Chapter 47

"Don't chop anymore... oh... Li Ye, have you... ever cooked before?"

In the small warehouse in the back courtyard of the second grain store, Li Ye was waving a thick-backed bone-chopping knife, chopping fiercely at the half side of ribs "clack clack clack."

It was already freezing outside, and the ribs bought by Jin Peng and the others from the rural market were frozen solid all the way. Li Ye, who claimed to be a "fist fighter," was actually chopping quite hard.

And perhaps because the knife was not sharp enough, or perhaps Li Ye's chopping speed was not fast enough, after a round of "cloak-style chaotic chopping," a lot of meat mince was brought to the ground by his blade.

It wasn't just Jiang Gao Xiaoyan who felt sorry; even Hu Man and the others were muttering that Li Ye was too wasteful.

But this really couldn't blame Li Ye.

Originally, it had been agreed that Jiang Gao Xiaoyan would be responsible for cooking, and Jiang Gao Xiaoyan was quick-handed, and she didn't let others intervene in chores like chopping ribs.

To take care of Jiang Gao Xiaoyan's self-esteem, Li Ye deliberately arranged for others to set the table and get chairs, not intending to intervene.

But watching Jiang Gao Xiaoyan cut a small basin of radish, but only chop three or four taels of ribs as a side dish, Li Ye couldn't bear it.

Why did Li Ye let Jin Peng and the others buy vegetables and cook for themselves?

Was it really because the cafeteria wasted time?

Bullshit, wasn't it because he was greedy?

Since crossing over, Li Ye had been deeply disgusted by the cooking habits of the people around him.

The meals in the cafeteria cost a few cents, and it was hard to find a drop of oil; a meat dish cost one dime two, which barely counted as meat.

Even if he occasionally returned home, Grandma would mutter "My big grandson is back, let's make something delicious today," which just meant a few more slices of fat meat in Li Ye's bowl.

This was still Li Ye's family. In this day and age, if there was no one in the family earning a salary, it was not surprising to measure the oil with chopsticks when cooking. (My father experienced it; Grandma would dip the chopsticks in the oil bottle and shake the oil on the chopsticks into the pot before starting to fry.)

So Li Ye had three dishes for a meal these days, but the big-seed food-loving gene engraved in his soul had long ago protested with banners a hundred and eighty times.

It was because there were no conditions before, but now that there are conditions, why suffer?

At the end of '81, there were already private meat vendors selling meat at rural markets. Li Ye told Hao Hao Jian and Jin Peng a few days ago to buy goods from the market on the way when they went to the provincial capital to sell sugar. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat didn't matter; buy whatever was available.

Anyway, it's winter now, and the natural refrigerator won't spoil for several days. There are several markets in the ten miles and eight villages; as long as there is money, there is no shortage of food.

Since there is no shortage of food, why bother counting the meat cubes in the pot?

And ribs are not as valuable as lean meat in this day and age, and lean meat is not as valuable as fat meat. How many cents a catty? What's the point of saving?

So Li Ye drove Jiang Gao Xiaoyan away, picked up the bone-chopping knife himself, and chopped two or three catties of ribs in one breath before he was willing to stop.

"In the future, when cooking, follow this side dish standard. One meal is one dime, okay! We must let the brothers know what is called value for money."

Li Ye wouldn't go down to cook, but he would direct according to the recipe.

"Blanch the blood first, then stir-fry with oil, add water and stew, simple..."

"Did you use your own oil? The oil is so little that the ribs are burnt! We can't cheat people, right?"

"Not bad, not bad, add the star anise, prepare to get out of the pot."

Li Ye directed Jiang Gao Xiaoyan to cook step by step, correcting her stingy habits at every step. After the big pot bubbled and bubbled, everyone surrounded the pot, staring with wide eyes and pursed lips, swallowing saliva.

You let us eat this for a special one-dime meal?

Well well well, Li Ye, you are really a great philanthropist.

Li Ye underestimated the appetite of his classmates. A large pot of stewed ribs with radish was eaten until only a little soup was left.

Hu Man, Han Xue, and Jiang Gao Xiaoyan, these girls, were still twisting and shy at first,

but when the fat and beautiful taste of grease and fat bloomed on the tip of the tongue, even the most ladylike children couldn't hold back. Like Jin Peng, Li Li Dayong, and others, the girls also opened their mouths and wolfed down.

