Qiao Mei’s pigs were even fatter than those sold in the market. Even if she based it on the lower end of the market price and sold it at 120 dollars, it would be a loss to her!
“I don’t need that much money. Back then, this piglet was bought for 10 dollars. Just give me 10 dollars. Only you and I will know about this. If anyone asks you, you say it’s 120 dollars. How about that?” Qiao Mei whispered.
Auntie Dong smiled honestly and said, “Then I’ll be taking advantage of you. You’ve fed this pig for so long.”
“Auntie, I know how much you’ve helped our family. I’m going to my mother-in-law’s place to give birth soon. I still have to trouble you to help me take care of everything in my house,” Qiao Mei said.
!!
Once a house in the countryside was not occupied, it would soon become inhabitable and collapse very easily. Someone had to go in to clean it from time to time and also to use the fireplace once in a while. Otherwise, if Qiao Mei wanted to come back one day, the house would no longer be in a habitable condition.
It was very likely that she would not be able to return until the next elementary school graduation examination. If there was no one to take care of the house, it would be inhabitable, so she had to ask Auntie Dong for help.
“You don’t even have to ask me! Don’t worry, your house is my house. I’ll definitely look after it for you! However, I cannot take advantage of you. You know my family’s financial condition. I’ll buy this pig for 50 dollars. What do you think?” Auntie Dong said as she gritted her teeth.
The amount of 50 dollars was equivalent to half a year’s worth of rations for her family. Fortunately, Qiao Mei had managed to negotiate a good price for the seeds this time and her family had made a lot of money. An amount of 50 dollars was nothing to her family at the moment.
It was just that based on her spending habits, she could not bear to spend so much money at once. She felt a sense of heartache to have to fork out 50 dollars at one go.
“Sure, you can give me whatever amount you want. I’m fine with anything. Just bring this pig home. When I’m not at home, don’t let anyone steal my house away!” Qiao Mei said.
“I’ll pass you the money after the seeds are sold. I’ll ask my husband to come and pick up this pig tomorrow! We still have to set up the pigpen at home,” Auntie Dong said with a smile.
Qiao Mei also gave Auntie Dong a lot of fruits from the storeroom. These were all fragile items that could not be transported, so she might as well give them all away.
After settling the matter with Auntie Dong, it was time to look for Zhao Liang.
Qiao Mei slowly made her way to the village office. Currently, Zhao Liang was the only one working in the office and Wang Qin was nowhere to be seen. It seemed inappropriate for Zhao Liang to urge her to come to work at this time, so he could only take on all the work silently.
“Uncle Zhao, why are you so busy? You don’t even rest for a day,” Qiao Mei said.
Zhao Liang sighed resignedly. He did not want to be so busy and tired either. If not for the fact that there was no one in the village who could take over Wang Qin’s job, he would not be so tired.
“Qiao Mei, do you need something from me?” Zhao Liang asked.
“There’s indeed something I need. I want to sell my pig to you. What do you think?” Qiao Mei said playfully.
Zhao Liang had the same reaction as Auntie Dong and thought that Qiao Mei was joking. An ordinary family could not afford such a big pig at all. It may be affordable if three or four families agreed to share the cost. Under the current economic conditions, no one could really afford meat.
In particular, Zhao Liang had been busy running around for the sake of the villagers and did not have any free time at all. His wife was the one who tended to the land at home and it was already good enough that there was enough food for the entire family. He never had any spare cash all year round.
The entire family relied on his meager salary to make a living, so how could they have any spare cash? Not long ago, his wife had planted some of the seeds she took from Qiao Mei. They did not plant much, but they had made quite a lot of money and it was enough to last them for a long time.
“Mei Mei, if you want to sell your pig, I can help you ask around. We can afford it if we pool money together. If you want my family to buy it on our own, I’m afraid I don’t have the ability,” Zhao Liang said awkwardly.
“Uncle, I’m only selling it for 10 dollars. You can afford it after Auntie sells the seeds!” Qiao Mei said.
Zhao Liang still felt that Qiao Mei was joking and insisted on helping Qiao Mei find a few more families to share the cost of the pig. As the village chief, he had to set an example and not let anyone have something on him.
“Qiao Mei, I know what you mean. Thank you, but I’m afraid it’s too eye-catching for such a big pig to suddenly appear in my family. Pass me the pig and I’ll help you think of a way,” Zhao Liang said.