I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 45 The Thief's Heart Remains Undiminished

The news spread throughout the village in less than two days.

While everyone was discussing it, many parents in the village greeted their children.

We can no longer speak carelessly like before. Don't just look at the three girls of the De family and start spouting nonsense about losing money.

After all, they had seen it through Zhang Dezhong's case.

Zhang Beichuan is too close to Zhang Dequan.

To seek justice for his third brother and to teach his own elder brother a lesson, he didn't even flinch. What if the elder brother took notice of him and set a trap for the family? Then everything would be over!

In fact, even if these parents didn't say anything, the children in the village wouldn't talk nonsense like they used to.

The main reason is that these three girls are like they have an endless supply of White Rabbit candy every day. They can't wait to play well with the three little girls, maybe they'll get candy from them.

Zhang Beichuan, the person involved, didn't have time to think about that; he was busy checking the eels.

The bucket contained dozens of lively eels, each as thick as a finger. They had expelled the mud from the water and looked exceptionally vigorous.

"That's right, I'll do it this way."

Zhou Xia, who was accompanying the children to deliver eels for the first time, felt much more relaxed upon hearing this.

Sun Dahu and Erhu, who were standing nearby, also laughed. There were a full thirty jin of eels in the bucket.

Catching these things didn't take much effort; the two brothers got two large buckets of them in one night.

"As we agreed, it's two cents per pound, and the total is 31.2 pounds, which is 6.24 yuan."

Sun Dahu and his brother were a little embarrassed when Zhang Beichuan handed them the money. Only after Zhou Xia nodded did Sun Dahu take the money.

"Thank you, Uncle Xiaochuan."

Seeing that she had actually received the money, Zhou Xia was overjoyed.

Two children can earn a worker's daily wage in just one night, and they can do it all from home.

You couldn't find such a good thing even with a lantern, so how could you not be happy?

"Uncle Xiao Chuan, do you want it again tomorrow?" Er Hu asked excitedly.

"You're welcome, this is what you deserve." Zhang Beichuan smiled, then ran over and grabbed a handful of milk candies, stuffing them into his hand. "Yes, we'll keep the same amount tomorrow."

"Xiao Chuan, this won't do." Zhou Xia quickly pushed Zhang Beichuan's hand back, giving the second son, who was reaching for the candy, a disapproving look. "You're giving the two kids such good jobs, how can we not take advantage of them!"

"It's alright, Sister-in-law Zhou, it's just a few candies." After saying that, Zhang Beichuan forced the candies onto Sun Erhu.

After seeing Zhou Xia and the others off, Lan Xiuying watched from the side and couldn't help but ask.

"Xiao Chuan, do city people really love eating this nowadays? Can it really sell?"

Turning back, Zhang Beichuan looked at his grandmother, whose face was filled with curiosity, and explained.

"Sister-in-law, this eel, cut into sections or shreds and stir-fried in plenty of oil, is incredibly fragrant. Why don't you save some for the kids to try tonight?"

Upon hearing that it would be stir-fried with heavy oil, Lan Xiuying was reluctant to do so.

Oil is expensive, and besides, once this stuff is processed, it needs to be weighed. Cooking it costs four or five cents per pound, which is too extravagant.

"No, no, no, since it can be sold for money, you should take it to the city to sell. It would be such a waste to eat it."

Zhang Beichuan smiled helplessly at her refusal.

The money he got back from Zhang Dezhong a couple of days ago was originally intended to be split in half with his grandparents, but they refused to accept it and only took the fifty yuan that was rightfully theirs.

"Okay, I'll go back to the village in a few days and buy some meat to eat."

Just then, Zhang Dequan rode his brand-new old-fashioned bicycle back from outside onto the dirt road.

The three girls climbed down from behind the carriage seats and onto the crossbar with great pride and shouted into the yard.

"Mom, Uncle, we're back."

Seeing the smiles on his mother's and the other two's faces, Zhang Beichuan smiled too.

Zhang Dequan took two chickens hanging from the handlebars of the cart and entered the yard with a smile.

"Youngest brother, as you said, I've already spoken to the other teams in the village. It's 2.3 yuan a pound, and they all say it's a good price. If anyone's willing to sell, they'll bring it to our house. We bought two today."

"Okay." Zhang Beichuan's eyes lit up. "Then let's get the chicken and eel to the county this afternoon, and I'll go to the city to try it out first thing tomorrow morning."

Zhang Dequan nodded. The most important crop at home, rice, had been harvested, and he had already transported the grain to the grain station by bicycle that morning.

