Beating Down (Seeking Votes - Third Update)

"Stop chopping, stop chopping. Ai ya, Li Ye, have you ever cooked before?"

In the small warehouse behind the second grain store, Li Ye was wielding a thick-backed bone cleaver, vigorously chopping at half a rack of ribs.

It was already freezing outside. Jin Peng and the others had bought the ribs from the rural market, and they were frozen solid on the way. Li Ye, who considered himself a "martial arts practitioner," found it a bit difficult to chop.

Perhaps because the knife wasn't sharp enough, or perhaps Li Ye wasn't swinging it fast enough, but after his "whirlwind chopping," a lot of minced meat was flying off with the blade to the ground.

It wasn't just Jiang Xiaoyan who felt it was a waste; Hu Man and the others were also grumbling about Li Ye being too wasteful.

But it really wasn't Li Ye's fault.

They had agreed earlier that Jiang Xiaoyan would be in charge of cooking, and she was quick with her hands. She didn't let anyone else handle the chopping of ribs.

Li Ye, to protect Jiang Xiaoyan's pride, had deliberately arranged for others to set the tables and chairs, intending not to get involved.

However, seeing that Jiang Xiaoyan had only chopped three or four taels of ribs as a side dish after cutting a small basin of radishes, Li Ye couldn't stand it anymore.

Why did Li Ye ask Jin Peng and the others to buy groceries and cook for themselves?

Was it really because waiting in line at the cafeteria wasted time?

Bullshit, it was because he was craving good food!

Since transmigrating, Li Ye had been disgusted by the cooking habits of the people around him.

The cafeteria meals cost a few cents per portion, and you could barely find any oil. Meat dishes cost a dime and two, which was barely considered having meat.

Even when he went home occasionally, his grandmother would say, "My grandson is back, I'll make something good today," but she would only put a few more slices of fatty meat into Li Ye's bowl.

This was even for Li Ye's family. In those times, it wasn't uncommon for families without a wage earner to measure out oil with chopsticks when cooking. (The author's father experienced this; his grandmother would dip chopsticks into the oil bottle, flick the oil onto the wok, and then start stir-frying.)

So, although Li Ye had three dishes per meal these days, the "Great China" foodie genes engraved in his soul had already been protesting with banners a hundred times over.

Before, he didn't have the conditions. Now that he did, why should he still suffer?

At the end of '81, there were already private meat vendors selling meat at the rural markets. A few days ago, Li Ye told Hao Jian and Jin Peng that when they went to the provincial capital to sell sugar, they should pick up some goods from the market. They didn't care about chicken, duck, or fish, whatever they could get.

Anyway, it was winter, and the natural refrigerator could keep the meat fresh for several days. With markets in several towns within an eight- or ten-mile radius, as long as they had money, they wouldn't lack food.

Since they wouldn't lack food, why skimp on the meat when cooking?

Moreover, ribs were not as valuable as lean meat back then, and lean meat was not as valuable as fatty meat. A few cents a jin? Why save?

So Li Ye sent Jiang Xiaoyan away, picked up the bone cleaver himself, and chopped two to three jin of ribs in one go before he was willing to stop.

"From now on, when cooking, follow this portion standard. One dime per meal! We have to let the brothers know what it means to get your money's worth."

Li Ye wouldn't cook himself, but he would direct according to the recipe.

"First, blanch the blood water, then stir-fry with oil, and then braise it with water. It's simple."

"Did you use your family's oil? The oil is so little, the ribs are getting burnt. We can't cheat people, right?"

"Good, good, add the spices and get ready to serve."

Li Ye directed Jiang Xiaoyan step by step in cooking, correcting her stinginess at every step. When the big pot was bubbling, everyone gathered around the pot, staring, pursing their lips, and swallowing.

A special one-dime meal, and you're giving us this?

Eng eng eng, Li Ye, you are truly a great benefactor.

Li Ye underestimated his classmates' appetites. By the end of the large pot of braised ribs and radishes, only some soup was left.

Hu Man, Han Xue, and even girls like Jiang Xiaoyan were initially shy and hesitant.

But once the rich flavor of oil and fat bloomed on their tongues, even the most ladylike children couldn't maintain their composure. Like Jin Peng and Li Dayong, the girls also opened their mouths wide and ate ravenously.

