Chapter 77

Shimen Village

At 2:30 in the afternoon, Cao Cao Weiguo led a donkey cart fully loaded into the village, with two militiamen carrying weapons following on the side.

“Director Cao is here!”

“Yo, isn’t this Li Sangou from Daniu Village!”

“Daniu Village isn’t doing well, they don’t have as many things as our village.”

“Director Cao!”

Village Chief Chu greeted him with a full smile: “The carriages are all ready, just waiting for your word.”

Cao Cao Weiguo said with a smile: “Sorry to trouble you, fellow villagers.”

Arriving at the temporary warehouse, three carriages and six villagers were already waiting in the courtyard.

“Fellow villagers, you’ll have to work hard today!”

Cao Cao Weiguo took out Daqian Sect cigarettes from his pocket and gave one to each person.

“Not hard at all!”

“Director Cao is too polite!”

“What’s hard about moving things.”

The villagers happily took the cigarettes, and the village chief said with a straight face: “Smoke later, move the things onto the carriage first.”

“Alright!”

“Listen to the village chief!”

Tucking the cigarettes behind their ears, the villagers nimbly rushed into the room.

They carried out the sacks one by one in a flurry of activity, stacking them neatly onto the large carts.

The warehouse was now filled with dry goods collected from the two villages, filling three large carts to the brim.

Once the carts were loaded, Village Chief Chu led the three villagers driving the carts and the two militiamen to escort them personally.

Added to the donkey cart from Daniu Village, the four carts lined up and left Shimen Village.

Cao Cao Weiguo looked at the four militiamen with loaded guns and couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

Those who didn’t know would think they were escorting some important supplies.

Along the way, their team attracted plenty of attention.

At around 4:00 in the afternoon, the four carts arrived at the steel rolling mill.

“Hello, Director Cao!”

“Does Director Cao need help!”

“Director Cao, what good things are on these carts!”

Coworkers along the way gathered around curiously, their eyes fixed on the sacks on the carts.

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: “They’re all good things collected from the village, you’ll have a treat tomorrow.”

Soon, the procurement director brought a group of people over.

The procurement director said with a happy face: “Director Cao, you’ve worked hard.”

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: “Director Feng, hurry up and count them into the warehouse.”

“Alright, alright!”

“Didn’t you hear Director Cao’s words? Move faster.”

The procurement director happily directed the procurement section to weigh and register them.

Cao Cao Weiguo had people from the kitchen brew tea and brought out a large plate of mung bean cakes.

“Fellow villagers, you’ve worked hard on the way, drink some water and eat something before going back.”

“Thank you, Director Cao!”

The villagers happily took the tea mugs and picked up a piece of mung bean cake.

“Delicious!”

“This mung bean cake is really sweet.”

They sighed in their hearts that this Director Cao was a good person who knew how to get things done.

They had delivered goods to various other units many times, but those people were all arrogant.

None were as enthusiastic and kind as Cao Cao Weiguo.

The villagers drank tea and ate the pastries.

After the procurement section finished unloading the carts, Cao Cao Weiguo personally sent them out of the factory.

“760 jin of dried sweet potatoes!”

“80 jin of frozen tofu!”

“70 jin of dried wood ear mushrooms!”

“50 jin of dried radish!”

“80 jin of mushrooms!”

“200 jin of vermicelli!”

“800 jin of flour!”

……

“270 jin of wild boar meat!”

“70 jin of pork bones!”

“200 jin of smoked pork!”

“420 eggs!”

Hearing the shouts of the procurement officer during registration, the coworkers watching the excitement widened their eyes.

“Pork!”

“Did I hear that right! Pork!”

“Over two hundred jin of pork!”

“Is it for real!”

“Director Cao is truly capable!”

“We’re really going to have a treat!”

In this day and age, supplies were scarce, and even the cafeteria of the steel rolling mill rarely tasted meat.

Looking at the smoked pork brought out by the procurement officer, the coworkers’ eyes turned green.

Even when the bell for the end of the workday rang, these coworkers were reluctant to leave.

As if afraid that if they blinked, the pork would fly away.

Cao Cao Weiguo walked back and said with a smile: “Don’t be impatient, everyone, go home if you need to. Tomorrow I’ll make pork stewed with vermicelli for everyone, and boil a pot of pork bone soup.”

