1968: Started from breeding

Chapter 255 They're trying to trick me!

(This chapter is incomplete due to censorship issues. Please subscribe with caution!)

After Su Wenchen tore open the seal, the first thing he saw was a payment document sent by the region.

However, upon seeing the contents, Su Wenchen immediately frowned.

"Director, what do they mean by this?"

"If you want to come over, you can just send a telegram!"

Why make it so complicated?

Su Wenchen glanced at it.

"Why do you think I conducted research in all four counties, especially when I went to Xiao County, which is so close to Xuzhou city, but I deliberately didn't go in?"

"Oh right! I was wondering the same thing!"

"We didn't specifically avoid other cities along the way, so why did we choose to go to the prefectures?"

Su Wenchen rolled his eyes.

"Forget it, you wouldn't understand the concept of initiative even if I explained it to you."

After saying that, he glanced out the car window and saw that the crowds had become noticeably more lively once they entered the city.

To put it bluntly, this time they wanted him to take the initiative and go to talk to them. If he went, then whether it was three communes or two communes, there should be room for negotiation.

As for the price, Su Wenchen probably understood it as nothing more than the products their farm would produce in the future.

After all, as a national-level farm, their Blue Water Farm naturally has little control over it from the local authorities.

Of course, I guess they also wanted to see what he thought.

For Su Wenchen.

He could indeed choose not to go, or even have the ministry issue a notice to refuse him.

However, everything in this world comes at a price. Compared to owing favors to people in the region, using the precious favors of the ministry is clearly a less worthwhile trade-off.

True relationships are only used at the last minute.

If you constantly bother the big shots with every little thing, their goodwill towards you will probably drop rapidly.

Aside from parents, nobody likes being someone else's babysitter.

Furthermore, judging from the other party's current actions, Su Wenchen probably only wants to gain a small advantage and seize the initiative.

Of course, Su Wenchen was thinking of going to find out what the other party was planning before making a decision.

However, Zhao Weiguo felt very aggrieved after hearing Su Wenchen's words.

"Director, how am I supposed to understand if you don't explain? Once you tell me, I'll understand, won't I?"

Su Wenchen rolled down the car window without turning his head.

"Those who understand this will understand, and those who don't won't understand even if you explain it to them. You understand, right?"

Zhao Weiguo was even more bewildered.

“I don’t understand!”

Su Wenchen shook his head.

"Then figure it out yourself!"

As he spoke, he looked at a large number of workers walking out of a factory in the distance, pondered for a moment, and then pointed directly at it and said.

"Don't go to the regional headquarters yet, go check over there first."

Zhao Weiguo looked at the bustling crowd that had just finished get off work. He walked for quite a while, but thankfully he hadn't walked through it all. It was obvious that there were many times more people than usual after get off work at their farm.

He turned the steering wheel and pulled the car over to a stop, but he still didn't understand.

"Director, the factory is closing time, what are we doing here?"

Su Wenchen opened the car door and said.

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and also come down for lunch to fill your stomach."

Watching Su Wenchen close the car door, Zhao Weiguo scratched his head.

"I'm hungry, so I'm hungry. What does 'know your enemy and know yourself' even mean?"

Seeing Su Wenchen about to walk away, he immediately opened the car door and followed him.

"Hey, Director, wait for me!"

Xuzhou Heavy Machinery Plant.

As it was rush hour, a massive crowd surged out of the factory, likely due to the approaching year-end.

At the entrance of the machinery factory, the factory service centers and some food stalls on both sides were instantly packed with people.

The shop assistant at the service center shouted loudly through a megaphone made of rolled-up newspaper.

"Don't push, don't push. Those who want to buy peach shortbread should prepare their money and coupons. Each factory employee is limited to half a jin, and non-employees are limited to two liang. The factory has prepared enough this time, so everyone can buy some."

Right across the street, in front of the state-run restaurant, there were so many employees that there were no tables left inside. Su Wenchen and Zhao Weiguo could only squat at the entrance and eat their bowls of noodles.

Of course, it wasn't just the two of them; there were quite a few employees like them eating in front of the state-run restaurant, and everyone around them seemed to take it all for granted.

Zhao Weiguo sniffed the aroma of oil in the air, and suddenly the originally smooth noodles didn't smell so good anymore.

