Chapter 37: Yi Zhonghai's Little Scheme

“If you want to exchange for high-gluten flour, we’ll follow the rules of the pigeon market: fifteen catties of cornmeal for one catty of high-gluten flour. We only take grain coupons, no cash.”

In the "Draft Outline of the Criminal Law" promulgated on July 25, 1950, regulations regarding "speculation and profiteering" appeared for the first time, classifying it as a crime that disrupts the market.

Not long ago, Qian Dafu, a driver from the Red Star Commune, helped someone transport mountain goods to the city to sell at high prices on the streets instead of selling them to the supply and marketing cooperatives. He was reported by the masses and ultimately "ran into trouble."

Although Li Aiguo's high-gluten flour was a reward from the locomotive depot, even if he sold it to the residents, it wouldn't constitute "speculation and profiteering" since he wasn't "buying low and selling high."

However, Li Aiguo still had to be on his guard.

"Fifteen catties of cornmeal just for one catty of high-gluten flour? Why don't you just go rob us!" Jia Zhangshi yelled, jumping up in indignation upon hearing this.

Li Aiguo gave Jia Zhangshi a cold look. "Old woman Jia, if you don't want to exchange, I'm not begging you."

"You little—"

Just as Jia Zhangshi was about to open her mouth to curse, Xu Daimao interjected sarcastically, "Some people have no money but still want to eat high-gluten flour. On what grounds? It's not like Li Aiguo is your father."

Xu Daimao was delighted in his heart.

His own exchange price for high-gluten flour was ten catties of cornmeal.

Now, the price Li Aiguo was giving the residents was fifteen catties of cornmeal.

This meant that in just a short moment, he would net a profit of five catties of cornmeal per catty.

He was making a killing!

Returning kindness for kindness, seeing that the residents still seemed to have objections, Xu Daimao shouted loudly

"This price isn't expensive at all!"

"I can tell you, there isn't even any high-gluten flour in the pigeon market right now. If you miss out, you'll never be able to buy it again."

He shot a glance at Li Aiguo and said with feigned concern, "Aiguo, how much high-gluten flour is left?"

"Less than ten catties."

"I, Xu Daimao, will take it all!" Xu Daimao declared with grandiosity.

"Xu Daimao, you rascal! Even if your family has money, you can't act like this! I want half a catty!"

"I—I—I want two taels!"

"One catty! My family wants one catty!"

The watching residents finally snapped out of it and hurried home to fetch their cornmeal; if they were any later, they might not be able to buy any.

On ordinary days, people were reluctant to eat high-gluten flour, but it was nonetheless indispensable.

With honored guests coming over, steaming a few white flour mantou would bring a lot of face.

Furthermore, every family had to eat dumplings during the New Year.

Dumplings made with high-gluten flour were springy and chewy.

Jia Zhangshi did not exchange for high-gluten flour because the price was simply too expensive.

She wanted to wait until Shazhu came out of the police station, then have Qin Huairu ask Shazhu to buy the flour; that would certainly cost no money.

The amount of high-gluten flour each household exchanged for was small, but the number of people exchanging was large, and the ten catties of flour were quickly exhausted.

The residents who obtained the high-gluten flour looked quite proud; with this, they wouldn't have to fear even if honored guests visited.

Yi Zhonghai watched Li Aiguo chatting animatedly with the residents, feeling a sharp pain in his chest from anger.

Today, he had originally intended to use the Deaf Old Lady's name to pressure Li Aiguo into contributing the high-gluten flour.

Who would have thought that Li Aiguo would deny him the chance to perform? All the eloquent words he had prepared failed to come out.

In the end, Li Aiguo had usurped the lead and started exchanging directly with the residents.

His plan to mobilize the masses and morally kidnap Li Aiguo had completely fallen through.

*Ouch, oh no, my chest is starting to hurt.*

Seeing Yi Zhonghai clutching his chest with a grim expression, Jia Dongxu stepped forward to support his arm. "Master, are you ill?"

