Reborn in 1984, fishing and hunting in Jiangnan

Chapter 41

Chen Zheng weighed each of the four turtles one by one.

The eldest son weighed 8.2 jin, the second son 6.5 jin, the third son 5 jin, and the youngest son 3.4 jin.

In total, the eldest is 24.6 yuan, the youngest is 29.5 yuan, the oldest is 35 yuan, and the youngest is 10.2 yuan, for a total of 69.3 yuan.

Master Qian took out a calculator from his pocket, pressed a few buttons, counted out seventy yuan, and handed it over without even asking for change.

"Same as always, whole numbers, keep the change."

Master Qian picked up the turtle, then looked at the mandarin fish in the wooden bucket.

"Oh, you have mandarin fish too? Dongfeng Restaurant is short of mandarin fish right now."

Guests from the province specifically requested mandarin fish balls, but we couldn't find them anywhere for the past few days.

He weighed the two mandarin fish.

The large one weighed six jin, and the small one weighed four and a half jin. At two yuan and fifty cents per jin, the total was twenty-six yuan and twenty-five cents, and they gave me twenty-seven yuan.

Chen Zheng also lifted the lid of the eel bucket.

The eels were curled up in a ball in the bucket.

Master Qian's eyes widened: "You even managed to get eels?"

"You little rascal, you've turned Baiyang Lake upside down these past few days, haven't you?"

He squatted down, reached in and scooped up an eel, weighed it in his hand,

"These thicker ones weigh at least seven or eight ounces. At two yuan per pound, we'll take whatever we have."

The eels were poured out of the bucket, weighed, and weighed a total of over eighteen jin (approximately 9.5 catties). Let's say eighteen jin, that's thirty-six yuan.

Master Qian calculated the bill: turtle was seventy, mandarin fish was twenty-seven, and eel was thirty-six, totaling one hundred and thirty-three yuan.

He gave Chen Rong an extra five yuan to take the snails and clams he had brought, saying he would try them out as a new dish when he got back.

He counted out 133 yuan from his briefcase, then took out five more and placed them on top of the snail basket. The thick wad of banknotes was then placed in Chen Zheng's hand.

"Master Qian, this is too much."

Chen Zheng looked at the wad of cash in his hand and did a quick mental calculation; he realized he had given almost twenty yuan more than he should have received.

This is Master Qian doing a favor.

After all, the trade fair lasts for three days, and everyone wants the best deals.

"Here you go. I heard about your medical expenses last time, kid. It wasn't easy."

Master Qian picked up the large eels.

"You can set up a stall during these three days of the exchange meeting. If anyone asks, just say you are a supplier for Dongfeng Hotel. No one will dare to cause you any trouble."

If you can't sell anything before closing time, just bring it to the restaurant; I'll cover the loss.

After saying that, he picked up the turtle and mandarin fish and left. After taking a couple of steps, he turned back and added,

"Don't eat steamed buns for lunch, come to the restaurant, I'll ask the kitchen to reserve a table for you."

It was already fully light by now.

The number of people in the exchange center gradually increased, and people came and went in the corridors.

The sound of gongs and drums could be heard in the distance; it was the opening ceremony activities.

Someone was using a megaphone to announce, "Welcome, everyone!"

The tin shed was baking in the sun, and it was starting to get quite hot.

Chen Zheng asked Chen Rong to arrange the fish one by one.

The crucian carp are arranged in three rows according to size, with the largest being the size of a palm and the smallest being three fingers wide.

The bream are arranged in a row, all weighing around seven or eight ounces, and are of uniform size.

Chen Rong arranged the fish heads carefully, making sure they all faced the same direction, making them look neat.

The first customer arrived as soon as the items were set up. It was a middle-aged woman carrying a shopping basket.

Wearing a floral shirt, her basket was full of vegetables, with the green leaves sticking out.

She stopped, picked up a crucian carp, turned it over to look at it, and asked, "Young man, how much are these crucian carp?"

"Nine cents a pound."

"Nine cents? That's expensive. It only costs seven cents at the market."

Chen Zheng pried open the fish gills to show her.

The fish's gills were bright red, as if they had just been pulled out of the water.

"Auntie, look at these gills, they're so bright red. Those cheap ones at the market that cost seven mao, if you break them open, their gills are all white."

