Du Ziteng, seeing that he wouldn't speak, followed Zhang Liunian back to the shop and received a bag of cash.
“Today our outbound volume reached 40,000 bottles, breaking our previous record. This is the money from today's shipments, along with every shipment record,” Zhang Ziping handed the shipment book to Zhang Liunian for his review.
Zhang Liunian nodded and carefully examined each shipment record. During this, he noticed a familiar name. Suppressing his surprise, he continued reading and finally sighed, “All the major clients here are scalpers.”
Why was Zhang Liunian so certain? Because among them was a scalper from the South City black market whom he recognized. That person later became very successful, becoming wealthy around the same time Zhang Liunian entered the South City wealth rankings.
He hadn't expected that this person would now be helping him resell pickles. For a moment, Zhang Liunian didn't know how to feel.
However, one thing he was very clear about was that these scalpers would be the main sales force in the future. With them, he wouldn't have to worry about his pickles not selling outside the province.
This was a delightful discovery.
“Scalpers?” Zhang Ziping was surprised.
“You need to pay attention to this person from now on. Perhaps we can establish a long-term, stable cooperation with him. Also, if he takes 5,000 at a time, give him an additional two cents off per bottle,” Zhang Liunian didn't bother explaining what a scalper was, as they would soon understand. Instead, he pointed to the name of a man above.
Du Ziteng and Zhang Ziping stepped forward to look. They saw the words “Huang Da” written there – the man’s name.
The two silently noted down the name, planning to pay more attention to him in the future. Someone that caught Zhang Liunian’s eye couldn’t be ordinary.
The next day, Zhang Liunian, with Jiang Qingqing leaning on him, and Zhao Zhijie, holding Hua Bao, went to the machinery factory.
The kindergarten at the machinery factory was built behind their new construction site. The new site had officially been completed the previous day, but Grandpa Tang was still setting up his stall not far from the construction site.
“Comrade Liunian, long time no see,” Grandpa Tang saw Zhang Liunian's family approaching from afar and excitedly stepped forward.
Zhang Liunian stopped and replied with a smile, “Indeed, it has been a long time. How's business?”
Mentioning business, Grandpa Tang's smile vanished. “Alas, it's not good. After the construction site was finished, there were very few customers. I was thinking of changing my selling location.”
Zhang Liunian was momentarily stunned. He thought of the braised meat shop in South City. His braised meat business was doing very well now. Why not open another one? If he opened another one, he would need staff. “Why don’t you come work for me? I’m short on staff.”
“Really? That’s great?” Grandpa Tang had intended to cling to Zhang Liunian's leg with his entire family. Now that the leg was offered, he wouldn't let go.
“Can you manage to go to South City to watch the shop?” Zhang Liunian asked, seeing his quick agreement.
“As long as it’s with you, I’ll go anywhere. I’m an old bone, but I can still give it a shot.” Although Grandpa Tang was old, his drive was no less than that of a young person.
Zhang Liunian was extremely satisfied. He then told him the address of the braised meat shop and asked him to report to South City tomorrow, before continuing on his way with his wife and daughter.
Because of the previous incident, they arrived a bit late. The entrance of the kindergarten was already crowded with people, all waiting to register one by one.
Zhang Liunian's group of four arrived late and stood at the very back.
“This kindergarten will probably need dozens of classes,” Zhang Liunian truly hadn’t expected so many children to attend kindergarten. Looking into the distance, there were at least a thousand children. Perhaps all the children in Datang County had come.
“I heard they will have fifty classes. Seventy percent of children under eight in Datang County have come. The machinery factory is our county’s only large factory, so most of its employees are naturally from the county town.” Now, opening a kindergarten meant enrolling over seventy percent of the children.
“This kindergarten is really quite large. Is it your old factory site?” Zhang Liunian said with some emotion, looking at the rows of red bricks inside.
“That’s right, it was built during our Great Leap Forward. Do you know the origin of our machinery factory? Initially, the superiors demanded we smelt steel to build satellites. In the end, no satellites were built, but a steel talent was forged, who became the first director of our machinery factory… Later, Uncle Yan took over, and the factory expanded twofold. After that, he was reported by someone and fell from power. He personally severed ties with Old Yan. Uncle Yan spent some effort to get into Uncle Yan’s position, and under his leadership, the factory expanded again to its current scale.”
As Zhao Zhijie narrated, Zhang Liunian learned that Uncle Yan and his father were both directors, but Uncle Yan's father had the misfortune of being harmed by his daughter-in-law.
“The former director, Old Yan, was a very good person. I wonder which damned soul reported him for practicing capitalism.” An elderly man, who was rushing along with his little grandson, happened to overhear Zhao Zhijie’s words and couldn't help but feel indignant for Yan Guoguo's father.
Zhao Zhijie turned and looked at the little boy in the elder’s hand. “Old Cai, is that your grandson? He’s much more spirited than you.”
“Of course. Look at the good genes in my Old Cai family. Everyone is tall and handsome, so how could they not be spirited? It’s just you who can’t see my former spirit.” Old Cai used to cook in the kitchen and was on the same level as Zhao Zhijie.
“Speaking of which, who is this little girl in your hand?” Uncle Cai glanced at Hua Bao in Zhao Zhijie’s arms, looking confused.
Zhao Zhijie proudly puffed out his chest and solemnly introduced, “This is my granddaughter, Hua Bao. In the future, keep your grandson away from my Hua Bao.” For some reason, seeing Old Cai’s lively little grandson, Zhao Zhijie suddenly felt a sense of crisis. He could also understand why Zhang Liunian had adopted a defensive posture when they first met. Hua Bao was so cute; she couldn't be lured away by any wild boy from outside.
Zhang Liunian found it amusing. He lowered his eyes to look at his wife and found her covering her mouth, chuckling.
“Your granddaughter? When did you, an old bachelor, get a granddaughter?” Old Cai's eyes widened, and he looked Hua Bao up and down several times, finding that the child looked nothing like Zhao Zhijie.
“Can an old bachelor not have a granddaughter? I’m much more comfortable than you. I just adopted her. Unlike you, who has to help your son and then your grandson, I directly enjoy happiness. You haven't been as clear-headed as I am.”
“…” How annoying! Why had this old fellow suddenly become so punchable? Old Cai let go of his grandson and wanted to hit him, but upon seeing Zhao Zhijie's rare proud expression, he held back. Forget it, seeing his pitiful state, he'd let him off this once.
“Who are they to you?” God-children? Uncle Cai looked at the Zhang Liunian couple, his pupils contracting. Oh my! Where did he find such a golden couple? Shameless, even in old age he picks handsome people to adopt.
“They are my god-nephew and his wife. What do you think? Doesn’t it make your Cai family feel ugly?” Old Cai had often boasted about his handsomeness to them in the past. Now, encountering truly good-looking people, he was being proven wrong, wasn't he? Zhao Zhijie was secretly pleased, wishing he could offer his nostrils to Uncle Cai.
“…” Uncle Cai was furious. If he could hit, he would have beaten up this old scoundrel Zhao Zhijie right now. Comparing them to this young couple, was there any comparability? Did he really think everyone in the world looked as good as his god-nephew and his wife? What was he dreaming about? Although he prided himself on the good genes of the Cai family, when faced with Zhang Liunian and his wife, their family was like humble chickens and dogs, completely unpresentable, and not in the same league.