I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 41 Collecting Eels

"Xiao Chuan, are you kidding me? That stuff is everywhere in the fields, nobody wants it even if you give it away, who would spend money to buy it?"

Lan Xiuying's eyes widened, still clutching half a can of yellow peaches in her hand, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, yes, your sister-in-law is right. Xiao Chuan, if you want something fresh, what's the money? I'll have Da Hu and Er Hu get you some when they're done with their work these next few days."

Zhou Xia assumed Zhang Beichuan was just craving something unusual and added that it was nothing more than a craving for something new.

Zhang Beichuan smiled, his tone serious.

"I'm not kidding. Although nobody eats eels here, city people really like them. Luckily, I have a friend who works in the seafood industry, and I'd like to try getting some."

Upon hearing this, and considering the incredible stories about Zhang Beichuan circulating in the village, Zhou Xia began to believe it to some extent.

If it were just Zhang Beichuan who had a taste for this, she definitely wouldn't have taken his money; she could have just had her children catch some at night.

But if you're doing business with eels, the amount you need isn't just a few pounds; you also need to invest in labor.

"Um... Ogawa, approximately how much do you need?"

Zhang Beichuan paused, pondering to himself.

He had no idea how many eels he could sell in a day if he took them to 2026.

"My friend is just trying it out. At first, he might not need much, maybe 20 or 30 kilograms. If the market is good, he might need to buy every day."

"If Da Hu and Er Hu are willing, they can help me get some in a couple of days. The price will be 2 cents a pound, so they can earn some pocket money to supplement the family income."

Lan Xiuying, who was standing to the side, felt her heart pounding. She quietly tugged at Zhang Beichuan's sleeve and lowered her voice.

"Xiao Chuan, isn't this price too high? This stuff is so hard to sell in town. At a purchase price of 2 cents a pound, how can your friend make any money?"

Zhang Beichuan patted his sister-in-law's hand, gave her a reassuring look, and then turned to Zhou Xia and said.

"Don't worry, Sister Zhou, I'll pay you right away. I won't let Da Hu and Er Hu work for nothing. But I have two requirements: first, the eels must be alive and not too small, at least as thick as a finger; second, they must be kept in clean water to purge the mud before being delivered."

Sun Dahu and Sun Erhu had been listening intently for a while, and now their eyes were shining like light bulbs.

Erhu was impatient and rushed to ask.

"Uncle Xiao Chuan, are you really going to give me two cents a pound?"

"Of course, I'll accept whatever you send as long as it meets my requirements."

Looking at her son's eager expression and glancing at Zhang Beichuan, who didn't seem to be joking, Zhou Xia began to make her own plans.

Two cents a pound, twenty or thirty pounds would be six dollars. The two kids could catch these eels in one night without interfering with their chores at home.

"Oh, Xiaochuan, how can I thank you enough! You just treated us to canned food, and now you're giving these two kids a chance to earn pocket money."

"It's nothing, it's nothing. We're all from the same village, it's only right to help each other out." Zhang Beichuan glanced at the sun, then turned to his grandmother, Lan Xiuying. "Sister-in-law, it's getting late, I'll go back and get some food."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xia grabbed Zhang Beichuan, who was about to leave.

"What are you cooking? Come to my house for lunch."

"This isn't a good idea..." Zhang Beichuan said, scratching his head.

Lan Xiuying smiled, knowing that Zhang Beichuan was unaware of the rules for changing jobs; when changing jobs, the employer is supposed to provide meals.

"Xiao Chuan, since your sister-in-law Zhou wants you to go, then go. We have to go later too."

"I see... Well... okay then."

At noon, Zhang Beichuan went to Zhou Xia's house for a meal with his grandparents.

Today is a harvest day, and also a time when everyone needs to put in their effort. The lunch was especially hearty, with a large plate of cured meat and several stir-fried vegetables.

"Come on, Xiao Chuan, don't stand on ceremony, eat more." Old Sun put a finger-thick piece of cured meat into his bowl.

Zhang Beichuan looked at the plump cured meat in the bowl, unsure how to start eating.

