Chapter 17 A Good Friend for A Lifetime

Chapter 17 good friends for a lifetime

The two of them chatted and laughed along the way and soon reached the entrance of the County one middle school. Standing on tiptoes, they leaned against the wall outside and looked inside. They saw students in uniform walking in groups of three, two, and three on the lush tree-lined path. There was also a big basketball court in the distance. Many 16 or 17 years old boys were running back and forth to pass the ball on the basketball court. Looking further away, you could vaguely see two or three three-story teaching buildings, only covered by thick trees.

Standing on tiptoe was a physical job. Both of them were tired after a while, but they had seen enough. Wang Li smiled and pulled Li Haitang, "Haitang, the County one middle school study atmosphere is so strong. It's really the best high school in the county. If only we could all study here."

Li Haitang laughed and said, "Yes, we all did well in the exam. There should be no problem getting in here."

Wang li rolled her eyes and said angrily, "I have confidence in my results this time. The only thing I'm worried about is you."

"Me?" Li Haitang was puzzled.

Wang Li said seriously, "Yes. Last night, my father told me that a while ago, Mr. Tang told him that your grades were among the best in the county and that you might be accepted by the tan city One middle. If you were accepted by the Tam city 1 middle school, you would definitely go there to study, and we would be separated."

Li Haitang didn't know there was such a possibility before. After a slight pause, he smiled and said, "What do you want to do so much? If you are really accepted by the Tam city 1 middle school, after I go to the city to study, we can write to each other often. We will come back during the holidays. We can still get together."

Wang Li was a little depressed and said, "You're right."

Li Haitang put his arm around her and smiled, "Besides, the County one middle school is so big. I heard that there are more than ten classes in each grade. If we all go to this school, it's very unlikely that we will be in the same class. The dormitory will definitely not be together. High school is so heavy that we may not see each other once a month."

Wang li thought about it and said, "Yes. Forget it. I don't want to. I'll see it later. Anyway, we are good friends for the rest of our lives. No matter how far away we are, our relationship will never change."

"Yes, a good friend for a lifetime will never change his mind." Li Haitang said seriously. Wang Li was the first friend she knew after her rebirth. She had a simple mind and was genuinely good to herself. She was indeed a friend worth making.

As they spoke, the two of them walked to the snack street that Mrs. Duan had mentioned. Standing at the street entrance, they could smell all kinds of snacks, and they could hear endless shouts. From afar, many teenage boys and girls could be seen standing in front of the stall waiting.

Wang Li, who had been a foodie since he was a child, had frighteningly bright eyes. He pulled Li Haitang and rushed at the speed of the wind, which was definitely much faster than when he was sprinting in school.

For those who had seen the variety of specialty snacks in their previous lives, these roadside stalls really did not attract Li Haitang's appetite. Her eyes only lingered on the food on the stalls for two seconds before leaving. Although things in this era are still relatively healthy and hygienic, for a person who has seen "Gutter oil," there is an instinctive rejection of such roadside stalls.

Wang Li had no idea what was going on in her mind and could not care less about her. In her heart, every kind of snack here was the most delicious food in the world. With that in mind, the movements in his hands were not slow, and he quickly bought a lot of snacks.

She was the precious daughter of the wang family. When she went out, her mother gave her five yuan to buy food, plus she had a lot of "Savings," which was enough for her to eat and drink here today.

Indeed, in the end, Wang Li really burped.

Li Haitang followed her all the way without saying a word. Naturally, she had to buy some delicious food that she strongly recommended. After shopping the whole snack street, she dragged wang li into a well-decorated bookstore, which was called "Eating."

There were many kinds of books in this bookstore. Li Haitang bought "Dream of the red chamber" and" water margin," one of the four famous books. He also bought some of the most popular magazine abstracts. When he paid at the counter, he negotiated with the store owner and bought a pile of newspapers for nearly two months at a low price.

Wang Li was a loyal history fan. After a selection, he also chose three or four books, all related to ancient and modern history.

