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墨書 Inktalez
"Ah~!" Yezhi screamed.
Lin Haitao felt the attention of those around them, but he helplessly held the out-of-control Yezhi tightly. In the Northeast, kids basically grew up falling on ice, and Lin Haitao never expected that Yezhi couldn't skate. If he had known earlier, he would never have let her step onto the ice.
Yezhi's reckless and wild skating style was driving Lin Haitao crazy; he had never been this flustered before. In a moment of distraction, Yezhi fell flat on the ice, crying out in pain and casting accusing glances at him.
"Be careful!"
Leaning against Xiaobinzi's chest, Yezhi felt a bit dazed: Hehe, his chest is broad and solid, so reassuring! "Anyway, you’re here to protect me!" As soon as she said this, Yezhi felt it was cheesy. Oh my~ that's so unlike her!
The little bit of helplessness in Lin Haitao's heart instantly vanished, replaced by a surge of sweetness. After helping Yezhi stand up properly, he gently said, "Hmm~ still need to be careful!"
In broad daylight, their interaction had long become a scandalous display in the eyes of onlookers, a representation of shamelessness. Yet in the eyes of the two lovers, everyone else had become mere lifeless backdrops.
...
The aftermath of falling on the ice became evident the next day; her whole body felt like it was falling apart. She couldn't pinpoint where it hurt specifically, but the discomfort made her want to scratch the walls.
Yezhi walked out of her house like an elderly woman. Aunt He, who lived at the end of the alley, greeted her warmly. With a weak response and an unnatural gait, she couldn't help but draw speculation from Zhao Yueying, whose thoughts were less than pure. With disdain on her face, she watched Yezhi walk away and spat, "Pah~ how lowly!" Within an hour, the latest gossip about Yezhi spread throughout the entire alley.
"Uncle Yu, has the test report come out yet?" Yezhi couldn't just waste time in town; after just one day, she rushed over.
Director Yu chuckled and said, "Yezhi, it doesn't come out that quickly!"
Yezhi complained without holding back, "Why is the efficiency so low? I'm almost dying from anxiety!"
Xiao Zhang entered with the freshly printed test report. Hearing Yezhi's words made him wish that the report in his hands was a brick so he could throw it at this rural girl who was making a scene in the Agricultural Bureau.
"Director, here’s the test report for Rice Bran Oil!" Yezhi quickly snatched the report and began browsing through it. A smile spread across her face; compared to Xiao Fang's complete data analysis, this report seemed lacking but was enough to prove that Rice Bran Oil was extraordinary.
"Great! Uncle Yu, our village's products are bound to be top-notch. Look... haha!" Yezhi laughed proudly.
Director Yu focused entirely on the test report. He had personally tested and tasted Rice Bran Oil when cooking; it was fragrant but always felt somewhat off. After reading the report, he realized for the first time that cooking oil could also be a nutritional product. Depending on the extraction materials used, its nutritional components varied; indeed, health claims were quite valid.
"I never expected that oil could be so nuanced. With high levels of vitamin E, oryzanol, and plant sterols, among more than a dozen natural bioactive components, it really does have great benefits for the body! This is quite an eye-opener for me!"
In 1981, people were still struggling to meet their basic needs; having something to eat was already good enough. Who cared about health back then? Yezhi's claims seemed quite ahead of their time. Without the astonishing data from the report, it would have been hard to convince anyone. Even Director Yu, who had confidence in Yezhi's character, was initially skeptical.
With the inspection report from the Agricultural Bureau in hand, Yezhi felt that selling oil was already halfway successful; the other half depended on how the Grain and Oil Company would price their purchase.
Seizing the opportunity, she rushed to the Grain and Oil Company. The gatekeeper, Old Guard, greeted Yezhi warmly, making her wonder if someone had been replaced.
"Hey there, are you alright?"
