After sending off the "one-on-three-rebellion" team who had lived in the village for more than four months, it was time for the summer wheat harvest. This was the second summer harvest since he returned to the village on National Day. The situation of him fainting in the wheat field due to heatstroke last year was still vivid in his mind. Every time he thought of this, National Day couldn't help but feel a little ashamed of his fragility and student-like attitude at that time. But this year was different. He felt that he was already a standard farmer. He went out of the pen (digging the manure in the livestock pen), carried the manure, plowed the ground, raked the ground, reaped the wheat, fanned the field (fanned the wheat in the yard), and carried the sacks. What kind of hard work had he not done? He hadn't tried driving a cart or planting wheat, but that was too professional. It wasn't something that could be done with just strength. Besides, he didn't have the chance to try it! This year, he planned to go to the market to nail a good sickle called "Wang Yimo"(a famous wheat sickle) before the summer harvest. He would come back and sharpen it well. When the wheat was cut into the longest plot in the field, he would definitely compete with them.
However, what he did not expect was that at the member meeting before the summer harvest, Captain Chen Baoxing arranged for him to run a canteen for everyone this year and was also responsible for delivering water and food to the people harvesting wheat. When Baoxing announced the division of labor at the member meeting, he first said to him,""National Day, you're also the brigade's accountant this year, so you'll have more chores to do. If you also harvest wheat and go to the fields, where will the brigade find you if something happens? During these days when you are harvesting wheat, you should lead a few women to run the canteen of our team well and deliver the food and boiled water to the fields in time. In this way, the harvesting of wheat and work will not be delayed.”Baoxing was indeed worthy of being the captain for many years. He was quite thoughtful. There was nothing to say on National Day, so he could only obey.
During the wheat harvest season, in order to make it convenient for the members to eat and save time, the team had to set up a canteen every year. The team provided stir-fried vegetables and rice soup for free, and steamed buns were collected with steamed bun tickets. The chefs in the canteen were basically fixed. They were always the same few people. They were all women in their fifties who were quite famous for cooking and managing the family. They were very efficient and worked hard. The food tasted good, but the most important thing was that they had good character and were not narrow-minded. The members trusted them and were not afraid that they would secretly take the white buns and meat dishes in the canteen back to their own homes when no one was around.
Green Pine Ridge was located in the front of Zhongtiao Mountain on the Yellow Plateau. The annual wheat harvesting was around June 1st in the solar calendar. Before the horses arrived, the food and fodder had to go first. The canteen was always cleaned up before the wheat harvest. This year was the first year of the National Day celebration. He was afraid that if he didn't do a good job, everyone would complain, so he was in a hurry to prepare. However, Vice-Captain Cheng Wa said,"I'm not busy. What are you in a hurry for?" It is often said that in April the grain is cut in half, and in May the grain is put on the sickle. This year is the third day of May, and the sickle will only be placed in May! The third day of May was June 6th in the Gregorian calendar. There were still a few more days. What was the hurry?”
"What kind of logic are you talking about? The May Grain Sowing is later than the April Grain Sowing? Is it upside down?" Guo Qing asked curiously.
"You see, this is really strange. Go back and take a good look at your family's calendar. As long as it's the April Grain in Ear of the lunar calendar, it must be at the end of May of the solar calendar, and the May Grain in Ear of the lunar calendar must be at the beginning of June of the solar calendar.”
Later, he went home on National Day and looked at the calendar. It was really as Cheng Wa had said. He thought for a long time before he understood that it was because the lunar calendar had leap months. Don't look at how illiterate he is, but he has a lot of experience. You have to admire him.
This year was the third day of the fifth lunar month. They were busy, so they planned to go to the city to sell vegetables on April 28th. On that day, he gathered the five chefs early in the morning on National Day and held a meeting to discuss the canteen this year. He arranged for them to clean up the temple, then clean up the pots, stoves, and chopping boards. He and the vice-captain, Zhang Chengwa, went into the city to buy vegetables.
There was only one market day left before the wheat harvest. There would definitely be a lot of people at the market, and there would definitely be a lot of people buying and selling all kinds of wheat harvesting tools. Guo Qing felt that he had too little experience in this area, so it would be safer to call Brother Cheng. Coincidentally, Cheng Wa said," I told Brother Baoxing a few days ago that I'm going to buy a few more bundles of wheat rope for the team and a few mulberry branches for the yard this year. These must be done at this fair. Since we still have to buy groceries, let's catch up. I might as well catch up with the big cart, which saves a lot of trouble.”
The market day was really big today. The people on the streets were crowded and couldn't move. It wasn't until 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon that he bought all the vegetables, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar he wanted to buy. When he loaded everything into the cart, National Day realized that even a simple thing like buying vegetables would be difficult to deal with without Cheng Wa's help.
Before leaving, Guo Qing first met with the head chef of the canteen, Second Aunt Wang. He told her the types and quantities of the things he needed to buy, and then wrote them down on a list. Second sister-in-law Wang instructed him," Guo Wa, be sharp-eyed when you go to the market. You must look for good dishes that are cheap. According to the food standards set by Baoxing, you have to spend less money and give everyone good food. We don't dare to let the club members have any opinions about us.”Guo Qing nodded repeatedly. However, he did not know the price of various vegetables on National Day. He was even more uncertain if he could buy good quality and cheap vegetables at the market.
