"Give, give."
"Ring ring ring."
…
Ji Huai walked aside, and a man in work clothes passed by him on a bicycle, ringing the bell and shouting, with a slightly anxious tone.
The streets were bustling with activity, mostly workers, and there were also people from nearby villages carrying baskets of vegetables to sell. He walked forward relying on his memory.
Along the way, people selling cakes, buns, and even various snacks on the roadside were all drinking hard.
He looked around and slowed down his pace. The proprietress of the shop next to him immediately asked enthusiastically, "We have snacks, steamed buns, and desserts. Can you come in and try them?"
Ji Huai shook his head and changed his direction of vision. In fact, he was eyeing the "Overseas Chinese Store" not far away, which sold many good things.
Everything that cannot be sold outside, especially imported goods, is available inside. Unfortunately, not everyone can enter this place. Not only do you have to spend money to buy things inside, but you also need "overseas remittance shopping vouchers" to purchase.
And this "overseas remittance shopping voucher" is already a rare thing. First, the overseas Chinese's family or relatives must send money to their family members in China. The country will issue corresponding shopping vouchers based on the amount of remittance, referred to as "overseas remittance voucher". Based on this The species specified in the coupon purchase are also strict. You can only buy less and no more.
When he passed by the "Overseas Chinese Store", he glanced inside several times. The entrance was very large and there were rows of merchandise, but there was no one there except the clerk.
The clerk was so bored that he yawned.
Ji Huai didn't stop either and continued walking forward with the basket on his back.
The purchasing station is very large and collects all kinds of things. He walked to the place where medicinal materials were purchased. There were many people there, and there was a queue in front of him. The man standing in front of him was thick and dark, holding a bag tightly in his hand.
Ji Huai didn't pay attention. He took out the agarwood wrapped in cloth from his backpack and walked forward.
"What is it?" the buyer asked the man in front of him.
"Chicken intestine wind." The man replied and asked, "How much is the purchase price per pound today?"
The buyer took it over and said, "Eleven dollars and eight."
"That's okay." The man was satisfied.
"Twenty-three and a half kilograms." The buyer counted, "Two hundred and seventy-seven yuan."
Before she finished speaking, Ji Huai's attention had been drawn and he was staring at the things that were poured out, a dried medicinal material that was yellowish brown in color. When there were only more than a hundred sewing machines, a day's work point for farmers working in the fields was only worth a few cents, and more than two hundred yuan could be considered a huge sum of money.
What kind of medicinal materials are there that are so expensive and so abundant
The man in front got a small stack of colorful bills, counted the money quickly, and then left after confirming it again and again. Not far away, a few men gathered around him, apparently sharing the profits.
"What about you, what are you selling?" the buyer asked Ji Huai.
"Agarwood." He handed it over.
The buyer quickly said: "It's four yuan and one cent today. Let's go to the weighing first."
"Well." Ji Huai stood aside and waited, still staring at the bag of medicinal materials, and asked doubtfully, "What medicinal materials was the elder brother selling just now? He actually picked so many, it was so profitable."
What kind of medicinal material is chicken intestine wind? He really hadn't heard of it, it was probably a local nickname, and he grew up in the city and didn't know these medicinal materials.
The buyer didn't look up, "It's Morinda citrifolia. They go to the mountains specifically to dig and sell them every few days. They are all doing side jobs."
Farmers only earn a few cents a day to work. People with some skills and connections are unwilling to do it, so they start side jobs. The so-called side business means that you pay a sum of money to the team every month, so that you can start your own business without having to work. Because the corresponding value of work points in each village is different, the money paid is also different.
It can range from dozens to hundreds.
"I asked why it looks so familiar. It turns out to be Morinda ji." Ji Huai smiled.
Morinda citrifolia is a traditional Chinese medicine that nourishes the kidneys, strengthens yang, lowers blood pressure and dehumidifies... You can also add some to the soup, which is delicious and good for the body.
Buyer: "Two point five taels, ten yuan and two hundred and fifty cents."
Ji Huai took the money ticket from her hand, thanked her and walked aside.
The few men just now had already divided the money, and there were several hoes specially used for digging soil beside them. They packed the money, packed it up, took the cloth bags and water, and left with the hoes.
