Chapter 14 Debt Collection (1)

The market days these days are very different from those after the reform and opening up.

In the planned economy era, the market was strictly regulated, and there were not many types of goods that farmers could trade freely. They were just some simple farm tools woven by themselves, chicken and duck cages, baskets, and small baskets, or a small amount of vegetables and fruits that could not be eaten from their own plots. In fact, the production volume was not high these days, and members with many children at home did not even have enough to eat at home, so there was basically no surplus to trade.

As for all coarse and fine grains such as peanuts, beans, wheat, and rice, all meat, including chickens, ducks, fish, etc., and even eggs, they were all purchased and sold by the government. Individuals were not allowed to trade freely. Otherwise, they would be cutting off the tail of capitalism and would have to stay in the fence.

The dried goods that Su Taotao brought, especially the mushrooms and black fungus, could not be traded openly. Dried bamboo shoots and dried vegetables were marginal products. If the quantity was large, it was understandable for the market managers to search and take them away. They would even be fined. In serious cases, they would be sent to labor reform, so most people did not dare to touch this mold.

The things that Su Taotao brought were divided into two parts at home. One part was indeed to be sent to her parents' home in the city. She did not know what the original owner's mentality was, but Su Taotao felt that a father who would leave his daughter 200 yuan as a retreat would not be a bad father.

She was going to write another letter after she got the money back, but that was a matter for the future. The most urgent thing was to reduce the burden and send out some of the dry goods first.

Seeing that Su Taotao only sent out some of the dry goods and the bag of colorful clothes, she didn't wear them anyway, so she sent them back as a favor, and whoever was suitable could wear them.

Zhou Linglan could not help but ask, "Taotao, aren't you going to send these mountain products?"

Su Taotao shook her head and said, "No, these are gifts for meeting each other."

Seeing Zhou Linglan puzzled, Su Taotao explained, "Mom, it is only natural for us to ask for debts when we go to someone's house, but if they want to embarrass us or simply refuse to give us anything, we may have to spend some time thinking about it. As the saying goes, a lot of gifts are welcome. We can't go to someone's house empty-handed. These things are worthless to us, but in the city, they are good things that you may not be able to buy even if you have money. They are most suitable for testing the water."

Zhou Linglan was deeply moved after hearing this, "You are still thoughtful. Mom didn't think so much."

She felt that her daughter-in-law had a lot of things to say after she went into the water once, and it made sense.

Fu Yuanhang seemed to be thinking about what he said, and even Chenchen, who was lying on Fu Yuanhang's back, listened very carefully.

Su Taotao saw that the little guy was staring at her with his big round eyes, and she smiled and stretched out her hand: "Are you tired, Xiaohang? Let me hold Chenchen for a while."

Fu Yuanhang shook his head: "No, Chenchen is very light."

After hearing this, Su Taotao felt sad again. Yes, the little guy is almost two years old, and I don't know if he weighs ten pounds. He is very light.

Su Taotao rubbed the little guy's head and stopped talking.

The address given by Cao Guohua was the address of the dormitory of the meat processing factory in the county. It was just after nine o'clock when the family of four arrived at the small side gate of the compound. At this time, it was estimated that everyone was at work, and no one might be at home. In fact, it would be safer to wait until noon when work was over.

However, Su Taotao chose this spot deliberately, as it happened to be the time when the retired aunts and uncles came back from buying groceries. The location chosen by Su Taotao was relatively hidden, and it happened to be the only way to the gate, so when Zhou Linglan put the basket of dried goods aside, it attracted several aunts to look over.

Seeing that the four members of the family were dressed in shabby clothes but very neatly, and their eyes were clear and regular, the eldest aunt stepped forward and asked decisively: "Sister, do you want to exchange these things?"

Zhou Linglan was about to wave her hand and say "No", but Su Taotao replied with a smile: "Auntie, we are here to visit relatives and plan to give some dried goods to them to try. However, they haven't got off work yet, and they have a lot. If you want to try it, we can exchange some for you."

When the eldest aunt heard this, she immediately felt that this female comrade was very understanding. She touched the fragrant and dried mushrooms that were dried in the sun, and then touched the plump She thought the black fungus was much better than the ones supplied by the supply and marketing cooperative, and nodded repeatedly: "That's great, what do you want to exchange?"

