Chapter 922

The purchasing station was always lively, but it was basically discussing what was valuable recently, what was easy to collect, and where something new had appeared.

Therefore, gossip-like matters such as Tie Jinbing coming to find Sun Jia Qiang were very easy to attract everyone's attention.

Tie Jinbing didn't think that much; he was simply short of money, so he followed his sister's original path and collected things to sell at the purchasing station.

In Tie Jinbing's mind, this was a very easy thing: buy low and sell high, earn the price difference in between—that was it.

The problem was that the price of the things he collected was even higher than what Gu Bo Yuan offered. If he sold them at this price, not only would he waste a day's effort, but he would also lose money.

The money at home was all held by his father, Tie Yinhu, and he had managed to trick this money out of his wife with great difficulty.

So he was very dissatisfied and said to Gu Bo Yuan:

"Is this how you rate them? Are you doing it on purpose? How could these hides of mine be worth so little money? Didn't you boast that a hide could sell for fifty yuan?"

"Fifty yuan is for a whole hide." Facing this straw-bag-like Tie Jinbing, Gu Bo Yuan thought of Tie Lanhua, who also came from the Tie family and was also Hui, but had an exceptionally tenacious personality. His tone naturally wouldn't be very good. "Is this a whole hide? Look, there are at least two bullet holes on it, and it was peeled badly, and you even used a piece of oily skin to paste it over. Who are you trying to fool? Ask them, how much is such a hide worth?"

The middlemen on the side were very cooperative and said with a smile: "Thirty yuan at most!"

"In my opinion, twenty-five is already high!"

"Exactly! The hide is like this, and you still want what kind of price? Even if you want to fool people, you have to repair the hide to make it look better, right? At least comb the fur straight and wash off those blood scabs?"

The feeling of being humiliated made Tie Jinbing become agitated. He looked at Sun Jia Qiang, his voice very loud:

"Are you a dead person? Don't you know how to say a word?"

His meaning was very clear: Sun Jia Qiang married his sister, so naturally, they were one family, and naturally, he had to speak for him.

It was just that if these words were said in private, they might have had some effect. In this public setting, even if Sun Jia Qiang wanted to help him for the sake of Tie Lanhua, it was impossible.

"I am not a dead person, but I am also not a fool." Sun Jia Qiang said coldly, "Your hide is just like this ball, and you still want to sell it for a flower-like price? The price Uncle Gu gave you is already for the sake of my face. What else do you want to do?"

After getting married, the most Sun Jia Qiang heard from Tie Lanhua was how her father was arbitrary, how her brother was a straw bag but arrogant, and how her mother was cowardly.

If it weren't for her being strong and tenacious, it would be hard to say whether she could have lived alone until now. When she was sixteen or seventeen, Tie Yinhu had already planned to marry her off.

Sun Jia Qiang asked suspiciously at the time, the community wouldn't approve of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old getting a marriage certificate.

Tie Lanhua rolled her eyes at him and told him that some little sisters like her got married at sixteen or seventeen. They didn't get a marriage certificate when they got married; the Imam would recite a scripture, and they would live together. After living together and having children, they would go to get a certificate when they reached the age. If they encountered a more evil family, they might be driven back to their maiden home if they gave birth to a daughter.

"Then what happens if they are driven back to their maiden home?" Sun Jia Qiang had asked.

"They are driven back to their husband's home by their maiden home, and they might continue to have children until they give birth to a boy."

Sad.

Although it was only an individual case, it sounded quite sad.

So Sun Jia Qiang had no good feelings for Tie Jinbing; this guy was a bloodsucker, like a parasite.

While thinking he was very capable, his sister's ability was not worth mentioning in his eyes, while at the same time peacefully enjoying the money Tie Lanhua earned, without the slightest bit of gratitude.

Sun Jia Qiang knew all these things, so he wouldn't have any good feelings for this brother-in-law.

After marrying Tie Lanhua back, Sun Jia Qiang discussed with her, and Tie Lanhua didn't require him to not eat pork or do things that conformed to certain doctrines. Sun Jia Qiang also tried his best to adapt to Tie Lanhua's living habits.

Both sides were considering the other's feelings, so Sun Jia Qiang felt very happy. Precisely because he was happy, he felt even more that it was not worth it for Tie Lanhua.

