Go back to the past to plant trees

After borrowing the book, Feng Cheng returned to his dormitory, put the book down, and then went directly from the Forestry Bureau to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Feng Cheng had visited this county town many times. It was just one street with very few shops, not as lively as the towns of later generations.

After leaving the forestry bureau, Feng Cheng went straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. The supply and marketing cooperative in the county town was not very big, and there were many things that were not available. However, Feng Cheng did not buy those scarce and in-demand items because he did not have the necessary coupons.

At the supply and marketing cooperative, Feng Cheng browsed around and bought the daily necessities he needed. He also looked at some other items, but everything required money; even a light bulb required a ration coupon, which made Feng Cheng feel very uncomfortable.

Having exhausted his remaining tickets, Feng Cheng left the supply and marketing cooperative.

Carrying a large bag of things, Feng Cheng left the supply and marketing cooperative and headed towards the forestry bureau.

At the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, two young men were loitering. When they saw Feng Cheng carrying a large bag, one of them immediately lit up and followed him.

"brother."

When someone tapped him on the shoulder, Feng Cheng immediately turned around and saw the young man behind him. Feng Cheng's heart tightened instantly.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to be too relaxed. This was the 60s, not the later era when surveillance cameras filled the streets and the public security was good. If he swaggered around carrying so many things, he could easily be ambushed.

Seeing Feng Cheng's stunned expression, the young man didn't mind and asked in a low voice, "Brother, do you have any tickets?"

"Tickets? What tickets?"

Feng Cheng didn't realize what was happening, but subconsciously replied.

The young man said, "Grain coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons, all kinds of coupons are welcome. I'll buy them at high prices."

Upon hearing the young man's words, Feng Cheng understood: these were ticket scalpers!

"no!"

Feng Cheng shook his head decisively. He really didn't have any. If he did, he would have used them long ago. Why would he keep them?

Hearing Feng Cheng's words, the young man was a little disappointed, but he didn't care and continued to ask, "Do you need a ticket? I have everything here."

"You also have food coupons and meat coupons?"

"Uh!" the young man said somewhat awkwardly, "You know the current situation, these two are a bit difficult to deal with, but if you really want them, I can help you think of a way, but the price is a bit expensive and it will take some time."

Feng Cheng asked casually, knowing the current situation: there wasn't even any grass left, let alone food.

"What about other coupons? Do you have cloth coupons, oil coupons, coal coupons?"

"Yes, yes, yes. All."

The young man immediately pulled out a large stack of bills from his bag. He wasn't worried about Feng Cheng snatching them from him; people who could do this kind of work were no ordinary individuals, and he also had an assistant watching over him.

Feng Cheng had no intention of cheating him. He looked at the receipts the young man showed him, spent ten yuan to pick out a bunch of things he wanted, which were all receipts for daily necessities, and none of them were actually useful.

Feng Cheng understood; seeing how thin the young man was, he knew this thing wouldn't be easy to handle.

"Brother, if you need more tickets in the future, come to the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative. There are always people here. Just say you're looking for Xiaosan."

After the transaction was completed, the young people's enthusiasm for Feng Cheng increased even more.

There was no way around it; Feng Cheng was asking for too much and wouldn't even haggle. Of course, he had to treat such a high-quality customer well.

Feng Cheng nodded without saying anything, but he had already made up his mind to visit the supply and marketing cooperative less often during this period.

This guy is obviously new to this line of work; he has no secretive intentions. Reselling invoices is a serious crime. Who solicits customers in front of a supply and marketing cooperative? You could easily get reported if you're not careful.

These days, there's no shortage of enthusiastic people.

Feng Cheng only bought some receipts from him because he was going to the dam tomorrow. If Feng Cheng were in the county town, he wouldn't dare to buy his receipts, because it would be easy to get caught.

But it's different in Bashang. Even if this guy is arrested, they won't be able to trace it back to Feng Cheng, because there's no such person in the city. Since they can't find him, people will probably just assume that Feng Cheng is someone who came here on a business trip.

After buying the ticket, Feng Cheng did not go into the supply and marketing cooperative, but returned to the forestry bureau.

It was lunchtime, and Feng Cheng needed to go back to the bureau for a meal. Food was scarce outside, and restaurants required both money and food coupons, which Feng Cheng didn't have. So he had to eat at the canteen, which only required money and didn't need food coupons.

After returning to his dormitory and putting his things away, Feng Cheng took his lunchbox to the cafeteria. Old Liu was surprised but also very happy to see Feng Cheng.

"Feng Cheng, why did you come down?"

Feng Cheng replied with a smile, "I've run out of daily necessities, so I came down to buy some and borrow a few books while I'm at it."

"When to go back?"

"Tomorrow morning! The nursery can't leave, I need to go back as soon as possible."

Old Liu said in a low voice, "Wait for me tomorrow. I've prepared some things for you to take back."

Feng Cheng knew what Old Liu was talking about, and quickly shook his head, "Uncle Liu, the things the bureau gave me are enough, and my salary is high. I can buy whatever I need myself."

"You think you can buy food? Do you think I don't know how much the bureau sends you? It's just enough for you to eat. You're a big guy, you'll go hungry if you eat any more. Besides, didn't you just hire a new young man? You also have a dog to feed. Do you have that much food?"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. My family members are all earning money and eating government-subsidized food. I also work in the canteen, so I don't lack food. Giving you a little won't make me go hungry."

Feng Cheng shook his head again: "Uncle Liu, I still can't take it. I don't have enough to eat." He lowered his voice and said, "Last month I planted half an acre of vegetable garden with some greens, pumpkins, winter melons and the like. They're almost ready to be harvested. I really don't lack food."

In the past, Feng Cheng had little to eat and could only accept food from others. Now, the vegetable garden is almost ready, and Feng Cheng can also buy some grains from Zhao Jinquan's team from time to time. So there is no shortage of food in Bashang now. When the high-yield crops such as pumpkins and winter melons are ready, Feng Cheng will have to worry about what to do if he can't finish them.

"That's great, you've even learned how to grow vegetables," Old Liu said, both surprised and pleased to hear Feng Cheng's words.

“I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while now. You can definitely grow some food in Bashang. People in other forest farms are growing oats in their forests now, and you can grow them there too. But I was worried that you wouldn’t know how to do it, so I didn’t tell me. I was afraid that you would end up with nothing after all that effort.”

Feng Cheng wasn't embarrassed when he heard this. "I really don't know how to do it. It was the new guy who did it. He even got the seeds from home."

"Okay, since you've grown your own things, I won't send them over. They're just sweet potatoes and potatoes anyway. I'll get you some meat for the holiday."

"By the way, Feng Cheng, my aunt's family has one..."

"Uncle Liu, I have to go eat now. I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving."

Feng Cheng left halfway through the conversation. He already knew what Uncle Liu was going to say just from what he'd heard so far, and he didn't want to make up excuses for him, so it was better not to listen.

Old Li watched Feng Cheng leave, and knowing what he was thinking, he didn't chase after him, but just shook his head.

Everyone in the bureau knew why Feng Cheng came here and why he went to the dam. Old Liu also knew that this incident had been a big blow to Feng Cheng, but he didn't think it was a big deal. There were many such things during the war. If everyone was like that, how could people live? Find a wife, and once you have a partner, you will slowly forget about the past. Many people have gone through this.

This guy is just stubborn and prone to getting stuck on things.