Chapter 103: Taking It Seriously: Zhuge Liang First

The young people in the team originally thought Li Long would cherish the bicycle even more after buying it, letting others only take a look at most, but they didn't expect him to be so unselfish; he even let everyone try it out, instantly winning everyone's favor.

Before Gu Ermao arrived, he was convinced Li Long would lock the bike up, perhaps not even letting anyone touch it, but this time he miscalculated.

Xu Haijun rode the bike around the courtyard once, then returned and exclaimed:

"Riding this new bike is just comfortable! Xiao Long, how much did you pay for it?"

"Over one hundred and sixty," Li Long said. "Not expensive; the reinforced design can carry a lot of stuff."

"One hundred and sixty isn't expensive?" Tian Siping couldn't help but say. "That's enough for over four hundred kilograms of seventy-five flour; that could feed us for a year!"

Li Long thought to himself that it wasn't calculated that way; with this bicycle, if he went into the mountains every other day, he could earn the money back in a week.

But he couldn't say that; if he did, the others would accuse him of bragging, so he didn't explain anything.

"Why haven't you been selling fish lately?" Qin Hongyan asked curiously. "Is fish hard to sell now?"

"Not really; I've been busy in the mountains lately, hunting," Li Long said. Since he would spend nearly half his time in the mountains from now on, there was nothing to hide.

"Caught another wild boar?" Xu Haijun's eyes lit up as he asked.

"Not just wild boars; there were roe deer too," Li Long said. "There's plenty in the mountains, it's just hard to find."

Although he said that, everyone else wore expressions of envy.

"The team's bullets are almost all exchanged by you; hunting must be quite satisfying," Xu Haijun teased with a smile.

"It's okay, but you only know once you go; our skills at the shooting range are far from enough once we enter the mountains." Seeing no one else wanted to ride, Li Long set up and locked the bicycle, then led everyone into the east room. "Come in; it's still cold outside."

"Is it colder in the mountains?"

"Definitely; I wear felt boots in the mountains," Li Long said, pointing to the felt boots by the heated kang. "Otherwise, you simply can't withstand it."

These young people were very curious about life in the mountains, so Li Long told them what he could. However, when they heard there were wolves in the mountains, and that the wolves were fierce, they truly fell silent.

No matter how skilled one is, facing fierce and cunning wolves, no one would think to put themselves in danger.

"After spring arrives, the team's sideline group might head into the mountains," Xu Haijun suddenly said. "Will you go, Xiao Long?"

"No," Li Long stated plainly. "I won't participate in the team's public work this year; I'll just pay the money at the end of the year."

One work point was eight fen, requiring a full day's labor. If Li Long went into the mountains once, or even if he didn't, he could earn thirty to fifty fen by setting nets and catching fish at Xiaohaizi in a single day; one day's earnings could cover a year's public work, so why make things difficult for himself?

Li Long had this confidence and boldness, but others did not. Now, the Li family's life was unique in the team, with meat and white flour mantou every day—Li Qiang no longer wanted to eat corn flour. As for Li Long himself, he was thinking that when he next went to the morning market to sell things, he would buy some eggs to nourish the whole family.

"I want to join the sideline team," Tian Siping suddenly said. "The sideline team goes to dig for fritillaria; the procurement station pays over thirty yuan per kilogram of dried fritillaria, and even fresh fritillaria sells for five or six yuan. A skilled person can dig four or five kilograms a day; after handing over the team's share, they still keep quite a bit of money."

Gu Ermao sneered:

"That's for veterans; for a novice like you, digging even one kilogram a day would be good." Qin Hongyan sighed, "Novices become veterans with practice. The sideline team digs for fritillaria for a month; surely they'll become skilled by then. It's a pity the sideline team doesn't take women; otherwise, I'd want to go too."

Her gaze turned to Li Long, hoping he might offer her some guidance.

Gu Ermao sneered again:

"Even if they wanted women, you wouldn't qualify. Living and eating in the mountains is inconvenient; over a dozen people stay in one winter shelter; what would a woman do? Just stay in the team properly!"

Gu Ermao had become a driver apprentice and felt his status was superior to others, so he often lectured this one and that one. Everyone originally held back due to his status, but today he talked too much and became annoying. Qin Hongyan rolled her eyes at him:

"You're so capable! You're just an apprentice! People say a driver apprentice might not even touch a car for three years, and after three years, who knows how you'll turn out?"

Her words left Gu Ermao's face burning red. He really hadn't touched a car yet; his master was quite strict, demanding tributes and such without fail, but as soon as he mentioned touching a car, the master scolded him for aiming too high, wanting to run before he could walk.

Just as Gu Ermao was preparing to argue with Qin Hongyan, Li Long interjected:

"Actually, while men go to the sideline team, women can do other things too."

"What?" Qin Hongyan asked urgently. "As long as I can earn money, I'm not afraid of hard work."

"I saw many people selling baskets woven from willow branches at the morning market these past two days. The red willow branches on the wasteland to our east grow so well in spring; when farming slows down in spring, weave some baskets to sell. One basket sells for two or three yuan, and you can weave two or three a day; that's quite a bit of earnings."

Li Long spoke the truth. In these years, supplies were scarce; people in the city thought items in the department stores were too expensive, so using such baskets for storage was quite good and cheap. Thus, the business of selling baskets at the morning market was quite good.

!.

"Weaving baskets?" Qin Hongyan looked troubled. "Um... I'm not very good at that."

Li Long smiled and said:

"When spring comes, do you know there are wild mushrooms by the dam?"

"Of course; we definitely know."

"Pick the wild mushrooms and take them to the county; they sell for one yuan per kilogram. With a bit of hard work, you can earn quite a lot."

There were two plots of land near the production team. Until Li Long died in his previous life, wild mushrooms could be dug up every spring and autumn. Locals called them reed mushrooms; their scientific name is Agaricus bisporus. This reputation spread far; in later generations, people even drove cars from the city to dig mushrooms here.

In these years, artificially cultivated mushroom production was still relatively low; as an excellent ingredient, wild mushrooms naturally attracted many who wanted to eat them.

This was doable; not only did Qin Hongyan ponder it, but others were also considering the feasibility of this matter.

When Li Qiang came to call Li Long for dinner, the young people tactfully left. This time, Wu Shufen didn't dare to come over, but at home, her mother, Wang Yuzhen, scolded her severely, blaming her for taking the initiative to break up with Li Long.

Now that he even has a bicycle, his future is obviously bright!

Wu Shufen hid in her room, covering her ears, not wanting to hear these words.

She was also very annoyed—resenting Li Long in her heart: After breaking up, why have you become so excellent? What were you doing before?

Perhaps if Li Long came to reconcile with her now, she would agree? But thinking of her unclear relationship with Gu Ermao, she knew this was impossible.

So annoying!

(End of Chapter)