Chapter 252: Race against time to grab food

Chapter 252: Race against time to grab food

Chapter 252: Race against time to grab food (Subscribe!)
The next day, everyone went to work.

Transport team.

The drivers are feeling unprecedented pressure at this moment.

"Master Li, do you want to do the mission? Do you want me to do it, and I'll help you do it?"

"Why is this so embarrassing?"

"It's okay, it's okay. Just go and have a rest. I'll do everything I assigned to you."

"Master Wang"

At this moment, the pressure on all the drivers suddenly increased.

After not seeing him for just one day, he is like two different people.

If Zhang Jinwu asked everyone to purchase food yesterday, everyone would not care and would not pay any attention.

But after learning that the food ration was reduced, everyone wanted to just stay outside.

Especially those masters who have many children at home, they take tasks frantically and take different routes just to purchase more food.

If they didn't have so many tasks on hand and had to complete them on time, they might not have come back.

"Master Chen, be careful on the road!" Li Kailang reminded.

"Remember to come back on time, otherwise the factory will be out of service and you will have to rest for several days!"

"Don't worry, Master Li, I will definitely come back on time and won't let the factory worry." Master Chen said.

If you come back too early, you can hardly buy any food, and if you don't have any mission, you can't leave the steel mill.

You can't stay outside all the time without coming back. If you do that, the transport team will think something unexpected has happened.

Regardless of whether there is an accident or not, people and cars will be forced to rest for a few days after they are picked up.

This delay means less food harvest.

Now everyone is racing against time. While completing their tasks, they try to go to the countryside to purchase food as much as possible.

But at this time, the most anxious ones were the buyers, especially those in Purchasing Departments Three and Four.

They were like ants on a hot pan, and could only purchase food, whether directly or indirectly.

Some buyers plan to take advantage of the driver's big truck.

"Master Zhao, are you free?"

"What, is something wrong?"

"Well, I want to ask you for a favor. Can you take me to the countryside with you?"

"It's not impossible, but I need food, will you give it to me?"

"I'll give you money? Is that okay with you?" the buyer asked.

"Money? I don't need it. I have enough money. I just need food. Can you give it to me?"

"Ah this."

When the buyer heard that they needed food, he hesitated.

They need food themselves now, how can they share it with the drivers?

Master Chen got straight to the point: "I'll be frank. If there is food to share, then I'll help you. If there is no food, then forget it. Let's just do our own thing."

"Although the factory leaders have issued an order, our transportation team is not in a superior-subordinate relationship with your procurement department. You are not qualified to order us."

"You should decide quickly. I still have tasks to do, and I also need to go shopping."

The buyer wanted to struggle: "Master Chen, we are all from the same factory, there is no need to be so harsh."

Master Chen shook his head: "You and I have only met twice. Friendship is friendship, work is work, and my family is short of food right now."

"I'm going out with you to buy food. When the time comes, will the food be considered yours or mine? If it's mine, I'll take it home."

Simply put, when you go out purchasing with a buyer, all of the buyer's food must be handed over to the factory.

"Master Zhao, please continue with your work."

The buyer had a lot of thoughts in his mind, but ultimately refused. They were under a lot of pressure right now and were not willing to give away any of the food.

I would rather suffer a little and ride a bicycle to the countryside to make purchases than give them away.

"Okay, then I wish you good luck!" Master Zhao wished and drove out.

Compared to a bicycle, a truck is much faster.

The drivers and buyers were busy all day long.

As the morning passed, the lunch bell rang and the workers came to the canteen to get their meals one after another.

Since the quantitative reduction, everyone has reached a tacit understanding and orders smaller portions than before to maintain a basic sense of fullness.

Yesterday, Director Yang also emphasized that the canteen must ensure the quality and quantity of the meals so that everyone can have their fill.

But after everyone did this, there was only some food left.

Everyone in the cafeteria was happy to see so much leftover food, and they packed up the rest to take home.

