Chapter 254

“At the table, everyone understood that Fan Qian couldn’t steal Hu Wenhua’s business.

Fan Qian lacked sales channels and social skills. He wasn’t sociable on normal days. He only emerged when there were benefits, but who would pay attention to him?

He only saw the ripe fruit and thought they looked beautiful and delicious, but he didn’t see the hard work of planting, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, and the long wait.

Butcher Hu muttered in his heart.

No one else in the village had objections, but it was his son-in-law who stood up to oppose him. No wonder he had never liked his daughter’s eldest uncle’s family before. His judgment of people was indeed correct!

Hu’s mother smiled happily. The other people in the village were really good, especially towards Wenhua!

Wenhua was young, thanks to the trust of the villagers and the care of the old village chief. Except for the troubles caused by the eldest uncle’s family, there was nothing to criticize about the other villagers.

Shuiqing and Fan Jin exchanged glances, thinking that since Fan Qian failed to seize this money-making opportunity, he would likely target Zhaodi next.

“We need to figure out a way to bring Zhaodi over.”

“Oh right, where’s Zhao De?” Qin Yilin noticed Zhaodi wasn’t at the table and brought up Fan Qian’s attempt to undermine them.

After mentioning it, they realized Fan Qian had suffered a setback. Would he take it out on Zhaodi when he returned?

Fan’s mother, Sun Jinhua, and her four sons cursed at Jiajia. As the head of the family, Fan Qian didn’t say a word, which allowed her to be full of hatred.

Although she was unwilling to see Fan Qian’s family live a good life, she didn’t hate or blame Zhaodi at all. She even hoped she could escape from the large family and live well.

In the past, when she met Zhaodi in the village, the young girl was either working or on her way to work. When they met on a small path, she would politely step aside to let others pass first.

Once, when they met, she even apologized softly to Jiajia.

Her family’s behavior had nothing to do with her. She pitifully undertook all the work that could be done at home. How could she manage others? Even if she could, would those people listen to her?

So she thought about revenge, but Fan Zhaodi was never involved.

Last time Fan’s family was poisoned, even if Zhaodi was poisoned, she would prepare a detoxification soup for her separately, instead of making her drink something that would worsen her condition.

Ding Heli looked around and found that Zhaodi was really not there.

They had been collecting medicinal herbs in the mountains during this time. They had run far yesterday and returned when it was pitch black. They only heard Jiajia say this morning that Zhaodi wasn’t here with Shuiqing.

He looked at Fan Jin and asked, “Really gone back?”

Fan Jin nodded.

Ding Heli sighed.

They had dealt with Fan Qian’s family, who were proud and arrogant, especially the boys in the family, who were so pampered and well-trained that they had never liked them.

“That child,” he stopped halfway through his words.

What can be done? Fan Jin is just an uncle, and his parents are both alive. It is difficult to make such a statement.

Ding Heli no longer talked about it and changed the subject: “Wenhua is really good. He has gained the trust of the men in the village in a short period of time. This income not only ensures food and drink but also supports the family. No wonder others envy him.”

When Ding Heli praised him, Hu Wenhua’s rough face showed discomfort. He glanced quickly at Ding Jiajia and saw no displeasure on her face, then quickly replied, “Uncle Ding, don’t you think I’m just a hustler?”

“Haha, how is this hustling? Who doesn’t like money? Earn money by skill, and if others want to earn it, they can’t!” Ding Heli laughed loudly.

There was admiration in his eyes.

This child seemed strong and capable, but in fact, he was the same age as Jiajia. What was rare was his meticulous mind and agile brain in addition to his robust physique.

For men, a strong body is important, but to live well, especially to live a good life, a good brain is indispensable!

“Ding Heli and Hu Wenhua discussed the rabbit-selling business, while Butcher Hu talked to Fan Jin about farming.

Looking at his daughter and son-in-law, Butcher Hu recalled what he had heard on the way to deliver potatoes, speaking earnestly, ‘It’s already August, and we can start farming the fields. Your fields have fertile soil, but I heard from the men in the village that they want to transport soil from unclaimed barren mountains and lands to fill in. It’s more labor-intensive.’

Originally intending to return once the heavy rain stopped, they didn’t anticipate severe flooding and safety becoming an issue. Since they were staying for a long time and their son could earn income without them worrying, they could help their daughter and son-in-law transport soil.

‘Your mother and I have nothing much to do. Your mother can help you with cooking, and I’ll go to the barren mountains to transport soil. Speaking of which, this job of Wenhua’s is good. It only takes half a day to go several days, and it doesn’t delay work.’

Fan Jin disagreed, ‘Dad, transporting soil is too tiring. You’re old. I would appreciate it if you could help Mom and me with Shuiqing at home. Leave the soil transportation to Feng Da and Feng Er.’

In front, the father-in-law and mother-in-law helped raise livestock, slaughtered pigs and sheep for food, and went uphill to cut and sow, except for a day of rain. The work was busy but not physically demanding, but transporting soil was indeed physically demanding!

The father-in-law, strong as he was, couldn’t let him do heavy physical work.

As soon as he heard the old man, Butcher Hu was furious!

He immediately corrected indignantly, ‘What nonsense! When I delivered potatoes, a cartload of potatoes weighed several hundred pounds, and I didn’t lag behind those young men at all!’

Butcher Hu’s wife rolled her eyes.

Her son-in-law pitied him so much that he couldn’t hear it.

Maybe he heard it, but men can say anything, but they can’t say they’re not good.

Shuiqing held back a smile to round up the conversation, ‘With so many fields now, relying purely on manpower is too tiring. Why don’t we buy a batch of donkeys? There aren’t many cattle, so it’s not easy to buy them, but there are many donkeys, and the price is much lower than cattle.’

Donkeys can’t carry as much weight as cattle, nor can they work as long, but they’re good at walking mountain roads, faster than cattle, and can also pull plows and mills. The cost-effectiveness is quite good.

Butcher Hu’s wife thought of it first, ‘Won’t it be too eye-catching?’

Fan Jin had an idea and looked at Shuiqing, ‘With livestock helping out, all of us can relax a bit, and we can also transport some buckwheat back. It would be even better if we had a girl to help Shuiqing.’

Shuiqing understood what he meant. Was this leaking wind to the villagers?

Are they lacking people?

What’s buckwheat for?

Butcher Hu heard that the buckwheat was running out of grain at home and mixed it with what he ate.

Buckwheat is not delicious, but I heard that the grain outside has risen sharply, especially buckwheat has risen by half. It’s normal for daughters-in-law and sons-in-law to take out money to buy donkeys and cars to save some living.

Butcher Hu felt that buying a donkey was buying a family and adding property!

‘Okay, buy both male and female donkeys. We won’t need to spend any more money in the future.’