"Director, I didn't expect that Fengxian County, which is so poor, would have peach shortbread for sale here."

Su Wenchen took a sip of the noodle soup in his bowl and looked up into the distance.

"It's probably because of the Chinese New Year. They must supply very little normally, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people queuing up."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a worker in dark blue overalls, who was squatting next to the two men, came over and said something.

"Are you from Feng County?"

"Then you'd better hurry up and seize the opportunity. Pastries like peach shortbread are hard to buy. Right now, we can only buy them at these factory service centers."

“Let me tell you, in our area, if you can bring two pounds of peach shortbread to visit your mother-in-law’s family during the Spring Festival, everyone will give you a thumbs up.”

"Do you want it? If you do, I can give you two jin, it's only one yuan and fifty cents per jin plus one jin of grain coupons."

This person clearly recognized Su Wenchen and Zhao Weiguo's attire as officials before speaking up, because even officials from poor places like Feng County would still receive their salaries.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Weiguo immediately widened his eyes.

I was initially tempted, because peach shortbread is very hard to find even in Lan City.

Because oil, sugar, eggs, and flour are all good ingredients at this time.

But the other party's price was clearly outrageous.

Said directly.

"You fucking rob me! Your service station is selling it for only 80 cents a pound, but you're not only doubling the price here, you're also asking for an extra pound of grain coupons."

The other party glanced at Zhao Weiguo with disdain.

"With those purchase restrictions, and since none of you are from the city, you can't even buy two ounces."

Zhao Weiguo looked at the service center in the distance, which was packed with people. He didn't expect that not only was there a purchase limit, but people who weren't from the city couldn't buy anything there either.

He then glanced at Su Wenchen, since this could be considered speculative and profiteering, and he felt guilty for doing this in front of Su Wenchen.

Su Wenchen felt Zhao Weiguo's gaze.

In fact, even within their own establishment, they generally turn a blind eye to this kind of secret swapping of items.

Because passing trucks often stop at their yard for rest and repairs, employees frequently exchange goods with these drivers.

After all, sometimes the company provides welfare benefits, and some employees are reluctant to use or eat them themselves, so they will ask these drivers to exchange them for money or receipts.

Generally, as long as the stalls aren't openly set up within the designated area, the market doesn't really interfere.

However, his purpose in coming here to eat was not to buy any peach shortbread.

So Su Wenchen spoke up directly.

"Alright then! Comrade, I want to ask you something. After I find out, I'll take these two pounds of peach shortbread from you."

Upon hearing this, the other party immediately looked at Su Wenchen with suspicion.

"Let me tell you, although I engage in speculation and profiteering, I will never be a traitor."

Upon hearing this, Su Wenchen, holding a bowl in one hand, pulled out his work ID from his pocket with the other. "We are researchers from a ministry, and we've come down here to investigate the living conditions of the people in the Yellow River floodplain."

The man took Su Wenchen's ID and looked at it. After seeing the seal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, he swallowed hard.

Then, his eyes darted around, and he immediately began to look for an escape plan.

At the same time, he cursed his bad luck inwardly. He had originally planned to use the factory's welfare benefits to exchange for some money and food coupons.

Who would have thought that they would be chosen to be one of the researchers from above? It's like throwing lambs to the slaughter!

If he were sent to the factory office, he would definitely be labeled a speculator.

He might even lose his job.

Seeing the other person's subtle gesture of looking around, Su Wenchen immediately looked at him with a half-smile.

"Ready to run?"

“I’ve memorized your face, and there are many employees from your factory around here. If I call out, you’ll run away.”

"But you can't just run away from this job. I'm sure your factory can find someone to help you."

Upon hearing this, the employee forced a smile onto his face.

"Boss, look at what you're saying. A high-ranking leader like you, whose word is law, how could I not believe you?"

"Just ask me anything. Except for our factory's secrets, I guarantee I'll tell you everything I know!"

Hearing the cleverness in the other person's words, Su Wenchen simply smiled.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in your factory's secrets or anything like that, nor am I interested in your speculation or profiteering."

Upon hearing Su Wenchen's words, the other party immediately patted his chest.

"Boss, feel free to ask. I'm telling you, there's no gossip in our machine factory that I don't know!"

Su Wenchen waved his hand.

"I'm not interested in the rumors about your factory. How's your meat supply? Is it tight?"

