My 1978 Hotel

"Good boy, you're in the newspaper again."

Han Futian was almost numb. Isn't it said that writing articles is very brain-consuming? How come this kid can write an article every few days? It costs at least ten or twenty yuan, which is enough for him to eat meat every day.

"A month's worth of hard work from us isn't worth an article you write."

Han Futian still treated this time as the same as before, about ten to twenty yuan, at most thirty to forty yuan, after all, it was mostly like this in the past.

"Okay."

Li Feng chuckled. "This time they paid a little more, eight yuan per thousand words." He was already somewhat famous, especially Scars, which, though unpublished, was a big name. Whenever Scar literature was mentioned, Li Feng's name was indispensable.

"Good boy, the market is rising again."

Han Futian patted Li Feng on the shoulder. "I'm afraid it's about thirty or fifty yuan this time?"

"A little more."

Li Feng looked very humble and embarrassed.

"Oh, that's more. What? One hundred or eighty yuan?"

Han Futian stared at the boss and said, "Okay, he is getting more and more capable. He was only worth thirty or forty yuan before, but now the market is bullish."

"Almost, almost."

Li Feng waved his hand indifferently, and said, "Damn it!" with a smile on his face. This guy earned a lot of money from the novel this time, and the asking price was not bad either. It's good for him to be famous.

"Okay."

Han Futian's heart was in turmoil. With a hundred or eighty yuan, most families in Hanjiaba were lucky not to starve after a year. Except for a few cadres' families who had some surplus, other families would be lucky if they could have ten or eight yuan to buy two pounds of meat during the New Year.

This guy can earn a hundred or eighty yuan just by writing casually. This guy has a good income not only in Hanjiaba, but also in Maya Commune and even in the county.

"Uncle Tomita, don't talk about me anymore."

Li Feng took out twenty yuan and slapped it in front of Han Futian. "Comrade Xiaoli just came over and told me she wants to order a set of our modular furniture. This is the twenty yuan deposit."

"Combination furniture, another set ordered?"

Han Futian grabbed the twenty yuan. "Great, that's great! You're a good guy! This publicity fee wasn't wasted. With these two sets of modular furniture, the team can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"That's nothing, Uncle Tomita. It's still a long way from the 10,000 yuan goal."

"Don't even mention 10,000 yuan, even 5,000 yuan would be enough to cover the publicity expenses."

Han Futian packed up the money and would record it in the team's account later. As for the small goal mentioned by Li Feng, to sell it for 10,000 yuan, not to mention him, Han Fuguo didn't dare to think that it would take a few days to get half of it.

"Uncle Tomita, don't doubt me, I will definitely achieve this goal for you before the end of the year."

"Good good."

Han Futian said perfunctorily, "Then you have to work hard. Okay, I'll go back and record it in the account."

Li Feng was a little speechless. No, these people all thought he was joking. Fine, just wait and see. "Really, I should have put the manuscript fee aside just now, but it's just a reply now, so forget it. I'll wait for the remittance slip to arrive in a couple of days before I say anything."

Really, ten thousand yuan is a lot of money, Li Feng thought to himself, the total sales of furniture sold so far has exceeded "Oh, it's you kid."

Li Feng was startled. He saw that it was Han Mingliang. "What are you doing? You're covered in mud."

"Going into the water to fish."

"There's a puddle over there in the river that's almost dry. I went in there and caught a lot of fish."

Han Mingliang looked at Li Feng. "Uncle, how about I get it for you?"

"Okay, let me take a look."

Li Feng thought that fresh wild fish and shrimp tasted good, and today was a good day, so he decided to make some fish hotpot.

Following Han Mingliang to the dry creek, this guy probably didn't dare to go home, so he brought all the fish he caught to the dry creek and hid them. "Huh, so many?" Wow, Li Feng took a look, there were quite a lot of fish.

I'm afraid it's about four or five pounds, including several kinds of carp, including crucian carp, meat strips, ditch crawlers, and yellow croaker.

