Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Steel rolling mill.

Factory Director's Office.

Li Huaide returned to the factory director's office and sat down, then handed Wang Feng a Zhonghua cigarette and said with a smile:

"Hey bro, wanna have a smoke?"

Wang Feng took the cigarette, lit it, and without any ceremony, pulled up a stool and sat opposite Li Huaide, smiling as he asked:

"Brother Li, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Li Huaide took a deep drag on his cigarette and gave a wry smile: "Brother, I'm in big trouble right now. That's why I called you over to help me think of a solution."

"Um?"

Wang Feng was somewhat surprised: "Brother Li, you're the head of the steel rolling mill. If you can't solve this, what can a mere deputy section chief like me do?"

Li Huaide gestured for him to finish speaking, saying, "Brother, let me finish first."

Wang Feng nodded: "Brother Li, go ahead and say it, I'm listening."

Li Huaide sighed deeply and said with a wry smile, "Brother, not only is the meat processing plant running out of meat, but the grain station has also reduced our factory's grain ration starting this month. Refined grains are only 30% of what they used to be, and cornmeal is only 80%. Brother, you're quick-witted, can you help me think of a solution? What are we going to do about such a huge grain shortage?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng frowned. He hadn't expected that even a large state-owned factory like the steel rolling mill would experience a reduction in quotas.

"Brother Li, this time our factory is reducing quotas. Is it a reduction across all factories in Beijing, or just our steel rolling mill?"

"Brother, is there any need to say anything? All the factories have definitely reduced their operations. Otherwise, would those guys at the grain depot dare to discriminate against our steel mill? Do they really think I, Li Huaide, am easy to bully?" Li Huaide said speechlessly.

Hearing Li Huaide's words, Wang Feng asked again, "Brother Li, did you say when the quota would be restored?"

Li Huaide gave a wry smile: "They said they'd set a three-month limit for now and then see how things go, but even three months is going to be tough. After all, even if the quota is reduced, the tasks the Ministry of Metallurgy is giving us won't be reduced."

Wang Feng nodded: "Brother Li, I do have an idea, but I don't know if it will work."

"Brother, what's the plan? Tell me quickly."

Li Huaide excitedly grabbed Wang Feng's arm, eagerly awaiting his answer.

Wang Feng sighed, "Brother Li, most of the workers in the factory are eating cornbread right now. We can mix some elm leaves into cornmeal to make wild vegetable cornbread. That way, the workers will be able to eat their fill. We just need to hold on for three months."

"Brother, this won't do. The workers will definitely complain. Besides, elm leaves are bitter, astringent, and irritate the throat. How can anyone eat them?" Li Huaide frowned.

"Hehe, Brother Li, Jingru has a way to make elm leaves less bitter and less harsh on the throat." Wang Feng smiled confidently.

"Brother, are you serious?" Li Huaide asked excitedly.

Wang Feng smiled and nodded: "Brother Li, don't worry. I'll get some elm leaves to take back today, and Jingru will make some cornbread with cornmeal mixed with elm leaves tomorrow morning. I'll bring it over for you to try, and then you'll see."

Wang Feng wasn't making this up. In his previous life, he really did eat elm leaves when he was a child. His family was poor, and they had to sell the harvested grain to pay for his schooling and to pay the grain tax. When things got really tough, his mother would occasionally mix elm leaves with cornmeal to make cornbread for him.

Moreover, removing the bitterness and astringency from elm leaves is very simple. After blanching them, squeeze out the green water from the leaves, and they will be much less bitter.

Hearing Wang Feng's assurance, Li Huaide was overjoyed.

"Haha, bro, you really are Brother Li's lucky star!"

Li Huaide laughed for a while, then paused and asked, "Brother, eating too many elm leaves is hard to digest. How am I supposed to explain this to the workers?"

Wang Feng explained with a smile, "Hehe, Brother Li, we don't need to make cornbread with elm leaves mixed with cornmeal every day. We can just eat cornbread with elm leaves mixed in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can spread the word that in order to help our fellow workers remember the hardships of the past and cherish the hard-won life we ​​have now, for three months, the canteen will specially serve 'bitter-remembering meals' every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."

"And Brother Li, when you organize the factory's cadres and have everyone go to the factory for this 'bitter-sweet meal,' what can the workers say?"

"All we need to do is mix 40% elm leaves into cornmeal and make cornbread every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Wouldn't that solve the food crisis?"

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide gave Wang Feng a thumbs up and laughed heartily.

"Haha, bro, that was a brilliant move!"

Wang Feng laughed and rubbed his hands together towards Li Huaide:

"Brother Li, I've done you such a big favor this time, it's not unreasonable for me to ask for a reward, is it?"

"Not at all, not at all, brother. Just tell me what you want. As long as it doesn't violate any principles, Brother Li will definitely get it done for you perfectly," Li Huaide said with a hearty laugh.

Wang Feng explained with a smile, "Hehe, Brother Li, it's like this, I have a friend in the yard who just turned 16, and he asked me to help him buy an apprenticeship spot, so that's why I came to you."

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide laughed heartily: "Brother, what's the big deal? You wait here, I'll write you a letter of introduction right away. You don't need to buy anything. You've helped me so much this time, consider this my reward."

"Okay, thank you, Brother Li," Wang Feng said with a smile.

Li Huaide took out a letter of introduction and looked at Wang Feng, asking, "Brother, do you want to give your colleagues in this courtyard some special treatment?"

Wang Feng smiled and waved his hand: "No need, just arrange for him to work in the fitter's workshop, just do it normally."

"become."

Li Huaide agreed and signed his name on the letter of introduction, also affixing the steel rolling mill's official seal.

Wang Feng took the letter of introduction and put it in his pocket, then smiled and said, "Thanks, Brother Li. By the way, Brother Li, you need to give me a slip for that wild boar thing so I can go to the finance department to collect the money."

"oh."

Li Huaide slapped his forehead: "Brother, I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it. You wait, I'll write you a note right now."

Soon, Li Huaide finished writing the note and handed it to Wang Feng.

"Brother, pork is ten yuan a pound on the black market now, but you know the situation at our factory. The most I can offer you is 4.5 yuan a pound for live pigs. You shouldn't be losing money, right?"

Wang Feng smiled nonchalantly: "Don't worry, Brother Li, I went to the mountains with my hunter friends to hunt these. I bought them for 4.3 yuan each, so I won't lose money."

Li Huaide nodded: "As long as we don't lose money, that's fine."

"Okay, Brother Li, I'll get back to work now."

"Go."