Volume 1 Chapter 26 Greenhouse Vegetables

  Days passed quickly for a few more days, and two days before the Lunar New Year, Dachengzi rode over on his old, large, black bicycle. The bike was very worn out, with its black paint peeling off in patches, except for the bell that should have rung but didn't, all other parts made a "clang clang" sound.

  The Chinese New Year is approaching, and the "greenhouse vegetables" in Dashengzi's home can also be harvested. Where to sell them is a problem, so he came to ask today where it would be suitable to sell them.

  In the warm and cozy room, everyone sat together, and Da Chengzi threw out the question.

  "Let's sell it in our county town! It's close by and convenient for a round trip." Grandma said first.

  "No way, our county's consumption level is not that high, it's not suitable." Xiaoyi refused first, they were very clear about the consumption level in their county.

  "It won't work, I went to the village and looked around, it seems that a lot needs to be harvested, probably need to use a car to pull it." Dachengzi took a look at his own vegetables' growth, then went to the village again, can be described as a bumper harvest. "If we use a car, if we sell it too cheaply, it's definitely not suitable."

  "That can be sold in the provincial city." Dad said, he just came back from the provincial city and returned to help after meeting with Mom.

  "How much money can we get per kilogram to keep the capital intact! Although you gave us the seedlings, you can't let us take them for free! Everyone has discussed it, after making a profit, 21 will be added as 5, and divided equally." Da Chengzi said honestly, these were all discussed at home, the "big shed" was learned from others, the vegetable seeds were also given by others, even the technology had to be taught by others, so they couldn't take it for free either!

  "If we go to the provincial city to sell it, a round trip will take almost three hours, and we have to pay for the car rental and gas. What price should we set?" said Old Man Lin.

  "At least five cents a catty." Fang Mo Nan suddenly interjected.

  "What, you directly robbed it!" Xiaoyi stared at her eyes and said, this is too black!

  "It's too expensive, it won't sell. If it were summer, it would only be a few cents per catty." Da Chengzi was somewhat intimidated by her pricing.

  "High, not high at all. Nan Nan was really deceived this time. You also said that's the summer price, can we eat these green leafy vegetables in winter? Things are precious because they're rare, and we're the only ones who have them, I think I ordered too little." Old Master Lin said with a nod, casting a meaningful glance at Fang Mo Nan, using the word "deceived" to cover for her. She quickly covered her mouth and made a "thank you" gesture, no longer speaking.

  Mr. Lin smiled and continued: "Hmm! I think it's okay, Zhengping just returned from the provincial city, he should have some understanding of their consumption, what do you think?"

  "The old man is right, let's go to the provincial city to sell." Dad said in support, but the consumption level in the provincial city was higher than theirs. "I'll find a car, I have a friend who drives for the grain depot and can help out. Dachengzi, estimate how many vegetables we have."

  "We used to plant them around the kitchen and the heating area, but later we planted them everywhere in front of and behind our houses. As long as there was soil in the yard, we didn't miss any spot. I didn't expect they were cold-resistant. Although they don't grow as well as in warm places, they're not bad either." Dachengzi touched his head and said honestly. "Like tomatoes, in warm places they are as big as my fist, and in slightly colder places they are as long as Nannan's fist; like scallions, in warm places they have two bundles of length, and in slightly colder places they also have more than one bundle." He continued to compare with his hands.

  "Alright, let's tally up and see when we can leave. Let them go home to harvest, bundle, and pack neatly." Dad listened happily to his words, estimating that the vegetables would sell for a good price.

  "It won't work, there's another problem, the car can't get into the village, the rural roads are too narrow and cars can't pass through." Da Chengzi thought with a worried expression and said, "What to do?"

  "Ah! It's simple. First transport the vegetables to the county by mule cart, then load them onto a car." Old Man Lin said after some thought. "It just needs several more trips."

  "Hmm! So that's what we'll do? Alright, let's weigh the dishes for each family and take note. That way, it'll be easier to settle accounts later." Grandma said, slapping her thigh as she remembered.

  "I'll go home now, put away the dishes, weigh them properly, and then start sending them over." Da Chengzi said as he scurried out.

  Dad also returned to the city and brought the car back.

  They listened to them discussing when to set off, Fang Mo Nan took Lin Laoye and Nainai out, asking them about pigments and white cloth. The corners of her mouth flashed a mysterious smile, and they would know at that time. Lin Laoye had some guesses, but he didn't make a sound.