"Hey, there are lots of fish in the puddles."

"Okay, give me all these and I'll give you fifty cents."

Fish are not valuable now, especially the small fish that no one wants. People catch them and take them home to feed chickens and pigs. After all, who doesn’t have extra fish these days and fry them? Besides, small fish have many bones and a fishy smell, so most people don’t like to eat them.

"Uncle, I don't want money."

Han Mingliang lowered his voice. "Uncle, please give me some mooncakes."

"Mooncakes, that's fine too. You take the fish and come back with me to get the mooncakes."

Li Feng never thought that this kid really likes to eat mooncakes. Okay, it’s no big deal. There are still some mooncakes at home. Besides, he can go back and bring some when he has time. This thing is not worth much.

"Do you want the one with five nuts?"

"Ah."

When they arrived at Li Feng's yard, Han Mingliang put the fish in a wooden basin and washed his hands at the same time. After all, he couldn't get his hands dirty as he would be taking the mooncakes later.

"Wait."

Li Feng took a five-nut mooncake and two coin-sized fruit mooncakes. "Try these fruit mooncakes, which are only available in big cities."

"Thank you, uncle."

"This brat has learned to be polite."

Li Feng rubbed Han Mingliang's head. "Go play. By the way, wash yourself well afterward. Don't let your mother see you, or you'll get a bruise on your butt."

"I know."

"Hehe, uncle is leaving now. I'll catch another big grayling for you later." After saying that, he ran out of the yard happily. Li Feng smiled. This kid really thought that grayling was easy to catch.

“But this fish is really good.”

It's just right to make a pot of mixed fish. I have all the seasonings and oil at home, so I brought some with me. First, fry it, add water and seasoning, then make some corn cakes. It's a delicious dish. The yard will be filled with the aroma of fish even before it's out of the pot.

"It smells so good, what delicious food did my cousin make?"

Wu Tong and Qin Yue came back together and smelled the fragrance of fish as soon as they entered the yard.

"Catcher pot, tortillas."

"Earth pot fish?"

"almost."

"No wonder it smells so good."

Wu Tong and Qin Yue smacked their lips. It had only been two days since they arrived here, but this guy was already craving for food. Now, the smell of the fragrance made him even more uncomfortable.

"I'll go call grandpa and grandma."

After a while, Wu Zhenhua, Wang Yin, the Gao brothers, and the Li brothers all came back, and Daya and Erya followed them in. "Close the door quickly, and let's have dinner."

"okay."

Wu Tong hurried to close the gate of the yard. Li Feng put the mixed fish into a porcelain bowl and brought it to the table. There was a bowl of mixed fish, a bowl of corn cakes, a plate of pickled bamboo shoots, and a plate of stir-fried green vegetables.

"Come on, come on, everyone, don't be polite, come on while it's hot."

Eat the fish while it's hot. Li Feng greeted everyone, but his hands were busy. He grabbed a large corn tortilla and put it in the bowl, and picked up a large crucian carp. "Delicious."

The young people ate fish, while the older people Wu Zhenhua and Wang Yin each had half a bowl of fish soup, which was so delicious when soaked with fish cakes.

"Uncle Wu, Aunt Wang, let's eat fish. This fish is fresh."

"Eating."

After greeting Wu Zhenhua and his wife, Li Feng prepared half a bowl of fish for Daya and Erya, and of course, the little girl who came to visit was also present. "Eat, eat more, grow taller."

"Uh-huh."

"Be careful with the fish bones."

"Auntie Wang, it's okay. These kids don't need any instructions. They are very sensible." While Li Feng was talking, he finished a corn cake and grabbed another one. Not to mention soaking the fish cake in some fish soup and eating the small fish was really a pleasure.

"When the water in the reservoir is less, we can take some more small fish back."

The best delicacy in Jiangnan, we haven't taken orders for several days recently. There's no way, there are fewer fish and shrimps. However, we have purchased some knife loaches recently. The villages around Maya Commune now know that Li Feng is purchasing knife loaches.

