Time Travel: Volume 1! Starting from a Small Mountain Village

"Comrade Long, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the county town? If it weren't for Xiao Wang, I wouldn't have known you were here."

Xu Tiansheng walked in front, saying enthusiastically, "You left in a hurry last time, this time you absolutely have to eat before you go."

"Director Xu, you're too kind. However, we have other matters to discuss today, so it might be inconvenient for us to come here."

Long Lifan was somewhat taken aback by Xu Tiansheng's enthusiasm, remembering that she hadn't even been allowed to enter the machinery factory last time she came. However, considering that she and Secretary Miao had come with a mission, she declined Xu Tiansheng's offer.

“I know,” Xu Tiansheng said sincerely. “Xiao Wang already told me that you’re going to the farmers’ market. Speaking of which, I’m an old acquaintance of Station Master Wu at the farmers’ market. I’ll go with you later and treat you to dinner when we’re done. Don’t worry about missing the bus; I’ll have Xiao Wang drive you back this afternoon.”

“This…” Long Lifan was speechless for a moment. Although they had a letter of introduction, she didn’t know what the situation was at the farmers’ market. It would be embarrassing if she was turned away like she was when she came to the machinery factory last time.

"Thank you so much, Director Xu. I just don't know if it's too much trouble for you." With Xu Tiansheng by their side, things will go much more smoothly. Long Lifan expressed her gratitude to Director Xu.

"It's out of the way!"

Xu Tiansheng waved his hands repeatedly and said, "To be honest, our machinery factory owes you a favor. You don't know how many new farm tools we've sold recently. Not only that, we've also received praise from the city. It's all thanks to you!"

Xu Tiansheng smiled broadly, feeling incredibly relieved. Now, their machinery factory not only had profits, but had also received extra praise from the city. While they wouldn't necessarily receive special treatment, the higher-ups certainly wouldn't proceed according to the previous plan. Their machinery factory had truly been resurrected.

Seeing that they were chatting enthusiastically, Miao Dashan got out of the car. Long Lifan quickly introduced him to Xu Tiansheng and the others: "This is Secretary Miao of our Dongwan Brigade."

"This is Director Xu!" Long Lifan introduced the two, and Xu Tiansheng and Party Secretary Miao shook hands politely.

On the way to the farmers' market, Party Secretary Miao sat in the passenger seat, listening to the conversation between Long, the educated youth, and Director Xu in the back. He couldn't join in the conversation and could only listen silently. His heart was filled with shock and complicated emotions.

Don't let his position as the village party secretary fool you; getting into the machinery factory was incredibly difficult for him. Now, not only has he gotten in, but he's also gotten to know someone like Xu Tiansheng, not to mention the chauffeured car service he receives.

The machinery factory wasn't far from the farmers' market, and they arrived in just ten minutes by car. Two uniformed staff members were at the entrance; Long Lifan and her companions handed them their letters of introduction.

"Go in!" The two staff members looked at them carefully and, after confirming that their identities were correct, let them in.

As she entered the farmers' market, rows of large greenhouses supported by steel frames came into view, with only a few scattered people beneath them. The lack of the prosperity and bustle of later generations highlighted the scarcity of resources in that era.

Of course, there's a difference between a farmers' market and a farmers' market. A market at least has some common vegetables, such as bok choy, cabbage, bean sprouts, chives, beans, and pumpkin. The county's farmers' market mainly provides convenience for people living in the city, and most of the small commodities are purchased from the various communes below.

The agricultural trade station was specifically for providing young livestock to the communes below, a helpless arrangement made because of the planned economy and resource scarcity at the time.

There are chickens, ducks, geese, piglets, and other species here. Private business here is currently prohibited; that's considered speculation and profiteering. Those who come to buy here are usually cadres from various communes or production brigades, which is why the staff at the gate needed to verify their identities.

Director Xu disappeared as soon as he entered, and Long Lifan and Miao Dashan didn't pay any attention. They walked to the shed where the chicks were kept and listened to the chirping of the little ones. They examined the chicks closely; they were fluffy and soft. Their bodies were covered with soft down, looking like little balls, indicating that these chicks had only recently hatched.

These downy feathers make the chick look incredibly soft and adorable. Its beak and feet are also very small, making it appear quite petite compared to its body. Furthermore, the chick's eyes are bright and clear, as if filled with curiosity about the world.

Long Lifan was captivated by these adorable little things, gazing at them in a daze. What girl could resist such cute and cuddly creatures?

While she was still in a daze, Xu Tiansheng walked over with a middle-aged man. He said with a smile, "Comrades, you want to buy chicks?"

"Hmm!" Secretary Miao and Long Lifan nodded in unison. "How much are these chicks?"

He only brought 300 yuan with him this time, which was the limit that their Dongwan brigade could currently afford. Although they had more than 400 yuan in their account, they still needed to keep some as a reserve.

"One yuan each."

Upon hearing this, Long Lifan frowned slightly. It wasn't that the price was too expensive; eggs were currently only 5 cents each. A chick costing one yuan was reasonable.

But she knew that Secretary Miao had only brought 300 yuan with him this time. At that price, they probably couldn't even buy 300 chickens, even though her chicken farm was designed to raise around 400.

"Old Wu, look, I've come all this way myself, could you please give me a break for my sake?" Xu Tiansheng quickly said, seeing the expressions on Long Zhiqing's and Secretary Miao's faces. "Don't you know how poor Dongwan Brigade is!"

Hearing Xu Tiansheng's words, the middle-aged man rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Old Xu, it's easy for you to talk when you're not in the same boat! You used to cry poverty everywhere, acting like a grandson, but now your machinery factory is all high and mighty, not only selling new farm tools but also getting praise from above."

"Now the city has issued a notice calling on other industries to learn from you. What, are you telling me to learn from you?"

"Old Wu, what are you saying? We're brothers, aren't we?" Xu Tiansheng said with a grin. The agricultural trade station was in a similar situation to their machinery factory; if it weren't for supplying piglets to the various communes below, it probably would have been shut down long ago.

Poultry like chickens, ducks, and geese are rarely purchased in large groups because they are too fragile and can easily be wiped out if not handled carefully.

He came in person for two reasons: firstly, to help lower the price, and secondly, to ask Long Zhiqing for advice on Old Wu's situation. Old Wu, like him, had been discharged from the army due to injury and assigned to this low-level government office. Now that his situation had improved, he wanted Long Zhiqing's help. After all, he had personally witnessed Long Zhiqing's methods; they were incredibly sophisticated.

"Alright, for your sake, it'll be 9 cents each, that's the lowest I can go!"

Although Old Wu's words were barbed, he and Xu Tiansheng had the best relationship. Thinking of their camaraderie, he pondered for a long time before finally speaking slowly.

"real!"

Upon hearing this, Party Secretary Miao's face lit up with joy, and he became somewhat excited. Although it was only a dime less, with several hundred animals, they could save at least tens of yuan.

But Xu Tiansheng was clearly not satisfied with the result. He pulled Station Chief Wu aside and whispered, "Old Wu, weren't you curious about how our machinery factory turned things around? Let me tell you, it's because..." Xu Tiansheng recounted the whole story of how Long Zhiqing had last visited their machinery factory.

"This little girl is incredibly talented!"

Station Chief Wu glanced at Long Lifan, his eyes filled with suspicion and surprise.