sinovels Chapter 51 On the Eve of Opening
Chapter 51 On the Eve of Opening
Along the winding ridges between the fields, the flickering lights of torches and flashlights shimmered in the darkness.
There were also the excited shouts of children, the admonitions of adults, and the splashing sounds in the paddy fields.
"Mom, I have a big one here!"
"Slow down, slow down, don't tip the bamboo basket over!"
"There are lots of loaches here, come quick!"
Such conversations echoed across the fields. Zhang Dezhong, who had just returned from borrowing money from his brother-in-law with his wife Wang Guifen, naturally noticed the torches in the fields.
At first, he thought it was someone in the village rushing to harvest rice overnight, but the further he went into the village, the more he felt something was wrong.
Because he saw someone touching something in his field.
"What are they doing?" Zhang Dezhong frowned, stopped and looked into the field.
Wang Guifen also craned her neck to look, but she didn't understand what was going on.
Just then, a few boys walked towards us, each carrying a bamboo basket.
The group of young men saw Zhang Dezhong and his wife, but didn't even greet them, and hurried on their way.
Although these children are still young, they understand a very simple truth.
Zhang Beichuan and Zhang Dezhong have a grudge against each other. The two brothers had a falling out a few days ago. Now that Zhang Beichuan has given them a chance to make money, they naturally don't like Zhang Dezhong and his brother very much.
"Wait a minute," Zhang Dezhong called out to them, "What are you carrying?"
"Eel!"
"Eels? What are you doing getting those in my field?" Wang Guifen asked, somewhat displeased.
Seeing Wang Guifen's dark face, the two boys felt a little guilty. After hesitating for a moment, they still spoke up.
"Uncle Xiao Chuan is collecting eels."
"What?!" Wang Guifen's voice rose. "Zhang Beichuan accepts this kind of thing?"
She had lived most of her life and this was the first time she had ever heard of anyone paying to buy eels; in the past, no one wanted these things even when she gave them away.
The two boys didn't want to waste time arguing with them; they were eager to catch more eels in another field, so they turned around and left.
Zhang Dezhong was equally puzzled; did Zhang Beichuan have money to burn?
The two didn't take it too seriously, but when they reached the old locust tree at the village entrance, they heard several elderly people cooling off talking about it.
"Xiao Chuan is really capable. By doing this, every household can earn some pocket money."
"That's right, my grandson caught a whole fifteen pounds last night. Good heavens, I never dreamed that this stuff could sell for three yuan."
"I heard that Dequan went door-to-door this afternoon, telling our team that if they wanted to catch anyone, they could catch them all, as long as they were big."
Zhang Dezhong paused, pretended not to hear, and quickened his pace.
Because of what happened recently, Wang Guifen lost face. She was curious but too embarrassed to ask her in detail, but she did get the gist of it.
"Honey," she finally couldn't help but say, "how about... we let Jianjun and Jianhua go along to catch some tomorrow?"
Zhang Dezhong, who was walking in front, paused, turned around, and looked back with a complicated expression.
"I can't afford to lose face like that!"
"What do you mean by 'shameful'?" Wang Guifen lowered her voice. "It's about making money! Didn't you hear what Aunt Wang just said? Two cents per pound. How much money can you make in one night?"
"We just borrowed money from our eldest brother, sold some grain, and barely scraped together the rest. Given our current situation, every little bit helps!"
Zhang Dezhong fell silent. He knew it was the truth, but it still stung.
He was gossiped about behind his back, which made him lose face in front of the whole village. He even had to sell his family's grain. All of this was thanks to his younger brother who had returned from the provincial capital.
Now, he has to go to great lengths to curry favor with Zhang Beichuan, but he can't do that!
"We'll see!" Zhang Dezhong uttered three words and turned to walk home.
Wang Guifen watched his retreating figure, opened her mouth, and stomped her feet in anger.
Zhang Beichuan, who had come to the county town, was naturally unaware of these things.
The three Lan brothers, who were guarding the shop, rushed over to help Zhang Beichuan as soon as they saw him return.
"Looks like you made quite a lot today, probably around 200 pounds?"
After getting off the tricycle, Zhang Beichuan looked at Baoqiang and Lan Baojun, who were carrying buckets of water inside, and said to them.
"It weighs about 250 jin (125 catties), and it will probably weigh even more tomorrow."
Lan Baojun carried a bucket in his left hand and several chickens in his right, talking as he walked.
"With so much stuff going on, even if the tricycle can fit it all, can you manage pedaling hundreds of pounds of stuff into the city by yourself?"
Looking at Zhang Beichuan, who had stopped, Lan Baojun added, "How about I have Baoqiang or Baohong go with you tomorrow, so you can get familiar with the area first?"
It weighs 250 jin now, and with the eels needing water to keep their skin moist, a truckload will weigh over 300 jin.
Based on what Zhang Beichuan saw in the village this afternoon, tomorrow's shipment volume will be at least three hundred or even more.
With water added, the weight is indeed too much for one person to handle.
If someone is following him, how will he explain that friend who made it up out of thin air?
Zhang Beichuan hesitated for a moment, realizing he had to find a way to smooth things over.
"Baojun, your considerations make sense. I'll go to the city tomorrow and discuss it with my friend to see what to do. For tomorrow, let's just forget about it; you guys need to keep an eye on the shop."
Seeing that he insisted, Lan Baojun stopped trying to persuade him.
After putting away all the eels, Lan Baojun and the other two had to go back.
Their home isn't far from Beichuan Department Store, so there's no need for them to stay here all night. Zhang Beichuan is going to the city tomorrow, so they can just come early.
As Lan Baojun and his two companions emerged from the main gate, the door to Beichuan's supply depot was quickly closed from the inside.
In the dark alley not far away, a spark flickered on and off in the pitch-black night.
After seeing the person off, Zhang Beichuan looked at the water bucket in the yard, feeling a little hopeful for tomorrow.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking.
Lan Baojun and the others arrived, and they changed the water in the bucket for the eels and loaded it onto the tricycle.
"Brother Xiao Chuan, are you sure you don't need me and Bao Hong to go over there?"
Zhang Beichuan glanced at Lan Baoqiang, who looked somewhat worried, and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
"I've been to the city so many times, no problem. You guys just need to take good care of the shop with Baojun."
"Okay, Brother Xiao Chuan, take it easy."
Zhang Beichuan, who had just gotten on his tricycle, turned around and waved. He then disappeared at the end of the street. With a thought, he reappeared inside the Beichuan Seafood Shop, along with his tricycle.
After putting the eels into the fish tank and turning on the oxygenation and filtration equipment, he opened the roller shutter door, pushed the car to the parking area outside, and locked it.
The Baijia wholesale market is busiest around 2 or 3 a.m.
Market vendors and large catering companies all choose this spot to select the freshest goods.
During the day, most of the people who come to the market are private individuals.
Therefore, he doesn't plan to go back to his rented room tonight; he'll just spend the night at the shop.
The hard recliner was barely big enough to sleep in, but it wasn't very comfortable.
Zhang Beichuan had finally fallen asleep, but the increasingly noisy sounds outside made him sit up abruptly, his eyes still blurry.