Canteen director Zhao Gang, who was patrolling, saw a lot of leftover food and immediately became furious and asked, "What's going on? Why are there so many leftovers today?"

"Did you deliberately provide less food? If the workers don't have enough to eat, production won't be guaranteed. You all have to go to the workshop to produce!"

Zhao Gang is very angry now. He was just scolded by Director Yang yesterday, and today someone committed a crime against his will. Doesn't he take him, the canteen director, seriously?

A new official has three things to do when he takes office, and he hasn’t started yet.

Seeing this, a chef came out to explain: "Director Zheng, we really didn't get less food. You said it yesterday, how could we get less?"

"What about these meals?" Zhao Gang pointed at the remaining food.

The master explained, "The workers didn't ask for more today, so what they had today was just enough to fill their stomachs. We followed the quota you specified, so if there's one increase and one decrease, there will be some leftovers, right?"

"Is that really the case?" Zhao Gang asked again.

Everyone in the cafeteria nodded quickly, "Really? Director Zheng, if you don't believe me, go ask for yourself!"

Looking at the confident expressions of everyone in the cafeteria, Zhao Gang couldn't help but believe it a little, but he still asked to avoid making mistakes.

"Okay, I'll go ask!" Zhao Gang turned around and was about to leave.

"Hey, Director Zheng, what should we do with these leftovers?" a chef hurriedly called out.

Zhao Gang looked at them and they all obviously wanted leftovers. This was also an unspoken rule. After thinking for a while, he ordered:

"Take a portion of these leftovers for yourselves. Remember, don't take too much. Send all the remaining food out to the canteen workers. No money or tickets are required."

"Oh, great!" Everyone in the cafeteria shouted happily and took out the prepared lunch boxes and packed them.

After they finished cooking themselves, they took the pots of food out and gave a spoonful to the workers.

The workers were naturally very happy when they saw the extra food in their bowls. They didn't have to spend any money and could still eat their fill.

This method can be said to kill two birds with one stone, and it also leaves Zhao Gang with a good reputation, but this situation only happens today.

Zhao Gang had originally calculated how much food he would eat, but now he doesn't have to.

"Since the workers have taken the initiative to eat less, the extra food we purchased can be put aside for next month. Now we don't have to worry about running out of food."

Thinking of this, Zhao Gang suddenly felt happy and the pressure dropped suddenly.

Meanwhile, long queues formed at the grain station early in the morning.

"Hurry up, go quickly, if you go too late there will be no food left."

"You're so slow, don't you want to eat? Hurry up. If you don't get food today, you don't have to eat."

Even though there was a long queue, there were still many people who continued to queue up.

People either came pushing carts or carrying backpacks.

Now everyone is thinking about collecting their own food as soon as possible, and they don’t care whether others can get food or not.

Fill your own stomach first.

"Jiecheng, Jiefang, let's line up separately and don't crowd together. I'll give you the food grain books later!" Yan Bugui ordered.

The Yan family soldiers were divided into three groups and lined up separately to receive food three times.

School hasn't started yet, so Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng have time to come out and line up.

"Everyone, don't be impatient! Come one by one, everyone will get one!"

On the side, people from the grain station were directing the queue.

There were even two policemen watching not far away, helping to maintain order and ensure that no chaos or conflict would occur.

"Next!"

"Me, me!" Yan Bugui responded quickly.

The salesperson at the grain station took Yan Bugui's grain book and bag, weighed them, and then signed and stamped the grain book.

"The food has been weighed, please take it!"

"Oh, thank you!"

Yan Bugui thanked him, took the grain, went out to the grain station to find Yan Jiecheng, and handed him the grain book.

"I will go back and put the food away first. You just do as I say. Take the food and the food book will be released."

"Dad, don't worry, I know what's going on!"

