Flip the table and divide the family property! Take his wife and daughter into the mountains and eat

The midday sun was warm and pleasant.

The celebration banquet at the Zhao family compound was drawing to a close.

The villagers ate with gusto, their mouths greasy and their bellies round.

Although the wolf meat stew with tofu was a bit tough, it was a top-notch delicacy in those days when oil and salt were scarce.

The "wolf meat celebration feast" that the whole village had been eagerly anticipating was finally coming to an end.

The large iron pot in the center of the courtyard was empty, and even the soup had been wiped clean with steamed buns.

The ground was littered with gnawed thigh bones, piled up like small stacks of firewood.

The villagers, their mouths greasy and bellies round, were squatting in twos and threes against the wall, basking in the sun and picking their teeth.

"It smells so good... If I could eat this every day, I'd gladly shorten my lifespan by ten years!"

"Dream on! We only get this treat because we're with Brother Shanhe. This isn't wolf meat, it's dragon meat!"

The group chatted idly, their eyes filled with admiration and awe as they looked at the tall figure in a sheepskin coat standing at the entrance of the main house.

At this moment, several older women began to help Lin Xiu clear the dishes, while the younger men prepared to get up and say goodbye.

"Brother Shanhe, we'll head over now! We still need to feed the pigs back home."

"Alright, everyone take care." Zhao Shanhe stood on the steps, smiling and bowing as he saw the guests off.

Ergazi let out a burp and was about to follow the crowd out.

"Erga Zi".

Zhao Shanhe's voice suddenly rang in my ears, not loud, but very steady.

When Ergazi turned around, he found Zhao Shanhe looking at him, a cigarette between his fingers, and slightly raising his chin, signaling him not to leave.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Shanhe seemingly casually called out to a few more people:

"Uncle Liu, did you forget your pipe? Come back and get it."

"Dazhuang, Huzi, you two are strong, help me carry those bags of grain into the house."

The people whose names were called were a little stunned, but they quickly realized that Zhao Shanhe had something to tell them.

They stopped and waited until all the other villagers had left before turning back.

……

"Clang!"

The outer door of the main house was closed, shutting out the cold wind and noise from outside.

The room was warm, and the air was filled with the smell of tobacco and the aroma of freshly stewed meat.

Zhao Shanhe didn't make them work, but instead pointed to a few chairs and the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) next to him:

"Please sit down."

He then pulled out a pack of unopened "Daqianmen" cigarettes from his pocket, tore open the seal, and gave one to each person.

"Brother Shanhe, what is this...?"

Ergazi held his good cigarette, looking a little awkward.

He looked at the people in the room: Uncle Liu was a veteran sharpshooter, and Dazhuang and Huzi were well-known hotheads and daredevils in the village.

Everyone had a vague feeling that something big was about to happen.

Zhao Shanhe lit one for himself, took a deep drag, and exhaled a puff of bluish-gray smoke. His gaze, like that of an eagle, swept across the faces of the group.

"There's only one reason for keeping everyone here."

He pointed to the two imposing Jiefang trucks outside the window, still running:

"The county magistrate gave us a car, a gun, and a prestigious 'key station' signboard."

"What does this mean? It means that our business is going to expand significantly! We're going to break out of Kaoshantun and reach the county, even the province!"

At this point, Zhao Shanhe paused, leaning forward with an imposing air:

"How many nails can I, a body made of iron, manage on my own? I have to receive goods, escort trucks, and pull strings; I can't be in two places at once."

"I need help. I need true brothers who, when the wolves pounce, I'd trust them with my back, who'd fight the beasts with a pitchfork!"

"I saw it clearly last night; out of hundreds of people in the village, you few were the most courageous!"

Upon hearing this, the men's blood boiled instantly.

Erga Zi, his face flushed with excitement, tucked the cigarette behind his ear and pounded his chest, roaring:

"Brother Shanhe! So you've got your eye on my strength! No problem, as long as you don't mind my clumsiness, I'll be yours to carry this hundred-plus pounds from now on! You point and I'll go!"

