After getting up the next day, Li Shiqiang began to prepare things to take to the county town to sell.
Two fragrant deer whips, one bear whip, one bear paw, and twenty pounds of Eucommia ulmoides.
Both the fragrant deer whip and the bear whip were intended to be sold to Uncle Zhou in the county town, while the bear paw was intended to be given to him as a reward for his escort last time.
There are two bears at home now, so it would be nice to have a bear paw to maintain the relationship with Uncle Zhou.
After all, they work in the county's public security bureau.
If he meets some people who try to distract him again, he can rely on Uncle Zhou to support him.
As for the last twenty kilograms of Eucommia ulmoides, it can be considered as a test of the waters in the supply and marketing cooperative in advance.
Almost half of the eucommia bark in Laowu Mountain was scraped off by Li Shiqiang, with a total of more than 200 kilograms piled in the yard.
The reason why I only brought twenty kilograms with me today was because I had to put things away and not carry anything too heavy.
After Li Shiqiang loaded up his things, Li Nongchang came over to take a look and said, "Would you like me to help you carry some?"
Ever since Li Shiqiang was able to carry things to the county town and sell them for hundreds of dollars every time, the old man Li Nongchang was embarrassed to make sarcastic remarks, and this time he even offered to help him carry things.
"No, old man, you can just help me drive the truck and transport the goods to the county town when I get back."
"OK."
After Li Nongchang nodded casually, he picked up the noodles on the table and came to the threshold to eat.
Li Shiqiang went to the kitchen to find Chen Xianglan who was busy working: "Mom, is there anything missing in the house? I will bring it back from the county when I come back."
Chen Xianglan thought for a while and said: "There is not enough rice in the house. The rice used in building houses in the house has been used up very quickly recently."
"anything else?"
Li Shiqiang opened the rice vat and looked at it, and then checked some oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar on the roof of the house.
Listening to the inquiry, Chen Xianglan hesitated, stretched out her hand to grab her apron and said, "Er baby, do you remember Uncle Liu Wu? He was the one who followed you, Liu Siniang, to buy the yellow tiger at home last time."
"What's wrong?" Li Shiqiang raised his eyes and asked curiously.
"I heard people in the village say yesterday that your Uncle Liu brought five chickens back to raise them."
"Five chicks?"
Li Shiqiang was stunned for a moment, and said with some surprise: "Isn't it true that each family can only raise two at most?"
Because of the planned economy and collective economy, individuals are not allowed to feed poultry and livestock privately these days, including pigs, chickens, cattle, and sheep.
For example, raising chickens is prohibited in cities, but in rural areas each household can only raise two chickens.
If you exceed the regulations, you will be punished.
For example, some places have issued regulations that raising more than six chickens is capitalism, and five chickens is socialism.
In the past, chickens were raised in the Li family's house, but due to the above regulations, cadres would come to the house from time to time to "touch the chicken coop" and "check the chicken household registration." Later, the trouble became unbearable, so the Li family stopped raising chickens.
"I heard that it seems like it can be raised again now. Uncle Liu Wu has been raising chickens for many days and no one has touched the chicken coop."
Listening to his mother Chen Xianglan's story, Li Shiqiang gradually recalled that it was now 1979, the first year of reform and opening up, and it seemed that the "chicken ban" had been lifted since last year.
Now we are almost entering the 1980s, and many things that were not allowed before will soon be gradually opened up.
"Mom, do you want to raise chickens too?"
Chen Xianglan nodded and responded: "Why don't you want to raise chickens? You can keep some eggs and sell them for money, and you can kill them yourself. I'm worried about whether I can raise them."
"It can definitely be raised!"
After Li Shiqiang said with certainty, he quickly explained: "Uncle Liu is the accountant of the second team, and he must have dared to raise it after hearing the news. Liu Siniang happened to be in the commune, and she probably told Uncle Liu some news."
"That's right! Those cadres have started to support them, so what do we have to fear!"
After Chen Xianglan thought about it, she immediately started to take out money from her pocket: "The second baby, you also bring me five chicken babies. We won't raise more, just five."
"No, no, it just so happens that I have to sell something today. I'll just bring the money back to you."
Li Shiqiang quickly stopped Chen Xianglan and went out to cook with his bowl of noodles.
"Okay, now that you've sold the money to buy the chicken, come back quickly."
After Chen Xianglan gave instructions, she followed out of the kitchen.
After the father and son finished breakfast, it was still she who sent them out and watched them go down the mountain.
.......
"Old man, why don't you go to the county town with me today? I have to sell mountain products, buy rice, and chicken babies all by myself. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."
On the way down the mountain, Li Shiqiang thought for a moment and then followed Li Nongchang's words.
"If you want, I'll go with you and let your third uncle take them back."
After hearing this, Li Nongchang agreed without hesitation.
He had long wanted to see how Li Shiqiang made so much money.
After the two of them arrived at the river beach, they still led the sideline team to inspect the bamboo rafts and then started lining them up as usual.
This release is not the same as the private release last time.
Therefore, as soon as the platoon started, Li Nongchang, who was at the head of the platoon, sang a folk song without any scruples: "Open the dragon gate! Let the queue begin! Yo ho hi, ho hi!"
"The clouds moved away, the fog moved away, and a green dragon came down the mountain, soaring into the clouds and riding on the fog to release the raft!"
"Yo yo yo yo! Ho ho ho ho!"
Accompanied by the melodious and hearty folk songs, the slender bamboo rafts slid towards Baisha Bay again under Brother Piao's bamboo pole.
When the sun gradually set overhead, the bamboo rafts from Jinsha Village arrived at Baisha Bay in the county seat without incident.
After Li Nongchang settled the matter of selling bamboo, he explained a few words to his third uncle Li Nongxing and went to the county town with Li Shiqiang.
On the way to the county seat, Li Nongchang asked slightly excitedly: "How much do you estimate it can be sold for today?"
Li Shiqiang shook the Eucommia ulmoides in the bamboo basket, thought for a moment and said, "It should cost three to four hundred yuan."
Eucommia ulmoides started to be sold in 1980 for 20 yuan per catty. Now in 1979, it should be less.
"That's not bad!" Li Nongchang grinned after hearing this and said somewhat relaxedly.
As the conditions at home got better and better, Li Nongchang felt that his burden was getting lighter and lighter, and he gradually relaxed.
Li Shiqiang looked at the old man's relaxed look and smiled slightly happily.
When the "raft ban" comes down next year, he, the old man, won't have to continue to discharge the rafts, and he can also let the old man help him grow herbs.
It’s just that other families in the sideline team who rely on emissions for a living may find it difficult.
"Erwa, the conditions for working in the county are good! There are so many cyclists!"
Although Li Nongchang often arranges to bring villagers to Baishawan, he rarely comes to the county town.
After this rare trip to the city, he discovered that all the neatly dressed workers on the county streets had eye-catching bicycles under their seats.
