The weather was getting colder, but to be honest, it wasn't particularly uncomfortable for the three of us to go to Shicheng. This was much better than Li Long alone in the mountains. At least he had someone to talk to. It was only in the past few days that Li Long realized that men were no worse at gossiping than those sisters-in-law and aunties in the village.
Yang Yongqiang, just like Bao Datan, talked about all the big and small things in the village, almost every household.
What surprised Li Long was that Tao Daqiang, who had never spoken much, could occasionally interject a few words. It seemed that he knew a lot.
It’s normal to think about it. After all, Tao Daqiang is married and his wife is from the next village. It is impossible to integrate into his own village without gossiping.
Those women working together are talking about other people’s affairs.
This also allowed Li Long, who had lived in two lives, to understand many things that he did not know in his previous life.
For example, the ancestors of Lao Zhuangzi’s Qian family were originally part of the Xiaodao Society uprising. Later, they were hunted down by the Qing court and fled to the west. They came to northern Xinjiang relatively early, but they did not live in the village before. Moved here.
For example, the young couple who have only settled in Dongzhuangzi for two years actually eloped here. Their family was not willing to do so, so they simply came here.
For example, Ma Jinbao actually eats all kinds of meat in private, but others don't tell him about it.
Who else was originally dating someone in private, but the relationship finally broke down, and then his family introduced him to a girl from another village. After getting married, the previous girl regretted it.
It was a bit eye-opening for Li Long.
While talking and laughing, they arrived at the county.
After eating steamed buns and drinking hot tea at the Big Meat Canteen as usual, we moved on.
When we arrived in Shicheng, there were still many people in the market, and the stalls inside were still difficult to find.
Same as last time, Li Long parked the carriage outside and set up a stall here to sell fish. Yang Yongqiang carried a stick and carried a bag of fish and a scale, and Tao Daqiang carried a bag of rabbits. The two of them Go to the market and find a stall.
Li Long also took out his stick from the carriage and put it aside to deal with it at any time.
This time they brought about ten more rabbits than last time, and more than a hundred kilograms more fish, which should be able to be sold for a lot of money.
Li Long asked Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang to find adjacent stalls. If they couldn't share a stall, it would be okay, so that they could take care of each other.
Li Long himself has nothing to fear. After all, he has rich experience, whether it is selling things or dealing with those annoying guys.
After discussing with Yang Yongqiang and the others, the price of rabbits will remain unchanged, carp with five black spots will be sold for one yuan, and crucian carp and silver carp will be sold for 90 cents. In this way, the price will not be raised too high, it will be competitive, and the income will be higher.
The most popular fish in Xiaohaizi is crucian carp. If the price of this fish is raised by 10 cents, it can be sold for twenty or thirty yuan more this time.
While selling fish and rabbits, Li Long kept an eye out for pickpockets and thieves. There were more people gathered around him today, but what surprised Li Long was that there was nothing unusual here from beginning to end. Although there were a few fish buyers who were picky and had more demands, Li Long still succeeded in letting him go. They bought their own fish.
There were more fish and rabbits than last time, but when Li Long and the others arrived in the afternoon, they had almost sold out. Li Long deliberately left two rabbits and four carps unsold.
"Brother Long, can you take this fish back to Xiaoxia to eat?" Yang Yongqiang asked curiously.
“Half of it, and some of it are given away.” Li Long said, “Let’s have a meal first. After dinner, we will go to the sugar factory to pull sugar residue. I know someone who pulls sugar residue there. It’s more convenient for us to pack more. We don’t have to go into the pit to fish. It’s convenient for us, so why don’t we give them something to express our gratitude?”
"Yes, yes." Yang Yongqiang understood immediately. In this winter, going to the sugar factory to dig out sugar residue is not an easy job. There is water in the big pit where the sugar factory unloads the sugar residue. If you want to fish out the sugar residue, you basically have to go down into the pit, put it into a basket, and then lift it up and dump it into the car.
The pants were soaked through at that time, and then they froze and froze. Isn’t it uncomfortable in this winter?
They drove the carriage to have a meal first, and then went to the sugar factory after the meal.
Li Long did not go directly to the factory, but led the carriage to the big pit where the sugar residue was poured. He hoped to meet the driver, Team Leader Song, so that he could save a lot of trouble.
