Chapter 14 Debt (1)

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

During the planned economy era, markets were strictly regulated, and farmers could trade only a few types of goods freely. They were simple farm tools woven by themselves, such as chicken and duck cages, baskets, and small baskets, or a small amount of vegetables and fruits that could not be eaten from private plots. In fact, the output was not high in those days, and members with many children at home did not even have enough for their own consumption, so there was basically nothing left to trade.

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

Dried goods like the ones Su Taotao brought, especially mushrooms and black fungus, cannot be traded openly. Dried bamboo shoots and dried vegetables are marginal products. If the quantity is large, it is understandable for the market managers to confiscate them. They may even impose a fine. In serious cases, they may be sent to labor reform and education. Therefore, most people dare not touch these moldy things.

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

She planned 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 away some dry goods and the bag of colorful clothes, she wouldn't wear them anyway, so I sent them back as a favor. Whoever suits them can take them.

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

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

Seeing Zhou Linglan's confusion, Su Taotao explained, "Mom, it's only natural for us to ask for the debt, but if they want to embarrass us, or simply refuse to give, we may have to think harder. As the saying goes, gifts are appreciated, and we can't just go empty-handed. These things are worthless in our place, but they are good things that you may not be able to buy in the city even if you have money. It's best to use them as a test to find the way."

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

She felt that her daughter-in-law's words were very logical and made sense after she went into the water.

Fu Yuanhang listened thoughtfully, and even Chenchen, who was lying on Fu Yuanhang's back, listened attentively.

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

Fu Yuanhang shook his head: "Not tired, the dust 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 kilograms. He is very light.

Su Taotao rubbed the boy's head and stopped talking.

The address Cao Guohua gave was the dormitory address of the meat processing factory in the county town. When the family of four arrived at the small side gate of the compound, it was just after nine o'clock. At this time, everyone was probably at work, and no one might be home. In fact, it would be safer to wait until noon when get off 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 serious, the eldest lady stepped forward decisively and asked, "Big sister, do you want to change 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 them some dried goods to try, but they haven't gotten off work yet and they brought a lot. If you want to try some, we can change some for you."

When the aunt heard this, she immediately thought that this female comrade was on to something. She touched the fragrant and dried mushrooms and the plump wood ears, and felt that they were much better than the ones supplied by the supply and marketing cooperative. She nodded repeatedly and said, "That's great. What do you want to exchange for?"

Su Taotao didn't hide anything and said directly: "Meat, Auntie'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."

What Su Taotao said was exactly what her mother wanted. There were four employees in her family, and their ancestors were all city dwellers. There were no relatives who farmed, so they had no shortage of meat and various coupons, but they were hungry for fruits, vegetables and dried goods.

Zhou Linglan didn't expect Su Taotao to be so bold. She immediately pulled her sleeve and said, "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 lady nodded and said, "Yes, yes, sister, people come to the residential area from time to time to exchange things. If there is no money involved, the red armbands will not care. 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 was not my daughter, she was my daughter-in-law, but then she thought, forget it, there is no need to explain so much to someone we just met by chance.

Finally, Su Taotao got what she wanted and exchanged 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 the lady worked in a textile factory and could not use them.

This is what it means to have someone give you a pillow just when you're dozing off.

Su Taotao also gave her mother half a bag of dried bamboo shoots, saying that she was giving it to her to try, and asked her to keep it for her if her daughter's factory had any defective cloth next time. If anyone wanted to exchange these mountain products, they could just let her know, and she would wait here on the last market day of every month and exchange them then.

The mother happily carried the good things from the mountains back home.

Su Taotao got the meat she had been longing for.

Everyone is happy.

Fu Yuanhang and Chen Chen looked at each other, then both 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 at all.

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 plenty of meat, just like there are large bamboo forests in our village, so there is no shortage of bamboo shoots and dried vegetables. So, the value of something is not only determined by its own value, but also by where it is located."

Fu Yuanhang suddenly understood, nodded and said, "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 any money. It's okay to just exchange some things."

Zhou Linglan: "But those tickets..."

Su Taotao said, "That's because Auntie saw that Chenchen's clothes were too torn, so she gave Chenchen some 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 fine except for a small patch near the pocket. He accidentally tore it when he was eating peanuts. His grandmother had sewed it for him. The patch was in the shape of a peanut. He looked at his uncle's clothes again. There were even more patches on them. He shook his head and said, "Give it to uncle..."

Su Taotao was stunned for a moment, then she smiled happily, what a good kid.

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

Fu Yuanhang pulled the boy's hand to his lips and bit it gently: "No need, little uncle, let Chenchen do it."

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

Everyone was amused by him.

…

While they were chatting and laughing, another lady came over to exchange things. This time, Su Taotao got a pig's tail.

After a while, I got a pig's ear from a rich man. Although these are not as good as real meat, they are much more delicious than meat when cooked.

I won’t exchange the remaining Su Taotao, I really have to keep them for gifts.

Time passed quickly, and it was time to get off work at noon. Su Taotao then led them to the main entrance, registered, and went directly to Room 305, Building 6, Unit 3.

Su Taotao raised her hand and knocked on the door.

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

This look at each other, both of them were stunned.

"Is it you?"

"Is it you?"

…