novellhall Chapter 981 - 853: Who’s Ruthless
Chapter 981 - 853: Who’s Ruthless
After stocking up on rice, flour, coal balls, and wild game in the small courtyard in the county town, the couple dared not waste any time and sped back to Zhang Family Village.As soon as the car reached the village entrance, Aunt Zhang was huddled up and waving frantically at them.
"Aunt, why not wait at home? It’s windy out here."
Aunt Zhang lifted her thick scarf to reveal her mouth, "Xiao Wu, don’t go back yet, I need to talk to you."
Zhang Guoqing exchanged a look with Zhou Jiao at the words, without saying much, he pointed to the car’s back door, "Hop in first, Aunt, we can talk later."
Seeing she couldn’t open the door, Zhou Jiao got out of the car to help her.
"My two brothers at my maiden family smoked quite a lot of cured meat and sausages before the year ended, do you want some?"
Zhang Guoqing didn’t reply immediately, he glanced at Zhou Jiao and laughed, "Is there a lot? If it’s too expensive, I can’t afford it."
"You sly boy, still trying to play tricks with your Aunt. Just one or two hundred pounds, originally I wanted to ask your mom, but since you’re back now..."
"Thanks a lot, Aunt, such a good thing, how could I say no?" Zhang Guoqing knew the prepared items were intended for selling at a high price in the black market during next year’s busy farming season.
But fair is fair; he’s dealt with her two brothers before, knowing they wouldn’t make a deal unless there’s benefit on their part.
"I don’t have much money on hand now, so I’ll buy as much as I can, is that okay?"
"Sure. Discuss the price with them, don’t mind my face, we’re under strict inspection now. I’m worried those brothers might head to the black market again later, alas..."
Zhang Guoqing chuckled and said nothing. No wonder they sought him out; he recalled when their collective farming unit started, those brothers reported two pigs they secretly raised at a high price.
How much did they say back then? Four for cured meat, one and a half for live pigs. Wow, actually almost four times more expensive than the market.
If not for guaranteed food safety, they finally agreed on the transaction after lowering the price by half. Such sharp dealers, he really didn’t want to have dealings with them.
This time, Zhang Guoqing planned to have a look; if it’s expensive, he’ll take three to five pounds for his Aunt’s sake. If they’re sensible, he’ll buy all. Just in time for improving his three sons’ meals when the weather warms up.
Aunt Zhang’s maiden family inside Old Zhang’s family counts as having the best conditions, thanks to her two enterprising brothers’ occasional speculations, making the family fairly wealthy.
As the car approached their village, from afar he could see the half-brick, half-mud courtyard by the riverside, which is Aunt Zhang’s maiden family, the Gao Family. Of course, these Gaos aren’t descendants of Dream of the Red Chamber editor Gao E, purely local farmhouse lineage without even a scholar of medium rank.
Still, the two brothers are capable; currently, one is driving the ox cart at the team, the other is in charge of the warehouse.
Many times, Zhang Guoqing suspected there must be quite a few things in their production team stolen by these two brothers. Despite their honest-looking appearance, having dealt with them convinced him not to judge a book by its cover. Just like his Aunt, besides being clever, she seemed discreet, never taking advantage cheaply from anyone.
However, Zhang Guoqing still remembered his cousin Qingfeng once drunkenly bragged to him about his mother having lots of gold rings and bracelets.
Of course, he pretended not to hear it afterward, but it left him with an obsession. Since then, hoarding gold became his dream.
The car just parked at Gao Family’s door, immediately an elderly granny with wrinkles all over her face showed up, her expression changed drastically, shouting in surprise, "Shuanzi, quickly get your grandpa here."
Zhang Guoqing smiled apologetically at his Aunt. Two army vehicles suddenly stopping at someone’s door was indeed frightening; if he’d known, he’d have parked at the village entrance.
"No problem, I’ll get off first."
Once unfamiliar, now familiar, the clever Aunt Zhang already speaking while getting off the vehicle herself, "Mom, it’s me."
"Ah you, silly girl..." The old granny was about to scold a few words at her daughter, then suddenly saw the two young people getting off the vehicle and stopped, suspiciously gazing at Zhang Guoqing.
"Granny, don’t you recognize me? I used to come with Brother Qingfeng, you even gave me maltose..."
Before he finished speaking, Aunt Zhang laughed, "Mom, this is the elder son Xiao Wu from my second uncle’s family, remember? The most mischievous one, always following his grandpa..."
"Ah, how can I not recognize? Your old mom isn’t muddled yet. Haven’t seen for many years, no wonder you look familiar, just couldn’t remember at once."
"You joined the army? How could your mom bear it? Is this your wife? I remember, I remember earlier folks said Old Zhang’s family married a golden baby, it’s this girl, isn’t it, looks so pretty."
"Xiao Wu, come in with Jiao Jiao." Aunt Zhang quickly ushered her mother inside; if left to her, they could talk endlessly till nightfall.
"Old woman, why call me?"
"Dad, come inside first and talk." Aunt Zhang finished speaking, directing her nephew Shuanzi to call his dad and uncle back.
Several went into the main room, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gao Family came out delighted from the East Wing, went into the main room, and brought three bowls of sweet water.
At this time Zhou Jiao deliberately glanced at the other person, smiling at first then occasionally furrowing her brows and looking outside again while rubbing her palms restlessly against her trousers.
This seemed a bit suspicious.
She trusted Zhang Guoqing would notice it too.
The couple exchanged a glance, guessing trouble had come. However, since Aunt Zhang hadn’t mentioned it before them, they wouldn’t stupidly bring it up.
Soon, as their seats warmed up, Gao Laoda rushed home first, closely followed by Gao Laoer who sped up his pace to get inside.
The brothers’ hasty move indeed surprised Zhang Guoqing.
"Nephew, let’s talk outside. Nephew’s wife stay here for a while, we’ll be back soon."
Zhou Jiao nodded at Zhang Guoqing.
After a short while, the three loaded three big burlap sacks on the car, Zhang Guoqing then offered farewells to the two elder gentlemen, leaving his Aunt who was staying at her maiden family, as Zhou Jiao was brought back confusedly onto the car.
"What’s going on?"
"Here the production team’s three staff members have a harsh attitude, basically staying in the village all the time, eating and living with villagers. The Gao Family brothers worry if it’s their turn to host meals, they won’t be able to keep the goods, so they’re eager to sell."
Zhou Jiao knew there was more to come, waiting silently for him to continue.
"They say now once caught in the black market, regardless of buying or selling, all get life imprisonment. They claim not to want to earn that money, but it might not be true."
"The opening of farmers’ markets and trade fairs has hit the black market hard. I see they can’t sell at high prices even if they go to the black market, and inspectors are here guarding this place, they’re frightened."
Zhou Jiao nodded in agreement.
"Here’s over two hundred pounds of cured meat, you know how many pigs are needed? If their two brothers got caught, they’d struggle to explain even with a thousand mouths."
"You pressed the price?!" Zhou Jiao had no doubt he would take advantage of the situation. No matter how he changes, a shrewd dealer’s nature can’t change at the core.
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile, "I bought them all, of course, I had to haggle. Having dealt with them before, it went from four to two. This time they said two, I offered one."
Zhou Jiao laughed, covering her mouth.
"Later, for the uncle’s sake, added a dime. Honestly, I didn’t take too much advantage, these meats are just smoked, when spring comes, their weight will definitely decrease a lot when sold."
At the words, Zhou Jiao glanced sideways at him. Truly getting cheap and acting nice! If she wanted to sell, she wouldn’t need to hit the black market; back in Beijing, flipping it casually would be double the profit.