Starting from Mountain Farming and Hunting

Lin Heng had long known that Li Chengguo wouldn’t agree to help him transport goods to Ancheng. Although the shipping fee for a single trip was substantial, Li Chengguo made even more money by wholesaling goods.

These days, trucks were never short of cargo to haul—demand far outstripped supply. If a dedicated trip didn’t offer enough profit, drivers simply wouldn’t take it.

What Lin Heng was curious about, though, was why Li Chengguo had sought him out. He looked at him and asked, “What’s the matter? Go ahead and say it.”

Li Chengguo took a sip of tea and smiled. “It’s not me who’s looking for you—it’s Ge Qingshan. He said he got you a batch of breeding shrimp and wants to know if you’re interested.”

Lin Heng was taken aback. This was unexpected. He had only mentioned it casually to Ge Qingshan before—had the man actually gone and procured breeding shrimp for him?

Since he was farming Green Shrimp, he could always catch wild ones from the river and manually select the best specimens. Having breeding shrimp wasn’t strictly necessary.

Still, if there were ready-made breeding shrimp available, he might as well take a look. If the price was right, he could buy them and save himself the trouble of fishing in the river.

“If the price is fair, of course I’ll take them,” Lin Heng said with a smile.

“Then you can head over to his place later. He should be home today,” Li Chengguo nodded.

“How much would he charge for transport?” Lin Heng inquired.

Li Chengguo replied, “Ancheng is pretty far. Not counting fuel, you’d have to pay at least fifty yuan a day.”

“Fifty yuan??” Lin Yue, who had been listening quietly beside them, couldn’t help but widen his eyes in shock. That was an exorbitant amount—enough for him to earn in half a year.

Li Chengguo chuckled. “Trucks are rare these days, and drivers who can operate them are even rarer. Plus, intercity trips are risky. Fifty yuan might not even be enough to convince someone to take the job.”

“Yeah, that price isn’t unreasonable,” Lin Heng agreed. In this era, truck drivers were referred to as ‘driver elites’ and were among the most enviable professions.

A truck driver’s salary was higher than that of two or three teachers or bank clerks combined. On top of that, they could take on private jobs on the side, raking in substantial profits.

Becoming a driver meant securing a golden rice bowl—one so valuable that even superiors couldn’t afford to disrespect you, simply because skilled drivers were so scarce. Getting married and starting a family? That was a given.

Lin Heng, of course, knew how to drive. In his past life, he had saved up to get a license and even drove semi-trucks for two years. Handling a regular truck was no challenge for him.

But in this life, he didn’t have a license and would have to retake the test. It wouldn’t be wise to reveal his skills prematurely. Even if he could drive, renting a truck wasn’t straightforward.

“It’s really not much, especially considering the risks of traveling to another city,” Li Chengguo nodded.

Lin Yue was inwardly stunned. He knew truck drivers made good money, but he hadn’t realized it was this lucrative.

“Let me think about it for a couple of days,” Lin Heng said after some consideration. He wanted to check with the transport company first.

In this era, guns were everywhere. In smaller towns, people would block the road and demand money from passing trucks—refusing to let them through otherwise. Robberies and murders weren’t uncommon either. Transport companies, being state-owned and operating in fleets, offered much greater safety.

“That’s fine. Just let me know when you’ve made up your mind.”

Li Chengguo wasn’t bothered. It was perfectly normal to shop around.

Lin Heng nodded and then brought up the topic of fertilizer. Li Chengguo said he could arrange for some to be delivered, though there would be a shipping fee.

Lin Heng was only buying fertilizer for personal use—he had no intention of reselling it. Fertilizer prices were high at this point, and farmers in mountainous areas couldn’t even afford seeds, let alone fertilizer.

Taibai City was only able to get chemical fertilizer because it was on the edge of the Guanzhong Plain, where shipments arrived. Other cities without plains might not have access to any at all.

China’s fertilizer production technology had always been backward. It wasn’t until the early 1990s, when large amounts of foreign equipment and expertise were imported, that the technology matured and gradually spread nationwide.

Before that, fertilizer usage was extremely low, and farmers were reluctant to buy it—it was simply too expensive. A standard fifty-jin bag of compound fertilizer cost at least twenty-five yuan, an amount most farmers, who barely scraped by, couldn’t afford.

After finishing his conversation with Li Chengguo, Lin Heng left with his elder brother Lin Yue to visit Ge Qingshan.

When they arrived outside Ge Qingshan’s residential complex, even the security guard hurried over, bowing and scraping in greeting. The military-green sidecar motorcycle, combined with Lin Heng’s outfit, made him look every bit the part of a high-ranking official.

If Lin Yue had been the one driving, the resemblance would have been even stronger.

“May I ask who you’re here to see…?” the guard asked uncertainly when he saw the two of them.

“I’m looking for Ge Qingshan. Could you call him for me?” Lin Heng didn’t bother explaining, simply smiling as he spoke.

