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

Wang Xingguo had abundant resources and money was easy for him to obtain, so he spared no effort in order to be able to sleep in the same bed with his wife as soon as possible.

The next day, they went to the entrance of Xiehe Hospital to exchange fish, and then exchanged them for a batch of cigarettes and alcohol. Moreover, the patients' families were all very generous, as if Wang Xingguo hadn't come these days because they hadn't given him enough.

I promised to deliver fish to those who didn't get any tomorrow. It's crazy! Someone took three peony fish and exchanged them for twenty crucian carp weighing over three ounces each and two black carp weighing over two pounds each. That means each crucian carp is worth six or seven cents. That's a really high price.

Although Peony cigarettes only cost 49 cents in stores, ordinary people couldn't buy them without cigarette coupons. However, on the black market, they were bought back for 8 yuan a carton and sold for 9 yuan a carton, meaning a single pack cost 90 cents. This was truly a cigarette for high-ranking officials; ordinary people and low-ranking cadres simply couldn't afford such expensive cigarettes.

Wang Xingguo returned home laden with his loot and stored it in his spatial storage in a secluded spot.

He's reluctant to sell most of his cigarettes because he knows they'll be even scarcer next year and the prices will be higher.

There wasn't enough food to eat, so many rural areas that used to grow tobacco stopped growing tobacco and switched to growing grain.

Food is essential to all sectors. If there is a shortage of food, all sectors will be affected, leading to a reduction in the production of various goods.

Wang Xingguo rode his tricycle to Shuanghesheng Five-Star Brewery, exchanged cigarettes with the security personnel, and identified himself as wanting to meet Jiang Jianhua, the deputy director of the brewery.

Because Wang Xingguo brought eels, everyone got to eat eel meat as an extra treat, including the security personnel. They assumed Wang Xingguo was there to sell eels again, so they chatted with him enthusiastically. One of them went to make a phone call to contact Deputy Factory Director Jiang Jianhua.

Liu Yuping, the deputy head of the security department, pulled Wang Xingguo into the guardhouse and asked warmly, "Comrade Wang, how many eels are you planning to sell to our factory this time? I have a favor to ask; could you perhaps sell us some eels separately?"

Wang Xingguo quickly said, "Section Chief Liu, I'm not here to sell eels. I've been entrusted by a production brigade in the suburbs to discuss a pig-for-grain exchange with your brewery. However, if you need any, I can help you procure some eels and fish, but the price is indeed quite high. I wonder if you can accept that?"

Before Liu Yuping could even speak, several security guards who had been listening nearby chimed in, saying it was no problem and that the price would be whatever it was.

Liu Yuping, however, focused his attention on the matter of exchanging pigs for grain. He asked with delight, "Comrade Wang, how exactly does this exchange of pigs for grain work?"

Wang Xingguo explained with a smile, "It's similar to eels. Farmers support pigs to workers, and workers give back grain to farmers."

Pork prices certainly can't be as cheap as eel prices, so Wang Xingguo needs to discuss the exchange rate with the other party.

Other units were difficult to deal with, but the brewery had a relatively large surplus of grain, which accumulated to a considerable amount over time. Exchanging pigs for grain was the most cost-effective way.

To put it bluntly, the price from Niu Ye's side was nothing. Wang Xingguo was only willing to sell him fifteen head of cattle because he was giving him face and didn't want to offend him.

After all, he used to be the one who collected all the pigs in Gaobeidian. Now that he has taken over, if Master Niu can't get any pigs, he will hold a grudge against him. He thinks it's unnecessary. Even if he has the Wang family backing him up, why plant a time bomb for himself?

So I sold him fifteen pigs cheaply to settle the score for stealing his business. Next year will be different. If there's a shortage of meat everywhere and he still dares to threaten me with this, then I'll dare to plant him in my space's fertile soil.

Wang Xingguo doesn't consider himself a good person; he just has some principles and bottom lines, that's all!

If Master Niu really dares to bring this up again, Wang Xingguo wouldn't mind playing the villain this time and resolving the matter completely.

The brewery's grain was cheap, and over time they accumulated enough grain to make them ideal targets for selling pigs.

In units like steel rolling mills, there's too much heavy physical labor. The grain they're given is more than enough; the factory has to allocate grain to them. And exchanging pigs for grain is out of the question.

If it's about money over food, then large factories like steel mills certainly have more money and can definitely offer the highest price to buy it.

However, Wang Xingguo didn't want money; he only wanted grain so that he could accumulate his first pot of gold to make a fortune over the next two years.

The person on the other end of the phone hung up and said to Wang Xingguo with a smile, "Comrade Wang, the factory director is in a meeting. You've come at the right time. They've invited you to the meeting room to talk. Let me take you to his office."

Wang Xingguo didn't hesitate, thanked the security guard, and followed him toward the office building.

Upon arriving at the conference room, not only were the four factory directors present, but also section chiefs from various other departments.

Wang Xingguo greeted everyone warmly, saying things like "Hello, leaders," without making any attempt to curry favor with anyone.

Factory Director Liang smiled and said, "Comrade Wang, please have a seat. We were just discussing the eels you provided in our meeting today, and I didn't expect you to come. Is there something good you've come to see us this time?"

Wang Xingguo didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point: "Director Liang, it's like this, the production brigade behind me wants to take some unplanned pigs to support our factory's production and construction, so they sent me here to discuss this matter. I wonder if your factory has this need?"

Wang Xingguo's words caused an uproar among the attendees, who all agreed that the pig must be replaced.

In reality, pork is really scarce right now. Their brewery belongs to the light industry sector, and meat is now prioritized for enterprises in the heavy industry sector, which has resulted in them having no pork supply at all this month.

One reason is to ensure the pork supply for all citizens during the National Day holiday, and the other is to prioritize storing pork in cold storage to supply all citizens during the Spring Festival.

The two major holidays require an enormous amount of pork, so light industrial enterprises like their breweries have all stopped supplying pork.

Next, we need to discuss the proportion. Wang Xingguo can't give too low a proportion because they are currently short of meat, but they don't lack grain.

After a heated debate, Wang Xingguo finally offered the following ratio: "Fellow leaders, farmers have it tough! Do you all know how many kilograms of grain it takes to raise a pig weighing over 150 kilograms? So, exchanging one kilogram of pig for nine kilograms of grain, based on a ratio of five kilograms of barley, two kilograms of corn, and two kilograms of rice, is a reasonable price! Fellow leaders, I think we should all be understanding of the farmers' hardships and show some magnanimity. Why shouldn't our workers give the farmers a break?"