novelslam Chapter 8 Dealing with Old Wine
Chapter 8 Dealing with Old Wine
"Officer Lu."
Lu Ya turned to look at him, her eyes questioning.
"Officer Lu." Zhang Beichuan strode forward and leaned closer. "You've helped me so much today. I'd like to treat you to a meal in a few days to thank you."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ya immediately waved her hand.
"No need, no need. It's our duty to help people solve their problems."
"It's your duty to do it, and it's my way of showing my gratitude," Zhang Beichuan said in a low but natural voice as he followed her out.
"It's rare to see a police officer as capable as you. With people coming and going in the lobby, you can handle your business while simultaneously keeping an eye on everything around you. Your professional skills and observational abilities are simply amazing!"
Lu Ya looked at his raised thumb and was amused by his slightly exaggerated praise, which made her lips curl up slightly, but she quickly pursed them back.
Then, Zhang Beichuan said something else.
"Officer Lu is not only beautiful, but also a model public security officer who is just as capable as any man. I don't mean anything by it, I just want to get to know her."
Lu Ya was amused by the sincerity in his tone and the just-right amount of flattery.
"You certainly know how to talk. Now that we're acquainted, aren't we?"
"I've really hit the jackpot today, to meet Officer Lu as a friend." Zhang Beichuan grinned, then smoothly changed the subject, "If I run into you again next time I come to get my ID card, that would truly be fate!"
"I'm basically here." Lu Ya smiled and shook her head, assuming he was just being cheeky. "Let's hurry up, or we'll miss the bus."
Zhang Beichuan and Lu Ya were chatting and laughing, which was quickly noticed by the stalker.
He couldn't help but wonder, could this kid have connections in the police station?
The idea popped into his head, and the young man looked at Zhang Beichuan and his companion walking together, and the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Watching the two figures walk further and further away, he couldn't help but spit out a curse.
"Damn it, we've run into a tough nut!"
After saying that, he turned and left the police station, intending to tell his older brother Zhao Xueming about the situation, lest he end up in jail instead of getting the money.
Upon reaching the station entrance, Zhang Beichuan solemnly bowed slightly to Lu Ya.
"Thank you so much, Officer Lu. You're busy, I'll head back now—next time I come to the county to get my ID card, I'll bring you some local specialties from our area."
This statement was neither overly intimate nor did it leave an open and legitimate reason for them to meet again.
Of course, this wasn't lust at first sight; rather, Zhang Beichuan figured that if he wanted to survive in the county town, he first needed to use someone else's coat as a cover.
Lu Ya was amused again by his earnest yet slightly naive appearance and waved her hand.
"Alright, alright, stop joking around. Get in the car and be careful."
Zhang Beichuan picked up his canvas bag, turned around, and boarded the bus, waving to Lu Ya through the window.
Upon receiving the news, Zhao Xueming was also unsure if such a coincidence was possible. In addition, he couldn't bear to part with this easy target. As soon as he arrived, he saw Zhang Beichuan waving goodbye to Lu Ya in the crowd.
The car started slowly, and Zhang Beichuan leaned back in his seat and let out a soft sigh.
He not only shook off his tail, but also left an impression on Lu Ya, and incidentally made the person keeping watch think that he had acquaintances in the Public Security Bureau, so no one should cause trouble for a while.
After getting off the bus in Longmen Town, Zhang Beichuan didn't rush back. Instead, he went to the town's building materials station to inquire about building material prices.
「青砖6分/匹、红砖4分/匹、瓦3.5分/匹、河沙2.5元/方、水泥80元/吨、石灰60元/吨。」
After finishing speaking, Chen Jun, the person in charge of the building materials station, smiled and took out a cigarette from his pocket. "Young man, how big are you planning to renovate your house? You can tell me, and I'll help you calculate how much it will cost."
Zhang Beichuan took the cigarette, casually took out a lighter and lit it, thinking to himself that at least six rooms plus a pigsty or something would be enough.
This casual action surprised Chen Jun greatly, who looked at the lighter in Zhang Beichuan's hand with envy.
"Hey bro, where did you buy this lighter?"
"Bought in the county town." Coming to his senses, Zhang Beichuan quickly lit a lamp for him and changed the subject, "Then I'll trouble you to help me calculate how much materials and how much it will cost for six rooms plus a pigsty and a cowshed."
Upon hearing that such a large house was to be built, Chen Jun's eyes lit up.
"Alright, alright, please sit down for a while, I'll calculate it for you." Chen Jun politely brought him a stool and asked, "Will you use blue bricks or red bricks? Will you be doing a flooring project? Will the mortar be mainly lime or cement? Where are you from?"
"What's the difference?" Zhang Beichuan didn't know much about building houses; he had lived in an old brick house in Shihe Village since he was born.
Faced with Zhang Beichuan's big business opportunity, Chen Jun explained very patiently.
After listening for a while, Zhang Beichuan finally understood.
Blue bricks are better than red bricks, and cement-based mortar is definitely the best choice.
Using lime as the main material and cement to paint the exterior walls saves costs; if the floor isn't finished, the inside of the house will be a muddy floor.
Now that there's a way to make money here, he naturally won't let his grandparents be busy with farm work during the day and making bricks and tiles at night anymore. If they're going to repair it, then they have to repair it to the highest standard!
"Okay, we'll calculate it according to the highest standard. Wait a few minutes for me."
In about ten minutes, Chen Jun handed a list to Zhang Beichuan.
所需青砖4万块、青瓦1万块、水泥5吨、河沙15方，合计3187.5元。
"Does this price include home delivery?"
Chen Jun shook his head. "Brother, this price is only for the materials. If we deliver it to Shihe Village, the transportation fee is 3 yuan per truck. If we deliver all these materials, the transportation fee is estimated to be no more than 200 yuan."
The materials and shipping costs come to about 3500. Add in the craftsmanship fees, timber, and so on, and it will cost at least 5,000.
For others in this era, especially in rural areas, 5000 yuan was an astronomical figure.
For Zhang Beichuan, it was simply a matter of selling over 300 lighters!
The cost is less than one hundred yuan!
"Okay, I understand. If I need these materials, how many days will it take for them to arrive?"
"Half a month... no!" Chen Jun changed his mind, "If you're in a hurry, a week! I can deliver everything to you in a week at most!"
Zhang Beichuan nodded in satisfaction. "Okay, then wait a few days. Once I've saved up enough money, I'll pay and start delivering it to you!"
"Great, great, great!" Chen Jun excitedly saw the person off, overjoyed.
I never expected that such a seemingly ordinary day would turn into such a big deal. If we succeed, the company bonus will be substantial!
After leaving the building materials station, Zhang Beichuan passed by the town's supply and marketing cooperative and stopped. He was going to see his mother from his childhood when he got back, and he couldn't go back empty-handed.
After entering the supply and marketing cooperative, he glanced at the items sold on the counter, which were far fewer in variety than those in the county town's supply and marketing cooperative.
The only snacks available were fruit hard candies; there wasn't a single White Rabbit candy in sight. However, the few bottles of Jiannanchun liquor on the counter caught his attention.
The monkey stamp has been in circulation for 6 years, so it will take some time to find it.
Antiques require a discerning eye, but the famous wines readily available in supply and marketing cooperatives seem like a good direction to explore; perhaps we could bring them back to 2026 and give them a try.
Near the neighborhood where Zhang Beichuan rented a place in 2026, there was a shop that specialized in recycling old liquor.
Although Jiannanchun cannot compare with Moutai or Wuliangye, it is still one of the eight famous liquors in China, and it is just enough for the test!