After buying the books, they went to buy the most popular pair of white sneakers and some daily necessities for girls.

It was almost lunchtime when he returned to the duan family grocery store with a bag full of things.

As soon as they entered the house, they saw that Mrs. Duan and Duan Meifang were busy in the kitchen, while brother duan was selling goods in the shop downstairs. His children, who were still in primary school, also came back for lunch. After putting down his schoolbag, Li Haitang went to the kitchen to help wash the vegetables.

Mrs. Duan did not allow it, and there was no reason for her to let the guests help with the work. However, she could not resist Li Haitang. After a few words of persuasion, she gave up, but she praised him for a long time.

When she chatted with her sister-in-law, she naturally got a clear idea of Li Haitang's background. Their hometown was shuanglin town, east of Ping shan town, not far away. Naturally, they had heard a few gossips about her biological mother, Li Xiaoqin. Seeing that the little girl was so intelligent and diligent, there was some pity in her eyes.

Sister-in-law duan cooked a large table of dishes, as well as several meat dishes, including chicken and fish. In this era when supplies were still relatively scarce, this was a very generous reception.

During the meal, Mrs. Duan happily told Li Haitang, "Haitang, sister-in-law told you that the four catties of peanut butter you brought here today were sold out in less than ten minutes. The first customer was a familiar customer, an elder sister who worked in the county education bureau. She bought a kilo and went back to buy it in less than half an hour. I said there was a shortage, but she was fine for a while. She said that her little daughter liked to eat so much, and she also said that the next time she came, she asked me to leave her three pounds."

Li Haitang's big, glassy eyes brightened a little and suggested with a smile, "Then we'll take the bus home later. We'll get the goods out this afternoon. We'll take the county bus tomorrow morning. Brother duan or sister-in-law will pick them up at the bus station. How about that?"

Mrs. Duan smiled and said, "Haitang, that's a good idea. Can you give her 50 kilograms tomorrow?"

Li Haitang smiled and said, "Then we need the help of the hardworking and capable uncle and aunt wang."

Mrs. Duan naturally recognized the humor in her words and burst out laughing. "Haha, okay, let the two elders work hard. I'll bring them two cans and a few packs of cigarettes later."

They took such a big order and were in a hurry. They went to the bus station immediately after lunch.

It took nearly an hour for them to return to Ping shan town. 50 catties of peanut butter required a lot of fried peanuts and sugar. Duan Meifang took them to the supply and marketing agency immediately. The three of them carried small bags on their shoulders and sweated heavily before returning home.

Fifty catties of fried peanuts took up two baskets, and it was still a bit slow to peel them by a few people at home. Mother of Wangli went to the village and called for a few capable women to help. A dozen or so people took two hours to peel them.

The others were peeling peanuts in the front hall while Li Haitang and Duan Meifang were preparing in the back kitchen.

The wang family had a stove for burning coal balls. Duan Meifang skillfully put flammable waste paper and small pieces of wood into the small stove mouth and lit them. When the fire started, he put a briquette ball into it. Wisps of smoke immediately rose and Duan Meifang, who lit the stove, coughed.

Li Haitang picked up the fan and fanned it in the air vent under the stove. The small piece of wood at the bottom of the stove burned in the wind until the bottom of the black briquette was red.

In her previous life, she had done this job in the orphanage, and she was very skilled. When the stove burned up, Li Haitang added another honeycomb briquette into it, and then went to wash the pot and spare iron basin with Duan Meifang.

The first pot of peanut butter was made by Li Haitang himself and taught mei fang while making it. When the first pot of colorful and fragrant peanut butter was out of the oven, Duan Meifang had seven or eight points in his mind and was ready to try.

She tried the second pot, which was only half a kilo. The firepower was not well controlled. The sugar was overcooked and the color was blackish. It tasted a little bitter.

Duan Meifang smiled and said, "Haitang, look at how easy it is to make it. It's not easy to make it yourself. This is a test of patience and care."

Li Haitang smiled and said, "Yes. Sister-in-law, it's getting late today. Try it again or twice on the coal stove. I'll go to the kitchen stove and make it. Later on, you'll be responsible for cutting up the cooled peanut crisp."