There are always three or five people bringing knife loaches every day. I have collected quite a few recently. However, small fish are not easy to raise. Li Feng wants to collect some, but most of them will die after half a day.

"Then we'll go cast the net."

"Why don't you go tomorrow?"

Wu Tong's stomach was full of food, three corn cakes and a big bowl of mixed fish.

"Once this batch of furniture is packed and delivered, we'll go to the reservoir to cast our nets."

Li Feng thought about it and decided to focus on serious matters.

"The table and chairs are almost there, but the cabinets and double bed are still a little short."

Gao took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth. He had eaten a lot today and it tasted really good.

"Another set of modular furniture was ordered today."

"Oh, at least two days."

Gao didn't expect that another set would be ordered today, but fortunately the wood had to be roasted again and there was no shortage of wood.

"I'm going to the commune tomorrow to take some measurements." "Mr. Li... no, cousin, can I go with you?" Li Muxiao had never been to the commune before, not to mention he was quite curious.

"Okay, get up early tomorrow and let's go together."

"It just so happens that I still have some meat tickets."

Li Feng said with a smile. "Let's get some meat tomorrow. Everyone's been working so hard lately, so we need some extra nutrition."

The next morning, Li Feng got up early, packed up, and rode his power-assisted bike to take Li Muxiao with him. The ride was bumpy and Li Muxiao almost had stomach acid vomited.

"Boss Li, this road is too bad."

Not only did Li Muxiao's butt hurt from the shaking, but his head and face were also covered in dust. When he shook his head, it was covered in dust.

"This is still good. Although it's a bit dusty, it's still passable. If it rains heavily, the road will be bumpy and you'll definitely get covered in mud." Li Feng took off the towel from his head. "Come on, shake it off."

"If I had known, I would have wrapped myself in a towel as well."

Li Muxiao felt a little regretful for not listening to Li Feng and wrapped a towel around his head. He originally thought it looked ugly with a towel around his head, and besides, the road was covered with dust. Who knew that there would be more dust than he thought.

"Go wash your hair later."

"It can only be this way."

I tried shaking it with a towel for a long time, but there was too much dust, so I had to give up.

"Let's go."

When I arrived at the post office, Huang Xiaoli and Wu Xiaofeng were both there, which saved me a lot of trouble.

"Comrade Xiaoli."

"Comrade Li Feng, you're here. Come and sit down."

Huang Xiaoli hurried out to greet them.

"No need to sit down, let's take the necessary measurements first and make the furniture as soon as possible."

"Okay then, Xiaofeng, keep an eye on it for me."

"Okay, Xiaoli, go ahead and do your work. I'll take care of this."

Li Feng and Li Muxiao followed Huang Xiaoli to her home. The house was newly built this year and was quite nice. It had three large tiled rooms and a small yard. "This house is really nice."

"Fortunately."

Huang Xiali was very happy. Her family was pretty good. Although it was not the only one in the area, at least Ma Ya was one of the best.

After entering the house, Li Feng asked which room this furniture should be placed in.

"The east house."

"to make."

Li Muxiao took a few measurements with the tape measure. "Comrade Xiaoli, where should we put the double bed?"

"Against the back wall."

“Here, that’s fine.”

Li Feng made a rough sketch. "Take a look, is this it?"

"Yes, yes, that's about it."

"Okay, the measurements are almost done. Let's go back first. It will be healed in about two or three days."

"Why so fast?"

Huang Xiaoli was shocked. This was too fast. She thought it would take a month or so, at least ten days or half a month.

"We have enough manpower, and we are all experienced carpenters, so we can make furniture very quickly."

"That's great."

Huang Xiaoli definitely hopes that the furniture can be moved into the house as soon as possible.

"Should it be delivered together with Comrade Xiaofeng's furniture, or should you talk to Comrade Yang Ming and choose an auspicious time?" Li Feng asked in a low voice.

"Just send it over with Xiaofeng's family."

"That works."

