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

Wang Xingguo was somewhat displeased with this matter. After thinking about it, he decided to discuss it with Director Zhao tonight.

It's not appropriate for him to do it himself; it would be more convenient for his uncle to speak on his behalf.

Wang Xingning and her siblings came home from school and went into the house with Li Chunmei. When they saw Wang Xingguo return, the three of them quickly greeted him and chattered around him, asking him all sorts of questions.

Wang Xingguo cheerfully shared some things with them that he could talk about, but he wouldn't say anything he couldn't.

Wang Xingning suddenly asked, "Second Brother, there's not much food this year, I'm afraid it won't be enough. Do you know where we can get some vegetables?"

Wang Xingguo was a little surprised and asked, "What happened?"

Wang Xingning pulled him into her room, where the family's vegetables were piled up in the corner.

Wang Xingguo stared dumbfounded at the dozen or so cabbages and said, "There are eight of us in my family, and this is all the cabbages we have?"

Wang Xingning nodded and said, "There's only so much cabbage available for winter storage right now, but each person can buy two ounces of vegetables per day, like red radishes, potatoes, and cabbage. In previous years, we would prepare all the winter storage vegetables at once. I don't know why we have to make people buy them this year; it's so inconvenient. And we can only buy enough for five days at a time; we're not allowed to buy more."

Wang Xingguo understood; this was likely due to a significant reduction in the production of vegetables intended for winter storage.

People are only focused on the reduction in grain production, but they haven't noticed that vegetable production, which requires even more water to grow, has also decreased.

To put it bluntly, the purpose of this purchase limit is to encourage people to eat sparingly. Many people buy vegetables and store them improperly, causing all the winter-stored vegetables to spoil and resulting in a huge waste.

In previous years, because there was plenty of food, such waste was not a big deal.

This year is not an option. Both grain and vegetable production have decreased this year, so we can only strictly control waste to ensure that we don't run out of vegetables.

Their family of eight, because the policy does not take age into account, but only the number of people, can buy 1.8 jin of vegetables a day.

If that's the case, then although there's not much cabbage stored for winter, as long as you can buy vegetables, there won't be a shortage.

However, some cabbages from Wang Xingguo's space can be retrieved. Although they don't taste as good because they haven't been cooled down, these cabbages are perfect for making sauerkraut.

The eldest sister-in-law carried Wang Cheng'an back, and Wang Cheng'an smiled when he saw Wang Xingguo.

Wang Xingguo greeted them cheerfully and then took Wang Chengan down.

Shen Qingqing asked with a smile, "Xingguo, can you rest for a few days this time?"

Wang Xingguo said with a hint of helplessness, "They say it's seven days, but I'm not sure if I can get that many days off. My company keeps making me work overtime all the time, so it's really hard to say."

Shen Qingqing nodded and said, "Then you should hurry up and take some time to go back to the old courtyard with your older brother. They keep stopping Xiuping and me from asking for help. This matter can't be left unresolved."

Wang Xingguo said somewhat unhappily, "Damn it, this attempt to help has backfired!"

Shen Qingqing nodded and said, "We helped them too much in the past, and now that they have no other choice, they only think of asking our family for help. But I have explained to them many times that our family can't get any supplies now, and we don't have that channel anymore, but they just don't believe me."

Wang Xingguo sighed and said, "I'll handle this. It's not appropriate for my brother and I to go back and talk to him. Let's talk to Uncle Zhao and ask him to arrange for someone to meet with him."

"Hey kid, who do you want to talk to? Open the door."

Li Zhong's voice rang out.

Wang Xingguo quickly got up to open the door, and Shen Qingqing hurriedly went to make tea. Soon the tea was brewed and a cigarette was lit.

Wang Xingguo recounted the situation to Li Zhong, and at the end, he said with emotion, "Grandpa Li, I used to be the director of the night market, and I could indeed help procure some supplies. How can I help them now?"

Li Zhong looked at Wang Xingguo with a strange expression, then pulled him into the room.

Wang Xingguo was a little stunned.

Li Zhong whispered in his ear, "Our people got wind of it. A Japanese cargo ship is arriving in Hong Kong in ten days, loaded with our much-needed medicines and all sorts of canned goods—a total of eight thousand tons. Don't you know all sorts of shady characters? Do you have any way to pull off a heist?"

Wang Xingguo gasped, then asked in a low voice, puzzled, "Grandpa Li, how could you...?"

Logically speaking, someone like Grandpa Li wouldn't do such a thing, right?

Li Zhong waved his hand and continued in a low voice, "I certainly wouldn't be so shameless as to do this to an ordinary person, but the boss behind this company is a war criminal! I don't think there's anything wrong with treating such a beast."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingguo nodded vigorously without hesitation and said, "I'll do it! I'll do it even without overtime pay!"

Li Zhong nodded and said, "I'll give you two days to rest. When you come back to the unit, I'll explain the details to you and discuss how to transport the items back. Don't do anything reckless like last time."

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll take a good rest these two days to recover my energy. You'd better figure out where the cargo ship is docking, and don't send anyone with me. The people I know don't want to come into contact with strangers."

Li Zhong didn't say anything, just nodded, teased Wang Cheng'an and Wang Jianhua, and then said he had to go to a meeting before leaving.

Wang Xingbang returned and told Wang Xingguo about the neighbors who had been coming to him for help.

Wang Xingguo sighed, "Brother, if I could, I would definitely like to help them, but I can't. I helped them before, and now it's caused problems."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xingbang said, "Second brother, let me take some money to help them. They helped us when our parents passed away, and we have to repay that kindness. After this, we'll have repaid their debt. I won't be soft-hearted anymore."

Wang Xingguo was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I'll have Xiuping give you three hundred yuan. You can distribute it to the neighbors; consider it a settlement. If they asked you for help, I wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it, but they went to your sister-in-law and Xiuping because they knew they were soft-hearted. That friendship has ultimately been corrupted..."

In fact, Wang Xingguo is not a heartless person. He has always been grateful for the help of his neighbors and has always helped them get supplies.

No matter which neighbor asked him for a favor, he never refused. But even the deepest friendship will eventually run out.

Without saying a word, Li Xiuping counted out three hundred yuan and gave it to Wang Xingbang.

After dinner, Wang Xingbang smoked a cigarette and then rode his bicycle alone back to the old courtyard at No. 17 Fuxiangsi Hutong.

Shen Qingqing asked, "Xingguo, I don't really want to ask your older brother, but I've never understood why you brothers help those old neighbors so much?"

Wang Xingguo explained, "Sister-in-law, it's like this. After my father died in the line of duty, my four siblings and I were still young and couldn't accept it. My mother even fainted. The neighbors helped with the funeral arrangements. Later, my mother couldn't bear the blow of my father's death and passed away as well."

We couldn't bear this blow, and it was still our neighbors who helped with the funeral arrangements, including finding jobs and providing compensation. We haven't forgotten their kindness, but as you know, I've helped them a lot these past two years. When they come to the night market asking for supplies and food, I always get them the lowest prices.

But I can't accept them blocking you and Xiuping. They stopped you today, and if we don't help them, they might hold a grudge and harm you. So I plan to talk to Director Zhao. After all, I've already repaid the debt of gratitude to the Wang family.