Chapter 79: Twists and Turns, It

At the agricultural machinery factory family quarters, the old man at the gate was already relatively familiar with Li Long. He opened the window and asked Li Long with a smile:

"Young man, here to sell fish again? Not resting even though the New Year is almost here?"

"Resting? What resting? Just taking advantage of this time to earn some New Year money." Li Long was still cautious, carrying a bag of fish and holding a sheep leg in his hand, saying while walking inside:

"We can't compare to you guys. We don't see much money all year round, so we earn a little bit when we can, otherwise we won't have money to buy some candy or peanuts for the New Year."

"You’re not earning a little money." The old man said happily: "You earn a month’s wages of others in one day, that’s not a little."

"That’s not my money alone," Li Long slowed his pace. "The people catching fish have to be paid, right? Don't look at me selling fish here alone; there are many people following and busy behind. Staying in the room in this cold weather is warm, but having to break ice holes on the sea is suffering."

"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 your agricultural machinery factory want mutton?" He raised the sheep leg in his hand and asked.

With such a large unit as the agricultural machinery factory, and now being the era of agricultural machinery heat, the benefits should be very good, so they shouldn't be short of this little money to buy mutton, right?

"Mutton? You’re 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 need meat coupons. Now every family has enough."

Li Long didn't expect the factory to have thought ahead, and a bitter smile appeared on his face:

"I was thinking that with this fish and this mutton, it would be a fresh combination, letting everyone have a better New Year—since they already have it, I’ll keep this sheep leg."

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

But since the logistics section of the agricultural machinery factory had already considered it in advance, were other factories the same? If so, then he could only place his hope in the Maxian supply and marketing cooperative.

But that would mean being manipulated by others, and he would be very passive. It was just that there was no other way for the time being.

Li Long walked inside, and the old man shouted from behind:

"Young man, go ask at the sugar factory. I heard from a worker in our factory that people at the sugar factory were envious of our factory’s good benefits, giving out meat."

"Really?" Li Long turned his head sharply when he heard this, showing an expression of disbelief. "Old man, is what you said true?"

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

"That’s good, thank you, old man!" Li Long immediately turned around, not intending to sell the fish anymore. Walking out of the gate, Li Long turned back again, pulled a three-kilogram large carp from his bag, and stuffed it through the window:

"Old man, a gift for you to eat, thanks!"

Watching Li Long leave in a hurry, the old man said happily:

"This kid... he’s quite sensible!"

Tao Daqiang on the cart saw Li Long just go in and then hurry back, and his heart immediately rose. When Li Long reached him, he hurriedly asked:

"Brother Long, what’s going on? They don't let us sell fish inside anymore?"

"No, let’s go, let’s go to the sugar factory first." Li Long took the reins, jumped onto the cart, flicked the whip, and drove the cart quickly toward the sugar factory.

At the gate of the sugar factory, which was filled with sweet fragrance 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 difficulties? Who are you? Do you have an introduction letter?" "Yes, but what I said is the truth." Li Long pointed to the cart and said, "I heard that your logistics section encountered difficulties, so I took the initiative to bring things to your door. It wouldn't take much effort to make a call to your section chief, right?"

"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, "Mutton newly slaughtered in the mountains, fish just caught in the sea, how about it?"

The young man’s eyes lit up. This was truly good stuff!

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

"Here, comrade, this is a gift for you, just consider it helping us verify whether the fish is fresh or not."

"How could I be so embarrassed..." The guard said this, but accepted it without hesitation. Just kidding, this fish was worth two or three yuan, and people in the family quarters had long said that the fish was not only fresh but also looked beautiful. Just taking this fish back, it would be another good dish for the New Year!

"You wait, I’ll make a call to the logistics section. I can't guarantee whether they can come."

"Good, good, thank you very much for this." Li Long waved his hand with a smile.

By the side of the cart, Tao Daqiang watched Li Long’s series of words and actions and was very envious, but he knew he couldn't do it. Clearly, they were here to recommend things, but he said he was helping others solve difficulties, and gave fish to others, but in Li Long’s mouth, it was letting others verify if the fish was fresh—Brother Long’s brain is really good!

"Section Chief Hu, how would I dare to fool you? That person has an introduction letter, and there are fish and sheep on the cart. I looked at 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 told you what I needed to say. When Section Chief Hu comes over later, be careful. That section chief has traveled north and south; if you’re lying, he can tell in a minute..."

"How could I lie? I have a count in my heart." Li Long laughed. Being able to see the logistics section chief meant half the battle was won.

!.

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, and 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, Hongqi Commune, Maxian!"

"Hello..." One doesn'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 sheep..."

"It’s me." Li Long could see a bit of distrust on Section Chief Hu’s face, so he immediately said:

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

"Really?" Section Chief Hu didn't expect this young man to look young, but his words and actions were extremely efficient, without any polite formulas, and he had stated what he wanted in three or five sentences.

He took the sheep leg and looked at it:

"Mm, this mutton is indeed not bad, quite fresh, and not the kind from sick sheep. That Li..."

"Li Long." Li Long added.

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

"My friend’s winter shelter is right there." Li Long pointed to the mountains in the southeast. "Less than thirty kilometers away. If I drive there now, I can be back before you get off work. Of course, the premise is that you really want the sheep I bring."

Section Chief Hu hesitated.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 80 =====