"Dad! I'm going to find Brother Wang Zhong!" Just after breakfast, Debao wiped his mouth with his sleeve and jumped off the bench impatiently.
"etc!"
After taking just two steps, before he could reach the door, he was stopped by Ma shouting for water.
"What's wrong, dad?" Ma Debao looked at Ma Huanshui who stood up in confusion and asked.
Northwest people are accustomed to eating while squatting, holding a big bowl, and eating noodles with garlic in big mouthfuls.
But now, even a meal of noodles can only be eaten every once in a while for the folks in Yongquan Village.
People who live a miserable life have to think twice before eating noodles made from white flour.
Ma Huanshui, his wife, and sister are all capable and live a good life. They are ranked above average in Yongquan Village. Otherwise, they would not be able to afford Ma Defu's education in an agricultural school.
Ma Huashui walked out and said, "What else is going on! I eat at your brother Wang Zhong's house every day, and they teach you crafts. You don't even pay the tuition, and I still have to take care of your food!"
"Then didn't I also help Brother Wang Zhong?"
"You're still helping me. Didn't Wang Zhong pay you for your work?" Ma Huanshui took out two full bags and said, "They treat you well and take care of you. That's because they are kind-hearted, but we can't take this for granted. .”
"We don't have anything else at home. Take this bag of white flour and corn flour with you and tell your brother Wang Zhong that it will be your food ration at his house!"
"Dad! Where did our family get the white flour?" This was not the case when the Ma family took root in Yuquanying later. The wheat harvested by the family was either used to pay taxes or sold for money.
Even the corn harvested in the summer was not kept much at home. Most of it was sold. The main food at home was potatoes and corn flour, and white flour could only be eaten during festivals or special days.
"No matter what, just take it if you are told!" Ma Huashui said loudly with a straight face.
Ma Debao was also used to it, and he smiled. One bag weighed about twenty kilograms, and two bags weighed forty kilograms. Ma Debao carried it on his shoulders with a single lift.
"Dad! Then I'm leaving!"
"Be more diligent in the past. Brother Wang Zhong has done all the work for you. You have to be grateful when people teach you skills!" Ma Huashui taught earnestly.
"Dad, I know!"
"Don't wait for me to have dinner tonight. I'm going to the county with Brother Wang Chong to sell furniture today. I don't know when I'll be back. You guys eat first when the meal is ready."
"I know, I know! Get out of here, get out of here!" Ma shouted and chased people away angrily. He walked back into the house and continued to have breakfast.
Wang Zhong's house, Wang Zhong also just had breakfast.
"Brother Wang Zhong!"
Ma Debao was a little excited. Seeing that it was almost the New Year's Eve, he worked with Wang Zhong for more than half a month and built a set of modular cabinets. Today, Wang Zhong will take him to the county town to sell this set of cabinets. .
"What are you carrying!" Wang Zhong couldn't help but ask after seeing the two bags of things Ma Debao was carrying.
"One bag of white flour, one bag of corn flour! My father said they would be counted as my rations!"
Wang Zhong shook his head helplessly: "You can also call me Uncle Shui. How much can you eat as a half-year-old child?"
"My father said, one code equals another code! You taught me a craft, and I didn't even pay the tuition. I can't let you take care of the food!" Ma Debao said: "Besides, this old saying is good, half Young man, I am a poor man! I have a big appetite!"
"Yes!" Wang Zhong didn't refuse, "I've brought it all, so just keep it. Anyway, you're making money now!"
During his apprenticeship, Wang Zhong paid Debao not much, just one yuan a day and fifty cents for half a day. It was half less than when he was burning bricks and building water cellars, but he was satisfied with one lunch every day.
As for Gawa and Shui Wang, they have no interest in carpentry. No one from all over the country came to Wang Zhong to buy bricks. There was no work in the brick kiln, so they just stayed idle all day long, running around and having fun. .
Wang Zhong wanted to help Wang Zhong. After all, he was the grandson of the old party secretary. However, this kid had no ambition and was a bit lazy. Every time he came back and stayed for a long time, he couldn't sit still and ran away with Debao's cousin Gawa. .
Another part of the reason is that neither of them has much talent in carpentry, their brains are not as fast as Du Bao, and they can't read well. And their age is there.
Wang Zhong didn't force it, and there wasn't much he could do now.
Under the shed at the east end of the yard, there is a trolley parked. On the trolley are modular cabinets tied with hemp ropes, all of which have been painted. There are also the pair of Taishi chairs and a high table that Wang Zhong made at the beginning. How tall is one person?
