Chapter 47: Gu Ning and the Market

The next day was still drizzling, and Master Lei went on strike today.

Yang Qing stayed at home alone.

He looked at the collapsed courtyard wall, not knowing what he was thinking.

In this era, there are still some things one can do individually, such as itinerant barbers, knife and scissors sharpeners, and pot menders.

Moreover, some disabled workers who had no suitable jobs and whose livelihoods the Jiedao couldn't resolve started doing work like mending shoes and pasting paper boxes, which also counts as a kind of individual enterprise.

Some people always need a livelihood; if the Jiedao doesn't arrange it, what can be done? They can only rely on themselves.

Just like Gu Ning's family, pasting paper boxes was about to become their mainstay industry.

Later, because they followed Yang Qing to learn fishing, fishing became their family's second side business.

Today, because of the rain, Gu Ning also stayed at home, watching the rain and feeling worried.

Father-in-law pasted paper boxes while watching her; he saw her worry and asked.

"What's wrong? Hasn't things improved at home these past two days?"

Gu Ning took out the carefully hidden bait.

"This is what Yang Qing gave me; these past few days of fishing have earned me five or six yuan, and together with the money from pasting paper boxes, it's enough for us to buy back our ration allotment."

"But this is all the bait we have; once it's gone, where can we get more?"

Old Li, pasting paper boxes, pointed out.

"Then let's dig for earthworms; I heard Yan Fu Gui say that earthworms work better than corn paste."

Gu Ning, however, shook his head.

"Some people use earthworms to fish, but the results are very poor, and I don't know why."

"These fish actually don't like meat; on the contrary, they prefer bait made from coarse grain."

"That means something has been added to this bait."

Gu Ning, on the other hand, had heard Yang Qing say that it contains fish entrails.

But she doesn't have any; she sells all the fish she catches.

"Forget it; if the rain stops, I'll just go dig for wild vegetables."

"We eat vegetable dumplings; the extra we dry, chop up, and save to cook when we run out."

"In any case, we can make it through these few months; once the summer grain comes out, things will be much better."

Father-in-law then suddenly said.

"I've heard that the state is encouraging rural markets this year."

"The market is actually similar to a pigeon market, except it's organized by the government."

"Why set up a market?"

"Because rural life is harder, many people can't get by; the market has become a means of balancing resources, and also a hope for survival."

Gu Ning didn't understand Father-in-law's meaning.

"We don't have any money either."

Old Li took out his grain ration coupon, side-food coupon, and purchase certificate.

"Use our current money to buy back everything we can—needles, thread, matches, oil, meat, cloth, and so on."

"Then take them to the market and exchange them all for coarse grain."

Gu Ning froze.

"Isn't that speculation and profiteering?"

Old Li countered.

"Why does the government open a market?"

Gu Ning didn't know.

Old Li told her.

"It's to let those who can't get by engage in speculation and profiteering."

"We're just using our own things to exchange for some coarse grain; there's nothing wrong with that."

Gu Ning didn't dare to go.

"Then I'll go ask Yang Qing."

After the fishing incident, she had begun to rely on Yang Qing as her mainstay.

Actually, some people have already realized that this is a relaxation of economic controls.

During this period, some people seized the opportunity and made a fortune.

For example, someone who seized the opportunity would help restaurants, factory canteens, or slaughterhouses kill livestock; after the killing, they weren't paid money but were allowed to take away the unwanted entrails and bones.

That person would then process those items, take them to a recycling station, and exchange them for coupons.

(In the past, meat procurement worked like this: you were given part cash and part meat coupons.)

Then he would exchange those coupons for money.

After doing this for two years, that person became a ten‑thousand‑yuan household.

This was uncovered, but there are still many that haven't been.

Even many are colluding.

It can be said that from 1961 to 1966 were the years when capital rose.

One need not think to know that some capitalists, seeing their businesses disappear and unwilling to wait for destruction, infiltrated the government.

That decade can be said to have complex causes: domestic troublemakers, constant mischief from Wan Province, continual blockades and fraud from the Beautiful Country, and the infiltration of Big Brother—all exerting influence on this country.

This matter, and these methods, Yang Qing also knows, but he dare not engage in them.

If his background were good, he could still manipulate things a little, but given his background...

Never mind.

More money invites disaster.

His focus remained on relying on his wife to improve their life while also expanding his network.

As for Captain Ge's side, we haven't been in touch for a while; when we have time, we should get together.

Just as Yang Qing was daydreaming, Gu Ning came over.

Yang Qing saw the other person still a bit dazed, wondering if this lone man and woman pairing was appropriate.

Gu Ning, upon seeing Yang Qing, also realized his coming was rash, but the matter at hand was important.

"Yang Qing, sorry, I have something to ask; is it convenient for you?"

Yang Qing gestured to the stool.

"Sit down and speak."

Gu Ning then recounted the market matter in full.

Upon hearing, Yang Qing also realized that with the emergence of rural regulations, the encouraging market policy also appeared.

He thought for a moment, then said to Gu Ning.

"Doing this once or twice is fine, but not too often; too much makes it easy for people to notice the abnormality."

"Also, one shouldn't stay in one place; need to change locations frequently, not too much at once, but small amounts many times."

"You've probably been to the pigeon market; you can go stroll around to get familiar with the environment."

"The life in the villages around Jingcheng is much better than elsewhere, so we can still exchange some things."

"Especially places near the mountains, they have little grain but other harvests are abundant."

"You should understand what I mean, right?"

"Although the grain quota in the city has been reduced, that's for ordinary people; some people's hasn't decreased."

"For example, the elder still has surplus grain to take care of the Jia family."

"However, meat is truly insufficient in the city; this year I'm afraid we won't even accumulate a jin of meat in a year."

"Some people have plenty of meat but no grain; some have plenty of grain but too little meat quota; and some have lots of money but little meat and grain."

Yang Qing has already made it clear; whether it's understood is up to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning is not stupid; he immediately understood Yang Qing's meaning and gave him a deep bow.

"Yang Qing, great kindness needs no thanks."

Yang Qing raised a hand, cutting off her words.

"I haven't said anything, and you haven't asked anything."

"You came to borrow grain; take this potato and hurry off."

"My monthly quota is only twenty jin; even converted to coarse grain it's not much, don't come trying to mooch."

Saying this, Yang Qing produced a small piece of potato, stuffed it into Gu Ning's hand, and told him to leave.

Gu Ning gave him another bow, then was about to leave.

Yang Qing called out to her.

"Pay attention to safety; safety first. If things are gone, they can be earned back, but if a person is gone, they're truly gone."

"Also, be sure to remember: small amounts many times, don't linger too long in one place."

Gu Ning nodded and left.

Yang Qing, however, felt quite uneasy.

Clearly it's a chance to make a fortune, yet I can only watch.

But as Gu Ning's family circumstances improve, my assistance within the compound gains another.

This is a good thing.