Seeing the three young men driving the carriage over, the seven or eight people pushing flatbed carts beside the sugar pit were a little wary. After all, this is competition. They had already occupied a good seat, holding baskets in their hands, waiting for the car to come over and pour out the sugar crumbs before rushing off.
These people have been here for a long time, so they naturally know which position is the best. Seeing that Li Long and the three of them were on the periphery and had no intention of coming, some people showed contempt.
A layman! Wait for the car to back up later, and it will be strange to see if you can catch it!
After waiting for less than twenty minutes, just when Yang Yongqiang was getting a little impatient, the car drove over.
The people surrounding the big pit of sugar residue suddenly became energetic. They left the position of the truck and scrambled for the best position to go down into the pit on both sides. Some people could not wait until they were halfway down, because There are not many good seats, and some people are pushing each other.
Li Long walked towards the truck, and then saw with some disappointment that there was only one person driving, and it was not Xiao Song.
He took two steps back, feeling that the car might not be able to wait any longer. He thought about asking where Xiao Song was after the driver had unloaded the sugar residue.
To Li Long's surprise, the truck stopped when it drove next to him.
“Comrade Li?” The driver put his head out and called him.
"You...you are Xiao Song's...assistant?" Li Long vaguely remembered this face, as if this young man was there the last time he asked Xiao Song for sugar crumbs.
"What assistant, I am his apprentice." The young man stopped the car, jumped out, and said with a smile, "Comrade Li, what are you..."
"Isn't there a pig at home? I plan to bring some sugar residue back. Thank you for your hard work. Where is Team Leader Song?"
"My master is in the factory. It's cold in the winter, and I can get out of the car by myself now." Let Master take a rest."
"You are the one!" Li Long gave a thumbs up.
"Comrade Li, you get in the car and load it first. I will unload it after loading." The driver smiled and said, "It's still early to get off the car anyway, so don't rush now."
"Thank you then." Li Long turned around and went to the car, took two rabbits and handed them to the driver:
"There are not many good things in our countryside. These two rabbits were set yesterday. You and your master have one each. I also have two carp here. Please bring them to Chief Hu. By the way, what are they called?"
"My surname is Zhang, and my name is Zhang Xueliang. You can just call me Xiao Zhang." Xiao Zhang looked at the rabbit and was very happy. He put the eggs and fish into the passenger seat together, then pulled out a shovel from the side of the truck and said, "You can use this, this is faster. I have a few sacks here, get them for you."
Tao Daqiang He had pulled the sugar residue together with Li Long, so it was not surprising. However, Yang Yongqiang opened his mouth wide. Is this okay?
Brother Long’s face, this rabbit’s face is really great!
Those people were dumbfounded. It turned out that they had a backstage, and they knew each other!
Li Long and the others were not polite either. It was too cold at this time and no one wanted to stay outside for too long. The three men got into the truck and started loading the sugar residue.
The sugar residue just pulled off the sugar factory production line is still a little hot and quite moist, and water has been dripping from the bottom of the truck bed.
Li Long and the others erected the carriage panels on all sides of the carriage and loaded them up. They took all the fish bags and filled them with sugar residue, including the sacks given by Zhang Xueliang. The remaining two fish, Li Long, were left to Guo Xiaoxia.
Bags of sugar residue are packed and stacked on the carriage. Li Long and the others moved very quickly. After loading the bags and unloading some sugar residue, they jumped out of the truck.
"Comrade Zhang, I really want to thank you this time. We won't delay your work and let's go first!" Li Long pinned the shovel into the side of the truck, said hello to the driver Zhang Xueliang, and then Get ready to leave.
"Okay, come back if you want sugar residue in the future." Zhang Xueliang thought these people were pretty good and said with a smile, "Master and I are here every day. If we weren't pulling the strings, just tell the driver." They are my master's friends, and they will give him face."
"Okay, thank you!" Li Long raised his hand and watched Zhang Xueliang start the car and start unloading the sugar residue, and they led the carriage away.
“We can pack a lot this time!” Yang Yongqiang was a little excited. There were still some sugar residues on his cotton rubber shoes. Fortunately, these shoes were impermeable and the warmth function inside would not be a problem.
