Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

After some haggling, Xu Bei and Lao Ba bought some cloth coupons from him.

Both the buyer and seller, from their respective perspectives, were satisfied with the transaction.

Interpersonal relationships often progress from strangers to acquaintances in a very short time.

Old Scar chuckled and said, "Brother, if you want to change anything in the future, just come to me. Even if I don't have it, I can help you ask around."

"Okay, then I'll probably need to trouble you a lot in the future, brother. After all, you know this place well..."

Xu Bei had already put his cotton gloves back on. He thought for a moment and then spoke in a low voice, "Actually, brother, I just want to ask you something."

Old Scar's eyes widened slightly. "Brother, tell me. As long as I know it, I'll tell you everything without reservation."

Xu Bei said with feigned seriousness, "I have a friend who's a carpenter. His wooden stools are high quality and cheap. They'd sell well anywhere in our city."

Old Scar had come up with many guesses, but he never expected it to be like this. He scratched the scar on his face and said, "Brother, you've really stumped me. The one thing we have plenty of here is wood. Which family doesn't have a wooden stool?"

Your friend is doing so well selling his craft; making cabinets and furniture for clients, he can earn a good amount in just over twenty days. Why sell stools? You're doing the work and providing the materials, and you don't even make much money.

Xu Bei naturally understood that what the old scar said was true, and that his purpose in asking the question was not really to find out.

"I tried to persuade him the same way, but he's so stubborn. He just wouldn't listen. Now he's made quite a few, and I've been helping him sell some for a dollar each. And let me tell you, everyone's praising these stools as cheap and good, even better than those made of ash."

Old Scar's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, brother, how much did you say? One dollar? That stool is really well made, better than ash wood?"

"Seeing is believing," Xu Bei said cheerfully. "How about this, brother, if you're still here this afternoon, I'll bring it over for you to see. You know a lot of people, maybe you can help out."

Old Scar quickly replied, "Sure, brother, if it's convenient for you, take a look. Maybe I can be of some help."

Afterwards, Xu Bei quickly left the black market with the cloth coupons, without continuing to browse.

His next stop was a state-run restaurant, where he spent money and food coupons to buy six large pork-filled buns before heading straight to his sister's high school.

Xu Juan had been taking exams all morning, and she was not only feeling dizzy and lightheaded, but her stomach was also rumbling with hunger.

Therefore, as soon as she saw her brother appear, she happily transformed into a little swallow and ran towards him.

"Brother, where have you been all morning?"

Xu Bei patted his sister's head with his gloved hand. "We've been to quite a few places. Are you starving? Let's find somewhere to eat some meat buns. They're still warm wrapped in oil paper in my arms."

"Oh my, I'm so happy right now!" Xu Juan exclaimed joyfully, listing all the good things she could think of. "I ate so much stewed green beans and pork on Saturday, I had fried dough sticks yesterday, and today I have meat buns to eat."

"If you feel happy, eat more so you'll have more energy for the exam this afternoon."

If Xu Bei hadn't been considering how much time and energy it would take to travel back and forth, he definitely would have taken his sister to a state-run restaurant for braised pork with rice.

"Great, I'll be completely free after the exam this afternoon!" Xu Juan sighed with a hint of regret and self-reproach. "But, brother, I think I burned it a little. I feel a bit bad for all this delicious food."

Xu Bei knew that his younger sister's academic performance was not among the top, so he did not have high expectations for her. He comforted her, saying, "So what if you mess up? It's not the college entrance exam yet, what are you afraid of? You're only in your first year of high school. It's not too late to catch up and study hard when school starts again."

Xu Juan nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "Yes, it's not too late! Brother, you really know how to comfort people, I never realized it before."

Xu Bei blatantly lied, "That's because I deliberately hid my strength."

The brother and sister chatted and ate meat-filled steamed buns, accompanied by hot water, and found the lunch quite enjoyable.

After lunch break, Xu Juan went into the classroom to take the exam, and Xu Bei left the school again.

He arrived at the black market a little later than the time he had agreed upon with Old Scar.

The sun is at its highest point in the blue sky right now, and it's much warmer than it was in the morning.

Seeing Xu Bei carrying two stools over, Old Scar, who was squatting against the wall smoking with his hat askew, immediately got up to greet him.

"Here you are, bro."

Xu Bei said in a perfunctory manner, "Sorry, brother, I'm a little late."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. We're not strangers here, and besides, I don't have anything to do. It's fine either way."

At this moment, Old Scar was more concerned about the condition of the stool, and his gaze was fixed on his hands.

"Is this the stool your friend made?"

Xu Bei handed one over directly, "Yes. Big brother, look, isn't the workmanship excellent?"

Old Scar knew a little about carpentry. After taking it, he turned it over and over and examined it for a long time. He then tried sitting on it and gave it a thumbs up.

"Brother, you're not exaggerating. Your friend's craftsmanship is indeed better than some veteran carpenters!"

While the two were talking, other vendors gathered in twos and threes nearby to watch the spectacle.

Especially when they saw that the stools they brought were wooden, unlike the more dangerous items they were trying to sell, everyone's reaction was more relaxed.

Afterwards, some people tried sitting on another wooden stool and also praised it highly.

Xu Bei wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone else for the time being; he only intended to keep an eye on Old Scar.

As expected, Old Scar did not disappoint him. He quickly pulled the stool back as well, and then the two brothers pulled Xu Bei aside to find a place to chat in detail.

"Brother, to be honest, your friend's wooden stool is quite easy to sell in our city if you really want to."

But the price definitely has to be lower. Otherwise, you won't be competitive with the products sold in stores or at farmers' markets.

Xu Bei had inquired about prices in those places before, so he naturally knew that only those who could bargain were buyers.

"So, brother, you mean...?"

After a short time, Old Scar could tell that the guy in front of him wasn't the kind of person who would dawdle.

He habitually touched the scar on his face before speaking, "How about this, brother, see if you can go back and talk to your friend and see if he can lower the price. I'll take fifty first."

Xu Bei, who was a man who made friends out of thin air, couldn't agree immediately, so he played along and said, "Okay, I'll go back and ask him and then I'll get back to you."