Only Wen Wen Leyu was the most special one. She was not embarrassed, but her little mouth was murmuring at a fast frequency like a rabbit eating grass, but it looked like there was a kind of elegant beauty.

Li Ye had long said that the royalties had a share for her, the proofreader,

but she didn't want money, only asking for meals. Li Ye brought her a share when he got meals in the cafeteria these days.

Long-term flow, following Li Ye, she felt she would earn more.

Li Ye stood up and ate the last piece of radish, then went out with Hao Hao Jian to walk off the food.

In the cold night, two cigarette butts flickered, and after a long time, Hao Hao Jian spoke.

"The shipment volume for this half month has exceeded our estimate again. You say... will something happen?"

Li Ye took a puff of his cigarette, threw half of the cigarette on the ground, and crushed it with his foot.

"What do you think will happen?"

Hao Hao Jian looked at the half cigarette crushed by Li Ye, felt sorry for a few tenths of a second, and then took out a "newspaper brick" from his arms.

Wrapped tightly in newspaper, it looked like a brick, and inside, of course, was the money Li Ye should have received this period.

Hao Hao Jian handed the money to Li Ye and said in a deep voice: "The money we earned... is too much."

"Pfft~"

Li Ye laughed, weighed the "brick," and asked: "How much? Is it enough for a ten-thousand-yuan household?"

Hao Hao Jian nodded and whispered: "Almost, not enough this year, definitely enough next year."

Li Ye laughed again: "You read the newspaper all day, you tell me, is a ten-thousand-yuan household against the law?"

"Ten-thousand-yuan household," in an era with an average monthly salary of thirty or forty yuan, was definitely synonymous with "great wealth." A ten-thousand-yuan household, although not necessarily equivalent to the "small goal" achiever of later generations, was definitely comparable to a multi-millionaire.

But the first ten-thousand-yuan household to be publicly reported was in '79. It's already '81 now, and the melon seeds have assets of several hundred thousand. What are you afraid of?

So Li Ye thought that by '81, the ten-thousand-yuan household didn't violate any rules or lines, and it wasn't worth being panicked about.

But Hao Hao Jian stared at Li Ye and said slowly: "A ten-thousand-yuan household is not against the law, but what about a hundred-thousand-yuan household? A hundred-thousand-yuan household is not against the law... what about a million-yuan household?"

Li Ye was stunned, looking at the excited Hao Hao Jian, and couldn't help but re-examine him.

When he first met Hao Hao Jian, Li Ye thought highly of him.

But Li Ye really didn't expect that in just a few days, this cunning businessman had such courage and spirit.

In '81, those who dared to think in the direction of a millionaire were either delusional or outstanding people.

As long as the latter didn't capsize, they would inevitably become figures in one party in the future.

Li Ye took out a cigarette, wanted to light it, and put it back in the cigarette box.

He asked Hao Hao Jian like an interviewer interviewing a senior staff member: "The malt sugar business doesn't have a very high threshold. Do you think it will earn that much?"

Hao Hao Jian seemed to have been prepared and said: "Yes, maybe the malt sugar can't earn that much, but the channel can, which is the channel you mentioned."

Li Ye smiled: "You finally figured out what a channel is?"

Hao Hao Jian became completely excited: "I've thought it through these days. Those who distribute goods for us can not only distribute malt sugar, but can distribute anything. We can give them a little support at most...

I met a few southerners in the provincial capital a few days ago. They were selling clothes secretly at night. They can sell, and we can sell, but they are selling retail, and we can do wholesale..."

Li Ye looked at Hao Hao Jian and had to admire this talent who only had a junior high school degree.

Although his summary of the channel was similar, his brain was absolutely flexible, and his business sense was sharp enough.

Before, the small capital limited his mobility. Now, watching the capital in his hands continue to increase, his vision gradually opened up, and the ambition in his heart naturally expanded.

Hao Hao Jian talked for a long time in one breath before stopping.

Li Ye nodded with a smile and approved: "Not bad, but some things can't be too urgent. Before the malt sugar business has a bottleneck, you should develop retailers with peace of mind."

After Li Ye finished speaking, he turned and walked back, but Hao Hao Jian said urgently: "Li Ye, now our business is getting bigger and bigger, can you let me... see your grandfather."

"Hmm?"

Li Ye turned back slowly, looking at the anxious Hao Hao Jian, cold without a smile.

