Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Earned Over Fifty Dollars
Seeing his approach, the leader, who looked older, waved her hand, “Young man, come here quick. Where did you get this cloth from, and why do you have so much?”
Jiang Changhai’s footsteps became even more brisk: Look at that, business is practically knocking on my door!
He wiped the sweat from his brow and feigned a helpless sigh, “A friend of mine who works in a garment factory owed me money and used this to settle the debt. He said they couldn’t sell it because the dye is uneven, so they only sold it to the factory workers. There are only three people in my family, I’m really worried about how to use all this fabric.”
Several women chattered and discussed among themselves.
“How about selling it to us? The village is in need, and we haven’t received any cloth tickets for the whole year. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative won’t let us buy any!”
Jiang Changhai made a raspy sound, “This is good quality cloth. If you’re planning to fleece me, I’d rather let it rot than sell it.”
The leading woman gestured with her hands, “That won’t do. We’re all honest people here, young man. How much for one yard?”
“I’ve asked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. For cloth , it’s fifty cents a yard. But I won’t gouge you. The color’s off, so no cloth ticket needed. I’ll give you a discount, let’s say seventy cents a yard. But don’t spread the word, or we’ll both be in trouble!”
Jiang Changhai had already calculated his profits in his mind.
Seventy cents might be more expensive than what the collective sells for, but no cloth ticket needed!
The color might not be pretty, but we’re all farmers. Who cares about that as long as there’s something to wear?
“Deal, I’ll take five yards.”
“I want five yards too.”
With an agreement quickly reached, the women led him back to the village to fetch money, and within half an hour, he had sold it all.
Everyone was sneaky about it, and even the village chief turned a blind eye.
After all, they hadn’t received any cloth tickets, and who wants to wear rags?
We still have to live our lives.
Jiang Changhai drove his ox cart back to the village, counting the bulging wallet on the way.
From this trip alone, he had made over fifty bucks.
That’s a lot faster than sweating it out in the fields for months!
Now with money in hand, Jiang Changhai went back to town and traded Old Niu for two cloth tickets to purchase a yard of good fabric. He couldn’t let his wife and daughter be poorly clad!
After all this back and forth, people from the village had finished their work for the day.
Just as he reached the entrance of the village driving his old ox cart, he was stopped by the party secretary, “Eldest Jiang, why did you take the village’s communal property without saying a word? Do you realize this is selfish behavior, disrespecting the collective interest… ”
Jiang Changhai picked his ears, then limped off the cart, “Ah, secretary, I didn’t mean it, everyone was asleep when I got up early this morning. I twisted my ankle but needed to take Mianmian to school; I really had no choice.”
The villagers were dissatisfied but didn’t have much to say.
The old ox was a communal resource, so it was for everyone to use. At most, they could curse a few times, but what else could be done?
Jiang Changhai exchanged a few more words, then slipped away.
Returning home, he first stuffed all the buns into his house, then met Zhang Guihua outside, her face clouded with anger, “Where did you run off to this morning? You didn’t work all day, do you know how many work points you’ve lost?”
Jiang Changhai shrugged his shoulders, pretending to be innocent, “I was taking Mianmian to school, and had an accident on the way. I twisted my foot, so I got back late.”
“You really twisted it?” Su Wanyu was holding a basket, her beautiful eyes filled with a mix of concern and skepticism.
Jiang Changhai stole a proud smile toward his wife, puffing out his chest.
Of course he hadn’t twisted his ankle!
With his leg strength, there were few in the ten surrounding villages that could match him!
Of course, not a single member of the Jiang family believed him.