"It’s fine. A lot of families have coupons, but they’re reluctant to use them. Our director has a bunch that other families left with him to exchange for cash. He just takes what he needs from that pile. We can just buy however many we need from him in a bit. He makes a small profit, but at least his prices are fair. He only does business with people he knows, so we definitely won’t get taken advantage of."
"What do you call that? Now *that’s* what I call being a pro! I’ll follow your lead!"
Zhao Wendong listened and happily gave Liangzi a thumbs-up. Having a good brother like him at the supply and marketing cooperative saved him a ton of trouble. Otherwise, how would an ordinary person navigate all these tricky details?
It used to be that people had a big monthly market where they could trade for things. But with supplies so scarce this year, the market hadn’t been held for two or three months. He heard it might open once before the end of the year, and Zhao Wendong planned to go check it out and trade for more of the things they needed.
Just as the group was chatting, the door was violently thrown open.
Fatty Li, the head of the Agricultural Technology Station, stormed in with another man who looked like a lackey, his face contorted with rage.
"Well, well, Little Shanghai!"
"Last time, you secretly drank my liquor and wouldn’t admit it. This time, I’ve caught you red-handed, haven’t I? And you’ve brought all these people to the station to feast and drink! Do you realize what you’re doing? The station’s grain is state property! You’re undermining the very foundations of socialism!"
"Fuck, I’m already fleecing the sheep of socialism, so what the hell are you yelling about?"
Before Little Shanghai could say a word, Zhao Wendong shot to his feet and fired back. Beside him, Zhao Wenjun, Zhao Wenwu, and Liangzi also rose, glaring daggers at Fatty Li. Fatty Li immediately swallowed the rest of his words. The sight of Zhao Wenwu’s hulking frame, in particular, made his legs go weak.
"Wh-what do you think you’re doing?"
Fatty Li asked, trying to look fierce but feeling cowardly. His lackey beside him unconsciously shuffled a couple of steps toward the door, poised to flee at a moment’s notice.
"What do *I* think I’m doing? What do *you* think you’re doing, you bastard? Barging in here and screaming your head off! Who do you think you’re talking to? You looking for a beating?"
Zhao Wendong channeled the street-tough attitude from his past life, narrowing his eyes as he stared down Fatty Li.
"This has... has nothing to do with you!"
"If it has nothing to do with us, then get lost. Or are you going to just stand there waiting for an invitation?"
"Fine, I... I’ll go!"
After taking two steps, Fatty Li saw the complicated expression on his subordinate’s face and had a sudden realization. ’Holy shit, wait a minute,’ he thought. ’Isn’t this the Agricultural Technology Station? And aren’t I the station head?’
He stopped in his tracks, a confident smirk spreading across his face as if victory was already his.
"I’m not leaving. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you. This is the Agricultural Technology Station, I am the station head, this is my territory, and what I say goes."
"Bullshit. Your territory? Chairman Mao taught us that ’all of us cadres, regardless of our position, are servants of the people. Everything we do is for the people.’ And now you, who are supposed to be serving us, are treating the Agricultural Technology Station as your own personal property and trying to kick us, the people, out? I think you’re like the God of Longevity hanging himself—you must be tired of living."
"You, you, you..."
Fatty Li was rendered speechless by Zhao Wendong’s direct confrontation. He was used to intimidating people by slapping political labels on them, but today Zhao Wendong had turned the tables with a label so massive it nearly crushed him. He had no choice but to change the subject.
"Serving the people doesn’t mean you get to eat and drink public property for free!"
"Damn it, Fatty Li, I’ve put up with you for long enough! Open your eyes and look! I’m eating the food they brought with them. This is saving the Agricultural Technology Station’s grain, you get it? Go and fucking check! See if we’ve touched a single thing that belongs to the station!"
Little Shanghai slammed the table and shot to his feet. Fatty Li immediately had a bad feeling, but he refused to believe it. ’These people were clearly poor peasants. At a time like this, what peasant family could possibly whip up such a huge, delicious meal?’ he thought. He didn’t buy it. Even his own family couldn’t afford to eat meat every meal anymore!
"Old Sun, go do a thorough check!"
The lackey quickly turned and went out. After checking the Agricultural Technology Station’s food stores, he came back and whispered to Fatty Li.
"Station Head, I checked. None of the grain or anything is missing. It’s the same as it was yesterday."
Fatty Li’s face instantly turned ugly.
