Chapter 73: A Master at Shearing the Socialist Sheep!

After finishing his rant, Yang Dabao turned to look at Li Xiangdong sitting beside him. “You don’t have big money to go out and trade, but you must have some small change to buy some food, right? We can’t come all this way and go back empty-handed.”

Li Xiangdong was relieved to finally hear Yang Dabao say something that made sense. He nodded and said, “I was thinking of bringing some food back. I plan to wait for Hou San to wake up, and then we’ll go out for a stroll together to see what we can buy.”

But Yang Dabao smiled and said, “If you have that in mind, you don’t need to go out and look. I know a place that doesn’t require tickets, though of course, the price will be a bit higher than outside.”

Li Xiangdong’s eyes lit up. “They have to make a profit, of course. A slightly higher price is fine, I can accept that. Where is this place you’re talking about, Brother Yang?”

Yang Dabao said mysteriously, “Far away in the horizon, yet right before your eyes.”

Li Xiangdong looked at the dilapidated courtyard in front of him. “You’re not talking about the hostel we’re staying in, are you?”

He really hadn’t expected it. These people had truly mastered the art of hiding in plain sight!

“Smart. You wait here for me for a moment, I’ll go put my bag back first.”

…

Li Xiangdong followed behind the just-returned Yang Dabao. The two arrived in front of a small, flat-roofed house behind the hostel.

“Old Four, is Old Four in?”

Yang Dabao knocked on the door and called out. After a long while, a man in his thirties came out of the room.

The man, having been woken up, had a displeased expression. “Yang Dabao, what are you shouting for? Are you going to let people sleep or not?”

“You’re not happy about making money, are you? Fine, you go back to sleep, we’re leaving.”

Yang Dabao was about to pull Li Xiangdong away when Old Four reacted, quickly taking two steps forward to block their path. He smiled and lightly slapped his own face.

“Brother Dabao, don’t be angry. It was my mistake. I was just groggy from sleep. You can’t take it to heart.”

Yang Dabao smiled, “Alright, Old Four. We’re on the two o’clock train this afternoon. Can you get us some local food for lunch? It would be even better if there’s seafood. This brother next to me plans to bring some back for his family.”

He then patted Li Xiangdong’s shoulder and introduced, “This is Old Four from the cafeteria.”

“Hello, Brother Four.”

Old Four smiled and nodded, looking at Li Xiangdong and asking, “For local snacks, we have fried dough twists. As for seafood, a batch of mackerel will be delivered later. Let’s be clear first, cash before goods.”

“Deal, Brother Four. Take this money and get me a bit of everything.”

Li Xiangdong didn’t hesitate and took out 5 yuan from his pocket. Yang Dabao had brought him here, so it was surely reliable.

However, he only had 15 yuan in total. Taking out a third of it now, to be honest, he felt a little pained.

Old Four took the money dryly, the smile vanishing from his face. “You’re only buying 5 yuan worth? It’s not easy to make a trip out these days. You should at least buy a little more.”

Yang Dabao snatched the money from Old Four’s hand. “You think it’s too little, don’t you? Then let’s just forget it. I’ll find someone else.”

“Who said I thought it was too little? I was just worried the little brother wouldn’t have enough to share when he gets home.”

Old Four reached out, trying to snatch the money back.

Yang Dabao held the hand with the money behind his back. “Old Four, the oil and firewood you use for the fried dough twists belong to the cafeteria, right? I’m even starting to suspect the white flour is from the cafeteria too.”

Hearing this, Old Four immediately became anxious. “Don’t talk nonsense! How would I have the guts to use the cafeteria’s white flour!”

Yang Dabao pointed at him. “See? You’ve confessed without being pressed. Do you need me to tell you about the mackerel too? And you still have the nerve to tell me 5 yuan won’t buy much? You’re not an honest man.”

With his secrets exposed, Old Four’s face turned red with anger. “Yang Dabao, just shut up! The dough twists and the mackerel, I’ll give them to this little brother at the low price of 30 cents a pound, alright?”

“That’s more like it.”

Yang Dabao stuffed the money into Old Four’s hand. “Still trying to bully people from our Beijing railway system? Be careful we don’t put you in a sack in the middle of the night.”

“Fine, fine, I can’t afford to offend you, alright?”

Old Four smilingly took the money and put it in his pocket. Although 5 yuan wasn’t much to him, even a mosquito is still meat.

Listening to their conversation, Li Xiangdong finally understood how Old Four did his business. It turned out he was a master at shearing the socialist sheep!

Yang Dabao rolled his eyes at Old Four’s money-grubbing look. “When can we get the stuff?”

Old Four said cheerfully, “After lunch, have this little brother come to the back kitchen to get it from me.”

“Alright then, it’s settled.”

With the matter settled, Yang Dabao led Li Xiangdong away.

When the two returned to the front staircase entrance.

Li Xiangdong stopped. “Brother Yang, you go on up. I want to stay down here by myself for a little longer.”

Yang Dabao was a bit confused, but he was indeed tired, so he didn’t say anything and left alone.

Li Xiangdong waited until Yang Dabao’s figure disappeared, then turned and walked back towards Old Four’s place.

Old Four opened the door and saw Li Xiangdong, who had just left, and asked in confusion, “Little brother, is there something else?”

Li Xiangdong smiled and asked, “Brother Four, if I were to bring you a couple of deals, how much of a commission would you give me?”

“Commission?”

Hearing this, Old Four sized up Li Xiangdong. This was the first time he had encountered someone like this, trying to get him to take money out of his own pocket. What a plan!

He put on a fake smile. “Little brother, are you overthinking things? This little business of mine is just enough to support my family. I don’t make much money at all.”

Li Xiangdong naturally didn’t believe Old Four’s nonsense. “Brother Four, you’re being no fun. I came here sincerely to discuss this with you. You have to give up a little something, right?”

Old Four pretended to look troubled. “I’m just doing this to earn some cigarette money on the side. How about this, you bring the people over, and I’ll owe you a favor, alright?”

Li Xiangdong stared at him blankly. “Brother Four, how much is your favor worth? Why don’t you convert it into fried dough twists for me?”

Zhao Si: “…”

Seeing Old Four’s dumbfounded expression, Li Xiangdong suddenly laughed. He took out a Daqianmen cigarette from his pocket and offered it.

“I’m just kidding with you, Brother Four. I’ll go get my two friends now. But Brother Four, let’s agree first, you have to put extra sesame seeds on the dough twists for me.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely add extra sesame seeds for you.”

As long as he didn’t have to pay a commission, anything was fine. Old Four smiled and took the Daqianmen from Li Xiangdong. After taking a puff, he said, “My name is Zhao Si. What should I call you, little brother?”

Li Xiangdong replied, “My name is Li Xiangdong. Brother Four can just call me Dongzi.”

Zhao Si nodded. “Dongzi, you’re an interesting little brother. Next time you come to Tianjin, we’ll have to find some time to have a good drink.”

“Sure. Next time I come, I’ll definitely have a couple of drinks with you. Brother Four, I’ll go get them now. You wait for me.”

After speaking, Li Xiangdong started walking back. He had come over just to get closer to Zhao Si. In the future, if he wanted to eat seafood, this was a connection.

Of course, he would have to pay for the seafood. Mutual benefit was the only way to make things last.