After putting the white flour and corn flour into the warehouse, Debao quickly helped Wang Zhong push the cart out the door and embarked on the road to the county seat.
"Hey! Wang Zhong, what are you doing with such a beautiful cabinet?"
"Go to the county seat and see if you can sell it for a couple of bucks!"
"Ouch! Did you do this all by yourself?"
Early in the morning, everyone in the village got up early. However, it was cold outside and it was a busy time for farming. Not many people went out. Occasionally, there were a few who greeted Wang Zhong enthusiastically, and Wang Zhong also returned one by one.
There were a few curious people who couldn't help but come up and take a closer look.
Fine workmanship, simple but perfect style that blends modernity and ancient charm.
"Wang Zhong, what are you doing? Your skills are pretty good!" Some people who have never seen a combination cabinet will ask curiously.
Wang Zhong also patiently explained everything one by one.
The road from Yongquan Village to the county seat is not far, but not close either. It is dozens of miles long. It took the two of them nearly two hours to get there while pulling a cart.
Going straight to the county home furnishing market, Wang Zhong had no intention of setting up a stall. In that case, there would be too much luck involved, and most people still prefer to buy big items like this in big stores.
First of all, if the store is big, it must be strong and its reputation will not be much different. On the contrary, roadside stalls rely entirely on picking up and missing.
Secondly, Wang Zhong had already found a way out before.
Quanfu Furniture!
One of the best furniture stores in Haiji County, the owner has some background.
Wang Zhong pulled the cart to the side of the shop and let Debao watch while he went in to find someone.
"Sister-in-law! Where is my brother Fu?" The front desk was a woman in her thirties. She was somewhat pretty, but her face was too heavily made up. But Wang Zhong didn't like it, which didn't mean that her husband didn't like her.
"It's you, little brother!"
The woman looked at Wang Zhong for a while, got an idea, and immediately shouted to the back: "Quanfu!"
"Full blessing!"
"That little brother from last time is here!"
Not for a moment, a heavy fat man walked out of it in long strides.
"Brother Fu!"
"Brother Wang Zhong!" The owner of the furniture store is also surnamed Wang, and is from the same family as Wang Zhong. His real name is Wang Quanfu. He is a fat man in his thirties, with a fleshy face, big shoulders and round waist, and a big gold chain around his neck. He has a rather handsome appearance. It's a bit sinister, just like a modern version of Guanxi Town.
"Are you here! Is the cabinet ready?" Wang Quanfu's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Wang Zhong, with a smile on his face, and there was some expectation in his words.
"How dare I come to you before the fight is ready!" Wang Zhong also pointed to the outside with a smile: "It's outside!"
"Let's go! Go and have a look, go and have a look, I can't wait to see your craftsmanship!" Wang Quanfu quickly pulled Wang Zhong out.
When Wang Zhong came before, he showed his hand in front of Wang Quanfu and discussed cooperation matters, but Wang Quanfu had to take a closer look at Wang Zhongde's craftsmanship.
The first thing Wang Quanfu saw at first glance was not the cabinet, but the pair of armchairs and high tables that rested on top of the cabinet.
"Brother, did you do this yourself?" The fat man turned to look at Wang Zhong, quite surprised.
"I did it myself. I thought I would come to the county town anyway, so I wanted to bring him over to see if anyone would like him!" Wang Zhong said.
"I'll give it all to my brother!"
"Brother Fu, check the goods first!"
"Brother, I still can't trust you!" Wang Quanfu waved his hand and said grandly.
Wang Zhong shook his head and insisted: "Brothers are still settling accounts clearly, this code is the same code!"
"Love is love, and business is business. They can't be confused! Business needs to be discussed clearly, so as not to hurt the love between our brothers. Brother Fu, do you think this is the case?"
"Hahaha!" Wang Quanfu gave a thumbs up: "Brother, I am open-minded and a sensible person. That's what I like about you, brother!"
"Follow your brother and take him to the warehouse at the back!"
Wang Quanfu walked in front and led the way, Wang Zhong pulled the cart and followed behind. Debao followed beside him, not daring to speak. Before coming, Wang Zhong also specifically told him to watch more, learn more, and talk less.
"Brother, is this baby your brother?"
Wang Quanfu looked at Debao curiously.
Wang Zhong said: "You can count me as half a disciple. I have been learning my craft recently."
"Call me Uncle Quanfu!" These words were addressed to Debao.
Ma Debao forced out a smile and said, "Uncle Quanfu! My name is Ma Debao!"
This is what Wang Zhong taught. When talking and communicating with people outside, it is definitely better to wear a smiling face.
