Chapter 39: Director Zhao meets those arriving, sends off those departing^[1]Idiom; busy entertaining guests; all time taken over with social niceties.

In Zhao Village’s Production Team, every household was talking about the production cooperative.

At Aunt Dong’s house, they had just welcomed the third daughter-in-law, Pan Xiulian. Including the old and young, there were a total of fifteen people in the family. The children were playing in the yard, while Aunt Dong and her husband, along with three young couples, were in Aunt Dong’s room discussing the matter.

Aunt Dong thought that their family didn’t have much money at the moment. In July, they still had to arrange Wang Lao Si and Dong Ni’er’s wedding, so it was better to wait and see for now. After all, even if they didn’t receive the shareholder dividends, there were still cooperative dividends.

Wang Lao Da and his wife were obedient. The second son’s wife, Zhou Xiuli, had recently had a miscarriage and was hospitalized, so they were financially strained and didn’t plan to invest either.

Wang Lao Si wasn’t married and didn’t have money on hand, so he wasn’t even considering it.

As for Wang Lao San, he didn’t express any opinion in front of the rest of the Wang family. After returning to his room with his wife, Pan Xiulian, he discussed with her: “How about we invest the ten yuan from your bride price? What do you think?”

Pan Xiulian hesitated. That ten yuan was all she had, and it was essentially the entire savings of their small household.

Wang Lao San persuaded her: “Even the team leader and the others dare to put in so much money to start the cooperative. What’s there to be afraid of with just ten yuan from us?”

“That’s because they have solid family backgrounds.”

Wang Lao San said, “Then why do their backgrounds keep getting stronger while the poor stay poor? If we don’t follow the capable people, just relying on our own hard work, when will we ever save enough money? If we could save up dozens of yuan, we could move out earlier. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep enduring my mother’s temper forever.”

Aunt Dong wasn’t a physically abusive mother-in-law, but she did hold grudges against the Pan family. Whenever she was unhappy, she would say a few sarcastic words.

Pan Xiulian didn’t talk back to her, but she also couldn’t bring herself to claim she could endure her mother-in-law graciously. She bit her lip and said, “Fine, I’ll listen to you.”

Next door at the Lao Sun family—

Aunt Sun and Uncle Sun, the elderly couple, sat on the kang, counting their small savings of coins and change.

Their family only had two daughters. The eldest was married into Li Village’s Production Team, and they often provided support in hopes that their daughter could live better at her in-laws’ house.

The money they had saved wasn’t much, and they also needed to set aside some as a dowry for Dong Ni’er.

Aunt Sun hesitated. “How about we just forget about it?”

Uncle Sun was silent for a long time before saying, “Let’s take five yuan; think of it as supporting Director Zhao’s work.”

Aunt Sun thought it over. “Alright.”

At Chen San’er’s house—

When Lao Chen came home, he took out his funeral savings and started counting.

Chen San’er hadn’t attended the members’ meeting and swaggered into the house.

Lao Chen immediately grabbed the money and clenched it in his hand, scolding him, “Where have you been fooling around again?”

Chen San’er replied carelessly, “It’s all fooling around anyway, so what’s the difference where I go?”

“Shameful behavior! You’ve disgraced me completely!” Lao Chen warned him sharply, “I’m investing in the cooperative. If you steal or cause trouble again, I’ll break your legs!”

Chen San’er had no interest in the cooperative. He sneered and walked into his room.

How ridiculous. The man everyone in the Production Team praised as the “good guy” always treated his own son with the sharpest words.

The decisions made by these three families were essentially representative of the general mindset of most members.

Some trusted the team and were willing to invest nearly all their savings. Some only put in a little to test the waters. Others couldn’t bring themselves to part with the money or simply didn’t have the funds, planning to wait and see for now, thinking they could join later.

Outside these three groups, there was another type: those who kept deliberating and couldn’t make up their minds.

At Zhao Er Nai’s house, the one who attended the members’ meeting was Zhao Fangfang’s father, Zhao Xinqiang. When he came home, he couldn’t explain the matter clearly.

