“What are you talking about?” Cheng Rushan asked.

Cheng Yunzhi relayed Jiang Lin’s suggestion to him, “What do you think?”

Cheng Rushan nodded, “I think it’s quite good. Let the brigade use our yard and compensate us. This way, our parents won’t have to work in the fields and can rest at home.”

Actually, whether it’s the yard or not doesn’t matter to him at all. As long as there’s a place to live, it’s fine.

His only goal before was to take off his hat, so the deceased could rest in peace and the living could have dignity. As for whether it’s a yard, a house, or rich or poor, he doesn’t care at all. He doesn’t even care if he dies himself.

He leaned closer to Jiang Lin and smiled at her, “Wife, you really have great ideas. This plan is the best.”

Jiang Lin felt a bit embarrassed in front of the elderly, so she lightly poked him and gestured to him to be mindful of the influence. “Let’s support continuing the primary school and clinic. The exhibition hall can be placed near the school.”

Cheng Rushan nodded in agreement.

Cheng Yunzhi asked, “Should Dongsheng talk to the brigade?”

Cheng Rushan replied, “Brigade Leader said it’s fine.”

He didn’t care that his parents were present, leaned down to kiss Jiang Lin on the cheek, and then stood up, supporting Jiang Lin’s shoulder. “I’ve had too much to drink. I’m going to sleep.”

Jiang Lin blushed as if on fire.

Yan Runzhi acted as if nothing happened, and Cheng Yunzhi didn’t mind either.

But Wensheng was very curious and insisted on kissing too.

“Mom, I want to kiss too.”

Jiang Lin quickly said, “No, you can only kiss your younger brother, not mom.”

Wensheng looked at Yan Runzhi and the others, then at Dabao and Xiabao.

Dabao and Xiaobao laughed mischievously.

This time, they didn’t support him.

To be honest, they didn’t want mom to be kissed by their eldest brother.

Only the two of them and dad could kiss mom.

Wensheng felt disappointed when they didn’t support him, pouting slightly.

Daobao and Xiaobao came over, each giving him a kiss. “Alright, don’t be upset now.”

Wensheng smiled again. “It’s fine now.”

Everyone laughed.

Yan Runzhi watched Wensheng and thought that even if he couldn’t be fixed, Daobao and Xiaobao had a good relationship with him and would help take care of him in the future.

After resting, they cleaned up and went to bed early.

Yan Runzhi wanted Daobao and Xiaobao to sleep with them in the west room.

Now that Wensheng was with them too, the two boys could keep each other company.

But Xiaobao refused.

He insisted that during the day, he could play with anyone, but at night, he must see his parents, especially his mother.

Daobao agreed with him.

When Daobao and Xiaobao went over, they found their father sleeping in the middle.

Normally, they would sleep in the middle with their parents on either side.

But since their father was already asleep, Grandma said children shouldn’t disturb adults when they sleep because adults work hard during the day.

They understood that their parents slept in the middle, so the two brothers had to separate.

Xiaobao naturally chose to sleep with his mother.

Daobao said, “Let’s play rock-paper-scissors. Whoever wins gets to sleep on Mom’s side.”

Xiaobao widened his eyes.

Why was Daobao competing with him and not letting him win?

He felt a bit aggrieved.

Daobao said, “I’ll give you an extra candy if you lose. This one’s not negotiable.”

Reluctantly, Xiaobao played rock-paper-scissors with him and lost, so he went to sleep on his father’s side feeling a bit dejected.

Daobao happily slept on the other side of the bed, leaving the middle spot for Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin found it amusing how they arranged themselves for sleep.

She first comforted Xiaobao, kissed him, and told them a story.

With her care, Xiaobao soon smiled and closed his eyes, falling asleep instantly.

Daobao also listened to the story and soon fell asleep.

Jiang Lin thought to sleep with Xiaobao leaning against Cheng Rushan’s back, but he suddenly sat up, pulled Xiaobao out from her embrace, and placed him on the other side with Daobao under the blanket.

Jiang Lin was about to speak, but he pressed her down under the covers.

Her heart skipped a beat. “…Turn off the lamp.”

He stared at her with intense eyes. “Let me look at you.”

He gazed at her seriously and attentively, his deep and quiet eyes making her heart race.

“…Aren’t you sleepy?”

“When I see you, I’m not sleepy anymore,” he smiled, lowering his head to kiss her until she felt dizzy.

Then he blew out the lamp and held her close as they slept.

Jiang Lin: “…”

You’ve kissed me like this, and you’re not up to something? You’re obviously struggling!