Five hundred yuan was nothing; he believed he could earn it soon, but it was clearly agreed that they wouldn't disturb each other. Now that Tie Jinbing shamelessly made such a request, he really hadn't expected it.

He hadn't expected it, so he was angry and lost his composure.

Tie Jinbing was stunned by Sun Jia Qiang's tough wording, and then became angry from embarrassment:

"What do I want to do? You are my brother-in-law, if you don't help me, who are you going to help? I tell people, not finding someone to give you an enema or give you a baptism is already being polite to you. You say what you want to do? You can't even help with such a small favor, what else can you do? You count as what kind of thing..."

"Slap!"

Before Tie Jinbing finished speaking, Sun Jia Qiang slapped him across the face. He covered his face in disbelief, and then Sun Jia Qiang, not satisfied, slapped him again.

Tie Jinbing was even more stunned, covering his face and unable to even speak.

"If you want to sell, sell; if not, get out!" Sun Jia Qiang also had dignity. Tie Jinbing was making trouble here, which not only made Tie Lanhua lose face, but he also lost face.

Although the other party was his brother-in-law, his current behavior was like a spoiled child, and he had to teach him a lesson.

Tie Jinbing ultimately still wanted some face, turned around and left, but after walking two steps, he returned, hugged those hides, glared at Sun Jia Qiang with hatred, and then left.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

Gu Bo Yuan looked at Sun Jia Qiang, his eyes a bit complicated. But this matter could only be like this.

He said to those laughing and selling goods:

"Are you still selling or not? If you want to sell, come in quickly, otherwise, it's the next one!"

"Selling, selling, selling!" The person who was originally behind Tie Jinbing immediately entered the room, then placed the two deer antlers he brought on the counter and said with a smile: "Boss Gu, take a look."

Li Long was very surprised that Sun Jia Qiang had hit Tie Jinbing so hard.

Was this Sun Jia Qiang? Usually, Sun Jia Qiang was kind to others, right? Even in the mountains, he used a knife to disguise his ferocity, but in fact, he wasn't fierce at all.

Was it a change after marriage, or did Tie Lanhua's encounter at home make Sun Jia Qiang hostile toward the Tie family?

Or both?

Li Long went to see Sun Jia Qiang and called him to the reception room in the back to ask about the situation.

"My wife said it's fine, hit him if you hit him. She said that coward Tie Jinbing wouldn't dare to tell his family even if he was hit. That guy wants face very much. At most, he'll lose some money himself, sell these hides to that other purchasing station, and then take the money back to brag."

Sun Jia Qiang had no ferocity at all at this time. Facing Li Long, he was still a bit embarrassed, rubbed his hands and said: "I was just worried that he would make a scene inside, thinking of slapping him to shock him. I didn't expect my wife to say it was well hit after I went back. She couldn't hit him, but I could."

Li Long understood a little. It seemed that Tie Jinbing had bullied his sister quite hard before.

"How is your wife recently? Still collecting hides?" Li Long knew it was fine, so he changed the subject. "Is it okay?"

"It's okay. I told her, just collect in the nearby two or three townships by bicycle, don't run too far."

Li Long wanted to remind him that Tie Yinhu certainly wouldn't let go of Tie Lanhua, this money-making machine, so easily, but thought better of it. That woman could be so tenacious to reach this step, there was no reason for her not to take precautions.

Don't worry about other people's family affairs, at least not until Sun Jia Qiang asks him for help.

If he really needs help, at least he has acquaintances in the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee and has face. If there is really trouble, it's no problem to help.

Moreover, having lived two lives, he knew very well that the environment in Maxian was different from other places. There were many Han people, so some things were really just small matters.

After returning from the purchasing station, Li Long continued to take Mingming and Haohao until Zhao Hui came to collect the hides.

When Zhao Hui came, it was already December. Li Juan and Li Qiang had already taken their midterm exams, and the results made Li Jianguo and Liang Yumei quite happy.

Li Long and Zhao Hui met in the reception room of the purchasing station. A fire wall had been built in the reception room before it snowed, which was very warm—warmer than the counter in the front. Because the door at the counter was always open, even if the stove fire was strong, the temperature couldn't be raised. It was different here; it was no exaggeration to say it was as warm as spring.

