Chapter 268: Surprise
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
If Su Zhen really interacted frequently with the hunters on Grand Cloud Mountain as Granny Liu had said, then it wouldn’t be surprising for him to be familiar with the Zhang family.
Jiang Chuan was indeed keen on interacting with him. Given Su Zhen’s knowledge of the Zhang family, he must be aware of their current circumstances. Jiang Chuan wanted to ask about his daughter Jiang Qing, who had been married into the Zhang family for two years without sending any news home.
Jiang Qing was the most filial daughter in the family. Even if she had moved to the distant Grand Cloud Mountain, she should’ve found a way to maintain contact. She never had the chance to go to school when she was younger, so she was illiterate. Jiang Chuan could understand that she wouldn’t be able to write letters home, but her not visiting the village for two years was indeed odd.
Even Zhang Ling’s two younger brothers visited the village every now and then to bring her gifts. By all accounts, Jiang Qing shouldn’t have been absent for two whole years unless she was confined by the Zhang family!
Jiang Chuan decided to press Su Zhen for answers.
However, he hit a wall. No matter how hard he tried to strike up a conversation, Su Zhen would dismiss them with the excuse of being too busy. While his demeanor remained friendly, he clearly did not want to engage in further conversation.
This made Jiang Chuan even more curious. Since he couldn’t gather information from others, he decided to head directly to the Zhang family’s residence to assess the situation.
Before leaving, he noticed a bamboo basket next to the grains. It was filled with water, indicating it contained some aquatic creature.
He asked Su Zhen, “Brother, what’s inside this basket?”
Su Zhen didn’t hesitate and replied, “Green-tailed shrimp.”
Jiang Chuan was both surprised and delighted to encounter green-tailed shrimp here. Normally, even the most common fish had become rare.
Green-tailed shrimp, typically found in coastal cities, would be nearly impossible to come across here unless there was a large aquaculture farm, especially unlikely in the arid 1960s.
He continued, “Can you sell these shrimps to us?”
Su Zhen paused while distributing the grains and glanced at them and their cow. He noticed that this family seemed keen on collecting animals. After buying a cow, now they wanted shrimp. Inspecting their attire, they appeared like ordinary villagers. Yet, Jiang Chuan exuded an air of someone experienced. Su Zhen had met wealthy people in the county town who didn’t possess the calm aura that Jiang Chuan had.
He looked at the family’s clothes again. They were indeed ordinary rural people, but from the aura that Jiang Chuan gave off, he looked like someone who had seen the world. Su Zhen had seen many rich people in the county town, but they did not have the calm aura that Jiang Chuan had.
Although Su Zhen was reluctant to discuss personal matters, he didn’t mind selling the shrimp. “There are twenty shrimps in this basket. I can give you ten. But 1 want…” either money or food tickets.
Public trading wasn’t allowed, so Su Zhen gestured counting money without saying it out loud. Jiang Chuan understood his meaning.
Jiang Chuan, not aware of the shrimp’s price, whispered, “We have cash, name your price.”
Su Zhen’s shrimp came from the county town, and they were very rare. Hence, they were quite expensive, priced at two coins each.
He was in the business of buying and selling, trading in wild animal meat and shrimp. He purchased them at a price and sold them at a markup. So, he set the selling price for the shrimp at three coins and fifty cents each for Jiang Chuan.
Three coins and fifty cents for a single shrimp was almost astronomical. Jiang Chuan and his family had worked hard for two days to earn fifty-five coins from selling a large amount of fish. Now, ten of these shrimps were going to cost thirty-five coin. Jiang Xia felt that it was not worth the price. Just as she was about to dissuade her father, Jiang Chuan, from buying them, he had already walked to a secluded spot with Su Zhen to count the money.
When Jiang Chuan returned, he took the entire bamboo basket filled with shrimp.
On their way back to Locust Tree Bay Hotel, Jiang Xia asked her father, “We have at most fifty coins on us. How can we afford twenty shrimps? And from what I see, these shrimps are quite small, not at all worth the price. What a rip-off!”
Jiang Chuan laughed, noting that his daughter was now being frugal. It seemed that even a small amount, like three or five coins, mattered to her. It truly shows how the environment can change a person.
In the past, Jiang Xia never cared about the prices when shopping. Their family was wealthy, so she always spent money lavishly. Moreover, she was very picky about products and would disdain anything that seemed cheap. Now, the price of three coins and fifty cents for a single shrimp could make her fret all the way..
