"By the way, Dad, I won't go to work tomorrow." Li Ming said to the two of them.
Father Li and Mother Li were full of questions and were about to open their mouths to ask.
"Well, our section chief said that the steel rolling mill has been short of meat and vegetables recently. There is a clause in our purchasing department. If we can purchase enough unplanned materials, we can directly become a regular employee without waiting for three months. This way we can get a lot more salary!”
Li Ming opened his mouth to explain. He couldn't do it without explaining. He could already see the red light flashing in Father Li's eyes.
"Oh, that's what happened. That's fine. Anyway, you don't need to be the same as our workshop workers." Father Li nodded quickly, indicating that he had no problem and agreed.
"Yes, but it's hard to accept it now." Mother Li was a little worried.
"It's okay, Mom. I'll go to the countryside and take a look. If there's anything suitable, I'll collect some. If it's not enough, wouldn't it be nice to stock up on some for our own home?"
"By the way, have you two been stocking up on food or anything lately?" Li Ming began to ask about the recent situation at home.
Comrade Li Weiguo curled his lips and said, "I carried ten kilograms of brown rice and cornmeal noodles to my house on my day off last week when I had free time when I was commuting with you."
"In the end, I ran into Mr. Yan opposite me and asked me if I had lost face at home." Li's father complained. It was really Yan Fugui's two little eyes that were very naughty. He caught him even though he was wearing a bag. Rice noodles inside.
My sister Li Rui was very happy when she heard this, "Dad, all our classmates at school know that there is an abacus master in our hospital!"
It is also famous enough. Yan Fugui's little plan is at least somewhat famous in this street.
Mother Li looked at the family eating with a smile, "I made a little more food than Comrade Li Weiguo."
As he spoke, he pinched it with his thumb and index finger and made gestures.
"It's all in the kitchen now. When Akiko's place is decorated, I'll put it in his place."
Li Ming nodded and said that it was no problem. It would be safer to leave it alone. At least if the Thief Saint dared to come, he would dare to fish and then beat him to death.
The family dispersed after dinner and returned to their own living spaces. Father Li was holding a book of test questions for the Intermediate Operating Skills Examination for Mechanical Industrial Workers and slowly flipping through it. He was probably planning to become a level 6 welder in the near future. Mother Li was busy in the kitchen, washing the dishes for dinner.
The brother and sister also returned to their own rooms to prepare for bed.
The next day.
Li Ming packed up and got up early in the morning. Today he planned to go to Shibali Store around the DC area to see if there were any suitable livestock cubs or adult pigs, especially in the current Sijiu City. There is not enough food in the house anymore. A few smart people can see that and have been hoarding food.
People in rural areas probably know better. For example, there are probably many people who have to feed some piggies. You might be able to gain something if you go by yourself, but the road is remote. Even if you have a bicycle, it will take a whole day to go back and forth. .
After saying hello to his parents, Comrade Li Ming rode his bicycle and went straight to Shibali Store.
After riding for about an hour, Li Ming finally arrived at Shibalidian. The main reason was that it was difficult to walk on the road, and he almost broke his waist while riding the bike.
From a distance, I saw an old man sitting under a big tree at the entrance of the village enjoying the cool air.
"Uncle! I am the purchaser of our Sijiucheng Steel Rolling Mill. This time I come to Shibalidian to buy something. Could you please point me to the location of our village commune?"
The uncle reacted slowly. It took him a long time to say "Ah" and said in a hoarse voice, "Keep going forward. When you reach the end, turn left and you will see it."
"Thank you." Li Ming replied and pushed the car inside.
Peasant commune.
As soon as Li Minggang put down the car, he saw a person walking towards him.
"It looks like you are not from our village! I wonder if you are here?" A bearded, rather sturdy man walked towards Li Ming holding a sickle.
Li Ming nodded, "I'm not from our village. I'm a purchaser for the Sijiucheng Steel Rolling Mill. I plan to go down here to purchase something this time. Is it convenient for you to send a message to our commune or brigade?"
As he said this, he handed a cigarette to the strong man in front of him. As the saying goes, cigarettes build bridges and wine paves the way.
The big man took the cigarette and took a look, oh! Daqianmen, which in Sijiucheng was smoked by cadres, immediately took out a match, lit it and stuffed it into his mouth.
"I am the captain of our brigade and also hold a commune position, but I'm afraid you won't receive anything well if you come at this time."
"There is a severe drought this year, and there is not enough food in the countryside. In addition, everyone now eats in the big canteen, and few families have anything to save."
Maybe the big front door worked, so the big man took Li Ming to the shade of a tree and said a few more words.
"Hey, who says it's not the case? We, the factory workers, haven't seen the smell of meat for two months now. I came here just to try it. It's the best if I can. If I can't, there's nothing I can do about it. .”
Li Ming sighed and lit one for himself.
"By the way, I still don't know your name?"
The strong man grinned, showing his yellowed teeth, "My surname is Li, and my name is Li Qiang."
"My surname is also Li, Li Ming, haha."
"We are still considered our family!"
The two looked at each other and smiled. These days, just saying a few words and passing a cigarette can bring them closer to each other.
"Brother Li, if this is nothing like a pig, can you see if there are any cubs? If you are affected, please contact me."
Li Qiang didn't ask much about the use of piglets. Nowadays, there are basically big canteens. Coupled with the severe drought, those who have piglets at home are worried about how to raise piglets. Now Li Ming can help a lot if he asks.
"That's true. We have two cubs in our family, but do you want the public to take them or do you take them yourself?"
"Hey, why does the father-in-law want babies? I'll take them! We live in a separate courtyard in the city, and my wife doesn't think there is much to do every day, so I thought about getting some babies for her to feed, which would also pass the time. "
Comrade Li Ming speaks well. After all, he has been influenced by many novels. Does he still have this ability?
"That's okay. But what's the price?" Although Li Qiang doesn't mind what channel he uses, he cares about money. Now that there is less food and more people, he has more money on hand, so he can be relieved if something happens.
"How about the price of fresh meat on the market? I'll give you 78 cents per pound." After Li Ming said this, Li Qiang's eyes lit up. You know you can't earn much by working in the fields all year round. Work points, work points are even less valuable if converted into money.
If the two piglets at home can be converted into money, then there will be enough money to give the children a wedding gift in the village.
"Both of our piglets have been born for a month. Each piglet weighs at least 15 kilograms. I will give you two 30 kilograms, okay?"
Li Ming didn't hesitate at all and nodded directly to indicate that it was okay.
It won't hurt to collect two little piglets from the captain this time. If he comes back next time, he will definitely keep some good things for himself.