  The day before the Little New Year, Dashengzi used two mule carts to pull six trips and brought back vegetables. I heard that the weight of the vegetables was over a thousand catties! Then they unloaded the vegetables onto the cart again, covering them with thick canvas, wrapping them tightly, for fear of freezing. On the day of the Little New Year, my father, the driver, Sun Youcheng brothers two, the four of them set off towards the provincial city at dawn. Before leaving, Old Master Lin handed a cloth package to my father and told him what was inside, then carefully instructed him on what to do when entering the city.

  Due to the delay caused by the fog, they opened later than usual. When they entered the provincial city, it was already after 9 o'clock. They stopped the car at the side of the road, took out a bundle and unfolded it. The two of them pulled it open, inside was white cloth with pictures painted on it of the vegetables they were going to sell. Under the tomatoes was written "Good luck", under the leeks was written "Long-lasting good fortune". The four of them tied them onto the car's railing together, even the front of the car wasn't spared. On top was written in black characters on red cloth: "Happy New Year".

  The old man and they turned a circle together on the main road in the city, as one would expect, it was sensational, then stopped at the side of a vegetable market.

  They came down, pulled open the canvas at once, and the emerald green color shone brightly under the sunlight. The fresh scent of vegetables teased people's sense of smell, which was too tempting for those who could only eat cabbage, radish, and potatoes for a long time.

  Just then, someone came forward to ask, and upon hearing the price, hesitated a bit. This is too expensive! Compared to summer, it's not just a little difference. Dad held the tomatoes and scallions, stood on the car, and shouted loudly: "We are from Yunxian County, this is our local 'vegetable', we don't want to wait until New Year's, so we're giving everyone an early New Year's greeting! Wishing you all a year like these tomatoes, 'auspicious stars shining bright, good fortune on your head', and like these scallions, happy days 'long-lasting'."

  "Wow......" The people at the vegetable market were shocked, they had never seen anyone who could talk like that before.

  "Dad continued: 'It's New Year, grandma, auntie, big sister, sell some to the old folks at home, send a festive gift, and change up the flavor too!' More and more people crowded around the car."

  The person who had just inquired about the price said, "Although it's a bit expensive, after all, we can eat fresh green leafy vegetables in winter. Just this once, let's splurge and buy some."

  It's easier once you get started, and Dad is shouting loudly at the top to maintain order. The other few people are collecting money and weighing vegetables. Fortunately, the green leafy vegetables were all tied up in one-pound bundles, which sped things up. Cucumbers and tomatoes had to be weighed on the spot, so it was slower, and they simply divided into two teams.

  The vegetables were quickly sold out, and those who came later didn't get to buy any. They had no choice but to leave. As they were packing up their things and preparing to head home, a middle-aged man suddenly ran up to the car. "We've sold out! You're too late."

  Seeing that he didn't leave, he bent down with both hands on his knees, panting non-stop. Da Chengzi said, "Take a breath first before speaking."

  The man panted, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He had seen the cart and chased after it all the way, but unfortunately was one step too late. "I'm from 'Hao Wei Xian' restaurant. Do you still have any vegetables?"

  "I'm so sorry, we've harvested all of these and brought them here." Da Chengzi said with a silly smile. "However, we still have some that won't be ripe until spring."

  "Hold on," he slowly calmed his breathing, and after hearing Sun Youcheng's words, continued: "What I mean is, next year when spring begins, before these vegetables flood the market, I can take them all. Whatever quantity you have, we can negotiate a price."

  Daxinzi looked at his father and nodded, "Alright! Let's find a place to sit down and talk."

  A group of people walked to the back of his restaurant, it was already past eleven o'clock, and people kept coming into the restaurant. They went around to the back of the restaurant and after a brief negotiation, they signed an order.

  After finishing things, Dad and others drove quickly back and forth in the car. At this time, the thick fog had dispersed, and it took only an hour to arrive home.

  Grandma saw them coming in and quickly served them a big bowl of beef noodles, some side dishes, and plenty of meat buns. Watching them eat with gusto, like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

  Dad handed the money over to Grandma, "The vegetables are 1240 jin and the money is 620 yuan, here it is."

  "Wow! We made so much in just one day." Sun Youxin exclaimed excitedly, at that time they also knew how much money they could sell for that price, but it didn't feel real until the money was in their hands.

  "This is almost two years' worth of salary for me!" The driver also helped sell it, but after collecting the money, he didn't have time to count it and didn't expect there would be so much.