Hu Hezhi sneered, “A half-filled bottle makes the most noise. Such boldness, not afraid of breaking his waist.”

He was a Zhiqing from the city. Zhao Xinqiang had always thought highly of his educated son-in-law and asked him, “What, you think this won’t work?”

Hu Hezhi smirked disdainfully. “If something goes wrong and gets reported, there’ll be big trouble. Our family shouldn’t get involved.”

Zhao Xinqiang became scared after hearing this and turned to Zhao Er Nai. “Mother, maybe we shouldn’t get involved.”

Zhao Er Nai trusted the team more than Hu Hezhi. She directly rolled her eyes. “You think you’re so clever. Xinshan isn’t an idiot. Since the team has approved it, it must be feasible.”

Hu Hezhi’s smile disappeared, and his lowered gaze darkened.

Zhao Fangfang’s mother saw the old lady heading out and asked, “Mother, where are you going?”

Zhao Er Nai moved quickly on her small feet and was already out the door. “I’m going to find out more.”

Like Zhao Er Nai, many members shared the same thoughts. Each went to their acquaintances among the team committee members to get more details.

The first visitors to Zhao Ke’s house were two uncles from the Yu family—eldest uncle Yu Xiuqian and his wife, and third uncle Yu Xiujian and his wife.

The two were brothers, ranked alongside Zhao Ke’s biological uncle Yu Xiumin.

Their fathers were blood brothers with Zhao Ke’s maternal grandfather.

Eldest uncle Yu Xiuqian was cold and taciturn, not very likable among the children, but he was actually easy to get along with.

Eldest aunt-in-law Gao Yulan was the opposite. She had a round face and looked kind, but she was calculating and stingy. Whenever Zhao Ke and her siblings or other kids visited her house, she would hide her things, afraid they would see them.

Later, when Zhao Mian entered school, Eldest Aunt’s attitude towards her became especially good. When Zhao Ke passed the high school entrance exam and became a worker, Eldest Aunt’s attitude towards her changed even more drastically.

Only towards Zhao Feng, she remained the same as when he was little.

Gao Yulan was not biased against girls, she was simply a bit power-hungry.

Third Uncle Yu Xiujiang was more flexible, when he was young, he went to learn carpentry, and with this skill, he had accumulated some savings over the years. He often worked with Eldest Uncle and his nephew.

Third Aunt Fang Hong, in Yu Xiulan’s words, was a fool. When she was young, she was good-looking and caught the eye of Third Uncle, who did carpentry work, and he married her.

As soon as the four of them entered Zhao Ke’s main room, Yu Xiujiang asked Zhao Ke, “Zhao Ke, your mom said that the cooperative is led by you. Tell me more about it. How can our families, me and your Eldest Uncle, invest in this cooperative?”

Eldest Uncle and Third Uncle’s families were better off than average families in the Production Team and were fully capable of raising pigs independently.

Zhao Ke pulled a chair close and patiently explained the pig-raising policies for the past two years, suggesting, “Eldest Uncle and Third Uncle have carpentry work, and don’t need to raise pigs to increase their income like other members. You can, like I said, sign an agreement with the team, and both families can buy piglets together, and then have them managed at our team’s pig farm. It will be more convenient.”

Zhao Ke also explained that in this case, the cooperative would deduct some costs when settling accounts.

Fang Hong carelessly said, “We don’t need to sign anything for our two families.”

Zhao Ke shook her head, playing the “bad guy,” “Since it’s a cooperative, everything has to be done according to the rules. Even with close relatives, we have to keep things clear.”

Third Uncle agreed, “Signing is fine, makes things clear.”

Eldest Uncle and his wife also agreed. Gao Yulan smiled and asked, “How many pigs should we buy?”

Zhao Ke sincerely said, “The first year’s experience is indeed insufficient, and everyone is still learning. You two families can either buy one pig each, or buy one together. It’s up to you.”

Gao Yulan asked again, “If each buys one pig, do we not need to sign?”