"What? Nearly a thousand hides?" Zhao Hui came with a car, but was still a bit surprised when he heard Li Long's words. "How could there be so many? I originally thought five or six hundred would be the limit!"

"There are a lot of people hunting Mongolian gazelles this winter." Li Long said with a smile, "The hides have gone up in price—I suppose the price offered by Boss Zhao should have gone up too, right?" The leather factory side had already raised prices, and the prices of Mongolian gazelle hides, red deer hides, and other hides had risen to the price line Zhao Hui gave last year. Li Long hadn't sold them, just waiting for Zhao Hui to come. If Zhao Hui raised the price, he would sell to Zhao Hui; if Zhao Hui didn't raise it, he would sell a portion to Zhao Hui and the rest to the leather factory.

Zhao Hui didn't expect Li Long to know that the hides had gone up in price. He had originally intended to collect the hides at last year's price, and he had also thought that Li Long would certainly bargain, and then he would symbolically raise it a bit.

Li Long had become his largest hide supplier in Northern Xinjiang, and a supplier of high-quality hides. The special hides obtained from others added up to about the same as Li Long's.

So he had to consider Li Long's situation and had to maintain a good relationship with Li Long.

If he could fool him, he would; if he couldn't, he would be more sincere.

"Of course, of course," having figured this out, Zhao Hui said with a smile, "Hide goods have gone up in price this year, and raw hides have naturally gone up too. Like a whole Mongolian gazelle hide, the purchase price for one is now around eighty-five. Of course, if the quality of the hide is very good, it will be higher. Even damaged hides are around fifty yuan—rest assured, I won't let you lose out."

About the same as Li Long guessed. At the leather factory, the price of sheep hides had risen to twelve to fifteen yuan each, so these special hides naturally had to rise too.

This rate of price increase was already quite considerable.

"Well, this price is good." Li Long said with a smile, "Then shall we look at the hides now, or rest first?"

"The car is outside, certainly can't wait." Zhao Hui said with a smile, "Look now."

The lights in the warehouse where the hides were stored turned on. Zhao Hui and Li Long both held notebooks, looking at the hides one by one.

More than a thousand, it would take most of the day to look at them.

Fortunately, both of them were experienced hands. Once the hides were in hand, they could see the quality, and their opinions were basically consistent, so there wouldn't be any problems.

Both of them wanted to complete this transaction as soon as possible. Li Long was thinking about getting rid of these hides that emitted an unpleasant smell, and Zhao Hui was thinking about collecting these hides, and after his cash turnover was tight for a while, it would soon become abundant again.

These thousand-plus hides could at least earn him a net income of twenty thousand yuan.

Not bad.

"A total of six hundred and eighteen whole hides, one hundred and thirty-three slightly damaged hides, four hundred and thirty-one damaged hides—the quantity is correct, right?"

Actually, some whole hides of small sheep had a slightly smaller area, and the two agreed to count them as slightly damaged hides.

"Eighty-five for one whole hide, a total of fifty-two thousand five hundred and thirty yuan. Sixty for one slightly damaged hide, a total of seven thousand nine hundred and eighty yuan. Fifty for one damaged hide, a total of twenty-one thousand five hundred and fifty. Total... eighty-two thousand and sixty yuan."

Zhao Hui's calculation was the same as Li Long's.

However, Zhao Hui didn't stop, looked at Li Long and asked: "Boss Li, it's impossible that you only have these hides here, right?"

"That's true... there are a few more." Li Long nodded and said: "In that other warehouse. You have people load these hides first, shall we go over there and take a look?"

"Okay." When Li Long said this, Zhao Hui smiled, "I knew it, I knew it."

With a wave of his hand, those waiting outside immediately began to move the hides onto the car, while Li Long took Zhao Hui to the small warehouse next door.

The lock on the small warehouse door was heavier than ordinary door locks, with two added. After Li Long opened it, three hides were placed on the shelf inside.

Two bear hides, one lynx hide.

Seeing that there were only three hides in total, Zhao Hui was slightly disappointed. Li Long looked at his expression, knew what he was thinking, and said: "That's enough. How long has it been since you took the bear hide and snow leopard hide last time? The place my friend is guarding in the mountains is only that big, how many more such precious hides can be obtained?"