"That's right! Brother Shanhe, we'll all follow you!" Dazhuang and Huzi patted their chests loudly.

Old Liu tapped his pipe, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy old eyes. He wasn't as excited as the young man, but his words were more composed:

"My dear Shanhe, I'm old and can't handle bayonet fighting anymore. But if you think highly of my eyes, just examine them and assess their quality; I can still hold my own for a few more years."

"good!"

Zhao Shanhe slapped his thigh and stood up abruptly, his ambition no longer concealed:

"Since everyone is willing, let's establish the rules!"

"From today onwards, our 'Kaoshantun Mountain Goods Transportation Team' is officially established!"

He held up one finger and began to point:

"Erga, you're quick-witted and daring. From now on, you'll be the transport team leader! These two trucks are your responsibility. I'll teach you how to drive, and you'll have to train a few apprentices for me! From now on, we'll be driving all over the place, from the county town to the provincial capital!"

Erga Zi's mouth dropped open, and he almost lost his balance. Driving? That was a skill that no one in the whole village would even dare to dream of!

"Uncle Liu, you're a senior colleague with plenty of experience. From now on, you'll be our station's chief quality inspector! You'll have veto power over all the goods we receive—classifying them, determining if they're counterfeit, and setting prices! We can't accept garbage and harm the country!"

Uncle Liu straightened his back and nodded solemnly.

"Dazhuang, Huzi, you two are in good shape. From now on, you'll be in the security section! I'll teach you how to use those five semi-automatic rifles. When our convoy hits the road, some people will definitely be envious. If we encounter robbers or troublemakers, you'll be our fists! Give them a good beating!"

The division of labor is clear and the responsibilities are well-defined.

This is no longer a small rural workshop; it's clearly the beginnings of a legitimate company!

The group listened with great enthusiasm, feeling an overwhelming surge of energy.

But what shocked them the most was yet to come.

Zhao Shanhe turned around and opened the leather suitcase that had always been placed on the kang cabinet.

"Snapped!"

He slammed several stacks of brand-new, neatly bundled "big unity" bills heavily onto the table.

"Everyone who follows me can't just rely on loyalty; they need to support their families."

Seeing the shocked looks on their faces, Zhao Shanhe spoke firmly:

"From now on, Erga and Uncle Liu will earn 35 yuan a month!"

"Dazhuang and Huzi, 30 yuan a month!"

"We get a meal allowance for driving, and year-end bonuses! We give out meat and flour during holidays! The company covers any major or minor emergencies for anyone in the family!"

boom--!!

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

The group was completely stunned, staring at the money on the table, forgetting even to breathe.

35 yuan?

In those days, even a regular employee or a minor cadre in the county would only earn a little over thirty yuan a month! In the countryside, a strong laborer might work himself to the bone all year and it was hard to say whether he would even get a hundred yuan as a year-end bonus.

With just one word from Zhao Shanhe, he offered them the treatment of an "eighth-grade worker"!

"Brother Shanhe...is this too much? This is against the rules..." Ergazi was so frightened that he stammered and his hands were shaking.

"Here, I am the rule!"

Zhao Shanhe waved his hand domineeringly, pushing the money in front of them:

"Take this money! This is a month's salary in advance! Go back and buy some good food for your elders, and get your wife some floral fabric! Let the whole village see how life is when you work with me, Zhao Shanhe!"

"Have your money safe, go home and get a good night's sleep."

Zhao Shanhe walked to the window, gazing at the distant, rolling Greater Khingan Mountains, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"The convoy will assemble first thing tomorrow morning."

"Target: Yangshugou!"

"I heard that a local tyrant called 'Zheng the Cannon' has monopolized all the mountain produce over there, and he's ripping off the villagers. Let's go meet him tomorrow and wipe that land out!"

Erga and the others exchanged glances, gripped the money in their hands, and saw a raging fire burning in each other's eyes.

He has money, guns, cars, and a boss like that.

This isn't about doing business; this is about conquering!

"Done!!"