Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

The old man’s eyes darted about as he cautiously probed said, “Small Fo-ti is selling for 1.2 yuan per jin right now. How about I add a bit and give you 1.4?”

Du Jianguo immediately let out a cold sneer. “Shopkeeper, do you think I don’t know the trade and just want to fool me? Small Fo-ti is that price, but mine is decades old! If you pay me 1.4, aren’t you afraid of ruining your shop’s reputation? Forget it, I’ll ask elsewhere.”

With that, he started packing the Fo-ti back into his sack.

“Hey, hey! Young man, don’t go!” The old man panicked, abandoning his dignity to grab Du’s arm. He gave a bitter smile and said, “Let’s negotiate… Since you know your stuff, I’ll give you a sincere price. 2.5 yuan per jin! You won’t find a second shop in the city with this price. Is that real enough?”

Hearing this price, which matched his own estimate, Du Jianguo nodded and agreed, “Fine, let’s go with 2.5 yuan per jin.”

The old man quickly and carefully carried the Fo-ti to the pole scale behind the counter, squinting to check the markings.

“It’s just short of six jin, I’ll count it as six.” He then turned to count money from a drawer, pulling out a stack of 15 yuan and handing it over. “Here, 15 yuan. Count it.”

Du Jianguo took it and counted it once to confirm the amount was correct before tucking the money into his inner pocket.

At that moment, the old man leaned in again, much more enthusiastic than when Du first entered.

“Young man, if you have more Fo-ti of this quality in the future, bring it here! I’ll buy it at this price. If you want to exchange it for grain coupons or cloth coupons, I can swap for those too. I guarantee you won’t lose out!”

Du Jianguo nodded. “Okay.”

He calculated in his mind that he would be going into the mountains often, so dealing with Chinese herbal medicines was inevitable. Securing a steady sales channel was definitely a good thing.

Suddenly remembering the venomous snake he hadn’t dealt with, he asked, “By the way, shopkeeper, do you buy venomous snakes?”

The old man paused, surprised, and asked, “What breed of venomous snake?”

“I don’t know. You take a look.”

Du Jianguo lifted the cloth covering the basket he carried, revealing a green and black viper inside. The snake was still moving slightly, its eyes staring fixedly at the two men before lunging suddenly toward the edge of the basket.

“Ah!” The old man scrambled backward two steps, swallowed hard, and patted his chest. “This beast is still so fierce!”

Du Jianguo took the opportunity to ask again, “Shopkeeper, do you buy this snake?”

The old man looked down and thought for a moment, then nodded. “We can buy it! This is a viper. Viper soaked in medicinal wine is excellent, and the snake skin can also be sold. How about 5 yuan per snake?”

The price was honest. Du Jianguo hadn’t expected to make much money from the snake anyway; he just considered it a bonus. He immediately agreed, “Fine, deal!”

When Du Jianguo walked out of the pharmacy, he touched his inner pocket. 15 yuan for the Fo-ti plus 5 yuan for the snake. A total of 20 yuan.

In an instant, he transformed from a destitute beggar into an asset holder.

“It really feels good to have money in the pocket.”

Du Jianguo couldn’t help but sigh. The burden on his shoulders felt like it had lightened by half. Although 20 yuan wasn’t enough to completely pay off his family’s debt, it was certainly enough to buy some grain.

Looking up at the sky, the sun was still hanging halfway up. He estimated that Sun Liu’an would still be at the granary for several more hours.

Du Jianguo simply turned around and headed for the supply and marketing cooperative.

Upon entering, he went straight to the grain and oil section and weighed out three jin of white flour and three jin of cornmeal. He then went to the seasoning section and bought salt, soy sauce, and a small packet of Sichuan peppercorns.

Thinking that the soap at home was running low, he casually grabbed a bar.

The final bill came to less than 5 yuan. Holding the remaining money and grain coupons, and carrying his heavy load, he walked toward the exit.