Zhao Hui thought it was true, so he went to look at the hides.

The bear hides were good, and the lynx hide was also good. Although the lynx hide was small, it was very rare, so this time, Zhao Hui gave Li Long a total of fifteen thousand yuan for the three hides.

Zhao Hui went out, dragged a leather suitcase from the car, and began to count the money for Li Long.

Ninety-seven thousand and sixty yuan, a very large sum.

Li Long roughly calculated these hides. Excluding the three special hides obtained from Halimu and the others, he could earn about thirty thousand yuan from the others.

The recent capital turnover would certainly be no problem.

After dealing with these hides, Zhao Hui didn't stop for a moment, hurriedly took the car and headed toward Wucheng. He needed to take these hides to the interior at the fastest speed, and then process them.

The quantity of hide goods at Li Long's place exceeded his imagination and could bring him great profits. His original plan needed to be changed.

After Zhao Hui left, Li Long's life returned to calm. He heard from Gu Bo Yuan that Tie Jinbing went to smash the door of Sun Jia Qiang and Tie Lanhua's home, and then was scolded bloody by Tie Lanhua, and returned in shame and anger.

As for what happened later, Sun Jia Qiang didn't say anything, but on a day at the end of December, Sun Jia Qiang paid Li Long back.

Li Long now gave Sun Jia Qiang a salary of fifty yuan and a bonus of fifty yuan every month. Logically speaking, he couldn't have saved enough money in these few months.

Then the other money should have been earned by Tie Lanhua. This woman really had a business mind.

Gu Bo Yuan also said that Tie Lanhua could basically collect one or two hides every day, so the speed of making money was not slow.

Li Long was relieved. As long as Tie Lanhua didn't care about old feelings and go to help Tie Jinbing, Sun Jia Qiang's life would be better in the future. He also already knew that Tie Lanhua didn't require Sun Jia Qiang to live according to her previous living habits, and it could even be said that Tie Lanhua was slowly changing her own previous living habits.

From Li Long's perspective, she might be separating herself from her past self.

This matter was almost over.

Li Long was full of expectations for the upcoming 1986, because this year, the program-controlled telephone in the Northern Xinjiang area would be opened.

At that time, individuals could pull telephone lines at home.

He had already planned to set up one in the big courtyard, one in the purchasing station, and then pull one to his eldest brother's place—it was easy to handle both sides in the county, but his eldest brother's side might still need to wait.

After all, the program-controlled telephone line needed to be pulled from the county to the team. It was certainly possible to pull it to the township, after all, the public units in the township would certainly have telephones, but it was hard to say about the village. It seemed that after changing to program-controlled telephones, the original hand-cranked telephones in each village would no longer be used. The telephone lines were also different and needed to be renovated. It would be more troublesome to call the village in the future.

However, before this, Li Long needed to do another thing.

On this day, after Gu Xiaoxia got off work and finished dinner, she discussed another thing with Li Long.

"You mean borrowing the car? Is it borrowing the car, or do you want me to drive over?"

"It's best if you drive over. If you don't want to drive, borrowing the car is also fine." Gu Xiaoxia was a bit embarrassed. She couldn't make a decision on this matter, and she didn't know if Li Long's side could do it.

But the one who proposed this matter was Director Wang, so she couldn't refuse directly and could only bring the problem back to ask Li Long.

The matter was very simple: Director Wang's nephew was getting married on New Year's Day and wanted to make the matter look more impressive, so he thought of borrowing Li Long's jeep.

At this time, there were no small cars in the county, let alone Santana, Charade, or anything like that; there wasn't even a Tianjin Dafa. The few jeeps were for leaders' exclusive use, so if you wanted a car that could save face, it was either a tractor or finding a passenger bus from the bus station.

At this time, there were even people using tractors to pick up the bride, which was actually quite impressive. There were horse-drawn carriages and ox-drawn carriages, and there were also bicycle wedding processions, but of course, none were as good as a car.

Li Long's jeep was a strange existence. Director Wang and Gu Xiaoxia had a good relationship, so he thought that although this car belonged to the State Federation, Li Long could dispose of it at will.

Borrow or not? (End of chapter)