Looking at Jia Dongxu's concerned face, Yi Zhonghai felt a warmth in his heart. "It's nothing, I might have just caught a bit of a chill. Help me back."

Jia Dongxu looked at his short-sleeved shirt with suspicion; in the middle of summer, what kind of chill could he have caught?

However, being a filial child, he didn't ask much and supported Yi Zhonghai toward the backyard.

As they passed the Deaf Old Lady's doorway, the dilapidated room opened with a "creak."

The Deaf Old Lady walked out leaning on her cane, her face grim. "Did you fail to settle it?"

"That kid Li Aiguo is too cunning. I don't know when he learned my trick of mobilizing the masses," Yi Zhonghai said with an awkward smile.

"I told you before, he had a major illness this time and it seems to have opened his mind. Compared to before, he's like a different person. You didn't listen, and now you've suffered a great loss."

"I was just thinking that since your health isn't good, eating mixed flour all day isn't right, so I..."

Thumping her cane on the ground, the Deaf Old Lady narrowed her eyes. "Don't think I don't know your little schemes."

Seeing Yi Zhonghai hang his head in silence, the Deaf Old Lady increased her tone. "I've contacted a few old friends; Shazhu will be out the day after tomorrow. Until then, stop provoking that boy surnamed Li."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

It wasn't until the door closed again that Yi Zhonghai dared to straighten up and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"That old lady's prestige hasn't diminished with age."

"Master, I've inconvenienced you this time," Jia Dongxu said guiltily.

Yi Zhonghai looked at him with gratification. "As long as you know. I have no son, so I've long treated you like my own child. However, your mother has been getting more and more out of hand lately; you need to keep an eye on her."

Who could keep an eye on Jia Zhangshi?

Jia Dongxu felt he couldn't, but he still nodded in agreement.

He couldn't ignore what his master said.

When Yi Zhonghai returned home, Auntie Yi helped him pour a mug of hot tea and dropped in some crushed high-quality snacks.

Only after Yi Zhonghai took the tea did Auntie Yi speak cautiously, "Old Yi, I think we should stop getting involved in the Jia family's affairs from now on."

"Why? Didn't we agree that we would let Jia Dongxu take care of us in our old age?" Yi Zhonghai took a sip of tea, looked up, and frowned.

Auntie Yi was somewhat afraid of Yi Zhonghai; she lowered her head and whispered, "Old Yi, Dongxu is a good kid—good character, polite, and sensible. I'm so envious that Jia Zhangshi has such a son, but..."

Auntie Yi looked up at the door, saw it was tightly closed, and then continued, "What if Jia Zhangshi doesn't die? Although a master is half a father and a disciple is half a son, in the end, it's only half."

"Hahahaha!" Yi Zhonghai set down the enamel mug.

"You don't need to worry about that. Jia Zhangshi has been taking painkillers constantly. That stuff ruins the body; she certainly won't live many more years."

"Besides, those things are expensive. Jia Zhangshi spends ten yuan a month on painkillers."

"In the past, Old Jia was a Grade 6 fitter, earning over fifty yuan a month, so that amount was nothing."

"But Jia Dongxu took over his position, and now he's a Grade 1 worker, earning only about twenty yuan a month. The Jia family can't afford the medicine alone."

"If Jia Zhangshi doesn't die in three or five years, I will keep stalling Jia Dongxu's work grade and won't let him get promoted."

"When Jia Zhangshi doesn't even have money for medicine, she will naturally come to beg me."

"By then, Jia Dongxu might even have to change his name to Yi Dongxu."

Having said that, Yi Zhonghai picked up the enamel mug and took a large gulp. "Hehe, Yi Dongxu... you know, that name sounds much smoother than Jia Dongxu."

Seeing how certain Yi Zhonghai was, Auntie Yi didn't say anything more.

After all, she couldn't bear children, and a woman who cannot bear children has no say in the household.

(End of Chapter)