Chapter 0005: The Big Throat
The big throat hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, I won't joke with you anymore—one hundred and five, I will accept your goods!"
Zhu Fugui smiled foolishly and said, "I am waiting."
Everyone stared blankly at Song Zhichao
Song Zhichao continues to pack
Outside the dormitory door, a group of workers shouted loudly and fiercely, their momentum overwhelming, as if they were about to break in.
There is no need to say, all of this is Zhao Jinbao secretly causing trouble, but as mere workers, Song Zhichao and Zhu Fugui simply lack the ability to resist
Song Zhichao glanced at the distressed Zhu Fugui, took the money, and expressed his gratitude: "Trust me, A Gui, I will return this money to you very soon. Furthermore, I assure you that if one day I become successful, I will gift you a large villa!"
"Come in!" said the big-throated man, looking around cautiously before speaking to Song Zhichao
"This three hundred yuan is the money I have saved for more than half a year, intended for building a house back in my hometown," Zhu Fugui said with a pained expression. "However, if you need it to pay off debts, I can lend it to you first."
With a loud bang, a sharp watermelon knife struck the front door
What comes quickly goes quickly
Song Zhichao glanced at him, pointed to a shoe he had placed on the ground, and said: "What about inside it?"
It is unknown who pushed Zhu Fugui.
The big throat laughed, "I know, if you weren't short on money, you wouldn't come looking for me!"
In this era, five hundred yuan is not a small amount, equivalent to fifty thousand yuan in the future. However, everyone understands that Song Zhichao truly has no money. When pushed to the brink, a desperate person may resort to extreme measures, and it is possible that he might end up causing irreparable harm, which would be a loss that outweighs the gain
Song Zhichao, come out
Soon, the people surrounding Song Zhichao's dormitory door dispersed completely
Da Houlong then pressed the "pause button" on the video tape, holding a bowl of mung bean paste, eating while observing the tape recorder brought by Song Zhichao
"Big Throat" is a nickname for a person
Song Zhichao, you need to return the money you borrowed from us
For the workers who lent money to Song Zhichao, they are all at the bottom tier of the labor force. Earning money is already difficult for them, and now they are unable to recover the money they lent out, which represents their greatest failure
A 14-inch small television is playing the Hong Kong television drama "The Legend of the Swordsman of Shu Mountain," starring Hong Kong celebrities Kwan Lai Kit, Aaron Kwok, and Li Wan Hua. Next to it, there is a rustling sound, as it turns out that a videotape of the drama is being played.
"How much can you offer?" Song Zhichao asked directly, unwilling to waste words with the other party
A group of people surged in and then dispersed all at once
Zhu Fugui stood in front, still wanting to defend Song Zhichao, but those people simply would not listen to him. They continued to shove, which escalated into punches and kicks. No matter how strong Zhu Fugui was, he could not withstand it any longer
"Big Throat" is a man of about thirty, dressed somewhat sloppily, with a small mustache at the corner of his mouth, occasionally stroking it with his hand, making himself resemble "Lu Xiaofeng"
Song Zhichao put down his satchel and said to the big throat: "I will let you earn money, but your price cannot be too outrageous. One hundred and fifty? I will take as much as you have."
As the roll-up door was opened, the big-throated man glanced at Song Zhichao, who was carrying a shoulder bag, and then tossed a piece of bone to the three wild dogs that were barking the loudest. The three dogs began to fiercely compete for the bone, using both their claws and teeth, showing no mercy.
... ...
In fact, Zhu Fugui had many things he did not say to Song Zhichao
Song Zhichao followed him into the room
At that moment
What do you think this thing is worth
Zhu Fugui picked up his shoes, took out the insoles, and pulled out one hundred, saying to Song Zhichao with a bitter expression: "There is none left." Yet his eyes were glancing at the floral shorts he was wearing.
Since engaging in this business, it is evident that the big throat has deeply understood the meaning of this phrase
At a small shop selling tobacco, alcohol, and miscellaneous goods, Song Zhichao spent 10 yuan to buy a box of Butterfly cigarettes. The market price of these cigarettes is 7 yuan, but here they are marked up by an additional 3 yuan. The extra 3 yuan, of course, comes with additional service, which is to inform Song Zhichao of the location of the "big throat" business.
In addition, as Song Zhichao's cousin, Zhu Fugui was not spared either, being transferred from the original production workshop to the most arduous warehouse, becoming a laborer engaged in heavy lifting. Mountains of toys awaited his transportation
However, with the reform and opening up, as well as the needs of the people, particularly the need for cash exchange among workers, this business has quietly flourished and prospered.
Song Zhichao took a cigarette and, following the location provided by the boss, meandered through several alleys. Finally, amidst a cacophony of barking dogs, he found the hideout where the big throat conducted business
"What goods do you want to sell?" The big-throated man glanced at Song Zhichao, speaking in Cantonese. He sat down on half of the chair, shaking his legs, picked up the mung bean soup next to the television, and started eating, his eyes glued to the screen. On the television, the character "Shi Sheng," transformed into a blood demon, was battling "Xuan Yuan Fa Wang."
