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

Wang Xingguo said with a wry smile, "I don't have anything. This was an emergency mission. I was on vacation and didn't even have time to rummage around."

The staff member said with a regretful look, "That's such a pity. Section Chief Wang, everyone wants to eat your cured meat and canned goods. They all say that after eating such thoughtful things, they don't dare to rest while working. We can't let your kindness go to waste."

Wang Xingguo was taken aback when he heard this, then smiled and said, "Then I'll bring more next time."

After leaving this area, Wang Xingguo took a car for more than an hour and returned to Malan Town.

As soon as he returned here, he was pulled away to eat.

Actually, Wang Xingguo shouldn't have eaten here, because they were short of food. He had compressed dry rations and wouldn't have gone hungry.

However, unable to refuse such a kind invitation, he could only respectfully accept.

The meals were actually very simple: two cornbread buns made from mixed grains, a bowl of seaweed soup, and a serving of shredded potatoes.

After finishing his meal, Wang Xingguo went to rest and fell asleep almost immediately. The general had originally wanted to talk to him about purchasing camels, but seeing Wang Xingguo snoring loudly and clearly hearing how tired he was, he didn't wake him.

When Wang Xingguo woke up, the general pulled him aside, offering him cigarettes, alcohol, and even a plate of fried peanuts to go with the drinks.

Wang Xingguo, somewhat tipsy, drank a few glasses. Seeing that the general and several cadres seemed intent on getting him drunk, he quickly said, "Stop, stop, stop! Leader, just tell me what's on your mind. There's no need to force me to drink. If it's something I can do, why wouldn't I?"

The general rubbed his hands together and said, "Um, Section Chief Wang, could you write another report when you get back? Just say the emergency water transport camel team needs replacements, and that the temperature is dropping now, could you haul us some cucumbers or something? We haven't had any in ages. And the grain, could you send less coarse grain and more refined grain?"

Wang Xingguo stuck his head out, his face contorted with misery, and said to the group, "General, don't be shy, just kill me! Killing me won't get this done..."

Chief of Staff Song, who was standing nearby, quickly said, "No, no, no, let's talk this over properly. Section Chief Wang, please don't do this. We have no other choice but to ask you for help."

Wang Xingguo said dejectedly, "Everyone here is of a higher rank than me. If you can't handle it, why should I be able to?"

Everyone present knows that Wang Xingguo has strong connections; otherwise, how could he have accomplished so much?

He submitted a report to improve the soldiers' guard duty environment, and then several truckloads of wooden planks were delivered.

He submitted a report requesting improvements to the types of supplies, and the base subsequently received these improvements, even though the higher-ups had been discussing the matter. This proves he was a lucky charm.

He submitted a report stating that a batch of camels should be purchased for emergency water transport, and that's how two hundred camels arrived.

The supplementation with camel fat has helped many experts regain some of their health; such talent must be put to good use!

Anyway, the group showered Wang Xingguo with compliments and continued to toast him, eventually getting him drunk...

After getting the man drunk, the general went to make a special phone call to request supplies!

The general, full of energy, said into the phone, "Hey, old leader, Section Chief Wang got drunk and promised to get live pigs and sheep for our base. He also said he'd transport a batch of fine grains and vegetables to us. I couldn't stop him, so I had no choice but to listen to him."

The old leader paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, here we go again. The situation is a bit difficult right now. I've already transferred supplies from various military regions. Just hang in there a little longer."

The general grinned and said, "Alright, your words, old leader, are enough."

"That child is a good child, don't bully him."

"No, everyone likes this kid. Everyone likes what he does. It's just that he didn't bring the cured meat this time. Did you deduct his salary?"

The old leader laughed and scolded, "Bullshit, that brat isn't short of money. You guys in the Gobi Desert don't know the situation. If he really relied on his salary to buy you nutritional supplements, he'd be broke after carrying all that stuff."

After hanging up the phone, the general returned to the dining table with a smile. Wang Xingguo had already been carried back to rest.

He asked Chief of Staff Song, "Old Song, you know the old leader better. What do you think is this kid's relationship with him?"

Chief of Staff Song hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Our old leader adopted a girl who had been separated from her family and couldn't find them. Later, when this adopted daughter was helping to pass information to the organization, she was captured by the Japanese because an insider leaked the information. To avoid being severely tortured, she committed suicide. Do you know about this? I think the girl's surname was Wang, maybe that's why..."

The general paused, took a sip of wine, and then sighed, "Ah, so that's the relationship. Not only do I know about it, I even met her back then. She was only fifteen or sixteen when she sacrificed her life. If it really is this relationship, judging by her age, she could be this child's aunt..."

Although Wang Xingguo was drunk, he woke up after a while, got in the car, and headed back.

The convoy returned to Daheyan, but unfortunately, the train hadn't departed yet, and they needed to stay overnight before a train could take them back the next day.

After checking in, Wang Xingguo remembered the people who had brought sheep to exchange for other things, and couldn't help but go to the first floor of the guesthouse.

He offered a cigarette to the staff member, then asked in a low voice, "Hey buddy, I've seen a lot of people selling things outside of our delivery quota around here. Is this stuff really okay?"

The staff member looked at Wang Xingguo, then at the surroundings, and after confirming that no one was around, he whispered, "You can buy it, and the price isn't high, but you can only say it's from an exchange, otherwise it will break the rules. Besides, I think you're waiting for your train, and you can't bring this on the train."

Wang Xingguo gestured towards the dormitory next door and said to the staff, "We're constantly traveling back and forth like this, and our bodies are starting to give out. We'd like to bring back a lamb for a nice meal. I wonder if you could help us make it?"

Upon hearing Wang Xingguo's words, the staff member nodded repeatedly and said, "No problem, we can stew it for you, but I need to take some home for my family. Is that too much to ask?"

Wang Xingguo naturally had no objections. After learning that he only wanted an extra meal, the staff directly directed him to buy it at a more distant place. If anyone questioned him, he could say that he had exchanged it for supplies. As long as he didn't mention buying or selling, generally no one would cause trouble.

Then, now is the time when the sheep are at their fattest and most delicious, and the price will be a few yuan higher. A fat sheep weighing 80 or 90 jin (40-45 kg) will cost around 28 to 35 yuan.

The price is because the sheep are at their fattest now; at other times, you could buy them for around 23 to 30 yuan.

However, they preferred bartering. For example, two packs of cigarettes could be exchanged for a sheep, five bottles of Erguotou liquor could also be exchanged for a sheep, and three meters of cloth could also be exchanged for a sheep.

After finding out the details, Wang Xingguo set off excitedly.

He'll definitely have extra meals, but he'd rather buy a batch and store it in his space. These days, no matter what kind of meat it is, as long as you eat meat and grain together, you won't suffer from malnutrition.