turned her head, recognized the person, and gave a wry smile. "What, are you here to laugh at this old lady?"

"How could I dare?" Ge Ergui said in a gruff voice. "There's a business opportunity, would you like to take it?"

Mrs. Wang was stunned for a moment.

He jumped up in the next second.

"Quickly, invite your older brother inside and make the sugar water."