"Brother Sun, I'll just pick some myself." [She's picking up food for herself.]

"Alright, alright, don't be so polite..." [Don't be so formal]

After taking a bite, his mouth was full of grease. Zhang Beichuan shoveled several mouthfuls of rice down his throat before finally swallowing the meat. He looked up at his grandparents, who were enjoying their meal, smiled, and said nothing.

After lunch, the sun was blazing, and the Sun family didn't have much rice left to harvest; they could finish the harvest today.

So no one rushed to go to the fields; instead, they all went home to rest.

On the way home, the three little girls, full and satisfied, ran ahead, while Zhang Beichuan and his grandparents walked behind.

After holding back all afternoon, Lan Xiuying finally had a chance to ask Zhang Beichuan about buying eels.

"Xiao Chuan, can you really make money selling eels?"

Before Zhang Beichuan could respond, Zhang Dequan took the initiative to speak.

"Yingzi, don't worry! If Xiaochuan says he can do it, then he definitely can. Besides, Xiaochuan also needs to help his friend collect some chickens in the team, so you should also help him ask around in the team about that."

"I was just asking because I was worried he might offer too high a price, and if his friend can't sell it, Xiao Chuan will blame him." Lan Xiuying rolled her eyes at him, then asked again, "How much per pound for chickens?"

Zhang Beichuan paused slightly, turned to look at his grandmother, then his expression returned to normal, and he said with a smile.

"Sister-in-law's concerns are valid, but don't worry, my friend and I have known each other for a long time, I can make the decision for him. As for the chicken, it's two yuan and thirty cents a pound."

"Two yuan and thirty cents..." Lan Xiuying muttered softly, "That's two mao more expensive than in town. How much is the chicken?"

"For now, let's collect about ten a day."

"So many?" Lan Xiuying looked at him in surprise. "Every household in the village has chickens, but not many people are really willing to sell them."

Zhang Beichuan chuckled and said, "That's why the price is higher than in town. Sister-in-law, could you ask around for me and ask how much they can get first? No rush."

"Okay, I'll ask around for you."

The three walked and talked, with Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan discussing their rice harvesting and labor exchange arrangements for the next day.

"Honey, I've spoken to Sister-in-law Zhou about Old Sun's family. Tonight, could you go to Old Zhao's house and discuss it? Tomorrow, I'll stew the leftover cured pig's head; that will give everyone more energy to work."

"Why stew? Xiao Chuan bought meat for the family," Zhang Dequan said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Lan Xiuying immediately became displeased, glared at Zhang Dequan, and said irritably.

"You, as his older brother, aren't you keeping an eye on his spending? No matter how good the business is, you can't spend it like this! You need to save some money for the future."

"I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen! He insisted on buying it, and he bought seven or eight jin (3.5-4 catties) of it," Zhang Dequan said, looking aggrieved.

Zhang Beichuan felt a surge of satisfaction watching his grandparents argue.

"Sister-in-law, it's just a few pounds of meat, it's not worth much. My relationship with Third Brother is such that there's no need to be so formal; we're all family."

"You... sigh, I won't say anything this time, but don't spend so much money in the future." Lan Xiuying complained, but she was happy inside.

The three girls who arrived home first quickly spotted the bicycle parked in the yard and gathered around the brand-new old-fashioned bicycle.

"I watched Dad and Uncle ride back, they looked so cool!" said the youngest, Cuicui, excitedly.

The eldest, Xiaoli, was the boldest. She reached out and gently touched the frame of the bicycle, her eyes sparkling, and called out to the outside.

"Dad, Uncle, is this our bicycle?"

"Yes, I bought it for your dad to ride. Wherever you go in the future, your dad can ride it and take you there." Zhang Beichuan's face was filled with undisguised pride.

The three little girls immediately huddled closer together, carefully touching the gleaming car body and fiddling with the clear bells.

Lan Xiuying saw this and felt both happy and somewhat emotional.

My brother-in-law has really made something of himself. Not only has he helped his husband make the business in the county town thrive, but the family's life has also improved as a result.