“Director Cao is the best!”

“With Director Cao here, we’re going to have a treat!”

“Director Cao is so capable.”

The coworkers cheered happily, drooling even before they had eaten.

Pork stewed with vermicelli!

This was a hearty dish that one usually only encountered during the New Year or at a banquet!

It was so lively outside that Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li, hearing the commotion, also came over.

Looking at the piles of ingredients and the large chunks of pork and smoked pork, both of them widened their eyes in unison.

Factory Director Yang pointed at the pork in surprise and asked: “Cao Weiguo, did you collect these from the countryside?”

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled: “Yes.”

Factory Director Yang patted Cao Cao Weiguo’s shoulder happily: “Good, Comrade Cao Weiguo, it was indeed the right decision to have you concurrently serve as a procurement officer.”

Deputy Factory Director Li laughed: “Cao Weiguo, well done, now our workers’ enthusiasm for production will be even higher.”

Pork was a scarce resource, and even they found it hard to get.

But Cao Cao Weiguo could get it, and that was capability!

This capability made both Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li very envious.

Factory Director Yang was thinking about bringing Cao Cao Weiguo into his fold.

Deputy Factory Director Li was thinking about how to win over this capable general.

It’s easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find one general!

Having such a capable and talented person to help would be of great benefit to their work and official careers.

Seeing how much the two factory directors appreciated Cao Cao Weiguo, the coworkers were all envious.

The hearts of other leading cadres also became active.

This Cao Cao Weiguo had great ability, and with the appreciation of the two factory directors, he would definitely have a smooth official career in the future.

Among the crowd, the First Uncle, Second Uncle, Qin Qin Huairu, and other residents of the Sihe Academy were even more shocked.

Cao Cao Weiguo let them know what it meant to be deep and unrevealing!

This person had always been a loner in the Sihe Academy, not showing his mountain or dew, like a transparent person.

In the past, almost no one in the courtyard had ever paid attention to this person.

But once this person showed his ability, he soared into the sky.

Before, he had quietly and suddenly been promoted to deputy director!

Now, he had quietly obtained so many scarce supplies!

Hundreds of jin of pork!

Even if the factory directors and other big leaders were asked to get it, it would be very difficult.

But this Cao Cao Weiguo had brought the things back without any commotion!

No wonder the factory had inexplicably made Cao Cao Weiguo concurrently serve as a procurement officer.

It turned out the person had real ability.

It’s just that he didn’t show off or flaunt it.

The hearts of the residents of the Sihe Academy were filled with mixed feelings.

They regretted not having built a good relationship with Cao Cao Weiguo earlier.

Xu Damou showed off to his colleagues in the propaganda section: “Did you know, Cao Cao Weiguo is my younger brother, our relationship is rock solid.”

A colleague asked in surprise: “Is that for real?”

Xu Damou said: “Hey, don’t believe it? We often drink together. Next time we drink, I’ll bring you along.”

The colleague said happily: “That would be great, Brother Xu. With such a good brother like Director Cao, you’ll definitely be successful in the future.”

Xu Damou said proudly: “That’s right! Who is your brother! I have friends and brothers everywhere.”

Until the procurement section transported the pieces of meat into the warehouse.

The coworkers withdrew their reluctant gazes and left full of anticipation.

Discussing the pork and Cao Cao Weiguo in twos and threes.

Although Cao Cao Weiguo hadn’t been in the spotlight for long, he was definitely the hottest person around.

The situation of short-changing in the cafeteria had disappeared!

Sanitary conditions had greatly improved!

The level of food had also improved!

These were all solid achievements, each one making people give a thumbs up.

Regarding Cao Cao Weiguo becoming a deputy director and earning a high salary, the coworkers had nothing to say; instead, they thought it was a matter of course.

Although he was young and had little seniority, he had real ability and good performance.

Eating by one’s ability and progressing by performance, no one could find any fault!

Sihe Academy

Cao Cao Weiguo rode his bicycle into the alley and suddenly heard someone calling him from behind.

“Cao Weiguo, stop for a second!”

“Second Uncle, is something the matter?”

Cao Cao Weiguo braked his bicycle and looked at the Second Uncle, who was panting, with confusion.

Second Uncle said: “Cao Weiguo, I saw that you received a lot of smoked meat from the countryside today. Can you help me get some? I won’t let you help for free, I’ll pay.”

