Wang Hongxi always rounded the amounts to whole numbers, fifteen or sixteen jin. The two happily paid and left.
Wang Hongxi took the last fish to the food supply station. The staff there were closing up, and when they saw Wang Hongxi, they recognized him and called out their supervisor.
"Leader, these are the fish caught in our village, but there are no silver carp left, only 120 grass carp, each weighing seven or eight pounds."
"Your village is really something, how much do you sell grass carp for?"
"Hehe, one yuan and fifty cents a pound."
"That's quite a price. So how much should we sell it for per pound?"
"Hehe, it's alright, leader. If no one wants it, our village will just eat it ourselves. We haven't slaughtered any pigs this year either. We just figured if we could sell them for money, we wouldn't eat them ourselves. Even if we can't sell them, we can still have a good New Year. Who doesn't want to eat meat?"
The leader actually wanted to take advantage of Wang Hongxi, but Wang Hongxi didn't fall for it, so he had to take his words back.
"Comrade Wang, I just want to discuss this price with you."
"Hehe, I can't make the decision on this price, leader. This is the harvest of all the able-bodied men in the village for a whole day. This is also the price we discussed before I came. I have no right to negotiate this price. Please understand, leader."
"Is there really no room for negotiation on this price?"
"Really, no, I'm just a gofer, I can't make decisions for the whole village."
"That grass carp weighs nearly a thousand catties, which is 1,500 yuan. Your appetite is too big."
"Boss, I'll head back now. It's so late, I need to find somewhere to stay."
"What you're doing is really not good."
"I'm sorry, boss, I've bothered you today."
"Comrade Wang, wait a moment. Or could you get me twenty of them first?"
"Then we'll have to wait until the 25th. It's too much trouble for them to come from our village now. It's really too difficult for them to make the trip."
"Alright, then get me fifty of them, Twenty-Seven."
"Okay, boss. I estimate I won't be able to get here until the afternoon of the 27th."
"Couldn't it have been earlier?"
"If I can come on the 23rd, I'll try my best. I can't decide right now."
"Okay, try to get there as fast as you can. If it sells well, we can deliver it all over."
"Okay, boss, I'll head back now. I'll give you this fish first, thank you for your help."
"Okay, I'll put it on the counter and try it tomorrow."
Wang Hongxi breathed a sigh of relief as she left the food supply station. There were still seventy left. Should she bring twenty-three? She'd go home and discuss it, and hear Maocai's opinion.
Wang Hongxi thought she should go to the power supply bureau to find her son and try to squeeze in.
Wang Hongxi returned to the power supply bureau and told the gatekeeper that he was looking for Wang Jianshe.
A short while later, Wang Jianshe came out and was very excited to see his father. "Dad, what brings you here? We're going back in a week."
"I'll squeeze in with you guys tonight."
"Dad, come in quickly. You haven't eaten yet, have you? There's still food in our dorm."
The father and son returned to their dormitory, and Dashan and the others were especially happy.
"Uncle, what brings you here?"
Wang Hongxi then told them about Zhang Hongmei and the others going fishing, and how the villagers also went fishing.
"We've agreed to sell the fish we caught this time. I came over this afternoon and ordered 330 fish, leaving about 100 left. I reckon the supply station can still order more."
"My goodness, so many fish! Hongmei must have saved some for us. I want to eat her fish balls!" Dashan was the most excited.
"Hehe, not only were some reserved for you guys, but also for your leaders. It's all for you. A girl younger than you is always looking out for you, so you guys can't let her down."
"Uncle, don't worry, we will remember Hongmei's kindness for the rest of our lives."
Xiao Suo brought over three steamed buns and a cup of hot water. "Uncle, please eat first."
After Wang Hongxi finished eating, Wang Jianshe brought his father water to wash his feet, and then the two of them squeezed into one quilt to sleep.
The next morning, Wang Hongxi took the first bus.
"Big brother, how are you?"
"Hehe, it's pretty good, almost all of them are booked. Girl, can I deliver ten baskets the day after tomorrow? Everyone's anxious."
"Brother, you can take the last bus this afternoon. There are fewer people going back to the city at this time."
"That's great. I'll go back and get ready. How about we load the truck in the open space next to the school?"
"Okay, we'll go find you there before we leave at 2 PM."
"Thank you so much, little sister."
"No need to thank me, aren't we comrades? We help each other out. Brother, bring me two more fish today, I want to take two to my mother."
"Okay, don't worry, girl, you still want silver carp, right?"
Are there any carp?
"The girls have already ordered all the carp, but it's still not enough. Do you have grass carp? But both carp and grass carp are 1.5 yuan per catty."
"Then give me a grass carp and a silver carp."
"It's definitely right, there's no doubt about it."
Today, I'll deliver the supplies to the post office, the power company, and the food supply station. These 170 fish weigh nearly 1,200 jin (approximately 600 kg), which will probably fill six baskets. That means six people will need to come. We can't squeeze in today; we have money, but we're worried about staying in a hotel, so we'll have to stay at Hongmei's place.
Wang Hongxi rode his bicycle to find Liu Maocai, and the two went to the old lady's house.
"Second wife, things went quite smoothly. Two hundred and ninety fish were sold, silver carp for one yuan each, and grass carp and common carp for one yuan and fifty cents each."
"Hehe, this price is really not low."
"Second Mistress, the last bus at 2 PM can deliver it there. I'll get in charge of finding someone in a bit. I estimate it will take at least six baskets."
"Okay, go ahead, leave after you finish eating."
"Second wife, I've already arranged with the truck driver that two baskets will count as one ticket. Also, I'll be staying at Hongmei's place tonight."
"There aren't enough bedding at her place, so let's go to a hotel. Don't catch a cold again."
"Uncle, I'm also going to the city today. You can stay at a hotel and just give me the money. I'll stay at Hongmei's place tonight."
"That's great, mistress, I'm leaving now."
Wang Hongxi and Liu Maocai called Dashan "Dad" and asked Liu Changlin to drive the oxcart to deliver the fish to the station. The three of them then went to the city.
The cafeteria made pancakes for the three of them.
Liu Jingze went to find Zhang Hongmei. "Hongmei, I'm going to the city with the village chief and the others this afternoon. Tell me who you want to send people over, and I'll send them all over as well. Also, I might be waiting for your notification letter."
"Alright, then you go ahead. Five fish will be enough for the junior high students, and one grass carp for each of the six senior high teachers. Huang Ying at the post office will receive one carp and one grass carp. The leader at the power supply bureau will also receive one fish. You can have Dashan take you to find that one."
"Okay, I got it. Hurry up and pack the baskets, we'll be leaving soon."
The village chief said he wanted to stay at your house, but I refused on your behalf. I told them to stay at a hotel tonight, give me the money, and I'll stay at your house.
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