When the three brothers returned home, they saw Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi dealing with the pork.

They had a share of pork, plus some extra from buying, enough for half a pig and more!

Yan Runzhi said, “Wensheng, come help Grandma cut the meat. Do you want to make some sausages and cured meats? This year we have plenty of pork, so we can make our own bacon and sausages. We can enjoy it for a long time after the New Year and also share some with our in-laws.”

Wensheng quickly took a seat on the bench, seriously saying, “I’ve decided to bring back more pork.”

Yan Runzhi laughed and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xiaobao then mentioned the comment about Bao Sheng being less valuable than a pig, and how he was really upset!

Although no one explicitly said Bao Sheng was less valuable than a pig—he just took it that way—children can be so direct.

Baosheng is coming in a few months, and yet people are saying fewer children and more pigs.

Yan Runzhi laughed heartily and said to Jiang Lin in the room, “Bao’er’s mother, did you hear that?”

Jiang Lin was working on some design sketches, and with a pencil poking her cheek, she smiled and said, “Children are so dramatic. Don’t take it personally; it’s not meant to insult Bao Sheng. The slogans aren’t targeting you personally. They’re just general guidelines, not about any specific child. Hahaha.”

Suddenly, Dabao realized something he hadn’t noticed before.

Hearing people talk about it, he understood now.

He asked, “Mom, does this mean we’ll only have one Bao Sheng and no second Bao Sheng?”

With the overwhelming family planning slogans everywhere, he hadn’t paid much attention before.

Now, feeling upset about Bao Sheng being belittled, he understood it might mean they would only have one child in the future.

He felt it wasn’t right!

With a sibling, Dabao wouldn’t feel lonely.

Bao Sheng would be so alone by himself!

The two brothers exchanged worried and sympathetic looks.

They quickly tried to explain to Wensheng.

Wensheng said, “One Bao Sheng is enough. My mother has had a tough time, and besides you, I don’t want too many younger siblings.”

When Jiang Lin was unwell, she had been throwing up uncontrollably, and everyone saw how distressing it was for her.

They felt sorry for her.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao were upset to see their mother in pain, but they didn’t understand that the pain was related to Baosheng.

They thought it was just because their mother was sick.

After hearing Wensheng’s words, they suddenly realized: “So Mom’s discomfort is because of Baosheng?”

Da Bao asked, “Why is Baosheng being so unruly?”

If Baosheng was already causing trouble before coming, it wasn’t right.

Even more troublesome than Xiaojun?

They decided that once Baosheng arrived, she would need a good lesson.

Xiao Bao thought, “Linlin is working so hard. If it’s going to be like this, then just one Baosheng is enough. No need for a second or third Baosheng.”

Da Bao nodded seriously, “Yes, it should be like that.”

Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi couldn’t stop laughing.

These kids were so dramatic and thoughtful, acting like adults.

The two boys went back inside to comfort Jiang Lin, showing their love, gratitude, and concern for her, and promised to be even better in the future, making sure not to cause her any more discomfort.

Such thoughtful children were rare, and Jiang Lin was deeply moved.

“With you two, Mom is so happy,” Jiang Lin said with a smile, her eyes shining with a warm, glassy light reflecting the sunlight outside.

Da Bao asked, “What about Dad? We should tell him to speak to the old woman who sends children, or whoever it is, to make sure no more siblings come after Baosheng.”

They didn’t want their mother to suffer and didn’t want any more planning for siblings.

Though Da Bao thought the old woman who sends children was superstitious, he wasn’t sure where babies really came from, so he could only use that explanation for now.

Jiang Lin laughed heartily.

Kids often accidentally get things right. “Dad went to the county. He should be back soon,” she said, mentioning that Cheng Rushan had said he would return for dinner.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao wanted to go with Wensheng to the south road to meet their dad.

Wensheng said, “You two go ahead. I’ll help Grandma with the meat.”

So, Da Bao and Xiao Bao ran off.

Yan Runzhi said to Wensheng, “Wensheng, if you want to help, go ahead. It’s fine about the meat; your dad can cut it when he gets back.”

Cheng Rushan is very skilled with a knife, and his meat-cutting skills are exceptional.

Wensheng said, “Grandma, I want to cut it. My mom likes eating homemade sausages.”

He remembered clearly that his mother liked sausages made with their own meat, and he wanted to cut extra so she’d have plenty to eat.

He recalled how she mentioned using white wine, chili powder, Sichuan pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, and sugar to marinate the meat, mixing the seasonings thoroughly.

The result was especially delicious.

Yan Runzhi smiled and said, “Wensheng, you’re such a dutiful child. Your mom is picky about her food now that she’s pregnant, and she loves our homemade sausages.”

Wensheng’s expression froze, and he stopped cutting the meat.

His mind was filled with a dull roar, and the words kept echoing, “Wensheng, your mom is pregnant, she’s picky, and loves homemade sausages. Don’t steal any; leave them for your mom. The casings for the sausages were hard to get, so don’t let your greed make you steal them. Be a good, dutiful child.”