"What could be wrong? Little girl, my wife has been eating dishes cooked with your Rice Bran Oil for two days now, and I must say she looks quite energetic!" Amazing! Just two days and there's already an effect? Could it be a psychological effect? The honest Yezhi pondered internally. Before she could present her proof, Old Guard let her through. Remembering her previous experiences, Yezhi couldn't help but shed a few tears of bitterness. Upon entering the office of the grain and oil bureau, she felt like a headless fly, unsure of whom to speak to.
"Hey, the girl from Zhoujiatun, you've come!" A bearded uncle stood like a tower at the entrance.
"Yes! It's you! I'm so glad to see you; I've finally found someone to talk to!"
"Follow me!" The bearded uncle led Yezhi into the office of the Section Chief.
The office was empty. As the bearded uncle poured water, he invited Yezhi to sit down casually. With wide eyes, she thought of the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover." The uncle's rugged appearance and towering physique made him seem like a laborer; she never expected him to be the Section Chief.
"Girl, I'll be straightforward: we can purchase this Rice Bran Oil!"
"Really!" Yezhi jumped up in excitement; she appreciated directness.
"Don't get too excited yet; as for the price... how about we buy it at 4.5 yuan per kilogram like Soybean Oil?" The price was actually better than expected. Yezhi presented the inspection report with both hands.
"This is...!"
"The inspection report for Rice Bran Oil issued by the Agricultural Bureau. Department Head Uncle, our stock of Rice Bran Oil is very beneficial for health; it's clearly stated in the report. Isn't that price too low compared to Soybean Oil!?" With a glimmer of hope, Yezhi argued her case.
The bearded Section Chief reviewed the report stamped with the bright red seal of the Agricultural Bureau. As he looked at Yezhi, his expression gradually changed; this girl was quite interesting.
"So tell me, how should we sell this oil?" The Grain and Oil Company was a state-owned enterprise where decisions were made unilaterally; ordinary people rarely had a say in negotiations. After being a Section Chief for so many years, this was his first encounter with someone like Yezhi.
"I am not greedy, just 50 cents will do!" The purpose of Yezhi is to raise the price of Rice Bran Oil a notch higher.
The bearded Section Chief and Yezhi argued over the price, haggling over every cent until they finally settled on 48 cents per pound. With the agreement in hand, Yezhi finally felt a weight lift off her shoulders as she joyfully bounced out of the Grain and Oil Company.
At this moment, her eagerness to return home couldn't fully express her excitement; even the physical pain she had been feeling vanished completely. Like a whirlwind, she rushed back to the Lin family, quickly packed her belongings, and left a note saying she was leaving!
Back at home, Lin Haitao, who had been waiting in vain, held the note and felt a wave of frustration wash over him.
As soon as she stepped into Zhoujiatun, it felt as if the air had become fresher. Facing the vast silver-white world, Yezhi shouted, "I'm back!" Unfortunately, it was during the time when smoke was rising from the kitchens in Zhoujiatun, and there was no one on the mountain path.
Pushing open her own yard gate, she expected a warm welcome from everyone. However, after standing in the yard for a long while, aside from Big Yellow, no one else in the family seemed to notice her return. Feeling indignant, Yezhi shouted with all her might, "I’m back!" Usually, Black Treasure would be the first to jump out! Oh~ and Niu Niu too; they can’t do without me!
"Yezhi, why are you back so soon?" Aunt Zhou asked incredulously while holding a bowl of rice.
What’s wrong? Did she come back early?
Elder Brother Yu, Sister Luo, Wolf Child, and Xiao Fan all appeared at the door with their bowls. Niu Niu jumped up first onto Yezhi's head, happily barking and being affectionate. Everyone welcomed her into the house like stars surrounding the moon.
With a radiant smile on her face, Yezhi saw Black Treasure with its round head buried in the food bowl and couldn’t help but kick it lightly: "Hmph~ when did it become more important for you to eat than for your sister?"
Black Treasure lifted its round head with an expression full of grievance. It wasn't Mama Bear who said: "The world is big but eating is the most important." "If I leave, I will always come back; why make such a fuss?" This obedient little one remembered every word Mama Bear said; how could it be wrong?
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