Chapter 91
These pounds of tea leaves were still used in the public account. Liu Tong took two pounds to the processing workshop and handed them over to Zhang Laosi for management, and gave them to everyone to drink.
The other pound was left at the village committee for them to drink themselves.
Zhang Laosi and the others were all very happy and asked, "Did Baosheng ask you to buy it from the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Normally, if he wanted to buy some tea leaves from the supply and marketing cooperative, it would be like buying their lives. They would always find reasons to stop him. He was quite familiar with the people in the supply and marketing cooperative, but they didn't take him seriously. He was just a straw hat and basket weaver.
Sometimes they would give him two taels of rice, and he would walk around the village with it, while others could only envy him.
Yes, these two taels cannot be bought by others even if they want, and there is not enough for the people in the supply and marketing cooperative to share.
Now you give me two kilograms?
Zhang Laosi even grinned. Is it because the purchasing agent of the village supply and marketing cooperative couldn't get the goods from the processing workshop in the village that he wanted to ease the relationship?
"What? Don't take credit for this good thing." Liu Tong scoffed. "Comrade Xiao Zhou thought you were working hard, so he collected this money from several places in the city. It took a lot of effort."
"Wow!" Zhang Laosi and the others laughed and said, "It has to be Comrade Xiao Zhou."
When the workers heard that they could drink tea, they became excited. Those who brought teapots took them, and those who didn't brought any ran back to get something to drink. For a while, the processing workshop was out of hot water.
Zhang Baosheng from the village committee also pinched a small handful and put it into his jar, then brewed a cup with hot water.
Jasmine tea, the smell of it makes people's eyebrows relax as soon as it comes out, it is very fragrant and smells very refreshing.
He took a sip of hot tea and began to discuss with Zhou Jiani about delivering goods to the provincial capital.
This time the donations were mainly given to Erbai and Friendship Stores, with a portion going to the First Department Store.
I don't know who told the 200th party that they had signed a contract with the 100th party, so they called and said they would sign the contract while they were there.
Zhang Baosheng was not going to go with them this time. The commune had already sent the official seal of the weaving factory, and they didn't have to go through any other procedures required to build the factory. Zhang Baosheng only had to go once, and Zhai Xiangqiang asked his secretary to handle the rest of the procedures.
After all, he is the factory secretary, so he has to contribute to the factory.
In this way, Zhou Jiani can sign the contract as the head of the sales department.
This time Zhou Jiani brought a full bag of food.
Qiu Zeming followed her out of the village committee. Zhou Jiani told him about buying meat. Qiu Zeming didn't hesitate to say anything, saying, "If they can get some bones, give us some. Just let me know the money and tickets we need." He added, "The lotus roots from Qingshui County will be delivered tomorrow afternoon."
Zhou Jiani will return to the provincial capital the day after tomorrow morning and stay overnight. The day after tomorrow morning she will go to receive goods, deliver goods, sign contracts, and then go shopping with a bag full of grain. If there is a ticket for that night, she will come back at night, otherwise she will come back the next day.
It would be just right for me to bring some home, but I don’t know how much I can give her.
Qiu Zeming smiled and said, "It's over 230 kilograms in total. Is 20 kilograms enough for you?"
Zhou Jiani nodded frantically: "Enough, enough, I'll keep five pounds here to eat slowly, and give fifteen pounds to the family."
Qiu Zeming smiled and said, "Yu Wanxia asked for five pounds. We kept twenty pounds. They can be kept in a bucket for a long time. The rest has been asked for by fellow villagers."
Following Zhou Jiani, Comrade Xiao Qiu's reputation also rose in the village.
He was not a purchasing agent, but he was able to help the village obtain rare lotus roots. Although only a few people were willing to buy them, no one denied Comrade Xiao Qiu's ability.
Zhang Baosheng also cleared the name of Comrade Xiao Qiu, saying that the village's shipping and transportation were all thanks to Comrade Xiao Qiu, and this should never be forgotten.
Now, in return, Zhou Jiani opened a bottle of shredded pork and shrimp paste and poured it to Qiu Zeming.
After returning home, I closed the door and divided the shrimp paste into two halves, put them in empty bottles, and put them in my bag. I also took out the green canvas and the drawn pattern and put them in together.
