Chapter 357: Ginseng Human Relationship
The next day, Zhao Jingcheng got up early, hiding the ginseng in his arms. Following Lianyi's instructions, he went to the town alone. When he arrived at the Public Security Bureau, he did not go in, but waited at the entrance of the alley not far away.
When it was time to go to work, there were more and more pedestrians on the road. Zhao Jingcheng saw Zhang Gongan hurrying towards the Public Security Bureau. He immediately trotted over and called out to him.
When Zhang Quan heard someone calling him, he subconsciously turned around and saw a tall, thin man wearing a black cotton coat and trousers with half of his face covered. He was stunned for a moment before asking:
"You looking for me?"
"Hello, Zhang Gongan! I'm from the Red Flag Commune."
"What's the matter?"
"I heard from the villagers that Zhang Gongan was looking for ginseng. I have one in my hand, but I don't know."
Zhao Jingcheng lowered his voice and explained the purpose of his visit.
Zhang Quan's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he immediately said:
"It's inconvenient to talk on the way, come with me to the office."
Zhao Jingcheng nodded, and followed Zhang Quanshen silently, entering the Public Security Bureau with a little nervousness.
After entering the office, Zhao Jingcheng felt a little embarrassed and did not sit down. Seeing Zhang Quan closed the door, he took out a small cloth bag from his arms, opened it layer by layer, and explained the origin of the ginseng according to what Lianyi taught him.
"I don't know if this one is old enough. Zhang Gongan, take a look."
Zhang Quan didn't know much about ginseng, but seeing that there was still dirt on the roots, he touched them and felt that the ginseng was at least fresh. After thinking for a while, he said:
"Brother Zhao, one of my comrades needs ginseng. He wants ginseng for medical treatment. I don't know how old it is. I'll give you a deposit first, and I'll take this ginseng to let him take a look. If he's sure he wants it, I'll give you the rest of the money. Is that okay with you?"
"No problem. I trust Public Security Zhang."
Zhao Jingcheng had no objection. He had no shortage of ginseng anyway. It was just because Lianyi told him to keep a low profile that he did everything according to his wife's instructions.
Zhang Quan didn't expect the other party to be so straightforward, so he asked Zhao Jingcheng to wait in the office for a while. Then he went out for a walk, borrowed some money from his colleagues, and collected 60 yuan to give to Zhao Jingcheng as a deposit.
Zhao Jingcheng took the money and left the Public Security Bureau. Zhang Quan contacted his old comrade-in-arms there. The other party was still wandering around the village below and had also collected a few ginsengs, but the quality was not very good.
When the other party returned to his residence and received Zhang Quan's message, he immediately called Zhang Quan. Zhang Quan took the ginseng directly to the hotel where his old comrade Guo Tao was temporarily staying.
After Guo Tao looked at the ginseng, a smile appeared on his face:
"Quanzi, you are the best. This is real wild ginseng. Although it is only fifty years old, it has high medicinal value. It will definitely be effective if used as medicine for the old man."
"That's good. Give me an estimate and I'll give them the rest of the money. I'm only giving them a 60-dollar deposit to save my dignity."
Zhang Quan was happy when he heard that he could help.
The two were comrades-in-arms before. After retiring from the army, he returned to his hometown and joined the Public Security Bureau, which was considered a stable job. Guo Tao's family had some background. His father held an important position in the capital. Although it was tens of thousands of miles away from the Northeast, it was still considered a connection.
There is some affection between the two of them, so they have always been in contact. This time he was able to help Guo Tao, and the other party will remember his kindness. Who knows, one day he might ask for something from the other party.
"Good! I'll let you, a public servant, do the guarantee for me."
Guo Tao said with a smile and took out three thousand yuan from the briefcase he carried with him.
"It's worth so much? Are you bringing all your savings with you?"
Zhang Quan was still a little surprised.
"It's worth the price. Please help me pass it on to that fellow villager. I, Guo Tao, will owe you a favor."
"Okay, I didn't do anything for you. I just gave you a clue."
Zhang Quan took the money, carefully put it into his briefcase, and said with a smile.
"Quanzi, please tell that fellow villager that if there is still ginseng of this good quality, I will buy it. Please ask him to keep it for me."
"Okay, I'll make a note of this."
"Let's go, I'll treat you to a meal at the state-owned restaurant as a token of my gratitude."
"Okay, I won't refuse this. I just happen to be feeling very hungry lately."
The two of them went out to have a good meal arm in arm, and said goodbye in the evening.
Zhang Quan returned home, thought about it, took out the 60 yuan he had borrowed, and took out 240 yuan for himself. He would give the rest to Zhao Jingcheng on the weekend.
Guo Tao did not propose to meet the ginseng seller directly, but agreed to let him take some commission from the middle. However, he was not greedy. He took what he should take, and the rest was other people's.
When Zhang Quan sent the money over at the weekend, he was warmly received by Zhao Jingcheng and Lianyi, and at least had a small meal with meat and vegetables.
When Zhang Quan was about to leave, Lianyi took out two big unity banknotes from the money and wanted to give them to the other party, but he politely declined.
“I can’t accept this money, my comrades have already given me what I deserve, these are yours.
Besides, my comrade also said that if you can dig up wild ginseng of this quality, he still wants it. The price is negotiable. Just contact me when the time comes."
Lianyi understood as soon as she heard it, and didn't force it. She stuffed two rabbit skins into the other party's pocket to express her gratitude and to maintain the relationship between the two parties.
This time Zhang Quan accepted it with a smile, and the two families officially started their relationship.
After the funeral of Zhao Fendou, the former team leader of Hongqi Commune, and his son Zhao Shuanzi, the organization decided that Zhao Fengshou would officially take over the position of team leader and become the new team leader of Hongqi Commune.
After Zhao Fengshou took office, he made a special trip to Daqing Commune and showed the mediation letter that Aunt Zhao had brought back with her handprint to the leader of Daqing Commune. He then said indifferently:
"Captain Qin, the villagers of our Hongqi Commune have always been honest and upright, and we really wouldn't do anything to bully outsiders. You feel sorry for the daughters-in-law who married out of our village and want to support them. I understand that. If the daughters-in-law who married out of our village came back to complain, we would also have to take the lead.
However, the great man also said that we should seek truth from facts. If we want to take the lead, we should at least make clear the situation, otherwise we will be fooled by others without knowing it.
I won’t say more. This is the mediation document from the town’s Public Security Bureau. It clearly states in black and white that the mother and son of the Pan family deliberately provoked trouble, so they were invited to the Public Security Bureau. They had no money to pay compensation, so they used their labor to compensate.”
Captain Qin of Daqing Commune was a middle-aged man who could read. After taking the paper handed over by Zhao Fengshou and reading it carefully, he handed the mediation letter back.
"Captain Zhao, I know you came here specially to prevent conflicts between the two villages. The Tan family did go too far. I will criticize them later. Don't take it personally. Please say hello to Aunt Zhao for me. I will ask Tan Si to come and apologize later."
Captain Qin said with a smile.
"Captain Qin, as long as you understand what I mean, there is no need to apologize. After all, they were also used by the Pan family mother and son. I came here just to make things clear. We will still be brother villages in the future."
"We must be brother villages, advancing and retreating together!"
(End of this chapter)
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