Chapter 1130: See If They Meet Your Eye

"Swapping is swapping, and besides, it's the Jiao family who've given me a favor: 'Alright, then keep some aside for Uncle first; if there's any left over, we'll swap them out later.'"

Grandpa Afu also spoke up: "Young lady, how do you swap for your flashlight and batteries? Our family has always wanted to buy one, but those things require industrial coupons..."

As he spoke, he wore an embarrassed expression; he often sailed out of the village, and sometimes, if delayed, he couldn't return before dark. Having a flashlight would make things safer, yet he had never been able to fulfill this wish.

Now hearing that Liu Chuxue had brought a flashlight, how could he not be excited?

He was now calculating that his own dried seafood might not be enough for the swap, and was thinking of going to his own clan brothers' place in a moment to check; if all else failed, he would make up the difference with money.

Liu Chuxue knew Grandpa Afu was now of advanced age and no longer participated in the offshore fishing operations, but the boat he had driven today belonged to the village; he was responsible for ferrying villagers, and the village recorded work points for him: "Alright, then we'll keep one for you, old sir, and a pair of dry batteries as well."

Grandpa Afu's face was all smiles: "Young lady, my family's dried goods might not be enough to swap for that flashlight; if I can't gather enough in a moment, I'll make up the rest with money. Do you think that's acceptable?"

Such a good thing; surely the villagers would all want to bring dried seafood to swap, and he couldn't be certain that his own clan brothers could spare him enough seafood.

Liu Chuxue smiled and nodded: "If it were others, it would certainly not be allowed, since I am here to swap for seafood, but Grandpa Afu, you are an exception."

This put Grandpa Afu's mind at ease: "That's good, that's good."

Grandpa Afu's desire to buy a flashlight was known to most of the village, yet the Brigade Captain also wanted to swap for one. His family originally had a flashlight, which was the only electrical appliance in the home; he guarded it as if it were his own eyeball, not even allowing his little grandson to use it.

But during the last rainstorm, he went out to check the situation, fell, and the flashlight was knocked into the water. Even though he rushed home immediately upon finding it and wiped it dry with a dry cloth, the flashlight ultimately became unusable; not only did the switch become stiff and unresponsive when pressed, but the light flickered, unstable in its contact: "Little girl, how many flashlights do you have?"

Hearing these words, Liu Chuxue looked again at the longing in the Brigade Captain's eyes: "You also want to swap for a flashlight?"

The Brigade Captain nodded heavily: "Yes."

Liu Chuxue smiled: "That's perfect; I happen to have two right here."

The Brigade Captain slapped his thigh, joy overflowing on his face: "That would be wonderful."

Everyone has their own degrees of closeness and distance. Aside from her backpack, Liu Chuxue carried only a handbag, and the good things inside were limited; naturally, the Brigade Captain wanted to look after his own people. "Um, what was your name again?"

Liu Chuxue smiled: "Uncle Dewang, my name is Liu Chuxue."

The Brigade Captain coughed lightly: "Um, Liu Chuxue, this is not the place to talk. Since you have come to Jiaotang East Village, we certainly won't let you suffer any loss. Here's the plan: since you are related to the Jiao family's daughter-in-law, why not stay at the Jiao family's place first? We will go find people right away and have interested villagers bring their own seafood over. Do you think this arrangement works?"

Liu Chuxue glanced at Uncle Jiao, saw him nod, and said: "Alright, then let's just follow what the Brigade Captain said."

No sooner had Liu Chuxue stepped into the Jiao family's home than the Brigade Captain's daughter-in-law and Grandpa Afu's daughter-in-law arrived with their family's dried seafood.

The Brigade Captain's daughter-in-law looked at Liu Chuxue with joy on her face: "Miss, I am from the Brigade Captain's family. These are our own sun-dried yellow croaker, dragon-head fish, mixed fish, along with some dried shrimp, dried small shrimp, cuttlefish dates, kelp, and laver. See if they meet your eye?"