Tao Daqiang had learned arithmetic, too. A quick calculation told him that, under Brother Long's current proposal, he would definitely earn less than before.
But what had caused all this? Wasn't it because he had chosen his family's side when Brother Long needed him?
Besides, even five yuan each time under this arrangement was pretty good. Even if he only worked five times a month, that was twenty-five yuan. He would have it easier than most workers in town!
Tao Daqiang immediately nodded.
"I'm willing!"
Naturally, he knew Li Long was looking out for him. Otherwise, if word got out about the five yuan per trip, people in the production team would be fighting for the chance.
"All right, then. Come on, take a few fish. I'll borrow the horse cart from the team leader while I'm at it. Early tomorrow morning, either you come over, or I'll hitch up the cart and come get you."
Li Long left the room with Tao Daqiang, stopped by the West Room to tell Li Jianguo, then left the yard.
Tao Daqiang carried five fish home. The house still had little warmth to it. After Tao Dayong's arrest, both households had emptied their savings, making their already straitened lives even harder. Tao Jianshe's slightly hunched back had bent further.
Seeing Tao Daqiang return, Tao Jianshe looked at him with a complicated expression. He turned away to smoke his pipe, but unfortunately, there was no tobacco left in it.
Tao Daqiang's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing more. He went into the kitchen and began cleaning the fish.
After a while, the sound of coal being added came from the kitchen, and then the fire burned brighter.
Tao Jianshe felt considerably warmer on the heated brick bed and called out, "What