Cheng Rushan could indeed handle it.

He meant to sleep while holding her, leaving Jiang Lin feeling both hot and soft, with a little flutter in her heart.

This man was definitely intentional!

Jiang Lin felt his body was burning hot, yet his breathing was steady.

She didn’t believe he could sleep, so she teased him a bit.

Cheng Rushan: “…”

He held her slender waist tightly, his voice husky, “Are you ready?”

He knew she was nervous around him, so he tried to give her time to adjust to his body heat and breath, to get used to his embrace and kisses.

He understood how torturous it was for her.

If she was ready, he didn’t mind having her now.

Jiang Lin’s heart raced, admitting defeat in a second. “…Not yet, let’s sleep.”

…

Two days later, Cheng Rushan found time to accompany Jiang Lin and took Daobao and Xiaobao to visit the Zhao family at Dache Store, formally acknowledging them as godparents.

The two families became relatives and started visiting each other.

Two days after that, early in the morning, Dai Guohua arrived in a Liberation truck to pick up Cheng Rushan from Shuihuai Village.

They were going to several places, delivering goods to the provincial military area, which would take at least half a month.

Dai Guohua, in his thirties, a retired soldier with a square face and average height, had met Cheng Rushan before.

Cheng Rushan informed him they first needed to pick up two truckloads of tiles.

Dai Guohua laughed, “Going to that small place for cement tiles? Why not go to Ying County for clay tiles? They’re cheaper and more elegant.”

Clay tiles were fired ceramic tiles, lighter and more attractive than cement tiles.

Cheng Rushan immediately asked, “Can you get two truckloads?”

Dai Guohua: “No problem, but we’ll have to load and unload ourselves.”

Cheng Rushan said, “I’ll find some people.”

He told Jiang Lin and then called for Shang Zonghui and Shang Baozhu.

Jiang Lin wanted to go with them but was refused by Cheng Rushan. “You stay home and manage things. We’ll bring back two truckloads today.”

Jiang Lin gave him all the money they had at home.

She actually wanted to start a small brick and tile factory for nearby communes, offering two types: molded clay tiles and cement tiles.

But all the land was collectively owned, so she couldn’t build a factory herself.

By late afternoon, after loading two truckloads of tiles, Yan Runzhi cooked dinner and insisted Cheng Rushan and Dai Guohua eat before leaving.

She made dumplings with a filling of squash and dried shrimp, which Dai Guohua enjoyed so much he kept praising how fresh they tasted.

“Auntie, when I get back, I’ll have Rúshān bring you some flour and rice,” he said.

They often delivered rice and flour to the army; when relations were good, they could buy some from the army.

Yán Rùnzhī smiled and said, “We have enough to eat at home. Don’t shortchange yourselves while you’re out there. Whatever you do, don’t make mistakes.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Jiang Lin packed a bag for Cheng Rúshān and saw him off.

Chéng Rushan threw the bag into the car and touched her face. “I might not be back after the rectification meeting. You decide for yourself. Don’t be afraid of anything. If there’s something difficult, just wait for me to come back.”

Jiāng Lín nodded. She felt Dài Guóhuá smiling at them from the car, so she quickly said, “Hurry up and get in the car.”

Cheng Rushan smiled, turned, opened the car door, and jumped in, waving to her.

Wensheng and the two little brothers came back from playing outside and saw Cheng Rushan’s car leaving.

Wensheng took the two little brother and chased after it.

“Dad!” they shouted.

Jiang Lin quickly said, “You two, come back!”

Wensheng stopped, turned around, and looked at her plaintively. “Mom, why didn’t you call us when Dad left?”

Jiang Lin replied, “Wasn’t it the three of you afraid that Grandpa would catch you running away from your reading lessons to pick beans?”

The brigade was busy with the autumn harvest, but Chéng Yunzhi and Wensheng hadn’t been assigned any work yet.

Cheng Yunzhi had the children learn a few words at home.

Dabao and Xiaobao were bored being confined at home, so they urged Wensheng to take them to pick sorghum and beans.

Picking these could earn credits for the brigade or they could keep some for themselves.

But as soon as Cheng Rushan left home, they also disappeared.

Whose fault was that?

At that moment, a member of the cooperative came to buy tiles.

“Jiang Zhiqing, these red tiles are so good. Can we buy the red ones?”

Jiang Lin replied, “These tiles are a bit more expensive. Cement tiles are just as good.”

Good tiles are expensive because of the high transportation costs.

