Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Brother Wang did not respond immediately.

He was the most powerful sheep trader in Tangshan Town, and naturally had connections in the town government that others didn't have.

When the processing plant was first established, he had considered forcing it to leave, but his relative who worked in the town stopped him, saying that the plant's owner had connections with the acting town secretary...

If the Party Secretary were just an ordinary Party Secretary, Brother Wang might have the courage to give it a try.

However, Chen Jun, who is currently serving as the town's Party Secretary, is only concurrently holding the position. His real identity is the Executive Deputy County Head, and the next step up would be the County Head.

If he offends a future county magistrate, even with his powerful connections, Brother Wang won't be able to continue working in Huai County.

As time went on, Brother Wang gave up on the idea and honestly started selling livestock in Tangshan Town.

Unexpectedly, these young people were fearless and dared to try to sabotage the processing plant.

Although Brother Wang knew the farm was not to be trifled with, he did not warn them.

He has his own little thoughts.

If these people manage to pull off the plan and force the processing plant out of Tangshan Town, he will also benefit.

If things fail and the processing plant wants to hold them accountable, as long as you weren't directly involved, then this matter has nothing to do with you.

With fewer sheep traders around, the competitive pressure of developing in other towns in Huai County will be much less.

…………

At the entrance of Dongjun mutton processing plant, Zhou Gui and his son, pulling a cart, were taken to the purchasing department by a middle-aged man as soon as they appeared.

"Leader Wang..." Upon seeing Wang Dong, who had come to help at the processing plant, Zhou Guangcai began calling out from a distance, his expression extremely excited.

In Zhou Guangcai's eyes, Wang Dong played a crucial role in his family's success in controlling the sheep farming industry.

Although Wang Dong's true identity was still unclear, out of respect, Zhou Guangcai addressed Wang Dong as "leader" every time they met.

Seeing Wang Dong looking at him with some confusion, Zhou Guangcai instantly realized that he had forgotten about him. After all, Wang Dong worked in a processing plant and came into contact with a lot of ordinary people every day. Zhou Guangcai hadn't seen him for several months, so it was perfectly normal for him to forget about him. He quickly introduced himself.

"Leader Wang..."

"I am Zhou Guangcai from Dongling Village..."

“When you first came to our village to promote the sheep farming policy, I was the first person in our village to sign a cooperative sheep farming agreement with you, and I even adopted ten goats at once…”

"More than half a year has passed, and all ten goats have grown up. The ewes are all pregnant. I want to sell the remaining five rams and buy some lambs to raise..."

Wang Dong still had quite a few memories of the young man who had helped him break the ice in Dongling Village, and quickly replied, "So it was you, kid..."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to the five rams on the bus, glanced at them, and couldn't help but exclaim, "They're well-raised..."

"Selling these five rams will definitely ensure a good New Year for our family this year..."

After saying that, he called to one of his subordinates, "Go find the sheep-raising agreement between Zhou Guangcai and his son in Dongling Village, and while you're at it, arrange for someone to collect these five rams..."

With Wang Dong's help, Zhou Gui and his son sold sheep very quickly.

After weighing, the five rams weighed a total of 320 jin (approximately 160 kg). Unlike sheep dealers, the processing plant did not deduct from the weight; after weighing, they issued receipts to the two individuals.

Ten minutes later, a total of 160 yuan appeared in Zhou Guangcai's hands.

Sixteen whole ten-yuan bills, feeling especially thick and substantial in my hand.

After paying back the fifty yuan they owed from the initial adoption, and spending forty yuan to buy eight more lambs, they had seventy yuan left. It just so happened to be market day in town, so Zhou Gui and his son, having earned some money, bought twenty yuan worth of corn to feed the lambs, ten yuan worth of flour, five yuan worth of pork, and five yuan worth of other food and supplies. They filled several bags and piled them on their cart, planning to celebrate their first harvest since raising sheep.

Zhou Gui and his son only stopped when they had only three yuan left in their pockets, and then they pulled the cart toward Dongling Village.

…………

Entrance to Dongling Village.

When Zhou Gui and his son not only sold all five rams, but also bought eight lambs, corn, flour, pork... and other things piled up to half a cart, the neighbors waiting at the village entrance were all in an uproar.

Those who envy others become even more envious, while those who are jealous can do nothing but be green with envy and secretly curse others behind their backs.

More neighbors gathered around Zhou Gui and his son, asking them all sorts of questions.

"Old Zhou... is the price of live sheep at the processing plant really 50 cents a pound? Are there any other requirements? Will they cheat us on the scales like the sheep dealers do...?"

"If they deduct too much from the weight, it's better to sell it to a sheep dealer..."

Hearing a barrage of questions from his neighbors, Zhou Gui had never been surrounded by so many enthusiastic neighbors before, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Zhou Guangcai had no choice but to step in and defuse the situation: "Dear uncles, aunts, and grandmas..."

"I don't know about others, but all five of my rams were sold to the processing plant for 50 cents a pound, and the processing plant didn't deduct a single pound from our weight..."

"It's a full dime more than the price the sheep dealers outside are paying."

"From now on, the goats I raise will only recognize the processing plant..."

"Once you get there, you don't need to say anything nice or haggle. Just weigh it and give me change..."

"Please make way..."

"The lambs I just bought are hungry. I have to hurry home to feed them, or they'll starve to death..."

Having gotten the answer they wanted, the neighbors stopped making things difficult for the shopkeeper and his son. They all rushed home with the good news, wondering if they should also take their rams to the processing plant the next day and buy a few lambs, just like Zhou Gui's family.

Because the family's five ewes are pregnant, someone must be on duty at all times to keep an eye on them in order to avoid any accidents.

So Zhou Gui's wife and daughter-in-law didn't go to the village entrance, but waited at the gate of the courtyard, eagerly anticipating their arrival.

Seeing her husband and son pushing a cart toward the front door, she quickly went to greet them.

"How is the head of the household...?"

"How much did the five rams sell for..."

"Is it 50 cents a pound?"

Seeing his wife ask about money before even entering the yard, Zhou Gui couldn't help but roll his eyes at her, raising an eyebrow as he replied, "Let's talk about it when we get home..."

"The eight lambs on the truck were just bought; they've been hungry all the way here, so let's quickly prepare some food for them..."

"Didn't my son and I divide the sheep pen in two yesterday...?"

"Put these eight lambs in the smaller sheep pen, take good care of them, and then we'll talk about selling the sheep today..."

"Oh, right, I also bought twenty yuan worth of cornmeal in town today. Remember to add a few handfuls of cornmeal to the silage for the lambs." (End of Chapter)