Around five o'clock, Zhang Liunian arrived at the construction site entrance with his carrying pole. Shortly after he set it down, the workers finished for the day, and a crowd poured out.
This time, Zhang Liunian had prepared twenty catties of braised meat, one hundred and twenty catties of crayfish, and a basin of braised dishes.
Since he had sold his goods the previous day, people rushed up to order braised meat without him even calling out. Of course, others wanted his other items too.
"Another portion of braised meat."
"I want 'Flying Dragon Ascending'."
"Give me a bowl of braised dishes."
"Braised meat, I ate it yesterday, it was delicious."
"..."
After selling out, Zhang Liunian clearly realized that crayfish were still the most popular item.
He tallied his earnings, totaling 139 yuan.
After securing the money, he began to pack up.
At this moment, Zhao Zhijie walked over with a young man.
"Liunian, we need seven hundred catties tomorrow. Your dishes sold so well, everyone wants to eat them." Zhao Zhijie looked a bit embarrassed because he was the kitchen supervisor and managed the variety of dishes.
However, in just two days of Zhang Liunian's food being available, it had successfully captured the hearts of the workers.
Not a single person who had eaten it had anything bad to say, and they all expressed wanting to come back next time.
Therefore, as more people tasted the food, the supply quantity began to increase daily.
"Okay, no problem." This situation was within Zhang Liunian's expectations. After all, it was a large factory with tens of thousands of people; how could it be satisfied with just a few hundred catties?
"From now on, I'll have Xiao Wang notify you about increasing or decreasing the quantities. You two should get acquainted." Zhao Zhijie introduced his young apprentice to Zhang Liunian.
"Hello, Comrade Wang."
"Hello, Comrade Liunian."
"..."
Zhao Zhijie wanted to correct Zhang Liunian's surname, but Zhang Liunian refused. "Just call me Liunian, it's quite friendly."
The young man called Xiao Wang chuckled shyly. "Then you can call me Xiao Wang from now on."
After the two had introduced themselves, Zhao Zhijie pulled Zhang Liunian aside and, after hesitating for a while, finally said, "Can you tell me now what your 'Flying Dragon Ascending' is made of?"
Although the two had reached a cooperation, the ingredients were not specified.
Seeing Zhao Zhijie's demeanor, Zhang Liunian recalled his hesitation last time and realized he wanted to ask this.
"It's made from crayfish."
Zhang Liunian answered honestly.
"Crayfish? You mean those transparent lobsters in the water?"
"No, it's a creature with red shells and claws that suddenly appeared in our Datang County about three years ago. We in the village affectionately call it a 'poisonous bug'." As for what people here called it, he wasn't quite sure and hadn't paid attention.
"..." He seemed to know what it was. Isn't that creature also found in ditches?
They called it a stink bug, so that thing was the delicacy they ate every day?
"..."
"Can that thing be eaten?" Zhao Zhijie felt disgusted.
"Yes, you're all living well, aren't you? Moreover, its nutrition is no less than that of fish."
"..."
Zhao Zhijie felt a bit unwell just thinking about the ditch, and he found a small tree nearby, leaning on its trunk with a complicated expression.
"Uncle Zhao, what's wrong? My crayfish are all from Daming Lake, what's with that expression?" Zhang Liunian noticed his complicated feelings and offered an explanation.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhijie looked at him in surprise. "From Daming Lake?"
"Yes?"
"..." That's great! He had scared himself. He thought it was from a ditch, but wait, that wasn't right. If it was from Daming Lake, then Zhang Liunian wasn't a city person, but a country boy from beside Daming Lake?
"Where do you live?"
"Zhangjia Village, Ten Mile Brigade."
"..." It was indeed a country boy. Oh well, it didn't matter where he was from, as long as the shrimp were from Daming Lake.
"It's best if all your shrimp are from Daming Lake in the future, do you understand what I mean?"
"I was just thinking of cooperating with the county magistrate to monopolize the shrimp from Daming Lake."
"That's good. Old Ma is quite reasonable to talk to."
"..." Old Ma? It seemed Uncle Zhao knew the county magistrate?
"But I didn't see him this afternoon."
"I'll mention it to him later, and you can go directly tomorrow." Who in this county town did he, Zhao Zhijie, not know? Even if he didn't know them, Old Yan would.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao. I was wondering if you and Uncle Yan have time the day after tomorrow, I'd like to treat you to a meal."
"Old Yan is busy the day after tomorrow, but I'm free."
"Okay."
After their conversation, they parted ways.
Meanwhile, Zhang Wenjun and his wife had taken the bus to the South City and found Zhang Liunian's parents, spreading the news of Zhang Liunian's rebellious deeds.
Zhang Wenxue, who was busy preparing for his second son's move, had no time to bother with his younger son's affairs and casually responded before trying to dismiss his brother.
Zhang Wenjun wouldn't leave. He had been beaten by his nephew, whom he looked down upon. He couldn't feel at ease without avenging this.
"Brother, you still don't know, do you? Your youngest son is working as a self-employed vendor."
As soon as he said this, Zhang Wenxue finally stopped his busy work and turned to look at his brother, not quite believing what he had just said.
"What did you just say?" His son, who only hid at home, was a self-employed vendor?
Was he kidding? If anyone in the village were to do it, it wouldn't be his youngest son.
Seeing his elder brother disbelieve him, Zhang Wenjun said again, "It's true. The whole village knows he's a self-employed vendor, and he's selling our village's 'poisonous bugs'."
This was what Tu Meili had said. Zhang Wenjun didn't believe it but still said it, only because he knew this would anger his elder brother.
As expected, the moment he said it, Zhang Wenxue immediately became angry. "Really? He's actually a self-employed vendor? And selling poisonous bugs?"
"Absolutely true."
"..."
Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Zhang Wenxue still couldn't believe it. How could his son, with such a low presence, have the guts to be a self-employed vendor, let alone sell poisonous bugs?
He wasn't brainless; he knew poisonous bugs couldn't be eaten.
So what was going on?
It seemed he needed to go back and see for himself.
"Brother, this morning he also broke Liuhuo's leg and hit me. He's gone too far, you need to teach him a good lesson..." Seeing his elder brother angry, Zhang Wenjun immediately began to accuse Zhang Liunian of wrongdoing.
After hearing this, Zhang Wenxue faintly said, "You're trying to stick up for Liuhuo and pick a fight with Liunian, aren't you!"
His elder brother was indeed his elder brother; he knew exactly what he was thinking.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhang Wenjun scratched his head. "Liunian has gone too far. They're brothers from the same family; doesn't he treat Liuhuo like an outsider by doing this?"
"I know my son; he wouldn't hit Liuhuo without reason. I'll ask for the details when I get back. You can go back now!" Zhang Wenxue knew his younger brother well; he was an unreasonable person.
As for his youngest son, he would only know the situation after returning to the village.
If he was indeed working as a self-employed vendor, he couldn't let him do it, even for his second son.