"So Second Cousin Chen is in the aquatic products section. That's great! Dad and I will bring fish to you from now on. You'll have to take good care of us, Second Cousin Chen."
Chen Yang hadn't expected such a coincidence, that Zhao Wukang would end up in the aquatic products section of the food factory.
Actually, he didn't know that it was precisely because his fish deliveries had made the aquatic products section short-handed that Wang Jianguo had requested more personnel from the factory director, giving Zhao Wukang the opportunity to join the food factory.
What seemed like a coincidence was, in fact, a chain of cause and effect.
"Brother-in-law, you and Grandpa are already big shots at the aquatic products section. Even Section Chief Wang has to personally come out to greet you. How could I, a mere nobody, possibly take care of you?"
Upon confirming that Chen Yang was indeed the influential person his immediate superior, Wang Jianguo, had spoken of, Zhao Wukang's heart was filled with excitement.
Chen Yang had a good relationship with Wang Jianguo. If Wang Jianguo were to become the deputy factory director in the future, then he would have a patron at the food factory. Zhao Wukang was naturally thrilled.
"Tomorrow, I'll invite Section Chief Wang to come to Wanli Commune. When we get back, I'll treat Section Chief Wang to a meal at the state-run grand hotel in the county. You, kid, have a good capacity for drink. You'll have to help your brother-in-law toast him a few extra times then."
Chen Yang had always made an effort to maintain a good relationship with Wang Jianguo, who was the benefactor of his first significant earnings in this life.
Now that Zhao Wukang was working under Wang Jianguo, it would be even easier to interact with him.
"You silly boy, why aren't you thanking your brother-in-law and toasting him?"
Hearing Chen Yang's words, Zhao Donglai's mood, which had been soured by Tian Zhijun earlier, immediately improved.
Chen Yang, his nephew's husband, was truly a benefactor to his entire family. First, he had given him the opportunity to interact with Director Zhong, and now he was connecting his son with the section chief of the aquatic products section.
Zhao Donglai didn't know what to say.
"Brother-in-law, I don't even know how to thank you. It's all in this drink."
Zhao Wukang downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp, making Chen Yang's eyelids twitch.
His capacity for drink, from the beginning until now, must have been close to two jin.
Indeed, youth was wonderful.
As Zhao Wukang and Zhao Donglai took turns toasting, the table regained its warm and harmonious atmosphere. No one mentioned Tian Zhijun's family again, as if nothing had happened.
Even Shen Futang drank a couple of extra cups, with a hint of drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
"Yangzi, let this rascal Wukang take you back. There's no need for you to make a special trip for a couple of shuttlecocks."
After eating and drinking their fill, Zhao Donglai personally helped his two rather inebriated elder brothers-in-law onto the donkey cart.
"Son-in-law, Wukang has drunk so much. Quickly let him rest. No matter how young he is, his body can't withstand this kind of ordeal."
"In the future, when drinking, you mustn't let him push himself so hard."
"I also need to go back to get some things and visit Section Chief Wang to arrange a time."
Chen Yang was also shocked by Zhao Wukang's drinking capacity. In the end, he might have drunk two and a half jin by himself.
This was truly drinking himself to death. Chen Yang was genuinely afraid he would get a perforated stomach.
In those days, many people in the countryside drank themselves to death without regard for the damage to their health.
With his medical knowledge from his previous life, Chen Yang's understanding was naturally beyond that of the people of this era. The atmosphere at the table and being able to liven things up was far more important than silently drinking.
"This silly boy, I'll talk to him later. He's as straightforward as a bull. With you as his brother-in-law to teach him, I won't have to worry anymore."
Zhao Donglai truly liked this nephew-in-law. Just based on Chen Yang's words, he treated his son like family. Outsiders would never care if you drank yourself to death.
"Second Uncle Chen is an honest man, and this child has a bright future ahead of him."
A great capacity for drink was also a skill. Chen Yang's success in the business world in his previous life was largely due to his drinking capacity. In his opinion, Zhao Wukang could be cultivated.
Zhao Donglai paid no mind to Chen Yang's tone, which treated his son like a junior, even though Chen Yang was only a few years older than his son. Judging by his demeanor, he was as mature and steady as a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
After escorting his drunken father-in-law and second uncle home, Chen Yang washed his face with water.
Although he had tried to control himself, he had drunk nearly a jin and was feeling a bit dizzy. But he didn't have time to sleep now.
Today, he had to inform Wang Jianguo first. If he wasn't around tomorrow, things would be difficult.
He picked out two of the most brightly colored shuttlecocks from the ones he had made from pheasant feathers and packed a bag of dried shiitake mushrooms.
The previous ones had been sold. Chen Yang had gone to the mountains to pick more when he had free time. Adding a little to dishes usually enhanced the flavor, making them comparable to MSG. This kind of good stuff naturally had to be kept at home.
He had to prepare some good gifts when he went to see Wang Jianguo this time.
He handed the two pheasant feather shuttlecocks to Zhao Donglai and, carrying the dried shiitake mushrooms, went to the aquatic products section. Chen Yang hadn't exaggerated, only mentioning that he might not be able to deliver aquatic products to him in the future.
Wang Jianguo was so anxious that he started jumping around and kept asking questions. When he learned that someone in Wanli Commune had lodged a complaint, he slammed the table.
"Collecting aquatic products is a provincial policy. Various counties under the Municipal Aquatic Products Company are collecting them. I was wondering why our Liuhe County couldn't collect anything. It turns out these people were causing trouble."
"You continue collecting tomorrow. I'd like to see who dares to cause trouble."
"Developing the economy and making people's lives better is the responsibility of all our leaders and cadres. If anyone doesn't understand, I'll go and give them a lesson."
"If you think my status as section chief of the aquatic products section isn't enough, I'll bring Director Zhao along tomorrow."
The Director Zhao that Wang Jianguo mentioned was naturally the director of the food factory. Unless they wanted to completely offend the food factory, no one would dare to ignore the director's influence.
"Section Chief Wang, thank you. With your intervention this time, the surrounding communes and brigades will likely be able to work with peace of mind."
Chen Yang glanced at Wang Jianguo. The words he spoke made Chen Yang's eyes light up.
It was 1978, and anyone who spoke of developing the economy at this time had a foresight and policy awareness that was absolutely ahead of the curve.
This Section Chief Wang had vision and courage. As long as he didn't make any mistakes in the future, his future was boundless!
"Chen Yang, the road is forged by people. You are doing very well. What you are doing is paving the way for others."
"Don't be afraid. As long as you can lead the villagers to a better life, I, Wang Jianguo, will spare no effort to help you."
Wang Jianguo's words were forceful. Although his strong support for Chen Yang was also for his own future, at least he still possessed a sense of integrity befitting a cadre of this era.
"Section Chief Wang, with your words, no matter how difficult it gets in the future, as long as the villagers bring fish, I will collect every single one of them and deliver them to the aquatic products section."
With Wang Jianguo's support, the stone in Chen Yang's heart finally settled.
Director Liu of the commune was probably still hesitating. With Wang Jianguo stepping in, he would likely firm up his stance.
With the support of the old village secretary and Mr. Tu, Chen Yang had virtually no worries.
He was determined to do this aquatic products business. Moreover, Chen Yang was already thinking about guiding the villagers around Shenjiaba Village to raise fish ponds after the peak fishing season in July.
If the aquatic products section consistently guaranteed its purchasing volume, the ponds of various sizes along the Liuhe River, once developed, would be excellent fish farms!