Chapter 009 Thirteen Yuan

The middle-aged woman glanced at the iron rooster and said, "That is the market price."

Lü Dong needs money: "There are catfish."

Lu Dong lifted the fishing net and placed it on the dam: "There have been many fish these past two days. Once the upstream gate is closed, good luck will come to an end."

In the next moment, Lü Dong understood that aside from the money spent on filling the quota, this was the first sum earned through labor since turning eighteen

After sending off the soldier, Lü Dong returned to the orchard to fetch the net, and also showed Hu Chunlan the plate again

This is the northern catfish

It would be good to sell 50 as well

Go for it, strive hard, young one

How many sandbags are piled on the chicken coop? It should be measured in tons! Lv Dong can only push back: "Let's talk about it later"

The iron rooster breeding farm immediately asked, "Do you buy fish?"

Lu Dong picked up the water bag, took off his clothes to shake off the dead leeches, and walked towards the orchard

"Dongzi, the water has receded." The iron rooster, filled with sorrow, said: "When the water decreases a bit more, shall we drag the chicken coop out?"

I do not know whether he is watching fishing or bidding farewell to the chicken coop

This is no longer a matter of conversation, as Lü Dong pulled out that over two-pound white catfish and directly handed it over: "Take it back and make soup for my sister"

Lü Dong stepped out of the shop and was caught by his third uncle, Lü Zhenlin, who asked him to go to the brigade office to help

The team accountant will arrange for the custom-made banner, and once the banner is ready, they will formally visit to express their gratitude

Lü Zhenlin's thick eyebrows twitched: "Delivering food at a critical moment is a gesture of goodwill, while paying is a matter of duty. He has contributed as well, so we shouldn't be too calculative. Mayor Yang has assured that a portion of this expense will be allocated from the overall budget."

The iron rooster plugs its ears: "Little sister, this car needs to be repaired!"

Opening the fishing net and discarding the trash, Lu Dongxian pulled out a catfish, which was much larger than the ones caught in the morning, feeling heavy in his hand, estimated to weigh nearly 3 jin

The iron rooster did not give up: "It can sell scrap metal! You will get one-fifth of the money... No, one-fourth."

This also saves fifty cents, hiring a young wife from the village to cut it, will cost two yuan

Skilled in carpentry, welding, and rebar work, it was quite common to earn several hundred yuan a day in 2019

Lu Dong pulled up the water bag, untied the string, and brought it before the woman: "It's all here."

Lu Dong pointed to his head and said, "Go get a haircut"

Just received 13 yuan, spent 1.5 yuan

Lü Dong gestured towards the rope securing the water bag and said, "There are some."

The iron rooster did not grasp the meaning of Lv Dong's words, so he pulled a vine from the embankment and returned to thread it through the gills of the white carp, just as his eyes caught sight of a large pile of sandbags blocking the outlet below the embankment

"The weather is too hot; other fish die easily, and when they die, they are not worth much," said the middle-aged woman, speaking the truth: "These two are easy to raise and do not die easily"

The question is too mundane, and someone else is coming, making it difficult for Lv Dong to inquire

What a large white catfish

Why? The iron rooster does not understand

As expected, the miserly Lü Jianbin had a radio hanging from his wrist. He ascended the riverbank, put away two bamboo poles, and arrived at the triangular dam

Lü Jianren approached slowly, dragging his shoe soles while carrying a fishing net

Lu Dong cast two nets in succession, one net containing several crucian carp and the other net bringing up two catfish, one large and one small, with the larger one weighing nearly 3 pounds

Gravel and meals, sincere gratitude must be expressed for the free support provided by each village

There is also Lv Jianguo who has been brought in, and it is necessary to coordinate with the town and county along with Construction Company No. 3. Yang Liewen has already taken on this task.

Later, for various reasons, the catfish fell from grace

Lv Zhenlin thought for a moment: "According to the price he quoted."

"Diao Family Village," said the middle-aged woman

As it drew closer, the noise was deafening, causing pain in my ears. It was an orange Jialing CJ50, a vehicle commonly seen in rural areas. Equipped with a self-welded trailer, it was capable of both running and hauling, and it had a certain rugged charm.

Lü Dong threw the water bag back into the river: "Understood"

After leaving the team, Lü Dong rode his 28-inch bicycle to drop off Li Wenyue, then went to the orchard to inform his mother that he would be going to the city tomorrow to fetch white porcelain plates and return to the old house with a black bag for carrying leeches.