As they were talking, Li Feng and Li Muxiao left the yard and strolled around Maya Commune.

"How's it going?"

"Quite small."

Li Muxiao just took a walk around and found that the entire commune had only one street and a few stores, nothing else.

"Communes these days are all pretty much the same, with only a few shops. Besides, Maya is still a poor commune in the mountains, and can't compare to the big communes out there," Li Feng said with a smile. "Let's go visit the supply and marketing cooperative."

After the meat was bought, it was hung on the cart and swung back and forth. It was quite eye-catching and people passing by on the street would subconsciously take a look at it.

"Buy a bottle of wine."

"Get two more packs of cigarettes."

After the subsidy, Li Feng still had enough coupons, so he bought some dried tofu and eggs.

"Do you think there's anything you want to buy?"

"nothing."

"Then let's go back?"

"Let's go."

"Wait."

Just as he was about to leave, Wu Xiaofeng trotted over. "Luckily, you haven't left yet. Oh, I'm so tired."

"What's wrong, Comrade Xiaofeng?"

Li Feng was still thinking about the furniture when Wu Xiaofeng said, "Li Feng, you're amazing! Come back to the post office with me! Our County Director Liu is here to personally deliver the remittance slip to you."

"Director Liu?"

Director Liu of the Post and Telecommunications Bureau, Li Feng muttered, "Is this guy really that exaggerated? Really? It's just a little over a thousand yuan in royalties, and a county post and telecommunications bureau director made a personal trip." Li Feng didn't realize how scary his remittance slip of over a thousand yuan was.

Damn, over a thousand yuan! This kind of private remittance of over a thousand yuan doesn't happen often in the county in a year. They didn't just refuse, they even contacted the police. Luckily, Wu Shengnan and Li Feng knew each other. Otherwise, if he had driven over, people would have suspected Li Feng was a spy.

"This is too much of a fuss."

Li Feng muttered, "Back to the post office, this guy even drove a car. This is too exaggerated."

"came back."

Huang Xiaoli was waiting at the door. When she saw Li Feng and Wu Xiaofeng coming back, she hurried to greet them.

"If you don't come, I'll go find you."

Huang Xiaoli whispered, "Director Liu has urged us several times."

"Why are you in such a hurry? I just found it."

Wu Xiaofeng grumbled softly, but immediately smiled as she entered the room. "Director Liu, I've found someone for you."

"This must be Comrade Li Feng."

"Director Liu, thank you for your help."

"No trouble, no trouble."

Liu Shenggang had just chatted with Huang Shengnan and had come to understand that the remittance slip was most likely for royalties. With this confirmation, Liu Sheng became even more enthusiastic. Wu Xiaofeng, Wu Shengnan, and Huang Xiaoli were surprised and curious about what Li Feng had written to earn such a large fee.

"I wrote a long novel and it will be published in Red Rock next month."

Li Feng took the remittance slip and signed it. He was quite excited to receive more than a thousand yuan.

"It's amazing."

A novel—not everyone could write one, and it was even published in Red Rock. Liu Sheng felt that this guy would be quite something in the future, and might even be transferred to the capital. These days, a well-known writer held no less status than an average county or prefectural leader.

Some great writers can even become cadres in the Ministry of Culture, or even ministers. This is not uncommon, such as Lao Guo and later Wang Meng.

"Nothing, just writing."

"that's humble."

Li Feng, who was not too proud in front of strangers, wanted to be humble, but Director Liu became more and more enthusiastic as they talked. He thought it was getting late, so he would leave it at that. But when Liu Sheng learned that Li Feng had come by bicycle, he insisted on seeing him off.

I had no choice but to fold the car and carry it onto the canvas jeep.

"What, a car is coming?"

"What's going on? Which cadre came down?"

"Dad, it seems like we're going to Uncle Feng's house."

"What has this kid done? Come on, go and call Tomita daddy."

Han Fuguo dropped the barrel and trotted down the hillside, heading straight for Li Feng's house. (End of this chapter)