Su Taotao did not hide it and said directly: "Meat, aunt's family should not be short of meat. If you don't mind, you can exchange some meat for us. If you have tickets, I can exchange more for you. If you don't have meat tickets, other tickets will do."

Su Taotao's words were exactly what her aunt wanted. There were four employees in her family. Their ancestors were all city people, and they didn't have any farming relatives, so they had no shortage of meat and various tickets, but they were hungry for fruits, vegetables and dried goods.

Zhou Linglan didn't expect Su Taotao to be so bold, and she pulled her sleeve immediately: "Taotao..."

Su Taotao patted the back of her hand and soothed her: "Mom, we are just exchanging things, not doing business, it's okay."

The old lady nodded and said, "Yes, yes, sister, there are people coming to the residential area from time to time to exchange things. It doesn't involve financial transactions, and the red armbands won't care if they see it. I taste the vegetables in your village, and you taste my bacon. It's just a courtesy. You are not as brave as your daughter."

Zhou Linglan wanted to say that she is not my daughter, she is my daughter-in-law, but she thought about it and gave up. There is no need to explain so much to people who met by chance.

Finally, Su Taotao got what she wanted by exchanging half a bag of mushrooms and black fungus for a large piece of bacon. The aunt was kind enough to give Su Taotao two cloth coupons, saying that her daughter worked in a textile factory and could not use them.

This is what it means to be given a pillow when you are dozing off.

Su Taotao also gave the aunt a small half bag of bamboo shoots, saying that she was giving it to her daughter to try, and asked her to keep it for her daughter if there were any defective cloths in her daughter's factory next time. If anyone wants to exchange these mountain products, they can also let her know. She will wait here on the last market day of every month and then they can exchange them.

The aunt happily carried the good things from the mountains home.

Su Taotao got the meat she had been dreaming about.

Everyone was happy.

Fu Yuanhang and Chenchen looked at each other, and then looked at the bacon in the basket, thinking they were dreaming.

Fu Yuanhang asked in disbelief: "Sister-in-law, are our mushrooms and black fungus worth such a big piece of meat?"

In Fu Yuanhang's inherent thinking, meat is expensive, and these things in the mountains are not worth anything.

Su Taotao explained, "It's true that everyone wants to eat meat these days, but think about it, a three-year drought won't kill a chef. Similarly, the workers in the meat processing plant have no shortage of meat, just like there are large bamboo forests in our village and we are not short of dried bamboo shoots and vegetables. So, the value of something does not only depend on its own value, but also on where it is located."

Fu Yuanhang suddenly understood and nodded, "I think I understand, sister-in-law."

Zhou Linglan was still worried, "Taotao, is it really okay to do this?"

Su Taotao comforted her, "Don't worry, mom, I won't do anything illegal. We don't charge money, and it's okay to exchange some things."

Zhou Linglan: "But those tickets..."

Su Taotao said, "That's because your aunt saw that Chenchen's clothes were too torn, so she gave Chenchen the extra cloth coupons at home so that he could buy cloth to make new clothes, right, Chenchen?"

Chenchen looked down at his own clothes. They were in good condition, except for a small patch near the pocket, which his grandmother had sewed there when he accidentally tore it when he was eating peanuts. The patch was in the shape of a peanut. He looked at his uncle's clothes again, which had even more patches on them. He shook his head and said, "For uncle..."

Su Taotao was stunned for a moment, then she smiled happily. What a good boy.

Su Taotao rubbed his head and said, "Okay, when mom has enough cloth, I'll make one for your uncle."

Fu Yuanhang pulled the boy's hand to his lips and bit it gently: "Uncle, don't need it, let Chenchen do it."

Chenchen insisted and nodded solemnly: "Yes..."

Everyone was amused by him.

...

While they were talking and laughing, another aunt came to exchange things. This time, Su Taotao exchanged for a pig's tail.

After a while, she exchanged for a pig's ear from a grandfather. Although these are not as good as real meat, they are much more delicious than meat when they are made.

Su Taotao didn't exchange the rest. She really had to keep them for gifts.

Time passed quickly, and it was lunchtime. Su Taotao led them to the main entrance, registered, and went directly to Unit 3, Building 6, Room 305.

Su Taotao raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" The person inside came out and opened the door.

When they looked at each other, they were both stunned.

"Is it you?"

"Is it you?"

...