Having taken the fishing net and water bag, Lu Dong returned to the triangular dam to continue casting his net for fish, hoping to try his luck once more. Even if he only caught fish, it would still be worthwhile, as they could be sold for money

The person riding the bicycle is a middle-aged woman, who, like most rural women, has a dark complexion. On the back seat, there is a girl of about ten years old, her small face sunburned to a bright red.

The woman got on the motorcycle and said, "Big brother, I want more of this."

So foolish, like Liu Kuisheng

Before Lü Dong could speak, the iron rooster reminded: "Gathering one pound can sell for three yuan"

The middle-aged woman stopped the car upon seeing the fishing net in Lv Dong's hand

"Just arrived?" Lü Dong was surprised, as Uncle Qi had always been an active fisherman.

Due to the presence of the university town, the area from Qingzhao County to Quannan City has undergone significant changes, presenting a new look compared to its old appearance

Such matters were not negotiated in advance, and at that time, no one thought of bargaining; everyone was focused on emergency response

This is picking the simplest one from a pile of difficult problems

Lü Dong said, "Wandering around at home is not a good thing either"

Diao Juan kicked the Jialing motorcycle, and the unpleasant sound made Lu Dong cover his ears. He thought of something and quickly moved the sunbaked leech away, reminding: "There is a descent ahead, go through the village, and further ahead is the gate, you cannot pass."

The woman turned her coat pockets inside out, found three red 1 yuan notes, and along with two five yuan notes, handed them all to Lu Dong

A day's work as a laborer on the construction site only earns about ten yuan

The leeches have decreased, continue to throw them out in the sun to dry

The transportation expenses to go to the city to assess the specific situation have been arranged

Lu Dong did not understand the market situation, turned to look at Uncle Tie, saw him nodding, and said: "The fish is yours"

The middle-aged woman said: "Only catfish and black fish, nothing else."

It cannot be used even if it is dragged out

Hu Chunlan glanced and said: "This vinegar dish used to be abundant, but later many were broken, so it is not a rare item."

Lu Dong carefully stored the money, pressing it firmly in his pocket, fearing that it might fall out from the pocket of his shorts

Lü Jianren retorted: "What's wrong? Do you not welcome your seventh uncle? You leave as soon as I arrive?"

Catfish is highly sought after in the Quannan region, even during an era when the salaries of employees in good units in the provincial capital were around 700 to 800 yuan, with retail prices during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the New Year reaching as high as 5 to 6 yuan per pound.

Lü Dong asked the woman: "The fish is here, you make an offer, if it is not suitable, I will put it back."

His pockets are cleaner than his face, and his personal savings amount to zero

Certainly, it is also feasible to ride a bicycle to Quannan City, but after more than twenty years of significant changes, Lu Dong needs to familiarize himself with the roads first

It is! It is... Lu Dong is too lazy to refute. Seventh Uncle is particularly skilled with his hands, making fishing nets, fish forks, and so on, all by himself.

Lv Zhenlin also conveyed a message to him: "Mayor Yang intends to organize the materials regarding your case and submit them. The county experienced a major flood, but there were no incidents. There should be a commendation conference later, and we will strive to secure an award for outstanding individual."

There are a total of 3 catfish, two large and one small. A woman picked them up and asked, "How much are they?"

The water level has dropped again, and the river surface is now only fifteen to sixteen meters wide

When one side is in trouble, support comes from all directions. Many people and supplies came to assist, and there were many subsequent matters to attend to. Lu Dong had dinner at the brigade and was busy until ten o'clock in the evening

Even if it is only fifty yuan, it is still the most valuable thing in hand. Lu Dong carefully put it away, planning to take some time to visit the Shunshan Cultural Market.

Returning to the orchard, he placed the fish and fishing nets properly, then found a convenient bag to collect the leeches. Lu Dong took out his 28-barrel gun and went to the market street to get a haircut

The weather is hot, the roads dry quickly, and bicycles can basically be ridden now

Thank you. The middle-aged woman accelerated and drove away

"Catfish are easy to raise and unlikely to die easily." The iron rooster, like an expert, said: "Last year I caught one and threw it into the chicken manure pit. It lived for more than half a year, and when I took it out to eat, it weighed five pounds."

Lu Dong glanced at the trailer, where a large water tank contained fish swimming.

His family lives next to Cheng Lifeng, and they know more about the prices.

The flood has receded, and there are a multitude of subsequent matters to address

Looking at the sandbags piled like small hills by the river, the iron rooster wore a face full of sorrow, seemingly reluctant and in no hurry to leave. The white bream tossed into the grass nest under the shade of the trees sat silently on the triangular dam.