Live fish and dead fish are the same price, you can buy mine.

The middle-aged woman looked through them again, hesitated for a while, and then picked out two. She weighed them and they weighed 1.8 jin (approximately 0.5 kg) for 1.62 yuan.

She took out a wallet wrapped in a handkerchief, counted out a string of small bills, and handed it over.

After that, there was a constant stream of people in front of the stall.

An old man wearing a straw hat bought two bream, saying he would braise them when he got home.

A middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit squatted down and spent a long time picking and choosing before buying a crucian carp and a bream.

A young woman holding a baby bought a crucian carp, saying she would make soup to help her baby produce milk.

There was also a man who looked like a restaurant purchasing agent who picked out five crucian carp in one go.

They said it was urgently needed by the restaurant.

The most lively time was around 10 a.m., when vendors from several neighboring stalls came over to watch the excitement.

On the left is a woman selling dried goods, and on the right is an old man selling mountain products.

There's also an elderly couple across the street selling free-range chickens and eggs.

The woman selling dried goods, surnamed Deng, was in her forties with permed hair. She worked at the town's supply and marketing cooperative for many years.

The old man who sells mountain products is surnamed Guo, and his home is in the mountains on the outskirts of the county town.

The stall displayed dried mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and daylily buds.

The elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Sun, who sell free-range chickens, are from Zhaojiadu, which is only a dozen miles away from Lutang Village.

Looking at the constant flow of people in front of Chen Zheng's stall, Sister Deng clicked her tongue in amazement: "Young man, your fish are selling so fast!"

I just counted, you've sold several this morning, while I've only made two sales of dried goods.

"Good quality and fair price, naturally they sell quickly."

Grandpa Guo spoke slowly, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

"I've been setting up my stall here for years, and I've never seen a fishmonger so efficient."

You've got a knack for business, young man. Does your dad sell fish too?

"My dad fished his whole life," Chen Zheng replied while giving change to the customer.

"What's your name? Which village are you from?"

"Chen Changhe is from Lutang Village, and he is the third oldest in the village."

Grandpa Guo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said he had no recollection of it.

But then Old Sun's wife suddenly chimed in, saying that she had heard her father mention such a person.

Nanwan was famous for catching mandarin fish, but it seems they stopped doing it much later.

Chen Zheng smiled but didn't respond.

As noon approached, the exchange meeting reached its most lively moment.

The sounds of microphones, gongs and drums, vendors' shouts, and haggling mingled together at the opening ceremony.

The entire exchange center was like a boiling pot.

A middle-aged man in a white shirt stopped in front of the stall.

He squatted down, picked up a crucian carp and looked at it, then picked up a bream and looked at it.

Then he stood up, took a business card from his briefcase, and handed it to me. "My name is Guo Changlin, I'm from the provincial capital."

I run a seafood business in the provincial capital, and Old Zhou from your county's seafood company mentioned you to me.

Chen Zheng took the business card. It was white with black lettering, bearing the name Guo Changlin, manager of the Provincial Capital Jianxin Aquatic Products Trading Company.

Below is the address and phone number.

He turned the business card over; the back showed the scope of business.

We sell freshwater fish, soft-shelled turtles, eels, loaches, and snails, both wholesale and retail.

"Manager Guo, did you find out about my turtle-selling business from Master Qian?" Chen Zheng asked.

Guo Changlin smiled and said, "Master Qian called me yesterday and said you have turtles here, they are of good quality and reasonably priced."

When I came here today, I saw that what my friend said was indeed correct.

Those turtles of yours are of excellent quality, with thick edges, perfect color, and no injuries.

He glanced at the almost empty fish basket behind Chen Zheng, "But it looks like the turtles are all sold out."

"The turtles were all bought by Chef Qian from Dongfeng Restaurant. You know Chef Qian; you should know he's quick to act."

Guo Changlin laughed heartily and switched the briefcase to his other hand.

"Old Qian is like a gold ingot when he sees a soft-shelled turtle; nobody can take it from him."

He put away his smile and said seriously, "Boss Chen, I can understand that the turtles are no longer available, but if you want to supply them on a long-term basis, we can discuss a long-term cooperation."

The provincial capital has a very high opinion of the fish in Baiyang Lake, especially the crucian carp and bream.

