Chapter 587: Chapter 563: Air-Raid Shelter Vegetable Market, Saturday Trial Operation

Wang Fan was truly convinced this time.

The city of Wudu, known for its human touch, is not just talking; they are genuinely willing to engage in these community-centered small acts.

It’s often said that there are no small matters in people’s livelihood, but few really take action. Compared to planning a vegetable market for elderly farmers in rural areas, building a big park in the city, or repeatedly digging up and repairing roads, it seems more likely to yield political achievements and attract attention from superiors.

Which leader would casually take a stroll through a vegetable market? Doing something without being noticed is often considered as not having done it at all, which is a life philosophy for many.

After Jing Chuan finished speaking, he looked Wang Fan straight in the eye and extended his right hand solemnly, saying, "I sincerely invite Mr. Wang to be the spokesperson for this. I hope you will seriously consider it."

Wang Fan shook his head and then smiled, extending his right hand to shake Jing Chuan’s: "No need to think; I’m willing."

Jing Chuan excitedly slapped Wang Fan on the shoulder: "I knew I wasn’t wrong! On behalf of our 34 vegetable farm households, thank you, Mr. Wang!"

Wang Fan winced a bit; the leader was overly enthusiastic, and the slap on the shoulder was really stinging: "It’s mainly because our policy is good, I’m just following along."

Seizing the momentum, Jing Chuan said, "We plan to start our trial operation this Saturday. I wonder if Mr. Wang has any schedule conflicts?"

"Saturday?"

Wang Fan looked at Jing Chuan in surprise: "Are you really planning to start the trial operation on Saturday?"

"Is it not feasible? Though I did hear that you don’t operate on weekends, should we change it to Monday then?"

Wang Fan chuckled: "No problem for me on Saturday; I’m just thinking if the trial operation is indeed on Saturday, the produce from these 34 elderly farmers might run out. You’ve underestimated the enthusiasm of Wudu’s people."

Through his recent interactions, Wang Fan noticed that today’s young people are truly warm-hearted and curious by nature. If he promotes it a bit, some young people will definitely come to join in the fun. Once they arrive, they surely won’t leave empty-handed; if each buys a little, these 34 farming households could sell out.

"Uh..."

Jing Chuan was momentarily at a loss. Thirty-four farm households may not seem like much, but if each carries 50 kilograms, that’s 1,700 kilograms of produce. Here in Wudu, people typically buy vegetables for a day or two without stocking up, averaging about 3 kilograms per purchase.

By this calculation, nearly 600 buyers would be needed to clear out, and you say the produce might not be enough?

However, considering Wang Fan’s confident look and recalling his formidable influence, it might just be possible?

Jing Chuan furrowed his brows in thought and then made a decision: "All right, I’ll head back to mobilize vegetable farmers from other villages in the town and aim to fill all the stalls in the air-raid shelter!"

Wang Fan then reassured him: "Rest assured, if the produce isn’t sold out in two hours, I’ll cover any shortfall."

Jing Chuan glanced deeply at Wang Fan and then said with a hearty laugh, "As they say online, after today, I’ll become your super fan too. With great power comes great responsibility – you are the perfect embodiment of this phrase."

Such high praise made Wang Fan’s skin crawl; how shameless could one be to accept such a compliment?

"Speak normally, please. Hearing such words makes me uneasy. I really don’t deserve such high praise. Go ahead and be busy; I’m packing up to leave."

Watching Wang Fan bounce off as if electrified, Jing Chuan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Young people are thin-skinned. This was just the beginning, and he couldn’t handle it already?

Wang Fan agreed with Jing Chuan and didn’t stay long. Upon returning to the office, he immediately prioritized the promotion.

Meanwhile, all departments and those charitable enterprises need to be informed about where the funds are spent.

Back in the RV, after a shower and a comfortable lie down on the bed, hands behind his head, recollecting the past few days, Wang Fan felt that those days had been genuinely fulfilling.

He got to experience Wudu’s local customs thoroughly over the past few days.