  "Hehe......" Is this considered a lot? It can't compare to Nannan's family. Grandma doesn't think this is a lot of money now, but seeing them work hard to earn it on their own makes her very happy.

  "As agreed last night, 60 yuan," Grandma first took out the money from inside and handed it to the driver. After taking it, he said goodbye to Grandma and them, and left. He knew that what was left was for them to split the money, and this wasn't his place.

  Dad saw him off and didn't go back until the car disappeared from view.

  When Dad comes back, Grandma said: "The remaining 560 yuan, we'll split it three to seven, Dachengzi gets seven, and we get three." This was a decision Grandma had discussed with Fang Mengnan beforehand.

  "This... didn't we agree on an equal split?! The seeds were given by you, and planting them doesn't take much effort, how can you give us so little?" Da Chengzi said with a wave of his hand.

  "Alright, take it. Hurry back and divide the money among everyone, don't let people worry. Since you've signed a contract with someone, then go back and fertilize the land, so that the seedlings can grow as soon as possible." Grandma stuffed the money into his hands, urging them to hurry back. "If you don't take it, then don't think about getting seedlings from me again in the future." She threatened them, originally it was almost a no-loss deal for Grandma and her family, of course the seeds were the most common ones bought on the market.

  Dachengzi and the others bid farewell, said goodbye to Grandma and were about to head home. The people at home probably couldn't wait any longer, so Grandma didn't stop them.

  Then, grandma took them to pick some vegetables from their backyard and packed them up. She asked little auntie to send these vegetables to the county head, school principal, public security bureau chief and so on one by one. For them, these were rare goods, a taste of freshness.

  The rest can be eaten or picked at will, and Grandma left some for Eldest Uncle. Although Eldest Uncle's family is not in good shape, they are just small things and she doesn't mind much, after all, he is Grandma's son, as long as it doesn't cross the bottom line. Seeing that Grandma has a good sense of proportion, only giving what everyone can see on the surface, as for the secret things in the space, Grandma dare not reveal them.

  Little aunt obeyed and took one by one's gift over in the afternoon.

  With the New Year approaching, there are more and more hoodlums on the streets, they also want to make some money for the New Year!

  After Dad and the others sold out their vegetables in the morning, they didn't idle away the afternoon either. With Chinese New Year approaching soon, they were busy buying goods for the festival. In the evening, only Fang Mengnan and Grandma were left sitting at the entrance of the house selling steamed buns. Two big boys with a sly air about them came to the stall. They looked like they were in their early twenties, had long hair, wore very thin clothes, even had patches on them, huddled together, sniffing their noses.

  "Old lady, the New Year is coming soon, business is not bad! ...... " One of them spoke in a hoarse voice, his face always tilted upwards when speaking, and his feet kept tapping on the ground.

  "What do you want?" Grandma saw that they were sloppy and looked at them with vigilance, pulling Fang Mengnan behind her.

  "What's up? Lend me some money to spend." The two of them saw her appearance, pulled out a dagger, and very bluntly stated their intentions.

  This is daylight robbery! With the intention of breaking fortune and disaster, and my little granddaughter is also here, let's get through this first. Grandma said: "Don't be excited, the money is here." She handed over the paper box for receiving money.

  Fang Mo Nan hid behind his grandmother, with an apple seed in his hand, and before he could use the "Dian Zhi Shen Gong" to teach these two guys who didn't know their limits a lesson, he was interrupted by a loud shout.

  "A good dog doesn't block the road, go and enjoy the cool breeze." Liang Zijian had just returned from selling radios in the city and didn't expect to run into some unsavory characters. He was suddenly furious, his eyes slanted as he sized them up, "It's only been a few days since I've been back, has the world changed? How can stray cats and dogs also mix on this street?"

  "It's not even a decent accomplishment, bullying the elderly and children is what kind of skill!" Liang Zishao said disdainfully, looking at them sideways.

  "Who are you? What are you doing here, getting in the way. Stand aside and don't interfere with my making a fortune." One of them shouted at Liangzi.

  "Liángzi is back, he's been out for several days. Quick, quick, go inside the house, it's very cold outside." His grandmother said happily when she saw him, knowing that Liángzi was a prodigal son who had turned over a new leaf and was doing quite well with his small business, and she was genuinely happy for Liáng's sister.

  "Auntie, don't worry, I'll deal with these two first." Liangzi smiled slyly at his grandmother. He then turned around and glared fiercely at the two men, his tone cold and menacing, his eyes piercing like a knife. "Don't they know this is their territory?"