Cement tiles cost 1.5 cents each, while red tiles cost at least 1.8 cents, which is not cheap.

But some people still bought them because they looked better and more imposing.

Even a circle of red tiles on gray tiles would stand out.

Jiang Lin didn’t mind.

After all, it was a seller’s market, and she wasn’t afraid of not selling the two carts of tiles.

Besides, Duan Chang’an would help her deliver the tiles whenever he had the time.

After another night of autumn rain, the demand for tiles among the cooperative members became more urgent, so Jiang Lin was very busy, leaving early and returning late every day.

When she returned that night, she saw Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao all sulking, not playing happily in the yard as usual.

She smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yan Runzhi whispered, “They got into a fight with someone.”

Children are kind yet cruel, always discriminatory towards those different from themselves.

They heard adults say that Wensheng was older than their father but not as smart, which triggered their sense of superiority.

Whenever they saw Wensheng, they would chase and call him “big fool, big fool.”

Wensheng didn’t mind, as he was used to being called “big fool” on the farm.

Dabao and Xiaobao were very angry and scolded them, which only led to more severe insults.

Xiaobao was still young and couldn’t catch up or fight back, so Wensheng helped scare them off.

As a result, those children went home and complained that Dabao and Xiaobao had let the “big fool” hit them.

Some adults knew that their own children were mischievous and taught them a lesson or two, while others were not convinced.

Goudan, Gousheng, and their mother came to Yan Runzhi’s door to complain, asking her to manage her children well and saying things like, “The fool should stay at home and not go around hitting people.”

Yan Runzhi directly rebuffed them, “Take care of your own children and stop them from chasing and insulting others. Guaranteed nothing will happen. Our Bao’er’s mother said, ‘If you provoke first, you’re cheap; if you’re cheap, you get beaten up!'”

The two women were so angry that they left muttering and said they would never let their children play with Dabao and Xiaobao again, nor would they buy tiles from Jiang Lin.

Jiāng Lin asked Dabao and Xiaobao, “Which families have naughty children? Tell Mom, Mom will go scold their parents! Children without upbringing are just like their parents.”

Dabao and Xiaobao mentioned a few families and finally hung their heads. “We called them all.”

The law does not blame the masses, and children, if they don’t listen, even if adults say not to casually insult others, they will imitate others just for fun.

Moreover, there are a few adults who, upon hearing children swear, do not seriously restrain them, which naturally worsens the situation.

Furthermore, in the countryside, both adults and children often use coarse language, with words like “x” and “butt” frequently spoken, showing a lack of refinement.

If you try to argue with them seriously, they’ll think you’re making a big deal out of nothing, and they might even think it’s okay for you to curse as well.

Cheng Yunzhi advised Jiang Lín, “They don’t understand at first when they just came back. After a while, they’ll realize Wensheng is a good kid, and they won’t tease him anymore. It’s not worth arguing over such trivial matters and ruining relationships.”

He felt that his daughter-in-law, being educated and caring about her reputation, shouldn’t bother arguing with others.

Besides, he was used to it on the farm; both adults and children called Wensheng “big fool,” after all, he really was a bit simple.

However, Jiang Lin didn’t want to indulge those women.

But since Yan Runzhi had already fired back, there was no need for Jiang Lín to go and argue further.

She said to Dabao and Xiaobao, “If Goudan and Gousheng’s family doesn’t come to apologize, we won’t sell tiles to them in the future.”

Dabao and Xiaobao immediately felt happy.

Jiang Lín then went to see Wensheng, who stood obediently on the side, waiting for his mother’s scolding.

Although he seemed childish, Wensheng was actually more sensible than Dabao and Xiaobao.

He was well-behaved and never caused trouble.

But being thirty plus years old and behaving like a six or seven-year-old child would naturally make people think he was stupid.

Jiang Lin thought about how Wensheng and Dabao and Xiaobao refused to learn to read together and often ran wild outside, which wasn’t good.

She said to Dabao and Xiaobao, “You should learn to read with Grandpa properly. Keep track of who insults us in a notebook, and I’ll settle scores with each of them.”

Dabao and Xiaobao hesitated a bit.

Jiang Lin asked, “Can’t you handle such a small task? Can’t even write down a name?”

Dabao said, “I can, I’ll learn!”

Jiang Lín smiled and looked at Xiaobao, the little cunning one. “If you can read and write six characters, I’ll tell you a new story.”

“Really?” Wensheng and Dabao and Xiaobao all leaned in eagerly, excited.

“We’ll learn, we’ll learn. Grandpa, teach us how to read!”