Chapter 102: Trying a Small Bite

Remembering Qiu Yinuo’s reminder, Village Head Sun made a strong effort to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

“Alright, go back and ask Village Head Lin if tomorrow the village officials from both our villages can gather at my house to discuss the cooperation.”

The young accountant immediately nodded. “Of course! I’ll go back and tell our village head.”

Once the accountant left, Village Head Sun could no longer hold back his joy. He ran excitedly to the Qiu family’s house. “Comrade Xiao Qiu! Comrade Xiao Qiu! Taolin Village sent word—they’ve agreed to cooperate!”

It was just around mealtime when Village Head Sun arrived, and the Qiu family of three, plus two kids, were all eating.

Dabao and Erbao were already able to feed themselves with small spoons, though they weren’t very tidy. Seeing the rice scattered all over the table, Cheng Hongying sighed with concern. “Why can’t you feed them? They’re making such a mess!”

“They have hands and feet, why should I feed them? It’s the perfect time for them to learn how to eat on their own. Why don’t you just let them be and eat your own food?” Qiu Yinuo responded.

“No, I feel bad seeing them drop rice all over the table.”

“Then if you feel bad, just pick it up and eat it.” Qiu Yinuo’s words were careless, but Cheng Hongying took them to heart. Without thinking, she started picking up the rice and putting it back in her bowl.

It was a little shocking. Dabao and Erbao stared at her, forgetting to feed themselves.

“Comrade Cheng Hongying, I really can’t understand you. Aren’t you embarrassed? We’re not starving, we can afford to waste a little rice. Stop picking it up already.” Qiu Yinuo didn’t fully understand the older generation’s deep appreciation for food.

After all, she had never experienced a famine, nor had she ever known the true value of food.

Especially after being transported to this world. Though she hadn’t had many lavish meals, she certainly hadn’t experienced hunger either.

Cheng Hongying looked genuinely pained. “Wasting food is a sin. Qiu Yinuo, if you keep doing this, in your next life, heaven will punish you with no food to eat.”

“Comrade Xiao Qiu… Cheng Hongying, you can’t curse our Xiao Qiu like that. It’s just a few grains of rice! When we cooperate with Taolin Village in the future, you’ll be able to eat white rice every day until you’re stuffed.”

At that moment, they heard a knock at the door. Village Head Sun was hanging on the doorframe, and the three women in the house looked at him, speechless.

How had such a small man managed to climb up to their doorstep?

He Ziqing quickly stood up to open the door. “Village Head, please come in.”

Village Head Sun had a strong impression of He Ziqing. After all, no other woman in their village was as capable as she was. What stood out was her strength—she had once carried two large baskets of corn without even breaking a sweat and delivered them to the grain warehouse.

If every man in their village were as capable as her, there would be no need to buy a tractor.

If He Ziqing knew what Village Head Sun was thinking, she would probably be rolling her eyes at him by now. This old man was so cheeky. Did he really think of her as a human tractor?

As soon as the door opened, Village Head Sun rushed in excitedly. “Comrade Xiao Qiu, Taolin Village has agreed to cooperate!”

Qiu Yinuo wasn’t overly excited. It was exactly what she had expected.

“Congratulations, Village Head! Soon our village will be on the road to prosperity. Once our canned food factory is up and running, it’ll definitely catch the leaders’ attention.”

Cheng Hongying was completely stunned. “What canned food factory? What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word!”

Village Head Sun nodded happily. “If you don’t understand, don’t ask. Just remember, you need to treat the great benefactor of our village well from now on. If Comrade Xiao Qiu is wronged in any way, I won’t stand for it.”

Cheng Hongying’s heart was racing with anxiety. It seemed like their village head had lost his mind.

“Tomorrow, I’ve invited the village officials from Taolin Village to my house to discuss things. Comrade Xiao Qiu, you have to come!”

Qiu Yinuo nodded. “Sure, Village Head, can I bring someone along?”

“Who?”

“My cousin, Qingqing.”

The village head glanced at He Ziqing and immediately agreed without thinking twice.

Meanwhile, Cai Zhong received a package sent from a small county town. He was curious about who had sent it.

Seeing that it was from Qiu Yinuo, he opened it and found two jars of peach preserves along with some wood ear mushrooms and hazel mushrooms. His heart warmed at the sight.

If it hadn’t been for Qiu Yinuo stepping forward back then, their family’s eldest grandson, who was the only heir, would probably have been kidnapped by traffickers.

So, no matter how they tried to repay her, they could never fully return that favor.

Even though they had been wholeheartedly trying to befriend her without expecting anything in return, the fact that she treated them sincerely made it far better than if they had only shown one-sided affection.

Isn’t that how relationships between people work—through mutual respect and reciprocity?

Gao Xiulan noticed her father-in-law staring at the package in a daze and immediately thought something was wrong. She rushed over to ask, “Dad, who sent the package?”

The supply and marketing cooperative was a profitable job, and no one wanted to lose their position. Gao Xiulan had returned to work in a rush after her confinement period.

“It’s from Yinuo, that girl.”

She was the savior of their Pangpang!

Gao Xiulan immediately asked, “How is Yinuo doing lately? Her twins are about the same age as our Pangpang. I wonder if they’re as chubby as him now?”

“She didn’t mention much in the letter, just said she made some peach preserves at home and sent us two jars to try.”

“Peach preserves? I’ve never had them before. I wonder if they’re as sour as hawthorn preserves. But the fact that she thought of us shows she’s a kind-hearted person.”

“Hold on to them for now. Your mom’s been sick recently and has no appetite. You can save one jar for her to try in the evening.”

“Okay, I’ll save one for Mom and the other for the little one to have a sweet treat.”

Soon, it was time for work. After lunch, the father-in-law and daughter-in-law rushed off to their posts.

When they returned home that evening, they found out that Aunt Cai had vomited. The two quickened their pace and entered the house.

Cai Zhong helped his wife up. “What happened? Why did you throw up?”

Aunt Cai looked pale and bloodless. “Probably something I ate. But I feel a bit better now after throwing up.”

Their eldest daughter offered, “Mom, should I make you a bowl of noodles?”

Aunt Cai quickly waved her hand. “No, I still feel nauseous and have no taste in my mouth. I’m afraid I’ll just throw it up again.”

She looked at her eldest daughter and waved her off again. “You have your own family. It’s not good to stay at your parents’ place all day. Xiulan and your father are home now, so you should head back early. Don’t let your husband find fault with you.”

The eldest daughter frowned. “He wouldn’t dare. If my own mom is sick and he doesn’t even help me take care of her, how could he possibly criticize me?”

Gao Xiulan suddenly remembered something. “Oh right! Mom, Yinuo mailed us two jars of peach preserves today, along with some dried fungus and hazel mushrooms. Let me open a jar for you to try. It might help settle your stomach.”

Aunt Cai wanted to refuse but couldn’t bear to reject her daughter-in-law’s kindness. She nodded instead.

Watching Xiulan bustle around, then bring over a bowl of peach preserves, Aunt Cai was surprised. The fruity aroma was surprisingly pleasant, and the nausea seemed to lessen. She gave it a try, taking a small bite.