Siheyuan's Journey Through the Ages

Chapter 78 The Powerful Shopkeeper
As the weather got warmer, Ma Qing's worries increased. He could no longer wrap himself up like a dumpling and go to Liang Huandi's house like he did in the cold winter.

Especially as the weather got warmer, there were more and more people on the streets in the residential area, making it increasingly difficult for Ma Qing to go to Liang Huandi's house. After all, with more visits, there would certainly be more gossip. The key point was that without the disguise, Ma Qing would be exposed to everyone.

Will we go outdoors in the future? It's not impossible, but the weather is still a bit cold now. Ma Qing was thinking about it while working on the workpiece.

The bell rang, and Ma Qing's classmate Liao Yang ran over. "Ma Qing, it's time to get off work. Let's go eat some rice tofu."

"Rice tofu, what is that?" Ma Qing certainly knew what rice tofu was in his previous life, but in order to maintain his character, he still raised the question.

As expected, Liao Yang showed a proud expression, "Rice tofu is a food from western Hunan. It is like tofu, but more elastic than tofu. It is bright yellow and crystal clear. It tastes delicious when cut into slices and served with seasonings."

As Liao Yang spoke, he swallowed his saliva. It seemed that he liked this thing very much.

"That's fine. Let's call Zhou Hao and the others and go together." Ma Qing didn't comment. It was just a lunch. It didn't matter where they ate.

"Then let's not do it. It's inconvenient, so I called you." Liao Yang looked embarrassed.

"Why? Do you want to be alone with me?" Ma Qing was a little frightened and hugged her chest with both hands.

"Go to hell. The main problem is that a bowl costs 5 cents, and I need to eat several bowls at a time. It's too expensive for Zhou Hao and the others, and it's not convenient to ask them to go." Liao Yang had to explain.

Ma Qing was silent. Liao Yang's family worked at the grain station, and his parents were both cadres. Their living conditions were better than Ma Qing's. As for Zhou Hao and the others... forget it, let's not talk about it. It was indeed inconvenient.

"Okay then, let's go. I'll go try this thing you mentioned and see how delicious it is. Let me make it clear first, if it doesn't taste good, I won't pay for it. You treat me." Ma Qing joked.

Liao Yang patted his chest and said, "No problem, you don't believe my words, I'm very picky." You see, people with good conditions can be happy in any era.

Ma Qing and Liao Yang followed the crowd, walked out of the factory gate, and walked farther and farther away. Ma Qing couldn't help but wonder, where are they going? Are you going so far just to have a meal?

"Liao Yang, how long do you have to walk? How did you find that tofu shop when you ran so far just for a meal?" Ma Qing complained.

"It's a rice tofu shop. It's not far ahead. There's a place called Haitangji. I found it when I was visiting relatives during the Chinese New Year. It tastes great."

At this point, Liao Yang winked and said, "The proprietress of that rice tofu shop is so pretty. How about taking you to have a look? That's nice of you, isn't it? I heard she's from western Hunan. Women from Hunan are so pretty."

"Damn, why didn't you say it earlier? Let's go." Ma Qing had no doubt about Liao Yang's words, because at this time he had already reacted, he encountered... again.

The two walked for another ten minutes. This was the era. If it were in the previous life, if a friend said he would walk for half an hour to eat, Ma Qing would beat up his friend first.

When the two arrived at the rice tofu shop, it was closed. There was a notice posted on the door and a group of people gathered in front of the shop chatting. The atmosphere was very lively.

Ma Qing looked at Liao Yang and said nothing, but it seemed like he had said everything. The two stood in front of the notice, looking at the content on it, and Liao Yang asked the people around him about the story.

"You are late. This morning, the shop owner here was pulled to the door of the shop by the director and others and criticized. They said that in more than half a year, he got more than 1 kilograms of broken rice from the grain station and made a profit of 1500 yuan in this half year. He is really powerful." One of the passers-by started talking to them.

Liao Yang hurriedly said, "Where is that person? Can this store be opened?" After Liao Yang finished speaking, he slapped his forehead. Maybe he felt that he had asked a stupid question.

"The people must have been taken away. The store owner and the grain station manager stood at the door of the store for the whole morning and were criticized. Hey! How did they get those 1 kilograms of broken rice? These people are so bold."

Ma Qing and Liao Yang looked at each other, and it was Ma Qing who said, "Let's find something to eat in the market. There will be nothing left if we go back to the factory. I brought food coupons with me, so let's make do with it first. We can't go hungry in the afternoon."

"No, I asked you to come here. If something like this happens, I will pay for the food coupons. Damn, I'm so unlucky." Liao Yang was a little angry. He walked for half an hour and didn't get anything to eat. Anyone would be angry.

The two of them had lunch at a state-owned restaurant in the market, but they lost interest and set out on the road back to the factory after eating.

"This boss must have good business and is envied by others. Really, Ma Qing, the rice tofu she makes tastes great." Liao Yang is still trying to cover up his strategic mistakes.

"Yes, I believe the rice tofu she made is very good, but Liao Yang, your family owns the grain station. Can you get 1 kilograms of broken rice for your relatives or friends within a normal range?" Ma Qing was a little confused. To be honest, Ma Qing was not sure about this matter.

After hearing this, Liao Yang shook his head like a rattle, "How is this possible? Not to mention relatives and friends, even my grandfather, my father's biological father, can't do this."

"Our current monthly ration is 30 kilograms, of which only 30% is refined grain, or 9 kilograms. The rest has to be matched with coarse grains. You know this. In this case, where will the leftovers come from?" Liao Yang complained.

"Yes, I didn't notice it at first, but the stationmaster is really bold. He made rice tofu for the store owner when everyone was in such short supply of refined grain. What's his intention?"

"There must be something to be done with this guy." Ma Qing curled his lips, "Why else? It must be for money."

Liao Yang was a little confused. "That's not right. 5 cents a bowl. That bowl uses almost 2 taels of rice. 1 jin of rice can make 5 bowls, which is only 2 cents. I can make 1 cents a jin, and I can make 4 yuan for more than 1 jins. The account is clear, but this rice tofu does not require tickets. Ma Qing, you must be clear about the price of untied grain. If he sells the rice on the black market, it will not be this price."

"Well, about that, who knows? You said the proprietress is very beautiful, how beautiful." Ma Qing was both changing the subject and awakening Liao Yang.

Liao Yang suddenly became alert, "I tell you, that appearance..." At this point, Liao Yang reacted and looked at Ma Qing and said, "Damn, you are a guy with impure thoughts, it's impossible, impossible."

"I didn't say anything. It's possible that the director of the grain station just felt sorry for this woman; maybe he just liked the shop's craftsmanship and liked this; or maybe he simply liked the owner and his wife. Who can tell for sure? You tell me, right?" Ma Qing spread his hands, looking innocent.

"You... are right." Liao Yang was a little discouraged. Perhaps the beauty in his heart was shattered by Ma Qing.

The two returned to the factory before work in the afternoon. When they were in the workshop, they were both a little listless. Liao Yang was mourning his lost youth, while Ma Qing was frightened by what he heard in the morning.

(End of this chapter)