RYEY – Chapter 19 A Dangerous Business

“Brother Huan, we’ve got big buyers today.”

At those words, Li Huan’s eyes lit up. Big buyers meant the three men behind Skinny Monkey had large appetites and could take in a lot of goods. Thinking about the timing, he immediately understood why.

The autumn harvest was just around the corner. At the supply and marketing cooperatives, grain stations, and markets, all the good stuff—rice, flour, grain, oil, pork—had already been snatched up. That was why the black market only really opened for business in the afternoons and evenings.

Within half an hour, the three men Skinny Monkey brought nearly cleared out all the rice, flour, oil, and grain from the west room. Especially the pork—there wasn’t a single piece left. Thankfully, Li Huan had the foresight to keep some aside; otherwise, even his betrothal gifts wouldn’t be complete.

Li Huan held a thick wad of cash, counted it quickly, then pulled out ten percent of the profit and handed it to Skinny Monkey. “This is your commission.”

They had agreed beforehand: Li Huan would handle the purchasing while Skinny Monkey handled sales. After deducting the purchasing cost, Skinny Monkey got ten percent of the profits.

Don’t underestimate that cut—sometimes it was just ten yuan, but other times it could be as much as a hundred. It was a very lucrative business, the only downside being that it was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.

Skinny Monkey happily took the money. When he saw Li Huan bring out a strip of pork from the east room, he knew that was also for him. Overjoyed, he thought, Following Brother Huan means always having food to eat.

“These five hundred yuan, keep them safe,” Li Huan instructed. “After the harvest, every household will get their grain rations, so we’ll mainly collect fine grains. Remember—only fine grains. Then, around New Year, we’ll make another big move.”

“Got it, Brother Huan. I’ll take my leave then.”

Skinny Monkey pocketed the money and left. Li Huan double-checked everything again, locked the doors, and set off on his bicycle, pedaling back toward Xiangyang Village without stopping.

When he got home and wheeled the bike into the yard, his sister Li Le came running out, eyes shining. “Second Brother, is it true you’re going to marry Comrade Cheng?”

“That’s right. Don’t you like her?”

“I do,” Li Le nodded quickly. “She’s fair and pretty, easy on the eyes, and she suits you. I’m just worried she won’t like me… or our family.”

“Well, our home is shabby,” Li Huan admitted. “After marrying Cheng Qiao, we’ll apply for that plot of land out back, build a new house, and repair the old one.”

“Second Brother, are you thinking of splitting from the family?”

Li Le grew anxious. Their eldest brother wasn’t married yet, and she hadn’t wed either. If Second Brother split off now, what would happen to their mother once she married?

“That depends on Cheng Qiao,” Li Huan said calmly. “If she insists, then we’ll split. It’s just a wall between us, anyway—we can put a door in it and still call out to each other easily.”

“Second Brother, you really…”

“Think I’ll forget our mother after getting a wife? No way. When you find someone you love, you’ll think of him too. But don’t worry—I’ll never neglect our mother.”

“Mother! Second Brother’s back!” Li Le shouted toward the house. “Come quickly!”

She believed her brother completely. If he said he wouldn’t shortchange their mother, then he wouldn’t.

“Mother,” Li Huan called as their mother appeared. “These two sacks are rice and flour. Keep half for us, and use the other half as betrothal gifts for Cheng Qiao. As for this pork, cook some braised pork tonight. I think Li Le’s been craving meat.”

“Who’s craving meat? You’re the one craving it!” Li Le muttered, face red as she untied the rope. Still, her heart leapt with joy—tonight they’d have not only rice but braised pork.

“Or maybe dumplings?” she suggested. “That way you can bring some to the hospital for Cheng Qiao.”

“Good idea,” Li Huan nodded. “I’ll also deliver some of this meat and pastries to the educated youth spot. They asked me to buy them. After that, I’ll drop by the Chen household—make sure nothing’s brewing there.”

“Go on, but don’t get into fights,” his mother warned.

Li Huan nodded repeatedly, though he muttered to himself, No fights? Not likely. It’ll either be an argument… or fists.

“Qian Longkun! Open the door!”

The educated youths’ quarters were noisy with chatter, but when Li Huan knocked, the place suddenly fell silent.

Xu Laidi turned pale. Just moments ago, she had been badmouthing Cheng Qiao and the rascal. She implied, not so subtly, that they must’ve already been involved—how else could he have shown up so coincidentally to save her? Han Chunmei tried to argue back, but Xu Laidi overwhelmed her, even mocking her for wearing clothes she only had thanks to Cheng Qiao’s sacrifice.

Han Chunmei flushed with shame, but then Zhang Yuefang snapped. She lashed back with a few sharp words that left Xu Laidi speechless.

Just then, Li Huan knocked. Jiang Guangrong shook his head as he went to open the door. Women were always troublesome—but clearly, the real troublemaker here was Xu Laidi. Without her, the place would be peaceful.

“Rascal—no, Li Huan! You actually got pork?”

Jiang Guangrong’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the two slabs of meat in Li Huan’s hands. He reached eagerly, but Li Huan only handed him one. The money and ration tickets they’d pooled weren’t enough for both; they’d have to pay extra.

Hearing the word “meat,” Qian Longkun rushed out too. Grinning, he asked how much more they owed. Li Huan held up five fingers—fifty cents.

Qian Longkun quickly paid, and after some brief chatter, they split. Han Chunmei immediately took the meat and declared loudly, “Tonight we’re making braised pork! Everyone bring out the fine grains you’ve got.”

The tense atmosphere from earlier was instantly dispelled. Everyone busied themselves in excitement—everyone except Xu Laidi and Chai Jianmin.

“Squad leader, can I pay later? I’ll settle after the autumn harvest.”

Chai Jianmin whispered to Jiang Guangrong, who shook his head. “Not my decision. It’s up to everyone.”

Of course, the answer was no. The slab was under two catties, barely enough for ten-odd pieces. Besides Chai Jianmin, there were three other male educated youths—Jiang Guangrong, Qian Longkun, and Zhao Xiaobao—and five female youths: Xu Laidi, Han Chunmei, Zhang Yuefang, Xiao Fang, and the sisters Xiao Qin and Xiao Ping.

Even though Cheng Qiao wasn’t present, she had contributed money and tickets, so her share had to be saved. Whoever ate her portion would have to pay up.

That meant each person could only expect two small pieces of braised pork. There was no way they’d allow two more mouths to join in.

Xu Laidi and Chai Jianmin were furious, but no one paid them any attention. Even Zhao Xiaobao was scrubbing up eagerly, ready to feast.

Meanwhile, Li Huan took the other slab of pork and walked into village head Chen Weidang’s house.

The head’s wife, Cuihua, frowned as soon as she saw the rascal. But when her eyes landed on the fat, glistening pork belly in his hands, she wanted to smile instead. Her expression twisted awkwardly as she tried to balance both, leaving her looking utterly embarrassed.