After entering the city, Guoqing took out the menu again. He glanced at it and saw that the number of lettuce required was the largest. Therefore, as soon as he entered the street, Guo Qing stopped in front of a stall selling lettuce. He looked at the fresh leaves of the lettuce and the thick and strong roots. He asked,"Comrade, how much are your bamboo shoots?"
"One hair!"
"It's too expensive. Make it cheaper!"
"Then how much do you want?"
"Eight points."
"Alright, how much do you want?" The stall owner immediately picked up the scale to weigh the dishes for National Day.
At this moment, Cheng Wa rushed forward and asked,"8 points? Is it a catty or a stick?"
"This person! Only 8 points per stick? It seems that you don't really want it. How can you buy vegetables like this?”The stall owner threw the scale on the stall and looked elsewhere, a little unhappy.
"Eight cents per catty. Don't you think it's too expensive? Let's go and take a look." Cheng Wa pulled National Day away.
After leaving the vegetable stall, Cheng Wa complained about National Day."If you don't go to a few more shops and look at the market price, you'll suffer a huge loss if you bargain with others at will! You still have to watch me."
As he spoke, he came to a lettuce stall. The vegetables were also fresh and thick. This time, Cheng Wa went up to talk to him."Buddy, how much are the bamboo shoots?"
"Nine points!"
"Aiya, that's too expensive. If you sell it honestly, it'll be 5 cents!”
"Good buddy, if you go to the place to pull it, it'll still cost 6 points. Why don't you ask? Look at them. The lowest price is 7 points.”The stall owner pointed at the other shops. He took a look at them on National Day. The dishes in those shops were indeed not that good. They were thin and long. They were the kind of bamboo shoots that people said. Guo Qing was a little hesitant. He felt that if he wanted 9 points, he could close the deal with 8 points.
At this moment, Cheng Wa spoke again. He said,"Then let's give it seven points."
"No, at least 8 points. Otherwise, you can look elsewhere.”
"I've already seen the dishes. I want them because I know they're good. My brother is marrying a guest, so why would I want dried bamboo shoots? Buddy, I want more.”
"How much can you ask for?"
"100 pounds!"
"Alright then, we'll do as you say. We can't pick and take them one by one.”
"Alright!" Cheng Wa's hands were really fast. As he spoke, he picked up the slightly yellowish leaves and peeled them down. The stall owner was anxious and shouted,"Stop peeling the leaves. If you peel them again, I won't be able to sell them. We agreed on it, but you're picking and picking and still peeling the leaves!”
Just say it, pretend it, pretend it. By the time he finished speaking, Cheng Wa and Guo Qing had already filled up three snakeskin bags. They weighed them and found that they didn't like them (slightly less). The stall owner was looking for a smaller one to put on, but Cheng Wa said,"Alright, alright. It's enough to put these two together.”As he spoke, he had already pinched two thick bamboo shoots in his hand, weighing three to four pounds.
The stall owner said anxiously,"It's only missing a full bowl. The one you took isn't even three or four catties?" No, there are too many."
"Not much, not much. As long as you're nice, I'll buy your bamboo shoots next time.”As he spoke, he carried the snakeskin bag and walked far away with two bamboo shoots in his hands.
Guo Qing felt embarrassed and lowered his head to pay for the food. He heard the stall owner say,"Who is he to you?"
"My brother," Guo Qing said as he took out his money.”
"Aiya, your brother is so shameless. It's for you to get a wife, right? I'm not going to say anything else. Consider it a gift for you!”Guo Qing's face turned red when he heard that. He took out the money and picked up the remaining two bags of vegetables. He quickly caught up with Cheng Wa and said,"For a few bamboo shoots, you're too much.”
"What's wrong? These vegetable sellers are all like this. One catty is one or two cents cheaper, but our vegetables are only one or two yuan cheaper. You can't be too honest, and you can't say that we're buying vegetables for the team. As long as those people hear that we're buying them collectively, they won't be able to control the price at all.”
"Brother Chengwa, I'm really impressed by you!”
They walked around for half a day and bought all kinds of vegetables, mulberry branches, and wheat ropes. It was already three or four o'clock in the afternoon. They loaded the things they bought into the cart and sat in front of a food stall on the street. They took out the dry bread from the bun bag and prepared to drink a bowl of mutton chop. Before Guo Qing sat down, he looked around. He was afraid that someone familiar would see him. He felt that it was a little embarrassing to sit there and eat.
After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Cheng Wa hurriedly paid 60 cents. Guo Qing asked,"By right, we are on a business trip today, so everyone should receive a subsidy of 30 cents. Go back and write a note, and I will reimburse us.”
"Forget it. None of the members came today. We're both cadres, so it's hard to say. Besides, we still need subsidies to go shopping? The club members would raise their opinions if they knew. Forget it!"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]