Reborn in 1981, starting by smashing my iron rice bowl.

In those days, buying eggs at state-run stores wasn't just a matter of money; you also needed food coupons. A family of three could only buy one or two kilograms of eggs a month with these coupons, and that was it. So, Liu Weidong's statement that the machinery factory wanted to provide employee benefits but couldn't get eggs was indeed a very common situation.

After hearing Liu Weidong's words, Ma Yongxian was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head with some difficulty and said, "This matter... I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle!"

Liu Weidong said, "Village Chief Ma, could you tell me what the difficulties are?"

Ma Yongxian told Liu Weidong, "To be honest, every household in Gonggeng Village does raise chickens, and they can accumulate two or three hundred catties of eggs every month. However, all these eggs are sent to the supply and marketing cooperative, and there are no extras to sell to the machinery factory."

Liu Weidong laughed and said, "Village Chief Ma, this is easy to solve. We can tell everyone not to sell their eggs to the supply and marketing cooperative, but to sell them directly to our machinery factory!"

Ma Yongxian exclaimed in alarm, "Isn't this undermining socialism? Absolutely not!"

"Village Chief Ma, don't rush to object, let me finish what I have to say first!" Liu Weidong said with a smile, "You see, there's no rule that these eggs have to be sold to the supply and marketing cooperative. Selling them to the machine repair shop is the same! Besides, if these eggs are sold to the supply and marketing cooperative, they'll eventually end up on the tables of the city's residents. If they're sold to the machine repair shop, they'll end up on the tables of the shop's employees, right?"

Although Ma Yongxian didn't understand the point of Liu Weidong saying all this, he still nodded honestly and said, "That's true!"

"That settles it!" Liu Weidong slapped his thigh and said, "The employees of the machine repair shop are also citizens, so from any perspective, there's absolutely no problem with you selling your eggs to the machine repair shop!"

Honest man Ma Yongxian was confused by Liu Weidong's words. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make sense. He nodded somewhat bewilderedly and said, "What you said... does seem to make some sense!"

“Village Chief Ma, we’ve known each other for a long time, I wouldn’t cheat you.” Liu Weidong started by appealing to emotions, then changed his tone and whispered, “Besides… this also benefits the villagers of Gonggeng Village, you’re doing this for everyone’s benefit!”

Ma Yongxian felt his mind was going blank and subconsciously asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Weidong asked Ma Yongxian, "What price do you use to buy eggs? Ninety cents or one dollar?"

Ma Yongxian immediately replied, "The recent price is 95 cents per pound."

"Ninety-five cents? That's too low!" Liu Weidong deliberately shook his head, then told Ma Yongxian, "Village Chief Ma, our factory manager said we can exchange national grain coupons for eggs with our Gonggeng Village. Three jin of grain coupons for one jin of eggs!"

For farmers of that era, grain coupons were a precious commodity. Many people needed them when visiting relatives. Not to mention the national grain coupons, which many farmers had never even seen, let alone obtained by exchanging eggs.

So Ma Yongxian immediately perked up and hurriedly asked Liu Weidong, "Comrade Liu, did your factory director really say that?"

"Of course! How could I joke about something like this with you!" Liu Weidong continued to persuade Ma Yongxian: "Village Chief Ma, you should also know that three jin of national grain coupons can now be sold for at least one yuan and fifty cents! This way, each jin of eggs can earn everyone an extra fifty cents. Such a good opportunity won't come again if we miss it!"

After listening to Liu Weidong's words, Ma Yongxian was also caught in a fierce internal struggle.

Not selling the eggs to the supply and marketing cooperative did indeed violate Ma Yongxian's principles. However, the thought that these eggs would eventually end up on the tables of city dwellers, and that the villagers of Gonggeng Village would also benefit, made his principles less firm, leaving him in a dilemma.

Liu Weidong continued to press Ma Yongxian, saying unhurriedly, "Village Chief Ma, the hundreds of workers at the machine repair factory can't possibly have enough eggs from our Gonggeng Village alone. You can also buy eggs from nearby villages. Anyway, no matter what price you offer them, I'll give you three jin of national grain coupons for one jin of eggs!"

Ma Yongxian was immediately taken aback and exclaimed, "Isn't this speculation and profiteering?"

“As long as the money you earn is used for the village, that’s serving the public good. Who would dare say you’re speculating?” Liu Weidong’s casual remark convinced Ma Yongxian. Then, he said earnestly, “Village Chief Ma, our factory manager said we need at least two thousand catties of eggs! Even if you can get a penny per catty of eggs for Gonggeng Village, that’s still more than two hundred yuan! Wouldn’t it be better to distribute more money to everyone at the end of the year? If we miss this opportunity, we won’t have another chance like this!”

Ma Yongxian was persuaded by Liu Weidong. After pondering for a moment, he slapped his thigh and said, "Okay, I agree to this. Let's do it this way!"

Liu Weidong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a big smile, "Haha, Village Chief Ma is really straightforward!"

Although Ma Yongxian was an honest man, he wasn't stupid either. He quickly said to Liu Weidong, "Contacting other villages will take time, but right now Gonggeng Village can provide more than two hundred catties of eggs. What do you think..."

Liu Weidong understood Ma Yongxian's meaning and immediately nodded, saying, "Village Chief Ma, don't worry, this kind of good thing will definitely come to our Gonggeng Village first. You have everyone prepare the eggs, and I will bring the national grain coupons to exchange for them tomorrow!"

Now Ma Yongxian was relieved and happily shook Liu Weidong's hand, saying, "Thank you so much, Comrade Liu! It's wonderful that everyone can earn an extra dollar and eighty cents!"

Recalling how hard his parents and Wang Shujuan had worked to support his schooling, Liu Weidong sighed sincerely, "To be honest, I also come from a rural background, and I know how tough it is for us farmers. I'll help as much as I can!"

These words made Ma Yongxian have an even better impression of Liu Weidong. These days, there aren't many young people like him who don't forget their roots. This is a friend worth making closer to!

Liu Weidong was very happy to have finalized the egg purchase agreement with Ma Yongxian. He hummed a little tune as he returned to the village, where he found Hao Jianjun waiting for him at the village entrance.

Hao Jianjun also saw Liu Weidong and hurriedly came up to him, shouting loudly, "Brother Weidong, you have no idea, our..."

At this point, Hao Jianjun suddenly remembered that this matter had to be kept absolutely secret, so he quickly shut his mouth and looked around in alarm. Fortunately, the weather was still very cold, and no one else would come to the village entrance to enjoy the cold wind, which finally relieved Hao Jianjun.

At this moment, Liu Weidong had already arrived in front of Hao Jianjun, and said to him with a wry smile, "Look at how excited you are, did you sell out of eggs?"

Speaking of this, Hao Jianjun became proud again, but he didn't forget to lower his voice and say, "Brother Weidong, you guessed right again. The eggs were very popular and sold out in no time! Fifty-six catties of eggs, at one yuan and thirty cents per catty, sold for a total of seventy-two yuan and eighty cents, not a penny less!"

As Hao Jianjun spoke, he handed the money to Liu Weidong: "The money is all here, please count it!"

Liu Weidong absolutely trusted Hao Jianjun. Without even looking at him, he stuffed the egg into his pocket and told him to go to Gonggeng Village to collect eggs the next day, and to set off early in the morning.

After parting ways with Hao Jianjun, Liu Weidong hurried home. As soon as he arrived at his doorstep, he saw two people standing outside and immediately frowned in displeasure.