"Don't run," Wang Xiao'e shouted and chased after him.
The two chased and hit each other around the house. Su Jie watched from the dining table with a complex expression.
Didn't she know a few days ago that Zhang Liunian doted on Jiang Qingqing?
Why did her heart feel so unsettled upon hearing it again?
Jiang Qingqing was the only person she could talk to; she should be happy for her.
Yes, she should be happy for her.
The next day, before dawn, Zhang Liunian was still the first to wake up in the village. He opened his eyes, looked at his wife in his arms, kissed her, got up, put on his clothes, and began his daily martial arts practice.
After finishing, he started making breakfast and then set off to buy meat.
As soon as the butcher had brought out the meat, he heard Zhang Liunian ask for 250 jin. He looked at the pig he had slaughtered, which weighed over 200 jin, and laughed, "You've bought it all for me."
"No choice, so many people eat your pork!" Zhang Liunian chuckled.
"You're a very eloquent comrade. I'll weigh it for you now."
"Boss, can you help deliver the goods? Honestly, I have to go to the county town several times a day, and it's quite tiring."
Zhang Liunian watched the butcher cut the meat into strips and put them into baskets, then asked.
"I can deliver, but it will cost extra."
"Sure, I'll add ten cents per jin, and I can guarantee at least one to two hundred jin for delivery, so you won't be making a wasted trip."
One to two hundred jin for delivery meant he would earn more than ten yuan. The butcher calculated this carefully.
"Alright, it's settled then. I won't deliver if it's less than one to two hundred jin." In reality, he would deliver even a few dozen jin, as he had spare hands.
"Then we have a deal. It's best if you deliver it to my home before 7:30 AM!"
He had to leave to deliver shrimp after 7:30, so he needed to manage his time.
"Okay, my son has time. I'll have him deliver it for you tomorrow. Where is your address?"
"Zhang Liunian's home, Zhangjia Village, Shili Brigade. My name is Zhang Liunian. My house is in the middle of the village. In the afternoon, have your son come with me so he doesn't get lost."
"Alright, the meat is ready."
"Here's the money."
With the agreement reached, Zhang Liunian saved himself a trip.
After buying the meat, Zhang Liunian hurried home, cut the meat into pieces, prepared it, put on the braising pot, and then went to Daming Lake to drive the tractor.
Zhang Liuchu watched his third brother get busier and stepped forward to remind him, "Liunian, if you're tired, hire a few more people. You're not the only one who can drive a tractor."
Zhang Liuchu meant Zhang Liunian should let others drive the tractor to deliver goods. Zhang Liunian arranged the baskets and said, "I won't be so rushed tomorrow. The meat will be delivered home, and Zhang Qian will stir-fry the crayfish."
"That's good." Zhang Liuchu was somewhat relieved to hear his third brother had arrangements.
"Big brother, I'm leaving." After loading the crayfish, Zhang Liunian drove the tractor towards the county town.
Meanwhile, Zhang Li and others continued to catch crayfish. The ones being caught now were to be delivered to the educated youth dormitory, and the quantity had been increased by another 300 jin.
Fortunately, with four more people, a cart was filled in no time. A young boy was responsible for pulling the flatbed cart. As soon as the cart was full, he immediately pulled it to the educated youth dormitory.
At 8:30, Zhang Liunian delivered the crayfish. Selling 250 jin to each person, or rather, 250 jin to each of the five people, earned Zhang Liunian 375 yuan.
He returned home with the money, and Zhang Qian was already impatiently waiting in the kitchen.
"Xiao Qian, I'll start teaching you how to stir-fry crayfish now. Watch carefully."
He came to the stove, took off his jacket, and began to teach his second apprentice.
Compared to the mute, Zhang Qian had much less talent. Zhang Liunian had to teach him several times before he managed to learn it.
To make him proficient, Zhang Liunian let him do the stir-frying while he watched from the side, observing until he became skilled.
"My arms are so sore," Zhang Qian said, constantly shaking his hands after stir-frying the day's portion.
Zhang Liunian glanced at him and said, "We also have to stir-fry several hundred jin of crayfish this afternoon. Don't go home this afternoon; come to me and help stir-fry the crayfish. I'll pay you three yuan a day."
Upon hearing that he would earn three yuan a day, Zhang Qian's soreness and backache instantly vanished. "Okay!"
"Now come with me to load the goods. We need to set off."
With that said, Zhang Liunian began to load the stir-fried crayfish into the tractor, bucket by bucket.
Before noon, Zhang Liunian first delivered 100 jin of crayfish to Tang Kaiming, and then delivered 1,100 jin of crayfish and 100 jin of braised meat to the machinery factory.
He received 640 yuan, which he put into his pocket.
After settling the accounts, Zhao Zhijie asked Zhang Liunian about the Nancheng Food Factory.
"Has the cooperation been reached?" Zhao Zhijie was quite concerned about Zhang Liunian, as they were nominally uncle and nephew.
"The cooperation was successful. They have already placed an order, and I'll deliver it this afternoon," Zhang Liunian said, taking out two portions of braised meat and handing them over. They were still for him and Yan Guoguo.
Zhao Zhijie took the braised meat and smiled, "You know we like this."
Zhang Liunian's braised meat was truly exceptional. After tasting it, they felt that nothing else could replace it.
"You are my elders, and I don't have many skills. This braised meat is the only thing I can confidently present."
"You're being too modest. Your braised meat is truly excellent. I've been a chef for most of my life, and I've never eaten braised meat better than yours."
"Uncle, you flatter me."
"I'm telling the truth."
"Alright! Uncle, as long as you like it."
"Kid, keep up the good work, and you won't lack anything in the future."
"I will, Uncle. Does your factory allow custom orders for pots and buckets? I want to make a few for my own use."
"Sure, just tell me your requirements, and I can have someone make them for you later."
"I want to make..."
After leaving the machinery factory, Zhang Liunian went to a restaurant and delivered ten jin of braised meat to Mu Mingliang, earning 20 yuan. Then he went to the construction site to find Grandpa Tang, giving him a ten yuan commission and receiving 50 yuan.
Including the morning's earnings, he now had over 1,100 yuan in his pocket.
Zhang Liunian patted his bulging pocket, thinking that his wife would be very happy to see this money.
He smiled broadly at the thought.
"Xiao Qian, take him to my house to recognize the place. I'm going to the brick factory." Taking the bicycle off the tractor, Zhang Liunian handed the butcher's son over to Zhang Qian.
Zhang Qian nodded, "I understand, Liunian Ge."
After watching him leave, Zhang Liuchu rode his bicycle towards the Du family's brick factory.
Before he could reach the brick factory, he saw Du Ziteng on the road teasing a young woman in a floral dress.
Zhang Liunian couldn't see what the young woman looked like, but Du Ziteng was using his saliva to style his bird's nest hair, then struck what he considered the most handsome pose, leaning against a dead branch, and said, "What a coincidence. I see you're quite good-looking, especially those cute triangular eyes, buck teeth, and pockmarked face, all unique." "Bang!"
Before he could finish speaking, the girl in the floral dress delivered a punch, knocking him to the ground to eat dirt.
"Pfft!" Zhang Liunian couldn't help but laugh heartily at this sight.
The next moment, the girl in the floral dress turned around, instantly revealing the appearance of a sister like Hua. Zhang Liunian exclaimed, "Good heavens, Du Ziteng has some strange tastes."