Chapter 79

At the agricultural machinery factory residential area, the old man guarding the gate was already quite familiar with Li Long. He opened the window and asked Li Long with a smile:

"Young man, here to sell fish again? It's almost New Year's, aren't you taking a break?"

"What break? I'm just taking advantage of this time to earn some New Year money." Li Long remained cautious. Carrying a bag of fish and holding a leg of mutton in his hand, he said as he walked inside:

"We can't compare to you all. We don't see much money all year round, so every bit counts. Otherwise, we won't even have money to buy some sugar or peanuts for the New Year."

"That's not just a 'bit' of money," the old man said happily. "You earn a month's wages for others in a single day; that's not a small amount."

"That's not all my money, either," Li Long slowed his pace. "I have to share the money with the people who caught the fish, right? Don't look at me selling fish here alone; there are many people busy behind the scenes. It's warm staying indoors in this cold weather, but breaking ice on the lake is really tough work."

"That's true, it's hard-earned money." The old man expressed deep sympathy.

Li Long took the opportunity to ask:

"Old man, does anyone in this machinery factory want mutton?" He asked, raising the leg of mutton in his hand.

A unit as large as the agricultural machinery factory, and in this era when agricultural machinery was all the rage, their benefits should be very good; they wouldn't be short of money to buy a little mutton, right?

"Mutton? You're too late." The old man shook his head. "A few days ago, the factory's logistics section issued benefits—three kilograms of mutton per worker, the kind that doesn't require meat coupons. Now, every household has enough."

Li Long hadn't expected the factory to have thought ahead. A bitter smile appeared on his face:

"I was hoping that with this fish and this mutton, I could offer something fresh to help everyone have a better New Year—since they already have it, I'll just keep this leg of mutton."

Although it was highly likely that no one in this residential area would buy mutton, the fish still had to be sold.

But since the logistics section of the agricultural machinery factory had already considered this, were other factories the same? If so, he would have to pin his hopes on the Maxian supply and marketing cooperative.

But that would mean being at the mercy of others, which would be very passive. Yet, for the moment, there was no other way.

As Li Long walked inside, the old man called out from behind:

"Young man, go ask at the sugar refinery. I heard some workers in our factory saying that people over at the sugar refinery were envious of our factory's good benefits and the meat we were issued."

"Really?" Li Long turned his head sharply upon hearing this, a look of disbelief on his face. "Old man, are you telling the truth?"

"Of course it's true. Let me think..." The old man pondered for a moment and said, "It must have been the day before yesterday."

"Alright, thank you, old man!" Li Long turned around immediately, no longer intending to sell the fish. He walked out the gate, then turned back, pulled a three-kilogram large carp from his bag, and shoved it through the window:

"Old man, this is for you to eat. Thanks!"

Watching Li Long hurry away, the old man said happily:

"This kid... he's quite sensible!"

Tao Daqiang, on the horse cart, saw Li Long go in and then hurry back out, and his heart immediately jumped. When Li Long reached him, he asked anxiously:

"Brother Long, what's going on? They won't let us sell fish in there?"

"No, let's go, we're going to the sugar refinery first." Li Long took the reins, jumped onto the cart, flicked the whip, and drove the cart quickly toward the sugar refinery.

At the gate of the sugar refinery, which drifted with a sweet scent mixed with a strange burnt smell, the young guard looked Li Long up and down and asked:

"You say you're here to help our logistics section solve a problem? Who are you? Do you have an introduction letter?" "I do, but I'm telling the truth." Li Long pointed to the cart and said, "I heard your logistics section ran into some difficulties, so I took the initiative to bring the goods to your door. It wouldn't take much effort to give your section chief a call, would it?"

"That wouldn't take much effort... what is this?"

"Fish, mutton—don't you issue benefits for the holidays?" Li Long said in a low voice, "Freshly slaughtered mutton from the mountains, fish just caught in the lake. How about it?"

The young man's eyes lit up; these were really good things!

Seeing an opening, Li Long turned, took a fish from the cart, threaded it with a thin wire, and handed it over:

"Here, comrade, this is for you. Consider it a sample to check if the fish is fresh or not."

"I couldn't possibly..." The guard said this, but he took it without hesitation. Just kidding, this fish was worth two or three yuan. People in the residential area had already said that the fish was not only fresh but also looked beautiful. Taking this fish home would be another great dish for the New Year!

"Wait here, I'll give the logistics section a call. I can't guarantee whether they'll come or not."

"Alright, alright, I'm already very grateful." Li Long waved his hand with a smile.

By the cart, Tao Daqiang watched Li Long's words and actions with great envy, but he knew he couldn't pull it off. He was clearly there to promote goods, yet he claimed to be helping others solve a problem. He gave people fish, but in Li Long's mouth, it was just letting them verify the quality—Brother Long's brain really was sharp!

"Section Chief Hu, how would I dare to fool you? That man has an introduction letter, and there's fish and mutton on the cart. I've seen the fish; it's really fresh. The mutton is also..."

After hanging up the phone, the guard walked out and said to Li Long:

"I've passed the word along. When Section Chief Hu comes over in a bit, be careful. The section chief has been all over the country; if you're lying, he'll be able to tell in a minute..."

"How could I lie? I know what I'm doing." Li Long smiled. Being able to see the logistics section chief meant the matter was half-succeeded.

!.

Four or five minutes later, a middle-aged man who wasn't tall but looked quite sturdy walked out of the factory.

Arriving at the gate, he looked at Li Long, then at the guard. Before he could speak, Li Long stretched out both hands and walked over with a smile:

"Hello, Section Chief Hu, I'm Li Long from the Fourth Team of the Xinhu Brigade, Red Flag Commune, Maxian!"

"Hello..." You don't hit a smiling face. Section Chief Hu shook hands with Li Long and asked: "You're the one Xiao Wang said has fish and mutton..."

"That's me." Li Long could see the trace of distrust on Section Chief Hu's face, so he immediately said:

"Section Chief Hu, I just came down from the mountains yesterday. Take a look, this is a sample of the mutton." He turned, took a leg of mutton from the cart, and showed it to Section Chief Hu. "They are slaughtering sheep on the mountain right now. As long as you need them, I can bring over a dozen or twenty slaughtered and processed sheep today."

"Really?" Section Chief Hu hadn't expected this young man to be so efficient despite his youth. No pleasantries, just stating what he wanted in three or five sentences.

He took the leg of mutton and looked at it:

"Hmm, this mutton is indeed good, quite fresh, and not from a sick sheep. That Li..."

"Li Long." Li Long added.

"Li Long, right, Comrade Li Long, are you sure you can bring over a dozen sheep today?"

"My friend's winter camp is right there." Li Long pointed toward the mountains to the southeast. "It's less than thirty kilometers away. If I head over now, I can be back before you get off work. Of course, that's assuming you really want the sheep I bring."

Section Chief Hu hesitated.

(End of chapter)