"Okay, sister-in-law will help you in the next few days." Duan Meifang liked her very much. She was smart, hardworking, polite, and beautiful. She looked good everywhere.

When it was dark, the wang family came back from work and school. When they saw how busy their home was, they immediately realized that they had made a good trip to the county today.

The kitchen stove was occupied by Li Haitang. Naturally, Mother of Wangli cooked dinner in the coal stove at night. Wang Yao, who came back from work, took over Duan Meifang's duties after washing her hands. She helped her cut the cooled peanut butter, while she carried her son to the bathroom. Wang Li and Wang Tiao were in charge of packing, while father of King was still shelling peanuts in the hall.

Under the dim yellow light, everyone was smiling and busy, wiping a handful of hot sweat from time to time.

It was the beginning of summer, and it was hot. The ceiling fans were also installed in the main hall, but the kitchen and yard behind them were extremely hot.

Li Haitang, who was standing by the stove, was sweating all over, thinking that as long as she had finished boiling the pot, she could take a shower. Although it was hard work, the thought of making money made her happy.

After finishing the last pot, Li Haitang rushed out of the kitchen and took a few exaggerated breaths in the yard, "My god, the kitchen is so stuffy. If I stay in it for another half an hour, I think I'll be as hot as last time."

Wang Li immediately got up and poured her a glass of water, "Haitang, have a glass of water first. Don't go back tonight. Sleep with me. I'm going to get a set of clothes. You go take a shower first."

It was dark now, and the road was hard to walk. It was not safe for her to go back. Li Haitang replied without any pretense, "Okay."

Duan Meifang, who was bathing his son in the yard, suggested, "Tomorrow we'll go to the supply and marketing office and buy another coal stove. We'll make peanut butter in the east side room. That room is big and airy. Just install a ceiling fan inside."

Wang Yao immediately said, "Okay, after dinner, I'll install the old ceiling fan at home."

The water in the well was especially cool. Li Haitang took a good bath in the bathroom where they had a layer of cement on it, washed her hair and changed into Wang Li's clean clothes.

Everyone was hungry after a busy day. After eating around the big table, they finished their work separately.

Wang Yao weighed their afternoon results with a scale and said with a smile, "A total of sixty-five kilograms. According to the price negotiated with sister-in-law, it's just seventy-eight yuan. You can calculate today's cost and see how much money you make by cutting it off."

Duan Meifang took out his notebook and began to calculate. After a while, he looked up and said, "Not counting the cost of artificial firewood, single white sugar and malt sugar, fried peanuts, oil, and hiring wages. The total is 47. 88 yuan, which means just 30 yuan, and the profit per catty is about 50 yuan."

"Hehe, that's a good profit. If you supply so much every day, you can earn nearly a thousand yuan a month." Wang yao smiled.

Li Haitang took a sip with a glass of water and said with a smile, "The peanut butter will be easy to sell. We will gradually increase production and supply to the major shops in the county and the supply and marketing agencies in the major towns. This will make more money."

Duan Meifang laughed. That was the plan in her heart. Before she could say anything, Wang Li complained, "Sister-in-law, haitang, it's a good thing to make more money, but peeling peanuts is too hard and time-consuming. The more we do, the more people we have to ask for help. It costs a lot."

"This is indeed a big problem. Mei fang, when you go back to the county, ask your sister-in-law if there is a factory that directly supplies peanuts. It is also a cost. It would be better if you could buy ready-made goods." Father of King reminded.

Duan Meifang smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll go to the county the day after tomorrow. By the way, I'll get back a lot of sugar. It's always cheaper to buy more at one time."

Father of King knew that this daughter-in-law was a shrewd woman, born to be a businesswoman. She nodded and urged, "Everyone is tired today. Let's go to bed early. We still have to work tomorrow."

It was really tiring after a long day of work today. After Li Haitang laid down on the bed, he said a few words to Wang Li and fell asleep.