Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

The next morning, Chen Yongqiang got up and got off the kang (a heated brick bed). A chill was blowing in the courtyard.

His eyes immediately fell on the snowdrift, where the taimen lay unharmed, covered with a thin layer of white frost.

Sirius, who was lying not far away, immediately raised his head upon hearing footsteps, his ears alertly turning towards him.

"Well done. Here's your reward." Chen Yongqiang took out a piece of wild boar king meat from his spatial storage and tossed it over.

Sirius leaped up, caught it, and began to tear and swallow it.

Lin Xiulian was already up, and the faint aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

Chen Yongqiang walked into the kitchen and saw steam rising from the stove.

Lin Xiulian was picking the cornbread out of the pan when she turned around and saw him. "You can eat it after you wash your face. I knew you were going to town today, so I made some cornbread. Eat more, it'll keep you full on the road."

After breakfast, Chen Yongqiang went to the yard, re-tied up the frozen taimen, and put it on the sled.

Liang Meie was also traveling with them. This trip to town was a good opportunity to sell the other fish they had stored in the warehouse's ice cellar.

Seeing Tianlang following beside the sled, Liang Meie couldn't help but ask, "Why did you bring the dog along?"

Chen Yongqiang responded simply, "I can help watch the fish."

Besides the conspicuous giant fish, there were several heavy burlap sacks on the sled, containing crucian carp, common carp, and several sizable pike, all frozen solid and buried in the snow.

This is the catch I've accumulated since the beginning of winter, which I originally planned to sell before the new year.

The two men and their dog, pulling a fully loaded sled, gradually disappeared into the distance along the winding village road, leaving behind two long ruts and scattered paw marks.

As Chen Yongqiang pulled the rope, he instructed Liang Meie beside him, "When we get to town, go to the usual spot and sell those miscellaneous fish. I'll take care of the big one."

"I understand." Liang Meie has been selling fish before and is very familiar with the town's market and regular customers.

Chen Yongqiang added, "This time, the price will have to be raised."

"Another price increase? We were worried about not being able to sell them just a few days ago." Liang Meie hesitated.

"We can sell them. The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and every household wants 'abundance year after year.' Fish is auspicious, and people are willing to pay a bit more. Besides, this is our last trip before the New Year, and those who need to prepare for the holiday have some cash on hand, so we're hoping for good luck."

Liang Meie pondered his words and found them reasonable. Indeed, the closer it got to the end of the year, the more sought-after items became in the market, and prices soared, especially for fish with such auspicious connotations.

She felt confident: "Okay, I'll do as you say. How much of a raise would be appropriate?"

"A price one or two cents higher than usual is fine. If anyone asks, just say it's freezing cold, fish are hard to catch, and it's a good omen at the end of the year." Chen Yongqiang gave a flexible approach.

"I understand." Liang Meie felt that doing business with Chen Yongqiang was a reliable idea.

When we arrived in town, it was indeed much more lively than usual.

The streets were lined with stalls, and the sounds of hawking, bargaining, and greetings between acquaintances mingled together, filling the air with the mixed aromas of cooked food and local produce.

The large, conspicuous fish on Chen Yongqiang's sled immediately attracted a lot of attention.

"There are quite a lot of people at the market today," Liang Meie said, looking at the bustling crowd.

This is the last big market before the New Year, and it will be lively for several days. People from all around gather here to buy New Year's goods and sell local products. Everyone hopes to earn more money and have a prosperous New Year.

"There's an open space over there, let's go there." Chen Yongqiang's eyes swept across the crowded street and found a relatively spacious spot near the intersection.

After putting down the sled, Chen Yongqiang untied the rope and, together with Liang Meie, unloaded several sacks containing miscellaneous fish and placed them in a conspicuous spot.

The taimen remained lying across the sled, needing no special placement, yet it was already the most eye-catching creature in the entire area.

Sirius sat quietly beside the sled, seemingly unmoved by the surrounding noise and the curious gazes that kept gathering around him.

Liang Meie quickly set up her business, ready to open for business.

Chen Yongqiang stood by the sled, not in a hurry to call out, as the real buyer had not yet appeared.

Soon, a large crowd gathered around Chen Yongqiang and Liang Meie's stall.

The discussion focused almost entirely on that amazing taimen.

"What kind of fish is this? I've never seen one this big before!"

"How many pounds must that weigh? Probably over 150?"

Liang Meie's business has already opened: "Sister, these crucian carp are all wild; they're the best for making soup! It's a bit pricey for the New Year, but it's worth it!"

She followed Chen Yongqiang's advice and raised the price slightly, but the auspicious meaning attracted many inquiries and led to quick sales.

Chen Yongqiang let the people talk. When someone asked the price, he shook his head: "This one isn't sold individually; it's for the customer."

His gaze swept over several figures on the periphery of the crowd who seemed to be strolling around, but were occasionally glancing over here. Among them was He Jun.

Sure enough, He Jun strolled over to Liang Meie's stall.

He picked and chose among the frozen fish on the stall, and finally poked at the largest one, a bighead carp weighing more than 20 pounds, with his finger: "Widow Liang, I'll take this one."

Liang Meie glanced at him, expressionless: "Fine. One yuan per jin. This one weighs twenty-six jin, pay up."

"One yuan a pound? You're robbing me!" He Jun's voice suddenly rose.

"I usually pay a maximum of six cents for fish!"

Liang Meie's tone was cold and hard, "You said it yourself, it's a normal price today. Take it or leave it."

He Jun felt a little embarrassed, especially since people around him were already looking over.

"We're all from the same village, Liang Meie. Are you doing this to make a sale or just being stubborn? Give me a discount, I'll take this fish and make you a sale too."

"I don't need you to open a shop." Liang Meie stopped looking at him and turned to greet another woman who was peeking out to look at the fish.

"Big sister, look at this carp! It's so fresh, it'll bring good fortune when we put it on the table for the New Year."

He Jun was completely left out, his face flushing red and then turning pale. He stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Just at this awkward moment, a loud voice broke in:

"I'll take this bighead carp!"

A stocky middle-aged man pushed through the crowd and walked over; it was Chef Zhou, the cook at the town's state-run restaurant.

Upon seeing him, Liang Meie's cold expression softened, becoming somewhat familiar: "It's Master Zhou. I was so busy at the market today that I didn't have time to deliver it to you."

Master Zhou pointed to the bighead carp in a businesslike manner: "How much per pound?"

"I'll give you the same price as always, eight cents," Liang Meie added.

"It's almost the end of the year, the weather is freezing, and it's hard to catch fish... This is probably the last trip this year."

After thinking for a moment, Master Zhou realized that Liang Meie wouldn't send it to the restaurant if he didn't want it: "Okay, eight cents it is. You can weigh it accurately."

"Don't worry, it's accurate." Liang Meie took out the scale.