Chapter 38: Shifting the Battle to Stone City

“How much for this big silver carp? Judging by its size, it must be ten kilos, right?”

“Eight yuan for this one,” Li Long said with a smile. “The other big fish—carp, black carp, and grass carp—are two yuan each. Silver carp are one-fifty a piece.”

With the experience of selling fish yesterday, Li Long had selected fish of a relatively uniform size this time. They looked roughly the same, which made it harder for disputes to arise.

Many people looked at the large fish with envy, but no one made an offer. However, two large carp were quickly sold, and someone with a discerning eye picked up the only three black carp at the stall.

Then, there were many onlookers but few buyers. Taking the opportunity, Li Long scanned the area and noticed that the people selling tickets were still there, and the meat stalls were quite busy. It was likely close to the Lunar New Year, as every household wanted to buy some meat.

There were people selling grain, but the stalls selling other goods were much thinner on crowds.

After half an hour, the sky had begun to brighten. More than half of the large fish at the stall had been sold. People were still gathered around, pointing at the large silver carp, but no one would buy it.

“Young man, this silver carp is too big. If I buy it, I won't be able to finish it. Can you just sell me the head?” someone spoke up. “It’s not like there’s much meat on the head anyway. Will you give it to me for two yuan?”

“No, I can't do that.” Li Long refused immediately. Unlike white silver carp, the head of a big silver carp was large and excellent for making soup. Was this person trying to take advantage of his ignorance? “The head is a good thing. If you take it, the rest of the fish won't be as appetizing for others. Of course, if you pay more, it’s possible. Five yuan for the head.”

The head of this large silver carp weighed three or four kilos; Li Long’s asking price was quite steep.

The man let out a "tch" and didn't offer any more.

After a while, someone else came by and bought a carp and a silver carp. Only the large silver carp and two white silver carp weighing over two kilos each remained on the stall.

Seeing the crowd beginning to disperse, Li Long knew things were about to wind down here.

The county town had few people, and even fewer dared to come to the black market to buy things. The purchasing power was only so large. After thinking it over, he simply rolled up the fish and left, carrying them with him.

Arriving at the horse carriage, he spoke to Tao Daqiang, who was walking back and forth to warm himself up

“Let’s go. To the Big Meat Canteen.”

He had sold a total of seventeen yuan and fifty cents. Li Long bought six meat buns at the Big Meat Canteen, and the two of them headed toward Shicheng while eating.

As they walked, Tao Daqiang was somewhat hesitant

“Brother Long, why don't we just find a residential compound in the county town and sell them like yesterday? If we go to Shicheng, we’ll be flying blind...”

“No, we’re going to Shicheng. The residential compounds here are all tied to connections. If we run into someone with ill intentions, one report and we’ll be arrested along with the fish.

Shicheng has many factories. The factory residential compounds don't care about that kind of thing, and the workers have money. It's easy to sell fish there, even if the road is a bit longer.”

The road was indeed long. By the time they reached Shicheng, it was nearly noon.

Li Long looked at the city, which felt slightly unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar. After a brief moment of silent reflection, he led the horse carriage toward the agricultural machinery factory residential compound.

Although the agricultural machinery factory was also under the unified purchase and sale system at this time, they seemed to handle some contract manufacturing and repairs, so they certainly weren't short on money.

He still had Tao Daqiang park the carriage outside the compound, while he rushed in with a urea sack slung over his shoulder.

The gatekeeper was an elderly man. Seeing Li Long rushing in, he moved to stop him. Li Long said with a smile

“Old man, I’m bringing some fish to my uncle...”

“Fish?” The old man’s eyes lit up when he heard the word. “Is that what you're carrying in that sack?”

“Yeah.” Li Long put down the urea sack and opened it for the old man to see. “They're all big fish.”

“So many? Who are they for? Sell me two. It’s almost New Year; it’s not good to have no fish for the New Year's Eve dinner.”

“Two yuan a piece,” Li Long said, quickly seizing the opportunity once he heard the interest. “Silver carp are a bit cheaper, one-fifty.”

“That price... is alright.” The old man was delighted in his heart; in truth, it was already very cheap. Although the factory had already distributed welfare goods, how could those hairtails frozen in ice compare to these large carp with red heads and tails?

After paying for two carp, the old man saw through Li Long

“Young man, you're just here to sell fish, aren't you? Fine, go on in. Just don't wander into the buildings.”

“Thanks, old man!” Li Long was sweet-tongued and quickly shouldered his sack to head inside.

The residential compound wasn't large, consisting of two buildings with two units each. In the courtyard, a few children were playing a game with an old ox, looking curiously at Li Long as he entered.

Li Long somewhat regretted not bringing some fruit candies, but for now, he had to rely on persuasion. He walked up to the children, spread open his sack, and said

“Kids, do you want to eat fish? I have big fish here. If you want some, go home and tell your parents to bring money to buy them. This fish is cheap!”

The children were half-believing, half-doubting. Suddenly, a little boy shouted

“I want to eat it! I'm going to find my mom!” With that, he dashed into the building hallway.

Two other children followed him. The remaining ones, whether because their families were well-off or they simply weren't interested in fish, just took a glance and continued playing.

Li Long waited there. Just then, someone entered through the gate. Li Long saw it was a middle-aged man. Knowing that in this era, women mostly did the cooking and men rarely handled kitchen matters, he didn't approach to greet him.

But the man took the initiative to come over and ask

“I heard from Old Man Li that you're the one selling fish?”

“It's me.” Li Long looked at the man with a hint of caution.

“Let me see what kind of fish they are.” The man leaned in.

Li Long saw that the man appeared to be an official and worried he might try to seize the goods. However, thinking that with his youth and strength, he could always just let the fish go if things turned sour, he opened the sack for him to see.

“Good fish, quite fresh.” The man poked at the gill cover of a fish. “What's the price?”

“Silver carp are one-fifty, others are two yuan,” Li Long said.

“That's a high price,” the middle-aged man said. “A guy came to sell fish a couple of days ago, about your age, and he was selling them for one yuan. Your price is too high.”

Li Long scoffed inwardly. Near Shicheng, there was the Ma River; in winter, even if you tried to smash through the ice to catch fish, you might not catch two or three in a whole day. Furthermore, the nearest reservoir was forty to fifty kilometers from the city, even further than his own home. If someone actually caught fish and brought them all the way here to sell, one yuan? Even three yuan would be unlikely!

This man was talking nonsense!

However, he didn't expose him. Instead, he said with a smile

“My fish are fresh because they were caught just yesterday. Secondly, these large carp with red heads and tails are rare; they look festive. It would be wonderful to have a platter of them on the table for New Year's. Thirdly, I'm earning hard money. It takes two or three hours just to smash through a meter of ice, and another half a day to get the fish. You can't catch many in a single day...”

“Oh, you've got a logical way of putting it.” The middle-aged man hadn't expected Li Long to be so articulate. While he was still surprised, a child tugged on her mother's sleeve and came up to Li Long

“Mom, I want to eat this fish!”

Seeing that there really was fish, the woman looked it over and asked

“How much for the fish?”

“Silver carp are one-fifty, others are two yuan.”

“Per kilo? That expensive?”

“Per fish.”

“Then it's really cheap! Give me two!”

There we go—business was open again!