Chapter 18: With Skills, One Never Goes Hungry

"My, these Angora rabbits have such lustrous, soft fur! They are far superior to any of the breeds we caught a glimpse of at the market last time!"

Lin Junsheng stood in the blue-brick courtyard of the old village secretary's house, his gaze fixed on the two lively and adorable Angora rabbits in the cage, offering his sincere praise. Beside him, the old secretary and his youngest son, Zhao Weimin, stood shoulder to shoulder, their faces beaming with pride.

Zhao Weimin was a civil servant, though they never mentioned exactly which department he worked for. Lin Junsheng didn't feel it was appropriate to pry.

"Junsheng, you have no idea the effort I put into getting this batch of Angoras," Zhao Weimin said with a smile, dusting off his hands. "I had to pull quite a few strings to find a breed this pure. To boost the local economy, the county specifically imported a batch of high-quality Angora rabbits from Shanghai, and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time."

The old secretary couldn't help but chime in, his face full of pride. "Indeed. Shanghai’s Angora rabbits are famous for their quality—long, dense fur. If our village can seize this opportunity now that the county has made such a firm commitment to the project, we might just see some real development here."

Lin Junsheng raised an eyebrow, curious. "How many rabbits did you buy in total?"

Zhao Weimin smiled and held up two fingers, waving them slightly in the air. "I bought twenty! I brought two back by bicycle today for my father to see. A small truck will bring the rest to the village tomorrow."

Hearing that Zhao Weimin could arrange a small truck for transport, Lin Junsheng was secretly impressed. In this era, small trucks were prized assets of state-run factories; they were public property, and ordinary people could rarely get their hands on one. Most of these trucks were classic models like the old Jiefang or Dongfeng, which only county factories had the resources to purchase, and even then, they were subject to strict allocation. Private ownership was unthinkable.

While commoners could buy "Dongfeng three-wheelers"—which were quite the status symbol back then—they were small and nimble. If someone owned one, it was big news in the village, enough to brag about for a long time. However, the reality was harsh. In their village, even a bicycle was a luxury that every family treasured; nobody dared dream of affording an expensive three-wheeler. Most people traveled on foot, and occasionally borrowing an ox-cart or horse-drawn wagon was considered a luxury.

That Zhao Weimin had the connections and the influence to secure a small truck was no small feat. It seemed he truly held some sway in the county.

"Brother Weimin, you really are capable!" Lin Junsheng said sincerely. "Being able to mobilize a small truck is not something just anyone can do."

Zhao Weimin flashed a smug smile. He tapped Lin Junsheng on the shoulder and said, "Junsheng, it’s nothing, really. The main thing is that I’ll need to rely on you to guide us in raising them."

The old secretary echoed this sentiment. "That's right, Junsheng. You’re a treasure to our village; we couldn't manage this rabbit breeding without you."

Lin Junsheng frowned slightly, lost in thought. He knew well that raising Angora rabbits was no easy task, especially for someone like him with limited experience. He needed to be cautious and didn't want to commit himself too readily.

"Regarding that, I’ll need to study more and do some reading. After all, these are new livestock; they aren't like pigs, cattle, or sheep. I can’t just make promises—if they die under my watch, I wouldn't be able to bear the responsibility."

His words were cautious and humble, clarifying his position while avoiding unnecessary risk. Zhao Weimin laughed heartily and patted his shoulder again. "Studying is good. Breeding does require effort. But don't worry, I’ll try to get two extra rabbits for you to raise at home. That way, you can study them more closely."

Lin Junsheng’s eyes flashed with surprise, followed by hesitation. "Oh! I couldn't possibly! A breed like this must be quite expensive, right?"

Zhao Weimin nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Forty-five yuan each. Though the price is steep, the quality is top-tier. They produce a lot of fur—two pounds a year! And that fur fetches a good price."

Lin Junsheng’s mind raced. If one pound of fur went for eighty yuan, two pounds would be one hundred and sixty. After deducting the cost of the rabbit and feed, that was a significant profit.

"Junsheng, just accept them. Consider it a reward for your technical support."

Lin Junsheng felt his resolve waver. He knew his family’s situation—his younger sister was about to be married, which meant one less laborer at home, and his own leg ailment required expensive treatment. The financial pressure was heavy. This "gift" would provide a much-needed secondary income. Yet, he still hesitated. After all, ninety yuan wasn't a small sum.

"I can provide the guidance, but this..."

Zhao Weimin interrupted him immediately. "I understand. Consider these a gift. We can discuss fees for future consultations if there are any specific illnesses or needs for technical support."

Lin Junsheng felt a sense of relief and smiled. "Alright, it's a deal."

"Junsheng, the success of this breeding project is in your hands now."

Lin Junsheng smiled confidently. "I’ll read up on it and learn more. Even if I can't claim to be an expert, I can certainly master the basic knowledge and skills."

Zhao Weimin looked satisfied; he knew he had backed the right person. In livestock farming, diseases could wipe out an entire herd in no time—plagues like those affecting rats, chickens, or pigs meant everything was lost. Having someone knowledgeable to guide them was a blessing. He anticipated that once others in the village saw him raising rabbits, they would want to join in. As long as he had Lin Junsheng’s guidance, he wouldn't just hope for higher yields; he would be grateful just to keep them alive.

"That's great. If any problems arise, I'll know who to ask. Having you involved makes me feel much more at ease," Zhao Weimin said.

The old secretary agreed, "With Junsheng here, I can raise them with peace of mind."

"Brother Junsheng, are you in?" Li Yonggang’s voice called out from outside the wall.

"I’m here!"

A few days ago, they had discussed the bride price at Li Yonggang’s house. The whole family had been miserable, talking about having to borrow money. He wondered if they had finally managed to scrape it together.