"Well, it can last for a while." Li Long said, "If you have time, wait until the end of the year to install another truck. This year will be enough."
Pigs can eat this thing. Deer can eat it, roe deer seeds can be eaten, horses can eat it, and donkeys can eat it. It can be regarded as a universal feed.
"Daqiang, you carry a bag when you go back." Li Long said as he walked, "Let's go back to the county now. When we get to the county, I will put the two fish in the yard, and then we will go home."
Thinking about not encountering pickpockets in the market, Li Long wondered if the market management had cleaned up a batch, otherwise how could it be so peaceful?
However, when they led the carriage to the section of road with poplar trees on both sides, Li Long knew that he had guessed wrong.
People didn’t cause trouble for me in the market because they didn’t want to alert others. They were waiting for me here.
There are still four people, but the leader, the one who was knocked over by him earlier and took away the money and steel pipe, is now holding a double-barreled shotgun.
The five people were still forty or fifty meters away from Li Long and the others. Li Long had good eyesight and could see these five people with a proud smile on their faces.
There is also a cruel expression. Obviously, if they really succeed, the three of them may not end well.
"Okay, you don't have to retreat, come here. There are two bullets in my gun. If you want to bet on the speed of my shooting, or you Whichever one of the three is luckier, run away." The one with the shotgun slowly walked towards the carriage.
"Brother, the one yesterday didn't have much money on him, and today this one probably has a lot, at least a few hundred!" The man who had fought with Yang Yongqiang said from the side, "This carriage can also be sold for a lot of money. ! ”
"I know, you don't need to tell me!" The man with the shotgun asked his men to shut up impatiently, and he gestured towards Li Long with the gun.
There has never been such humiliation as that day. He planned that even if Li Long begged for mercy, when he got the money, he would have to lose one of his arms and legs!
Li Long and the three looked at each other, and Yang Yongqiang said:
"Brother Long, you still have the foresight!"
"My experience with Brother Long is not the same." Tao Daqiang was not worried at all. He explained and then asked:
"Brother Long, are you coming or am I?"
"I'll do it, I'm familiar with it." Li Long reached out and pulled out a gun holster from the bag on the front of the carriage.
The five people had walked to a distance of more than thirty meters. When they were watching Li Long take out something, one of them had stopped and planned to turn around and run away when the opportunity arose.
When Li Long took off his holster, the remaining four people stopped.
No matter how awesome a double-barreled shotgun is, can it be as good as a five-six-and-a-half?
Li Long opened the safety and said:
"Don't run away. I'll shoot whoever runs away first - when I came I had ten rounds of bullets loaded, and each of you has an average of two rounds. I'll win the militia shooting competition." After passing the first place, you can try to see if my shooting skills have deteriorated."
Try it, try it!
Those people cursed crazily in their hearts, but no one said it out loud.
The leader was really flexible and flexible, and his tone suddenly changed:
"Brother, I'm sorry. The misunderstanding is all a misunderstanding! In this way, I still have dozens of dollars on me, which is my apology. Just let us go. The mountains are high and the rivers are long. We will still have the opportunity to meet in the future. Maybe there will be times when I can use my buddies..."
"Yes, yes, be a human being. Well, leave a three-point margin, maybe we can meet again in the future..."
"Put down the gun and the other guys," Li Long said, "Squat down - I won't let you kneel down. "Take out the money you have -"
He walked forward with the gun in his hand and gave the order.
This place is still five or six kilometers away from the bridge inspection bayonet, and three or four kilometers away from downtown Shicheng City. There are poplar trees on both sides, making it the best place to commit evil.
Otherwise, Li Long would not be able to encounter him again and again.
Of course, the main reason is because he is a big customer. After all, every time he pulled a carriage, filled with fish and other things, the sale of this carriage would cost several hundred yuan. Isn't it more comfortable to rob him than to steal the 80 cents from those scattered people?
So it is normal for him to be targeted.
Of course, having been targeted a lot, Li Long was naturally on guard. Besides, it was the beginning of 1983, how could he not be on guard?
The one at the back hesitated for a moment, then suddenly hunched over and ran into the woods. He felt that as long as he ran into the woods, Li Long wouldn't be able to hit him even if there were bullets in the gun.