Cao Cao Weiguo asked in surprise: “Second Uncle, smoked meat isn’t cheap, what do you need it for?”

Second Uncle whispered: “I have a big use for it.”

He was planning to use the smoked meat as a gift to open up relationships and seek a position.

The words of his second son, Liu Guangtian, had awakened him.

If one wants to be an official, one cannot just bury one’s head in hard work.

Building relationships is also very important.

Although he couldn’t bring himself to suck up to Cao Cao Weiguo, he could suck up to other leaders.

But to suck up to leaders, one must have a gift that can be brought out.

Leaders have status, so they naturally look down on ordinary things.

But smoked meat is a rare and good thing; if one brings it to their door, the leaders will definitely like it.

Cao Cao Weiguo thought for a while and said: “Although smoked meat is hard to get, since Second Uncle rarely asks, I’ll find it for you even if I have to run my legs off. But you know the price of smoked meat, it’s really not cheap.”

Second Uncle said with a pained heart: “I know the market price of smoked meat. I’ll give you 5 Brother Yuan and 5 jin of meat coupons, just get me 4 jin.”

Cao Cao Weiguo nodded: “Deal, wait for my news.”

Second Uncle said happily: “Then thank you, Cao Weiguo. If it works out, I’ll treat you to a drink.”

After finishing the matter, seeing that they were almost at the door, Cao Cao Weiguo simply pushed the bike.

Second Uncle showered Cao Cao Weiguo with praise.

Everyone likes to hear nice words, and Cao Cao Weiguo was no exception.

“Cao Weiguo is back!”

“Cao Weiguo, I heard you did another big thing today!”

“Amazing!”

“You really have ability!”

“Cao Weiguo, can you help my family get some pork too.”

As soon as he entered the courtyard, the neighbors looked at him strangely and gathered around enthusiastically.

Apparently, the news that Cao Cao Weiguo had obtained a lot of pork for the factory had already spread back to the Sihe Academy.

Pork is a scarce and good thing!

Good heavens, this Cao Cao Weiguo could get hundreds of jin of pork at once, why was his ability so great.

I heard the factory director praised Cao Cao Weiguo in public.

Wouldn’t Cao Cao Weiguo’s official position get bigger and bigger in the future?

On the other side, Seeing Shazhu sat in his room, sulking.

The more glorious Cao Cao Weiguo was, the more stifled he felt in his heart.

The First Uncle frowned and said: “This Cao Cao Weiguo has deep city, doing big things without a sound.”

Seeing Shazhu snorted coldly: “Bullshit city, I think his way of doing things is just not seeing the light, otherwise why would he be sneaky.”

If Cao Cao Weiguo heard this, it would surely give him a fright.

Because the things he did were indeed not meant to see the light.

Those pork, pork bones, and smoked meat were all secretly put into the warehouse by him, mixed with things from other villages.

In reality, he was selling his own things to the steel rolling mill.

Although he didn’t let the steel rolling mill suffer a loss, the origin was unknown.

However, it seemed that apart from Seeing Shazhu, probably no one else considered it in this direction.

After all, pork and smoked meat are scarce supplies that are hard to buy in large quantities even with money.

Cao Cao Weiguo mixed the pork in just because he didn’t want to take the procurement officer’s salary for nothing.

If he really wanted to make money, selling it on the black market would definitely earn more than selling it to the steel rolling mill.

The procurement price of the steel rolling mill is far lower than the market price, and even lower than the black market.

The First Uncle said seriously: “You can’t talk nonsense like this. If it spreads, Cao Cao Weiguo won’t let you off easily.”

Seeing Shazhu stiffened his neck: “I’m not afraid of him. What’s there to be proud of for a villain? Sooner or later, I’ll teach him to call me grandpa.”

The First Uncle advised: “A hero doesn’t suffer immediate losses. At the very least, don’t conflict with Cao Cao Weiguo before you return to the steel rolling mill. If he really lets someone take your position, then you’ll be in trouble.”

Seeing Shazhu said confidently: “He can’t even think about that. In the steel rolling mill, whose culinary skills are better than mine? Even if he wants to get rid of my chef position, Factory Director Yang won’t agree.”

The First Uncle didn’t refute this, after all, Seeing Shazhu’s culinary skills and his relationship with Factory Director Yang were obvious.