After teaching his father-in-law's family some details, Zhao Yi had nothing much to do during this period.
After making another trip into the mountains at dawn the next day, the storage room could no longer hold all the grapes. Looking at the wild grapes in the mountains, Zhao Yi knew they would spoil within a month at most.
By then, making raisins would be impossible.
Zhao Yi wandered around the wild grapevines several times and discovered that wild boars also visited this grape grove, and they ate quite a lot each time.
In a direct confrontation, Zhao Yi was certainly no match for a wild boar. Observing the tracks left by the boars nearby, he noticed they seemed to only retrace their path and rarely changed routes.
Wild boars are omnivorous animals, eating not only grass but also wild fruits, meat, and even carrion.
After returning home and finishing processing the wild grapes with Zhang Jing, Zhao Yi began thinking about how to catch a wild boar.
After much thought, he concluded that digging a trap was the only way. Ordinary traps for small animals would be useless against wild boars, as these creatures not only possess considerable speed and strength but also surprisingly explosive power.
Over a week passed, and Zhao Yi still hadn't found an opportunity to ask Li Dequan for time off. Taking leave every few days from the team's work assignments might not be approved by Li Dequan.
He could only wait until he took his father-in-law to sell the raisins. Then he could buy some gifts at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to offer. As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face—having gifts would naturally make things easier.
"Husband, my dad said he's coming over tomorrow."
Evening.
At the dinner table, Zhang Jing looked at Zhao Yi and spoke.
Su Hong had brought another ten yuan today, covering twenty days' worth of fish.
"Understood."
Zhao Yi nodded. Fortunately, he hadn't killed and eaten the two remaining fish today. Tomorrow, he could sell them along with the raisins at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Before daybreak.
The door of Zhao Yi's house was gently knocked on—so quietly that one might miss it if not listening carefully.
Luckily, Zhao Yi had risen very early. He had already packed the raisins in carrying baskets and was busy in the kitchen preparing dry rations for the day.
Hearing the knock, Zhao Yi hurried to open the courtyard gate.
Actually, the earthen wall around Zhao Yi's house was very low, not even half an adult's height. His father-in-law only needed to call out for Zhao Yi to hear him, but the old man was being as cautious as a thief.
After exchanging a few quiet words, the two shouldered their baskets and headed into the mountains.
His father-in-law's raisins weren't particularly abundant, roughly over thirty jin, while Zhao Yi had only about ten jin.
This weight was almost like carrying nothing for two strong laborers. In villages like Wangou Village and Zhangjia Village, there were no tractors, and ox carts were scarce. Every year when delivering grain quotas, they had to carry the loads to the Commune. A strong laborer would shoulder at least 170-180 jin and couldn't fall behind.
The journey took several hours, and they could only rest with the large group. If one's labor ability was lacking, they couldn't earn those twelve Work Points.
After more than four hours on mountain paths, the two had exited the mountains and reached the city outskirts.
"Dad, don't act so nervous. Walk confidently. If you keep trembling like that, the patrol team will definitely stop and question you."
Zhao Yi reminded him.
Generally, when villagers entered the city, the patrol team mostly ignored them. Only those needing to stay overnight in city inns required introductory letters.
Or if someone was carrying items like pheasants, the patrol team might ask a few questions.
But anyone acting shifty and nervous would be the first to be inspected.
Zhao Fusheng immediately nodded upon hearing this, forcing himself to appear composed.
As expected, the patrol team at the intersection let them enter the city without even questioning them.
Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
"Comrade, you've finally come! Ever since people tasted your raisins, many have been asking to buy them. They've come to the cooperative several times only to find nothing. Some have even searched through the city's department store and all the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives without success."
The shop assistant who had previously served Zhao Yi happily rushed forward with a beaming smile upon seeing him.
"It takes time to dry raisins – at least a week each batch. Besides, this year's grapes will spoil soon. We can only manage two more deliveries at most before we're out of stock. Each batch can only yield about this much that we've brought today."
Zhao Yi responded with a cheerful smile.
"Is that so?"
The shop assistant felt somewhat disappointed, but having some was better than none. Getting to eat them once a year was enough, just like having a proper meat meal during New Year when normally the family couldn't afford a decent portion.
His father-in-law's raisins were weighed first – thirty-five jin in total. The old man seemed somewhat dazed receiving seven yuan, though he couldn't quite suppress the smile on his face.
Zhao Yi found this rather amusing.
Zhao Yi's raisins only amounted to fifteen jin. The storage room in his house wasn't as spacious as the west room in his father-in-law's place, so they couldn't store many raisins. He only earned three yuan from the sale.
"Next time you come, bring more fish. We'll need six fish next time, preferably each weighing five to six jin. If not, then at least two fish totaling six jin."
The cooperative director said to Zhao Yi with a smile.
Relatives and friends also wanted to buy some fish without using ration tickets, especially since the raisins tasted so good and only cost thirty cents per jin.
"Bring the raisins as soon as they're ready."
The director added cheerfully as Zhao Yi was about to leave.
"Alright."
Zhao Yi nodded, wondering if the two fish he brought today would be enough for their distribution.
Inside the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
After Zhao Yi and Zhang Fusheng had left.
"Only put half of these items on the shelves. We'll keep the other half for internal consumption."
The director told the shop assistants.
Hearing this, the assistants immediately broke into smiles. These products would make impressive gifts – many people had never seen such things before, making them more desirable than the commonly available pastries and alcohol.
Scarcity increases value – what's hard to obtain becomes most precious.
Especially since they tasted genuinely good.
"Why did you buy these things?"
When they had returned to the mountains and stopped to rest by a stream while eating dry rations, Zhang Fusheng looked puzzledly at the bulk alcohol and pastries in Zhao Yi's backpack.
"Some of this alcohol and pastries are for Li Dequan. We need his support in the brigade. Giving gifts helps him remember to look favorably upon us."
Zhao Yi didn't hide his intentions. Naturally, some pastries were for Zhang Jing, but Li Dequan needed to receive gifts too.
"That makes sense."
Zhang Fusheng nodded.
Frequently going to the city without working in the fields required the Brigade Leader's approval. Otherwise, Zhao Yi's behavior would be considered typical idleness, which could lead to criticism.
After resting awhile, eating some dry rations, and drinking from the mountain spring, they hurried homeward.
By the time Zhang Fusheng reached home, darkness had completely fallen.
The entire family was sitting in the main hall, lit by a kerosene lamp, all waiting for the good news Zhang Fusheng would bring back.
Hearing the door creak open, the family immediately rose to greet Zhang Fusheng.
Everyone's faces were filled with immense curiosity.