Only Wen Leyu was the most unique. She wasn't embarrassed, but her small mouth moved like a rabbit eating grass, munching at a rapid pace, yet she looked elegantly beautiful.

Li Ye had already said that she, as the proofreader, would get a share of the royalty fees.

But she refused the money and only asked to be fed. Li Ye had been bringing her along to the cafeteria meals these days.

She felt that by following Li Ye closely, she would earn more in the long run.

Li Ye stood and ate the last piece of radish, then went out with Hao Jian for a walk.

In the cold night, two cigarette butts flickered on and off. After a long while, Hao Jian finally spoke.

"The shipment volume for the past half month has exceeded our estimates again. Do you think... something might happen?"

Li Ye took a drag from his cigarette, threw the half-smoked cigarette butt on the ground, and crushed it with his foot.

"What do you think might happen?"

Hao Jian looked at the half-crushed Da Qianmen cigarette Li Ye had stubbed out, felt a pang of regret for a tenth of a second, and then took out a "newspaper brick" from his pocket.

The newspaper was tightly wrapped, like a brick, and inside was the money Li Ye was supposed to receive for this issue.

Hao Jian handed the money to Li Ye and said in a deep voice, "We're making too much money."

"Pfft~"

Li Ye laughed, weighed the "brick," and asked, "How much is it? Is it enough to be a Ten Thousand Yuan Household?"

Hao Jian nodded and said in a low voice, "Almost. Not this year, but definitely next year."

Li Ye chuckled again, "Don't you read the newspapers every day? You tell me, is being a Ten Thousand Yuan Household illegal?"

In an era where the average monthly wage was thirty to forty yuan, "Ten Thousand Yuan Household" was definitely synonymous with "super rich." While a Ten Thousand Yuan Household might not equate to achieving the "small goal" of later generations, it was absolutely comparable to being a multi-millionaire.

But the first publicly reported Ten Thousand Yuan Household appeared in '79. It was now '81, and even the melon seed seller had millions in assets. What was there to fear?

Therefore, Li Ye believed that in '81, being a Ten Thousand Yuan Household wouldn't cross any legal or ethical lines, and there was no need to be overly anxious about it.

However, Hao Jian stared at Li Ye and said slowly, "Being a Ten Thousand Yuan Household isn't illegal, but what about a hundred thousand? If a hundred thousand isn't illegal, what about a million?"

Li Ye was stunned. Looking at the increasingly agitated Hao Jian, he couldn't help but re-examine him.

Li Ye had thought highly of Hao Jian from the first time he met him.

But Li Ye truly hadn't expected that in just a few days, this cunning businessman would possess such courage and ambition.

In '81, anyone who dared to think in terms of becoming a millionaire was either delusional or a true talent.

The latter, as long as they didn't falter, would undoubtedly become influential figures in the future.

Li Ye took out a cigarette, intending to light it, but put it back in the pack.

Like an interviewer assessing a senior executive, he asked Hao Jian, "The sugar candy business doesn't have very high barriers to entry. Do you think you'll earn that much?"

Hao Jian, as if prepared, replied, "Yes, maybe the sugar candy itself won't earn that much, but the channels will. It's that channel you mentioned."

Li Ye smiled, "You finally understand what a channel is?"

Hao Jian became completely animated, "I've figured it out these past few days. Those people who help us distribute our goods can sell more than just sugar candy; they can sell anything. We just need to give them a little support.

A few days ago, I met some southerners in the provincial capital. They were secretly selling clothes at night. If they can do it, so can we. They're doing retail, but we can do wholesale."

Li Ye looked at Hao Jian and couldn't help but admire this individual with only a junior high school education.

Although his understanding of channels was somewhat vague, his mind was definitely sharp, and his business acumen was keen enough.

Previously, his limited capital had restricted his actions. Now, with his capital steadily increasing and his horizons gradually broadening, his ambition naturally began to swell.

Hao Jian spoke for a long time in one breath before finally stopping.

Li Ye smiled and nodded approvingly, "You've spoken well. However, some things shouldn't be rushed. Before the sugar candy business hits a bottleneck, you should just focus on developing your retail distributors."

After Li Ye finished speaking, he turned to walk back. Hao Jian urgently called out, "Li Ye, our business is growing bigger and bigger. Can you let me meet your grandfather?"

"Hm?"

Li Ye slowly turned back, looking at the anxious Hao Jian with a cold, humorless expression.