The plump Zhu Fugui was unexpectedly pushed, nearly falling on his backside. His mouth was already clumsy, and he did not know what to say.
Although he is foolish, he is very clear that, in his view, that is dreaming
Song Zhichao, repay the money
Song Zhichao did not respond and was about to leave after repackaging the recorder
Randomly asked: "Will you sell it for one hundred yuan?"
However, under the instigation of Yang Wei, Sun Ping, and Feng Cuicui, the group of workers who lent money to Song Zhichao has lost their rationality. They believe that if Song Zhichao cannot become the supervisor, he will be unable to repay their money
The honest and straightforward Zhu Fugui continuously advised, "Calm down, cool off, Chao Ge will soon give you an explanation."
Song Zhichao snatched the mung bean paste from the big throat's hand, swallowed it in one gulp, casually tossed the empty bowl back to the big throat, and said: "There is nothing to collect—yet there is nothing to sell"
Song Zhichao slammed the invoice onto the table, stating, "Bought it for 280, and it hasn't even been a month."
"Enough of this useless talk! Let Song Zhichao come out and give us an explanation!" Yang Wei, with a bandage wrapped around his head, loudly urged, looking just like "One Ear" from the animated series "Black Cat Detective".
"What about inside there?" Song Zhichao pointed to his floral shorts
In response, Song Zhichao seemed to have anticipated this situation; he was not at all nervous. He handed the half piece of watermelon in his hand to Zhu Fugui and asked with a smile, "Do you have any money?"
Zhu Fugui looked somewhat foolishly at the departing crowd, then turned to Song Zhichao and said: "Brother Chao, what should we do next"
The big throat laughed, put down the mung bean paste in hand, and said: "Don't be so anxious. Do you have a purchase invoice for this recorder?"
Having taken the three hundred yuan of life-saving money from Zhu Fugui, Song Zhichao did not go directly to the factory to seek repayment. Instead, he packed his Yanwu brand tape recorder, quickly left the dormitory, and went to find the most famous "Big Throat" in Panyu County.
Everyone who works at Pan Yu knows him
The big throat did not expect this kid to speak Cantonese so fluently, gritting his teeth, "Are you sure you can handle me? This kind of person is beyond redemption"
"You have quite the temper, my friend. In business, one cannot be so impatient." The big-voiced man said with a smile, "I know you're eager to get your hands on some cash, a little help from the community, right? One hundred and eighty, and I'll take this tape recorder."
Everyone was frightened, staring blankly at the trembling handle of the knife
Three rows of aluminum alloy shelves are filled with various "trendy gadgets" of this era. Rice cookers, pressure cookers, portable music players, video recorders, karaoke machines, as well as beepers and large mobile phones, among others, can be found here, representing the most fashionable, advanced, and eye-catching items of this time.
The factory has now issued a notice to terminate Song Zhichao's employment and has requested that he vacate the dormitory as soon as possible
Zhu Fugui hesitated for a moment and said, "There are one hundred"
Da Houlong held a bowl of mung bean paste and stopped Song Zhichao, who was about to leave with his takeout.
Upon seeing Song Zhichao, Yang Wei instinctively hid himself in the crowd. As the instigator of this incident, his only concern was the one hundred yuan he had lent to Song Zhichao
Silence reigned like that of crows and sparrows.
"Not honest." Song Zhichao tapped his forehead.
After speaking, he put down the watermelon and pulled out a paper package from under the bedding at https://mhetushu.com. As he unwrapped it, he eventually found one hundred yuan inside.
Song Zhichao walked out while biting a piece of watermelon, spat out a watermelon seed, lazily glanced at everyone, and then said: "Money, I will return every single cent to you! Give me three days, and I will repay the five hundred yuan I owe you in full. However, if any of you want it right now, then all I can offer you is this knife."
The big throat was somewhat surprised, "What is going on? Are you selling it even though you have an invoice?"
The place for doing business is not large, yet amusingly, the wall is adorned with the slogan "Persist in reform and opening up, with economic development as the center"
Zhu Fugui wore a pained expression and had no choice but to take off his waistband, retrieving the one hundred yuan sewn inside, and said: "This is all I have left, really nothing more."
Song Zhichao smiled and suddenly switched to Cantonese, saying: "At least two hundred, no negotiation!"
"Big Throat" is engaged in the pawnshop business. This type of business was severely suppressed after the establishment of the New China, being labeled as a malignant tumor of "feudal thought and exploitationism," and nearly all pawnshops have vanished.
I lack money, "Song Zhichao said
Sun Ping and Feng Cuicui were quite bold; they looked at Song Zhichao and finally left a statement, "In three days, we will come to collect our money!"
He touched the buttons of the tape recorder, opened the cassette compartment and looked at it repeatedly, saying: "Hmm, it still looks quite new."
Song Zhichao did not waste any words; he directly opened the satchel he brought and took out his brand new "Yanwu" brand radio, placing it prominently on the counter.
The big throat then said: "Why are you so worked up? Come have some mung bean soup to cool down first!"