Wu Lao Er strongly suspected this thing was left over from the War of Resistance decades ago, and it was surprisingly well-maintained.
It wasn't uncommon to have machine guns in civilian hands back then. During the passionate era, everything from rifles to anti-aircraft guns, hand grenades to heavy machine guns, was readily available in preparation for total war—that was the youth of Wu Lao Er's generation.
However, in the last decade or so, these items have been largely sealed away by the armament department. While it's not strange that some are kept, taking them out for use is terrifying.
Bringing two homemade guns was for self-protection, bringing a Type 56 half-automatic was to eliminate scourges for the people, but bringing a wild chicken neck... the pest turned out to be myself.
“……”
Tang Wen didn't expect his act of self-protection to scare even Wu Lao Er, so he quickly promised not to use them again.
However, this was also because the Type 92 was the weakest armament on the ship; the next best was at least a .50 caliber M2 heavy machine gun or a 25mm autocannon, which might be too cruel for car bandits and local tyrants.
After Tang Wen repeatedly assured him it was purely for insurance, Wu Lao Er finally calmed down and started discussing the subsequent orders.
All twenty-two Diesel Engines were sold this trip, but it basically exhausted the purchasing power of the nearby townships. Next, they would have to advance into the city.
But unlike townships, where there is basically only one Agricultural Machinery Store, competition in the city is much greater, and connections are much more complicated. Wu Lao Er won't place a second order anytime soon.
However, Tang Wen, who had already earned over two hundred thousand from the Diesel Engines, was quite content. The market for small Diesel Engines under 25 Horsepower was fiercely competitive, making it unnecessary to fight for it; this business was about to enter a plateau period.
Wu Lao Er was eager to return to the Town, and Tang Wen also remembered the favor he had asked of Guo Panpan. So, he rode with him in the Truck, lumbering his way to Big Bay Town.
……
The Ten-wheel truck stopped in front of Guo's small shop, and the noise immediately alerted the people inside.
Tang Wen got out of the car but didn't see Guo Panpan; instead, he saw her mother.
“Tang Wen? Looking to buy something?”
An Yu was slightly surprised to see Tang Wen, but she quickly reverted to her role as the Boss's wife and greeted him.
Tang Wen glanced around, didn't see any sign of Guo Panpan, and saw the Novels behind the counter neatly arranged, so he asked:
“Auntie An, is Sister Panpan here?”
“Panpan? She went out to play with her classmates. You came looking for her... Oh, that girl mentioned yesterday that she found the book you asked her to look for, and she said you should call this number.”
Saying this, An Yu found a slip of paper on which a Landline number was written.
Tang Wen didn't think much of it and borrowed the shop's phone to call.
After several ringing tones, a youthful voice answered on the other end.
“Hello, who are you looking for?”
Tang Wen: “I’m the one who asked Guo Panpan to help buy books, may I ask…”
Before Tang Wen could finish, the other party spoke somewhat urgently:
“Are the books related to the Navy? And mainly World War I and World War II Naval History and Ship Equipment? I have a lot here, which specific ones do you want?”
Which specific ones? I couldn't possibly say I'm looking for nearby Sunken Ships, could I?
Tang Wen thought for a moment:
“Are these books yours? Sorry, I might need quite a few, preferably you could help purchase them from the library.”
“The library doesn't have as much as my home!”
The voice on the phone was clearly a bit excited, yet seemed to be lowering its voice:
“My dad and my grandpa were both Sailors. We have a lot of the books you want at home, many are out-of-print War History and Naval Warfare books, and lots of Photos too—even the library doesn't have this many.”
After speaking, the person on the phone recited several book titles and authors, including well-known world naval figures like "Nimitz," "Ernest," and "Nelson," clearly indicating high credibility.
However, Tang Yi wasn't around, and Tang Wen didn't know how to choose, so he simply asked:
“How many books like that do you have at home?”
“About a whole bookshelf’s worth.”
“I want them all. Tell me where you are, and I’ll send someone to transport them.”
After Tang Wen said this, the person on the phone gasped, followed by a rapid refusal:
“No, no, selling this many... I can sell you ten books at most. I can give you the list of titles, and you can choose which ones you want.
Oh, right, how much are you prepared to pay?”
“……”
After hearing this, Tang Wen was almost certain the other party was a young girl secretly selling her dad's collection. But he really needed them, so he decided to buy them anyway; he could just offer a slightly higher price.
Books in the 90s were still quite expensive. The Novel by Jin Yong that Guo Panpan lent him cost twenty yuan; it was normal for a single book to cost tens of yuan.
The set of Space Odyssey he borrowed cost over a hundred yuan because there was no domestic translation yet, and he had to buy the Hong Kong translated version, showing how much Guo Panpan loved reading.
Naval War History books like these are also hard to search for in the Internet age; they are niche and highly specialized, and their prices are very Expensive.
Moreover, they might be treasured books from a Sailor, making some hard to price. Tang Yi would need to see them in person.
Tang Wen: “What is your address? I will send someone over to look, but I guarantee a minimum of one hundred and fifty yuan per book. Does that work for you?”
Even through the phone line, Tang Wen could hear the sound of the other person sucking in a breath. After a long pause, a stuttering voice said intermittently:
“Are you serious? If that’s the case, I can sell twenty books.”
“It’s a deal, cash on delivery.”
“Sell! XX District, XX Residential Community. When can you come?”
Tang Wen looked at the Boss's wife An Yu, who was leaning in with her ears perked up to listen to the excitement, and quietly asked how long it would take to drive to Goose City.
After getting the reply of a few hours, he arranged with the person on the phone to pick up the books the next day.
Hanging up the phone, he saw An Yu’s shocked expression:
“Tang Wen, what kind of book are you buying for one hundred and fifty yuan a copy!”
“Just some interesting historical reference material.”
“Then do you want Panpan’s history textbooks? They’re only one and a half yuan each, and she has lots of notes.”
Tang Wen wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked at the bright-eyed An Yu:
“No need for that, Auntie. Just help me thank Panpan for me.”
Tang Wen thought that just giving money might not be the best approach, so he said:
“Tell Panpan next time I have a chance, I’ll treat her to something fun, and... also pack some snacks for me.”
Tang Wen reached inside his clothes and placed a large handful of Green banknotes, exchanged from Silver Coins, on the counter—it was over two thousand yuan.
This time it wasn't for him to eat; the Shipyard Cafeteria's Silver Coin supply only provided basic, simple Meals. He felt he needed to open a convenience store to satisfy the Workers' needs.
After confirming Tang Wen wanted this many snacks, An Yu was overjoyed and immediately took him into the storeroom to start loading.
This amount of money cleared out more than half the items in the store, but the most expensive things were cigarettes; the Ship workers were all heavy smokers and constantly complained about not having any.
After loading half a truckload of various side dishes and drinks, Tang Wen declined the invitation to stay for dinner and finally bid farewell to the reluctant Boss's wife.