"Done with your inspection? Then get the hell out. Still not leaving? Second Brother!"
Zhao Wendong looked to Zhao Wenwu, and Zhao Wenwu nodded. He strode over to Fatty Li and his lackey, Old Sun, grabbed one in each hand, and hauled them out of the Agricultural Technology Station. A moment later, two pathetic yelps of pain were heard as Zhao Wenwu tossed them directly into a snowdrift.
"D-don’t get cocky! You just wait!"
Fatty Li spat out the threat, but when Zhao Wenwu shot him a glare, he scrambled to his feet and ran away.
"Fuck, what a wimp. He’s not even worth hitting. When I get a chance, I’ll teach him a lesson!"
Zhao Wendong cursed viciously. This wasn’t the future era where a few old security guards could control an entire residential complex. People back then had a wild streak. If even a high-ranking official rubbed you the wrong way, you’d cuss them out or even throw a punch without a second thought. You didn’t coddle anyone. The local police station didn’t bother with minor brawls, and besides, calling the cops over a fistfight would make you the laughingstock of all the surrounding villages for not being a real man. It was a completely different world.
"Yeah, I’ll remember him! Fatty Li, right? He’s always been at odds with our director. Our director says the guy is like a wolf cub—he’d even bite his own father if he wasn’t careful!"
"Damn it! One of these days he’ll piss me off for real, and I’ll just head back to Shanghai instead of putting up with his crap!"
"Is it easy to go back now?"
Liangzi asked in surprise. Little Shanghai just shook his head without a word.
Zhao Wendong clapped him on the shoulder. "Don’t worry. As long as you want to go back, we’ll all help you figure out a way. You’ll get back there one day."
Little Shanghai nodded, moved.
"Alright, thanks, Wendong. Is the food ready yet?"
"Let me see... Yep, just about done. Come on, bring the basin over. Let’s eat."
The fragrant stew of pickled cabbage, pork, glass noodles, and potatoes was ladled into a large basin. The glass noodles, having soaked up the thick, savory broth, were plump and translucent. The wild boar meat was stewed until it was fall-off-the-bone tender. The mere sight was enough to make everyone’s mouth water. In a year of disaster, being able to eat such a hearty dish felt even better than a New Year’s feast.
The cooked rice was scooped out into another basin and brought to the table. Not wanting to waste anything, they poured the starchy rice water into a separate basin. Everyone first drank some of the fragrant, sweet liquid to whet their appetites, feeling it warm them from the inside out.
"Come on, don’t be shy. Dig in!"
After the rice was served, the baijiu poured, and a separate basin set aside just for Zhao Wenwu, Zhao Wendong gave the signal. Chopsticks flew as everyone dug in with gusto.
The wild boar was satisfyingly chewy, not at all greasy. The pickled cabbage, having soaked up the meat juices, was sour, crisp, and refreshingly crunchy. The glass noodles were soft yet springy; lifting a chopstick-full, they dripped with the thick broth. With a SLURP, an explosion of salty, savory, sour, and fresh flavors erupted on the tongue. Swallowing a mouthful sent a comforting warmth from the tip of the tongue right down to the soul, dispelling the biting chill from everyone’s bones. This was the unique taste of a Northeast winter.
"Delicious! Haha, this is so good!"
"Oh man, this is incredible!"
Everyone ate with gusto, showering the food with praise. It was only after they had each finished a bowl of rice and plenty of the main dish that they remembered the alcohol.
"Here, I’ll propose a toast. To reuniting with Dongzi today, and to making a good brother like Little Shanghai. I’ll drink to that!"
Liangzi raised his small wine cup and drained it in one go.
"Hahaha, alright! Bottoms up!"
Zhao Wendong and the others followed suit. While they were drinking, Zhao Wenwu seized the opportunity to quickly snatch several pieces of meat he’d been eyeing and moved them into his own basin, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
"Damn it, that Sun Defu... he’s a real piece of work, a true bootlicker. I’m sure he’s the one who put Fatty Li up to this today!"
Little Shanghai couldn’t help but curse as he thought back on what had just happened.
Zhao Wendong set down his wine cup, his eyes narrowing.
"Does he always give you trouble? Does he live at the Commune? After we finish eating, we’ll go take care of him."
"Yeah, let’s get him!"
Liangzi’s eyes lit up, as if he were transported back to his childhood days of fighting the "little Japanese devils" alongside Zhao Wendong.