One of the reasons he had bought the sidecar motorcycle was precisely for this effect. These vehicles were rare, having previously been used exclusively by the military. Driving one naturally commanded respect—people assumed you were either a leader or had connections to one.

“Right away, sir. Please wait a moment.” The guard didn’t ask any further questions and immediately went to fetch him.

While waiting, Lin Heng took the opportunity to explain the basics of operating the sidecar to his brother. He planned to let him practice driving later—being able to drive was an important skill.

“Lin Heng!”

Ge Qingshan was equally surprised when he came out. He walked over, scrutinized Lin Heng for a moment, and said in amazement, “Is this yours? It hasn’t been that long, but you’ve changed completely.”

Lin Heng laughed. “I made a bit of money last year and bought this secondhand. It’s more convenient for getting into the city.”

“Not bad at all—it’s got presence,” Ge Qingshan said admiringly, already thinking about getting one for himself.

Lin Heng introduced his elder brother, then took Ge Qingshan out to a restaurant for a meal. While waiting for the food to arrive, he said with a smile, “Li Chengguo mentioned you’d gotten me some breeding shrimp, so I came to see you.”

Ge Qingshan nodded. “I asked my dad about it, and he said there are a few Green Shrimp farms in Taibai City selling both fry and breeding shrimp. They’re in Qingshui Town, just outside the city. He can get you a batch at a discounted price.”

“Thanks. Let’s go take a look when spring comes,” Lin Heng said cheerfully.

“No problem—it wasn’t any trouble,” Ge Qingshan replied with a smile.

Lin Heng then asked for more details, but Ge Qingshan admitted he hadn’t inquired too deeply since there was still time.

Lin Heng sighed inwardly but didn’t mind. After all, Ge Qingshan had done him a favor by asking around—he couldn’t expect everything to be handed to him on a silver platter.

It wasn’t like teaching someone archery automatically made them treat you like a god. He had only mentioned it in passing—it wasn’t realistic to expect perfect results.

Still, now that he knew where to look, he could investigate on his own later. He wasn’t sure what shrimp farming standards were like in this era. Back in his time, he had used intensive farming methods, achieving yields of around three thousand jin per mu annually.

Ge Qingshan added, “After you taught me how to hunt pheasants, I tried dozens more times but only managed to bag three. Hunting’s tough.”

“That’s actually pretty good. My brother’s only shot two so far with his bow,” Lin Heng said with a grin.

“Yeah, archery really takes talent. I’ve missed shots from less than ten meters away,” Lin Yue chimed in.

Hearing that Lin Yue also practiced archery piqued Ge Qingshan’s interest. After some discussion, he grew eager to try hunting in the mountains.

But Lin Heng had no interest in taking him along. People who grew up in the city were hard to handle in the wilderness—if anything happened, he wouldn’t be able to take responsibility.

So even though Ge Qingshan repeatedly expressed his desire to go, Lin Heng tactfully declined each time. He wasn’t even keen on inviting him to the village, but outright refusal would be impolite. He eventually agreed to take him up for a visit in the spring.

The meal cost five yuan. Afterward, Lin Heng and his brother left and spent the afternoon inquiring at the transport company.

Taibai City had only one transport company, a state-owned enterprise. There were also a few small private operators, though they weren’t formal companies—just loosely organized fleets.

Plenty of people, like Zhao Hu and Liu Sheng, used tractors for transport. In this era, moving goods was incredibly profitable, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie.

Before long, Lin Heng arrived at the entrance of Taibai Transport Company. The guard barely reacted to his attire, though he did give the sidecar motorcycle a second glance.

People who came to the transport company to discuss business were all well-off, and the guard had seen his fair share.

Lin Heng parked outside and walked over, offering the guard a Daqianmen cigarette. “Uncle, we’re here to discuss some business.”

“Just register, and you can go in,” the guard said, taking the cigarette with an impassive nod.

“Uncle, if you don’t mind me asking, how much would it cost to send a truck to Ancheng?” Lin Heng asked with a smile. Guards at state-owned enterprises were never to be underestimated—they were usually relatives of some higher-up.

“I’ve heard it’s a hundred, but I don’t know the specifics,” the guard replied, shaking his head as if unwilling to say more.

“Thanks.”

Lin Heng nodded, finished registering, and entered with his brother. When they reached the business office, a clerk came to assist them.

After some discussion, Lin Heng got the information he needed: a round trip would cost two hundred yuan—one hundred each way, with all expenses included.

The price was steep, but there was no way around it. In this era, vehicles were as rare as pandas, and full rentals like this were simply expensive.

Lin Heng’s plan was to rent a truck for a round trip, haul some mountain goods to Ancheng to sell, and turn a tidy profit.

But after considering everything, Lin Heng decided to just let it be. He would simply go buy the things he needed and have them transported back.