"I've already handled the paperwork for you as a rural cooperative processing household. Isn't that enough?"

"No, no, it's just that I have some things I'd like to report to Director Li."

Hao Jian took several steps back before managing to explain himself.

He didn't yet understand what "aura" was, but suddenly, he felt that the "kindness and benevolence" Li Ye had exuded were gone, replaced by "coldness and sharpness."

Li Ye was indeed angry.

Hao Jian didn't just want to "report" something to his grandfather; he wanted to be completely tied to the Li family, to share the risks together.

As Hao Jian had said, Ten Thousand Yuan Households and Hundred Thousand Yuan Households in those years were generally safe as long as they kept a low profile.

But a millionaire was another matter entirely. After all, Qingshui County was a relatively closed-off northern town, not an open and vibrant southern land.

No matter how profitable the sugar candy business was, Li Ye would not allow this outer shell of protection, Hao Jian, to have deep contact with his grandfather, Li Zhongfa.

Li Ye finally lit his cigarette again. After exhaling a thin mist into the winter night, he asked Hao Jian, "As an ordinary cooperative processing household, what is there that warrants a report to my grandfather?"

Hao Jian felt his mouth go dry. He swallowed and said, "We're making too much money, and we'll make even more in the future. I'd like to hear Director Li's opinion."

"Heh~"

You probably want some assurance, don't you!

Li Ye chuckled, spat out a mouthful of smoke onto the ground, and then gestured towards the small warehouse of the second grain store.

"Alright, I understand. You go inside and call Jin Peng out to me alone."

"."

Hao Jian's feet felt as if they were nailed to the ground; he didn't move an inch.

And in the cold winter, sweat beaded on his forehead.

What does he want to do? Why is he calling Jin Peng... Is he going to replace me? I knew it, I just knew it.

Jin Peng had been following Hao Jian to the provincial capital these past few days. When delivering goods to the small vendors, he wouldn't say much, but he knew every single one of them, recognized them all.

What was Li Ye asking Hao Jian to go in and swap Jin Peng out for?

Hao Jian dared not gamble.

If he lost this gamble, his Ten Thousand Yuan Household, his Hundred Thousand Yuan Household... would all be gone.

These past few days, Hao Jian had seen money pouring in like water, unstoppable, and felt he was capable of anything.

But now, with a single casual remark from Li Ye, he was brought crashing back to earth, made to understand what it meant to have everything turn to dust.

Li Ye watched Hao Jian stand frozen for a long time and asked with a grin, "What's wrong? It's cooler out here, you're reluctant to go inside?"

Hao Jian struggled and twisted, but still managed a smile.

"I'm not really that scared, but I have a wife and kids."

Li Ye looked at Hao Jian for a long time in silence before saying, "Do you know about the enterprise contracting document issued by the higher-ups this year?"

Hao Jian's mind raced. "There was something about that, but what does it have to do with us?"

Li Ye said, "It doesn't have anything to do with us now, but it might in the future. When the time comes, if you contract a small collective, won't everything be solved?"

Hao Jian broke out in a cold sweat, and immediately felt relieved.

You little rascal, you had it all planned out, why didn't you say so?

Contracting a small collective would definitely require the Li family's help. Hao Jian was reassured that he wasn't being abandoned at any moment.

Li Ye brought Hao Jian back to the backyard of the second grain store, where he saw Wen Leyu, Hu Man, and a few other girls feeding bones to a dog with their leftovers.

However, the large, big yellow dog ignored the pile of bones, only whimpering softly at the girls.

Li Ye asked, "What are you guys doing?"

Wen Leyu replied, "This dog is so fierce. We wanted to give it something good to eat, otherwise it'll keep biting us, but it won't even eat the bones."

"Damn~"

Li Ye cursed lightly. "You girls gnawed the bones cleaner than a dog could. How is it supposed to eat them? Dogs have dignity too, you know?"

Hao Jian, following behind Li Ye, almost stumbled and fell.

At this moment, he finally understood everything, as if waking from a dream.

The malatang business he partnered with Li Ye on had a profit split of four-six, and he, Hao Jian, had already gotten rich.

"I should be content, I should be content. Damn it, why wasn't I content? I'm such an idiot."

Hao Jian was filled with regret, but also immense relief.

I promise to deliver the third update, please vote and support me in all ways. Also, thank you to the book friend "20211029110351113" for the reward. Thank you all!