"Get the treasure!" Wang Quanfu nodded and looked at Wang Zhong: "Brother, you are a pretty good apprentice!"
"It's not bad. He's quite smart and has decent talent!"
"Brother is taking on an apprentice at such a young age!" Wang Quanfu was even more surprised and gave a thumbs up: "Awesome!"
The main reason is that Wang Zhongde's age is too deceptive.
Wang Zhongdao: "If you have ambitions, it's not because you are young!"
"That makes sense!"
"Hahaha!"
·······
"Ouch!" Outside the warehouse, two of Wang Quanfu's guys helped unload the items on the cart. Wang Quanfu himself had a lot of knowledge about furniture, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to open such a large furniture store.
"Brother Wang Zhong, the craftsmanship of these two Taishi chairs is incredible! Did you carve all the cloud patterns on them yourself?"
The Taishi chair is very simple, but the cloud pattern on it is extremely elegant.
"How is it?" Wang Zhong did not answer, but asked with a smile, with a touch of confidence on his face.
"Not bad, not bad!" Wang Quanfu said: "If I hadn't seen the wood you bought from me with my own eyes, I would have thought it was an old item from a wealthy family!"
"You've seen this! Brother Fu, it's time to get to the point!" Wang Zhong did not continue to mess around with the fat man.
The shrewdness in Wang Quanfu's eyes flashed away, and he said with a smile: "Including this pair of chairs, it's one thousand and two, what do you think, brother?"
It will be 90 years soon, and the average monthly salary of workers is almost 200 yuan, 1,200 yuan. If this price were to change places, it would really be less, but Haiji is located in the northwest Inland, the economy is naturally far less developed than Yanjing and other places.
Wang Zhong initially expected that it would be good to get one thousand yuan.
"It's higher than I expected!" Wang Zhong said frankly without hiding anything from Wang Quanfu.
"Hahahaha!" Wang Quanfu smiled even more: "Brother, there are not many people as honest as you!"
"But I like this pair of Taishi chairs. For me, they are worth the price!"
Wang Zhong understood what Wang Quanfu meant.
"Okay! Just one thousand and two." Wang Zhong agreed directly.
"Refreshing!" Wang Quanfu clapped his hands and laughed. He took out twelve hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and handed them to Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong took the money with a smile, glanced at it, and put it directly in his pocket: "Brother Fu, you have also read this. How did you think about what I said last time?"
"No problem, but I have a condition!" Wang Quanfu said with a smile. The flesh on his face squeezed his eyes to only a slit, but in this slit, there was a shrewdness that most people don't have.
"What conditions?" Wang Zhong was not surprised: "Brother Fu, tell me!"
"Brother, you also know that many of my brothers are carpenters. As long as brother Wang Zhong agrees to take my carpenter brothers to do it, in the future, any decoration work I receive will only be done by you, brother." When I have time, I’ll let you take responsibility, do you think that’s okay?”
"Brother Fu, I won't let you do this!" Wang Zhong said with a smile: "Didn't we agree last time? I will only provide the design and draw the drawings, and the masters under you will be responsible for the construction."
"Brother, if you don't do it, this craft will be a pity!" Wang Quanfu said with a look of regret.
Wang Zhong said: "I don't have so much time right now!"
"Hey!" Fatty Wang sighed, "Okay then!"
"I'll charge 15% for each order. If you think it's appropriate, we'll sign the contract right away. It's written in black and white, and we'll be honest." Wang Zhongdao.
Wang Quanfu's place was just a casual move by Wang Zhong. He stayed in Yongquan Village all year round and had no job. He had to have a place to make money, and if he had a way to make a living, Li Laoshuan could rest assured that his daughter would marry him.
"Brother, isn't 15% too much?" Wang Quanfu and Wang Zhong began to bargain. It's no wonder that businessmen are driven by profit.
"Then how much do you think is appropriate?" Wang Zhong didn't refuse.
"How about 10%?" Wang Quanfu asked tentatively.
Wang Zhong shook his head: "10% is too little!"
"In this way, let's each take a step back, 12%. If we can, we can sign the contract now. If it doesn't work, forget it!"
Although Wang Zhong's tone was calm, both his eyes and expression were firm and domineering that was difficult to ignore.
Wang Quanfu looked at the furniture, which was obviously a grade higher than those in his store in terms of style and workmanship. He gritted his teeth and said, "12% is 12%!"
Wang Quanfu understood that with Wang Zhong's skills and ideas, he could do it on his own without asking him. The reason why he approached him was because of his relationship background, but in Haiji, Wang Quanfu was not the only one doing this.
Haiji is so big, Wang Quanfu doesn't want to create a strong competitor for himself.