Now he was even more looking forward to the upcoming trip to Sichuan; if Wudu was like this, how blissful would life be in Sichuan, known as "young people shouldn’t enter, and the old shouldn’t leave"?

...

It was the third day of setting up stalls.

The smiles on the faces of the elderly farmers selling vegetables today were particularly bright, even the vegetables in their baskets and carts seemed fresher. Clearly, they were all informed about the air-raid shelter market. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Selling vegetables daily nets just a few dozen bucks, and now without health management and stall fees, it saves lots of expenses.

Especially Grandpa Jiang, who was so happy he didn’t bring bamboo shoots today but instead brought a big bucket of eel to sell.

A bucket of golden eels, each plump and lively, rolling around in the bucket, might make one’s head spin.

Grandpa Jiang said to Wang Fan with a beaming smile, "Young man, I brought you something good today. Yesterday, someone foolish rented a fish pond in the village and not only lost it all but also ignored the treasures hidden in the mud, so I gathered them to sell."

At this moment, a strong man with bulging muscles froze, suspecting the foolish person mentioned might just be himself?

After a battle of wits within, the muscle-bound man decided that missing a meal today wasn’t crucial; social death in front of Brother Wang would be much more mortifying than missing a meal.

Wang Fan didn’t notice the figure that turned away but was instead a bit conflicted looking at that bucket of eels.

This little thing isn’t cheap!

Using this to cook would definitely incur a loss; and this quantity, barely 50-60 pounds, couldn’t possibly last till the end.

It wasn’t the money he minded, but rather exceeding the loss would be hard to pass the system’s scrutiny.

Sizzling eel slices cost around 40-50 bucks for just a ladle’s worth; the system certainly wouldn’t agree to that.

Stir-fried eel slices, braised saddle, garlic-braised eel... none of these dishes seem to work.

How about making a soup?

That’s not bad!

At this thought, Wang Fan’s eyes lit up; eel soup is a great idea.

"Alright, I’ll take these eels. How much do I owe you?"

Grandpa Jiang waved him off grandly: "No need to pay; I caught them myself yesterday, so what’s the point of money?"

Wang Fan quickly refused: "How can that be? We’ll settle at market price; not paying is not an option."

Grandpa Jiang gratefully grasped Wang Fan’s hand, his rough palms surprisingly soft: "You’ve done so much for us; what’s a bucket of eels?"

Wang Fan immediately withdrew his hand, adamantly saying: "Let’s not get chummy, Grandpa Jiang, it’s 30 bucks a pound, not a penny less."

Grandpa Jiang laughed and cursed: "Brat, someone might think I’m buying from you!"

Homestyle eel soup, Ciqikou blood curd with chitterlings, stuffed lotus root boxes, stir-fried celery with vermicelli, scrambled eggs with chili, garlic water spinach; five dishes and a soup, certainly won’t disappoint today’s diners.

The more troublesome dishes are just the lotus root boxes and blood curd with chitterlings, along with handling the eels; the rest are no hassle.

Fortunately, Grandpa Jiang is quite adept at dealing with eels; remove the heads, gut them, cut through bone and flesh, a simple rinse and they’re ready to use.

Chives cut, ginger shredded, a drizzle of camellia oil, quickly stir-fry the eel slices, once the aroma rises, add shredded ginger for a few flips until the fragrance spreads.

A drop of cooking wine into the pan, once the eel meat changes color, Wang Fan pours in the recently boiled water all at once.

Turn the heat high again, then simmer on low without further fuss.

Eels likely host tiny critters, and high temperatures are the key to killing them; prolonged boiling not only eradicates them on eels, but also those in apple snails probably can’t endure.

Wang Fan’s knife skills made preparing the lotus root boxes a breeze, the slices nearly even in thickness. Arranging them neatly on the board, filling them with seasoned minced meat, covering each with another slice as if dealing cards, a touch of starch and they’re done.

Once the oil heats up, dip the lotus root boxes in the prepared batter before placing them directly into the pan.