Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Before Liu Guangqi could speak, Yan Bugui, who was watching, interjected: "The pork stalls in the market set prices at 96 cents a pound for first-grade pork and 70 cents a pound for third-grade pork, but you need a ration coupon and you have to go early to queue up, otherwise you might not be able to buy any."

"Pigeons at the market are 1.3 yuan per jin without tickets, what a rip-off..."

Yan Bugui was about to explain, but then he realized that Director Wang was still there, so he stopped talking. Wouldn't that be the same as admitting that he had been to these places?

Finally, they had no choice but to change their tune and say, "Up to 4 times, 4 times."

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Dabiao said to the people of Qinjiatun, "Take the marriage certificate, and I'll buy the wild boar at 1 yuan per jin, which is 240 yuan."

"What do you guys think?"

Zhang Dabiao couldn't bring himself to take advantage of these poor farmers.

They could transport the wild boar to the pigeon market to sell, but that's risky. Selling it to the supply and marketing cooperative would probably be much cheaper than at the vegetable market, making it even less profitable.

Therefore, Zhang Dabiao's target price was one yuan, as for buying it at four times the black market price—

Zhang Dabiao isn't stupid.

Squad Leader Qin Dingsong's expression immediately changed: "How can that be?"

"I said I'd give it to you, so I'll give it to you. How could I possibly ask for money?"

Zhang Dabiao was straightforward: "If you don't take the money, I can't accept this wild boar, and I won't give you the marriage certificate either."

Meanwhile, Yan Bugui and the others were extremely anxious—

[Are you crazy to offer money to someone who gives it to you for free?]

Don't give it to me!

Zhang Dabiao explained, "This wild boar is mine only after I pay for it. Besides, I'm the purchasing agent, so don't worry, I won't lose money."

At this moment, Qin Dingsong and the others exchanged glances and nodded.

He accepted the 240 yuan, took the marriage certificate, and immediately burned it.

They breathed a sigh of relief when they got rid of the thing. What they didn't know was that Zhang Dabiao had scanned it with a scanner last night and also taken a separate photo with his phone, making a double backup.

Although there were no cameras of that era, Zhang Dabiao had a printer. He could print them out and then take them to a photo studio to have them taken and developed, and the results would be the same.

This can be considered as having a backup plan, just in case the other party causes trouble again.

Before leaving, Qin Dingsong said a few words: "Zhang family boy, our Qin family village owes you. Since you are the purchasing agent, we will keep all the mountain products in our village for you."

"We don't sell to other people."

[There's this benefit too?]

Zhang Dabiao's eyes lit up; this was an unexpected delight.

"Also, Qin Huairu, from now on..."

"Don't go back to Qinjiatun. Our village can't afford to lose face like that."

In short, Qin Huairu's family was gone.

"Captain, Second Uncle, I..."

Qin Dahe shook his head, did not look at Qin Huairu, and followed Qin Dingsong and the others out of the courtyard.

Qin Huairu collapsed to the ground, utterly dejected. She had already suffered greatly since marrying into the Jia family, and now that she had lost her maternal family, it was as if she had no brothers to support her. She didn't know how Jia Zhangshi would torment her further.

That's it, everything's over.

She thought that marrying into the city would bring her happiness, but what happened?

The family of five squeezed into one side room. Her mother-in-law tormented her every day. She had just given birth and was still in her postpartum period when she had to wash clothes in the dead of winter, using cold water.

But look at Zhang Dabiao next door. He's a bit younger, but he owns two houses. And now, not only does he have a warehouse manager position at the steel rolling mill waiting for him, but he also has a temporary purchasing agent job. Ever since his mind cleared up that day, he's been living a life of luxury. Even the former landlords of Qinjiatun wouldn't dare live like that!

Why didn't you get better sooner?

Get well soon, I...

Qin Huairu wanted to cry but had no tears.

Why? Why?!

Why is it that you, Zhang Dabiao, had all the bad luck at the beginning and end, but suddenly became intelligent when our Jia family was plotting against you?

Seeing her lifeless eyes, Sha Zhu felt heartbroken, but Zhang Dabiao, Director Wang, and the others just shook their heads.

Do not live by committing sins.