The two signed the contract in black and white.
Wang Zhong took another pile of wood from Wang Quanfu, which cost him three hundred yuan, and it was already a discounted price.
"Brother Wang Zhong, have we earned one thousand and two dollars now? Isn't this money too good to earn?" Ma Debao still couldn't believe it.
"How can there be only one thousand and two dollars? Last time I spent nearly 400 yuan just to buy wood, as well as money for paint and tung oil!"
"That's more than 700 yuan! Being a carpenter is so profitable!" Ma Debao said with emotion.
"It's only seven hundred yuan for more than half a month with your help. Isn't it a lot?"
Looking at Wang Zhong who looked casual, Ma De immediately said: "That's not much! That's more than seven hundred!"
"If I have your skills, I can earn more than 700 a month, not to mention half a month, and I will be satisfied!" Ma Debao said with a look of longing.
"You need to have some ambition to be a human being! More than seven hundred a month is nothing. From now on, if you earn seven thousand or seventy thousand a month, that's what you're capable of!"
"Seven thousand? Seventy thousand?" Ma Debao looked at Wang Zhong in shock: "This is too much, I dare not think about it!"
Wang Zhong said nothing, took out fifty yuan from his pocket and handed it to Ma Debao.
"Brother Wang Zhong, what are you doing?" Ma Debao quickly shrank back and took a few steps back.
"Your dividends!" Wang Zhong said: "You have worked hard this time. Take it, the Chinese New Year is almost here, buy some New Year's goods for your family and go back!"
There were faint tears in Ma Debao's eyes, flashing continuously: "Brother Wang Chong..."
"Okay!" Wang Zhong patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's been a long time coming to the city, we can't go back empty-handed!"
As he spoke, a playful chuckle suddenly appeared on Wang Zhong's face: "By the way, I'll bring back a gift for Mai Miao!"
Ma Debao's childish face was slightly red, and he lowered his head and did not dare to look into Wang Zhong's eyes.
"Thank you, Brother Wang Zhong!"
After a while, Ma Debao raised his hand to wipe away the tears that had not yet been shed, and said sincerely.
There was still wood on the cart, so the two temporarily placed the cart in the courtyard of Wang Quanfu's warehouse, while others were watching.
Wang Zhong led Ma Debao and ran directly to the store first.
"Have you decided what to buy for Mai Miao?"
Ma Debao shook his head and then looked at Wang Zhong: "Brother Wang Zhong, what are you going to buy for my sister Shuihua?"
"No!" Wang Zhong took down two bottles of hand cream from the shelf, "This is it!"
"What is this?" This was Debao's first time seeing this thing.
"It protects the skin. The wind is strong in winter. If you apply this, you can prevent the skin from frostbite and cracking to a certain extent!"
"My sister Shuihua has such good skin, she needs this product!"
"Or you are stupid!" Wang Zhong said: "The northwest wind in winter is like a knife blowing on people, not to mention women, even rough men like us feel uncomfortable when it blows."
"Then I'll bring a bottle to Mai Miao too! I'll bring a bottle to my mother too!" Debao immediately changed his mind: "And my aunt too!"
"Okay!" Wang Zhong said: "Just bring a bottle to Mai Miao. What your mother and your aunt lack now is not these. What they lack is food, meat, and fine white flour!"
"Good steel should be spent on the blade. You are different from me. Is this what your family is lacking now? Although it is your intention, your mother and others must be happy, but now for your family, buy more delicious food Yes, cut a few more kilograms of mutton and give it to your parents, your mother, and your aunt to recuperate, it’s nothing more important than anything else.”
Ma Debao's hand that he just stretched out froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face froze as well, and his expression became solemn.
He just wanted to run out because he was tired of the hard days of eating potatoes three times a day. But now that he has made money, the first thing he thinks about is not improving the life of his family, but these fancy things. Ma Debao suddenly felt a little guilty.
"Brother Wang Zhong, you are right! Good steel should be spent on the blade!"
"Debao, no matter what you do in the future, it's best to think twice before making any decisions, especially important decisions. Don't just think about it in a hurry."
"I remember!"
"Let's go! Go check out first, and then we'll go to the Five Zang Temple to reward you." Wang Zhong didn't help Debao pay, because it was a gift he bought for Mai Miao.
The two found a noodle shop and ordered two pounds of noodles and three pounds of mutton stew!
The stew is Yanchi Tan sheep, which is recognized as the best sheep in the country.
When Wang Zhong ate noodles, he had not developed the habit of eating garlic, but Debao only ate garlic as a snack.