"Morinda officinalis." These two words flowed between Ji Huai's lips and teeth. His eyes were deep in thought as he turned around and headed towards the black market.
At this stage, many things are generally not allowed to be bought and sold in other places except the buying station. Inspection teams will come every now and then, and if caught, they will be charged with speculation. Even so, some people will still take risks.
No, there are all kinds of things for sale on the black market.
"Tofu Tofu, sell tofu."
"Want some pastry? One pound? It's cheap."
"Just picked winter dates, fresh."
…
Ji Huai had never been to the black market, but he wanted to see what was available and shop around.
After walking around, most of them were grain. Only workers would buy these grains. The farmers in the village were self-sufficient and would not spend this money.
"Do you want book stamps?" A thin man came to him and asked him in a low voice. Seeing that he looked like a scholar, he added, "I also have book stamps, do you want them?"
Ji Huai really stopped when he heard the second half of the sentence.
Seeing his interest, Shouhou grinned and said, "The college entrance examination has resumed. The bookstores are very nervous now. It is said that there are many times more people applying for the exam next year than this year. I will give you as many book stamps as you want." How many bookplates can I get?”
"Do you have any overseas remittance coupons?" Ji Huai asked this instead.
Of course he knows how nervous the bookplate is. The more nervous he is, the less anxious he can be, otherwise he will be harvested by scalpers and take the opportunity to raise the price.
"Overseas remittance coupons?" Thin Monkey raised his eyebrows, thought for a moment, and asked, "Why do you want overseas remittance coupons? Don't you want book stamps? Take the college entrance examination, go to college, and eat national food after graduation!"
Overseas remittance coupons are rare, but they don't make much money when they resell them, because the coupons are equivalent to passes, and they are not worth the money when buying things, especially imported goods, which are generally not bought by ordinary people and few people need them.
"I have already passed the college entrance examination. I don't need it for the time being, so I just want to go to the overseas Chinese store to buy some food." Ji Huai said in an understatement, and then asked, "Do you have any?"
The thin monkey was startled at first, then looked at him up and down, "Yes, yes, I don't carry it with me now. Most people don't buy this."
Then, he asked Ji Huai to go back with him to get it. It doesn't matter if he can sell them, he has been acquiring them for a long time, and there are still many that no one wants.
Ji Huai actually followed.
On the way, the two also talked about the price. The denomination he wanted, Shouhou offered one yuan, but Ji Huai had no expression on his face and turned around and left.
"Hey, hey, eight cents, eight cents." After finally getting a deal, Shouhou hurriedly caught up with him.
Ji Huai still kept walking, "Forget it, I won't eat it, I will save it for buying in the state-owned supermarket."
"Seven hairs." Thin Monkey lost another hair.
The other party hasn't stopped yet.
"Sixty cents can't be any less. Brothers also need to eat, and the purchase price is still high. We can't lose money." Shouhou cruelly lost another cent.
"What's the loss? This thing is worthless." Ji Huai didn't bargain with him, "Forget it, it's only six cents."
Seeing how calm he was, Shouhou was about to mutter something, but swallowed it back, "It's not valuable, but it's also hard to get."
These coupons are rare and difficult for ordinary people to access. It costs money to go to overseas Chinese shopping malls, and most people will not go there to buy anything. For those who have overseas Chinese in their families, especially those in the village, even if they have this coupon, they don’t even need it, and the purchase price is extremely low.
Working abroad has a high income, so many people have smuggled abroad. Several villages near his hometown have become "overseas Chinese villages". Most of the men in his family have smuggled themselves to work, and they send money home during the holidays, so he has the skills. There are as many of these as you want, but they are hard to sell, so they are all given away as a favor.
Ji Huai followed Shouhou to an alley and waited at the intersection. After a while, the other party took out the "remittance coupon" and handed it to him.
"Everyone calls me Shouhou. You can come to me if you need anything in the future. I usually go to the black market in the morning, right at that intersection, near the old man selling tofu." Shouhou took the six cents he handed over and put it in his pocket.
"I want to buy some classics and read them. If I still want to buy them after a while, I will come to you to buy book stamps." Ji Huai put the tickets away and said nothing, but it was still a blank check.