Originally, the first law promulgated in our country after its founding 50 years ago was the Marriage Law, which established—

I. Abolish the feudal marriage system of arranged and forced marriages, where men are superior to women.

II. Implement a marriage system based on freedom of marriage, monogamy, and equality of rights between men and women.

III. Protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and children.

Zhang Banxian "bought" a wife for Zhang Dabiao, who was 7 years old at the time, which was illegal.

If you, Qin Huairu, are unwilling to marry, you can directly appeal to the local police station, street office, or women's federation. You'll win every time, because that marriage certificate has no legal effect!

Moreover, Qin Huairu's act of secretly marrying Jia Dongxu is a typical example of resisting arranged marriages and free love in the old society, and it deserves to be highlighted and commended.

To put it dramatically, this one incident alone is enough to get you a job as a clerk in the neighborhood office.

Since you didn't sue, Zhang Bansian wouldn't dare say anything. Even if he wanted you to pay back the money, even if you were in the wrong, if you went to the neighborhood committee or the women's federation to file a complaint, Zhang Bansian would be in deep trouble and would most likely not dare to ask you to pay back the money again.

But you insisted on getting married without informing me, without returning the money, and instead, after Zhang the fortune teller died, you schemed against his son—

You're just making things difficult for yourself, aren't you out of your mind?

Now that things have come to this, even if the Women's Federation intervenes, they have no reason to help you.

Did Zhang Dabiao demand that you fulfill the marriage certificate?

No?

Did Zhang Dabiao ask you to return the money or extort money from you?

nor!

Moreover, a few years ago when it was possible to transfer one's household registration to the city, Qin Huairu listened to her mother-in-law and insisted on keeping her household registration in the village, just in order to get a little more grain every year.

Now things are much better. Banggeng and Xiaodang are both from the countryside. There are five people in the family, and four of them don't have a ration quota...

Director Wang sighed, unsure of what to say.

This is a classic case of squandering a winning hand!

After the Qin family left, the neighbors gathered around.

"Da Biao, this wild boar is so big, you can't possibly eat it all by yourself. Why don't you sell some to the neighbors?"

Yan Bugui had this idea in mind, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, Da Biao, we're all neighbors, so give us a discount!"

"From now on, Da Biao will be a purchasing agent, and the mountain products from Qinjiatun will be reserved for him. Da Biao is going to make a fortune!"

"What are you thinking! I'm not selling this wild boar!"

Zhang Dabiao made the final decision with a single sentence!

I'll sell it to you, and even lower the price?

Am I some kind of sucker?

Yan Bugui and the others immediately changed their expressions. He was still thinking of buying the goods from Zhang Dabiao at a low price and then selling them on the black market. He could make at least two yuan per pound!

As Zhang Dabiao's second uncle and also his homeroom teacher, it's not unreasonable for him to weigh 30 jin (15 catties), right?

Zhang Dabiao won't sell?

He, Yan Bugui, lost 60 yuan directly!

He lost 60 yuan in a day without doing anything. How could he tolerate that?!

But with Director Wang still standing by, Yan Bugui couldn't very well resort to moral blackmail at this point, so he just saw Zhang Dabiao beckoning to Liu Guangqi.

"Guangqi, you guys... no, isn't it our factory that's buying these things now?"

"Absolutely! There's a meat shortage everywhere right now!"

"Shall we send it now?"

"No need, no need. The factory hasn't started operating yet. I'll have my buddy come and pick up the goods himself. He's in charge of purchasing for this area."

"Guangtian, go to Brother Tian's house. Tell him Da Biao bought a wild boar and is waiting for him to come and collect it!"

"Okay, sure."

Without saying a word, Liu Guangtian ran outside.

Yan Bugui immediately became anxious: "Da Biao, this is pork from our yard, you should at least leave some for the neighbors, shouldn't you?"

Zhang Dabiao then pulled out the small booklet of purchasing permits.

"What do you mean, pork from the yard? I bought this wild boar myself."

"I sold to the factory; that's a business transaction, and it's part of my job."

"Selling to you? That would be speculation and profiteering, and I wouldn't dare make that mistake!"

"It's because someone reported me yesterday."