Lv Dong could not help but feel disappointed: "Seventh Uncle said that Second Uncle sold one for 50 yuan"

Who is this? The iron rooster stands up and looks north: "You don't even fix the silencer, it can be heard from three miles away."

Lü Dong gazed towards the north, only to see dust swirling in the air. It was not until he cast another net and pulled up the empty net that he noticed a motorcycle with a trailer attached.

In order to save trouble, Lü Dongtu had the barber give him a crew cut

Today we drink to celebrate our achievements, our ambitions remain unfulfilled and we vow to not rest, in the days to come we will showcase our skills, willingly shedding our blood to write the annals of spring and autumn

The middle-aged woman replied, "There are plenty of fish. You can take them to Diao Jia Zhuang, it's only ten miles away. Ask for Diao Juan, she can offer you a better price."

Being skillful does not equate to being willing to work

Seeing the haircut done by Uncle Qi, Lu Dong thought of the center part on his head: "I will leave first"

When the money was in his hands, for some reason, Lu Dong felt a heavy weight.

In the brigade office, several high school and vocational school students on vacation were called over by Lü Zhenlin to reconcile accounts with the brigade accountant and the women's director, counting the remaining supplies

After washing up, Lü Dong took out 11.50 yuan, laying the bills one by one on the table; this was all of his funds

While busy, Li Wenyue suddenly said: "Third Uncle, the bill sent by Cheng Lifeng is incorrect; various meats are generally five dimes more expensive than usual"

The large ones are 5 yuan each, and the small ones are 3 yuan. The middle-aged woman appeared quite straightforward: "I don't want any lies; the fish on the truck are sold at this price. The fish from the reservoir drop in value when the sluice gate is opened. I came out in this hot weather, and I need to make a profit."

The iron rooster is concerned that Lu Dong lacks experience and will suffer losses, and asks: "Which village are you from"

This is good news, but I wonder if there are any material rewards for outstanding individuals

The sound of motorcycles thundering from the north was extremely loud, and with the undulating riverbank, one could only hear the noise without seeing anyone.

The women's director said: "He is too cheap!"

The cyclist is very bold, riding along the riverbank, where the compacted earth surface is not easy to navigate

A middle-aged woman caught fish and placed them into a dragnet, pointing out three that were worth five yuan each. Lü Dong shook his head and said, "I can't open it."

Lv Dong knew: "What about the university town?"

The work assigned to Lü Dong is to cut red paper, and a letter of gratitude will be written by his second uncle using a brush, which will first be delivered to the villages or organizations that have provided assistance.

This is the first fund to kickstart a brand new life after returning, amounting to 13 yuan

The fishing net has just come out of the water, and the iron rooster stares wide-eyed: "Is there anything else? Hurry and pull it up, don't let it escape. Dongzi, you are quite lucky!"

Hu Chunlan thought for a moment: "This did happen, either the year before last or the year before that."

"Your uncle is looking for me." Lu Jianren, holding a net and a water bag in one hand while scratching his freshly cut hair with the other, looked quite troubled: "He asked me to go to the university town construction site in a few days..."

Quite good-looking

A middle-aged woman got out of the car and lifted the little girl down, asking Lu Dong: "Big brother, did you catch any fish?"

The iron rooster does not care: "What's wrong? What goes in is chicken manure, what comes out is meat! It's not toxic! Look at your Uncle Tie, isn't he doing just fine after eating it?"

All those leeches have been sun-dried to death

"Daya, stop being naughty!" The middle-aged woman first scolded the child, then turned to Lv Dong and said, "Big brother, can I take a look first?"

Lv Dong sighed softly, the new mayor is quite interesting, the person in charge of the construction company is from Lvjiacun, and is a cousin of San Ye, he also has to call him Wu Ye.

Preparing to get a new car! A middle-aged woman turned off the engine, her smile bright: "I won't need it after a while."

The sun is scorching, and Lü Dong is drenched in sweat

The iron rooster picked up the white carp, waved goodbye to Lv Dong, and left as well

Lv Jianren glared at Lv Dong and said, "You haven't even grown all your hair yet, what do you understand? My skills, can they be hired for just ten or twenty yuan?"

Lv Dong could not help but say: "Uncle Tie, can we not talk about chicken manure? Are you still asking people to eat catfish?"

Lu Dong cast a net but had not yet pulled it up when suddenly a buzzing and chirping song came from below the embankment, followed by the familiar smell of chicken manure