Zhou Huaian arrived in Ning'an and helped load the goods onto the Dadongfeng. He then told Wang Zhen everything he and Yang Chunyan had said.

"I know you are doing this for our own good, but we are just ordinary people, and there are some things that we have to think more about.

Chunyan often said that if you have more money, you can use it in more ways, and if you have less money, you can use it in less ways. If we want to do it, we will still do it as before, helping Boss Zheng with the processing, earning less and having fewer involvements. "

Wang Zhen thought for a while and said to him, "Brother-in-law, to be honest, I didn't expect you to think of this. Just do as you said. We should do the same as we do now, work harder, earn less, and have fewer worries in the future."

Zhou Huaian smiled and said, "To be honest, we earn quite a bit. Even Second Uncle Xu said that we earn more in a few days than he does in a year."

"Because it's a seller's market now, money is so easy to make, so I want to take the opportunity to accumulate more funds, but your and elder sister's concerns are not unreasonable."

Wang Zhen patted his shoulder and said, "If you want to do it, let's do it this way first. If there is a chance in the future, we can do it ourselves."

"That's right, we'll do it ourselves when we have a chance." Zhou Huaian looked at the time, "I'm leaving first. Chunyan asked me to tell you, tell Xiaomei what she wants to eat."

"Yeah!" Wang Zhen remembered something, "You'd better finish work early. The weather forecast says there will be heavy rain today."

"Yeah~" Zhou Huaian stared, "Is it accurate?"

Wang Zhen shrugged and spread his hands, saying, "Only God knows whether it is true or not, but you must be prepared first!"

"Yeah, when you want him to be accurate, he's not accurate. But when you don't want him to be accurate, he's extremely accurate." Zhou Huaian waved at him and walked towards the four-wheel tractor.

Wang Zhen saw him start the tractor and leave, so he carried the bamboo basket to the yard behind the clinic. Seeing Yang Dongmei drying clothes, he hurried forward to take it and said, "Be careful, don't go up and down. Remember to call me next time."

Yang Dongmei scolded, "How can I be so delicate? Grandpa checked my pulse and said that I am in good health. Look at my sister. When she was pregnant with Jiuer, she was still wandering around in the mountains with a basket on her back!"

Wang Zhen hung the towel on the hanger, clipped it, and hung it on the clothesline. "It's always better to be careful. My eldest sister said that if you want to eat something, just send her a message and she will make it for you."

"I don't want to eat anything. I'll tell her when I think of something." Yang Dongmei picked up two tomatoes and rinsed them under the tap, then fed Wang Zhen a bite. "What did they say about the fried chicken oil and mushroom sauce?"

Wang Zhen repeated Zhou Huaian's words, "Things have been going smoothly for the past two years. I almost forgot that there are still people who oppose the current policies. Their words today have also sounded a wake-up call for me."

Yang Dongmei looked at him worriedly after hearing this. "There's one more thing. When I went to the department store this morning, I heard someone in the store say that our business is bigger than that of the state-owned units. We've taken all their business away, so they can't even pay bonuses. I'm worried that they're playing tricks."

Wang Zhen hurriedly comforted her, "Don't worry, we sold it according to the list price and didn't violate any regulations. At most, they would just complain a few times, but they can't do anything to us."

"It's right to be careful. You know, some people are like mad dogs, biting anyone they catch. If it doesn't work, we can just sell the things in the shop. After all, it's our shop. If we close it, we'll just make less money."

"Don't worry, if someone really wants to bite us, we can just lock him up and go to the countryside to play for a few months, and I'll keep you company."

"Well! Let's go to the woods and pick mushrooms. You don't know, when I see those people carrying mushrooms, my feet start to itch."

"No, that won't work. The forest has been very slippery these days, and it's not convenient for you to pick mushrooms. I'll go with you next year."

"When we have some free time, we can go to my sister's Baihua Forest. That forest isn't steep at all. Going there is almost like taking a walk!"

"It's really nice there. We'll go there when you're older."

"Yes! My sister said there are honey fungi there. I'll take you to pick some. It's so satisfying to snap and break a piece of honey fungus."

"Now that you've said that, I want to go pick some mushrooms." Wang Zhen smiled and picked up the bamboo basket. "Grandpa is at the clinic. You take a rest for a while. I'll go over and take a look."

"Well! I'll wash two melons and two tomatoes, and you can take them to grandpa."

Wang Zhen went to the clinic carrying melons and tomatoes and saw the old man seeing a patient. He greeted him and rode his bike to the street. He first went to the department store and saw that there were fewer people buying things there than before.

I went to check out two other newly opened stores and saw that they were all packed with customers. But when I returned to my own department store, there were even fewer customers than in the department store.

But there are more people gathered around the counters selling home appliances than in department stores. The profit from selling one of these large items is better than selling ten of other items.

It seems that I need to make some adjustments during this period of time, put fewer electrical appliances on the market, and let them sell some as well, so as to avoid being targeted by the dog.

After Wang Zhen thought it over, he walked straight to the office. The team leader of the store hurriedly came to meet him, and the two went to the warehouse together.

…

When Zhou Huaian arrived at the entrance of the mountain road to Baicaoping, he saw Li Qiuyue and Zhou Huaishan were already busy. He got off the tractor and saw Xia Tiezhu's cousins, as well as Secretary Zhang and Secretary Yang's families who came to sell mushrooms, all helping to sort them.