Yan Runzhi noticed Wensheng’s dazed expression and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Wensheng muttered, “Dad said not to steal the sausages from Mom, and that Mom is pregnant…”

Yan Runzhi casually replied, “Your dad was just joking with you. Grandma will make extra sausages so everyone will have some.”

But as she looked, she saw Wensheng’s eyes brimming with tears.

Yan Runzhi hurriedly asked, “Wensheng, what’s the matter?”

Wensheng shook his head, “I don’t know, I just feel uncomfortable.”

He seemed to be trying to remember something but couldn’t, feeling confused, distressed, and anxious.

Jiang Lin, hearing from the bedroom, came to the living room and smiled at Wensheng, “Wensheng, what’s making you unhappy? It’s New Year’s, we have meat to eat, and there are performances. Mom is so happy.”

She was smiling brightly, wearing a red jacket with yellow flowers, her demeanor gentle and elegant.

Wensheng immediately smiled, “Mom!”

The moment he saw Jiang Lin, all his troubling thoughts vanished.

Jiang Lin went up and hugged him, “Thank you, Wensheng, for making so many sausages for Mom. It makes me happy, and the baby too.”

Wensheng became even happier, “Then I’ll cut more.”

At this moment, Cheng Rushan had returned from the county and was chatting with the commune officials.

Although the Revolutionary Committee had not been officially abolished yet, many places had started using the term “People’s Government” instead.

It seemed that from top to bottom, the impression of the Revolutionary Committee was not very good.

Even though he worked in the provincial military district, Cheng Rushan didn’t neglect his hometown.

He was used to the various attitudes of grassroots officials and understood that some people performed better when monitored, encouraged, and supervised.

They wouldn’t become complacent or overly ambitious.

He chatted with the commune officials and felt that they were still enthusiastic and hopeful.

“Providing enough food for the people is an impressive achievement,” Cheng Rushan encouraged them.

There was no need to discuss abstract concepts; ensuring people’s basic needs was the top priority.

Criticizing past leaders for harming economic development didn’t help.

Now, the focus should be on improving the economy and ensuring that people’s stomachs were full.

When people saw the improvements themselves, they would naturally express their satisfaction, which would also reflect well on the local officials.

“Everyone is of the same mind, determined to serve the people!” the officials laughed and said, “We’ll work hard to lead the entire commune in building, developing the economy, and increasing prosperity.”

They talked about some reform and opening-up issues before shifting to the topic of family planning.

Someone casually mentioned that Cheng Fugui’s third daughter-in-law was pregnant, and the timing was somewhat delicate.

It was on the edge of the family planning policy and could either be planned or unplanned.

Cheng Rushan knew what this implied but chose not to address it directly.

He replied calmly, “Everything will be done according to the regulations.”

Cheng Fugui had three sons: the eldest had four children (including two sons), the second had three children (including one son), and the youngest had a three-year-old daughter with no sons.

According to the regulations, the eldest and second daughters-in-law were not allowed to have more children, and they were not pregnant.

The third daughter-in-law was pregnant, but the timing was tricky.

Since her child was only three years old, she was supposed to wait until the child was five before having another.

If she was pregnant now, it was against the regulations.

Moreover, she conceived in January, which could be argued as either last year or after New Year’s Day if exact dates were scrutinized.

Whether or not the Family Planning Office will handle things properly depends on whether they want to meet their quotas or just do someone a favor.

Generally, if they make a small adjustment, it’s likely that no one will pay much attention, and things will just pass by.

Cheng Rushan insisted that everything should follow the regulations.

Some interpreted this as, “Why does Cheng Fuguo need so many grandchildren?”

Although Cheng Rushan had maintained a polite smile while making that statement, his eyes were cold and indifferent, lacking any warmth.

People knew that Cheng Rushan hadn’t changed a bit from his past self—he remained as ruthless and harsh as ever. His seemingly amiable demeanor didn’t fool them.

They still remembered how he had driven Cheng Fuguo’s grandson, Cheng Xinda, to madness and were wary of crossing him.

The saying “Thirty years of the river’s east, thirty years of the river’s west” was a reflection of such cycles.

“Cheng Fuguo’s situation isn’t good; he’s started to go mad,” someone remarked.

“The other day, when I went to the farm to transfer tasks, I almost didn’t recognize him. Bent over, with a hunchback, and his white hair was like overgrown grass. His face looked like a tree knot. If he hadn’t called me, I really wouldn’t have recognized him.”

“He got what he deserved. He was causing trouble in the labor reform farm, stirring up strife and trying to incite a rebellion. As a result, he was severely criticized, put in solitary confinement, and forced to participate in heavy labor.”

What they didn’t mention was that there were also several groups of people specifically watching him, providing 24/7 surveillance and various forms of torment.

