Chapter 28: Another Encounter with Wang Juan

He Haiming’s eyes widened. He quickly returned to the team and went to Wang Shuning’s cart. If he remembered correctly, those five sacks of mixed rice were in there, but they were all mixed together, and he couldn’t separate them now, even if they weren’t husked!

He gestured for He Chunxi to come closer and whispered, “Were those five sacks of lower-quality rice marked?”

There were twenty sacks on the cart; if they weren’t marked, they would have to open each one for inspection.

Seeing the village chief’s worried expression, He Chunxi couldn’t help but feel anxious. “The sacks weren’t marked, but the knots are different; I can tell them apart.”

“Quickly have someone take those five sacks down. Don’t hand them in; take them back and exchange them for better ones.” He Haiming pointed at the rice on the cart and instructed.

He Chunxi persuaded, “Village chief, those five sacks of mixed rice don’t have much inferior grain; they’re just a little brittle. They passed inspection before; there’s no need to take them back and exchange them.”

He Haiming pursed his lips. “I just went to look; the grain station’s inspection is very strict this time. Hongtaiyang Village had to make up for their grain because of this. If we hand these in, we’ll have to make up for it later; those five sacks will be handed over to the grain station for nothing! Quickly have them moved; five sacks of rice is five hundred catties!”

They still had two villages ahead of them; there was still time.

Hearing that they would have to make up five hundred catties after handing them in, He Chunxi felt a pang of distress. Even if they were cracked and whitish, they were still polished rice. Handing them in for nothing—the loss would fall on the villagers.

He Chunxi had Wang Shuning and Zhang Meili support the cart. After checking the cart, he said to He Qianghai, “Go up; let’s move these sacks to the side of the road.”

He Qianghai asked in confusion, “Move them to the side of the road? Not handing them in?”

He Haiming and He Chunxi had spoken too quietly; they hadn’t heard clearly. They still had a long way to go to the grain station; why were they moving them now?

He Chunxi held the tied mouth of the sack. “Not handing them in; taking them back.”

The five sacks of rice were moved to the side of the road. Village chief He Haiming came over and looked at Wang Shuning and Zhang Meili, then said, “Wang Shuning, stay and watch these sacks of rice; don’t let anyone take them away.”

“Okay.” Wang Shuning leaned against the roadside, her left hand on the sacks, nodding to He Haiming.

Waiting here meant she didn’t have to push the cart, which was easier than following along. However, with five fewer sacks on the cart, it was also easier to push, and one less person wouldn’t matter.

Wang Shuning had been standing, but she got tired and squatted down. However, carts kept passing, and many people looked at her, making her feel awkward, so she had to stand up and continue waiting.

She didn’t know the progress of the grain delivery or when they would be back.

The sun gradually rose to its zenith; it was probably past eleven o’clock. She wondered if they had made it?

Her stomach was empty and rumbling.

Wang Shuning reached into her pocket and took out two satsuma oranges. There were still people queuing on the road; she couldn’t eat too conspicuously. Her pockets were small; after eating the two oranges, Wang Shuning didn’t take anything else out.

“Ding ding ding, ding ding ding.” It was the sound of a bicycle bell.

The road in town wasn’t wide; an ox cart would take up most of it, leaving only enough space for two people to walk side-by-side. Wang Juan’s cycling skills were clearly not very good; her bicycle wobbled, swaying left and right, and she seemed about to fall at any moment.

The five sacks of rice from Dafeng Village took up the width of a person’s shoulder; Wang Juan couldn’t get past, so she had to stop.

“Um… Wang Shuning, right? We’ve met again. What are you doing standing by the roadside? Shouldn’t this grain be transported to the grain station?” Wang Juan stopped her bicycle and spoke to Wang Shuning.

Wang Shuning blinked. She didn’t know what the village chief meant; transporting it with effort and then not handing it in—there must be a problem. “Our village came to town to deliver public grain today, and the village chief had people move it from the cart. Maybe the weight was sufficient, and they transported too much.”

Wang Juan nodded as if she understood. She had only heard of having to make up for less grain delivered, never for too much.

Wang Shuning tried to lift the sack back to make way for Wang Juan, but it was too heavy; she held the mouth of the sack tightly and couldn’t lift it at all.

“No need to move it; my bicycle can get through. Just hold the sack so it doesn’t fall.” Wang Juan raised her bicycle, inserting the footrest between the sack and the cart, then supporting the rear of the bicycle to pass through.

A few minutes later, Zhang Meili ran from the front. “Shuning, all the public grain has been moved to the entrance of the grain station; they’re just waiting for the staff to finish eating and inspect it. Jingyi and I are going to buy buns for lunch; do you want us to bring you some?”

The villagers were reluctant to eat, but the educated youths with more money didn’t want to go hungry.

“Does that mean we have to wait until two in the afternoon?” That is, she would have to stand here for more than three hours.

Zhang Meili shook her head. “No, someone just said that they’re busy collecting grain these two days, so the grain station staff will start work after eating, and they don’t have to wait until two in the afternoon.”

“Then bring me two meat buns.” Wang Shuning took money from her pocket to give to Zhang Meili.

“Okay, wait a moment; I’ll be back when I’m finished buying.” Zhang Meili took the money and ran forward.

About ten minutes later, Zhang Meili handed Wang Shuning the bag of buns. When she returned to the grain station, the staff were still eating; it seemed they would have to wait a while longer.

Inside the grain station.

Wang Juan squatted on the ground. “Dad, drink some soup. Mom made it fresh this morning; it tastes great.”

Wang Zhiming took the lunchbox; it was still hot. “Your mother is just worrying too much. There’s only a little rest time at noon; just eat whatever is convenient. She’s cooking and making rice; where does she have time to sleep?”

Wang Juan raised her eyebrows. “Mom is just worried about you. Every year at this time, which time doesn’t she work overtime? You said you could come home for lunch today. If Mom hadn’t had a premonition and asked me to bring you lunch, you would have gone hungry.”

Wang Zhiming looked towards the entrance of the grain station; he saw many villagers sitting on the ground waiting, so he ate faster, hoping to start work early.

Wang Juan dissuaded him. “Eat slowly; it’s not good for your health if you don’t chew properly. You’re worried about the villagers waiting, but don’t you think about the other uncles at the grain station? They already have no rest time, and now they can’t even eat in peace.”

Wang Juan’s father, Wang Zhiming, was the station master of the Yihe Town grain station. His daily work wasn’t busy, but it was busiest during the summer and autumn harvests.

Wang Zhiming, admonished by his daughter, looked at his subordinates. The other man looked startled and stuffed a bun into his mouth in several large bites, as if someone were going to snatch it, choking on it. Someone nearby quickly poured him water, and he finally swallowed it.

Wang Zhiming somewhat anxiously persuaded, “Eat slowly; there’s no rush.”

Half an hour later, the half-open door was pulled open from the outside, and village chief He Haiming immediately greeted them.

“Open it for inspection.” The quality inspection staff gestured for He Daniu to untie the sack.