He looked around and said, "The people from Bailing Mountain haven't arrived yet? According to the weather forecast, there will be a heavy rain today. Everyone, please hurry up. If you go home late, you may get wet."

"It'll be a while before we get there." Li Qiuyue said with a smile, "Youngest, you know that the weather forecast is only accurate twice out of ten."

Secretary Zhang smiled and said, "That's right. The sun has been out for a few days in a row. Everyone is looking forward to the rain so that the mushrooms can emerge in large numbers!"

"Well, since you are not afraid, I have nothing to be afraid of." Zhou Huaian said with a smile, "There is another good news. If you see shiitake mushrooms, chanterelles, and green shimeji mushrooms that have just opened their umbrellas, you can pick them up and send them to me. The purchase price is tentatively set at 10 cents per pound."

"Youngest brother, I have some that have been dried in the sun and are half wilted. Do you want them? If you want them, I'll send them to you."

"I have quite a few at home, if you want them, I'll deliver them to you tomorrow."

"I have one at home..."

"It's okay if it's half-wilted. Everyone cleans it up and clears off the muddy feet. The price will be doubled."

After hearing this, everyone shouted happily, "Okay! I guarantee you will be satisfied!"

Secretary Zhang glanced at the excited villagers, stepped forward and patted him, "Youngest, I have something to tell you."

"Okay, have a cigarette first!" Zhou Huaian took out a cigarette and handed it to him, then followed him to the tractor. "Uncle Zhang, what's the matter?"

Secretary Zhang whispered, "Yesterday, Lao Er went to the cooperative to buy things, and an acquaintance asked him where all the morels, shiitake mushrooms, and chanterelles were sold this year.

They also said that they didn’t receive any good products this year and were scolded by their superiors. I’m worried that the people from the cooperative will come to trouble you.”

Zhou Huaian curled his lips, "They pushed the purchase price so low, and no one wanted to sell to them, how can you blame me?"

Secretary Zhang whispered, "Everyone understands the truth, but those talented people don't care! You have to understand that the arm cannot twist the thigh.

If those people really come to cause trouble, just pack up and leave. Don't confront them, otherwise, they will just put a hat on your head and you will have to stay in jail."

"That's true. Driving up prices is the first one." Zhou Huaian looked at him gratefully. "Uncle Zhang, thank you for your advice."

Secretary Zhang hurriedly said, "Stop saying that. You haven't helped our family enough in the past few years! If it weren't for you..."

"Uncle Zhang!" Zhou Huaian interrupted him hurriedly, "You can't say that. I have also benefited from being with you over the past few years. In the words of my brother-in-law, it is a win-win situation for us."

Secretary Zhang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Okay, I won't say any more. If they come, remember what I said. Don't confront them head-on. It's not worth it."

"I've got that in mind." Zhou Huaian said with a smile, "It's going to rain heavily, so let's harvest all the mushrooms first."

"Okay, I've already told Lao Yang about this. When Lao Lin and Lao Yin come, I'll tell them about this as well."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang!" Zhou Huaian lit the cigarette for him, and the two walked towards the straw hut together.

"Youngest, take it!" Zhou Huaishan hurriedly handed him the account book and wallet, "I'd rather leave the troublesome things to you."

"Okay, okay, I'll do it." Zhou Huaian took it with a smile and began to settle the bills for the villagers who had weighed their goods. He whispered to Zhou Huaishan what Secretary Zhang had said.

Zhou Huaishan looked at him worriedly when he heard this. "Youngest brother, they harvest mushrooms every year. We have taken away their business, so they will definitely come to cause trouble for us."

"The higher-ups are already cursing, it would be strange if these people didn't come! We'll see what happens then, if it doesn't work we'll talk to Uncle Zhang and just withdraw."

Zhou Huaishan nodded after hearing this, "Then let's load the collected goods onto the four-wheeler first, and you drive to the woods across the street."

Zhou Huaian looked at the bamboo baskets piled up like a small mountain and said, "Tell the villagers who are loading the goods to start loading them now."

"Yes!" Zhou Huaishan went to call people to load the goods.

Several strong laborers carried bamboo baskets to load goods onto the four wheels. It took more than half an hour to fill the tractor's bed.

Zhou Huaian drove the tractor to the woods diagonally opposite, parked it, covered it with a tarpaulin and came back. The villagers from Bailing Mountain and Chuancheng who were selling mushrooms had also arrived.

Secretary Zhang called all three secretaries together, and they discussed for a while, and then each did what he was supposed to do.

Zhou Huaian and his two companions, along with the villagers who came to help, became even busier. The forest was as lively as a market day.

At this time, the unique rumbling sound of a tractor was heard on the road. Everyone turned their heads and saw a tractor coming from the front. The people standing on the tractor were all wearing work protection clothes of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Zhou Huaian, who was busy weighing the mushrooms for Secretary Yang's family, was startled when he saw these people and quickly handed the money and account book to Zhou Huaishan.

"Third brother, judging from their appearance, they are here with ill intentions. Hurry up and take your third sister-in-law to the woods across the street and drive the four-wheeler away." (End of this chapter)