In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Wang Yongli nodded and said, "We don't have the final say on this. Eleventh Master is just trying to protect you, after all, you're the most successful person in your branch right now."

Wang Xingguo said speechlessly, "What kind of success do I have? If it weren't for making a living, I wouldn't be messing around like this."

Wang Yongli said earnestly, "Xingguo, everyone has seen how you've managed to get food for the clan. We know you're doing this for everyone's benefit. Moreover, clan members serving in the military in other places have sent letters home, all saying that there's a serious food shortage in various regions. The clan has also reduced its own rations to try and save more food for future use."

Wang Xingguo shook his head repeatedly and said, "Eat your fill when you're full. Don't starve yourself to save food."

After saying that, Wang Xingguo whispered, "Uncle Yongli, our clan is ultimately under the jurisdiction of the commune. When other production brigades are short of food, and we have saved some, do you think they might allocate our food to them?"

Wang Yongli was silent for a moment, then nodded seriously and said, "I'm afraid they really will do that! But Xingguo, don't worry, I'll write a letter to the clan in a bit. We have our own underground warehouse, which only the core members of the clan know about. Transferring some of the grain there will ensure everything goes smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingguo's eyes lit up. If there really was such a warehouse, he could take a batch of his grain back to the clan first, so that the clan members would have some peace of mind.

Thinking of this, Wang Xingguo said to Wang Yongli, "Uncle Yongli, since the clan has such a place, I have a batch of grain that I can give to the clan. I'll go back tomorrow and ask someone to bring the grain to the village."

Wang Yongli smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, do whatever you want. I'll take good care of things here."

Half an hour later, Gan Ping and Chen Ming returned. It was already six o'clock in the afternoon. The people from the clan who had returned to the village also came back, bringing chickens, ducks, geese, two baskets of chicken and duck eggs, and two large fat pigs.

The purchase order was handed over to Chen Ming, who registered it and put it into inventory. Half of the profit generated from selling this batch of goods was handed over to him.

Wang Xingguo didn't care about the state-owned enterprises' prices for purchasing live poultry and pigs. He offered higher prices to his clan members so they could profit from the price difference by purchasing other people's live poultry and pigs.

The crowds were still large tonight, and Wang Xingguo even ran into several former neighbors from the same alley who came to buy things. He greeted them warmly. However, he couldn't offer them a discount, since the price was fixed and he would have to subsidize it himself if he gave them a discount.

Moreover, this night market with negotiated prices isn't actually for serving ordinary people; it's for making money off the wealthy. Since they come to buy overpriced goods and are willing to spend the money, there's nothing he can do to stop them.

At 8:30, Wang Xingguo saw the long-awaited winning streak!

Both of them were very happy. Wang Xingguo pulled his childhood friend to sit down in the main hall, opened a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), and started drinking with him.

Lian Sheng exclaimed with emotion, "Xingguo, you've changed so much in four years!"

Wang Xingguo chuckled, looking at Lian Sheng, who had gained a considerable amount of weight, and said, "You're one to talk! How come you've been eating so well these past few years and gotten so fat?"

Lian Sheng chuckled and said, "I can't say where my dad and I moved to, but there's no shortage of fish there. I've even hunted roe deer and pheasants, so there's no shortage of meat. It's just that transportation is a bit difficult, and there's a bit of a food shortage there."

Wang Xingguo asked in surprise, "Didn't you move to Dalian?"

Lian Sheng shook his head and said, "It's not Dalian. Our letters are all transported to Dalian and then forwarded. I can't go into details for you, but there are confidentiality regulations, so please don't ask about it."

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Alright, since you're back, why should I ask so many questions? By the way, how is my uncle's health?"

"Sigh, it's the same old problem. His stomach ailment keeps flaring up. The doctor cures it, but it always comes back. He forgets to eat all the time, and he gets angry when people remind him. There's just no way to deal with him. My job over there is to bring him food every day and make sure he eats and takes his medicine."

Lian Sheng's father worked in scientific research and often forgot to eat and sleep, which caused him to develop a stomach ailment that never got better.

Wang Xingguo solemnly invited Lian Sheng to his wedding banquet. Lian Sheng never expected that his childhood friend would be getting married.

He asked with a gossipy look, "Xingguo, what does my sister-in-law look like? Is she pretty?"

Wang Xingguo rolled his eyes at Lian Sheng and said, "That's my wife. What business is it of yours whether she's pretty or not! Xingning said your house is now a heavily guarded compound, and you need to escort her in?"

Lian Sheng nodded and explained, "That's true. The main reason is that the people living there have a high level of security. Although our family isn't high-ranking, we have to abide by their rules if we're assigned to stay there. Anyone other than immediate family members has to register and be escorted in."

Wang Xingguo and Lian Sheng toasted each other and said with a smile, "This is really troublesome. I won't be able to visit my uncle then."

Lian Sheng laughed and said, "It's no trouble at all. If you really want to go, I can help you register. But I'm busy with work matters lately, so let's talk about it after I've finished this."

Wang Xingguo asked, "Where have you been assigned to work now?"

Lian Sheng laughed and said, "Hey, I learned some skills from my dad over the past few years, and he arranged for me to work at the Shijingshan Steel Plant. It's pretty good; it's not too far from home."

There's no way to compare people like this. Lian Sheng was able to get into a key unit like a steel mill as soon as he started working. It's really hard to get into a steel mill, since it's a unit with a high priority supply of materials.

Throughout the difficult period, the priority of supplies was divided as follows: the military and defense units were in the first tier; heavy industrial enterprises such as Shijiazhuang Iron and Steel Group and Jingxi Coal Mine were in the second tier; ordinary state-owned factories and government officials were in the third tier; and finally, ordinary urban residents were in the last tier.

The two finished a bottle of Erguotou, and Wang Xingguo opened another one. Lian Sheng watched in amazement as people came and went.

He couldn't help but ask, "Xingguo, what exactly is this night market with negotiated prices? I see so many people buying things here, it's like a vegetable market. When did this kind of market start?"

Wang Xingguo chuckled and quietly explained the situation. Lian Sheng exclaimed in surprise, "Goodness, you really know how to stir things up! But it's good this way. At least I don't have to worry about you getting caught dealing in these things one day, and me having to beg people to bail you out."

Wang Xingguo laughed and scolded, "Get lost! You jinx! Can't you say something nice? Pah! Pah! Pah!"

Lian Sheng lowered his voice and said, "I'm serious. If you ever have any trouble in the future, remember to tell me. I've gotten to know a lot of leaders through my dad, so I can always find someone to put in a good word for me."

Wang Xingguo patted Lian Sheng on the shoulder and said, "Okay, we're brothers for life. If anything happens, I'll definitely ask you for help."