What he was betting on was that Li Long might not have bullets in his gun, nor might he dare to shoot.
"Bang!"
Li Long raised his hand and shot the tree in front of him.
"If you run again, the next shot will hit your leg!" Li Long's voice was cold, "You still have one bullet left!"
The man turned around obediently , came to the road with hands raised and knelt down.
The leader didn't need Li Long's orders this time and just threw the shotgun on the snow.
Although shotguns are expensive, lives are more important.
Even if Li Long shot and wounded himself and the police would investigate him later, his life would be gone at that time!
"Go and get the shotgun." Li Long ordered, "Bring their wallets by the way."
Li Long did not call out names because he was afraid that these people would chase Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang. On the head.
He felt that it was very likely that similar incidents would happen again in the future.
Maybe not in another two years... maybe not next year. When he drives his tractor, who can stop him?
Thinking too much.
Tao Daqiang came over with a shotgun, and Yang Yongqiang came over with a wad of money. Li Long whispered again:
"Get a stick and beat them up, and let's go."
It's okay to hand it over to the police, but it's hard to explain the gun in your hand. Besides, in a few days, these people will probably be wiped out. It would be easier for them to catch them now.
Both Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang are not very kind people, and they are not easy on such people. They beat the five people and howled like ghosts, and they were all limping when they finally left.
"Brother Long, two daggers and a short knife, one hundred and twenty-six yuan and three cents."
"You two split the money." Li Long said, "You guys have the money Just watch and play, the shotgun belongs to me.”
Li Long gave Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang 80% of the money they spent selling fish and rabbits, so that their income from the trip was over 100, two. Personally I am very happy.
This double-barreled shotgun was well maintained. In addition to the two bullets in the gun, Yang Yongqiang also found more than ten bullets, including lead bullets, from the small bag on the man's body.
Li Long himself has five or six and a half, small caliber, and now he has a double-barreled shotgun, so he has all the guns. You will definitely have to hand it in after the fifth and sixth half, but the small-caliber and double-barreled shotguns can be handed in later.
Hunting is a way to make money now, but it can be a hobby in the future.
Putting away the two guns, they headed towards the county seat.
After putting the fish in the big yard, Gu Xiaoxia hadn't come back yet, Li Long left a note, and then the three of them led the carriage back to the team.
Some of the sugar residue was unloaded on the horse's horn, and a bag was unloaded for Tao Daqiang. Yang Yongqiang's family didn't have any big animals, so he didn't want it, and the rest was unloaded at Li's house.
Li Long and three others came back and pulled a cart of sugar residue. This matter soon spread throughout the village.
At Li's house, Li Jianshe asked Li Long:
"Have you encountered anyone who robbed Dao?"
"Yes." Li Long knew that he must have concealed this matter. I couldn’t stop saying, “I’m carrying a gun, it’s okay.”
"Hey! Zhao Laoshi and the others met the day before yesterday! The three of them had never beaten five of them. They had guns and robbed them of all their money..." Li Jianguo's expression was a bit complicated, "They even had someone beat them up. Yesterday He didn't go out just to avoid getting hurt - this guy... ...Is this because I don’t want you to know?”
“It doesn’t matter, it’s not the first time I’ve encountered it,” Li Long patted the gun bag and said, “I carry it with me every time I go back. I don’t believe it. Those people still dare to resist at gunpoint?”
"That's true, but you don't take it lightly." Li Jianguo said, "Nowadays, there are monsters, ghosts, and snake gods. No matter what, you still have to be careful. It's better for the three of you together..."
"Well, we will be careful. Yes. That’s right, bro. , I’ll sell it for a lot of money this time, I’ll give you fifty...”
“No, no more.” Li Jianguo waved, “How can you get so much? Just pretend that you really want to buy a tractor in the spring. How about saving more money?”
This is true. Li Long didn't insist.
He planned to continue like this until the New Year.
Then a phone call disrupted his plan.
PS: Thanks to Hai Zhihuang, The Cat in My Arms, Wukong Babujie, Chaos World, and 20220609211144606 for their rewards.
Recently there have been two chapters, but each chapter has 5,000 words, so the total number of words is the same. Mainly because I want to pursue a uniform subscription (the above does not count the money) (End of this chapter)