"Yes!" Yan Bugui nodded and hurried home to store the food. Food was the foundation of life, and there couldn't be any mistakes. If it was left outside, it would be easy for someone to steal it, so it was safer to store it at home.

After a while, it was finally Yan Jiecheng's turn, but an accident happened.

The salesperson looked down at the ration book and said, "Comrade, you have already received rations. You cannot receive more today."

After saying that, the salesperson returned the food book and the bag.

"How is this possible? It's my first time here, why can't I get it?" Yan Jiecheng asked loudly.

Everyone looked at Yan Jiecheng. How could anyone get a ticket twice so early in the morning? It was even more impossible for someone to cut in line.

"Little girl, did you see it wrong?" asked the person next to her, fearing that he would not be able to receive it.

The salesperson shook his head and explained, "I read it right. Here is the stamp of our grain station and the date I wrote."

Looking at Yan Jiecheng, the salesperson suddenly felt somewhat familiar. There was a person in front of him who looked very similar to him.

"Comrade, has your family come to pick you up before?"

"Is there something wrong?" Yan Jiecheng asked sternly.

"That's right. Now this food book can only be used to collect food once a day."

At this point, the salesperson suddenly remembered what the director had told her this morning.

Her heart tightened and she didn't have time to care about Yan Jiecheng. She hurriedly walked out of the grain station.

"Everyone, listen to me! Starting today, our grain station has a new rule. Each household can only receive food once a day, and no more."

"The date is written on the grain book, and it is valid throughout the city. Once you have received a grain certificate, you cannot receive another one at any grain station."

Upon hearing this, there was an uproar in the team, and many people came with the idea of ​​getting more food.

Now that I hear this rule, I am naturally dissatisfied.

"Little girl, why didn't you tell me earlier? We have been waiting in line for so long. If you say no now, then all my waiting will be in vain."

"Yes, little girl, can't you just be flexible and do it tomorrow?"

Everyone in the team was immediately excited and expressed their dissatisfaction.

The director had already mentioned this, and the salesperson had also made some preparations.

"Everyone, this rule is set by the higher-ups. No one can change it. I'm just a salesperson, so I can't change it either."

"Besides, if every family lines up together, the people behind them will have nothing to eat. Everyone should think about the people behind them."

The salesperson directly shifted the conflict to the person behind him in line.

"Yes, the little girl is right. We also need to eat food. If you take all the food, what will we eat?"

"The family in front of you, please stand out and don't just think about your family's meal. Don't other families need to eat?"

"That's right! Our family needs to eat too! You can't be so selfish!"

"If there's no food at our house, I'll eat at your house!"

Suddenly, the team was in an uproar and no one gave in to the other.

After waiting in line for such a long time, how can you just give way or leave as you are told?

The salesperson continued, "It's useless even if you line up. Once the food certificate is stamped and signed, you can't get it anymore."

"There are police officers here. If you cause trouble, don't blame me when you get arrested!"

After saying that, the salesperson looked at the two-meter-tall policemen and asked them to help maintain order.

"Comrade police, please maintain order."

The police nodded, walked to the front of the line and shouted, "What are you making so much noise for? Do you still want to get your food? Be quiet!"

Suddenly, the team fell silent.

"Those families lining up together should come out now to avoid wasting time."

"It's okay if you don't come out. Once you're inside the grain station, don't make a fuss for food. Otherwise, don't blame us for being rude and taking you to the police station."

These words made the family members who were queuing up start to hesitate. They looked at each other and finally decided to leave the line one after another.

As a result, the length of the team was shortened by nearly 20%.

However, there are still some people who are unwilling to give up.

The police didn't say anything about this, but one policeman went into the grain station and stared at those who wanted to cause trouble.

The salesman returned to the grain station and looked at Yan Jiecheng, "Comrade, you heard what I just said. I'm really sorry that I'm only telling you now and that you waited in such a long line for nothing."

"Can't you be more flexible?" Yan Jiecheng said unwillingly.