Upon hearing that Su Wenchen actually asked about these everyday issues that everyone knows about, the other party immediately breathed a sigh of relief and then complained to Su Wenchen.

"I'm not nervous at all, because there's basically no supply."

"The meat coupons they gave us were practically useless; we couldn't buy any even at state-run meat shops."

"It's Chinese New Year, so I thought I should at least try some meat. But my wife went to queue at four in the morning and still couldn't get a turn."

"I haven't tasted meat all year."

"Boss, let me tell you, you really need to investigate this carefully. It might have been intercepted by someone."

Su Wenchen blinked.

"Who intercepted it? Are there any organizations in Xuzhou with a sufficient meat supply?"

The other person nodded.

"Yes, at the mining bureau, their canteens serve meat almost every month, and each person gets several ounces!"

He swallowed hard as he spoke.

"Boss, do you think this is fair? We're all working for the country, so why can the miners eat meat all the time, while we in the machinery factory don't even get soup?"

"Even when you finally manage to spend the money to come to a state-run restaurant, you can only get a bowl of bone broth noodles at most, without a single bite of meat!"

Hearing this, Su Wenchen had no objection to eating meat in the mine, since going down into the mine was considered extremely strenuous physical labor.

The limited meat supply mainly replenished the mining area, which Su Wenchen felt was normal.

If we're really talking about fairness, the commune members under Fengxian County are struggling to even fill their stomachs!

So Su Wenchen completely ignored this person's little scheme and asked directly.

How much are the wages at your factory?

"If there were meat available, would you be willing to spend money to buy it? For example, rabbit meat."

Upon hearing this, the other party immediately nodded.

"That's for sure!"

"The wages at our machinery factory are quite high. Once you become a full-time employee, you get forty yuan a month."

"Actually, I can get a full meal in the cafeteria, but there's too little meat. If the price isn't too high, I'd definitely be willing to buy some."

"Boss, do you have a way to do this?"

"Do you want me to help you with this? I can sell it for the same price as pork, how about 80 cents a pound? And I guarantee no one will know."

Su Wenchen glanced at the other person.

Do you think I'm easy to talk to?

Upon hearing this, the other party immediately gave an awkward laugh.

"Boss, I was just joking with you! I would never do anything like speculation or profiteering!"

"Boss, do you have any more questions?"

"I'll be going now, I have to go to work soon."

Su Wenchen said directly.

Do you know how much the other big factories around here pay? How is their supply of materials?

The other person scratched their head.

"The salaries are about the same! It mainly depends on seniority and skill level!"

“The steel mill is about the same as us, but the textile mill is a little less. I heard from my previous blind date that she only made 30 yuan a month after she became a full-time employee at the textile mill, which is 10 yuan less than us.”

"The highest number should be in the mining area. It is said that the number of miners working there can reach up to a hundred."

"As for the supply of materials, I don't know. It's probably not as good as our factory. After all, our machinery factory has the best benefits outside of the mining bureau."

After saying that, he even showed a proud look.

Upon hearing this, Su Wenchen gained a general understanding of the situation in the Xuzhou region at that time.

A heavy industrial city that relies on coal mines should have its main resources focused on coal mines, with even heavy machinery factories ranking behind them.

The employee over there watched Su Wenchen remain silent for a moment.

"Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll head out now, or I'll be late for work."

Upon seeing Su Wenchen nod, he immediately turned and ran, not daring to look back even a little.

Fearing that Su Wenchen might change his mind after asking the question, they sent it to the factory office.

"Hey, why did you run away? Are you not selling peach shortbread anymore?"

"Director, should I go and bring that kid back?"

Su Wenchen glanced at Zhao Weiguo.

"What, you really want to speculate and profiteer right in front of me?"

Zhao Weiguo scratched his head.

"Haha, Director, I was just joking too, just trying to lighten the mood!"

"I was just worried you wouldn't finish asking!"

Su Wenchen waved his hand.

"He has a pretty good understanding of the basic livelihood issues, but the rest are probably beyond his knowledge."

"But it's enough."

Then Su Wenchen smiled.

"No wonder they're from that region. They're only thinking about getting a little something for themselves. They're probably afraid I'll just quit."

"But that makes things much easier to discuss!"

　Half of this chapter was cut and then released. Please bear with this chapter!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)