"This lard-mixed rice is so delicious. I'll buy another two jin of fatty pork belly today."
In the morning, they had lard-mixed rice made by Shen Xue. Steamed rice, a spoonful of lard, a dash of soy sauce, and some chopped green onions – the flavor was so good it made one lick their fingers.
Chen Yang even said he wouldn't buy fatty meat next time, but the lard residue and lard-mixed rice made from fatty meat were truly something that made him exclaim, "It's so good!"
Eating a few rich meals occasionally wouldn't be a problem. People in this era weren't like those in later generations; they generally didn't have much oil in their stomachs, so a few fatty meals wouldn't cause them to develop high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol.
"You, don't just think about eating."
"Today we've got almost eight large barrels. I see people from other villages have also brought their fish to our place. If we get any more, we won't have enough hands."
"Dad is busy with the house construction and can't spare any time. I say, let's do business first, and build the house later."
Chen Yang had discussed building a new house with Shen Xue yesterday. This was a big decision, and she had the right to make it.
Naturally, she was happy when Chen Yang said he wanted to build a house.
Who wouldn't want to have a home they built with their own hands? And Chen Yang was talking about building a brick-walled house with large tiles, which would be the first of its kind in the entire Shenjaba Village!
"Money can't be earned endlessly. We earn money to live a better life and build a good house. It'll be comfortable for us to live in, and if there's a strong wind or heavy rain, our house will leak everywhere."
"We adults are already tired enough. If Yan Yan catches a cold from it, how miserable that would be."
Chen Yang understood Shen Xue's thoughts. But reborn, didn't he just want to lead a good life with his wife and daughter? As long as he could make them happy, he wouldn't hesitate to spend any amount of money.
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
Listening to Chen Yang's words, Shen Xue felt a wave of sweetness. What woman didn't like being doted on by her husband?
People from nearby villages also brought fish. When weighed, Chen Yang had bought over 2,800 jin, not far from 3,000 jin.
For this reason, Wang Jianguo personally stepped forward and reported to the factory director of the food plant, increasing Chen Yang's purchase price by two fen per jin.
Don't underestimate these two fen. Three thousand jin of fish would bring in sixty yuan more, which was equivalent to a worker's salary for several months in this era.
"Xiao Chen, the purchase price I give others is six mao for big fish and four mao for small fish. You get an extra two fen, and it's easier for you to buy fish. You should buy more fish for me."
Wang Jianguo patted Chen Yang's shoulder in a friendly manner. This time, when he went to the city, the leaders of Qinghe City Aquatic Products Company had praised him in a public meeting.
He was also counting on Chen Yang to expand his fish procurement volume!
Heard that the Municipal Aquatic Products Company was vigorously purchasing fish to make canned fish for the city's cannery, which would be sold to foreigners to earn foreign exchange!
He also heard that relations with foreigners had eased, and the country was preparing to focus on the economy, earning more foreign money to improve the living conditions of the common people.
In such a situation, Wang Jianguo naturally wanted to make a great showing. A deputy director of the food plant was about to retire. Originally, as the last station master to join, his seniority was far inferior to other section chiefs and the director of the pork station.
However, now, if he did a good job, it was uncertain who would get the opportunity for promotion.
"Station Master Wang, please rest assured. I've mobilized several major brigades in the surrounding areas to fish. Although I haven't gone to all the brigades to collect, people from other brigades have also learned from me. I estimate that some people will be supplying the aquatic products station in the next few days.
But I'm not sure about their quality. You can rest assured about mine. I'll say it again, if you find any fish I sell to the aquatic products station is not fresh, you can hit my face with your shoe sole."
Although others were competing for business, in Wang Jianguo's eyes, this could be attributed to his own efforts. After all, Chen Yang couldn't stop others from buying fish.
But as long as Wang Jianguo knew that Chen Yang was the one who initiated it, that was enough.
"Xiao Chen, your ideological awareness is so high. I won't say empty words. As long as your fish arrive here, the aquatic products station will be the first to purchase them."
After communicating with Wang Jianguo, he received another 1,500 yuan. Chen Yang was already unfazed. After deducting the acquisition costs, his daily net profit was now almost a thousand yuan.
However, this aquatic products business wouldn't last long. According to what Zheng Weiguo and a few others had investigated for him, several large brigades around the Liuhe River had already started learning from him to buy fish.
The fishing season in the Liuhe River was short. After the summer flood season, there wouldn't be many fish. Chen Yang estimated that after another ten days to half a month of collecting fish, it would probably reach its peak, and the output of fish would certainly decrease later.
However, just this fish collecting business alone was a great opportunity in this era to create a millionaire.
The key was that with this seed capital, he could also try to find that prominent figure from his past life.
"Xue'er, the meat has been cut. You take Yan Yan home first, see if Dad needs any help, and settle the accounts for everyone. I have some business to attend to in the city."
Chen Yang pinched the chubby face of the baby. The little one had been noisy all the way, but perhaps tired from playing, she was sleeping soundly in Shen Xue's arms.
"I have the account book. The money left at home should be enough to settle the accounts. You don't need to give me money. Be careful, come back early after you finish your business. We'll have braised pork today."
Although Chen Yang hadn't said it, Shen Xue knew he must have something to do, otherwise, he wouldn't have asked her to take the baby home first.
"I won't be back for lunch. Just leave me a portion for me to taste when I get back tonight."
Chen Yang tied the rope of his donkey cart behind Shen Xue's donkey cart. There were no fish now, so the donkey cart wasn't heavy, and Shen Xue could manage it alone.
He was going to Qinghe City this time!
However, he didn't tell her for fear of her worrying. After all, Qinghe City was dozens of kilometers away from Liuhe County. It would take a long time to get there by donkey cart alone.
He needed to take a bus. He couldn't bring the donkey cart with him. If it was stolen without anyone to look after it, he wouldn't be able to explain it to Tu Tianzong.
Shen Xue didn't say much. When her husband was out on business, she never asked too many questions, just took good care of the home and the baby.
After bidding farewell to Shen Xue, Chen Yang, carrying the more than 1,500 yuan in cash from selling fish, along with a pack of Da Qianmen cigarettes and a bicycle coupon he had prepared long ago, arrived at the long-distance bus station in Liuhe County.
There weren't many buses in this era. Even for the route to Qinghe City, there were only two trips a day, one at eleven in the morning and another at three in the afternoon.
Chen Yang was fortunate that he hadn't delayed too much. If he had been any later, he would have missed the eleven o'clock bus.
"Comrade, one ticket to Qinghe City."
As he boarded the bus, Chen Yang looked at the ticket seller wearing a blue work uniform and a red armband, finding it a rare novelty. After all, in his previous life, he had a dedicated driver and a business sedan when he traveled. It had been a long time since he had experienced buying a ticket to board a bus.
"Qinghe City is fifty cents."
After taking the money from Chen Yang, the ticket seller stamped a red seal on a blank ticket and tore it off for Chen Yang.
The bus had a large package strapped to its roof. When it started, the whole vehicle shook alarmingly like a tractor, and a thick plume of black smoke billowed from the rear.
Chen Yang was afraid the car would break down halfway. However, the other passengers on the bus seemed unfazed. Some even deliberately stuck their heads out of the window to smell the exhaust fumes.
Chen Yang couldn't understand why anyone would like the smell. Inhaling too much of this stuff could cause cancer.
However, in an era where cars were rarely seen on the road, perhaps some people, to brag to their friends back home about having ridden in a car, would deliberately take a few breaths of exhaust fumes. Thinking of this, Chen Yang felt relieved.