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

Wang Xingguo nodded, then asked in a low voice, "Twenty-first Master, do our clansmen have enough food going forward?"

Wang Changshun shook his head and said, "Given the current situation, there definitely won't be enough food. Is your grain exchange network stable?"

Wang Xingguo shook his head and said, "I dare not say it's stable. We can only try a few more places, but everything depends on having pigs."

Wang Changshun nodded and said, "The twenty unplanned pigs in the production brigade are estimated to be ready for slaughter by the end of December. Right now, we can only pay others to buy the pigs, but we can't rush this. If we rush, they will raise their prices."

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Indeed, we can't rush it. Anyway, you know my address. Once the pigs are ready, I'll come and take them away, and then exchange them for grain. By the way, what did the other families say?"

Wang Yong'an explained with a smile, "They're still observing. You probably noticed tonight that the team leaders all participated. They want to see if they can really exchange for grain before deciding whether to ask you to help them exchange for grain."

It's nothing unusual; it's human nature. After all, no one dares to trust a stranger so easily.

Wang Xingguo said with a smile, "Anyway, let them think what they want. I'm only worried that our people don't have enough food. As long as our people don't go hungry, I don't have time to care what outsiders think."

Both Wang Changshun and his son smiled and nodded in agreement.

That's the logic in their eyes. They should take care of their own people first. They've already been given the opportunity. If they don't trust the Wang family, then it's none of their business.

However, at this moment, the twenty-first aunt sitting to the side spoke up: "Xingguo, my family will definitely support you, but they think that three pigs are not enough to exchange for grain. They are preparing to fatten up a few more pigs and may even find other places to gather ten pigs. Then they will give them to you to exchange for grain all at once. You have to help your family."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingguo respectfully replied, "Don't worry, Aunt Twenty-One, I've already taken over the matter with the He family. I will do my best to help them exchange pigs for grain."

Wang Xingguo chuckled and said, "The He family is really ambitious. With only four hundred people, three pigs can be exchanged for a lot of grain, yet they're still not satisfied and are even preparing to spend money to buy more pigs. It proves that they're quite wealthy."

The twenty-first-year-old woman glared and said, "Just because the Wang family is wealthy doesn't mean others can't have some wealth too!"

Wang Changshun chuckled and said, "No, I was just saying that, I didn't mean anything by it, don't overthink it, my dear."

Wang Yong'an said with a smile, "Dad, which production team are we planning to ask to buy the pigs? The few kilograms of grain that each person gets today isn't enough to keep everyone from going hungry until the summer harvest."

Wang Xingguo offered cigarettes to the two men and lit them. Wang Changshun said with a smile, "It's not a business deal if you're too eager to do something. I've already talked to Secretary Liu and Accountant Zhang of the brigade. They'll help us get a certain number of pigs to sell, and in return, we'll have Xingguo help them get the same number of pigs to exchange for grain. If it weren't for the fact that these people from other families in the brigade have always been on our side, I wouldn't have agreed to let Xingguo help them sell pigs in exchange for just a chicken or a duck."

Speaking of this, Wang Xingguo couldn't help but ask, "Twenty-first Master, what do you think about me opening a shop in the city to help our clansmen sell chickens, ducks, and eggs?"

Wang Changshun asked in surprise, "Xingguo, have you thought this through?"

Wang Xingguo nodded firmly and said, "I've thought it through. These days, the timid starve and the bold thrive. If my business gets going, it will not only help the clan earn more money, but I can also become rich myself."

Wang Changshun frowned, stood up, and paced back and forth, pondering how feasible this was.

He is the current head of the Wang family. Some family members are unaware of many things, but only he and a few other elders know.

The Wang family is not as kind as it seems. In order to make a living, their ancestors were bandits and river pirates during the Qing Dynasty. During the Republic of China era, they also owned property in the city, but at the end of the Republic of China, due to the turbulent situation, they sold all their property in the city at a low price and returned to this place to become farmers.

You have to understand that their tribe has so many people; to put it bluntly, men, women, and children could easily form a whole brigade.

Some members of the Wang family also joined the army to defend their country. They are not as easy to bully as they seem on the surface. However, to open a business in the city at this time, one must have connections that are strong enough.

The Wang family wasn't without such connections, but Wang Changshun was a little reluctant to use up such an important favor.

He stopped and looked at Wang Xingguo seriously, saying, "Xingguo, are you confident you can establish yourself? You need to think this through. This is no child's play. Once you open your establishment, you will inevitably face exclusion and suppression from your competitors in the area. If a ruthless person makes a move, it could even lead to a bloody fight!"

Wang Xingguo replied very seriously, "Twenty-first Master, do you think these days of food shortage will be over soon? I personally think it won't be that quick; it will take at least a few years to recover. How will my Wang clan survive these next few years? Will we just eat sweet potatoes every day?"

"In my opinion, we have a river here with many riverbanks, so we can raise more ducks and geese, and also cultivate more land to grow corn and sweet potatoes, and raise chickens and pigs. It's certain that we'll face a food shortage, but a meat shortage is also inevitable, and the prices of both food and meat will rise."

"We can rely on these products to exchange some for more money for the clan, and also use some to supplement the nutrition of the clan members. After we get through these few years of famine, do you think our lives will be like? Do you think the Wang family members are prepared to stay in the countryside for the rest of their lives? Don't you want more opportunities to develop in the city?"

Putting everything else aside, Wang Xingguo's last words did indeed move Wang Changshun. As the current patriarch of the Wang family, he has the obligation and responsibility to lead his clansmen to a better life.

This is a traditional idea ingrained in their bones. From a young age, their elders in the clan told them that the Wang family must unite and strive to make the clan prosperous.

Wang Changshun was silent for a moment, then raised his head and said, "The clan can arrange a venue for you, provide you with some financial and material support, and even find you a powerful backer. But you have to demonstrate your value. I can't unconditionally support you just because you want to do something; that doesn't conform to the rules of our Wang family. Do you understand what I mean?"

Wang Xingguo patted his chest and said, "I live in Jiaodaokou Subdistrict. The clan will arrange a courtyard for me in any alley within Jiaodaokou Subdistrict. I'll handle the troubles with the subdistrict office and the police station. You guys also need to provide me with a powerful backer. I don't even need you to contribute money or supplies. I'll settle accounts for 80% of the clan's output at the black market price. All I need is for the clan to send some people who can help me, the kind who are brave and willing to fight. I don't want cowards who dare not fight back when provoked!"