Garlic has the effect of disinfection and sterilization. Eating more of it is beneficial to the body.
When the two went back, there were many more large and small bags on the wooden cart.
As soon as Wang Zhong unloaded the wood from the car, Debao, who was carrying things home, ran over again with a letter.
"Brother Wang Zhong, I have your letter!"
"My letter?" Wang Zhong wiped his hands, took the letter and saw that it was sent from Jiangcheng, and he knew it.
"The postman delivered it this morning, but since you weren't here, it was left at the village committee! My father collected it on his behalf."
"Okay, I got it, go back quickly!"
"I'll help you!"
"It's just these few pieces of wood, why do you need your help?" Wang Zhong pushed the person out and said, "Go back quickly!"
Wang Zhong unloaded all the wood from the cart, stood the cart up against the wall, washed his hands, and then opened the letter.
In addition to a piece of letter paper, there was also a remittance slip, more than a thousand yuan, and a manuscript fee of 100,000 words after tax. They were all written by Wang Chong when he was idle and bored at night. It was better than nothing.
After all, the manuscript fee is only a small part, and the publication is the big part.
After packing his things, Wang Zhong took hand cream, carried half a catty of mutton, a bag of fried cakes, and a bottle of wine, and went straight to Shuihua's house.
It was just in time for dinner, and smoke was rising from the chimneys of every house in the village.
Shui Hua was busy in the kitchen, and her father, Li Laoshuan, was sitting in the main room twisting hemp rope.
Seeing that it was Wang Zhong, Li Laoshuan immediately greeted him enthusiastically.
"Uncle Laoshuan!" Wang Zhong greeted Li Laoshuan with a smile.
"Ouch!" Li Laoshuan's eyes immediately lit up when he saw what Wang Zhong was carrying. He took the thing into his hand first and then said, "Come here as you come, what else do you need to bring!"
"I went to the county today and made some money by selling the cabinets I packed." Wang Zhong still had a smile on his face: "I bought some things by the way."
"Come in quickly, come in quickly!" Li Laoshuan's face almost burst into laughter!
"have you eaten?"
"Not yet, but it's already stewed in the pot. You can eat it when you get back!"
"Why are you going back? We just had dinner at your uncle's house. Just in time, let's try your wine!" Li Laoshuan was particularly enthusiastic.
"No need! I've done everything!"
Shui Hua also heard the sound and came out of the kitchen.
"Brother Wang Zhong!" As soon as he said hello, he saw something Li Laoshuan was carrying in his hand. He was about to say something when Li Laoshuan saw this but quickly said first: "Shui Hua, let me have a few words with you, Brother Wang Zhong first." , I’ll go back to the house and put things away!”
After saying that, without waiting for Shui Hua to answer, he turned around and walked into the house, for fear that Shui Hua would return the things to Wang Zhong.
"Brother Wang Zhong, it's too expensive!" Shui Hua was a little embarrassed.
“It didn’t cost a lot of money!”
Wang Zhong smiled and took out two bottles of hand cream wrapped in red paper from his pocket and handed them over: "Nuo, this is hand cream. When you use it, put a little on your fingers and wipe your hands and face. It can prevent frostbite. Cracked, the effect is pretty good!”
Shui Hua immediately shook her head, "This is too expensive, I can't have it!"
"What's so valuable!" Wang Zhong stepped forward, took Shui Hua's hand, put the thing in her palm, and said rather domineeringly: "This is something for the girl's family. If you don't accept it, why should I take it?" Can’t you give it to the old branch secretary?”
Putting something into Shui Hua's hand, their hands inevitably came into contact. Shui Hua felt her heart tremble and her mind went blank. She didn't notice that Wang Zhong was still holding her wrist.
"By the way, this thing has a shelf life. If it expires, it cannot be used. This thing is used in the same way as cream. Be sure not to break it. It will be really a waste."
"Okay, there's still something simmering on my pot, I'm leaving first!"
After admonishing, Wang Zhong let go of Shui Hua's hand, turned around and left.
Shui Hua stood in the courtyard, holding the two bottles of hand cream given by Wang Zhong in her hands. She came back to her senses, looked at Wang Zhong's leaving figure, took three steps at a time, chased to the door, and shouted: "Brother Wang Zhong !”
"What's wrong? Is there anything else?" Wang Zhong turned to look at Shui Hua.
The corners of Shuihua's mouth were raised, showing a smile: "Thank you!"
"Why are you so polite! Go back quickly, I'm leaving!" Wang Zhong waved his hand, turned around and started walking again.
However, Shui Hua still stood by the fence gate, watching Wang Zhong's leaving figure and watching him gradually go away.
