Chapter 47: I’ve Even Eaten Elm Bark

Ah Zhe said anxiously, “Dongzi, if a fifty-fifty split doesn’t work, then let’s do a forty-sixty split. I get four, you get six, that should be okay, right?”

Hou San nodded, “Right, Brother Dong, I’ll only take four as well.”

Li Xiangdong nodded, “Alright, then if the three of us work together, I’ll take six parts myself, and you two will each take two parts.”

Giving away forty percent of the share was quite a lot. He was just short on starting capital. If it weren’t difficult to ask his family for money, he could have done it all by himself.

Hou San and Ah Zhe had no objections. They didn’t understand anything, just provided some money, and at most, helped carry things. They didn’t have to worry about the rest.

To put it bluntly, they didn’t have to bear the main risks of buying and selling the goods. For them to each get a twenty percent share was already quite a lot.

“Hou San, Ah Zhe, you two will have to learn from me in the future. When you’ve learned to distinguish the real from the fake, we’ll change the split to 4-3-3.”

“Okay, I’ll slowly learn from you in the future.”

Ah Zhe agreed verbally, and Hou San also had a grin on his face, repeatedly promising that he would definitely study hard in the future.

But they both knew they weren’t cut out for it. Although they could earn an extra share if they learned, they might as well use that effort to focus on Li Xiangdong. As long as they stuck to him, the amount of money they earned could be accumulated through the number of trips.

Li Xiangdong saw the perfunctory look on their faces and could guess what they were planning in their hearts. But he let them be. If they wanted to learn, they could; if not, then forget it.

He said, “Then this is a gentleman’s agreement. If either of you wants to quit in the future, remember to say so in advance.”

Ah Zhe said, “Don’t worry, Dongzi. We’re men of our word. What we say, goes.”

Hou San patted his chest, “Brother Dong, don’t worry. I, Hou San, will do what I say.”

“Then your next step is to find a way to raise money. The more money, the more you earn. I don’t need to explain that principle, do I? Alright, that’s it for now. I’m going to take a nap. You two can think it over some more.”

Li Xiangdong yawned. He was getting sleepy after a full meal and was too lazy to go home. He planned to rest for a while on Hou Jianshe’s desk.

Seeing Li Xiangdong resting on the desk, Ah Zhe and Hou San exchanged a look and then quickly separated.

Both of them were feeling delighted, looking forward to a better life in the future.

The bell for the afternoon shift rang.

Li Xiangdong got up from the desk, sat on the chair, and stretched. His head was a little dizzy. He sat dazed for a while longer before getting up to move his body.

Ah Zhe came over and said, “Dongzi, the water is ready for you. Hurry up and wash your face. We need to wake up and go to the union.”

Hou San attentively carried the thermos. Looking at Li Xiangdong washing his face in front of the iron rack, he asked with a smile, “Brother Dong, do you need me to add some hot water?”

“No need for hot water. Cold water is just right. It’ll wake me up.”

Li Xiangdong scrubbed his face and took the towel Ah Zhe handed him to dry it.

After he finished washing up, Hou San spoke again, “Brother Dong, you and Ah Zhe can leave the things you received in my dad’s office for now. After we come back from the union, we’ll take these things to the train station building in front.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Li Xiangdong said, “Hou San, you lead the way.”

“Alright.”

Hou San pushed open the door and went out first.

The union office was on the third floor.

There was only one employee in the office. Upon learning that Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe were there to report, he first had them fill out a form and then began the same old speech.

Employee handbook, rules and regulations, points to note—after a long-winded speech, the sound lingered in the air.

“You two are no longer ordinary citizens, but glorious railway workers. What is the railway? It is the great economic artery of the country. You must always remember in the future, the pioneering and enterprising spirit of us railway people.”

“If you have any issues in the future, remember to ask for leave from the team leader. If you have any difficulties, you can also explain them to the leadership. The leadership will definitely help us solve them. But no matter when, as long as you are wearing this uniform, you must abide by the station’s discipline and relevant regulations. Concentrate your thoughts and energy on doing a good job in production during working hours…”

After listening to some glorious deeds and advanced reports, Li Xiangdong came out of the union feeling that his soul had been elevated. He even felt ashamed of his upcoming plan to trade silver dollars!

Good heavens, he had almost applied to join the organization on the spot just now!

He took two deep breaths and slowly came back to his senses.

Make money, he had to make money!

The three of them returned to Hou Jianshe’s office again.

Hou San quickly walked to the desk, took out a newspaper, and spread it out. Then he opened the tea caddy on the desk and poured all the Tieguanyin inside onto the newspaper.

After packing the tea leaves, he tucked the tea caddy directly under his arm and handed the tea package to Li Xiangdong.

“Brother Dong, take this home and drink it.”

“No, you should keep it. I can’t take it.”

Hou San stared straight at Li Xiangdong, “Brother Dong, are you looking down on me?”

“No, we’re about to make money together. How could I look down on you?”

“If you don’t accept this tea, you’re looking down on me! If you don’t take it, I’ll throw it away right now!”

Seeing Hou San open the window and really about to throw the tea package out, Li Xiangdong quickly said, “Don’t throw it… alright, I’ll take the tea.”

Hou San smiled and handed the tea package to Li Xiangdong, then patted the empty tin tea caddy.

“Brother Dong, I won’t give you the tea caddy. I have a use for it.”

“If you have a use for it, you keep it.”

Since Li Xiangdong had accepted his tea, he naturally wouldn’t ask for the tea caddy.

In an era of scarce resources, a tin tea caddy was a good thing. Even twenty years later, it would still be very practical.

At this moment, Li Xiangdong suddenly said, “Hou San, you kindly gave me tea, so I certainly can’t drink it for free. How about this, I’ll give you a bottom line first. Before the end of this year, I guarantee you will safely become a ten-thousand-yuan household.”

“Ten-thousand-yuan household” was still a new term at this time, having first appeared in the People’s Daily in February of this year.

Hearing his words, Hou San was finally relieved. No matter how foolish he was, he understood that as long as Li Xiangdong was still working at the railway unit, he couldn’t possibly deceive him.

Coming out of the office building, they arrived at the main gate.

Through the window, Li Xiangdong saw Uncle Hou in the reception room, sitting on a chair, holding a newspaper, his head nodding as he dozed off.

He pushed open the window and shouted, “Uncle Hou, fire!”

“Where? Where!”

Uncle Hou immediately woke up from his slumber, hurriedly got up, and looked around. When he saw the smiling face at the window, he knew he had been tricked.

He said in exasperation, “You little rascal! Your uncle is getting on in years. If you scare me into having a problem, I’ll eat your food and drink your drink, and make you serve me for the rest of my life!”

Li Xiangdong said with a chuckle, “The corn buns at my house are coarse and don’t taste good.”

Uncle Hou said nonchalantly, “It’s fine. I’ve even eaten elm bark. Your uncle is not a picky eater.”

Li Xiangdong was speechless, “Hey, I kindly woke you up because I couldn’t bear to see an old comrade who has worked diligently for the revolution his whole life stumble because of laziness just before his retirement. And you’re trying to blame me?”