The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 68 Returning Home to Visit the Market, Teacher's Family Affairs [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

Zhou Zhiqiang has been so busy with work lately that he hasn't had time to go out. For almost two months in a row, he has spent his days off at home preparing process and technical drawings for machine tool modification.

The preliminary preparations are almost complete. We need to complete 30% of the progress in the first two months. The technical aspects that Zhou Zhiqiang is in charge of are completely fine.

The support workers and machine tools will arrive at the factory next Monday, and the modification will begin immediately.

At that time, Zhou Zhiqiang needed to keep a close eye on things every day and provide technical guidance.

He wasn't too tired, but he rarely had the chance to do anything himself, since the factory had plenty of fitters and repairmen.

However, it is indeed time-consuming, and you may have to spend a lot of time in the workshop.

He's been so busy lately that he hasn't been to Pigeon City much. He's only been there once in the last two months, and that was just to exchange some food coupons.

Their family has purchased over 80 jin of grain coupons this month, and there are still over 50 jin of grain in the grain storage. All of this was obtained by Zhou Zhiqiang through tireless efforts every month.

Before the food coupons expire, exchange them all for grain. Then, two months later, exchange the grain for other people's food coupons. Repeat this cycle every two months to avoid eating stale grain.
It's a bit of a hassle, but to prepare for what's to come two years from now, it's not a big deal for Zhou Zhiqiang to make a few more trips.

The couple had saved several hundred yuan, and now they could renovate the house.

When I wrote to my father-in-law before, I asked him about it. Guo Linhua said that they would not be able to return to Beijing in the short term, and that the matter of the house should be handled by the couple themselves.

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't stand on ceremony. In addition to repairing and reinforcing the structure, he also planned to dig a well-sealed cellar in the backyard to store grain.

If the sealing is done well, they can try to store the grain here for about a year. Then the couple will start storing the grain in the cellar a day in advance.

While thinking about home renovations, Zhou Zhiqiang rode his bicycle towards Sanhe Township.

When he received the reward for his last simulation, his physical condition had improved somewhat. Now, while he wouldn't say he has the physique of a bull, he's not far off.

I pedaled continuously for one or two hours without stopping.

Zhou Zhiqiang finally rode to Sanhe Township before 11 o'clock, and he was lucky to make it today as he happened to catch the township's market day.

Speculation and profiteering are strictly regulated in cities, but in towns and rural areas, it is much more lenient. There is a shortage of goods here, and rural markets are the only place to exchange goods.

Some markets are held once a month, some once every three months, and some once every six months or a year. The year-end market is the liveliest time in the towns and villages. At that time, in addition to the market, the town will also organize programs.

There are no performances at today's market; it's purely for exchanging goods.

Of course, you can also buy it with money, it just depends on how the buyer and the stall owner communicate. If you use money, there will be no problem as long as neither party makes a fuss.

After seeing the market being held in Sanhe Township, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't rush to Teacher Wu's house. Instead, he pushed his cart and strolled around the market.

He looked around to see what he could buy, but his bicycle was quite eye-catching at the market. Bicycles were a rare sight in the countryside, and nowadays they were like BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes in the 1990s—everyone would take a look.

Zhou Zhiqiang had been browsing for a short while when he stopped at a vendor's stall. He then stopped his bicycle, bent down, and asked, "Comrade, how much are these pheasants and eggs?"

"I want to exchange some refined grains. My wife is about to give birth and needs more refined grains to supplement her nutrition; I can exchange the young pheasants for eight jin of refined grains, and these eggs weigh two jin in total, so I want to exchange them for three jin of refined grains..."

After listening to the man's words, Zhou Zhiqiang nodded. The price wasn't expensive. The pheasant looked to weigh only about two pounds, and it would only sell for two yuan. The eggs were about the same price.

Zhou Zhiqiang asked in a low voice, "Comrade, I don't have any fine grains right now, can I use money instead?"
"I'll charge you two yuan and fifty cents for the pheasant and fifty cents for the eggs, that'll be three yuan in total, how does that sound?"

Three yuan?

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's face showed interest, and he then asked, "Young man, that's quite a lot, but are you sure there's no refined grain? I'd like to buy some."

“I really don’t have any fine grains. Look at me, where can I put any grains on me right now?” Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then continued, “I can add another 50 cents. If you’re willing, sell it to me for 3.5 yuan. Otherwise, forget it.”

"Okay, three yuan and fifty cents it is."

Upon hearing that there was an extra 50 cents, the middle-aged man didn't hesitate any longer and agreed immediately.

He could take the money and go find someone to buy some grain. There were many ways to buy grain in the village. He could exchange a small pheasant and two catties of eggs for three yuan and fifty cents, which was considered a profit.

Zhou Zhiqiang followed the middle-aged man to another place; transactions involving money couldn't always be done openly and honestly.

Once they reached a secluded spot and settled the transaction, Zhou Zhiqiang carried the items toward Teacher Wu's house.

It had become a habit for the original owner to visit Teacher Wu first and then go to the village chief's house when returning to his hometown.

When Zhou Zhiqiang arrived at Wu's house, he heard arguing inside before he even knocked. But since he was already there, he couldn't just turn around and leave because of the argument, so he knocked on the door anyway.

A moment later, Wu Ming opened the door. When he saw that it was Zhou Zhiqiang, his unpleasant expression eased considerably. He forced a smile and said, "Zhiqiang, you're here. Why are you carrying something again?"

After gesturing to the pheasant and eggs, Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "Hey, I'm planning to have lunch at your house, Teacher Wu. I won't feel at ease eating without bringing something with me."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Why didn't you say that you used to come here often?"

Wu Ming smiled, then said seriously, "Don't bring any next time, you've already brought enough."

"Okay, I won't bring it next time."

He agreed, but whether or not he did it was up to Zhou Zhiqiang. In any case, he brought it with him and didn't plan to take it back.

After being welcomed into the house by Wu Ming, Zhou Zhiqiang saw his teacher's wife, who was forcing a smile, and greeted him, "Zhiqiang is here."

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "I was planning to go back to the village, but it's almost noon now, so I'm thinking of having a meal at my teacher's house."

"Look at what you're saying, I'll go make it for you right now."

After Wu Ming's wife finished speaking, she stepped forward and took the pheasant and eggs.

If you showed up empty-handed to ask for a meal, you probably wouldn't get such a friendly welcome.

After Mr. Wu's wife took the things to the kitchen, Wu Ming invited Zhou Zhiqiang to sit down and poured him some tea.

After taking the teacup, Zhou Zhiqiang casually asked, "Teacher, is something wrong at home? If you need any help, you can tell me. Even if I can't help, I might be able to come up with an idea."

"You just graduated from university and have finally established yourself in Beijing, so I won't trouble you with this."

Wu Ming shook his head and sighed, his tone indicating that he didn't want to trouble Zhou Zhiqiang at all.

"And it's not a big deal. It's all because my son is useless and can't be helped!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang looked around and asked, "Where's Brother Xiaojun? I don't think I've seen him the last few times I've come back."

"It's all about him, don't even mention it. We finally found him a blind date, but he got into an argument with her over a few words and almost came to blows!"

Wu Ming said, seething with resentment, "If this continues, I don't think he'll ever get married!"

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(End of this chapter)