After spending a few days with the team, it's time to head to the county town.

Before leaving in the afternoon, Zhang Beichuan took out two hundred yuan and handed it to Lan Xiuying.

"Sister-in-law, please keep this money. In case someone comes to our house to sell chickens, please keep it for me."

We only have a little over a hundred yuan at home, and we haven't even sold the rice we harvested this year.

A chicken costs twenty or thirty yuan. If there are too many people selling them, it's really not enough to cover the cost. Lan Xiuying generously accepted the money.

"Alright, I'll keep the money. Be careful on the road, especially Xiao Chuan. You're going to the city, and it's a long way. Have your third brother go with you tomorrow morning, so they can look after each other on the road."

"No need, no need, I can manage on my own. The provincial capital is so far away, but I can stay here just fine. The city is nothing to me," Zhang Beichuan politely declined.

The main reason is that he wasn't going to the city to sell the products at all; he wanted to go back to 2026, and it would be too troublesome to have his grandfather go with him.

"Yingzi, don't worry. Xiaochuan knows what he's doing, so let's just follow his arrangements."

Zhang Beichuan smiled, then glanced at his mother and her two young daughters, who were looking at him expectantly.

"Be good at home. When your dad comes back to the village tomorrow, I'll have him bring you some meat to eat."

Upon hearing that there would be meat to eat again, the three little girls licked their lips.

"Really?"

"Really, when has your uncle ever lied to you?"

Lan Xiuying looked at the three greedy girls, smiled irritably, and turned to say.

"Xiao Chuan, don't spend that money. At this rate, even if you had a mountain of gold, you couldn't afford it."

"It's alright, the children are growing and need to eat well."

After chatting for a few minutes, Zhang Beichuan and Zhang Dequan left Shihe Village and returned to the county town.

Upon arriving in the county town, Zhang Beichuan, carrying a bucket, walked in and saw Lan Baojun and two others introducing products to customers.

"Busy?"

Lan Baojun looked up and nodded.

"The eels are here?"

"Yeah, I made some. You guys go ahead with your work." Zhang Beichuan said, carrying the bucket towards the backyard.

Zhang Dequan, who was following behind, greeted Lan Baojun and the other two, and then went to the backyard.

After closing the shop that night, Lan Baojun gave Zhang Beichuan the account books for the past few days, and then secretly handed him something wrapped in a silk scarf.

"You guys made 1726 yuan in the four days you were back. Xiao Chuan, check the accounts when you have time. Also, the nylon stockings and watches are almost gone. When will the new stockings arrive?"

"It should arrive in the next day or two. I'll go to the post office to check tomorrow." Zhang Beichuan put away the stun gun and then asked, "Has Zhao Xueming and his gang come looking for trouble these past few days?"

Mentioning this, Lan Baoqiang and Bao Hong perked up, feeling even more puzzled.

Yesterday afternoon, a few thugs came to the store.

The two brothers were eager to show their skills and see if they could be promoted from the reserve to the regular army ahead of schedule, but Lan Baojun stopped them.

Immediately afterwards, they saw Lan Baojun only get hit by a few people, and they all ran away as if they had seen a ghost.

They looked like they'd seen a ghost.

To this day, they still don't understand what these people are afraid of.

Although Lan Baojun was notorious on the streets before, he shouldn't be this scary, right?

After listening, Zhang Beichuan pondered that Zhao Xueming was still up to no good and was probably sending people to loiter around the store entrance.

When they realized they weren't there, they tried to cause trouble again.

Fortunately, he handed the stun gun to Lan Baojun; otherwise, given the personalities of Lan Baojun and Baoqiang, they would probably be at the police station trying to bail him out right now.

"Okay, I understand. I'll think of a solution in the next few days and see what to do!"

"Okay, then Baoqiang and I will head back first."

Zhang Beichuan saw the three people getting up and quickly called them back.

"Baoqiang, Baojun, why don't you come work at my shop?"

Next, he will be busy with the aquatic products business, and Zhang Dequan will likely be frequently traveling between the village and the county. The shop is only needed by Lan Baojun on weekdays, but definitely not on weekends.

Lan Baoqiang and his brother looked at him in surprise, not expecting happiness to come so suddenly.

"Brother Xiaochuan, are you serious?"

"Nonsense, would I lie to you?" Zhang Beichuan chuckled. "The wages will be eighty-one yuan per month."

"Okay, okay, we'll come tomorrow morning."