Chapter 101

When Cao Cao Weiguo saw the mushroom, which looked like a monkey's head and was covered in fungal spines, his eyes lit up.

Monkey head mushroom, also known as: monkey head fungus, monkey head, monkey mushroom, monkey fungus, is a traditional famous delicacy.

The meat is tender and fragrant, delicious and tasty, rich in nutrition, and superior in color, aroma, and taste.

Since ancient times, there has been a saying: "Mountain treasure monkey head, sea delicacy bird's nest," and it is listed as one of the four famous dishes alongside bear paw, sea cucumber, and shark fin.

The woman said nervously: "I picked this in the mountains yesterday, it's still fresh."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "This is monkey head mushroom, it's a good thing, but the quantity is too small, the factory doesn't accept it. If you are willing to trade, I will personally pay five dimes for it."

"Five dimes!"

The woman said in surprise: "Willing, willing, I'll give it to you."

Cao Cao Weiguo took out five dimes and handed them to the woman: "Auntie, if you come across these mushrooms again in the future, you can save them for me, I'll take as many as you have."

The woman said happily: "Okay, I'll definitely save them for you."

A strange mushroom traded for five dimes, this really opened the villagers' eyes.

They gathered around to watch the monkey head mushroom, thinking about finding more in the mountains in the future.

Five dimes! That could buy five jin of corn flour, and enough salt to last for several months.

If they found a few more, they would have the salt money for the year.

The woman took the money home and grabbed her husband, who was about to go to the fields to work.

"Guess how much that mushroom sold for?"

The man curled his lip: "Would people want that thing?"

"Why wouldn't they? Director Cao said it's called monkey head mushroom, it's a good thing, and he gave me five dimes for it."

The woman proudly took out the five dimes and shook them.

The man stared at the money, stunned, and asked in surprise: "Really? That one mushroom is worth five dimes?"

"The money is all here, could it be fake?"

The woman said with a face full of joy: "When the farm work is slack, let's go into the mountains and find more, maybe we can earn ten or eight Brother Yuan, and then we can make new clothes for the children for the New Year."

"I know."

The man thought to himself, this is an unexpected joy. There should be quite a few of those mushroom heads in the mountains.

Spending some time, he would definitely be able to find a few and add some income for the family.

The couple happily took their farm tools and went to the fields to work.

Little did they know that it would soon spread throughout the village, and everyone would be thinking about going into the mountains to find monkey head mushrooms.

"Really or fake?"

"That mushroom is so valuable!"

"I've seen it in the mountains!"

"One is five dimes! Ten is five Brother Yuan! If I find twenty, the bride price for marrying Xiaohua will be covered!"

"Let's go to the mountains together when we have time!"

"There's not only mushrooms in the mountains, I heard Erniu traded a pheasant for one Brother Yuan and five dimes!"

The men, women, and children in the village looked at the mountains as if they were seeing a treasure vault.

In the brigade, Cao Cao Weiguo was busy settling accounts and paying money, becoming a "god of wealth" in the eyes of the villagers.

His father-in-law, Song Dashan, was surrounded by a group of fellow villagers, full of words of envy.

His brother-in-law, Song Ying, ran to Cao Cao Weiguo: "Brother-in-law, the stone mill has been delivered to the village entrance, I asked Brother Huzi to watch it."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "Sorry to trouble you, brother."

Song Ying smiled: "Why be polite with family."

Cao Cao Weiguo handed his bag to Li Jun: "You stay busy here, I'm going out for a bit."

Li Jun said: "Alright, Director Cao, don't worry, I will definitely handle things carefully."

Cao Cao Weiguo rode his bicycle to the village entrance, where Song Hu was sitting on a stone mill, dazed.

"Brother Brother Huzi!"

Song Hu smiled: "Brother-in-law, why are you here? I'll just keep watching."

Cao Cao Weiguo took out a cigarette and handed it to Song Hu: "Thanks, Brother Brother Huzi, you go back first, I have other things to talk to the cargo driver about."

Song Hu said: "Alright then, I'll go back."

Cao Cao Weiguo watched Song Hu leave.

Ten minutes later, confirming no one was around.

Cao Cao Weiguo put the three stone mills into the farm.

Then he rode his bicycle slowly back to the brigade.

By this time, the villagers in the courtyard had dispersed, and dozens of bulging large burlap sacks were piled on the ground.

"Director Cao, the items have been counted, and the money has been paid."

Li Jun handed the items to Cao Cao Weiguo: "This is the list and receipt."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "Officer Li has worked hard."

Li Jun smiled: "Serving the people, it's not hard at all."

The village chief walked over enthusiastically: "Director Cao, Officer Li, it's almost mealtime, let's eat together."

Cao Cao Weiguo took two Brother Yuan from his pocket and handed it to the village chief:

"Eating is fine, but you must accept this meal fee, otherwise we will turn around and leave."

The village chief smiled: "I'll accept the meal fee, let's wash our hands and get ready to eat."

Arriving at the main room of the brigade, the table was already full of food.

Three meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and white flour steamed buns!

This made Officer Li swallow his saliva.

Cao Cao Weiguo's expression changed: "Uncle Dajiang, this meal is too sumptuous."

The village chief hurriedly grabbed Cao Cao Weiguo, who was about to turn and leave, and the cadres also stepped forward one after another.

"Director Cao, don't misunderstand!"

"It's all home-cooked food, we would never let you make a mistake!"

"Director Cao, Officer Li, you have both worked hard, eating some home-cooked food is no big deal."

Officer Li looked at Cao Cao Weiguo nervously, at a loss for what to do.

He had been working in procurement for several years, and eating and drinking were common occurrences.

Leaders eating and drinking lavishly, even more sumptuous than this, were common sights.

But he didn't expect Cao Cao Weiguo to be so rigorous.

He wouldn't even accept three meat and three vegetable dishes.

Cao Cao Weiguo said sternly: "I appreciate the kindness of Uncle Dajiang and the fellow villagers, but I will absolutely not eat this meal today."

"It is currently working hours; if I eat such a sumptuous meal, that would be a mistake. Therefore, I ask the fellow villagers to forgive me."

The village chief and several cadres were speechless, not knowing what to say.

The village chief held the two Brother Yuan and said: "Director Cao, these are all home-cooked dishes, the meal fee you gave is enough. You paid the money, we provide the food, this is reasonable and fair."

A cadre said: "Director Cao, this is our heart, the food is already cooked, you should eat a little, otherwise it will all be wasted."

Cao Cao Weiguo took two Brother Yuan from his pocket and handed it to the village chief

: "Accept the meal fee, and we will eat; if you don't accept it, we will leave."

The village chief said in a dilemma: "Director Cao, this, this is too much."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "I know this is the kindness of the fellow villagers, but work discipline is work discipline. If you don't accept it, I will absolutely not eat a single bite of food."

After the meal, Cao Cao Weiguo and Officer Li left on their bicycles.

Song Dajiang looked at a village cadre with a livid face:

"I said not to engage in these crooked ways, but you wouldn't listen. Now it's good, the whole village is embarrassed together."

That cadre said with a bitter face: "Isn't that what everyone else does? Who would have thought Director Cao was different from them."

The accountant said: "Forget it, with this lesson, don't do this in the future, it's embarrassing."

A cadre said: "Sigh, no wonder he became a director at such a young age, his style is truly upright."