The salesperson shook his head firmly.

Seeing this, Yan Jiecheng had no choice but to take the grain book and bag and leave the grain station.

Yan Jiefang looked at Yan Jiecheng with empty hands, and left the team and came to him.

"Brother, what should we do?"

Yan Jiecheng sighed: "What else can I do? I can only go home first."

The two of them left the grain station silently and walked towards home.

Not long after he left, Yan Bugui hurried back.

Seeing their frustrated expressions and empty hands, he suddenly got angry: "What's going on with you two? Where's the food?"

Seeing this, Yan Jiecheng could only give a brief explanation.

"How could this happen? What bad luck!"

Hearing this, Yan Bugui could only accept this fact helplessly. It was a waste of their time to queue up early in the morning.

Yan Bugui looked at the bright sunny sky and thought it was too early to go back.

"You two go back first, I'll go look somewhere else."

"Dad, where are you going? I'll go with you!" Yan Jiecheng said hurriedly.

"I'll go too!" Yan Jiefang echoed.

Looking at the anxious eyes of the two, Yan Bugui thought about it and agreed.

"Let's go to the black market and see if there is any food for sale there?" Yan Bugui took the two of them to the black market to have a look.

Early in the morning, there are people selling food on the black market, but they are very few. If you want to find one, you either have to rely on luck or have acquaintances.

With Yan Bugui's ability to calculate, there was naturally no one he knew, but there were quite a few people he remembered.

Soon, I found an unlucky guy who had been trading with me before.

"It's you, you stingy guy. What do you want from me?" Zhang Sandao said sleepily.

Yan Bugui was in no mood to joke with him, so he asked directly, "Do you have any food left?"

When he heard that Yan Bugui wanted to buy food, Zhang San didn't care that Yan Bugui knocked on his door early in the morning.

"Yes, of course, but my price is not cheap. Can you afford it, Boss Yan?"

"Just tell me, how much?" Yan Bugui asked.

"This is the lowest number!" Zhang San raised four fingers.

"4 cents a pound, why is it so expensive!" Yan Bugui exclaimed.

"Is this still expensive? If you think it's expensive, then forget it, just don't want it." Zhang San replied bluntly.

"I'm doing black market business, the price is already high, and now everyone is short of food, so it wouldn't be excessive for me to raise the price a little bit."

"I'm not raising the price, that's good enough. If you don't believe me, go somewhere else and see, the price there is at least 5 cents."

Yan Bugui knew that there was a shortage of food in the market and prices would naturally rise.

A pound of rice costs 0.17 yuan, which doubles to 0.34 yuan. Taking advantage of the current food shortage, we are raising the price a little bit. 0.4 yuan is not too expensive.

Not all grains will be priced at this price. Coarse grains will be cheaper, but at least the prices will increase.

"Do you want it or not? If you don't want it, forget it. I want to go back to sleep!" Zhang San was too lazy to talk nonsense with Yan Bugui.

Seeing Yan Bugui's indifference, Zhang San planned to close the door.

But Yan Bugui blocked it with one hand. He gritted his teeth and said, "I want it!"

After saying this, Yan Bugui felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if his heart was bleeding.

"Okay, how much do you want?" Zhang San immediately put on a smile.

Yan Bugui counted the money he had brought with him and slapped his hand.

"100 kilograms of rice! Okay, I'll load it for you now." Zhang San said with a smile.

"Wait, we don't want rice, we want coarse grains!" Yan Bugui responded quickly.

"Coarse grains! Then you wait!"

When Zhang San heard that it was coarse grains, he was no longer in such a good mood and his attitude changed instantly.

Yan Bugui handed over the money and received the goods, and went home immediately after receiving them.

What Yan Bugui could think of, others could naturally think of, and they all flocked to the black market.

Everyone should buy as much food as possible and prepare it in advance, and never miss any food.

(End of this chapter)