Because I came here once before, Xu Dong took everyone to Xiang Xin's house with ease. Before entering, everyone consciously wore masks.
"Ding Dong..."
"Section Chief, why are you here?"
Xiang Xin opened the door. Compared to a few days ago, her whole body was much better in terms of mental state and complexion.
"Let's come and see you, why don't you invite us in and sit?" Section Chief Li quipped.
"Please come in quickly..." Xiang Xin quickly welcomed his colleagues to the living room.
Grandma Xiang Xin was busy in the kitchen at this time. When she heard the movement, she couldn't help but ask:
"Xiang Xin, who is here?"
"Mom, it's my colleagues here." Xiang Xin replied loudly.
Xiang Xin's mother-in-law immediately ran out to welcome the guests, and Xu Dong simply became the introduction. As for Xiang Xin, she sat on the sofa, her belly was too big and she couldn't stand for a long time.
"Aunt, this is our Section Chief Li."
"Hello, Section Chief Li!"
"I'm here to disturb you this time." Section Chief Li said politely. Everyone had discussed it before coming and tried to avoid He Jian's matter.
"No trouble, I wish you guys would come over, the house would be more lively."
Next, Xu Dong introduced his colleagues to Xiang Xin's mother-in-law one by one. After some politeness, everyone sat down around Xiang Xin.
Grandma Xiang Xin started to make tea and pour water, and Sister Feng quickly got up to help.
Before seeing Uncle He, Xu Dong couldn't help but say curiously: "Aunt, where is Uncle He going? Why aren't he at home?"
"My father-in-law went out to buy vegetables. I just sent a message and was on his way back." Xiang Xin rushed to answer.
"It's okay, let's sit for a while and leave, and tell your father-in-law not to come back. It's so troublesome."
"How can that be? Everyone finally came here. You must stay for lunch!" Xiang Xin's grandma interrupted.
Section Chief Li shook his head quickly: "This is really not possible. We are not polite. Xiao Xiang is pregnant now, so it is better to have less contact with outsiders.
I'm going to hide it from you, my family is eight months pregnant, and we and my husband have not been in contact for almost four or five months, let alone having dinner together."
"Yes, Old Li is right. The epidemic is not over yet, so it's no harm to be cautious." Sister Feng advised.
For a moment, everyone started persuading them.
Xiang Xin's mother-in-law was eventually convinced that her son was gone. If there was another problem with the child, the old couple would really have no hope.
After sitting for ten minutes, Xu Dong and others got up and said goodbye. Old He rushed forward quickly, but he was still one step late.
"All people are gone?"
Grandma Xiang Xin replied: "I just left not long ago, I can't keep it no matter how hard I stay."
"Mom, look, there are eggs here." Xiang Xin was packing the gift and suddenly said in surprise.
"I'll take a look, who gave it?"
"I remember it was brought by our section chief." Xiang Xin recalled.
Lao He sighed: "I'm so interested! Xiang Xin, your colleagues in your company are all pretty good. I looked at it and it was all food for delivery, which was so rare."
"Well, we all have a good relationship."
"Who gave this basket of vegetables? It's not cheaper than eggs. Remember to return to someone else's house next time." Xiang Xin's mother-in-law reminded.
"The vegetables were given by the boss, and he also gave the dried shrimps last time. Our family owe him too much, so I guess I can't pay it back."
"Captain Xu is also a real person." Old He echoed.
Grandma Xiang Xin picked up the vegetable basket: "Xiang Xin, what kind of dishes do you want to eat at noon? Mom makes it for you."
"I want to eat leek, egg dumplings, He Jian used to like this one." Xiang Xin looked lonely.
"Okay, I'll eat dumplings at noon. Xiang Xin, come and help mom knead noodles." Xiang Xin's grandmother quickly interrupted.
"Okay, I'll wash my hands first."
...
Xu Dong sent his colleagues home one by one, and then went to Panjiayuan along the way.
When he came to his small shop, he immediately called Mr. Li.
"Hey, is it Mr. Li?"
"I am, you are...Boss Xu?"
"That's right, Mr. Li, it's rare that you still remember me!" Xu Dong said with a smile.
Mr. Li joked: "I forgot who I don't dare to forget you, Boss Xu, otherwise my brother-in-law will find out, and it will be light to peel off the skin."
"Just talking."
"Boss Xu, I've been waiting for your phone call for a long time. Why do you think of me now?" Mr. Li complained.
"Oh, I went to Qindao for a business trip before and I came back at the beginning of the month. I couldn't even push the work arranged by the above."
"Understand, then Boss Xu, you called me this time..."
Xu Dong didn't go around the circle: "Mr. Li, do you have eggs here?"
"egg?"
"Yes, I don't want many, just one hundred of them. Of course, if there are many, I will accept them all," Xu Dong added.
Mr. Li smiled bitterly: "Boss Xu, you have stumped me. I don't do egg business at all, and I don't know where to get eggs for you."
"No? Then forget it, I won't bother you." Xu Dong sighed. If there is no, there is no. I can only blame everyone for being unlucky.
He was about to hang up the phone, but Mr. Li suddenly spoke.
"Boss Xu, wait a moment. Although I don't have eggs, I have other things. I wonder if you are interested?"
"Oh...what is it?"
“Whale oil.”
Xu Dong didn't understand: "What oil?"
"I'm talking about the fat on whales. Through processing, it can be made into edible artificial butter. Now I have a bucket of this artificial butter on my hand." Mr. Li introduced in detail.
"Is the quality okay?"
"Don't worry, the quality is absolutely fine." Mr. Li promised.
"How do you want to trade?" Xu Dong asked directly.
"My bucket of margarine butter is 120 kilograms in total. I want to exchange for your 500 kilograms of sugar. What do you think?"
"Too much, can it be cheaper?"
"Boss Xu, I offered this price for my brother-in-law's sake. This is really the real price. If you don't believe it, you can go to the market to inquire."
Xu Dong is not a young man, and he was convinced in a few words, "Mr. Li, I need to discuss this matter with someone. Can you reply to you tomorrow?"
"Yes, but Boss Xu, it's better to be faster. This thing is very popular now. Do you know what I mean?"
"I understand, I will reply to you as soon as possible."
After hanging up the phone, Xu Dong first checked the current black market price of whale oil online. After checking for a long time, he couldn't find the relevant transaction information.
There was no choice but to go to the butcher shop in the park one by one to inquire.
After asking around, what do you think of the price? There is no unified standard in the market.
This is not difficult to understand. At present, the whole country is short of oil and water. Sometimes some food can be seen on the black market, but cooking oil is definitely rare.
At least on Panjiayuan, Xu Dong has never seen anything sold.
After some analysis, he found that using sugar to replace margarine butter should not be a disadvantage. Nowadays, fat is much more popular than sugar.
The reason why Xu Dong wanted to buy this barrel of oil was actually not for his own consumption. They currently do not lack cooking oil.
Even if there is a shortage of oil in the future, will there be soybeans? Soybean oil is much more reliable than artificial butter.
The purpose of buying oil is purely for favors. He also wanted to take the opportunity to stock up on another batch of miscellaneous grains. He raised too many chickens at home, and the miscellaneous grains were consumed a little quickly.
In addition, the old hens hatched chickens at home, and Xu Ma planned to raise dozens of chickens, so that the source of meat at home can be solved smoothly.