He must show that he doesn't care, otherwise the scalpers will depend on the price.
The thin monkey nodded: "Okay."
Ji Huai walked out of the alley and went to the overseas Chinese store.
There are so many things in the store, and the shelves are filled with a dazzling array of products, including dried fruits, soy products, aquatic products, Chinese medicinal materials, cigarettes, liquor, soap... everything.
He walked all the way inside and soon reached the milk powder area.
"Sir, do you want to buy milk powder?" The clerk followed closely and pointed to the milk powder next to him, "This is made in China, but it is imported over there."
Domestic milk powder costs 5 or 6 yuan per can, while imported milk powder is more expensive, with many products costing more than 10 yuan. You know, the salary of an old worker now is only 70 to 80 yuan, and many workers only earn 30 to 40 yuan, 40 to 50 yuan a month, and farmers earn less than 10 yuan a month for work points.
"Where is the malted milk?" Ji Huai asked.
"This way." The clerk walked to another road and showed him the way.
A few minutes later, Ji Huai used the coupon he just bought and spent more than nine yuan to buy a can of malted milk, which was imported.
There are not many nutritional products nowadays, but malted milk powder is rich in nutrients, ready to drink, has a rich aroma and a good taste. Feng Qiaolan still misses the small cup she had when she was a child at her grandmother's house, so it would be perfect to buy this for her.
He sold agarwood for a total of 10 yuan and 25 cents. After buying "overseas remittance coupons" and malted milk powder, he still had 1 cent left in his hand.
The mung bean porridge sold on the street was just a cent a bowl. He stood there and forgot about it for a while, pursed his lips, and finally sighed silently, choosing to walk to the other side to buy candies for Feng Qiaolan.
Nowadays, candies are very cheap. You can buy 13 pieces for 1 cent. In a few decades, they will cost at least 50 cents each, and various colorings will be added.
After buying the candy, he started walking home.
Where is the car at this time? You have to walk on your own feet. He was delayed a lot just now. He didn't get back from the city until three o'clock in the afternoon. He probably wouldn't get home until after six o'clock.
I didn’t have lunch and I was hungry, so I could only speed up my pace.
The other end.
Mother Feng had been on tenterhooks all day long. Counting the time, she should be back at three or four o'clock. Seeing the sky getting darker and darker, her heart was in her throat.
I was busy preparing the meal, but I haven't seen Ji Huai come back yet, but I was worried to death, "What's going on? It only takes six hours to come and go, and seven hours to go at most. Why haven't I seen anyone yet?"
"Okay, how many times have I said it? Let's eat." Feng Dafeng was impressed by her words and walked to the table and sat down.
"Wait a moment." Mother Feng stopped him.
When it was around seven o'clock, she said to Feng Dafeng, "Did something happen to Ji Huai? How about we go find him? Why aren't you back so late?"
"Isn't there just one way back? What could happen?" Feng Dafeng had a sullen face and sat still.
Feng's mother had no choice but to ask Feng Qiaolan again, "Are you sure Ji Huai didn't take away the notice? Will he go home? When was it?"
I left at seven or eight in the morning. No matter how much I delayed, I'm back now.
"He didn't bring anything." Feng Qiaolan couldn't help but think about it after what she said.
"Do you want nothing more? Where is the university admission notice? Go look for it and see if it is still there." Mother Feng urged her and nodded after saying, "Yes, yes, you go find the notice. It’s already dark and we haven’t seen anyone yet!”
Feng Qiaolan: "Were you delayed on the way?"
She was worried that he would be in trouble if he couldn't see the road in the dark.
"What's the delay? Go find the notice." Mother Feng said and walked to their room. She felt that something must have happened, so she couldn't help but raise her voice, "I just said I couldn't let him go. What's this? "
Feng Dafeng looked outside the door. It gets dark early in winter, and it was already dark outside. His face became more and more tense. He picked up the bowl, but he had no appetite for eating.
"Mom." Feng Qiaolan frowned and stood up to stop Feng's mother, "I don't know where his admission notice is. Stop looking for it and wait a moment."
She didn't believe that Ji Huai would leave. He had been teaching her to study these days. The two of them were waiting to take the college entrance examination together next year. He also sold agarwood to buy nutritional supplements for her. Even if he didn't buy it, she would be very touched.