He wanted to give Liu Xiuyun a surprise when he returned.

Walking down the street, a thought suddenly occurred to Du Jianguo: Should he pay a visit to his father and mother-in-law?

He immediately hesitated. Logically, since he had earned money this time and had always received care from the old couple previously, he should bring some gifts and visit them.

But thinking of the last time he met them, when he stole his mother-in-law’s gold ring to gamble away, he felt scared.

If he went this time, he was likely to be chased out by his father-in-law with a broom.

But on second thought, since he was reborn, he hadn’t seen his daughter yet.

Thinking of his little daughter, who in his previous life didn’t survive past a few years, Du Jianguo’s heart softened and trembled.

This was his only daughter. No matter what, he had to see her.

“Enough, enough! If I get chased out, I get chased out. I am going to see my daughter!”

He gritted his teeth, turned around, and went back to the supply and marketing cooperative. He picked out a small cloth tiger toy, bought two packs of milk candies, and a small jar of malted milk powder. These were all rare and good things for children in this era.

His father and mother-in-law lived at the western end of the city, not far from the grain station.

His father-in-law, Liu Fu, had studied for a few years and was now a teacher at a primary school in the county.

His mother-in-law worked at the residential committee. Both had formal jobs.

By all rights, even if times were tight, they shouldn’t have gone hungry. It was just that they had to deal with such an unworthy son-in-law like him, who had ruined the family’s former prosperity.

Walking to the courtyard gate, he took a deep breath and knocked on the wooden door. “Mom, Dad, are you home?”

The large door slowly opened a crack. First revealed were the eyes of a three-year-old girl, dark as ink.

Tuantuan looked blankly at Du Jianguo outside the door for a long time without reacting.

[Tl: nickname for kids meaning round or cluster]

After a few seconds of staring, she cried out clearly, “Dad.”

Looking at his own daughter, Du Jianguo had a complex expression.

In this life and the last, he didn’t know how many times he had thought of this child.

This tiny bean sprout of a child was naturally intelligent. At such a young age, she had recited all the Tang poems and Song lyrics. She was articulate and should have had a bright future, but she was dragged down by him, her father.

He had caused the child to die alongside her mother by eating poisoned dumplings.

It was all the sin he had created.

“Ah, it’s Dad.” Du Jianguo answered tremblingly, trying hard to suppress his excitement. To avoid startling his daughter, he kindly pushed the snacks in his hand through the door crack. “Are you doing well staying with Grandma and Grandpa?”

Tuantuan nodded timidly, her voice faint. “Good. I can eat my fill at Grandpa’s house, and I can learn to write too.”

This statement made Du Jianguo’s heart ache. He forced a smile. “In the future, when we go back to our home, we can eat our fill too. In the future, when you study, Dad will teach you.”

Tuantuan didn’t dare to respond. She just held onto the door curtain and whispered, “Grandma and Grandpa… they don’t want to let me stay with you.”

Du Jianguo felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The old couple guarded against him as if he were a thief, not even allowing him to talk to his own daughter.

He suppressed the bitterness and asked, “Where are Grandma and Grandpa?”

“There are guests at home. They are in the front hall drinking tea and chatting.”

Since Grandpa was a teacher with students everywhere, it was normal for former students to visit. Du Jianguo didn’t think much of it.

“Come, let’s go see Grandma and Grandpa.” As Du Jianguo tried to walk inside, Tuantuan didn’t move. She still stood firmly at the door crack, her small body tense.

“Dad, Grandpa said you are not allowed to enter,” Tuantuan said timidly but clearly. “He said you are definitely here to cheat money again and told you to go back.”

Du Jianguo frowned and felt like a headache coming. He coughed and softened his tone. “Dad isn’t here to cheat money. I am here to give things to Grandma and Grandpa and honor them. Tuantuan, do you want Grandma and Grandpa more than you want Dad?”