Chapter 122

This made Cao Cao Weiguo suspect whether the bronze furnace Li Li Xiuxia mentioned was real or fake.

"Li Xiuxia, who is this?"

A thin, frail woman covered in patches walked out from the inner room.

Li Li Xiuxia said: "Mom, this is Director Cao; he wants to see the incense burner we have."

Mother Li said: "Oh, Director Cao likes collecting?"

This sentence surprised Cao Cao Weiguo; did this woman know the background of the incense burner?

Cao Cao Weiguo said with a smile: "My old leader likes old objects, so if I come across any, I collect a couple."

Mother Li laughed: "I thought so; in this day and age, how could a young person like those things."

In this era, antiques and cultural relics are not "good things!"

While speaking, Li Li Xiuxia took out a three-legged tripod incense burner from the inner room.

Cao Cao Weiguo’s eyes lit up immediately: "Ma'am, do you know the origin of this thing?"

Mother Li laughed: "This was divided from a landlord’s house. I used to be a servant at the landlord’s house and heard the landlord master say that this thing is an old antique."

Cao Cao Weiguo took the three-legged tripod and looked at it seriously, touching it carefully.

If there hadn't been anyone else around, he would have wanted to take out a magnifying glass to look at it.

Li Li Xiuxia asked eagerly: "Director Cao, do you want this thing?"

After some appraisal, Cao Cao Weiguo’s preliminary judgment was that this was a Song Dynasty incense burner.

Hearing Li Li Xiuxia’s words, Cao Cao Weiguo asked: "How much money does Sister Li want to exchange it for?"

Li Li Xiuxia looked at her mother, and Mother Li thought for a moment and said: "Ten Brother Yuan."

Hearing this price, Li Li Xiuxia couldn't help but be surprised.

Ten Brother Yuan!

Her mother really dared to ask; she wasn't afraid of scaring the person away.

The next second, she widened her eyes.

Cao Cao Weiguo said readily: "Okay."

Mother Li was also stunned: "Are you really willing to pay ten Brother Yuan?"

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: "This three-legged tripod is in good condition; my leader should like it."

Mother Li said: "Hey! No matter the time, officials are officials; they are different from ordinary people!"

Cao Cao Weiguo took ten Brother Yuan from his pocket and handed it to Li Li Xiuxia.

This made Li Li Xiuxia overjoyed.

Back when she got married, the bride price her in-laws gave was five Brother Yuan.

For that five-Brother Yuan bride price, her in-laws scolded her for a long time, saying her family was greedy for money.

Dongli Village

Money and goods cleared!

Cao Cao Weiguo left, holding the three-legged tripod incense burner lovingly.

The Zhao family emperors of the Song Dynasty, who were of noble birth, had high cultural literacy, liked retro styles, and valued old ritual vessels.

Three-legged tripod incense burners were mostly products of the Northern Song Dynasty’s retro movement.

If this was truly a Song Dynasty incense burner, he had really picked up a treasure.

When Cao Cao Weiguo returned to the brigade, Lu Jinpeng and Chi Ping'an had already arrived.

The two of them had each pedaled a three-wheeled flatbed truck over.

By this time, the villagers had already helped load the truck.

More than thirty sacks were stacked together and then secured and tied with hemp rope.

After loading all the dry goods, Cao Cao Weiguo said goodbye to the village chief.

Halfway there, Cao Cao Weiguo asked the two to wait by the side of the road.

He pretended to go to the riverbank and then returned carrying a sack of fish.

"Brother Lu, give me a hand; there’s a lot of fish this time."

"Alright!"

Lu Jinpeng got off the truck and followed Cao Cao Weiguo to the riverbank.

He didn't see anyone, only four bulging sacks that kept moving.

"The people have already gone back; let’s hurry and load the truck."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "If we’re fast, the fish will still be alive when we get back to the factory."

The two made two trips to carry the four sacks of fish onto the truck.

Chi Ping'an looked at the five big sacks of fish and was shocked: "So much fish!"

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: "With so many villagers catching fish, this isn't much. You two work hard and pedal fast; the price for live fish at the factory is higher."

"Don't worry, Cao Weiguo! I came here after a full meal!"

"I will definitely get the fish to the rolling mill alive!"

Lu Jinpeng and Chi Ping'an used all their strength, pedaling the tricycle very fast.

By the time they reached the rolling mill, both were soaked with sweat.

Sweat flowed down their necks, and their legs couldn't stop trembling.

However, all this hard work was worth it.

Hauling goods wasn't done for free.

Hauling goods for the rolling mill meant getting paid.

For just one trip, each of them could get two Brother Yuan as a hardship fee.

Running a round trip, although tiring, yielded a lot.

Two Brother Yuan was almost equal to many workers’ daily wages.

If it weren't for Cao Cao Weiguo’s connection, they wouldn't be able to get such a good job at all.

Over eight hundred pounds of fish were unloaded, and the rolling mill was full of joy.

The purchasing director was even more overjoyed.

The meat supply task for this month had already been over-fulfilled.

If this continued, he would definitely receive an award at the end of the year.

Deputy Factory Director Li was also very happy.

If the food is good, the workers are happy, and his reputation is good.

If his reputation is good, his future is good.

Cao Cao Weiguo was also happy.

Over eight hundred pounds of fish came from his farm pond.

Naturally, the money and coupons the rolling mill paid for the fish went into his own pocket.

The two truckloads of fish were weighed and put into storage all at once.

Cao Cao Weiguo also gave the money to Lu Jinpeng and Chi Ping'an.

The two of them couldn't stop smiling after receiving the money.

Lu Jinpeng said with a smile: "Thanks, Cao Weiguo!"

Chi Ping'an was very excited: "Cao Weiguo, let’s go out for a few drinks tonight!"

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: "I have something to do today; I’ll treat you another day."

Chi Ping'an said: "How can I let you treat me? You introduced such a good job to me; I must be the one to treat."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "We are all brothers; being polite is meaningless."

Chi Ping'an and Lu Jinpeng couldn't help but feel moved.

Cao Cao Weiguo was truly righteous toward them!

Because the three-wheeled flatbed truck was rented, the two had to return it as soon as possible.

So they didn't stay long and left the rolling mill after chatting for a few words.

The Second Master looked at their retreating figures, lost in thought.

These two had gained quite a few benefits from following Cao Cao Weiguo.