The Zhao family's incident served as a wake-up call for everyone in Xihe Village, from adults to children. Although the price was Zhao Maiya's impaired vision, her appearance might also suffer. After all, her eyeballs were damaged, and without any cover, she might develop a lifelong sense of inferiority.
This person is the most qualified to speak on this, because there was a classmate in their class who was less than 1.5 meters tall. She was very outstanding and good-looking, but her height prevented her from getting into a good company or a good position, no matter how outstanding she was.
After repeatedly getting first place in written tests but failing in interviews, she even had suicidal thoughts. Who can understand this kind of trauma if they are not the one who experienced it?
In high school, there were classmates with birthmarks on their foreheads who couldn't hide them with their bangs and often walked with their heads down...
So, in Zhao Maiya's case, well, perhaps only a sigh can express the regret in her heart.
Actually, her own situation wasn't much better. She was malnourished in the womb, and if it weren't for the old lady's careful care and her own secret supplementation, she probably wouldn't have grown up like she is now. Compared to others, she can't be considered pretty; she's just passable.
This brings us to their grandmother, who can praise anything and tell everyone how good-looking her son is. Even the grandmother can't help but facepalm when she hears this.
Grandma, apart from yourself, I doubt anyone else thinks your granddaughter is pretty. People usually show off their grandsons, but you, on the other hand, only show off this granddaughter you bought.
Even if you go out and say that Xiao Jiu isn't a member of the Tao family, I doubt anyone will believe you.
——
They have a gathering three times a month here. On this day, Xiao Jiu went back to his home in town with his grandfather. Coincidentally, they met someone looking at the house.
He walked around the place three or four times, and seemed quite satisfied with their business, but Grandpa was adamant about the price.
One thousand yuan in cash, two thousand yuan worth of grain.
Now that grain requires ration coupons, it's a very difficult thing for buyers.
"Old sir, what do you need so much grain for? I only get a fixed salary, can't you just give me cash instead? If you take the money, we can transfer the property right now."
Grandpa shook his head. "Why do you think I'm selling the house? It's because we're starving! I've raised a bunch of kids, all at the age where they need to eat. I need to save up more food. I have money, but food is hard to buy!"
In the days when wheat yields were less than 50 kilograms per mu, the lowest grade of rice cost 11 cents per jin, flour was slightly cheaper but still cost 10 cents, and sorghum cost 8.5 cents per jin. My grandfather would ask for 2,000 yuan worth of grain, which was roughly equivalent to 20,000 jin of flour. It was true that people couldn't afford that, mainly because money was valuable in those days.
The middleman really wants to earn this commission; how can he just watch the meat that's practically in his mouth slip away?
He came over to persuade him: "Hey old man, that's enough. This person has money, but he's a government employee. He doesn't have that much grain. You can't buy two thousand yuan worth of grain from anyone now. Two thousand yuan, not two hundred yuan. If your yard weren't big enough and hadn't been aged for a certain number of years, he might not have been willing to pay that price. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Xiao Jiu wholeheartedly agreed. She could slowly save up food, and since she had food herself, she was never worried about it. But it was truly rare to find someone willing to spend three thousand yuan to buy a house.
Fortunately, Grandpa wasn't too stubborn. After repeatedly confirming that the other party really wanted to buy it, he arranged a time.
"Come over the day after tomorrow, you pay the money, and I'll help you with the transfer. We need to prepare and discuss things carefully these next couple of days."
Upon hearing this, the official readily paid a deposit of two hundred yuan.
As soon as the others left, Grandpa frowned and pulled the middleman aside to ask a question.
"Who is he? Could he be a con artist?"
"Oh, sir, what are you saying? How can this be a scam? We've already given you the money, it can't be fake, can it?"
It's definitely not fake. In this day and age, it's very difficult to make banknotes that are indistinguishable from the real thing!
And she touched the money; it was indeed real money.
"They came from the provincial capital. They said they wanted to buy a house for the old man to retire in. They've already looked at your little courtyard several times. Your grandchildren are all home there. At that time, he thought it was too expensive. Later, he took some photos and sent them back to the provincial capital. It took a lot of time to go back and forth. Now that the family has made a decision, they've come here to negotiate the price."
Grandpa understood immediately. No wonder he was so generous; he must be from the provincial capital. Judging from his clothes and appearance, he was indeed a person of status and position.
Money isn't a problem, but grain is something not everyone can get their hands on, which is understandable.
After all, it's a bit unfair for a country person to complain to city dwellers that there's no food to eat.
After the middleman left, Grandpa got into a rented oxcart and went to the county town to discuss things with Uncle.
Think about how difficult it is for those living in towns and cities who rely on government-supplied food.
On the morning of the 1st of each month, more than two hours before the grain store opens, long queues have already formed in front of the store.
Some people start queuing the night before. If she doesn't queue, she won't be able to buy food and might not have anything to eat for lunch the next day.
I was fortunate enough to see the kind of scale used to weigh rice in a grain store. It looked like a large sieve, smooth and shiny, showing how many people waited to be weighed by it every day.
Buying a house is a big deal, and it's only right that the old man consults his parents if he can't make up his mind on his own.
However, judging from the current situation, there's a very high chance that this house can be sold.
Regardless of what the person is buying the house for, the fact that someone is interested and the price hasn't been finalized yet shows they are very sincere.
With famine looming closer, having money in hand is always better than having a house in hand, right?
Xiao Jiu rummaged through her warehouse and specifically took out some inexpensive sorghum.
She wasn't very strong, so she couldn't move the grain from the top. She could only use a knife to pry open the stacked grain. As the grain slid into the bucket, the foundation became unstable, and some of the grain fell down. She stayed far away and only went over to check the quality of the grain when it was safe to do so.
Rice is too good, flour is too white, refined millet and corn grits are all off-limits; there aren't many pretty and clean grains these days.
The soybeans, peanuts, and sesame seeds were all impeccably clean. How could she sell them? If she sold them for too high a price, no one would want them; if she sold them for too low a price, even she felt she would lose money.
After looking around, it seems that only coarse grains like millet, sorghum, buckwheat, and oats are worth selling.
People who time-travel would sell grain, but at her age, who would believe she'd be carrying grain around? Besides, it's not safe.
There was a gunman in town a few days ago. She's just a young girl, she doesn't dare to go out. Besides, what if some acquaintance sees her? How will she explain it to her family in the future?
So she took out the grain and put it directly in her own yard.
She had saved about ten yuan over the years, mostly from New Year's money and gifts from her brothers. She was thinking of buying some food while her grandfather was away, and maybe also getting on her sisters' good side.
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