He couldn’t be bothered with the hassle.

After thinking for a long while and finishing a cup of tea, Lin Heng finally looked at the clerk in front of him and said, “I’m planning to go to Ancheng to buy some goods and have them shipped back. I want to rent a one-way trip. Do I handle the paperwork here or over in Ancheng?”

“You can handle it right here. You can ride in our truck to Ancheng, and once the goods are unloaded there, we can load your purchases for the return trip,” the clerk explained.

“Alright, got it. I’ll rent a one-way trip,” Lin Heng nodded.

“Please come this way.” The clerk led Lin Heng to the inner counter, where the policy was to pay the full amount upfront before receiving the necessary paperwork.

Lin Heng had no choice but to pay the fee and collect the receipt and documents. He didn’t opt for the cheaper option at fifty yuan a day—factoring in fuel and other costs, it would still come to seventy or eighty yuan, and there’d be no safety guarantees.

This option was a bit pricier, but it was backed by the state, so there was protection in case anything went wrong. Plus, there was no time limit for this trip.

The departure date was set for noon the day after tomorrow—the tenth day of the lunar month, February 11 on the solar calendar. He could choose to ride along with the truck or go separately.

As long as he had the paperwork when he got there, it would be fine.

“Finally, it’s all settled.”

Stepping out of the transport company, Lin Heng took a deep breath as he gazed at the dim sun peeking through the clouds.

Though the laws hadn’t changed yet—crimes like speculation and hooliganism were still on the books—the overall environment had loosened up. Otherwise, a small-time farmer like him wouldn’t have had the means to rent a truck for business.

“So, little brother, are you going alone the day after tomorrow?” Lin Yue asked beside him. After spending the day with Lin Heng, he’d realized that doing business wasn’t easy.

“Just the two of us won’t be enough. I’ll go back and get Lin Hai to come along too. Then we’ll take my three-wheeler and follow the convoy to Ancheng.”

Lin Heng slung an arm over his Elder Brother’s shoulder with a grin. There was no way he’d bring his passbook—credit cooperatives weren’t interconnected yet, and carrying cash without extra hands would be far too risky.

“Oh, I see. Then I’d better go back and prepare properly. I’ve never been to Ancheng before,” Lin Yue said with an excited smile.

“Honestly, there’s not much to see. It’s all just buildings, same as anywhere else,” Lin Heng chuckled.

After exchanging a few more words, the two got back in the car and headed home.

By the time they returned to Red Maple Village, it was already past four in the afternoon. Lin Heng parked the car by the roadside and went inside first.

“Wife, the clothes I had custom-made are here. What do you think?”

The moment Xiulan opened the courtyard gate, Lin Heng eagerly showed them off.

Xiulan looked them over, her beautiful eyes flashing with admiration. “They’re very nice. They look good on you.”

“Daddy’s new clothes look pretty!” Xiao Xia, who had been playing with a wooden cart in the yard, piped up in her clear, childish voice.

“Haha, you two really know how to tell it like it is.” Lin Heng took a piece of candy from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Xia, then gave Xiulan a hair ornament.

Xiulan took the blue-green hairpin and examined it delightedly before putting it on. Tilting her head, she asked, “Does it look good?”

“Of course. It suits you—gives you an elegant, almost ethereal air,” Lin Heng said with a smile.

“Daddy, I want a hairpin too!” Xiao Xia said enviously, eyeing her mother’s new accessory.

“We’ll see next time. You’ve already got candy.” Lin Heng pinched her little cheek.

After stepping inside and taking a sip of tea, Xiulan asked, “Did you get everything settled?”

“Yeah, it’s all set. I’m going to Ancheng the day after tomorrow. I’ll bring Elder Brother and Lin Hai along—three people will be safer.” Lin Heng nodded, finished his tea, and then went to change into his new clothes.

Xiulan nodded. “Good. I was worried about you going alone. How many days will you be gone?”

“Two, probably. Three at most.” Lin Heng thought it over. Since he was making the trip, he might as well buy everything he needed in one go.

Xiulan nodded again, then asked softly, “Are you hungry? Should I make you something?”

“Not hungry. Let’s eat together later. I’m going to teach Elder Brother how to drive the three-wheeler. Want to come along and learn?” Lin Heng grinned.

“Why would a woman like me need to learn that?” Xiulan blinked.

“Who says women can’t? Since you’re free, come with me.”

With that, he started pulling her toward the door.

Unable to resist, Xiulan followed him out.

“I want to go too!” Seeing her parents heading out, Xiao Xia naturally wanted to tag along.

By the time they stepped outside, Elder Brother Lin Yue and his eldest nephew, Lin Wei, were already waiting by the road.

“Driving a three-wheeler is actually really simple,” Lin Heng explained as he climbed into the driver’s seat and began demonstrating how it worked.

(End of Chapter)

— Translator’s Notes —

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