The labor reform farm was similar to a prison—there were ways to inflict pain without leaving visible marks.

To torture someone without physical violence, mental and psychological pressure could be used to force them to the brink of collapse.

In the past, Cheng Rongzhi and Cheng Yunzhi had been cared for at the farm; although they participated in labor, no one could harm their lives.

Cheng Fuguo, however, received negative attention—his “care” ensured that he would neither die nor live comfortably, making his existence unbearable.

Now, he had begun to go mad, even saying things like, “Someone is telling me every day to hang myself, to hang myself. I won’t listen to her.”

His condition was such that his nephew Cheng Xinda had already gone completely mad.

He would sometimes become violent, threatening to let dogs attack everyone.

Then he would be restrained, injected with sedatives, and locked up to calm down.

This process had left him completely dazed and unresponsive, no longer a person at all.

While listening to the discussions, Cheng Rushan didn’t offer any opinions or interject.

When the time was right, he got up to leave.

“Our commune’s jujube and hawthorn orchards must not be left idle. With the reforms and opening up, foreign trade will increase. We should think about how to make better new products, try them in the provincial capital first, and if the response is good, we can consider foreign trade.”

Cheng Rushan was well-informed and knew that the central government was discussing economic special zones and gradually opening up foreign trade.

Based on his judgment, as the focus shifted to economic development, both exports and imports would increase.

Since domestic industry couldn’t yet produce high-tech products for export, and the government wanted to earn foreign exchange, they could only rely on cheap labor or agricultural products.

Those who opened the door to foreign trade in these areas would become contributors to the reforms, and their achievements would naturally rise.

“Really?” The commune officials were shocked.

They had never considered such a grand plan and didn’t have that level of ambition.

They had thought that supporting the brigade’s sideline businesses and ensuring the commune members were well-fed was already impressive.

They were surprised that Cheng Rushan had painted such a big picture for them.

Cheng Rushan said, “We can try exporting our very distinctive green onions and red-rooted spinach.”

Although it was frustrating to send the best products abroad, it was necessary to earn foreign exchange for larger goals.

His words excited everyone, making them feel grand ambitions of breaking out of Asia and reaching the world.

Cheng Rushan said little more.

He only needed to suggest ideas; how they implemented them was up to them.

He couldn’t manage the jujube orchard or green onions himself.

His role was to offer good advice and help with transportation.

As he left the commune office, he saw Cheng Fugui’s eldest son rushing over.

Cheng Fugui’s eldest son, lacking the courage to confront him, quickly stepped aside when Cheng Rushan looked his way.

He was there to plead for bringing Cheng Fugui home for the New Year but was met with unanimous opposition from the commune officials.

No one spoke on his behalf.

Cheng Rushan raised an eyebrow briefly and then calmly continued walking out of the commune.

Life is long, and the journey is far. There’s no need to rush.

One should enjoy the scenery along the way and savor the sweetness and bitterness of life.

A person’s life can be full of misery and disaster, regardless of the time period.

He doesn’t consider himself a kind person; he has a good memory and is very clear about his grievances and will always seek revenge.

When he returned home, he met Da Bao and Xiao Bao at the village entrance.

His cold demeanor softened, and his expression became gentle.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao ran up to him happily. Xiao Bao held his hand and said that once they had picked up Bao Sheng, they shouldn’t take in any more siblings.

Cheng Rushan smiled and asked, “Why?”

Da Bao replied, “Mom works so hard; we don’t want her to suffer all the time.”

Xiao Bao nodded, “Yes, Dong Sheng, Lin Lin is so pitiful; she doesn’t even want to eat meat.”

Cheng Rushan’s heart softened.

He ruffled Xiao Bao’s head and said, “Alright, we’ll get Bao Sheng and won’t take in any more children.”

At home, Jiang Lin was working on design plans in the main room, Wen Sheng was cutting meat, and Cheng Yun Zhi was helping Yan Run Zhi massage and marinate the meat.

After everything was prepared, it would need to sit for a while before they could make sausages.

The sausage casings were brought by Duan Chang An and Zhu Jun Jie, and they had plenty.

The three men watched as Jiang Lin looked at the bowl of meat, drooling, and exchanged silent glances.

Didn’t Jiang Lin say she was pitiful and didn’t like meat?

Jiang Lin turned and gave him a slight smile, “Let’s make braised meat tonight. I suddenly have a craving for it!”

Braised meat, Dong Po pork, stewed pork, pickled meat, and sliced meat… Jiang Lin, while swallowing saliva and touching her stomach, fantasized about the food.

She was suddenly craving meat so badly, feeling like her stomach hadn’t been satisfied in a long time.

She thought about the big feast and wasn’t at all disgusted. I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat, ahhh!

Cheng Rushan asked, “Aren’t you getting tired of it?”

Jiang Lin replied seriously, “Who’s being picky during the New Year? Being tired of meat? That’s only if you’re not hungry!”