Just as I swallowed a wolf meat pancake, a commotion broke out at the door.
The old woman rushed out, then hurriedly ran back into the inner room a few seconds later, her face filled with anxiety: "Ergouzi, all the women in the village are here. We have to hide the pancakes first, otherwise there won't be enough for everyone."
Before Zhang Cheng could speak, the old woman deftly picked up the plate, quickly walked to the cabinet, opened the cabinet door, and hid the wolf meat pancakes inside.
The cabinet door had just closed when footsteps arrived, accompanied by the women's laughter and playful banter.
"Big Head's mother, Big Head said your family sells soy sauce, is that true?"
"Big Head has made something of himself now; he's said to have gotten a lot of good stuff from the county's supply and marketing cooperative."
"But I heard that the one who actually gets the goods from the supply and marketing cooperative is Er Gouzi, and Da Naozi is just helping Er Gouzi with his work."
"Hey, Er Gouzi's here too!"
"Er Gouzi, you're really something. Jianhao just came home and gave me six yuan, saying it was money he made selling Huangjing. Hahaha, just seven or eight jin of Huangjing, and he actually made six yuan, more than his dad makes in a month."
"That's right. A few days ago, someone said that Er Gouzi married a crazy woman and his life was over. Now look at him, he's better than anyone else."
"Ergouzi, I have a niece, about your age, from Huangdian Village. How about your aunt introduces her to you?"
"What are you saying! Er Gouzi has a wife, aren't you trying to steal her away?"
The room was in complete chaos, with a buzzing sound like a swarm of flies buzzing around my ears.
Zhang Cheng rubbed his temples, trying to quiet them down, but it was no use.
"Ladies, are you still going to buy anything?"
The scene quieted down slightly after Zhang Cheng asked the question.
"Buy, of course I'll buy. Er Gouzi, give me ten catties of coarse grains first, and three ounces of white sugar too..."
"Why should you buy first? Er Gouzi, we're relatives..."
Things are about to get chaotic again.
Zhang Cheng's lips twitched, and he finally understood why so many dealerships had gone out of business.
Few people could withstand a scene like this.
Big Head's mother put her hands on her hips, stood next to Zhang Cheng, and shouted, "What's all this noise about? If you keep making noise, don't come to my house again. All you do all day long is mutter and grumble."
"Big-Headed's mother, what does this have to do with you? What gives you the right to boss people around like that?"
"that is!"
The old woman stamped her foot, ran behind the door, grabbed a carrying pole, and shouted, "This is my house! If anyone makes a sound again, don't blame me for kicking them out. If you want to buy something, speak properly and don't give me any of that nonsense. Yaohui's mother, you go first."
"Why should I?!"
"Get out! You're not welcome in my house!" The old woman grabbed a carrying pole and started gesturing.
"Old hag, are you serious?!"
A chaotic scene ensued.
Finally, the old lady managed to bring the situation under control.
Zhang Cheng brought back quite a lot of goods this time; the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar sold out quickly.
These things can be stored, and the aunties aren't afraid they'll spoil; they'll take as much as they can get.
Coarse grains are limited to a maximum of ten jin per household, and no grain coupons are required.
Rice cost four mao per jin (500g), rationed with grain coupons.
The old woman, like a mother wolf protecting her cubs, stared at the group of village women. If anyone tried to sneak a taste of the sugar, she would raise her carrying pole.
At this moment, the old woman was like a fierce wolfhound guarding its food.
Zhang Da Nao told her that from then on, he would follow Zhang Cheng and would even get a government job at the supply and marketing cooperative, earning twenty yuan a month, and an additional fifty cents a day when things got busy.
Such a good job, the old lady naturally had to help Zhang Da Nao keep it.
With the old lady's "support," more than half of the goods were sold in half an hour, and there were still quite a few cigarettes, fruit candies, and other items left.
“Auntie, why don’t you go to the village committee and find those educated youths, and ask them to teach you to read?” Zhang Cheng thought his auntie would be perfect as a saleswoman.
"Learn to read? Er Gouzi, don't make fun of your aunt. How old are you? What would you know to read?" The old woman laughed heartily.
"Auntie, you only need to know a few words. Once I open the consignment shop, you can be a sales clerk, five yuan a month, how about that?"
Salesperson at a consignment store?
The old lady's eyes lit up. Could this mean she was finally getting a government job?
"Will that work?" the old woman asked hesitantly.
“Why can’t it be done!” Zhang Cheng laughed. “Auntie, take some food over there later. Those educated youth will definitely treat you like royalty, not to mention they’ll teach you to read.”
"Okay, I'll give it a try in a bit. By the way, Er Gouzi, when is your dealership opening?"
"Let's wait until spring. Then I'll ask the village about renting the cowshed at the village entrance, repairing it, and using it as a shop."
After chatting with the old lady for a while, Zhang Cheng left Big Head's house with a wolf meat pancake in his pocket.
As he walked, Zhang Cheng sensed something was wrong.
Frowning, he turned into the alley next door, leaned against the wall, and cautiously observed his surroundings.
A few seconds later, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.
"Who are you?"
Zhang Cheng looked at the woman who had followed him into the alley, somewhat puzzled.
The woman wore a patched plaid cotton-padded jacket covered in grease and grime, and had a thick, long ponytail. Her face was clean, but covered in chilblains.
Seeing Zhang Cheng standing at the corner, Zhao Qingwan was startled. Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, whispering, "I... I am Zhao Qingwan. I was an educated youth who came here six years ago."
It turns out they were educated youth sent to the countryside.
Before his rebirth, Zhang Cheng was timid and cowardly. He was either busy working on the mountain or staying at home, and he had hardly ever seen the educated youth in the village.
"What's up?" Zhang Cheng asked.
"Um, could you sell me some grain?"
"Sure, just go to Big Head's house and ask my aunt!"
"I...I have no money." Zhao Qingwan twisted her hands together, somewhat embarrassed.
Zhang Cheng smiled. The educated youth earned work points and money for their work, so how could they not have money...
Thinking that Yangyang also needed someone to accompany him, Zhang Cheng said, "Go find my aunt and tell her that I asked her to lend you ten catties of coarse grains."
"Thank you, thank you!" Zhao Qingwan quickly bowed and expressed her gratitude.
"Don't mention it. If you have time, come to my house and keep Yangyang company," Zhang Cheng said.
"I'll definitely go see Yangyang when I have time; I haven't seen her in a long time," Zhao Qingwan readily agreed.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. Oh, and don't wander around outside by yourself. You've heard about the bear killing people."
"I...I'll go back as soon as I borrow the grain!" Zhao Qingwan said hurriedly.
Watching Zhao Qingwan's departing figure, Zhang Cheng felt that something was amiss.
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