"A pound of this quality could sell for over 1.5 yuan if you took it to the provincial capital."

"Manager Guo, when do you mean 'later'?"

Chen Zheng was mentally calculating when the fish from the pond would be ready for harvest.

The first batch of adult fish, weighing around 2,000 jin, is expected to be harvested by the end of the year

"That depends on how much you can supply. If it's a small quantity, we can take it anytime."

If the quantity is large, we can sign a contract and set a delivery schedule.

He took a printed sample contract out of his briefcase.

The sales contract was standard, stamped with their company seal, the paper was crisp, and the smell of ink hadn't completely dissipated.

Chen Zheng took the contract and flipped through it; the terms and conditions were clearly written.

The purchase price will fluctuate with the market, but there is a guaranteed minimum price.

The requirements for condition were also detailed.

The fish scales must be at least 90% intact, and the weight of a single crucian carp must be no less than half a catty (250 grams) or a bream no less than six taels (300 grams).

He silently reviewed the projected fish yield, quality, and price of the fishpond at the end of the year:

"I can supply the first batch of goods by the end of the year. Mainly crucian carp and bream, about two thousand catties."

Their condition won't be worse than these today.

Guo Changlin's eyes lit up, and he took out a fountain pen from his briefcase.

"Two thousand catties? Did you raise them yourself or catch them from the lake?"

"We raise them ourselves. We just dug a fishpond, more than three acres in size, and stocked it with 1,200 fish fry. They will be ready for harvest at the end of the year."

"Home-raised animals are the best!"

Guo Changlin removed the pen cap.

"Fishing depends on the weather, while fish farming ensures a long-term supply."

What our company needs most are stable farmers.

After your fishpond produces fish, I'll buy half of them.

The price is based on the provincial capital's wholesale price, and a one-year contract will be signed.

He quickly added several supplementary clauses to the contract template and wrote down a minimum price.

Crucian carp is 1.2 yuan, bream is 1.3 yuan, grass carp is 1.2 yuan, and black carp is 1.5 yuan.

Chen Zheng took the contract and read it through from beginning to end.

The terms were fine, and the guaranteed minimum price was reasonable. He handed the contract to Chen Rong to keep.

"Manager Guo, I'll keep the contract for now."

Before the fish are harvested at the end of the year, I'll take them to the county aquatic products company to verify with Lao Zhou. If there are no problems, we'll sign the contract.

Guo Changlin nodded and put the pen back in his pocket.

"You are quite reliable in your work."

If you still have any high-quality turtles or eels before the end of the year, give me a call. There are people in the provincial capital who will buy them at any price.

He glanced at the almost empty fish basket behind Chen Zheng, then put the contract sample back into his briefcase.

"I won't disturb your business any longer. See you at the end of the year."

As soon as Guo Changlin left, Sister Deng from the next stall came over with an enamel mug and asked the man if he wanted to order two thousand catties of the liquor.

Chen Zheng nodded in agreement, saying that it was too early to sign the contract.

Sister Deng clicked her tongue twice and said that she had been running a stall for several years and this was the first time she had ever seen a boss from the provincial capital take the initiative to sign a contract with a rural vendor.

"You're quite something, young man."

As she spoke, she leaned forward again and asked,

"Which village is your fishpond in? Lutang Village? My family home is in Lutang Village!"

"Are you from Lutang Village? What's your surname?"

"My surname is Liu, my father's name is Liu Mancang, and my brother's name is Liu Baldy. Do you know him?"

Chen Zheng paused for a moment, then laughed.

"Liu the Bald is my uncle. His son, Liu Jiawang, is my classmate."

"Jiawang? Those cross-eyed eyes of his..."

Sister Deng gestured in front of her eyes, then burst into laughter.

"They really are family!"

I used to hold Jiawang when he was little. He had cross eyes, so he looked at everyone crookedly, but he was more honest than anyone else.

How has he been lately?

"He's doing great. He stays home reading every day and even tries to draw maps on his own."

Sister Deng sighed and pushed the stack of wood ear mushrooms aside.

"It's a pity about Jiawang. Tell him later that if he still wants to study, he should come to me."

"I've worked at the supply and marketing cooperative for so many years, and I know a few teachers in the county. Maybe I can help him find a solution."

