Chapter 85: Truly Too Blissful
Chapter 85: Truly Too Blissful
5:00 PM.
In a dormitory at Songshan High School, over twenty classmates were sharing the leftovers that Deng Yunheng had brought from home.
Of course, only a couple of close friends got a bit more, while the others received just a slice of braised pork, a piece of steamed pork, or a roll of egg.
Even so, the entire dorm was filled with laughter and joy. For students who only got to eat meat once a month, even a small slice of braised pork, paired with their own pickled vegetables, was enough to make them incredibly satisfied.
As for Zhu Chenglong, one of Deng Yunheng's best friends and the first to arrive, he naturally received the most leftovers. He got braised pork, steamed pork, meatballs, and egg rolls, making his eyes widen with delight.
It was truly too blissful!
Even during the New Year at home, they couldn't enjoy such a sumptuous meal.
To be frank, this was the best meal Zhu Chenglong had ever had since he could remember.
After all, in those times, most rural families had several children, and few could afford to let them eat meat to their heart's content, even during the New Year. Now, Deng Yunheng had given Zhu Chenglong so many leftovers, which wouldn't last long if not eaten.
Thus, for the first time in his sixteen years, Zhu Chenglong ate his fill of meat.
This was a memory he would never forget.
After finishing the meal, the classmates gathered around Deng Yunheng, chatting animatedly. This meal had solidified his status among his peers.
After all, in an era where meat was a rare treat, not everyone was willing to share so much with their classmates.
...
The next day.
After breakfast, Deng Shirong rode his bicycle to Poxin Village again.
Today, he was to deliver the agreed-upon dowry to the girl's parents and discuss the wedding arrangements.
An hour later, Deng Shirong arrived at the Zhang family's home.
After some polite conversation and a few cups of tea, they began their formal discussion.
Deng Shirong took out 1380 yuan wrapped in red paper and placed it on the table, pushing it towards Zhang Zhenfa with a smile. "Relative, this is the dowry we agreed upon for Sister Ping. Please take it."
After Zhang Zhenfa accepted the red envelope, Deng Shirong pulled out a calendar and handed it over, saying, "This is the auspicious date I found for their wedding. If you have no objections, we can set the wedding for this day."
Zhang Zhenfa took the calendar and saw that the wedding date was set for the twelfth day of the eleventh lunar month, less than a month away. He couldn't help but say, "Uncle Nine, isn't this a bit rushed?"
Although he was eager to see his daughter married into the Deng family, as a father, he had to maintain some decorum.
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "The master said this is the best day this year. If we miss it, we'll have to wait until next year. So, while it's a bit rushed, good things are never too early. It's fine for them to get married sooner."
Zhang Zhenfa, seeing the opportunity, readily agreed. "Alright, if Uncle Nine says so, we have no objections."
...
After leaving the Zhang family's home, Deng Shirong didn't head straight back. Instead, he rode his bicycle to Shan Kou Commune in Hepu County.
Shan Kou Commune was by the sea, about ten kilometers from Longtan.
With nothing better to do, Deng Shirong decided to head to the market at Mountain Pass. One reason was to get some fresh seafood for a taste, and the other was to place an order for a batch of seafood for his son's wedding next month.
By the time Deng Shirong arrived at the market, it was already noon. He found a random noodle stall and had a bowl of noodles before pushing his bicycle around the market.
Since it wasn't market day, the place was quiet, with only a few vendors. After a quick tour, Deng Shirong found a small seafood shop.
The shop offered both fresh and dried seafood. Dried items like sandworms, shrimp, squid, and crab meat were available year-round. Fresh seafood, however, was a rarity in this inland town, given the transportation conditions of the era.
Deng Shirong glanced at the prices in the shop and noticed significant differences from what he remembered from the future.
For instance, sandworms, which could cost hundreds or even over a thousand yuan per pound in the future, were priced at just 3.6 yuan per pound here. Shrimp, which were much cheaper than sandworms in the future, were also 3.6 yuan per pound. Even more surprising, squid, which was several times cheaper than sandworms in the future, was actually more expensive at 4 yuan per pound. It was absurd!
Regardless of the prices, they were all incredibly cheap to Deng Shirong. Still, he habitually tried to haggle. "Boss, if I buy a lot of these sandworms and squid, can you give me a better deal?"
The seafood shop owner was a middle-aged man in his forties. Seeing Deng Shirong on his bicycle, he recognized a potential customer with purchasing power and asked kindly, "Young man, how much do you want to buy?"
Deng Shirong replied, "That depends on the discount you offer. If the price is right, I'll take all the sandworms and squid in your shop!"
The owner was taken aback. This was a big customer indeed. He suppressed his excitement and calculated quickly. "Young man, if you buy all the sandworms and squid, I can give you 3.4 yuan per pound for the sandworms and 3.8 yuan per pound for the squid. How does that sound?"
Deng Shirong remained noncommittal and asked, "Boss, do you have any fresh crabs, shrimp, or mudworms?"
The owner replied, "Those fresh items are rarely available. Not many customers buy them, but they are definitely in stock on market days."
Deng Shirong said, "Boss, if you can give me an even better deal on the sandworms and squid, I'll place a large order for crabs, shrimp, and mudworms well in advance. What do you think?"
The owner was again taken aback, his excitement mounting. "Young man, are you serious?"
Deng Shirong nodded with a smile. "Of course, I am. I'm getting a daughter-in-law next month and need a lot of fresh seafood for the wedding banquet. But you need to give me the best price, or I'll just find a few local farmers to supply me. I'm sure they can meet my needs."
The owner became anxious and thumped his chest. "Young man, I'll give you 3.3 yuan per pound for the sandworms and 3.6 yuan per pound for the squid. Believe me, this is the lowest price I can offer. Any lower, and I'll be at a loss!"
Deng Shirong saw that the price was as low as it could go and nodded. "Alright, let's go with that. How much sandworms and squid do you have? I'll take it all!"
(End of Chapter)
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