“You two families don’t need to sign between yourselves, but still have to sign with the cooperative.”

Such matters were voluntary and up to them to decide, so Yu Xiulan and Zhao Jianguo, who were sitting on the side, didn’t offer any advice.

Third Uncle asked, “What’s the deadline?”

“Three days from now.”

It was already June, and the piglets needed to be bought early. Three days would be enough for the team to prepare the agreement, the members to consider, and the signing to be completed.

Eldest Uncle and Third Uncle decided to go back and discuss it. Zhao Ke’s family sent them off. Before they parted, they saw a small figure heading straight for Zhao Ke’s house.

Zhao Feng had sharp eyes. “Is that Er Nai?”

It was indeed Zhao Er Nai, who had already made eye contact and was heading to the right place.

Zhao Er Nai actually came to their house, which surprised Zhao Ke.

Yu Xiulan and Zhao Jianguo exchanged glances and greeted her politely.

Zhao Er Nai was not polite at all. She grabbed Zhao Ke and asked, “I was looking after Fang Fang’s confinement at home and couldn’t pay attention. I heard from Fang Fang’s dad that you’re starting a cooperative?”

Zhao Ke repeated what he had told Yu Xiujiang and Yu Xiuqian to her.

While they were talking, Zhao Wu Nai and Zhao Xinfang’s family arrived, both looking for Zhao Ke. Yu Xiulan and Zhao Jianguo could only be bystanders.

Yu Xiulan felt both awkward and proud.

Before leaving, Zhao Er Nai asked Zhao Ke if the cooperative might have any problems.

Zhao Ke told her that she would report it to the commune.

Zhao Er Nai was reassured and left.

What Zhao Ke didn’t say was that when the members signed the agreement to join the cooperative, there was a small loophole: the livestock belonged to individuals, but was managed by the Production Team.

When she reported it, she had to avoid any implications of commercial exploitation.

Zhao Er Nai didn’t really understand these matters, and easily believed it, but there were others who understood some things and were worried about the way the cooperative distributed profits.

In the educated youth point, the discussions of the educated youths, like Hu Hezhi, mainly revolved around pessimism, and their words were very similar.

They came from the city, received similar education, had similar experiences, and shared similar traits.

Zhuang Lan had originally been quietly sitting among them, but upon hearing those arrogant words, she stood up and left.

Su Limei’s gaze followed her, “Where are you going?”

Fang Jing sneered, “She’s close with Zhao family’s brother and sister, of course, she doesn’t want to be with us. She might even pass on a little message.”

Su Limei was dissatisfied, “Zhuang Lan is not that kind of person.”

Liu Xingxue heard their conversation and glanced back at the male educated youth’s room, “Those who don’t want to be with us aren’t just Zhuang Zhiqing.”

He was referring to Fu Hang.

However, neither of the two female educated youths echoed his words.

In the male educated youth’s room, Lin Haiyang heard Liu Xingxue’s words and muttered angrily.

Fu Hang, as if he hadn’t heard, sat silently at his desk, with nothing in front of him.

These educated youths’ words triggered painful memories for him.

When he was young, his most admired grandmother was an intellectual who transitioned from the old era to the new, teaching at a university.

His parents were both involved in physics research. Even though they couldn’t be seen for many years, Fu Hang was still deeply influenced by them and had an intense love for the subject.

But eight years ago, his life with his grandmother suddenly became chaotic. When they most needed help, there was no word from his parents.

Fu Hang watched helplessly as his grandmother gradually deteriorated, and finally, a year and a half ago, he saw her off.

He alone took care of his grandmother’s funeral, decided to leave there, and escaped to this village…

The powerlessness and self-loathing of being unable to protect his family had always haunted him, and he never responded to the delayed letter from his parents.

The two physics notebooks, with one missing, seemed to be hinting at something.

So Fu Hang gave up, locking the remaining one in the bottom of a box.

Zhao Ke, a person who grows towards the sun, should not fear the wind and rain^[2]Trials and hardships…