In the evening, he took her to Zhao Mei's house, gave her half a bottle of shrimp paste, and took out the drawings to explain them to her.
In addition to making the schoolbag, she also wanted to ask if the eldest brother of the Zhao family had come to deliver anything again. As a result, when she was about to leave, Zhao Mei's brother came in pushing a cart.
The eldest brother of the Zhao family is called Zhao Hai. He said, "Comrade Zhou, we harvested a small amount of dried cowpeas this time, only about thirty pounds. Are freshly dried cowpeas okay?"
If possible, he could ask his family to dry some, or bring fresh ones to Comrade Zhou to dry himself. He remembered his sister saying that Comrade Zhou had dried cowpeas before.
Zhou Jiani said, "Okay, you guys dry some. Make sure to boil them in salt water and dry them thoroughly. Oh, and Brother Zhao, can you help me collect some more vermicelli? Collect as much as you can."
She reported Gao Zhenfeng's home in Xigou Village and added, "In addition to the rice noodle wrappers, I'll also pick up some dried loofah sponges. I'll buy them at three for one cent."
Zhao Hai laughed: "We already have dried loofah pulp at home that we can't use. We just crack the seeds out and throw them away. Why would we buy more?"
He understands rice paper, but he doesn't understand why you should buy dried loofah.
But Zhou Jiani was using it to make money, and taking it for nothing was too much for her. She smiled and said, "If I'm useful, you can take it as I say. But I can't give you any hard work compensation. Can Brother Zhao help me buy some?"
Zhao Hai quickly waved his hand: "It's no trouble, Comrade Zhou, there's no need to be so polite."
Comrade Zhou took good care of his sister, and he also benefited a lot from it. Everyone in the family was grateful to Comrade Zhou, so it was no big deal to collect some loofah sponges as well.
A total of 34 kilograms of dried cowpeas, 70 kilograms of sweet potatoes, 50 kilograms of corn, 30 kilograms of wheat, 20 kilograms of walnuts, and 10 kilograms of red dates were delivered tonight.
He also gave Zhou Jiani five pounds of potatoes. Zhou Jiani didn't hesitate to give him the other half bottle of shrimp paste.
The value of the gifts given to each other cannot be measured. Zhao Mei and her brother are undoubtedly very good helpers to her. Zhao Mei is clever and skillful and doesn't talk much. The eldest brother of the Zhao family is the same. He just buries himself in work and never asks questions. The things he receives are of good quality and he doesn't fool people.
After settling the bill for tonight, Zhou Jiani simply gave Zhao Hai ten dollars and asked him to collect his things, and she would refund him the difference or make up for the difference later.
This time she didn't pour the things one by one, but asked Zhao Hai to help her push the things over with a cart.
She came back today, and after having dinner here in the evening, Sun Ping went back to the educated youth center. She also had to start adapting to the life at the educated youth center.
Only Yu Wanxia was at home. She was not surprised by what Zhou Jiani brought. She asked for five pounds of dried cowpeas, five pounds of walnuts, and five pounds of red dates without hesitation, and prepared to send them back home.
Zhou Jiani asked her, "Do you want some vermicelli noodles? I heard there's someone in Xigou Village who makes their own vermicelli noodles. I asked Brother Zhao to ask them. If they can get some, they'll give you some."
Yu Wanxia said repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, then I will wait until the rice noodles arrive and send them out together."
"Okay, we'll see how much we can collect then." Zhou Jiani said, "I'll take these things back with me when I return to the provincial capital to deliver the goods the day after tomorrow. Be careful to protect yourself from rats!"
Sometimes she has to show others what she has received, otherwise it would be a problem if people knew she received it but she couldn't see the goods.
She also set aside 15 kilograms of wheat, 10 kilograms of corn, and 20 kilograms of sweet potatoes, which she added to their public account and kept for herself.
I decided to take the rest back to the provincial capital, distribute some dried cowpeas to the accountant of the Second Textile Factory, and send some to Teacher Meng.
The next day, after getting the lotus roots and confirming the itinerary, Zhou Jiani went to the village committee and called the Second Spinning Mill. When Yu Huifang came back, she said on the phone, "Mom, we bought some lotus roots and some coarse grains. I'll have my dad ride his bike over there when the time comes."