"You have been handled the procedures for rural cooperative processing households, do you still feel it's not enough?"

"No, no... I just have some things I want to... report to Director Li."

Hao Hao Jian took several steps back continuously before saying the explanatory words.

He still didn't understand what an "aura" was, but suddenly, he felt that the "kindness and benevolence" on Li Ye disappeared, replaced by "coldness and sharpness."

Li Ye was indeed angry.

Hao Hao Jian didn't want to make any "report" to his grandfather, but wanted to be completely bound to the Li family and share the risks together.

As Hao Hao Jian said, the ten-thousand-yuan households and hundred-thousand-yuan households of this era, as long as they are low-key, don't have much danger.

But it's hard to say about million-yuan households. After all, Qingshui County is a relatively closed small northern city, not the open southern fertile soil.

No matter how profitable the malt sugar business is, Li Ye will not allow Hao Hao Jian, this outer protective shell, to have deep contact with his grandfather Li Li Zhongfa.

Li Ye finally lit the cigarette again, exhaled a thin mist towards the winter night, and asked Hao Hao Jian: "As an ordinary cooperative processing household, what is worth reporting to my grandfather?"

Hao Hao Jian felt his mouth dry, swallowed his saliva and said: "We earned too much money, and there will be more in the future. I want to hear Director Li's opinion."

"Heh~"

【You are afraid you want a guarantee!】

Li Ye smiled and puffed out a mouthful of smoke, spat a mouthful of cigarette oil on the ground, and then pointed his chin at the small warehouse of the second grain store.

"Okay, I know. You go in, and call Jin Peng out alone."

".........."

Hao Hao Jian's feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, not moving a step.

And in this cold winter, sweat actually broke out on his forehead.

【What is he going to do? Why is he calling Jin Peng... He wants to replace me, I knew it, I knew it...】

Jin Peng had been following Hao Hao Jian to the provincial capital these days. When handing over goods to those small vendors, he didn't talk much, but Jin Peng knew and recognized every small vendor.

Now Li Ye let Hao Hao Jian go in and replaced Jin Peng to do what?

Hao Hao Jian didn't dare to gamble.

Once the gamble was lost, his ten-thousand-yuan household, hundred-thousand-yuan household... would all be gone.

These days, Hao Hao Jian watched the money earned like flowing water, and he couldn't stop it, so he felt he could do it.

But now Li Ye just said a light sentence, which knocked him down to the mortal world, letting him understand what is "nothing in the end."

Li Ye looked at Hao Hao Jian for a long time without moving, and asked with a smile: "What's wrong? It's cool outside, can't bear to go in?"

Hao Hao Jian struggled, twisted, and finally laughed.

"I'm actually not very afraid, but I... have a wife and children."

Li Ye looked at Hao Hao Jian and was silent for a long time before saying: "Do you know the enterprise contracting document issued by the above this year?"

Hao Hao Jian's brain turned rapidly and said: "There is such a thing, but that... has anything to do with us?"

Li Ye said: "It has nothing to do with it now, but it may not be in the future. By then, you can contract a small collective, and everything will be solved, right?"

Hao Hao Jian came out in a sweat and was suddenly relaxed.

【You little thief, you had arrangements long ago, why didn't you say so?】

Contracting a small collective definitely still needs the Li family's help. Hao Hao Jian confirmed that he didn't mean to be abandoned at any time, so he felt relieved.

Li Ye led Hao Hao Jian back to the back courtyard of the second grain store, and saw Wen Wen Leyu, Hu Man, and several other girls feeding the dog with leftover bones.

But the huge yellow dog didn't even look at a pile of bones, just issued a low woo-woo sound at several girls.

Li Ye asked: "What are you doing?"

Wen Wen Leyu replied: "This dog is so fierce. We want to give it something delicious, otherwise it will always bite us in the future, but it actually doesn't eat bones."

"Damn~"

Li Ye cursed lightly and said: "You guys gnawed the bones cleaner than the dog, how can people eat? Dogs also have dignity, okay?"

Hao Hao Jian, who followed Li Ye, almost stumbled and fell.

By this time, he finally realized the truth and woke up from a dream.

The malt sugar business he cooperated with Li Ye was a four-six profit split, and he, Hao Hao Jian, had eaten enough fat.

"I should be content, I should be content, damn, why am I not content? Really a fool."

Hao Hao Jian regretted endlessly and rejoiced endlessly.