"What are you waiting for? If he won't leave, why is he still hiding the admission notice? What time is it now? If he doesn't come back, Ji Huai must have left." Feng's mother is cowardly and has feudal traditions. When it comes to this matter When she thought of Ji Huai leaving, she felt like the sky was falling. She looked at Feng Qiaolan with red eyes, her shoulders were shaking, and she said helplessly, "What should I do? Where should I find him?"
There was an uproar at home because of this incident some time ago, and she cried secretly for several days. Ji Huai refused to give in at that time and was determined to leave.
Nowadays, most women depend on their men for survival. There is no mainstay in the family, and several widows in the village have hanged themselves. To put it bluntly, if Feng Dafeng hadn't been there, the people in the village would have been exterminated and occupied their homes.
"Mom." Feng Qiaolan saw that she was getting more and more excited and refused to listen no matter what she said. She was at her wits end and her eyes were filled with tears. "Don't be excited. Can you please don't be excited? Ji Huai said he would come back."
"What if he doesn't come back? I shouldn't have let him go. I watched him leave this morning, and I felt something was wrong. Something really wasn't right." Mother Feng's face turned pale, feeling hopeless.
She was called a destitute by the villagers because she could not give birth to children. If Ji Huai left again, the villagers would think they were unlucky. How could their family survive
Especially today I heard that the two male educated youths from the next village left their wives and children and ran away. One went back to the city and the other went to college without getting a marriage certificate. After running away like this, who can find them
The wife of one of the educated youths jumped into the river with her child in her arms and died.
outside the wall.
Aunt Zhang, who came to borrow the ladder, happened to hear those few words, her eyes widened immediately, and she ran back quickly.
Ji Dahai and Ji Zhuang's father and son had just returned from taking a bath at the entrance of the village. She rushed in immediately, "Ji Huai ran away, and Feng Qiaolan's college student husband ran away!"
"Where did you hear that?" Ji Zhuang warned, "Don't talk nonsense about this."
"Who is talking nonsense? I heard it with my own ears. Cuixiang and her daughter were hugging each other and crying. Their house was in a mess. That college student really ran away!" Aunt Zhang said with confidence, "I'm just saying, people How could he still stay here with Feng Qiaolan after he was admitted to college? Who would know him after he went to college? He couldn't be found. He said at the beginning that he would not marry an outsider. Is it okay now? He wants children. If you give birth, your life will be ruined!”
Ji Zhuang was silent. He was the production team leader and had to pay attention to the impact of this incident. Recently, educated youths from several nearby villages had gone to college and left, causing a lot of trouble.
"How is Xiaolan?" Ji Dahai asked.
Aunt Zhang suddenly darkened her face and raised her voice, "Haidai, I'm warning you not to have any thoughts about her anymore. She is a married woman and is pregnant with a child. What are you going to do? What kind of yellow flower are you marrying? No eldest daughter? No matter how beautiful she is, she is now a shabby shoe, what is the difference between her and a widow?!"
"I'm just asking, and I said it's nothing. I'm not stupid, how can I raise a child for others?" Although Ji Dahai coveted Feng Qiaolan's beauty, he couldn't win over Aunt Zhang if he wanted to save face.
"I looked down on our family back then, and look, now I'm being punished!" Aunt Zhang said, and hurried out again. With such big news, she had to walk around, visit the house, and chat with everyone.
Feng family.
"Why are you crying?" Feng Dafeng looked at Feng's mother who looked like she was dying. He slammed the table and stood up with a straight face, "Are our Feng family members dead?"
Feng's mother was frightened.
"Eat!" Feng Dafeng picked up the bowl and said nothing.
Mother Feng didn't dare to make a sound and wiped her tears silently.
"Mom, please sit down and take it easy." Feng Qiaolan comforted her and stepped forward to support Feng's mother. She didn't think anything was wrong at first, but now she was filled with sadness due to Feng's mother's emotions, and she looked at the door without warning.
At first glance, it looked like nothing. When he was about to look away, Ji Huai's figure suddenly appeared. He was standing at the door, with a backpack on his back. He took it off and smiled at her, "I'm back."