She took a piece of paper out of her pocket, wrote down the supply and marketing cooperative's phone number, and said, "This is my phone number. Tell Jiawang to come find me."

Around 2 p.m., a middle-aged man wearing blue overalls appeared at the other end of the passageway.

He was pushing a handcart filled with cardboard boxes, which were sealed tightly with tape.

He pushed the cart while looking around.

This man, surnamed Ding, is a purchasing agent for the county supply and marketing cooperative. He is responsible for supplying goods to the canteens of government agencies and factories in the county.

He stopped at several fish stalls, squatted down to take a look, and left without saying a word.

Some stall owners approached him, but he just shook his head and left.

When he got to Chen Zheng's stall, he glanced at the small crucian carp that remained in the basket.

The ones in good condition were all picked, and what's left are smaller and of average quality.

"Young man, your fish isn't good quality anymore. Why didn't you come sooner? All the good ones have been taken."

Director Ding's tone was somewhat disdainful.

Chen Zheng wasn't annoyed. He pulled a bamboo basket covered with burlap from under the cart.

He reserved a basket in advance, specifically for dealing with such large clients.

"There's still one basket left; it wasn't put out this morning."

He lifted the burlap sack.

The lotus leaves were a vibrant green, and the crucian carp were neatly arranged, each about a pound in size.

The fish had bright red gills, clear eyes, and a powerful tail; it was clearly caught fresh from the lake that morning.

Director Ding's expression changed immediately.

He squatted down, picked up a crucian carp, examined it from all angles, pried open its gills, and brought it close to smell it. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Are all of these for sale, or are they just on display?"

"For sale."

Director Ding put the fish back, stood up, and clapped his hands. "I'll take them all."

The county supply and marketing cooperative supplies goods to the government canteen. Your quality is good enough.

He pulled a notebook from his work clothes pocket, opened it, and found it filled with densely packed purchasing records.

"How many kilograms do you have in total?"

Chen Zheng weighed the fish in the bamboo basket one by one. There were fifteen crucian carp and eight bream, totaling more than nineteen catties.

Director Ding quoted the market price: one yuan per jin for crucian carp and one yuan and two jin for bream, totaling a little over twenty-one yuan.

He counted the money and handed it over, then had Chen Zheng write a receipt and affix his personal seal.

Before leaving, he took a business card out of his work clothes pocket.

Unlike Guo Changlin's, this one was earthy yellow, with simple lead type and the red seal of the supply and marketing cooperative.

"If your fishponds in Lutang Village are ready to harvest fish by the end of the year, call me in advance."

The government canteen is holding a year-end banquet, and they're using a lot of fish.

Director Ding placed his business card on the fish basket and pushed the cart away.

Chen Zheng carefully put the business card away.

This line is different from Guo Changlin's.

Guo Changlin deals in wholesale in the provincial capital, where the volume is large and the prices are high, but the business is unstable.

Director Ding supplies goods to the county in small quantities at average but stable prices.

Walking on two legs is always better than walking on one.

Around 3 PM, Mr. Qian came again.

This time he didn't bring any turtles. He walked over empty-handed, with a cigarette between his fingers, and stopped in front of the stall. He looked at the almost empty fish basket and smiled.

"I told you you'd sell them all. On the first day of the trade fair, I was worried you wouldn't know where to start since you were new here."

Now it seems that all of that was unnecessary.

He handed Chen Zheng a manila envelope. "Take this."

Chen Zheng opened the envelope.

Inside were free admission passes for the remaining two days of the trade fair, several tickets stamped with a red seal.

There was also a temporary access pass for the kitchen of Dongfeng Hotel, with Chen Zheng's name on it and the hotel's official seal.

Valid for three months.

"Take this pass. From now on, when you deliver fish, you don't need to go through the back door. Just come directly into the kitchen and find me."

"It's valid for three months. Contact me again after three months to renew," Mr. Qian added.

"Those bosses from the provincial capital, if you have any good stuff, give it to me first. I can offer the same price as them."

"Don't worry, Master Qian. I'll reserve the best cuts for you: soft-shelled turtle, mandarin fish, and eel."

Master Qian nodded, patted Chen Zheng on the shoulder, and turned to leave.