Yu Huifang said happily, "Okay, I'll go with your dad then." She also asked, "Are you coming back alone, or are there other uncles or uncles with you?"
"There's an Uncle Sheng going with me."
"Okay, come over to my house for dinner."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Jiani went to the processing workshop. The benefit of her helping everyone to seek benefits was that when she proposed to take ten baskets from the order to the county supply and marketing cooperative, almost everyone agreed.
I'm afraid customers won't agree to share some of the goods so readily, but Comrade Xiao Zhou wants it, so he's willing to share not only the orders from the county, but even the orders from the provincial capital.
It is not easy to transport goods to the provincial capital, so Zhou Jiani certainly won't cut corners here. The county supply and marketing cooperative is close by, so it doesn't matter whether it is delivered one day earlier or later.
Zhou Jiani placed another order for storage stools. She didn't dare to place a large order, so she still ordered seven or eight of each model.
As for the basket, her excuse was to give it to someone or to bring it back for the uncles and aunts in the factory, and she wanted the hollow one.
The next morning, he packed his things and took a bus to the provincial capital with Sheng Manliang, and took him to stay in a guesthouse near his home. In the evening, Sheng Manliang appeared at Zhou Jiani's house with a reserved look on his face and was warmly received by the Zhou family.
After eating and drinking, Zhou Wanli was worried that he didn't recognize the way, so he sent him back.
After the guests left, the grandmother happily began to look at the things her granddaughter brought back. She had been very nervous before.
Jiang Xinfeng rambled on, "At the beginning of the month, there was a notice that those with tickets for the 23rd could buy lotus roots. I queued for a long time and only came back with two small lotus roots and melon seeds. They're far inferior to what you brought back."
The lotus roots Zhou Jiani brought back were each as long as half an arm, plump and white, and each one was very good.
Yu Huifang happily brought half a bucket of water to soak the food in, which could last for a long time.
The twins were peeling walnuts and eating them. When their mother wasn't looking, one of them grabbed a handful of dates and put them in his pocket. Then he slipped back into the house like a little mouse. Zhou Jiani reminded them loudly: "Don't fight over the dates when you eat them. Remember to spit out the pits."
Jia An opened the door and said with a depressed look: "Sis, we are all exposed once you say that."
Jiang Xinfeng laughed and scolded, "You act like no one saw it!"
Yu Huifang also glared at her son, then turned to her daughter and said, "We still have some glutinous rice at home. Let's make glutinous rice lotus root tomorrow."
Glutinous rice is also a rare commodity. Yu Huifang has a colleague who is from Sichuan Province. Her parents send things here every year. Yu Huifang used money or tickets to exchange some glutinous rice and peppercorns with her colleague.
"Mom, if we can buy tickets for the evening flight tomorrow, we can just take the bus back home. You can just cook and eat."
Jiang Xinfeng asked, "Why are you in such a hurry this time?"
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "This trip is just to deliver the goods and sign the contract. There's nothing else to do. It's not good to stay at home. This is Uncle Sheng's first time taking the train, and I'm worried about him going back alone."
Yu Huifang said, "Then make it at noon. When you get back from your work in the afternoon, take it with you and eat it in the car."
Zhou Jiani thought of the sweet and sticky glutinous rice lotus root, swallowed her saliva, and said, "Okay!"
The next day, Zhou Jiani took the basket she brought back and went out to find a place to put it in the warehouse.
These baskets were not allowed to follow the truck for fear that they would be difficult to circulate.
I asked Sheng Manliang to go with me to receive the goods, deliver the goods, collect the payment, and sign the contract. Everything went smoothly on both sides.
The Friendship Store had also called in advance, so I told them at the door and they called the colleagues inside to notify Director Zou.
Zhou Jiani waited there calmly, filling her bowl with food and constantly stretching her coat, whispering, "If I had listened to your aunt, I would have come wearing the coat I wore during the New Year."
The New Year's jacket he mentioned was made the year before last. He would take it out and wear it for a day during the New Year, then put it in a box and wait until the next Spring Festival to wear it as new clothes.
Sheng Manliang felt that he had made more money than Zhang Baosheng and Zhang Laosi. Regardless of whether he would be allowed in later, at least he was standing at the door of the Friendship Store!
He also saw a foreigner!
Oh my god, he’ll have a lot to brag about when he gets home.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
